Inter scouting

[adiman]

Typically I was in Milan three days too early and took in Inter's games v Reginna on Saturday.

Again, though they won 2-0 against their Serie B-bound opposition, they do not look a good side.

Unsurprisingly, they got gifted a dodgy penalty and scored from a free kick which was also dubiously awarded.

Their defence has real problems. With Samuel, Cordoba and Chivu out, they played with Maicon right back, Burdisso and Materazzi in the middle and Zanetti at left back. Maicon spent the whole game going forward and not tracking back so left a big gap behind. Burdisso is a natural right back and he spent most of the game drifting out there eitehr bcause of his poistional sense or to cover for the missing Maicon. He looked like a fish out of water and the few times Reginna deigned to attack, thge looked like scoring and spurned three of four clear chances. There was also plenty of space on the right wing with Zanetti - a great pro and a good player - out of position at left back. He is veray right-footed and again inclined to get sucked in. On Wednesday, Materazzi is suspended too but Chivu might be back. Either way, they are likely to have Burdisso in the middle again and Torres could wreak havoc. Julio Cesar made some fine saves.

In the middle, Cambiasso stayed deep with Vieira palying more box to box and looking in better shape than at Anfield. Jimenez impressed be as their best atatcking midfielder with Stankovic out of sorts. They lack width, however, with only Maicon raiding forward on the right providing any. Figo came on in the second half and is expected to start on Tuesday. But he does not look fit and his loss of space saw him booked for a late tackle when his body got him to the ball a lot later than his mind thought he'd be there.

Up front, Crespo partnered Zlatan. Zlatan dropped deep and found plenty of space and dispatched his penalty well. He showed some good flicks and touches but never have I seen a palyer look so disintered as he did in the second half. He spent most of the time standing alone with his hands on his hips and he put about five or six passes straight to the opposition, prompting plenty of boos. Sub Suazo, who came on for Crespo who picked upa head injury and is doubtful, has pace and can beat defenders but little game sense so his passing decisions were terrible.

Overall impression was that the pace of the game is so slow comapred to Premier League. A presisng high tempo game should work on Tuesday with Masch shadowing Zlatan when he drops deep. And we should be able to create chances against that defence and one goal and its game over.

[Guest redmanrobbie]

Typically I was in Milan three days too early and took in Inter's games v Reginna on Saturday.

Again, though they won 2-0 against their Serie B-bound opposition, they do not look a good side.

Unsurprisingly, they got gifted a dodgy penalty and scored from a free kick which was also dubiously awarded.

Their defence has real problems. With Samuel, Cordoba and Chivu out, they played with Maicon right back, Burdisso and Materazzi in the middle and Zanetti at left back. Maicon spent the whole game going forward and not tracking back so left a big gap behind. Burdisso is a natural right back and he spent most of the game drifting out there eitehr bcause of his poistional sense or to cover for the missing Maicon. He looked like a fish out of water and the few times Reginna deigned to attack, thge looked like scoring and spurned three of four clear chances. There was also plenty of space on the right wing with Zanetti - a great pro and a good player - out of position at left back. He is veray right-footed and again inclined to get sucked in. On Wednesday, Materazzi is suspended too but Chivu might be back. Either way, they are likely to have Burdisso in the middle again and Torres could wreak havoc. Julio Cesar made some fine saves.

In the middle, Cambiasso stayed deep with Vieira palying more box to box and looking in better shape than at Anfield. Jimenez impressed be as their best atatcking midfielder with Stankovic out of sorts. They lack width, however, with only Maicon raiding forward on the right providing any. Figo came on in the second half and is expected to start on Tuesday. But he does not look fit and his loss of space saw him booked for a late tackle when his body got him to the ball a lot later than his mind thought he'd be there.

Up front, Crespo partnered Zlatan. Zlatan dropped deep and found plenty of space and dispatched his penalty well. He showed some good flicks and touches but never have I seen a palyer look so disintered as he did in the second half. He spent most of the time standing alone with his hands on his hips and he put about five or six passes straight to the opposition, prompting plenty of boos. Sub Suazo, who came on for Crespo who picked upa head injury and is doubtful, has pace and can beat defenders but little game sense so his passing decisions were terrible.

Overall impression was that the pace of the game is so slow comapred to Premier League. A presisng high tempo game should work on Tuesday with Masch shadowing Zlatan when he drops deep. And we should be able to create chances against that defence and one goal and its game over.

