After a summer that seems to have lasted forever, calico is finally back. As the anticipation builds ahead of Sunday’s opening game with Genoa, we’ve sat down and deliberated over what could take place over the next nine months. Taking part are myself (Ben Boucher), Siavoush Fallahi, Nima Tavallaey, Danny Hansen, Hampus Karki and Hussein Marhoon. Let the carnage begin…
1. Inter’s final league position 2013/14? (9th 2012/13)
Sia: I think Inter will finish 3rd. Just hoping for the mercato to go right.
Nima: Inter will finish 5th. The team is completely new, from defence to attack and so is the manager. Also teams like Fiorentina, Juventus, Napoli and Milan are stronger than us on paper
Danny: 4th. If Inter can prevent only half of the injuries compared to last year they will do much better. If Walter Mazzarri were to get the confidence, calm and support that no coach at Inter has been given since Mourinho Inter will do better. I also hope that many of our opponents will underestimate Inter because of the positions from the last two seasons.
Hampus: 4th
Hussein: 7th
Ben: 2nd. After an indifferent start, the team will start playing how Mazzarri wants by January. A couple of signings and we will take advantage of the fatigue sides playing three games a week suffer.
2. Number of points Inter will collect in 2013/14? (54, 2012/13)
Sia: 72
Nima: Around 55-60 points
Danny: 67
Hampus: 73
Hussein: 60+
Ben: 77
3. Inter’s top Serie A goalscorer 2013/14? (Palacio 12, 2012/13)
Sia: Rodrigo Palacio
Nima: Mauro Icardi. A goal poacher who if given the time and space will become one of the world’s deadliest strikers in a few years time.
Danny: Rodrigo Palacio. I would have loved to answer Mauro Icardi or Ishak Belfodil, but I think their time will come. I would also love to answer Diego Milito, but I think he’ll need some time. Instead, I think Rodrigo Palacio will be Inter’s top goalscorer in 2013/14. He scored 22 goals in his 39 appearances last season. You have to remember that it was his first season at Inter, a team that was in really bad shape for most of the season. Palacio still delivered and I’m certain he will do so even this coming season.
Hampus: Rodrigo Palacio on 16 goals.
Hussein: Rodrigo Palacio
Ben: Rodrigo Palacio
4. How many goals will Inter score this season? (55, 2012/13)
Sia: 70
Nima: 55. Belfodil and Icardi are brand new young players so they will need time to adapt to playing for a big club like Inter. Palacio can’t be expected to score 30 goals on his own.
Danny: 66. Inter didn’t manage to score more than 60 goals during any of the last two seasons. I think this will change even though we have two young attackers who will get playing time. The big difference will be Inter’s defense, which I hope will be much better than during the last two seasons. This will affect the offense in a positive way.
Hampus: 52
Hussein: 50+
Ben: 69. Was good enough for a second place finish in 2010/11
5. How many goals will Inter concede this season? (57, 2012/13)
Sia: 40
Nima: 30. Mazzarri’s teams always operate tightly in defence, Inter will be no exception. Handanovic is the best goalkeeper in the world and Campagnaro is Mazzarri’s player who knows how the coach expects the defence to behave.
Danny: 46. Inter conceded 57 in 2012/13 and 55 in 2011/12. This has been one of Inter’s biggest problems. I think Walter Mazzarri will improve our defense and Hugo Armando Campagnaro will play an extremely important part in this. I’m sure that Inter will play a much better defensive game and this season Handanovic, one of the three best goalkeepers in the world in my opinion, will get more help.
Hampus: 34
Hussein: 40+
Ben: 45
6. Inter’s player of the year?
Sia: Samir Handanovic
Nima: Mateo Kovacic. No explanations needed really. If he can stay fit he will show why he is widely regarded as being the greatest talent to come out of the Balkans.
Danny: Rodrigo Palacio. He will be Inter’s top scorer and I think he will take on the role of a leader on the team. I think this will be positive for our two young attackers. He’s extremely underrated and I hope this season will be the season that his greatness will be made obvious to everyone.
Hampus: Samir Handanovic
Hussein: Mateo Kovacic
Ben: Hugo Campagnaro. If the defence doesn’t hold up Inter will have zero chance of a top three finish. The Argentinian’s contribution will be key.
7. Inter’s young player of the year?
Sia: Mateo Kovacic, or maybe he doesn’t fit here so lets say Ishak Belfodil.
Nima: Mateo Kovacic. It’s difficult to digest that this little magician is only 19 years old.
Danny: Mateo Kovacic. He hasn’t turned 20 yet, but still has more experience than some of his older teammates. We saw glimpses of his greatness during the second half of 2012/13. If he could play well under those circumstances I think there’s nothing to stop him from being great for an Inter team that is doing better.
Hampus: Mateo Kovacic will prove that he is worthy of the number 10 on his back
Hussein: Mateo Kovacic
Ben: Mateo Kovacic
8. Serie A top 6 for 2013/14?
Sia: 1. Juve 2. Milan 3. Inter 4. Napoli 5. Fiorentina 6. Roma
Nima: 1. Juve 2. Napoli 3. Milan 4. Fiorentina 5. Inter 6. Roma
Danny: 1. Juve 2. Napoli 3. Milan 4. Inter 5. Fiorentina 6. Roma
Hampus: 1. Juve 2. Fiorentina 3. Napoli 4. Inter 5. Milan 6. Roma
Hussein: 1. Juve 2. Milan 3. Napoli 4. Fiorentina 5. Lazio 6. Roma
Ben: 1. Juve. 2. Inter. 3. Milan. 4. Napoli. 5. Fiorentina. 6. Udinese
9. Who will be relegated this season?
Sia: Hellas Verona, Sassuolo, and Livorno
Nima: Hellas Verona, Sassuolo and Livorno
Danny: Hellas Verona, Sassuolo and Chievo Verona
Hampus: Genoa, Sassuolo and Chievo Verona
Hussein: Hellas Verona, Livorno and Chievo
Ben: Hellas Verona, Livorno and Chievo
10. Capocannonieri for 2013/14?
Sia: Mario Balotelli
Nima: Mario Balotelli
Danny: Mario Balotelli
Hampus: Mario Balotelli
Hussein: Gonzalo Higuain
Ben: Mario Gomez (Based on chances created and wasted by the Viola last year)
11. First Serie A coach to be sacked 2013/14?
Sia: Fabio Liverani, Genoa
Nima: Sassuolo’s Eusebio Di Francesco.
Danny: Fabio Liverani, Genoa
Hampus: Vladimir Petkovic, Lazio
Hussein: Fabio Liverani, Genoa
Ben: Rudi Garcia, Roma
12. How many points will Inter collect off Milan?
Sia: 4
Nima: 4
Danny: 3
Hampus: 6
Hussein: 1
Ben: 4
13. How many points will Inter collect off Juventus?
Sia: 4
Nima: 1
Danny: 3
Hampus: 3
Hussein: 1
Ben: 1
So there you have it in black and white (oh dear). I’m sure we’ll have plenty of fun and embarrassment (for me probably!) revisiting this in May when the season has ended. Forza Inter per Sempre!
