Blog: Gasping for breath
Friday 16 September, 2011
Before Trabzonspor’s Champions League visit to San Siro, Gian Piero Gasperini faced intense scrutiny over his tactics and his future. Despite the Turks’ surprise 1-0 win, though, it may have conversely helped Gasperini prove a point to his President.
Against the Turkish side, Inter’s players generally looked to be recovering their identity as a defensively stronger unit than the one that conceded four times in Palermo on Sunday. However, they fell to defeat to Trabzonspor’s only shot on target and accusations followed that the Nerazzurri this time lacked purpose in attack.
The result, and shift in criticism, came after Gasperini relented to pressure to change formation, moving from his preferred 3-4-3 that was used at Palermo, into a re-organised 4-3-3. In-game changes also saw that shift between a 4-3-1-2 and 4-2-3-1.
In all, it is four formations and several adjustments over the course of two games, and surprisingly, none of them coming close to resembling the effectiveness of 3-5-1-1 that frustrated Milan so successfully in the first half of August’s Italian Super Cup.
Gasperini believes that the team lacks the correct balance between attack and defence, and was interestingly quick to deny the influence of tactics on results. Wednesday saw him even accuse those holding debate on his three-man defence as ‘understanding little about football’.
The former Genoa man, who denied he was ever categorical in starting with a back three, suggested that analysing a team’s success at defending as based on fielding three or four defenders is an ‘unprofessional attitude’.
Such comments are understandable, particularly when the same night saw Napoli secure a credible 1-1 draw at Manchester City fielding their traditional back three. However, Gasperini’s words also hold interest as an indirect response to Massimo Moratti, who on more than one occasion has taken time to specifically comment on the very issue of his tactics.
In fact, as Moratti looked to support his Coach on Wednesday night by insisting he will not get sacked, he also chose to cite the formation change as key to the team’s improved defensive performance, and again push it as the tactic to continue with.
This ongoing public debate over tactics between President and Coach has perhaps unnecessarily highlighted a clear divide in opinion – one that incidentally was rumoured to have affected the Nerazzurri’s transfer strategy. However, it has also more significantly and definitely deflected attention away from other potential contributing factors to the team’s poor start.
Falling in favour of Gasperini’s argument of inconsequential tactics comes the fact that he has been without a number of first team players, and that those selected have visibly struggled for fitness. Maurizio Zamparini commented on Palermo’s ability to ‘run the 90’ as a decisive factor in his side’s win, whilst five of Trabzonspor’s seven attempts at goal on Wednesday came in the second half – La Beneamata has gradually, visibly backed off opponents.
As well as this, the club’s summer signings can be seen as either not suited to the Coach’s demands or struggling to make an immediate impact under them. Mauro Zarate’s track-record of poor work-rate, Ricky Alvarez’ quiet first appearances and the fact Diego Forlan is cup-tied are all critical factors unaffected by formation.
Whilst the Champions League defeat has highlighted Gasperini’s frustration at a media and fan movement that was debatably started by his own President, it has also left open the suggestion that the 53-year-old tactician knows what he is talking about – that not everything wrong with Inter can be fixed by changing formation.
http://www.football-italia.net/blogs/rp120.html
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Sanchez Flores eyes Inter job
Friday 16 September, 2011
Quique Sanchez Flores has made it clear that he’d like to be considered for the Inter job if Gian Piero Gasperini is sacked.
Gasperini is fighting to save his job after an unhappy start to life on the Nerazzurri bench.
A late replacement for Leonardo in the summer, Inter have lost their first three competitive games under his guidance.
The Nerazzurri were beaten by their city rivals Milan in the Italian Super Cup last month, fell 4-3 in Palermo on Sunday and started this term’s Champions League with a 1-0 Trabzonspor shock.
Numerous names have been associated with the perhaps soon to be vacant role, including the Spaniard.
“If Inter make a call then I’d go straight away,” the tactician told Marca TV.
Flores, 46, has bossed Getafe, Valencia, Benfica and Atletico Madrid during his eight year coaching career.
He left Atletico at the end of last season.
It’s believed that he doesn’t have a great relationship with new Inter striker Diego Forlan, who also left Atletico this summer.
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Cuper: 'I'd run back to Inter!'
Saturday 17 September, 2011
Hector Cuper has sensationally offered to “run back to Inter,” but first urges patience for new boss Gian Piero Gasperini.
The Coach was famously sacked a few weeks into the 2003-04 campaign, having famously fumbled the Scudetto on the final day of the 2001-02 season.
“Would I return to Inter? Of course, I’d run back!” Cuper told TMW. “I was happy at Inter. We may not have won anything together, but they gave me a great deal of affection.
“If President Massimo Moratti called, then I’d be right there, because I had good times with the Nerazzurri. However, I doubt that call will come. It would be a wonderful surprise if it did.”
The list of potential candidates for the bench includes Roberto Baggio, Fabio Capello, Delio Rossi, Gianfranco Zola and Claudio Ranieri.
Gasperini was only hired in the summer, but losing all three of his official matches against Milan, Palermo and Trabzonspor have put him under immense pressure.
“For now things are going badly, but everyone needs patience. You can’t always start a season on the right foot, but the team can improve over time,” assured Cuper.
“Sacking Gasperini would be a very rushed decision. I understand the fans always want to win, but you cannot fire a Coach after only a few games.
“When you choose a tactician, you evaluate the decision carefully and I’m sure that’s what Inter did. They must put faith in him.
“However, if the club loses confidence, then often the Coach is the one to be changed.”
Since his spell on the Inter bench, Cuper has been in charge of Real Mallorca, Betis, Parma, the Georgia international squad, Aris Salonika and recently signed for Racing Santander.