How do Inter rebuild?

[Interista Gallese]

I don't think I'm the only one who believes that Inter are now in severe crisis with very little on the horizon but we should use this productively.

I hate to say it but we probably were the weakest squad to win the Champions League in many years and to a certain extent we were carried by the best coach in the world. I know its a horrible thing to say, but it wouldn't be the first time a great individual has gotten something extra out of a whole team, though often its players who do it (Baggio Italy 1994 and Zidane France 2006) spring to mind. That's not to say the squad is devoid of talent, just that it is threadbare in many places.

I think we should forget about winning things this year and use it as a year to rebuild.The alternative is to let an average squad get older and then the mess will be worse again.

I'd start with Benitez, I really don't think the guy is up to it. I'm not saying he is a "bad" coach, just that he isn't of the standard required by Inter (or Liverpool). Also, coming off the back of the treble, the pressure is 1000 times worse, I think we should scour for a new, young, ambitious coach with new ideas, personally I'd plump for Deschamps though I know many would be against it (many for reasons that he isn't a big coaching name and others through bigotry) but he has already achieved good things and certainly wouldn't be frightened. Alternatively I'd go for Spalletti.

Realistically we have to have a clear out. I'd start, and many of you will be disgusted by this, Sneijder. The guy is a very good footballer but he isn't exceptional. People make out that he's the new Zidane, the guy plays a very useful role but he certainly isn't the best in the world in his role. His passing is often wayward, his free-kicks in general atrocious. On the other side, his reputation is very high and he could bring in many millions which would allow us to replace him. I think he can be a class act again but that he really needs Mourinho, even then he frustrates me too often.

Julio Cesar is another that could bring in big money and could be directly replaced with Muslera. JC is probably the best shot-stopper in the world, but he is not a goalkeeper, by that I mean he rarely catches and this just leads to rebound goals, its happened too often. Muslera for me is a safer bet. Equally Maicon should be sold, he isn't motivated anymore, and the money he brings in could be invested in Bale.

We also need to shed some of the aging deadwood and also some of the players who were useful but are now past it. With Moratti tight on the purse strings it would take some clever purchasing to build the squad up but the alternative is to let it get too old and then it will be even more difficult. Brave decisions now can pay off.

I expect to get slagged for this as it is intended to be radical. I understand some guys who couldn't point to Milano on a map and only watch Inter on television or websites will hammer me, but I don't really care. What I care about is not watching my team go down fast, and I say this as someone who found it bitterly disappointing to travel all the way to Milan (I go regularly enough during the season and not just to big matches but ones against Chievo, Parma,Palermo etc) on Saturday, getting no sleep Friday, returning this morning getting no sleep last night to see what can only be described as dire and its not a one-off, it has been like this for two months now and whatever credit can be given to Benitez it was also like this for much of the second half of last season too.

 

[La Brujita]

I hate to say it but we probably were the weakest squad to win the Champions League in many years and to a certain extent we were carried by the best coach in the world.

Dudek
Finnan - Carragher - Hyppia - Traore
Alonso
Kewel - Gerrard - Riise
Luis Garcia
Baros

Now tell me that squad is "better" than us. It's been only 5 years since they won. Not much as you exaggerate. Also, let's not forget Porto in 2004.


Selling both Sneijder and JC would mean the end of Inter. I'm not even kidding. These guys probably saved our asses tons of times and they're still both relatively young and willing to give a lot for us.

It's not smart to get rid of all "old players" Yes some players are past it but they can still give for us either as starters or as bench. Zanetti, Cambiasso, Samuel, Lucio, Stankovic and Cordoba(bench) are players who can still give a lot to inter. I understand that it's a good idea to put some new blood in the team, but getting rid of the old guard is not a smart idea.

I expect to get slagged for this as it is intended to be radical. I understand some guys who couldn't point to Milano on a map and only watch Inter on television or websites will hammer me, but I don't really care. What I care about is the fact that it was bitterly disappointing to travel all the way to Milan on Saturday, getting no sleep Friday, returning this morning getting no sleep last night to see what can only be described as dire and its not a one-off, it has been like this for two months now and whatever credit can be given to Benitez it was also like this for much of the second half of last season too.

