Mauro Icardi

[rockball]

some of the projected line ups i see dont feature icardi as a starter

if we've spent 15 mil to have icardi as backup i will be quite annoyed.

Well, Icardi, Belfodil and Palacio will be rotated for 2 spots I believe/hope. Don't think we'll play a 343. That's still a lot of games for them, unless Milito is back too soon and as a starter.

 

[homaru]

I think we can close this thread, now that we have signed him.

 

[Ojap]

some of the projected line ups i see dont feature icardi as a starter

if we've spent 15 mil to have icardi as backup i will be quite annoyed.

Well we are throwing quite abit after Belfodil as well and one of them will obviously be a backup.

Considering we (most likely) wont exactly have the most creative midfield next season alot will come down to the WB's and their crosses and here Belfodil will probably have an advantage over Icardi considering his height.

So i believe its reasonable to expect Palacio and Belfodil to start with Icardi being the sub as it stands now (with current nainggolan rumours and Guarin staying). If we had a proper AM in the mold of Hernanes/Hamsik ect instead of Guarin, which would then provide a real threat through the middle as well, then i could see Icardi being the better alternative than Belfodil.

 

[.h.]

Well we are throwing quite abit after Belfodil as well and one of them will obviously be a backup.

Considering we (most likely) wont exactly have the most creative midfield next season alot will come down to the WB's and their crosses and here Belfodil will probably have an advantage over Icardi considering his height.

So i believe with its reasonable to expect Palacio and Belfodil to start with Icardi being the sub as it stands now (with current nainggolan rumours and Guarin staying). If we had a proper AM in the mold of Hernanes/Hamsik ect instead of Guarin, which would then provide a real threat through the middle as well, then i could see Icardi being the better alternative than Belfodil.

Well, I can be on board with the 3 of them as a rotation, but I think one of them being clear cut backup is clearly a bad idea, its a lot of equity invested for a backup

 

[Nero Indigo]

Given Icardi's age and the age of the other strikers in our forward line - they're probably looking at this long term. I too would be surprised by it but I don't believe that it is something to worry about, Icardi used rightly should be able to show his quality in the games. This should keep him off the bench, but we'll have to wait for Mazzarri to field for us to get a better picture of his gameplan, to know if it's something that'll draw our concern. Especially, if he really did ask for Belfodil with something in mind and there's no way Palacio stays benched unless he isn't fit - but I think it'll be between Icardi and Belfodil in rotation.

 

[Ojap]

There might some rotation with Belfodil and Icardi, but i do believe Belfodil will the primary starter of the two. I dont think you will see the two of them playing much together, they are both young and very unproven and i dont really think they complement eachother that great, atleast for now.

Palacio will surely play as much as he is physically capable of, he wont be rotated just for the sake of rotation. He is the pretty much the "star" of the team now and there is alot of responsibility resting on his shoulders to carry the team next season, so alot relies on him staying injury free and performing under the pressure (eg. not like Pandev coped with the pressure in 10/11).

 

[.h.]

I'm reserving judgement on Belfodil until I've seen a bit more of him play. The problem is partially that I can see it being a bit more of a struggle for Palacio. He worked very well for us in the RW position where he could get in behind the full back and make some ground quickly. But as an out and out CF with a CB on him, I'm less optimistic to be honest - though I hope he will still be phenomenal.

Icardi, on the other hand, I think he has the "on the ball" technique required to make a serious impact. Some decent dribbling skills and technique under pressure could make him the ideal CF for a team like us.


How belfodil fits into this I dont know. Unless we're planning to play him as an AMC or something... Rotation is the most natural choice, AMC would mean sale of Guarin.

 

[Pharaoh]

I think rotation is our best bet. These two kids are young, no need to send them out every single game.

 

[homaru]

I think rotation is our best bet. These two kids are young, no need to send them out every single game.

Maybe, but they need playing time to improve. They should play more than half the games, if possible. We won't have the Europa League, which will provide them with playing time, but we should be able to give them adequate gametime.

 

[.h.]

I expect, to be honest, it'll depend on the opposition

from what I understand, Belfodil is more of a target man, someone to hold the ball up and bring others into play. Palacio's particularly good on the counter attack, and Icardi's a good technical Milito-style striker.

I naively expect he'll assess it based on the opposition. Against teams where we are more likely to sit back and counter attack, you'll probably see Palacio-Icardi. When we're playing people who we will dominate, Belfodil and Icardi, and people we play who play a high line, Belfodil-Palacio.

It gives us quite a nice choice of options, to be honest.

 

[Shaun]

I was under the impression that Mazzari isn't really the rotation type of coach?

 

[.h.]

hmmm


insigne played in all but 1 serie a game last season, so maybe he's very liberal with the subbing or something.

 

[Universe]

When we're playing people who we will dominate

In other words, no one.

 

[.h.]

In other words, no one.

yes

 

[homaru]

In other words, no one.

Well, our ninth place finish forces us to play in the 3rd round of Coppa Italia, so that's not completely true.

 

[Shaun]

hmmm


insigne played in all but 1 serie a game last season, so maybe he's very liberal with the subbing or something.

I just checked it out. While Mazzari typically stayed with a very very settled line up he did interchange Pandev and Insigne quite often. Pandev started pretty much always against the bigger teams though. Insigne had 16 league starts, 7 of which could be attributed to injuries etc.

 

[Inter7]

my worry with icardi is the fact his goals were very spread out he had 4 one game 3 total vs rubentus thats already 7 of his 10...

 

[thatdude]

I was under the impression that Mazzari isn't really the rotation type of coach?

Doesn't rotate the starting line up much from what I've seen from his time at Napoli. But he's consistent with the subbing. Guys like Insigne and Dzemaili weren't starters but still got a lot of time.

 

[wambam]

Yeah, I wouldn't consider Icardi a starter, but I think he can make a hell of an impact coming off the bench. This is the role I wanted Pazzini to play when we first signed him, be the direct forward who only ever thinks about the goal. Contrasted with the two starters who are all about movement across the width of the field, opposition defenders would struggle with the sudden change.

Good way to get a goal every game or two. Especially if we're winning when he comes on, that's almost a guaranteed goal for him.

 

[Pimpin]

belfodil and icardi could turn in one hell of a 1-2 punch..

they complete each other (no homo)