Internazionale Main Thread IV

[Messinterista]

Did you see my PM Frank?

[Totally FRANK]

[Messinterista]

No problemo

[Messinterista]

Stankovic: 'Cassano row positive'

Dejan Stankovic believes the Antonio Cassano locker room bust-up “was good for Inter” and praised Coach Andrea Stramaccioni.

Cassano was dropped from Sunday’s 3-2 win in Catania after a blazing row with his tactician was leaked to the papers.

“It’s only normal that there will be a few discussions, especially when the results aren’t coming and the tension is high,” said Stankovic.

“As Esteban Cambiasso said, let’s pretend Cassano was suspended and now he’s back. It happened, but it wasn’t so serious.

“In fact, I try to look on the positive side and I say this was good for Inter, as sometimes you need a little shake-up.”

Stankovic almost retired from the sport after nine months out with an Achilles tendon injury, but played the entire second half at Catania.

“Stramaccioni and I ran the risk and I thank him for it very much. I respect the Coach a great deal and we must all follow him.

“In my game against Chievo, I was focused only on not pushing the tendon too hard after so long on the sidelined, but in Catania I felt more part of the team.

“At the end of the day we achieved a very important victory. We are Inter, so must find the strength to go all the way in the three competitions.”

They travel to London for the first leg of their Europa League tie against Tottenham on Thursday.

“We will need to put in two great performances, but above all not leave them space for the counter-attack.”

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/31530/st ... w-positive

[Bagg10]

[RomaShield27]

So, does anyone still think Stramaccioni is ready to be a manager at this level yet?

[red]

I was only flicking over to the Inter game occasionally, but I don't see how Stramaccioni can take the blame for that.

Looking at the teams they both had out, I wouldn't have expected anything other than a comfortable Spurs win.

[red]

This isn't related to tonight particularly, but does Ranocchia ever win headers in his own penalty area?

I'm forever seeing him attacking the ball really well when in the opponents' box, but he doesn't seem to have the same inclination to show aggression at the more important end.

[RomaShield27]

Well, for showing himself to be a fairly limited coach who tries to cover his tactical preparation by overloading the team with defensive players. Cassano as a lone centre-forward, Cambiasso (who was abysmal, he gave up in the second-half) as the furthest forward midfielder, Zanetti and Perriera redundant on the flanks. More than that the marking at the back was terrible, with so many players in defensive positions it was as if they all expected someone else to win the header or make the tackle. They looked completely and utterly clueless from start to finish. That has to fall on the manager.

[red]

I see a lack of good, useful players as Inter's problem just now.

[Totally FRANK]

I agree with Red, if the squad is fully fit we have a good starting 11 with a couple of decent subs. Other than that we have just shitty players who make up the numbers.

Shield, who else would you have played out there? Palacio has played almost all the games since Milito has been injured and Guarin wasn't fully fit. Rest of the bench consisted of primavera players and the useless Jonathan.

[Messinterista]

[RomaShield27]

I didn't realize Guarin had fitness problems, i thought he and Palacio were being rested. Inter still had a pretty solid team out though, all well-known players, even if some are past it, but thats not really the point. Inter looked a shambles and very disorganized. Even the likes of Stoke and West Brom can go to White Hart Lane and defend as a team and come away with something, yet I dont think they have better players than Inter. The commentator on Setanta last night said this was Spurs easiest game all season by a mile, and I couldn't agree more.

[Messinterista]

[Messinterista]

MATCH PREVIEW
Serie A Week 28 - 10 Mar 2013 (19.45 UK)
Inter - Bologna
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

Inter are fortunate not to be taking on the Europa League-chasing version of Bologna this weekend.

Stefano Pioli, despite seeing his team win last weekend at home to Cagliari, took the time to express his bemusement at the two faces of Bologna.

"Over the past three months this team has grown after a period of bad luck. At home we average Europa League form," he said.

Of course, it is away from home where their struggles lie, and the away form that's holding them back. Only Chievo have lost more games away from home with 11, and Bologna's total of 10 is more than anyone in the bottom three.

So Inter can be thankful that it is the travelling Bologna they face on Sunday, because their performance in the Europa League on Thursday evening was one that may have struggled against the good Rossoblu.

Coach Andrea Stramaccioni praised the reaction of his team in coming back from 2-0 down to beat Catania 3-2 last week, claiming it is "more important than the errors." But with the errors repeating themselves in games, Inter are leaving themselves mammoth tasks in the second half of games.

He kept Rodrigo Palacio on the bench for Thursday's meeting with Spurs, presumably in preparation for the Bologna game. "It is unthinkable that we can always play the same players," responded Stramaccioni to questions over why the Argentine was on the bench last Sunday, explaining that they had five games in 14 days.

President Massimo Moratti praised the "personality" of the squad in midweek, and they'll need to show it again to recover from a severe beating that has probably put them out of Europe. They will have to do it without Samir Handanovic, who is suspended, and a host injured players, including Walter Samuel, Diego Milito, Yuto Nagatomo and Matias Silvestre.

Bologna are missing Panagiotis Kone through suspension.

Keep an eye on: Rodrigo Palacio (Inter) - Changed the game when he came on against Catania last weekend, and with Milito out for the season Inter will look to him to lead their attack. Was a serial goalscorer for Genoa last season when the team was focused on him - Inter could well see similar results.

Form guide: Inter (L W L D W) Bologna (W D L W W)

Last season: Inter 0-3 Bologna

Stat fact: Antonio Cassano has more wins against Bologna than any other team in his career.

Inter (probable): Carrizo; Zanetti, Ranocchia, Juan, Alvaro Pereira; Kuzmanovic, Gargano, Stankovic; Schelotto, Palacio, Alvarez

Bologna (probable): Curci; Garics, Antonsson, Cherubin, Morleo; Diego Perez, Taider; Christodoulopoulos, Diamanti, Gabbiadini; Gilardino

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/m ... view/22376

[Lombardiamia]

Yesterday's performance was down to both factors (lack of good players and their physical condition & the coach), but I'll repeat this ad nauseum, Stramaccioni deserves a decent club before he gets a label.
I am also starting to believe that the rumours I have been hearing for some time is true. That is that the squad doesn't get normal professional training sessions due to the lack of athletism in it's 'senators'. Might sound ridiculous, but we all know for a fact this used to happen last year with Ranieri (the famous 60mins. training sessions). If it is still going on, then we will have an easy answer as to who to blame for these past scandalous couple of seasons...and that is not the manager.

[Totally FRANK]

I agree, I still wouldn't put much, if any, blame on Strama. With the injection of new players in the Winter market, Strama has been slowly trying to make Cambiasso an impact sub rather than a starter. Unfortunately, neither Kuzmanovic nor Kovacic (he is only 18) haven't settled down yet. So, its not like the coach hasn't been doing his part but he has been severely restricted by injuries and his lack of options upfront. Over the last few games we have returned to the formation that Strama wanted to start the season with, the 4-3-3. Initially we did not have the right players but now we have a few mediocre options like Schelotto. Guarin has gone back to where he belongs, in the midfield 3. I think our future midfield will be composed on 3 players from Guarin, Kovacic, Kuzmanovic and Gargano.

We need to get a few more players for the front three, hopefully in the next market.

[kros]

[kros]

[RomaShield27]

"Offer us a trial as well. Perhaps you'll find a good player - it will definitely be an Interista."