Don't bash people before they comment just cause you think they'll disagree with you. I expect some Italians to bash foreigners but not from someone like yourself.

 

[Stefan]

Disagree with you that the inter side is one of the worst. The side certainly is better then the lfc and porto sides that won. It wasn't the most attractive side to watch but I would argue it was the most efficient of recent cl winners. I don't think it was a bad side at all.

I don't agree with the idea of selling sneijder. He is the youngest of our guaranteed starters. If anything you should probably construct the side around him.

Concerning JC. I am undecided. I would like him to stay but he has been going downhill for the last 6 months with the odd great performance but he has been more inconsistent since the car crash. Any reason why you prefer muslera when we already own 50% of viviano??

I do believe we need a clearout. Guys like matrix,cordoba,milito and maicon need to move on.

I would keep some experienced guys like zanetti,cambiasso,stankovic,lucio,samuel and eto'o since I believe they can still contribute at least as bench player. But we need to bring in younger guys like ranocchia,poli,ect and start reconstructing the side.

As for the manager my personal preference is Dunga but deschamps wouldn't be an awfull choice.

 

[Interista Gallese]

Dudek
Finnan - Carragher - Hyppia - Traore
Alonso
Kewel - Gerrard - Riise
Luis Garcia
Baros

Now tell me that squad is "better" than us. It's been only 5 years since they won. Not much as you exaggerate. Also, let's not forget Porto in 2004.


Selling both Sneijder and JC would mean the end of Inter. I'm not even kidding. These guys probably saved our asses tons of times and they're still both relatively young and willing to give a lot for us.

It's not smart to get rid of all "old players" Yes some players are past it but they can still give for us either as starters or as bench. Zanetti, Cambiasso, Samuel, Lucio, Stankovic and Cordoba(bench) are players who can still give a lot to inter. I understand that it's a good idea to put some new blood in the team, but getting rid of the old guard is not a smart idea.



Don't bash people before they comment just cause you think they'll disagree with you. I expect some Italians to bash foreigners but not from someone like yourself.

What does being Italian have to do with it? I know a number of Italians who claim to "support" Inter and yet never go even though they live within an hour of Milan so why they should automatically be considered above people who travel from other countries. The reference there was not towards guys like you or Stefan who form reasoned argument, I have no issue with people disagreeing with me so don't get so sensitive, its to those who are obviously fan boys who have jumped on the Inter bandwagon since the CL win and abuse anyone who won't suck Sneijder's cock, there's a few of them on here.

I said we had talented players, and I didn't say I'd sell all. I think Cuchu, Samuel, Lucio, Zanetti and possibly Stankovic should stay. There are a number who should go though. Furthermore I said the "squad" not the "team", there is a difference, after the first 11 we are weak with guys like Muntari who to be honest wouldn't star at a club like Udinese.

Disagree with you that the inter side is one of the worst. The side certainly is better then the lfc and porto sides that won. It wasn't the most attractive side to watch but I would argue it was the most efficient of recent cl winners. I don't think it was a bad side at all.

I don't agree with the idea of selling sneijder. He is the youngest of our guaranteed starters. If anything you should probably construct the side around him.

Concerning JC. I am undecided. I would like him to stay but he has been going downhill for the last 6 months with the odd great performance but he has been more inconsistent since the car crash. Any reason why you prefer muslera when we already own 50% of viviano??

I do believe we need a clearout. Guys like matrix,cordoba,milito and maicon need to move on.

I would keep some experienced guys like zanetti,cambiasso,stankovic,lucio,samuel and eto'o since I believe they can still contribute at least as bench player. But we need to bring in younger guys like ranocchia,poli,ect and start reconstructing the side.

As for the manager my personal preference is Dunga but deschamps wouldn't be an awfull choice.

Viviano is a great goalkeeper, I just prefer Muslera, think he's more of what I would call an all-rounder. I like safe hands. I don't like Sneijder to be honest, I think he does fantastic things sometimes but is very wasteful at others and there could be a better option somewhere.

 

[La Brujita]

A good overall squad is not required to win CL. You only need your best eleven in the knockout rounds. You can get through the group stage with your best 15 players (considering you're a big club).

