Internazionale Main Thread IV

[Totally FRANK]

[kros]

I am not too sure on Biabiany either. I know that his speed can be of good use (especially in a league which is almost played using slow motion) but I don't think he is big club material. I think there are players that give their best at clubs like Parma. Biabiany, I think is one of them.

[Lombardiamia]

My main issue with Biabiany is that at Parma he's used to play against teams who tend to attack them, leaving holes behind that he's capable of running into. We all know that that ain't gonna happen much at Inter.
We do need some speed up there (considering Mazzarri's main tactic is to defend with 9 units & counter), but we need some with better technique & vision if he wants to be of any use to our cause.

[Messinterista]

Palacio is out of our Europa League squad - replaced with Kuz.

[Messinterista]

EL: Inter thrash Stjarnan

Mauro Icardi, Dodo and Danilo D’Ambrosio gave Inter a 3-0 away win at Stjarnan in the Europa League play-off.

The Nerazzurri went into this first leg against Icelandic club Stjarnan, the lowest ranked side still in the competition. Rodrigo Palacio was ruled out by injury, so Ruben Botta supported Icardi and Dodo shook off flu symptoms to start.

Despite it kicking off at 21.00 local time, there was bright daylight in Rekjavik and a temperature of around 7C.

Within two minutes Icardi’s header from a corner had skimmed the crossbar. Hernanes blasted over from distance and a Botta drive was easily smothered.

Andrea Ranocchia thought he had scored on 24 minutes with a towering header from a Jonathan corner, but it was cleared off the line by Olafur Karl Finsen.

Dodo drilled over from an improbable angle, Mateo Kovacic over-hit an otherwise inspired pass for Jonathan and Botta flashed a shot across the face of goal after handling the ball.

Kovacic threaded through for Jonathan again, but this time the Brazilian was inches away from making a clean connection.

Inter finally broke the deadlock before half-time. A Dodo cross was flicked on by Martin Rauschenberg, but only into the path of Icardi to pounce from 10 yards.

The Nerazzurri doubled their lead straight after the restart. Jonathan stood up a cross for Dodo’s header at the back post and the attempted goalline clearance was too late to stop it going in.

Moments later Icardi nodded off target, then hit a fresh-air shot on a smart Hernanes free kick. Stjarnan finally had a chance on the hour mark with Bjorgvinsson blasting over after a Dodo error.

Daniel Osvaldo came on and his first touch let him down on a Ranocchia assist, while Nemanja Vidic got himself booked.

Stjarnan threw on two strikers and it almost paid off, Juan Jesus with a desperate slide to stop Rolf Toft tapping in a cross from the left. Samir Handanovic was also called into a fine low save to palm away Olafur Karl Finsen’s daisy-cutter.

Osvaldo had a fantastic chance to get Inter’s third in the final minutes, but his wonderful curling shot was fingertipped on to the crossbar.

The goal arrived moments later, as substitute Zdravko Kuzmanovic with practically his first touch pulled back for a Danilo D’Ambrosio rocket into the roof of the net with a deflection off Johansson.

The second leg is next Thursday at San Siro.

Stjarnan 0-3 Inter

Scorers: Icardi 40 (I), Dodo 48 (I), D’Ambrosio 89 (I)

Stjarnan: Jónsson; Vemmelund, Rauschenberg, D Laxdal, Arnason; Runarsson (Toft 69), A Johansson; Bjorgvinsson, Punyed, Finsen; Gunnarsson (G Johansson 69)

Inter: Handanovic; Ranocchia, Vidic, Juan Jesus; Jonathan (D’Ambrosio 75), Kovacic, M’Vila, Hernanes (Kuzmanovic 88), Dodo; Botta (Osvaldo 60); Icardi

Ref: Strahonja (CRO)

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/54657/el ... h-stjarnan

[Totally FRANK]

Against Stjarnan, I think Vidic was the only player aged above 30 in the starting 11. It is quite a turn considering the average age two years ago or even last year. Agreed that not many of them are world beaters but Thohir kept insisting on bringing down the average age and Aid seems to have done it in one transfer window.

[maro]

Has Dodo already scored more goals for Sphincter than he did for Roma?

[Lombardiamia]

[maro]

I like him more than most of the Romanisti in these parts. It's probably also true that he's especially suited to the wing-back role rather than any our 4-3-3s could offer him. He's quick, pretty good carrying the ball in a straight line. DCG's pretty hard on him because he seems only able to run in straight lines which means he has a tendency to run into trouble. If he can stay free of injury he should be quite a useful addition. Pace, after all, can cover a multitude of sins - and defensively and in terms of option-taking he has a few such sins.

[Lombardiamia]

From the few friendlies he's played with us, he does indeed seem the player you're describing. He often leaves his position empty, but a 3-5-2 formation does give better protection. Also he gets to start his runs a few yards higher in this position, so it can only be good for him. Also I like that he's not a midget-Brazilian type of full back. I like that he's physically strong.
If he can stay away from injuries, I guess we could have made quite a good buy.

[maro]

I was disappointed we sold him - I think he's still got the potential to have a pretty big upside (pace, physicality, technical quality). On the other hand, Garcia had had a chance to have a pretty good look at him and he struggled to get back into the side after the injury that stopped his run of games around Christmas last season. Besides, I think the way the club works, it was a decent enough financial move to cash in on him at this stage and move on to the next project. I shouldn't be at all surprised if he does pretty well for you guys, though, and I doubt you'll lose money on him whatever happens. He's certainly a good alternative to Nagatomo - who might, I suppose, end up playing a bit more on the right anyway. He is still with you guys, isn't he? I'd say Dodo has a rather better engine than Jonathan; quite whether he can make the right runs at the right times remains to be seen. Were I a betting man, I'd put a little bit on his being a success for you. We've gone for Ashley Cole and Emanuelson, both of whom are rather more experienced, probably rather more reliable. Neither's quite as exciting. I think he'll hurt teams getting forward - hopefully his own when you play against us.

[Lombardiamia]

This year's really looking good for our Primavera. Puskas, Bonazzoli & Camara will have a great future IMO.

[kros]

Our primavera has always looked good in there last 10 years. We've earned quite a lot of money from there, even though I would love to see some of these players become Inter first team regulars.

[kros]

Today I have bee reading on quite a lot of websites that apart from Guarin, Alvarez seems to be on his way out too. I think this player still has good things to offer and that when he was in fine physical form he has always played quite decently. Hopefully he can stay at Inter for some other years.

[kros]

[Lombardiamia]

[kros]

Hope he doesn't get lost as well ... In teh past I had read about a certain 'Tassi' who was compared to Roberto Baggio ... I lost track of where he ended up. Also Crisetig was considered very very promising ... he must be at least 20 by now and has not made the grade yet so I doubt he ever will

[Lombardiamia]

[Totally FRANK]

Alvarez seems to be on his way out. 1m for loan with mandatory redemption set at 11m with Sunderland stay up. With Botta gone as well, we definitely need another striker.

There have been links with Shaqiri and Lavezzi but I would be very surprised if something happened there. We will probably end up with Biabiany.

[Lombardiamia]

Moving out Alvarez for Biabiany would be a huge mistake and they know this. I don't think they would want to ruin an otherwise flawless transfer session with such a move... especially since this is Thohir & Ausilio's first real transfer campaign and everyone is giving them a positive feedback.
I'm awaiting something significant up there... which doesn't necessarily mean a Shaqiri or Lavezzi, but something more similar to that than Biabiany.
Then again, I might be wrong.