Inter's defense problems

.h.

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Repost from herehttp://inter1908blog.com/inters-defense-problem/
After Inter recently fixed the long-term problem I wrote about a while ago, the regista, we are now re-focusing our attention on an area that was firmly neglected in the recent transfer window, defense.

I would say the biggest issue that has come up at Inter in the last few weeks is in the defense, the back four. Between D’ambrosio and Nagatomo being out, duties have fallen to Dodo (who is clearly out of favour for his lack of defensive capabilities), Santon and Campagnaro to pick up the slack. On top of this, the shaky centre-back pairing has also been an issue. And the recent run of results – for example the 3-3 against Celtic, or indeed the Longo/Carrizo OG for Cagliari brings this back in to focus.

Davide Santon, the only defense move in the winter market

It is not the intention of this post to analyse Jeison Murillo – incoming defender from Udinese-owned Granada – whom I have not yet seen play, though by all accounts holds at least a lot of potential – but rather, I want to look to our own back line. Juan Jesus and Ranocchia have both had hot and cold spells this season – I don’t want to delve too heavily into the blame game but what everyone can uniformly agree on is the lack of consistency – and in Mancini we have a manager who really brought around some quality in Inter’s defense, instilling above-class performances from Walter Samuel, Ivan Cordoba and Marco Materazzi.

If there is one thing we all know about Mancini, it is his love for building a team from solid foundations. He never mastered flair or creativity beyond Zlatan Ibrahimovic in his last spell at Inter – with three DMs and a solid defense being firmly the backbone of his team – but it is looking more and more like that will be less of an issue this time round. With Brozovic, Kovacic, Guarin, Shaqiri, we have a lot more attacking flair and output than we used to under Mancini.

Danilo D'Ambrosio

However, the other end of the pitch is now the issue. D’ambrosio has really grown with Mancini and Mazzarri in my opinion to probably the most solid full-back at Inter, and whilst often he still leaves a lot to be desired going forward, he certainly knows how to put in a solid shift at the back, which is now our biggest problem. What’s the use of scoring 3 if we’re then going to concede 3, or 4? Mancini, I have no doubt, realises this and will be focusing our attentions in the summer towards rectifying this. Murillo represents one CB signing already – and considering we really don’t have a single solid centre back (Vidic, resurgent of late, will undoubtedly take a long time to work off the black mark he got for his season-head performances) to rely on – it wouldn’t be a surprise if we went to get another one, or even two. Ranocchia, who will be extending his expiring contract soon, will probably stay – but I don’t believe he deserves to be an automatic starter. Juan Jesus doesn’t seem to have progressed much in the last couple of years, and I think fans would be firmly in favour of his sale if we must lose one of our big talented young players to raise cash. Vidic, whilst more consistent of late, still commands a needlessly huge salary considering his rather limited contributions to date in this campaign.

Jeison Murillo, incoming defensive reinforcement

With Jeison Murillo coming in, I think we still need a new Centre Back. Let’s broadly assume that Vidic, Jonathan, Campagnaro and perhaps Nagatomo and JJ will be leaving this summer. That means we want 3 new defenders ideally – a CB, RB, LB. I don’t overly want to suggest names, but I’d like to see us try to get a similarly young, talented young centre back – I only know of him through Football Manager so I don’t suggest him as a genuine possibility, but someone like Balanta? For the wing back locations I don’t know, but I do know that I don’t want Santon to be our first choice LB.

I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with the defense as we wrap up the season – there’s clearly a lot of work to be done there and I think Mancini, more so than any manager we’ve had since Benitez or possibly even Mourinho, is a man who is keen on a very solid defense. With the attack and midfield progressively shaping up to be more like what we can imagine him utilising full time, the focus will correctly be on the weakest part of the team now – the back four.
 

Devious

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I think if we are intending to invest some extra cash in the summer, most of it at least should be for a quality CB.
 

JJM

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Why would be a 23 year old JJ on his way out?! Nonsense
 

.h.

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It's been suggested he could be sold to raise money
 

Shaun

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I believe Mancini wants one starting CB to be an athletic/tackling CB. I think JJ and Murillo will challenge for that one spot next season. Just take Mancini's words about tomorrow's lineup - already confirming that Juan will start. Clearly he feels Rano/Vidic need someone with some pace next to them. So I can only conclude that Juan probably won't be leaving.
 

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Frog still didn't renew his contract...wonder why eh?!
 

Y&h

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I believe Mancini wants one starting CB to be an athletic/tackling CB. I think JJ and Murillo will challenge for that one spot next season. Just take Mancini's words about tomorrow's lineup - already confirming that Juan will start. Clearly he feels Rano/Vidic need someone with some pace next to them. So I can only conclude that Juan probably won't be leaving.

Correction, Juan will always be available.



browha, I wish you linked us to that regista article for a quicker access.

On this topic, I think we'll have a selection debate soon between D'Ambrosio and Santon's positions when the former gets back to full fitness.

Also, the latest news about Darmian and Schmelzer as well as the obvious lack of conviction in Dodo indicates that we are in the market for a fullback.
 

.h.

