Internazionale Main Thread III

[Lombardiamia]

I dont think I can find anything about all this as scandalous. These awards are based on personal opinions of a few chosen people so no one should complain. Do we think Sneijder deserves to be top 3, certainly we do. Does everyone beleive so too, certainly not. I cant possibly go against personal opinions. Then again we're used to see these awards go to the player who's won the most trophies, and Sneijder has his share....but the WC cleanses all that happened before that during the year. IMO, Sneijder & Inter happened to win the CL in the wrong year.
Messi is reckoned as the world's best so obviously he'll get his good share of votes. Sure he was nowhere to be found when the matches actually counted for something (CL & WC), but his fame of world's best for those who vote seem to be more important than actual achievements. It's unfortunate that Robben failed those 2 golden chances which Sneijder gifted him in the WC final, as otherwise we'd be speaking about a top 3 composed of Sneijder, Robben & Messi. But so is football and so are these awards. Whether you win or lose, you gotta take them with a pinch of salt.

[Messinterista]

Fucking FIFA and their corrupt grubby hands. Now il Pallone d'Oro is corrupt. I feel sorry for Sneijder. Perhaps after the shocker of a season he has had so far, this is probably reason enough for him to get his act together. Iniesta will win the travesty, you heard it here first...

[maro]

Why would it be a travesty, MI? You've not explained that to me. Messi, personally, actually had a good world cup, Lomba. He didn't get the goals he gets at Barca in part because he was playing in a deeper position. Xavi is a wonderful player and should, in my opinion, win it. Iniesta is a better player than Sneijder, in my opinion, and has been a better player over the past year. Sneijder won the CL and lost in the final of the WC. Iniesta and Xavi won the WC and lost in the semi-final of the CL. Messi is an incredibly gifted player. Where's the scandal? What did Cannavaro win other than the WC in the year in which he won the trophy? Was that scandalous?

[Lombardiamia]

[Totally FRANK]

I quite agree with this guy. When I was in India all they telecasted was EPL and CL games that were played by the top four in EPL. I am sure whoever voted from there and similar nations had no idea who Diego Milito or Wesley Sneijder were. This is the advantage of being a household name like Messi as Lomba pointed out, he gets some of the votes because of his name. It doesn't change the fact that he is the best in the world but I don't think he should be in the top 3 before Wesley solely considering the last season.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editor ... -of-wesley

[zafferano]

Can we sink any lower then that ?
worst inter in memory and many still find excuses
any seria B team would have done better then as .
we are slowly becaming a joke .
good on you PERDITEZ today we had the 44 injury
for the season .is that a world record or what ?
ENJOY LOMBA

[RomaShield27]

Wow, a 3-0 spanking to a less-than-impressive Bremen side? Could be the last straw for Moratti?

[Totally FRANK]

Could be. Its increasingly frustrating to see the complete lack of desire and hunger in this team. No one seems to be in a hurry to press the ball and win back possession. They all keep running like headless chickens.

[Messinterista]

Fuck me 3-0. Win or lose this WCC, Rafa has to be out surely. It's a shame. Hoping he gets to stay till the end of the season considering we will be a lot stronger in January.
Maro shouldn't the best player of the year award be given to the best player of the previous season? Sure Sneijder is having a bad start to this season and shouldn't be in the running for the next pallone, but just because Messi is the worlds most talented and gifted player doesn't mean he was better than Sneijder last season. Iniesta will get it for the goal he scored in the WC final. As Lomba said, Inter had their greatest season at the wrong time.

[maro]

It's not about the season, MI, but about the chronological year - it's only a Eurocentric bias that makes the writer of Franck's article think this is a bad thing. There are other seasons in other parts of the world which run to their quite different seasonal rhythms.

[maro]

Lomba, I suspect Messi will be close to the top three for the next however many years. He did also win the Liga title last season, of course, so it's not quite that he won nothing. I'm not suggesting there aren't strong arguments for Sneijder's being in the top three; I just think it's hardly all that controversial or contentious that he isn't. Milito's not making the first shortlist was incomparably more insane and quite indefensible.

[Totally FRANK]

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1124/calcio ... discontent

[Messinterista]

Moratti blasts Benitez: 'I feel betrayed'
“I feel betrayed,” blasted Inter President Massimo Moratti. “Rafa Benitez has to show character and win the Club World Cup. No alibis.”

The patron had said he didn’t want any more “embarrassing” evenings in the Champions League, but saw his men thrashed 3-0 by Werder Bremen last night.

“I don’t want to create problems before the Club World Cup and we’ll see what is to be done after that tournament,” a livid Moratti told Sky Sport Italia.