 

thanks a lot for that

[Guest Anders Honoré]

how old is Zanetti? has been around forever so it seems.

[Guest JV]

how old is Zanetti? has been around forever so it seems.

Gotta be around 36 now. Great player though.

[_00_deathscar]

34 he is. He's been at Inter for 13 years. Great player.

[Guest JV]

34 he is. He's been at Inter for 13 years. Great player.

Aye, just checked Wiki and he's 35 in august.

[adiman]

He actually played left back, right midfield, left midfield and left back again in the course of the game.

 

Great attitude but I reckon he could easily play until 46 in Serie A as it seems, on the evidence of this game, to be played at walking pace.

 

I would not write them off completely.

Zlatan is unpredictable and ccan conjure up anything

They look well organised and dangerous from set-pieces

[matty]

Javier Zanetti is one of the great players of the modern era. Exemplary.

 

Inter have lost form massively over the last month. The injuries that have really hammered them all season are now catching up with the rest of the team. I would be very hesitant before writing them off tomorrow night. They have match winners like Cambiasso, Stankovic, Ibra and Suazo, even if Crespo and Figo is injured.

 

Longer-term, Inter have a major rebuilding job coming up, as Vieira, Figo, Zanetti, Crespo are all into mid 30s.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Good post man !

 

Looking forward to this. Provided we dont concede early or get a red card, I expect us to close this game out. I can see no reason why Rafa would not instill belief in the players that they can win this game, not just the tie.

 

It reminds me of Leverkusen in 2005 when the return was played they were missing most of their senior CB's and we punished them. Our attackers are now at their most confident this season and we have a 2-0 lead and a very experienced manager.

 

I would say that I would be confident of progressing even if we went there at 0-0 given the form of the 2 teams at present and their defensive problems.

[Dan]

Javier Zanetti is one of the great players of the modern era. Exemplary.

 

Defo. Would get in a world 11 of the past 15 years every day of the week.

[_00_deathscar]

He's better than Cafu for me.

[Armin_Tamzarian]

Excellent scouting report. I think I'll print it out and use it as a comfort blanket as the nerves start to play up tomorrow.

[Leroy]

Hope you got this straight off to Rafa Adi M8, so Babbel & Pennant it is then on the flanks.

[fyds]

When Inter were having problems during our treble year, there was a lot talk about Zanetti coming to us - never found out how true that was.

[boohog]

But if we win, it will almost certainly be because Inter are past it / in a slump / ridden with injuries / having an off day / unlucky / cheated by the referee / focussing on the league / bored into submission.

[realtarragona]

We have destroyed their confidence.

[Hector McDougal]

But if we win, it will almost certainly be because Inter are past it / in a slump / ridden with injuries / having an off day / unlucky / cheated by the referee / focussing on the league / bored into submission.

Exactly. Eamonn Dunphy, a pundit on RTE television, said after the first leg that the Ireland team is superior to Inter.

[Hassony]

Exactly. Eamonn Dunphy, a pundit on RTE television, said after the first leg that the Ireland team is superior to Inter.

for the life of me I don't understand why anyone listens to those Idiots on RTE (Or sky/ ITV/ BBC for that matter)

[Rory Fitzgerald]

for the life of me I don't understand why anyone listens to those Idiots on RTE (Or sky/ ITV/ BBC for that matter)

 

Because its hilarious - you dont have to agree with them but it is entertaining listening to them.

 

Only recently Souness was trying to sit on the fence, I think it was about Man Utd but Dunphy basically bullied him into giving an opinion and telling him that he was being paid by RTE for his opinions and not to sit on the sidelines

[adiman]

for the life of me I don't understand why anyone listens to those Idiots on RTE (Or sky/ ITV/ BBC for that matter)

He said Dunne, Duff, Keane, Doyle, Ireland and maybe more would get in the team.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

He said Dunne, Duff, Keane, Doyle, Ireland and maybe more would get in the team.

 

 

Stephen Ireland or Javier Zanetti or Esteban Cambiasso

[Kuyt-fever]

First off , when we win CL games the 1st thing I do when I get him is listen to Dunphy , always always hillarious.

 

Inter are , based on form squad size ability , the best side in the world. If they score early and they might from a set-peice , we've got a f***en job on. In saying that they've been laying poorly for 3 months now but with the players they have they could easily raise it to save Mancini's job.