Another Wednesday and another editorial, soon I’ll have to find another opening before you’ll get tired of this one. As tired as I am of this mercato where it seems that no news worth mentioning is surrounding Inter. No big news, just the same talks as always. Wallace will join Inter tomorrow, Wallace will join Inter tomorrow, Wallace’s move to Inter is done and so on. More than that there are only talks about the details surrounding Thohir and Inter or a possible offer for Taider. Everything is the same as usual during Silly Season so lets focus on the field instead.
Since my last editorial Inter have faced Chelsea, Valencia and Juventus. Last week I wrote that it was going to be worth meeting the best teams because Mazzarri would understand the weak spots of Inter and that was exactly what happened against Chelsea and Valencia. Inter’s weak spots were exposed. Inter missed speed in the defence and on the midfield. The team didn’t cover the spaces left by their team mates and I lost count of how many times Valencia came through our team. It was worrying to see, but a clear signal to Branca and Ausilio of what this team needs. A wing player with good speed and good crosses, a central defender would be great (since Samuel is injured. Damn Dragovic would’ve been perfect) the midfield needs speed and a player who is secure in his passing. A player who can dictate the tempo in the game as my friend Ben Boucher defined it. Because according to Ben, Inter’s problems and the chances we suffer often occur due to the midfield being slow or unskilled to handle the ball, the players give the ball away and therefore Inter suffer from attacks when the team isn’t gathered.
If the games against Chelsea and Valencia were steps back, the game against Juventus was a step forward. Campagnaro (who knows Mazzarri’s tactics and defensive moves) was back together with Ranocchia and Inter’s defense acted just like we probably will see the team when everything is at its best during the season. The players covered spaces for eachother, the team were solid in the defence and on the wings, at the same time Ricky Alvarez and Rodrigo Palacio created chances on the counter attack. Palacio has shown his skills during the pre season and when Milito is back, the two Argentinians might make this season very interesting for us Interisti. Not to mention Ricky Alvarez who played a great game who Mazzarri has tested both as the central midfielder and as a trequartista. The Inter coach seems to have some belief in the young Argentinian who may be ready to finally explode. Something that myself and many others hope for, a skillful player like Ricky is always nice to have on the field especially when Inter has sold Coutinho, Sneijder and Cassano in less than a year.
The next step for Mazzarri’s men is against Real Madrid. A team that is superior to Inter, but also a team that can show Inter’s weakness and test Inter in a way that the team won’t be tested during the season. The question is if Inter after two negative games and a positive will take a step back, or a step forward. Led by the best signing of this mercato for Inter Walter Mazzarri, I can’t help but feel some optimism. A Mazzarri who has proven his ability to cover for a mercato where many investments still are needed. A mercato where we’ve received positive answers from Campagnaro who is good at everything. A leader who is good on his feet, on his head, in his positioning and everything else. At the same time question marks remain for Andreolli and Icardi (who I think will do well when Inter get wingers who can cross the ball). The last one to be praised is Ishak Belfodil. The young striker has gone through the fasting period during the toughest time of the season. He has been impressive with his speed, strength and technique. When the fasting is going towards the end, I only wish Ishak and all other muslims “Eid Mubarak”, because a Belfodil in top form can surely do well for the nerazzurri.
