Internazionale Main Thread II

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Rubbish first half. Absolute rubbish. Even without Eto'o, Balotelli, Motta, Sneijder, Chivu and injured Muntari, we should at least have more than 1 shot on goal in the entire half. We can't keep the ball longer than 3 passes at a time. Milito appears half fit and is playing like it and Mancini... I want to say something about him but he's not worth the very space it will be displayed in.

It's clear that all Mou has asked is to not lose the game while expending as little energy as possible and 3 points would simply be a bonus. At the moment, even that looks in doubt. At least Khrin looks quite good out there; definitely something we can work with for the future.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Brazil Legend Falcao Crowns Future Inter Star Coutinho

The ex-Roma midfielder has applauded the Nerazzurri for snatching the Vasco da Gama ace.

Former Brazilian international Paulo Roberto Falcao believes attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho is a star in the making and Italian champions Inter have pulled off a major coup in signing the 17-year-old from Vasco da Gama.

“I have recently talked to Vasco coach, Roberto Dinamite, and he told me the owners had made the decision to sell Coutinho,â€

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Not a great second half but better. That Milito goal out of nowhere was a bit harsh on Livorno but what a goal by Maicon, just flew past everyone and nice finish on the left. At the end of the day, I suppose this is what the best teams do; pick up points where others would drop them.

Best player for me would probably be Vieira even though no-one really shone; a solid game in midfield. Now Kiev...

[Totally FRANK]

I am still wondering what happened to Motta? Why did he not even make it to the bench. The commentator at the end was repeatedly saying that Cambiasso was struggling with some injury but I did not notice anything. Anyway, I hope its nothing serious.

We played the whole game in second or third gear and we still got the win. Also considering the starting 11 we put up I wasn't surprised we did nothing in the first half. Milito was too isolated, Mancini did not have the confidence to pull the trigger and his play clearly shows the lack of game time. Positionally, Khrin was great but whenever he got the ball he passed it to Maicon or Vieria and did not venture forward that much. Probably it was Mourinho's instructions to hold his position but the kid has got talent, he picked Milito with a delightful through ball once.

Vieria is in really good form. Personally I might pick him ahead in Zanetti for the right midfield in Kiev but its unlikely to happen. Cambisso,Motta,Vieria with Stankovic in front would be nice.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Bad news Franky;

"I would like to have all my players available but I have to do without Sneijder and Thiago Motta. Eto'o still isn't well either, and Milito was back among the starters today, but we have laid the right foundations to work and we have the right mentality. We will try to do well in Kiev and get a victory that can give the team even more confidence."

On the subject of injuries and the Champions League, Mourinho isn't hiding his worry over the condition of Sulley Muntari, substituted by Cambiasso in the 29th minute after suffering an injury. "I'm worried. This is obvious. Sulley can't walk. Thiago Motta wasn't fit to play and he's very unlikely to recover for Wednesday. Instead, we will have Chivu back and there's the possibility of playing him alongside Zanetti. Sneijder? He worked with (fitness coach) Stefano Rapetti today, but he too is very unlikely to be on the pitch in Kiev."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So we're going to have to play the co-leaders of the group away from home to save our CL campaign without Muntari, Motta and Sneijder. the curse continues; ever single year in the important games, we're missing an entire dept of players.

------------------Cesar-------------------
Maicon-----Lucio------Samuel----Chivu
---------------Cambiasso----------------
------Zanetti-------------Vieira----------
---------------Stankovic-----------------
---------Milito-------Balotelli/Eto'o------

Haha, I just realised we're back to the exact same midfield we had under Mancini. I see no light at the end of the tunnel. None.

[Lombardiamia]

[Lombardiamia]

According to today's medical tests, it seems that Motta felt pain in the other leg (not the one he injured last). According to Combi, he said that the player probably used the 'good' leg too much in order not to put stress on the injured leg, which then got the 'good' leg to overstress.
Of course 'good' leg is a highly improbable term in this case...

