Monday 30th Jan,

Bad week out of the Coppa Italia in Napoli Inter 2 0 Cavani (50p, 94) and yesterday afternoon back to 5^th spot in the Serie A after Lecce Inter 1 0, Giacomazzi (40).
Another roller coaster week, Inter have come from 8 straight wins to lose where nobody else had lost before this season… Lecce.  The same team that no more than 4 weeks ago had succumbed to a 4-1 loss in San SIro.

Today all the press and the fans are back again analyzing whether there is anyone unsettled (Sneijder, Motta) who is causing dressing room trouble.

Without giving way to this banter let’s try and be passionate without being schizophrenic. Inter had not resolved their troubles with the winning streak of 7 and have not gone back to relegation contention with a loss away to Lecce.

25^th Jan against Napoli, first half Napoli were much better but only managed 2 shots on target. In the second half Inter were the betterside and conceded 2 goals. The first an error by, transfer talk unsettled, Motta who gave the ball away on the edge of the box and then hacked Cavani down for a converted penalty. A couple of chances for inter with the Napoli keeper making great saves then Cavani 2 0 on the break on 94 minutes. Inter made a couple of penalty appeals on Obi and Milito, probably both worthy of a second look, nevertheless Napoli came out as the deserving winners as they were better at converting their chances and appeared they had another gear left in them. Sneijder’s comeback from injury was very nervy in the 1^st half when he almost saw a red card and very positive in eth second half when the whole team was pushing for the equalizer.

29^th Jan the team did not do badly, Lecce came out to defend. Inter came out for a win. The result is that Inter let in a soft goal just before half time (40^th). Then could mostly cause danger form set pieces or crosses. Shots on target 10+, possession 65%, 1 post, 2 goals disallowed for offside, Lecce keeper best on the pitch  What lacked was a change of pace and the “spark”.  In the first half Inter’s n10 from NL was lively but somewhat confusing, he was not working at the same pace as the team or linking that well. In the second half Alvarez and Zarate came on for Sneijder and Obi, helped to bring in Fresh legs and widen the team on the wings but still no change of pace. Lecce were content to defend 10 men behind the ball and counterattack, J.Cesar made 2 good saves on Lecce’s speedsters Muriel and Cuadrado. In the end Inter could not break Lecce down albeit shooting from anywhere on the pitch. The most dangerous shots were  two headers by Samuel and Pazzini, the former being charged down by the keeper on a set piece the second an absolute miracle on low left hand post when 90 minutes were coming up.

What we find positive is Obi and Nagatomo were relentless on the left wing.
Negatives: Maicon and Zanetti/Alvarez looked sluggish on the right wing. Lucio’s marking on the goal…what were you thinking?
Sneijder we will wait for him to gather match fitness so he can make the team really change pace.

The Inter troubles are still the same Financial Fair Play, the 24-29 age group underrepresented in Inter’s squad and somewhat indecisive management decisions. If we add onto this the injuries to quality players Stankovic, Forlan; Motta there is no turnover for Cambiasso/Zanetti or Milito/Pazzini.  

1 day to the end of Transfer Market many rumours and very little action at present, Inter are currently looking at rotation system midfielders and wingers with good delivery and on the outmarket develop some of the players out on loan. Next article I will give you a rundown of Inter’s TM and the main movements in Italy. The next Serie A matches are midweek @home to Palermo and weekend away to Roma.

Ciao