 

[rockball]

Out - Cordoba, Matrix, Deki, Chivu, Maicon, Pandev/Milito, Biabiany and rest of our junk players
In - Ranocchia, a good LB, a technical midfielder (Bastian/Hamsik/Alonso..), a winger

Out - the sick mentality of giving the ball to Sneijder everytime you get it
In - being more authoratative on the field and sharing burden

 

[Inter Siamo Noi]

Cordoba could stay as a last option, Matrix should retire, Deki is a good back-up, Chivu could be good back up to CB position and even if he'll back in-form he could be a starter, Milito should be a back-up.

 

[DIN011]

Cordoba could stay as a last option, Matrix should retire, Deki is a good back-up, Chivu could be good back up to CB position and even if he'll back in-form he could be a starter, Milito should be a back-up.

As far as I know, Cordoba is set to retire next season.

 

[jamsieboy86]

I expect to get slagged for this as it is intended to be radical. I understand some guys who couldn't point to Milano on a map and only watch Inter on television or websites will hammer me, but I don't really care. What I care about is not watching my team go down fast, and I say this as someone who found it bitterly disappointing to travel all the way to Milan (I go regularly enough during the season and not just to big matches but ones against Chievo, Parma,Palermo etc) on Saturday, getting no sleep Friday, returning this morning getting no sleep last night to see what can only be described as dire and its not a one-off, it has been like this for two months now and whatever credit can be given to Benitez it was also like this for much of the second half of last season too.

Oh so because you go your opinion matters more.:rollani:

Also, some of those people just can't use maps, as you already know.

 

[La Bling]

who claim to "support" Inter and yet never go even though they live within an hour of Milan so why they should automatically be considered above people who travel from other countries.

Do you measure being a fan by how many games someone has gone to?

 

[pazzainteramala]

Its all about spending big and replacing coach in January if we wanna win anything this year.

 

[Interista Gallese]

Oh so because you go your opinion matters more.:rollani:

Do you measure being a fan by how many games someone has gone to?

I didn't say either. What I said was I don't take notice of fan boys who "claim" to support Inter but only have an interest because its a winning club and because its convenient to switch on the internet or a tv and dribble all over the players rather than actually accepting the club is the thing not who plays for it.

Jamsie you go regularly enough anyway to not get all sensitive :rollani: and Its On Man I don't doubt that you are a genuine fan. Obviously its more difficult for someone who lives in America to go to the Meazza than someone who lives in Ireland. I do however consider someone who goes to the stadium more dedicated than someone who doesn't and call me biased but I would rather discuss the club with that guy than the armchair supporter who wants to sit at home with a cup of tea and the heating on. That doesn't mean however, that there aren't any genuine fans who don't attend matches, its just unless there's an obvious reason why, like living on the other side of the world, I'm suspicious of how much of a fan they are. Basically if you live in Europe then there's little reason somebody who claims to support Inter shouldn't invest time in going to see them.

Anyway all this is sidetracking and my comment was meant against those who come on, have maybe 5 or 6 posts, then start abusing people for their opinions, which is happening a lot lately, not against genuine posters like yourselves.

 

[Interista Gallese]

Out - Cordoba, Matrix, Deki, Chivu, Maicon, Pandev/Milito, Biabiany and rest of our junk players
In - Ranocchia, a good LB, a technical midfielder (Bastian/Hamsik/Alonso..), a winger

Out - the sick mentality of giving the ball to Sneijder everytime you get it
In - being more authoratative on the field and sharing burden

Fair post and I would even suggest that maybe the reason I'm turned off by Sneijder is the other players willingness to feed the ball to him in stupid positions hence him then losing the ball. Having said that I really think free-kicks should rotate around with Eto'o at least getting a go. Personally I get frustrated by Wesley though.

 

[Djorkaeff6]

Eto'o is terrible at free kicks. If anything rotate between Wes and Pandev

 

[Interista Gallese]

Eto'o is terrible at free kicks. If anything rotate between Wes and Pandev

Possibly, Coutinho/Sneijder, Biabiany/Sneijder, just Sneijder/A.N. Other, just not Sneijder all the time.

 

[La Brujita]

I think Sneijder's free kicks have improved substantially in the last few games. He almost scored from a difficult fk in the derby

It's not last year Sneijder, but I'm sure he can get there.