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Lui

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Im highly skeptical of Murillo starting immediately after he joins. Its not for lack of skill or anything, but i dont think it makes us better as he needs to get used to new expectations and the style of serie a. A change is definitely needed, but im not so sure ranocchia out, murillo in, is the best one. Nice article btw.
 

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How about Felipe? Did he pass the trial?

He used to be seriously highly rated when he was in Udinese.
 

Lui

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Theoretically, Vidic was the right type of signing; Aged, but experienced and tested. Its just too bad he didnt pan out. I would like a similar approach to our next CB purchase, as we dont have the squad to support a buying costly player in his prime, and i dont want icardi or Kovacic being sacrificed.
 

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I don't understand why haven't tried to sign Schär. Good prospect and would arrive on a free transfer.

Murillo usually plays as a LCB, while Schär is mostly a RCB. They would partner up very well.
 

chipschups

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rano-jj is like matrix-cordie pairing, their good individually but need a commanding defender to complete them..
And we bought a samuel, a saviour for our backline
Since then our back line is improving alot like a wall..
 

VLE

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no one at the back comfortable moving the ball forward is a huge issue as well.
We needed 6 men (guarin and Bro standing right next to them) just to move the ball to mid vs freaking Cagliari
We are playing possession, but the time defense is holding the ball while pressured is so long that it's actually working against us, basically turning every one of our opponents into BVB.
 
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Y&h

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sorry.
regista article here
click here



It was a nice breakfast read. :thumbsup:

I presume that you believe, by the personnel available in today's squad, that the regsita (midfield?) problem has been solved with the Brozovic - Medel partnership?

I bring this up in this discussion because I believe the best way to predict our future CB partnership is by identifying the method of ball extraction from the defense. Will we continue with the lack of ball distributors (technical or not) at the back if the Brozovic - Medel - Guarin midfield is our future? Or maybe the speculation that a deep playmaker (Toure or Sahin) is joining us will bear no deference on the characteristics of the CB duo?
 
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.h.

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Our most successful pairing had Lucio and thiago Motta, and in Motta I see something like brozovoc maybe less some defensive attributes? I dont know what Mancini's philosophy will be here so itll be interesting to see, but I strongly suspect the priority will be a good available defender, the secondary will be what they can do otherwise
 

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I believe Mancini wants one starting CB to be an athletic/tackling CB. I think JJ and Murillo will challenge for that one spot next season. Just take Mancini's words about tomorrow's lineup - already confirming that Juan will start. Clearly he feels Rano/Vidic need someone with some pace next to them. So I can only conclude that Juan probably won't be leaving.

This is exactly the vibe I'm getting. Juan is irreplaceable and has been for a few years now for the simple fact he's been our only CB with the basic trait of mobility. Murillo will be brought in as competition for Juan, who has to be up there for highest total number of minutes played over the last couple seasons. Our CB's will most likely look something like:

JJ/Murillo - Rano/Vidic with Andreolli as an auxiliary 5th option. That is if we even retain Vidic. I think JJ, Murillo, and Rano will 100% be here next year though.

Our most successful pairing had Lucio and thiago Motta, and in Motta I see something like brozovoc maybe less some defensive attributes? I dont know what Mancini's philosophy will be here so itll be interesting to see, but I strongly suspect the priority will be a good available defender, the secondary will be what they can do otherwise

I don't see Brozovic and Motta as similar players really. For me he is not a true regista. Brozovic is a much more mobile player, which allows him to play in a multitude of positions, such as box to box, or even AM. Motta was never really comfortable in a box to box role when we played a 4-3-1-2, which is why he always played his best football when we switched to a 4-2-3-1 which aloud him to sit in front of the defense. On the other hand I'm not sure I would trust Brozovic sitting in front of the defense as the lone man the way PSG uses Motta now or the way Juve use Pirlo.

Some of this is due to experience, after all Brozovic is only 22, however I think it's primarily down to playing style. For example Crisiteg, as Y&H has stated many times is only really comfortable playing directly in front of the defense. His primary trait is his ability to distribute from a relatively deep static position. IMO he is a real/natural regista. That doesn't mean that we can't use a combination of Brozovic and another good box to box midfielder (Guarin for the time being) to similar effect to make up for the lack of one. After all most teams in Europe do not use a registas.

I've been saying this recently, but if this team wants to take a step up to the next level we need a DM that is more comfortable in ball possession than Medel. I like Medel and he's a fighter, but he puts us in trouble too often by being nervy when pressed. The problem is finding that happy medium between a ball winner and a passer. That's why players like Javi Martinez cost a fortune.
 

Inter7

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Agree with the article definitely need one reliable defender. Rumor mill has been on dragovic imo no one is untouchable but rano has been our best defender this season. If we get someone we should make sure they compliment the defender we have.
 

IRR26

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Inter needs to sign il nuovo "Wally" to pair with Ranocchia.

Then JJ moves as LB or back up CB.
 

.h.

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my point with brozovic isnt that he's the same as motta, rather, its that he is someone available to pass to immediately out of defense, and has the confidence to pass short, but forwards, and not j ust out wide.
 
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