Internazionale Main Thread IV

[Lombardiamia]

[RomaShield27]

By Eurosport | Pitchside Europe – 2 hours 42 minutes ago
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/pit ... 16446.html

This is an underdog story. An improbable tale of redemption. Its hero is Jonathan Cicero Moreira, a boy from Brazil. Once upon a time, not so long ago, he was considered a villain. Maybe ‘villain’ is too strong a word. But for fans of Inter Jonathan came to represent everything that was wrong about their club. He became an unwitting symbol of their decline after the triplete in 2010.

Signed from Santos, ‘Johnny’ was presented as the new Douglas Maicon. Those were big shoes to fill. Remember this was before Maicon had to put up with shouts of ‘Taxi’ every time he touched the ball following Gareth Bale’s break-out performance at San Siro for Tottenham. Expectations were high. But as with so many of the signings made at the time by Inter’s then technical director Marco Branca this one appeared to be a calamitous flop.

For a while, it seemed Jonathan was to this team’s right back position what Vratislav Gresko had once been to its left-back spot. Bought in 2000 from Bayer Leverkusen, Gresko followed in the footsteps of Andreas Brehme and Roberto Carlos. He tripped over, it might be said. A lot. The headed back-pass Gresko made to goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, which Karel Poborsky intercepted and scored from on May 5, 2002 has gone down in folklore.

Inter were 2-1 up against Lazio at the time. It was the final day of the season. Had they won, Inter would have claimed the Scudetto for the first time in 13 years. Instead they collapsed, losing 4-2 and Juventus, victorious in Udine, overtook them at the last. Years later, Inter fans would create the ‘Gresko prize’, an award acknowledging the worst performer at the club. In contention for it last season, Jonathan missed out to coach Andrea Stramaccioni.

Out of Europe for the first time since the turn of the millennium, he’d led Inter to a ninth place finish, their poorest in nearly two decades, so you can perhaps understand why the panel went with him even if he was not at all exclusively to blame for Inter’s woes. In all fairness, last year’s Gresko should have gone to the club as a whole.

Unlike fellow nominees in an Oscar category who didn’t receive the academy award, Jonathan wouldn’t have begrudged Stramaccioni it. He would have been relieved. But his miss from six yards out away at Siena and the falls he made tracking back and in his own penalty area not once but twice at Samp wouldn’t go unrecognised. They’d form the basis of a cult video in Italy. Its producers parodied a series of documentaries on Sky Italia in which Federico Buffa, a great raconteur, tells the story of sporting legends.

This one told of the divine Jonathan, born in Bethlehem to Mary, the Madonna, and Joseph, a boy who neither wanted to be a pop singer like his mother, nor a carpenter like his father. He wanted to be a footballer instead and is discovered in Jerusalem by a holidaying Pele, who takes Jonathan back to Brazil and proclaims: “If I’d had half your talent, I would have been the best player in the world.”

The famous image of the original Ronaldo in an Inter shirt, arms out-stretched imitating Christ the Redeemer at the summit of Corcovado is Photoshopped to show him with Jonathan’s name and number on the back. Down on the Copacabana, Branca, taking a break from scouting in Rio, sees a kid performing kick ups, not with a football but, heavens above, with grains of sand. It’s the divine Jonathan. Branca has to sign him. He calls Inter’s then owner Massimo Moratti to say he’s found someone “10 times better than Ronaldo.”

You get the idea. Jonathan was a figure of fun. And yet now he’s having the last laugh. Man of the match in Sunday’s 2-0 win at Hellas Verona, Jonathan set-up Rodrigo Palacio’s opener and scored the closer. It didn’t feel like an inglorious exception either like his wonderful goal against Roma in the Coppa Italia last season, the build up to which featured Ricky Alvarez and Tommaso Rocchi exchanging back-heeled one-twos with him, a move that left spectators eyes wide in disbelief, their jaws on the floor. Did that really happen? All involved were considered flops at the time.