[Dejan-Stankovic]

So that's like 3 different injuries to Motta in what, 14 games of the season? So he plays consistently for Genoa all year then he comes to us and breaks down. Fantastic. At least he didn't cost so much..

[Lombardiamia]

Though one should say that Genoa didnt have to play every 3 days, so he had the time to rest between a game and another.

[Totally FRANK]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Totally FRANK]

Dejan, I don't think Balotelli will be fit to play as he is still suffering from flu. At least that's what Mourinho told after the Livorno game.

Anyway everyone has been called up including the injured trio of Sneijder, Motta, Muntari and the sick Balotelli. Probably we should start with the team that played in the second half against Livorno, Vieria and Cambiasso with Stankovic and Mancini in midfield.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

The flu... whinge fuckin whinge. He should man up and at least make the bench the coward.

I think Mou will go with Zanetti, Cambiasso, Vieira and Stankovic with Eto'o and Milito up top.

[RomaShield27]

MOURINHO DEMANDS EURO IMPROVEMENT


Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho is desperate for his players to recreate their Serie A form in the crunch Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday night. The Nerazzurri travel to the Ukraine in search of their first win in the competition this season after consecutive draws against Barcelona, Rubin Kazan and Dynamo Kiev in Group F.

Those results have left Inter at the foot of the pool, one point behind Barcelona, Rubin and Dynamo with three games remaining. Their league form has been significantly better, with the defending champions seven points clear at the top after Sunday's 2-0 win at Livorno - their fifth straight win in the competition.

"Our top position in the league is down to the fantastic work done by my players every day," said Mourinho. "The team needs to continue on this path and we will see if on Wednesday we can take an important result to give the team a morale boost in the Champions League."

The players, meanwhile, also know that failure to deliver in Kiev could prove costly. "We know this is an important game," said Inter star Diego Milito. "These three points are crucial in our hope to advance to the next round. We will try to give our best and hand a great performance."

Injuries continue to dog the Italian side, however, with Sulley Muntari the latest to be hurt. Muntari sustained a muscular injury at the weekend and is doubtful. Wesley Sneijder and Thiago Motta are still sidelined with thigh injuries.

"The team is okay but like any other side we have to consider the injured players," said Mourinho. "We have physical problems that slow down our work. I would like to have everyone available, but it's not possible. It's difficult for Muntari and Thiago Motta to recover for Wednesday's game."

The consolation for the Italians is that Marco Balotelli will return from suspension.

Dynamo, who held Inter to a 2-2 draw in the first game in Milan, will take heart from the fact that the Italians have won just one of their last six Champions League away games. Valeri Gazzaev's side is unbeaten at home since losing to FC Porto in the Champions League 12 months ago.

The Ukrainian giants are cruising in the Premiershit, winning 10 of their 12 games and have yet to be beaten. Dynamo striker Andriy Shevchenko has urged his team-mates to show the same fighting spirit they displayed at the San Siro a fornight ago.

"My team showed a lot of courage and unity in Milan," said Shevchenko. "We had chances to win that game and I missed a few. "I hope I can score and that my team will show the same determination tomorrow."

Shevchenko believes the battle in the group will go down to the wire. "I think everything will be decided in the last game," he said. "I think this is the most difficult and balanced group."

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Inter to Platini: "We don't have debts"

MILAN - "Inter is not a club in debt." With regard to the declarations of Michel Platini, reported in today's Daily Telegraph, F.C. Internazionale responds with clarity to the UEFA president.

"We understand the institutional worries about the economy of European football, but in citing Inter he forgets that our club does not have debts with the banks. Inter is not among those clubs that, from this point of view, can worry the UEFA president."

[Lombardiamia]

Is this the day where we stop talking about CL for the season 2009-2010?

[Totally FRANK]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[RomaShield27]

[Totally FRANK]