 

[brehme1989]

Old skool is the way to go. That means GET THE BEST POSSIBLE ITALIAN PLAYERS AND THE BEST POSSIBLE PLAYERS IN SERIE A.

We have some money at the moment of course since we got over 100m euros from CL alone and didn't spend a dime.

How can we generate more funds?

Maicon could get us 25-35m
Milito could get us 15-20m
Julio Cesar could get us 20-30m
Pandev could get us 7-8m
Muntari could get us 5-6m
I think Thiago Motta's contract runs out this year and if he's not fit for the 2nd half of the season he should be let go.

We bring back Viviano, Rannocchia & Destro. Ranocchia could be seen as starting center back next to Lucio until Walter fully recovers and if of course he's able to return to his standard form.
As much as I want Maicon to stay, I don't think he will.
Julio Cesar can generate us money and we can use Viviano who is quite good or we can also go for someone like Akinfeev maybe who is a cheaper version of Julio Cesar (I consider him better as well)

We promote Donati as backup right back, keep Santon at left back. We promote or sign a young left back to back Santon up or use Chivu at left back. We sign a right back, I say De Silvestri who could be really good and is also cheaper than most of his quality.

So far the team goalkeepers and defense is:

Viviano
Castellazzi
(backup keeper or starting keeper)

Lucio
Zanetti * also midfield * (backup right & left back)
Ranocchia
Chivu (switched to center back mostly)
Samuel
Santon
De Silvestri
Donati
Cordoba (last choice)
(backup left back)

Materazzi retires hopefully, otherwise kept for last choice and Cordoba is 2nd to last choice backups

In midfield, we subtract Motta and Muntari.

We need a player to be able to play with the ball down, next to Cambiasso. Montolivo is the first to come to mind. Best choice would be Schweinsteiger.
I also predict that Kaka is gonna leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and we should really go for him for multiple reasons, including on-the-pitch reasons.
Obi should be loaned and Khrin should return with the first team. Also, two more players should be signed in midfield. One for backup and one young prospect. Diamanti does not seem like a bad addition and can also play up front. As for a youngster, many Alen Stevanovic can prove he's worth it

This means:

Cambiasso
Montolivo/Schweinsteiger
Sneijder
Stankovic
Diamanti
Coutinho
Mariga
Khrin
Stevanovic/other youngster from Primavera or other club
(Kaka?)

Then we have offense. Without Milito, Eto'o will be the "spear" of our attack. No more playing at left or right wing, left back or any other alchemy.

By getting Destro back, we ensure a backup to Eto'o, that is not the best possible. We need to hunt the next Cruz. Player who will come off the bench and be critical, and won't care about not starting. Is there one? I say we experiment a bit. Get an experienced striker to also help Destro improve. This could be Marco Di Vaio. Not the best choice of course, but on his day he was a lethal striker and scored many goals in all his full seasons (except once in Spain). We promote a second young striker as well to have some depth in case Destro is not good enough

Attackers list would be like this:

Eto'o
Di Vaio
Destro
Biabiany
Alibec

Possible line up (if we somehow manager to land Kaka)

-----------------------------Viviano

-De Silvestri-------Ranocchia---------Lucio-------Santon

------------------Montolivo---------Cambiasso

--------------------------Sneijder

-------Coutinho---------------------------Kaka

--------------------------Eto'o

Without Kaka we need to sign a Robben type winger. Capable to play on both wings, who will rotate with Coutinho in the pitch. Diamanti can be backup left wing. Stankovic can be backup to Montolivo or right/left wing (he used to play that role and his most succesful -half- season with us came as a sort of left wing forward.

Teams becomes younger in an instance. And also Italian. That brings me to the next thing. We hire Walter Zenga or another Italian manager that has ties with Inter. Someone who's sentimental about Inter, gets the message to the players (it's easier when the team has mostly domestic talent no matter what some of you want to believe) and every second of every game, every player knows where he is and why he's there. He's not there for the money, he's there because he represents Inter and his only aim is to win.