But Jonathan [and Ricky are] no longer. Together with Palacio, he has arguably been Inter’s best player this season. And to think the 28-year-old was seriously pondering a return to Brazil last summer. That is, until his mother intervened. “When I was sad at Inter,” Jonathan explained, “my mother comforted me by saying: ‘This is your dream. You have to live it’. Being a footballer is every Brazilian’s dream. I must thank her again.”

Her and Inter coach Walter Mazzarri. When the club reviews his first season, he’ll be able to point to how he made something of players many thought of as lost causes: Jonathan, first and foremost, then Ricky and to a lesser extent Yuto Nagatomo. That’s been a real positive. “Mazzarri is a great coach,” Jonathan told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “He has changed my life by explaining things to me a lot and convincing me through work. I’ve even learnt to make a diagonal.”

If you see a gap, hit it has been Mazzarri’s maxim. Jonathan has done it so well, the papers in Italy are beginning to talk up the prospect of an international call up. Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is apparently well aware of him. Recall, he was at the Derby della Madonnina which Inter won 1-0 before Christmas. But wait. Jonathan could also play for Italy. His wife and childhood sweetheart Luana is of Italian ancestry. Her great grandparents, Signor and Signora Grossi, were from near Lucca. “If Prandelli calls me, I’ll go,” Jonathan said on Sunday. Yet it remains to be seen if he will.

Once a scapegoat, il gabbiano or the Seagull as Inter commentator Roberto Scarpini has nicknamed him, is flying high. “Johnny, it’s almost magic,” the Cristina d’Avena song goes. It really is. His transformation from zero to hero has to be seen to be believed.

James Horncastle (@JamesHorncastle)

[Messinterista]

Rumours are Thohir is in town to announce the signing of a new striker arriving at the end of the season (on a free transfer) and is under the age of 30. The two that come to mind are Bendtner (we have been linked with him in the past) and Gomis. We'll see what happens.

[Lombardiamia]

Fuck...so is Carew definitely out of our radar now?

[zafferano]

[Lombardiamia]

[zafferano]

luciano-moggi

non potreste immaginarvi, partite falsate dagli arbitri al soldo di una cupola maccheronica, e ho visto la serie B balenare nel buio delle coscienze alle porte di Torino. E tutti quei momenti andranno perduti in questo tempo fatto di lacchè e prostituzione intellettuale, come lacrime nella pioggia. È tempo di falsare la verità. »

Ormai non abbiamo più parole per esprimere lo sdegno a valle dei fatti di Calciopoli e ancor di più sulle dichiarazioni del dopo. Si è cercato in tutti i modi di rigirare la frittata e di spacciare mediaticamente il processo contro Moggi come un processo contro l’Inter di Moratti e Facchetti.

Ma alla fine, come mi piace sempre ricordare in molti dei mie articoli, le chiacchiere stanno a zero.

Le motivazioni della corte di Appello di Napoli sono, ironia della sorte, scolpite nero su bianco e vedono il suo scandaloso cardine nel punto in cui si afferma che “senza dubbio alcuno”, la condotta scorretta di Moggi e dei suoi accoliti era già posta in essere da prima del campionato 1999-2000, di preciso, a partire dal campionato che vide la Lazio vincere e battere il Perugia aggiudicandosi in questo modo lo scudetto.

Se si ricorda bene, la Juventus arrivò solo al secondo posto e questo fu possibile grazie al clamore suscitato nella giornata precedente dall’annullamento del gol di Cannavaro in Parma Juve. L’arbitro era il famoso De Santis.

Invece, a valle delle condanne, si è cercato attraverso cannoneggiamenti di disinformazione da parte di un certo timpo di stampa, una sorta di riabilitazione dei bianconeri, oscillante tra il falso ”facevano tutti così” e il “ma poi erano forti lo stesso”. Quest’ultima è da ridere: è un po’ come se un tizio facoltoso scegliesse di rubare una Ferrari e una volta arrestato per discolparsi si difendesse dicendo che tanto è ricco e quindi se soltanto avesse voluto, avrebbe potuto acquistarla regolarmente e in virtù di questo è innocente! Bah, misteri della psiche Italica.

