Internazionale Main Thread II

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Messinterista]

[Lombardiamia]

[Totally FRANK]

Mourinho has very little confidence in Suazo, he is willing to risk an unfit Eto'o to a fit Suazo. This cost us yesterday, not that we would have done great if we had Milito and Eto'o playing at full fitness but the lack of a good fourth striker really hurt us. I don't see the reason of keeping Suazo in the squad if he did not have the confidence in him.

Then Mou walks into the press conference saying Eto'o wasn't 100% and to play the 4-3-2-1 we really need a fit striker. Total BS. If all this was true why did not Suazo start and we could have brought on Eto'o in the second half if needed.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Suazo simply stayed because he still had the term on his contract and he was better than keeping Obinna or extending Cruz or Crespo's contracts. Also, Arnautovic is hurting us quite a bit as well. We've effectively only got 3 good strikers and that isn't good enough. I'm almost certain we'll get Pandev in Jan and send Arna back to Twente as well as selling Suazo next season. I'm also 100% certain Mou won't play Arna just to show Moratti, Branca and Oriali that he didn't approve of them signing him and you can tell this in his recent interview when he said Arna was just a blind investment and hasn't said one good word about him.

Also, I honestly would rather finish last in the group than third; I don't want to be playing in no Europa Cup bullshit which we probably would get knocked out in the first round we enter. If the team has any sort of balls, they'll win vs Kiev away and Rubin at home and we'll make the knockout phase.

[Messinterista]

[Totally FRANK]

Today both Sneijder and Stankovic have complained about the bad state of the San Siro pitch. This is not news but does it really contribute that much to us playing so badly at home especially now that we are 'supposedly' playing the passing game. Yesterday i saw Cambiasso make some horrible first touches, I am wondering if it is really because of the pitch. If it was Muntari I wouldn't have bothered but Cambiasso, there has got to be something wrong. Even when Cambiasso has a bad game he is generally better than others.

Anyway, next game against Catania I am not hoping much. Apart from the pitch factor, I am sure Catania will park a bus in front of their goal and we tend to play well only when we have space to exploit. See the big scorelines, they were against teams like Milan, Napoli and Genoa who tend to attack when they have the ball. When we don't have space we struggle and I am expecting the same against Catania.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

UEFA President Michel Platini Aiming To Curb Spending By Champions League Teams

He says teams in the Champions League will not be permitted to spend more money than they earn...

UEFA president Michel Platini has once against stated his that belief that the €94 million Real Madrid paid Manchester United for the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo was "outrageous" and said that clubs should not be spending more money on players than they are generating.

"I've already told Florentino {Perez, Madrid president], I feel it's an incredible amount. I still find it outrageous that a club will spend €200 million on new players, but if the club has it, I can not do anything. Florentino has the money. We say not to spend more money than is generated," Platini remarked.

"I cannot enforce it on the [national football] federations, but those involved in the Champions League will have to have good accounting. The rule says that you can not spend more money than is generated."

Platini also revealed that the presidents of Milan and Inter and Real's city rivals Atletico Madrid have asked for the spending cap to be introduced to the game.

"Today there is an international crisis and the owners do not want to spend billions. [Milan president Silvio] Berlusconi and [Inter president Massimo] Moratti has asked me to. Also the Atletico president [Enrique Cerezo]seeks a rule for not spending more than is generated."

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Lomba, I think this is what you were discussing a few weeks ago about the new rules that will be brought into place for Europe. Looks like Moratti is really keen on it. Probably a very good way to keep the Spanish and English teams honest.

[Lombardiamia]

[Messinterista]

Watching Balotelli, seeing Cassano

There are still question marks over Mario Balotelli. Even after Inter’s 5-0 win at Genoa in which he scored a true striker’s goal, says Peter Doyle

Mario Balotelli, much the same as Antonio Cassano did, has shown great promise from a very early age and the scope for comparisons between the two does not end there. Both have terrific ability with a football at their feet, but it is several other aspects to their game which, on more than one occasion, has let them down.

Cassano learnt his trade with Bari, quickly rising through the youth team ranks and made his debut in 1999. His career with his hometown club was cut short after Roma smashed the transfer fee record for a teenager with a bid of £20m.

At the delicate age of 19, the pressure and expectation became apparent as Fantantonio's professionalism was brought into question. During his five year spell at the club Cassano fell in and out of favour with club officials, referees, teammates and Fabio Capello amongst other Roma Coaches.

Only now at Sampdoria, and after a torrid spell at Real Madrid, is his starting to deliver on his potential. However, despite what would appear to be a change of ways, I am one of the few who believe Marcello Lippi is right to overlook him for La Nazionale. The little team spirit which Lippi has done well to rebuild may struggle to cope with the potential disruption of Cassano.

Cassano's career must surely act as a warning for any young hopeful. However, I still fear Balotelli's career could nose dive before it has started as he shows all the immature qualities needed to replicate such a downfall.

Balotelli has youth on his side and therefore a promising and illustrious career ahead of him if managed correctly. Last year saw the Italian Under-21 starlet fall in and out of favour with head strong Jose Mourinho as the Portuguese tactician questioned his training.

