At last, the terrible 2012/13 season over. For Inter it has, however, been over for several weeks, and in tonight’s match against Udinese, there was only one thing Inter’s players had to do: honor the black and blue shirt. After about 40 seconds it was clear that they could not even do that. Juan Jesus has, after a good Girone di andata, spent the spring making one bad decision after another, and so also in this match. When, after just a half minute into the game, he failed to deliver a simple pass and then failed to sort out his mistake when Pinzi could do 0-1, it was obvious that the season would end in the worst possible way.
The confusion of the Inter players seemed complete and when Domizzi scored 0-2, it felt like it could end really badly this evening. While I sat and swore at Juan Jesus’ performance he was outside the Udinese penalty and did what he could to save face when he scored his first goal in the Inter shirt.
Inter managed to reduce the score to stabilize the game and the game resembled somewhat an easier form of friendly where most players seemed focused on avoidin injuries for the summer and holidays on the beach. The pace was very slow and aggressiveness was non-existent from both teams. Inter did not manage to take advantage of this to equalize the game, but instead Antonio Di Natale did what he does best and what he has done so many times before: score a dream goal. Five minutes before half time, the gentleman Totò stepped up and made it 1-3 behind Handanovic in Inter’s goal. The crowd at the Giuseppe Meazza lauded the budding legend by applauding him and his goal.
The second half started with no changes in Inter, neither in terms of players or the quality of the game, and after 52 minutes Gabriel Silva scored after a counterattack when Inter failed to take advantage of a corner kick. Stramaccioni’s first change was to take out Ricky Alvarez and let Rodrigo Palacio come back. The minute after Rocchi had a really good chance but hit the post on Guarin’s cross pass. The former Lazio player who came to Inter in January, however, got the chance again when Palacio sent a ball in front of goal as he steered it into the goal for 2-4.
The little joy that goal gave was replaced by anger when Nagatomo and Handanovic totally misunderstood each other and gave Muriel a chance to make 2-5 which also became the final result. Handanovic, who previously appeared as inhuman with good saves, has since rumors began circulating about Barcelona made several mistakes and for this goal the slovene has to take the blame for even if he for the first time this season showed anger and directed it towards Nagatomo.
Inter’s defensive play this match was non-existent and Cambiasso, who previously has done well as central defender, tonight wasn’t helpful at all, especially during the first half hour. The young Pasa who made a good performance against Genoa had it tougher tonight.
Nagatomo who was back from injury played perhaps his worst game in Inter’s shirt and seemed to make mistakes every time he had the ball. Nor Kuzmanovic or Pereira did many things right. Kuzmanovic should benefit from his previous experience in Italy, but has not yet managed to convince since he arrived in January. Pereira has had a difficult first season in Italy and in this game he did just as little as he has done for much of the season.
I usually have a lot of patience, but when it comes Guarin is about to run out. I am aware that he does not always play in the position he prefers, and it explains some feeble efforts. It does not explain why he so often make the wrong decisions in situations where the position does not matter. In our podcast Mondo Nerazzurro Sia has several complained several times about Guarin’s tendency to so often turn with the ball when he has his back against the defenders, and he can not seem to stop doing it. More often than not he ends up losing the ball and this is extremely frustrating to watch. Additionally Fredy tend to use his shot far too often and in the wrong situations. He might have a world’s hardest shot, but also one of the worst sights.
One of three players who did not make a fool of himself today was the youngster Mateo Kovacic, Inter’s future. He does, however, have his work cut out when so few of his teammates are doing what they should. The other two who doesn’t have to be ashamed today was Tommaso Rocchi and Rodrigo Palacio. Rocchi showed, despite his long time in Lazio, that he wanted to honor the shirt that he’s only been wearing since January. He also got to score a goal and could have scored another one. That he was replaced by Schelotto can only be explained by the fact that he was tired, something he probably was the only one to be after the game. When Palacio came in for, the today bland Alvarez, the class of the team was raised. He has been missing.
Inter’s season is now over and now the club must continue to work on preparations for next season. I say continue because several signings have been made and offers hope for the future. Mauro Icardi has, during his debut season in Italy, scored 10 goals, none of them a penalty and three of them against Juventus. Campagnaro and Andreolli will give much needed experience and quality to the defense. Laxalt and the long-term injured Botta are more difficult to assess, but the fact that Inter are active so early and made five signings for very little cost is positive.