Quindi, sette anni di campionati falsati, meglio non pensare al calcio precedente Bergamo – Pairetto, la mente vola a quel famoso 97/98, il mancato rigore di Juliano su Ronaldo, dove Baldas era il designatore degli arbitri, quello che poi divenne il burattino azionato a comando da Lucianone durante il processo di Biscardi.

[zafferano]

IN MEXICO CHICARITO IS AN INTER PLAYER

chicharito-inter

In patria ormai ne sono certi. Javier Hernandez, noto come Chicharito, attaccante messicano, 26 anni a giugno e in forza al Manchester United dal 2010, in estate andrà all‘Inter.

Già da un mese la trattativa fra il club nerazzurro, il giocatore e lo United sta procedendo verso sviluppi positivi. E a confermarlo ecco il quotidiano messicano El Tricolor.

Secondo questa fonte, Hernandez si è accordato con l’Inter e gli emissari di Erik Thohir per due motivi: lo scarso minutaggio che il tecnico David Moyes gli ha riservato fino a questo momento e il probabile arrivo di un nuovo attaccante.

Hernandez, secondo El Tricolor, andrebbe a ricoprire la casella lasciata vacante da Diego Milito. Dallo United, ricordiamo, l’Inter ha già prelevato il difensore Vidic, a parametro zero.L’operazione-Hernandez non sarà a costo zero.

[red]

That would be an odd move.

He's not compatible with Icardi.

Are Inter going to sell Icardi?

I'd have thought they'd be better off sticking with him and focusing on strengthening other areas of their team.

[zafferano]

I don't believe anything until the contract is signed .

[Messinterista]

[Messinterista]

Inter strategising with Nike

Erick Thohir’s aims to create a stronger commercial brand at Inter are reportedly stepping up, as a project with Nike is lined up.

The Nerazzurri signed a 10-year sponsorship renewal with the American apparel and accessories company in August to continue to provide the team’s playing and training gear.

The deal was described at the time as also including the goal, “of a joint project to open specialised stores, and the rolling out of a new strategy for the development and marketing of Inter-brand merchandise.”

Whilst current President and owner Erick Thohir had not completed his takeover at the agreement of this deal, it is understood he was across it and further endorsed it upon succeeding Massimo Moratti in November.

The Gazzetta dello Sport today report that the next stage between the club and company is close to fruition, with the structure of a new company called ‘Inter Merchandising’ to be set up.

On from studying Inter’s previous commercial contracts managed by the club, the company, to be solely owned by Nike but see Inter provide three of the seven expected board members, is tasked with developing the club’s brand across not only Italy but also the global market.

This is seen as a branding approach previously used by Barcelona and Manchester United and similarly underway at Juventus.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/46784/in ... ising-nike

[zafferano]

red wrote:
That would be an odd move.

He's not compatible with Icardi.

Are Inter going to sell Icardi?

I'd have thought they'd be better off sticking with him and focusing on strengthening other areas of their team.





Things that make good sense unfortunately never work

[Messinterista]

Thohir: Depends on Sagna

Erick Thohir has admitted that Inter’s hopes of signing Bacary Sagna rest solely with the player, as he discusses who else might come in this summer.

The Nerazzurri are expected to make changes to their playing staff come the end of a transitional season that has seen the Indonesian replace Massimo Moratti as owner.

Speculation has been that Arsenal full-back Sagna is in talks with the club over a Bosman deal and, whilst remaining non-committal, Thohir has admitted to talks.

“I’m not used to making announcements if a contract is not signed,” began the President to the Gazzetta dello Sport this week.

“I can only say that we like Sagna and that at this point it all depends only on him. Announcements will be made only when there is a signature. The same goes for Palacio’s contract renewal.

“Have we signed Sagna then? I did not say that. If he doesn’t arrive, we will bring in a youth player.”

The club already have Nemanja Vidic tied up to arrive from Manchester United in the summer on a Bosman, a deal that Piero Ausilio credits Thohir with actioning.