His pace, strength and eye for goal are balanced against his short temper, which in turn has led to bad challenges and red cards. Balotelli, 19, already plays with the arrogance of a world beater, something which can make or break a player. His lazy, nonchalant style of play may not be tolerated should the goals dry up or he suffers a loss of form.

Balotelli must surely see his career mapped out in front of him and know exactly what he wants to achieve. As a dedicated follower of the Azzurri, I only hope his attitude can be focused on the more positive aspects of his game.

Super Mario has the potential to truly live up to his nickname by proving his talent on the biggest of stages with both Inter and Italy. The Nerazzurri faithful will hope Cassano's rollercoaster career serves as a warning on how not to conduct yourself both on and off the field.

Source: http://football-italia.net/blogs/pd2.html

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Messinterista]

[Messinterista]

Moratti gives an ultimatum, Liverfekkin'wankscum want Mourinho

Liverfekkin'wankscum counts Benitez’s days and aim for the Special One.
Mourinho is first choice for the Reds.
Inter doubts, Moratti is a shield to the team and Mourinho. But only till Kiev.
The president uses low tones: "I'm not angry".
But if things do not improve in the Champions, the coach is no longer safe.
(Gazzetta dello Sport)

Outburst Tuesday night at dinner.
Here's Moratti’s ultimatum: "I want Balotelli and Santonâ€

[Totally FRANK]

It's another story cooked up by the newspapers. I don't think Moratti is going to fire Mourinho, he already did that once and is still paying (literally) for it. And who we get if we fire Mourinho? It won't happen unless Mourinho steps down.

Anyway, for tomorrow's game Samuel, Cambiasso, Milito, Motta and Suazo haven't been called up. With Samuel absent, we will probably see Santon get a game with Chivu at CB but we have a lot of options there especially now that Matrix has come back from injury. We will revert back to the 4-3-1-2 with Stankovic slotting in front of the defense flanked by Zanetti and Muntari. It will be good to see Balotelli finally being played as one of the two strikers up top.

[RomaShield27]

Domestic bullies Inter must broaden their influence
– Friday 23 October 2009 13:30

Massimo Moratti used to believe that Inter had to win the Serie A title at all costs. Maybe lifting the Champions League trophy would be a nice diversion, but really that was secondary to domestic dominance. All's fine on the home front now – we've given up wondering if anyone can stop the Nerazzurri from pinning the scudetto onto their shirts for the foreseeable future – but the patron has been unable to switch track and focus on Europe.

Look at AC Milan over the last few years: when they hear the first strains of the Champions League anthem they are generally a team transformed. Wednesday was a case in point. In fact their vice-president Adriano Galliani made sure Zadok The Priest was blasting out in the dressing room just before kick-off.

The motivation was certainly there within the Rossoneri camp to delve deep and produce a stirring performance at Real Madrid, although they didn't crow about it too much as that would have openly cast them in the role of underdogs.

Inter, for their part, can't seem to find that sort of impetus when it comes to European evenings – unable to burst out of the blocks for a one-off, at total odds with the approach on the domestic scene where they can wear down the opposition over a number of months. To use a cycling analogy, it’s akin to being a one-day time-trial specialist and a Giro d’Italia winner.

Dynamo Kyiv didn’t arrive at the San Siro looking to stifle Jose Mourinho’s side, as would happened with most Serie A opposition. And in Madrid, Milan took the game to the Spaniards (as soon as they had gathered themselves after Nelson Dida’s howler).

Moratti has claimed that anyone who thinks his club must win the Champions League knows nothing about football. That type of thinking would seem to belittle Serie A somewhat: being the big shot in your own backyard only to be pushed around by the likes of Rubin Kazan and a team containing Andriy Shevchenko.

Inter have gone eight games without a win in the competition – and this under a coach who prides himself on being a conqueror of Europe. To save this campaign, Jose Mourinho now has to wrap up his assorted artists – South Americans et al – in tights and gloves for the icy blast of Ukraine in November. Needing to take a point in a hostile environment, who would you put your money on – Inter or Milan?

Juventus are another club who like nothing better than tallying up their league titles, but at least they could back that up with a European pedigree (six continental competitions conquered, even if the last was an unlucky 13 years ago).

Unlike the new Fiat 500, this year’s footballing model is going nowhere fast – and maybe only now is the true extent of Luciano Moggi’s influence finally being felt. The Old Lady can't, erm, buy a win in the league, and were fortunate to escape with a completely cohesion-free victory at home to 10-man Maccabi Haifa.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[maro]

Rafa would be a great manager for you guys, cajun (though clearly there's no reason even to contemplate replacing Moaninho at this stage). I think Rafa's a very, very clever manager. He's clearly a slightly abrasive character at times - particularly in relation to those above him within a club's chain of command - but I think tactically he's one of the very best (if not the very best) out there. I'm almost certain that had Liverpuke sold Gerrard to Chelski for 35 mil or whatever it was, at the end of Rafa's first season with the club, then Livrepuke would have won considerably more than they have done to date. Rafa would do wonders with the squad you guys currently have at your disposal.

[Totally FRANK]

Maicon: 'I don't want to leave Inter'
Saturday 24 October, 2009
Douglas Maicon has finally silenced talk of a big money move to the Premiershit. “I don’t want to leave Inter.â€

[Totally FRANK]

[Dejan-Stankovic]