“I had a feeling we’d lose against Werder, but I certainly didn’t expect it to be this bad.

“I feel betrayed, as I always do when we lose a game in such an obvious way. I took it very badly, but I don’t think the players did it on purpose. Perhaps they felt the tension of their next appointment a bit too much.”

Many have suggested Benitez will be sacked if he doesn’t win the Club World Cup in a convincing manner and Moratti’s comments fuelled those rumours.

“There are no alibis for this tournament. It is a trophy we absolutely must win. Benitez has to show character, otherwise he won’t win the Club World Cup. That’s not an ultimatum, I’m just saying it is very important.

“I think the players could do with some psychological support at this moment and Benitez has to find a way to fix this season.”

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/dec08u.html

[Lombardiamia]

Ugly loss against Bremen but the problem is with the player's heads ATM. Benitez or no Benitez, the players were only thinking about not tiring themselves or not getting any injuries. Benitez even kept some players out so as not to risk. Just for the record, I ain't a huge fan of Benitez (even though some think I am), but I want him to remain in his place till the end of the season. I want to see what he is capable of doing with a full squad and a couple of new faces before making a personal opinion. Apart from that, I have never seen a change in manager during the season at Inter that had any kind of benefit for the team. Those who are asking for Benitez's head now, sure have a VEERRRRYYY short memory.....

[vtec]

i think you guys need to fire benitez. hopefully, you lose at the club world cup so that you can make this change happen. the danger is that if you win, benitez stays on and sabotages the rest of your season. the sooner you replace this born loser, the sooner inter can get back to winning ways.

[Messinterista]

The club world cup is a must. Lose then yes Rafa needs to go. Win, I still I want to give him until the rest of the season. We will have players back and buy more in January. Will make for an exciting finish.

[Lombardiamia]

[Messinterista]

Blog: Defenders on the move

With speculation beginning to build in anticipation of the winter transfer window, Rob Paton looks at the latest confirmed and rumoured moves in Serie A

The transfer window may not yet be open, but clubs across the peninsula have been busy planning out reinforcements since September 1. Defenders are on a lot of clubs’ shopping lists, with some early movers already in negotiations and some confusing transfer triangles emerging.

One transfer accepted to be going through in January, in some quarters at least, is that of Andrea Ranocchia from Genoa to Inter. The young centre-back impressed last term at Bari before a serious knee injury ruled him out for six months. The Nerazzurri have decided to bring the co-owned youngster back to San Siro early due to their injury concerns at the back and for what he represents for Rafa Benitez’ team.

Ranocchia is just as capable in the air as the other centre-backs at the club, but is a more intelligent footballer in possession, able to initiate attacks as a ball-playing defender as well as offer a better range of cover to slower teammates at the back.

The Nerazzurri are also understood to harbour an interest in Wolfsburg’s Andrea Barzagli. The former Palermo defender’s contract is up in June, and having failed to reach an agreement on an extension, is expected to move on in January. The player’s agent has indicated a preference for Juventus – a side in need of another experienced head at the back – but to date Inter have been the more vocal in wanting the player.

With Ranocchia expected to be departing Marassi and Genoa only welcoming Kakha Kaladze back from injury in January, Davide Ballardini’s side are in the market for a centre-back to facilitate the club’s recent defensive progress into the second half of the season.

With a preference at the club for those in Ranocchia’s mold, the Rossoblu have been linked with a host of names including the versatile, exciting young talent of Leonel Galeano, currently impressing with Independiente in Argentina. Another potential name is Barzagli due to the club’s competitive wage structure, whilst Barzagli was also linked with Napoli in the summer.

Espanyol’s tall centre-back Victor Ruiz is definitely on both Genoa and Napoli’s radars after a strong start to the La Liga season. The Grifone are understood to be more prepared to meet the asking price of €8m for the Spanish Under-21 international despite Napoli’s interest in the player dating back to last term. However, both could be priced out by a club – rumoured to be interested – with unrivalled spending power and who will crop up even in this column on a semi-regular basis: Manchester City.

Chasing Champions League football, President Aurelio De Laurentiis is eager to strengthen Napoli and should he be priced out for Ruiz, Miguel Angel Britos of Bologna and Chievo’s Andrea Mantovani are expected alternative options for a back-line that has looked vulnerable on occasion this term.

Source: http://football-italia.net/blogs/rp40.html

[Messinterista]

Duo snub Cassano bid
Palermo and Parma are the latest clubs to withdraw from the race to sign Sampdoria rebel Antonio Cassano in January.

Both clubs have been associated with the enigma given that his Doria career is basically over after a row with President Riccardo Garrone.