“It was to the merit of everyone, even if I am the one that ultimately takes the risk.

“In Vidic’s contract we have included a clause in which he will have to play a certain number of games.

“Not to mention that the discussion of the average age for next season will see it at 26.5 years, with Vidic, Palacio and eventually Sagna meaning that there would be room for only one other player over the age of 30. There shall not be more than four.

“Would that fourth man be Samuel Eto’o, who has spoken to Moratti? Eto’o doesn’t know me, so it is right that he goes to Moratti.

“Yet, we need balance and Palacio is more than 30 and Icardi is very young, the attacker will have to be in between them.

“Rumours then of Dzeko, Torres or Morata? I do consider these names. Maybe one of the three will come for real, but we must apply with the above parameters.”

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/46892/th ... ends-sagna

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Good signs.

[Lombardiamia]

Listening to Thohir speak is a bit like taking a breath of fresh air after living in a dumping site for years...

[Messinterista]

[Messinterista]

Thohir: 'Inter review all the players'

Inter President Erick Thohir confirmed they will “review all the players” and are already planning transfer strategy.

He spoke to the media after emerging from a Board of Directors meeting in Milan.

“It was just the approval for UEFA finances, then we discussed opportunities for new contracts with new partners.”

Yesterday he sat down with Coach Walter Mazzarri and other directors to go over their transfer strategy.

“We discussed planning for next season. It’s very important we discussed it early, that the Coach and myself have the same vision. It was a good discussion, it’s very important to prepare for next season.

“Of course it is important we are not out of focus, as we need to get points in the last eight games, but we must also prepare on the formations, the players and to review.

“Of course, the decisions will be after the season. We want to review all the players and don’t want to commit anything now, but at the same time the players who perform well we must consider.”

Inter are the only team in Serie A without a penalty so far this season and Thohir laughed when asked about it.

“Basically, either I have to laugh or cry! I don’t know. We are in this situation and we have to face the reality.”

There are reports the main target is Chelsea striker Fernando Torres, but Thohir wouldn’t even acknowledge a centre-forward had been requested.

“It is good for a Coach to review the players, but again we need to focus on the last eight games.”

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/47090/th ... ll-players

[Messinterista]

Maggio joins Mazzarri at Inter?

It’s reported Napoli will sell Christian Maggio to Inter this summer, where he’ll reunite with Walter Mazzarri.

The 32-year-old played as a right wing-back in Mazzarri’s system, but hasn’t proved as effective in a four-man defence under Rafa Benitez.

Napoli’s performances have arguably improved since Maggio was ruled out by emergency surgery for a collapsed lung, as January signing Paulo Henrique seems more suited to the tactics.

According to Sport Mediaset, Mazzarri has requested Inter make an offer for Maggio over the summer and Napoli would be happy to accept.

His contract runs to June 2015, so it would be a relatively low cost move.

Maggio would join fellow ex-Napoli men Mazzarri and Hugo Campagnaro.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/47234/ma ... arri-inter

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Obviously a backup to Johnnie. Maggio is over 30 (contradicts what Thohir wants). On the plus side, he's Italian.

[Messinterista]

Mancini back to Inter?

Former Inter Coach Hector Cuper says the Nerazzurri are ready to make an approach to Roberto Mancini to return to the club.

The former Manchester City boss is currently in charge of Galatasaray but is said to be unsettled, while San Siro tactician Walter Mazzarri’s future has also come under scrutiny recently.

“Inter are ready to ask him to come back,” Cuper told Fanatik. “Mancini is not happy at Galatasaray and he wants to return to Italy.

“The Nerazzurri know about the situation and have already begun talks with him.

“Soon there may even be a formal announcement on the issue by the Turkish club.”

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/47307/mancini-back-inter

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lol

[Totally FRANK]

No wonder we don't get given penalties. What's the point of wasting 5 minutes when they know for sure we are going to miss it.

Our defense is in shambles. Mazarri has to tweak his formation and give Kovacic a starting spot. The 3-4-3 has been a disaster.