 

[jamsieboy86]

Jamsie you go regularly enough anyway to not get all sensitive :rollani: and Its On Man I don't doubt that you are a genuine fan. Obviously its more difficult for someone who lives in America to go to the Meazza than someone who lives in Ireland. I do however consider someone who goes to the stadium more dedicated than someone who doesn't and call me biased but I would rather discuss the club with that guy than the armchair supporter who wants to sit at home with a cup of tea and the heating on. That doesn't mean however, that there aren't any genuine fans who don't attend matches, its just unless there's an obvious reason why, like living on the other side of the world, I'm suspicious of how much of a fan they are. Basically if you live in Europe then there's little reason somebody who claims to support Inter shouldn't invest time in going to see them.

I was only jokin with ya, as you now know. You do ya have a valid point though, hardcore fans go to games, whether its just once or regularly like yourself. Fans who don't go can still be genuine real fans, but they're not hardcore fans, there's a difference. Being geographically handicapped is no excuse.

 

[gesi-ny]

No one will pay that kind of money for J Cesar and Milito. Also, Maicon's value has drooped based on his performance lately. Unless he turns like 3-4 years ago (which I doubt) forget Real or any other team who was willing to pay over 20 millions for him. If he doesn't improve he will become a liability to Inter. Besides his good name he is nowhere near Maicon we know. As for J Cesar he is a good keeper but, he too needs a kick in his butt. As Stefan said, since the crash he had good and bad games. Again no one will pay that kind of money for him. Next year probably we'll get Viviano and they will play 50-50 during the season...till JC becomes second choice (just like what happened with JC & Toldo). Milito is a strange case..., I was hoping Moratti to sell him for many reasons. I still believe he is a great striker and it is a matter of time and he will score again. However, having Eto'o in the team who is a year younger doing same thing and after Milito declaration the night of Madrid's final I was hoping Moratti to sell him. No one should be above the club. What message gives to other players??? Moratti should not let players dictate in the club. Moratti's job is to pay them and he does that well. On the other hand players should behave as professionals in and out the field, train hard and play even harder. There is a lot of talking regarding Benitez way of playing. I understand someone who criticizes him about why there are so many injuries or mistakes such as playing with Cordoba as RB...position not his. However, players like Maicon, Milito, Sneijder, Pandev, Stankovic, J Cesar...Chivu, Santon...etc play at their positions and still do not perform. If someone believes is the fault of injuries, I think you are mistaken. These players did not played like champions even before they were injured. We can't blame the coach when we have 10-15 chances of scoring and we can't manage hitting the ball right. Bologna, Samp, Lecce and Brescia are points thrown away. We should had been 2 points ahead of AC Milan today.

What needs to be done. I liked the idea of Massimo Moratti early this summer spending wisely on future players. We have some interesting young players with our team and some others in loans. Definitely, it is time to bench few players including Zanetti. I love Zanetti for what he is and for what he gave to this team as a person and as a player but, it is time for him to be as a back up now (next season). In order to maintain our status in Europe we need midfielders that play the ball vertically. Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic are not such players. T Motta has not played any games so far, so we are relying to Sneijder and Couhtino. Sneijder needs someone fast as him on a side to play the ball 1-2 otherwise he will be marked. Couthino needs a good team around him to excel. We cannot expect an 18 years old to save the champions of the Europe.

Out: Castellazi, Maicon (if he really wants to go), Cordoba, Materrazi, Muntari, Mancini, Suazo, Rivas.
In: Viviano, Ranochia, Khrin, Destro, Schweinsteiger, Casano, Poli. Then every year should look for young and good players to replace old players like Zanetti, Lucio, Stankovic...etc.

 

[skeet]

Fans who don't go can still be genuine real fans, but they're not hardcore fans, there's a difference. Being geographically handicapped is no excuse.

well excuuuuuuuuse me for living in a country where saturday and sunday are weekdays and a plane ticket to milan costs 2000$ and 24 hours of flight time for a round trip

back on topic, sneijder is a favorite for a ballon d'or for a reason, i believe that the reason he isn't performing well right now is because playing possession football deep in the opponents half is horribly incompatible with sneijder's style of play, this also applies to milito whose greatest strength is beating offside traps, and maicon whose greatest strength is bombing forward when there is space to exploit, i'm not saying that the new system is the only reason these players aren't performing but it completely nullifies maicon's offensive game and sneijder's fast and accurate long passes to milito/eto'o who are beating the offside trap