Although Cassano could be available on a free transfer if his contract is rescinded by a tribunal, the Serie A pair who actually met over the weekend are not possible destinations.

“Everyone would like Cassano, but there is no room for him here,” said Maurizio Zamparini, the Palermo chief who had previously hinted that he would make an approach.

“If I didn’t have Javier Pastore in the team then I would probably think about it, but I’m keeping hold of the Argentine.”

Parma, meanwhile, had been suggested as a possible short-term solution for Cassano with whispers claiming he could sign a six-month deal.

“He is a player who doesn’t form a part of our project on a sporting or human level,” noted Gialloblu President Tommaso Ghirardi.

“Our relationship with Sampdoria President Garrone must also be taken into consideration.”

A decision on Cassano’s contract situation was expected to be made today but a verdict has been postponed until later this week.

Juventus have also insisted they will make no move for Cassano.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/dec13r.html
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Everyone is shying away from the purchase except for us which makes me happy. Hoping they are not putting on a charade.

[Totally FRANK]

We need more than just a Samuel replacement from the January market. At least one more striker...
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Branca: "Arriverà solo un difensore. Benitez? Siamo tutti sotto esame"
13.12.2010 23:07 di Fabrizio Romano articolo letto 2386 volte
Fonte: Sportmediaset.it

Da Abu Dhabi e dalle frequenze di Premium Calcio, il direttore dell'area tecnica dell'Inter Marco Branca ha fatto il punto in vista dei giorni decisivi del Mondiale per Clubs. "Il Seongnam dice di potere batterci? Noi li rispettiamo, sarà il campo a dare i valori", dichiara durante Premium Football Club. Sulla situazione di Benitez, Branca ha ribattuto che "siamo tutti sotto esame". Un accenno al mercato: "A gennaio sostituiremo Samuel".

"Non ci deve essere preoccupazione, ma concentrazione e per essere concentrati dobbiamo pensare che siano molto forti", ha continuato Branca a proposito della semifinale col Seongnam e sul Mondiale in generale: "Se finora ci siamo risparmiati in funzione del Mondiale? Mi piacerebbe dire di sì, ma la situazione non ce l'ha permesso: c'è stata grande difficoltà dal punto di vista degli infortuni. Il fatto di avere la solita base su cui lavorare è fondamentale per raggiungere risultati importanti e dare continuità e noi questa base non l'abbiamo avuta. Ora c'è una bella sensazione di felicità, soprattutto la vedo nei giocatori che finora hanno avuto problemi fisici."

Branca continua: "La Coppa del Mondo è un esame importante e siamo tutti sotto esame, ma chi non vorrebbe darlo questo esame. Il pensiero della delusione non ci deve sfiorare prima." Un messaggio che sembra toccare anche Rafa Benitez, l'uomo al centro del mirino ad Abu Dhabi: "Rispetto a Mourinho, Benitez ha puntato su un maggior possesso palla e su un gioco veloce palla a terra, una strategia possibile finché la squadra stava bene. I miglioramenti, in termini di spettacolarità del gioco, c'erano stati: mi sembra ingeneroso l'attacco mediatico nei confronti del mister dicendo che contano solo i risultati. Ma è giusto subire quello che stiamo subendo, anzi dobbiamo usarlo come stimolo e reagire da uomini. Cosa dice Moratti? Mi ha telefonato e voleva sapere com'era l'umore dei ragazzi e se la situazione fisica di alcuni di loro migliora: sappiamo che qualche nostro componente può non essere al top della condizione per quanto riguarda la durata della partita, non della qualità".

Inevitabile, con l'uomo-mercato dell'Inter, un accenno alle operazioni di gennaio: "In estate siamo stati chiari dall'inizio: certe considerazioni erano fuori mercato e fuori tempo e non abbiamo voluto essere vittime di certi tipi di ricatto. Abbiamo confidato nella rosa di questo gruppo e Benitez ha compreso perfettamente. A gennaio cercheremo una soluzione all'inconveniente di Walter Samuel e nient'altro, perché se stiamo tutti bene siamo bravi".

Sullo spogliatoio: "Quello che ti colpisce di più è l'insoddisfazione, tipica delle squadre che vincono, che regna anche nei momenti in cui stai vincendo: mi ricordo Walter Samuel, uno che non parla mai, dire nell'intervallo della finale di Champions a Madrid che era solo metà tempo e la Coppa la voleva nell'aereo e poi dentro casa. Un gesto di umiltà che molti hanno condiviso." E infine, sulla Champions League: "Trovare il Barcellona agli ottavi? Perché no, sarebbe una partita stimolante."