The big question is who will coach Inter next season. Many want Stramaccioni replaced and possibly that will happen after this terrible season. Walter Mazzarri leaves Napoli and is believed to be Inter’s first choice if Stramaccioni leaves. Personally I do not think this would solve the problem as I think it is a solution that is too simple, a bit like changing the color of the patch that has been put on a broken leg: It looks different, but the leg is still broken. What is needed is a deeper analysis of the many mistakes made in terms of signings, tactics and philosophy of the club. Unfortunately, it’s easier to fire a coach than trying to solve the many problems of Inter. Inter’s economy will not magically get better because a coach like Mazzarri arrives. Injuries can still occur even if a coach like Mazzarri arrives.
After all, I am cautiously optimistic about next season, but it assumes that the club makes intelligent decisions during the summer.
Ni som säger att ingen klaga då alla var friska har nog inte kollat på matcherna vi vann!! De var alltid darrigt och nervöst för mycket ändring av taktik ingen röd tråd helt enkelt.. Jag tycker att Mazzarri är mer en välkommen han har pondus, karisma framför allt är han en vinnarskalle, Strama har efter varje match vi förlorat (ca 15 gånger) sagt att laget gett allt och att han är nöjd med lagets insats VEM SÄGER SÅ VID EN FÖLLLLLLLLLLUUUUUUSSSST ?????????? Man kan absolut inte vara nöjd 15 gånger laget förlorat och säga att man gett allt!!!!!!!!!!!
Håller med er som tycker att Strama bör ersättas, har tidigare tyckt att han bör få en chans till men känns som att spelarna tappat förtroendet för honom och då är en nytändning som innebär med tränarbyte nödvändigt. Sen tycker jag inte att Mazzari är rätt man isåfall hellre Zeman eller Bielsa men mest troligt blir det Mazzari ändå……om nu strama skyller på spelar förluster så tycker man åtminståne att han kunde tagit tillfället i akt och implementerat sitt försvarstänk, men istället har vi läkt som ett såll och släppt in nästan 20 mål på senaste 5 matcherna…..nej nästa säsong spelar vi bara i ligan och cupen så det bör gynna oss så snälla Moratti ta rätt beslut så vi slipper byta tränare mitt i säsongen när du inser att strama inte håller……
Men Juvematchen då!? Och INGEN KLAGADE NÄR ALLA VAR FRISKA! Nej, ingen klagade 2 månader in i säsongen för då måste man fortfarande få chansen att sätta prägel på laget. Det har inte Strama gjort. Kan någon ställa sig upp och förklara hur Strama vill spela? 3-5-2? 4-3-3? 4-2-3-1? Eller ännu värre, skit i sifferkombinationen, ska vi bygga på passningsspel? Omställningar? Långbollar på löpande Palacio? Eller är tanken att, som vi gjort hela säsongen, att ge bollen till felvänd Guarin och han drar 5 pers och skjuter från 35 meter? Jag håller med Mikael, enkla lösningar är ibland ganska bra. Vi slutar 9a. Vi förlorar 16 matcher. Vi är sämre än Catania. Att sparka Strama löser inte alla problem. Men det löser i vilket fall ett.
Förstår inte detta eviga förtroende för Strama. Ibland är de enkla lösningarna de bästa.
Jag kan inte påstå att vi spelade bra under hösten heller. Vi hade inget spel att falla tillbaka på utan levde på de individuella prestationerna till stor grad.
Kontinuitet är fint om det finns nåt att bygga på. Får han inte sparken så måste Strama självmant avgå för att kunna behålla nån form av trovärdighet.
Jag kan inte för mitt liv tro att han kan se supportrarna i ögonen och säga. Lita på mig. Jag fixar detta.
En tränare med erfarenhet hade med säkerligen fått ut max av de medelmåttor vi har i laget.
Vi har ju inte haft en trygghet att falla tillbaka på när alla skador kommit eller spelet inte funkat.
Att byta tränare är fullkomligt logiskt oavsett vem som bär ansvaret för den misslyckade säsongen.
Det här var droppen. Jag har varit en av dom som ansett att strama inte har kunnat göra en toppsäsong med inter pga alla skador och därför borde få en chans även nästa säsong.
Men senaste tidens inter har fått mig att ändra uppfattning.
Det är fullständigt patetiskt att se Inter avsluta säsongen som dom gör. Visst vi har haft skador, men vår startelva senaste omgångarna har ju hållit ungefär samma klass som våra motståndare.
Spelarna spelar utan hjärta och helt utan struktur.
Dom två punkterna måste jag skylla på strama.
Hans oförmåga att ha en klar spelidé syns tydligt på spelare som Juan,Perreira mfl. Strama skulle passa fantastiskt i ett litet mindre lag med lite mindre press, men inte i en av världens vackraste klubbar där resultat ska förväntas varje dag.
Bort med skiten, in med en erfaren vinnare till tränare, ut med alla vidriga medelmåttorna vi har i truppen och bygg laget runt värvningar likt kovacic.
Forza Inter