So, does Inter Milan really need a playmaker? Jose Mourinho definatley thinks so and is rumoured to be wanting Wesley Sneidjer of Real Madrid. Sneidjer is not guaranteed first team football at Real but, does not want to leave them. That is the stumbling block in he deal. How, do you convince somebody that does not want to leave, to leave? Other options include fellow unwanted Dutchman at Real Rafael Van Der Vaart who, is looking for a new club. He would be cheaper then Sneidjer but, not as techinally good. For example, his killer pass is not as good as Sneidjer's killer pass. Furthermore, they have been linked with players such as, Ivan Rakitic of FC Schalke 04 and Jeremy Menez of Roma.
Today, Inter drew with newly promoted Bari from Serie B at the San Siro. It was a shock. Mourinho stated they were no excuses for Inter's performance and that they just played badly. Inter wasn't dominant but, alot better with the ball. Diego Milito who scored 24 goals for Genoa last season, looked like a show of his former self. He wasn't as strong and lethal and never impressed throughout two halfs. The only contributions he made was being fouled and getting a penalty (he did fall down quite easily though but, Eto'o converted it and scored on his Inter debut) and tackling a Bari defender and setting up Eto'o for a one-on-one shot against the Bari goalkeeper which, Eto'o amazingly put wide! Eto'o looked strong and eager but again the passes to him and Milito were not good enough. That is probably one of the reasons Mourinho wanted a playmaker. To pull the strings for the team. He wants a pupetteer! Then, Bari responded and scored on the break. Due to Muntari coming off injured due to his hand, Balotelli came on mid-way through the first half and Ricardo Quaresma came on as a half time substitue for Patrick Viera as they were drawing 0-0 at half time and Mourinhio wanted Inter to score. Both of these players are not known for tracking back so, Bari scored easily on the break. The game ended 1-1.
Highlights of the game.
Thiago Motta never really impressed. I can see him as the replacement for Javier Zanetti when he retires. And Zanetti who is currently playing at left back will give that role to Davide Santon. However, Quaresma who had a shocker of a season last season. Put in a few good crosses into the box and terrorised that left side of midfield. He actually pulled off his signature cross,'The Rabona' (where he puts his right foot behind his left leg and kicks the ball with his right foot when his legs are crossed) and also, he done his favourite cross (the one where he kick it with the outside of his right boot). The crosses created chances but, Milito and Eto'o failed to convert any. Mourinho should of started Quaresma over Viera. Viera looked slow and did not bring anything attacking to the team.
I think the formation for Inter is the problem. They play a diamond shape. Last season they had Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He is a strong striker but, also a playmaker. He creates chances out of nothing for them and scores any goals. Eto'o is unlike him. He is a batter finisher but, not a playmaker. Last season a diamond formation may have worked but, that was beacuse they had Ibrahimovic, a playmaker. The formation must change or they must buy an accomplished playmaker. The only viable ones I see are Van Der Vaart and Sneidjer. As Sneidjer does not want to leave, Van Der Vaart seems the only option. They need somebody accomplsihed in the game as they want to retain their Serie A crown and win the title five seasons in a row.
Jose Mourinho is known not to work well with wingers. His diamond formation he uses does not help wingers. At Chelsea he had the same problem. He may of not used a diamond formation there but, the type of football they played did not help them. Shaun Wright Phillips of Manchester City never really impressed there and became a bench boy and he never really unlocked the potential of Arjen Robben. Last season he bought Ricardo Quarsema off FC Porto and Mancini off Roma. Both good winges. Quaresma may have flopped before in Spain with Barcelona but, he was only 19 years old when he moved there. Mancini was always a starter for Roma for years and played very well for them. The diamond formation never benefited them and soon both of them benched. But, if Mourinhio chose to play with two wingers and change to a 4-4-2 formation surely more service to Eto'o and Milito would happen? Mancini and Quaresma could go down the wings and cut inside and pass to them or cross it into the box or even cut inside and take shots. Cambiasso and Stankovic would play in central midfield. Stankovic could go forward while Cambiasso could stay back and do his defensive midfielder suties. As Cambiasso is out after surgery at the moment. Thiago Motta will have to play in the middle. Or maybe Patrick Viera. But, my choice straight away would be Thiago Motta. Another option for Cambiasso is Muntari. He wouldn't act as a defensive midfilder though but, would go forward while Stankovic goes forward. So, if Muntari is playing alongside Stankovic it will be a stright line of four midfilders. If it is Thiago Motta, Stankovic and himself will be slightly behing Quaresma and Mancini. Zanetti is getting old and I think its his time to hand up his boots. Santon is younger and is alongside Marco Motta of Roma as being the future of Italian defenders. Lucio at Centre Back is fine. Howeverr, Walter Samuel is definatley not. Cordoba should of started. If not him well Chivu should be further in the pecking order then Samuel. Chivu would be probabaly better suited ifthey played a stright line of four as he is faster then Cordoba and can track back quicker. And if they need any more spice up front or in midfield. They can have Balotelli on the bench. Also, they have brought Marko Arnanovotic from FC Twente on loan to go on for Eto'o or Milito if they are misfiring on goal. Players like Maicon are undisputed starters. So, my formations for Inter Milan would be:
4-4-2
Julio Ceaser
Maicon Chivu Lucio Santon
Quaresma Muntari Stankovic Mancini
Eto'o Milito
or
4-2-2-2
Julio Ceaser
Maicon Cordoba Lucio Santon
Thiago Motta Stankovic
Quaresma Mancini
Eto'o Milito
Subs for both formations : Balotelli, Arnanotovic, Samuel, Chivu/Cordoba, Zanetti, Samuel, Viera, Toldo etc
If they do not get a playmaker or chose not to get a playmaker. I feel these formations would benfit their fowards. They won't go and link up with the midfiled and create chnaces of rthe team like Ibrahimovic does. They need the team to come to them. Mancini and Quaresma being wingers would do this.
They need to buy a playmaker or chnage their formation quickly. They have one week until the big San Siro derby between themselves and AC Milan. Ronaldinhio seems to be back on form. Maybe the thought of the 2010 World Cup is on his mind. Less partying and more concentration on football. He set up Pato for a dissallowed goal with an inswingin free kick. It was dissallowed as Pato was marginally offside. He set up Pato for his second goal when he slipped it through the Siena defnce and Pato buried it when he was one on one with the keeper. For Milan's second goal he done a great pass to Flamini who had to just square it to Pato in the six yard box to finish which, he did. Also, he had an overhead kick which was just tipped over the bar.
Highlights of the AC Milan game. It includes Ronaldinhio's over head kick!
So Milan's playmaker is Ronaldinhio and Juventus' is Diego. Inter need somebody to pull the strongs or to change their formation. Tell me what you guys think?
No comments:
Post a Comment