Internazionale Main Thread

[Dejan-Stankovic]

I had to leave to go to work at about the 60 min mark but he looked good up until that point (if you take into consideration it was a friendly, tiredness, out of position etc). Some of his passes were off target but apart from that, when he got the ball, he made some good plays and nice touches. Just looking at him, it's like he's been playing with us for years and his very imposing physically. He's going to be our best buy when played in position and if he can stay fit and I think this was a masterstroke by Mou, Branca etc. Also, Santon seems to have gotten quicker and better with regards to his touches and runs from the midfield. He'll replace Ibra as the Inter idol in about a year imo.

Motta and Vieira played behind Balotelli but got a lot of the ball out wide which simply makes no sense since they won't be playing in those positions come the start of the season. Balotelli needs to be used out wide and not through the middle since he naturally drifts out that way to create. All I can gather is Mou used the game for fitness, to see how well we could keep possession and how well the team moved as a whole, especially from the midfield tracking back. If that's the case, we looked pretty good with all factors included. Their two goals were from a shot that even a 6th string keeper could've saved and a peno and that's the full Chelsea team we're talking about.

When you look at our proposed full team; Cesar; Maicon, Chivu, Samuel, Santon; Motta, Cambiasso, Muntari, Balotelli, Milito and Eto'o vs Belec; Santon, Cordoba, Burdisso, Chivu; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Obi; Vieira, Motta; Balotelli, it's really hard to see how we'd gain anything tactically out of this friendly but it is what it is.

[Lombardiamia]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Lombardiamia]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Totally FRANK]

Actually I wasn't impressed with our team yesterday. We played much better against Club America than Chelsea. Mou opted for a 4-5-1 formation with Balotelli as the lone striker and Motta playing behind him. Vieria and Cambiasso took the DM positions with Obi on the left and Zanetti on the right. I think this was a ploy to contain Chelsea's strong midfield but it did not work out. Balotelli was totally isolated, Motta looked a little lost in that position but Vieria surprisingly had a decent game. I liked the 4-3-3 the other day with Motta and Stankovic providing a good amount of creativity.

The side that played yesterday looked like last year's Inter with the midfield playing so deep in their own half that the strikers were left too isolated. A midfield of Zanetti, Vieria and Cambiasso can't provide much creativity and add to the fact that Obi was bullied out of possession most of the time. Dejan, you did not miss much of Motta as he was replaced at around 60 mins. Ibra is already dreaming about Barca, he was in no mood to play football out there. Milito was totally exhausted after the first match but Quaresma looked sharp for the 10 mins he played. If we need to play better, we desperately need Motta and Stankovic to drive the midfield forward and hopefully Lucio can help the defence hold a higher line. A midfield of Zanetti, Cambiasso and Vieria won't do any good, they clearly lack ideas. The positive from the game was that Obi was given a real taste of the medicine and I think Mou has a lot of trust in him.

After the friendly in Boston we head back to Italy I suppose but we have a friendly with Monaco on the 30th or 31st. Then we head for the Bird's Nest.

[Totally FRANK]

Eto'o-Ibra saga nears end
Wednesday 22 July, 2009
A phone call made by Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o has paved the way for his transfer to Inter, sending Zlatan Ibrahimovic the other way.

Eto'o's agent, Jose Maria Mesalles was in Milan yesterday holding talks with Inter President Massimo Moratti and his technical staff.

La Gazzetta dello Sport understands Eto'o called Mesalles from France and got him to pass the phone over to Inter director of sport Marco Branca.

“Hello, it's Eto'o. I am enthusiastic about Inter and convinced I can carry the Champions League back to Milan,â€

[RomaShield27]

Is Zlatan worth the bother for Barça?
– Wednesday 22 July 2009 10:00

If Joan Laporta had known what a blooming ball-ache the Mad Sammy Eto’o for Mad Zlatan Ibrahimovic transfer was going to be, then the tantrum-throwing titan of the Camp Nou probably wouldn’t have bothered with the swap. Not only has the ceaseless saga irked Pep Guardiola, the local press and a good chunk of the Barcelona faithful, but if the details of the reported deal are correct, then it could also turn out to be the biggest waste of money since Jesus Navas splashed out on a round-the-world air ticket.

Laporta has even handed the opportunity to the Madridista papers of allowing them to take an evening stroll along the moral high ground - no mean feat - by throwing them the raw meat of a deal that could be worth 45m euro, plus Eto’o, plus Alexander Hleb - rounding things up to an estimated 90m.

“Each club has the freedom to pay what it considers right for a player,â€

[Messinterista]

WOOT!!!

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A Big Spanish Team Wants Inter Defender Nicolas Burdisso - Agent

A top Primera Division side is about to swoop for the Inter man, according to his agent...

Inter defender Nicolas Burdisso is getting ready to join a "big" Spanish team, according to his agent Fernando Hidalgo.

Burdisso has been on Jose Mourinho's departure list and his agent has been busy wheeling and dealing. Roma, Fiorentina and Genoa were all reportedly interested in the Argentinean, but it appears as if a deal to move to Spain has been struck.

"I heard Roma want him but I have not spoken to them," Hidalgo told Calciomercato.it.

"I am speaking with a big Spanish side at the moment and I am trying to close the deal. I think that an offer will be made by the end of the week and I have already informed Inter.

"However, there could be novelties within the next few days and I will tell Inter about them if they arise."

Source: http://goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zon ... s-burdisso

[Lombardiamia]

[Lombardiamia]

[RomaShield27]

Rumour has it he had it stuck so far up Mourinho's arse that it got wedged up there and the two had to be brought straight to the A&E.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Lombardiamia]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Lombardiamia]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[RomaShield27]

Eto'o agrees terms with Inter, says agent
Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:17pm BST

MILAN, July 23 - Barcelona's Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o has agreed personal terms with Inter Milan, his agent said on Thursday as a swap deal involving Zlatan Ibrahimovic moved closer.

After another meeting with Inter officials in Milan, Josep Mesalles said a deal had been reached and he would now go back to Barcelona to settle matters there.

"The only problem is a loyalty bonus with Barcelona. It should be settled in a week or so," he was quoted as telling the ANSA news service after leaving the meeting.

Inter's Sweden striker Ibrahimovic, who injured his hand in the Italian champions' friendly defeat by Chelsea in California this week, has yet to agree terms with European champions Barca.

The complicated swap deal, which involves Barcelona also paying cash, could see Barca midfielder Aleksandr Hleb moving to Inter on loan if Eto'o and Ibrahimovic sign.

[Lombardiamia]

Benarrivato Eto'o. Adios Ibra. I'm sure that we'll all miss him, anyway.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Best player in the last 3 years for us and will definitely be missed. I hope he wins the Ballon D'Or that he's after..