OLDER WITH STRAMACCIONI
Inter of the two games under Strama has the highest average age. It’s time for young players?
The teams fielded by the youngest coach in Serie A are the oldest of the season but there are Alvarez and Obi.
And Forlan? Tested as a central forward.
Appiano Gentile – When Massimo Moratti decided to give the team to Andrea Stramaccioni on March 26, it was natural to think that the coach would bring some new faces from Inter Primavera, who just conquered Europe, to the new team and start looking to the future.
Gasperini – 30.1: Giampiero Gasperini, in the three games that he was in charge of Inter in the league, fielded three formations with an overall average age of 30 years and one month (the calculation was done on the 11 starters). The youngest formation was the one in Novara 3-1 Inter: 29 years and 6 months.
Ranieri – 30.5: From matchday 5 to 29, Claudio Ranieri was the coach of Inter. The average age of his formations is at 30 years and 5 months old. The Roman coach fielded the youngest team in Inter 2-0 Fiorentina: 28 years and 8 months.
Stramaccioni – 31.8: Andrea Stramaccioni, who won NextGen Series with Inter Primavera, has fielded the two oldest teams this season with an average age of 31 years and 8 months old. 31 years and 9 months for Inter 5-4 Genoa and 31 years and 7 months for Cagliari 2-2 Inter.
Gasp the youngest Waiting to see if tonight against Siena, we will see the young faces of Alvarez and Obi from the very start but the statistics are in perfect contrast: the average age of the 11 players lined up against Genoa and Cagliari is much older than that of Gasperini and then Ranieri. The coach from Turin, in the first 3 league games before getting sacked, fielded an Inter with an average age of 30 years and 1 month old. Claudio Ranieri, who sat on the Inter bench for 26 Serie A matches, increased that average to 30 years and 5 months old. The Inter of Stramaccioni have gone all the way up to 31 years and 8 months old.
Full time seniors The equation of Strama = young players is hasty and superficial because the 36 year-old coach still believes in third place. Those full time seniors under Ranieri are still being trusted very much under Stramaccioni. Examples: Cambiasso is now playing all 90 minutes again after playing part time a few games ago. Lucio was only out only because of suspension. Finally, the 25 year-old Nagatomo has been sacrificed for the 31 year-old Chivu.
Defense over 34 The back four that we are going to see tonight against Siena will have an average of more than 34 years old. The injury of Maicon (30 years old) has in fact forced Stramaccioni to pull back Zanetti (38 years old and 8 months). And the defense is the weakest part of the last two games: allowing six goals in 180 minutes is just too many. “This is undeniable. All of us have to do better. We allowed too many goals including five on dead-ball situations. We have no excuses.”
Ricky and Obi, green ideas Between the midfield and attack tonight you should see a 20 year-old Obi in place of Guarin (26 years old). To complete that department are Cambiasso (31) and Stankovic (33). The real doubts for Strama are up front. The only place that seems certain is the 25 year-old Maurito Zarate but it is hard to think that he would leave Milito out (the best goalscorer in 2012) even if Il Principe spent a few moments with the reserves with Forlan as central forward and Alvarez as right winger. The former Velez player had just returned after two months could give the group some sparks. And lower the average age.
Record Zanetti Tonight Zanetti will equal Dino Zoff in Serie A appearances at 570 games. Including in this calculation are the three playoff games: two for the UEFA Cup against Bologna and one against Parma for a spot in the Champions League. In the special ranking, Zanetti is going to reach Zoff at third place. Paolo Maldini is currently at the top with 647 games and Gianluca Pagliuca, second place, with 592 games in Serie A.
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