Internazionale Main Thread

[maro]

Lomba, I'll make you mod again for half an hour so you can sort things out as you like. When you're done, post some nonsense in the Shoutbox and I'll take the burden away from you again.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

I think we should have a mod now since there will be on-going renovations. As we reached a stalemate last time when no-one took it, I'll volunteer for the job as long as nobody has any objections to it. I'm on annual leave from work for another 4 weeks so it won't be such a hassle for me. Of course, if you want it Frank, it's all yours.

[Totally FRANK]

We officially start our new season today.

My only disappointment is that mou wanted all his signings to be here by now but we only have mancini.

[maro]

Okay Cajun. Thanks.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Bump.

[maro]

Presumably you may as well sticky this one too, no?

[RomaShield27]

Thanks for stepping forward Dejan to help out as mod, lord knows the Inter forum needed it after the mess the last Inter mod left it in. Be sure to check out the forum just above the Shoutbox if you've any questions.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

One step at a time. I don't want the power rushing to my head.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Will do Shieldy, thanks! Since I'm off work for the next month it's something to do besides the gym and the girlfriend. And she has the nerve to say I'm afriad of responsibility and commitment.. if only she could see me now.

[RomaShield27]

lol, your showin her. The changes you've done so far look good but another thing you may want to consider is merging threads, which you can now do. For example, there is the old 'Tutto NeroAzzurro - Inter main thread' and then this newly renamed main thread which could be merged together. Its totally up to you, of course, and maybe its better start from afresh, as it were. Whatever suits your needs!

[Lombardiamia]

Fiorentina-Inter, conferme per scambio Burdisso-Da Costa

Fonte: Firenzeviola.it
E' l'ultima voce del mercato viola. Inizialmente sembrava un'ipotesi impossibile ma, ora dopo ora, appare sempre più concreta. Stiamo parlando dello scambio tra Da Costa e Burdisso. L'ultima conferma arriva da Franck Peslerbe, agente del portoghese della Fiorentina, che al quotidiano lusitano O'Jogo, ha spiegato che i nerazzurri per cedere Burdisso hanno chiesto ai viola Da Costa più un conguaglio in denaro. Staremo a vedere, ma la sensazione è che questa sia più di una semplice idea per il diesse Corvino

[Lombardiamia]

Good news there Dejan. You were my predileged son / successor..

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Lol.. dw Lomba, I won't disappoint!

I like the concept of starting fresh, Shieldy. Hopefully we can reach the 300 page mark and open a new thread soon.

So the Da Costa - Burdisso deal is a possibility then? Great. Is this the same Da Costa that played for Benfica, Lomba?

[Totally FRANK]

Dejan, if your gf is as "smart" as one of brain's gf in family guy then she should be overwhelmed with joy to see your name in green now.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Lol, she doesn't know how lucky she is, Frank!

So it seems Bolzoni, Biabiany and Santon have all been called up to train with the first team. I'm not sure I see any of them being promoted full time to the first team except maybe Bolzoni. Then again, we have quite a few CMs already available.

Crespo also turned up to training so I guess he's still an Inter player.

[Lombardiamia]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Totally FRANK]

[Totally FRANK]

Some interesting sections of mou's interview today

Mourinho, what do you think when I say Quaresma and Lampard?
"Lampard is a Chelsea player and Quaresma is a Porto player. I don't have to talk about players of other clubs. It's easy to understand that I worked with Frank for three and a half years. He was a fantastic player with whom I have an extraordinary relationship. In an interview given in Portugal a few weeks ago I said I like Quaresma, but I have to respect the players of other clubs."

A month and a half ago you said you wanted 21 outfield players plus three goalkeepers. Have you changed your mind?
"No. This isn't my probem. I will leave with 29 players, but with 5 injured players, so I have 24 players to work with - 21 on the pitch plus 3 goalkeepers, so the number is 24 and this is the number I like to work with. When the injured players are back there will be a few youngsters who will return to their teams. I told the team that I'm not a coach who tells the fitness coach to work with a group for half an hour and then makes them play a 14-a-side practice match. I want to work in an organised way with an organised group, with a maximum of 22 players on the pitch."

