THREE INTER TO PLAY EVERY THREE DAYS
From Florence to the derby, five games in two weeks: with Sneijder and Alvarez, here are the alternatives to the 4-3-3.
Appiano Gentile – To play every three days, we need three versions of Inter. Five games in 14 days, from Florence (Sunday) to the derby on May 6, in between are Udinese, Cesena and Parma: one game for every three days, precisely. Player rotation and perhaps even formations are in place: the team is virtually complete with the return of Sneijder, Alvarez and Maicon. Strama now is enjoying a bit more freedom in terms of picking whatever formation that he views as the most compatible with his football philosophy.
After a pit stop Yesterday Sneijder, Maicon and Alvarez all returned training in group, after a specified warm-up session on Wednesday. Over the next two days, the coach will evaluate very carefully and logically on how to use the trequartista and the Brazilian against Fiorentina. Alvarez is another story. He already came back and played from the very first minute against Siena and the postponement of the Udinese game, so that he could recover slowly after playing 77 minutes on the field after two months, was definitely an advantage.
More Maic than Wes Sneijder and Maicon have not played since the 13th and 25th of March respectively and three days after the trip to Florence, there will be another game, very decisive which is in Udine where Inter will play for the Champions League: one more reason to reflect on whether to play them already with Fiorentina. In that case, the Brazilian is more likely to play. But the sure thing is that both will be considered to be very good cards that Stramaccioni can use in the second half.
Diamond midfield The use of Sneijder can change the attitude of the Inter coach. Up to now, Stramaccioni has only used the 4-3-3 formation, one that has allowed the team to play a more attacking football style, or at least purposeful. With Sneijder, but also with Alvarez, now two other systems can be proposed. The first, the 4-3-1-2 that Stramaccioni is very familiar with during his days with Primavera. Sneijder would have all the freedom behind the central striker, with a second striker (Zarate or Forlan) of great movement, hardly on the same line as the central striker and could be placed to the left or the right depending on Sneijder’s movement. The second is 4-2-3-1 which can be considered as a future projection of Stramaccioni for next season if the bench is his. And then there is the role of Ricky Alvarez. In a 4-2-3-1, he can play as right or left winger. A more conservative choice would be either Obi or even Faraoni.