What is your relationship with Roman Abramovich, who is thinking of keeping Lampard to spite you?
"I need another midfielder. I told the players today because I like to be honest with them. A month ago I told Branca and the president that I would like to have a midfielder who is different from the midfielders we already have. As for Abramovich, I don't know what to say. I'm the coach of Inter and it's Moratti, Branca and Oriali, not me, who take care of transfers and relationships with other clubs. For Lampard I have no idea how it will end up. The transfer market is open until 31 August and I'd really like to have an extra player for the midfield. The club knows this and will see what to do."

There have been rumours of a possible transfer for Stankovic. What do you think of him?
"Stankovic isn't a problem. I like him as a player and what I will say now is what I told him earlier, otherwise I wouldn't allow myself to say it: for me the Stankovic at Inter has never been the Stankovic he was at Lazio. For me working with him is a challenge. If possible I will try to get him back to being like he was in his Lazio years."

Besides your philosophy of work, is there a code of behaviour that the players have to respect?
"I have a code and I have spoken to the team about it, but for me the most important thing is common sense. I can't ask the players to do things that I can't do, I only ask them to do what I can do too. If, for example, I get here an hour and a half before before training I can't accept a player arriving late. With common sense and communication, we won't have any problems. There might be small internal fines for lateness or forgetfulness, but I don't think the amount of the fine is important for players who earn e few million euros. What counts is that training must start at ten if scheduled for that time. If there are 24 players on the pitch it's perfect. If there are only 14 I will just work with them because I won't accept anyone else."

And what happens if there are only 14? What will the others do?
"They will go home. And they will go when even when there's a match."

[Totally FRANK]

Excluding Inter's players, which Serie A player do you like the most?
"This is a million-dollar question. There's a player I really like and he doesn't play for Milan, Juventus or Roma."

Have you also spoken to Nicolas Burdisso?
"Yes. I have spoken to all of them. The situation is easy: at the moment we have three central defenders - Burdisso, Materazzi and Rivas. But in a few months' time we could have six because Chivu, Cordoba and Samuel will return from injury. When all six are available we will have to consider that I play two on the pitch, one goes on the bench and three end up in the stands. This isn't a problem for me. In fact, it's an advantage because I will have lots of cover if there are injuries or suspensions. But six central defenders are too many. I have been honest with them and they are intelligent and have understood the situation."

What tactical scheme will you use? I wanted your opinion of Ibrahimovic and Adriano. Do you consider them as centre-forwards or are you thinking of using them in a different way?
"We always have a philosophy and a starting point. The 4-3-3 is the scheme I really like and when I talk about this scheme I mean three pure strikers. The position of the strikers isn't important and it can change from match to match. The challenge will be defending with three players in midfield in order to give the team the complete freedom of going on the pitch with three strikers. At that point playing Adriano and Ibrahimovic together won't be a problem."

What do you think of Amantino Mancini, the first signing under your management?
"I like him and this is why I wanted him. He's a wide player who can play well in the middle. He likes playing between the lines, he loves playing diagonally and he gets into scoring positions. He's fast, he's creative and dynamic. He has an excellent score in Serie A. He's a right-footed player who plays on the left wing and I like this because he can move into the centre."

When Carlo Ancelotti was asked last year if he feared your arrival at Milan, he said some controversial things about you. Why?
"You'll have to ask him. And I think he forgot one important thing. In the history of Milan a super important coach was Arrigo Sacchi who never played football better than me. Personally, my dentist is fantastic and he's never had toothache."

Do you think six strikers are enough to win the Champions League?
"Yes. A team needs balance. It will be important to work together on defence and attack. We have many many solutions in attack, from the experience of Figo to the youth of Balotelli, from the physical strength of Adriano to the scoring instinct of Crespo and Suazo, and the talent of Ibrahimovic and the speed of Suazo. We have every possible solution."

How do you want your relationship with the press to be?
"I don't like lies. I can't talk about Italy because i have just arrived, but I'm a 21st century man like you and I have understood your market where sometimes lies sells more than truth. This is your life and I don't like it, but we have to adapt to this style. I understand your work and I have to work with you, but the protection of my group is much, much, much more important than you."