Winter mercato January 2015

[Jay Crisp]

I respect your posts, but really I think you're totally wrong here. Inter's in pretty much just as bad a state as Milan. Their youth players have regularly been shipped off without any real chances. Their talents, like Kovacic and Icardi aren't any more proven than DES and SES (argubly even less so). Their CB pairing is a total joke, Ranocchia only proving himself an average CB at best, while Juan Jesus is yet to prove he's anything more than average. It's no surprise their defensive record this season is barely better than Milan's, despite they have a very good GK with lots of experience (much like Milan). Besides that, they're have very little to show they're building to anything. They're yet to show any significant investment towards the future, as if you look at transfermarkt, then they have only spent £2m this summer.

Their management structure might be changing, but it's been anything but a smooth process until now and if anything it appears to be disruptive. They're in the same boat as Milan as far as infrastructure (e.g. stadium) goes, arguably behind. Thohir himself is yet to prove he's a capable owner and certainly won't be spending what Moratti has in the past (meaning he's got to be smart in his management). As for the coaches, I think there's been little to really show any real planning in who they've hired (Mancini's hiring feels more like appeasing people).

Milan aren't better, but using Inter as any sort of example of correct management is BS imo. Getting back to Milan and specifically Pippo's approach, I do think they change of system vs Inter was probably reasonably suited if the right players are used. Personally, I think a 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2, however you look at it, serves a purpose and I'd consider this lineup when we have the missing players back:

-------------Diego Lopez---------------
Abate-------Alex-------Rami----------DES
Honda-----Montolivo--De Jong-----Bonaventura
--Torres/Pazzini/Niang--SES-------------

Main reasons for this are 4-4-2 is a commonly understood system within football, meaning it should in reality be easier to organise players of not particularly good tactical discipline to play in the system. Defensively it's one of the most balanced system's you can get, which should help what has been a leaky defence. While Rami and Alex have the nod, Zapata can also fit well, especially with his pace. Within the system you get to utilise the partnership Honda and Abate have developed this season, while Montolivo and De Jong are generally two balanced and mature CMs, with the Italian able to perform his role as a regista.

Bonaventura is a player who has proven a hard worker and would be able to work in more space in wide areas. SES on the other hand would be closer to goal, allowing him to focus more on scoring and making his runs in behind the defence. He's also a hard worker, but asking him to work the whole left wing is a waste of his energy. However, pressing higher up should benefit his game, both in what's expected of him defensively, but also because his starting position when transitioning from defence to attack is naturally higher. Alongside him we have one of 3 forwards to act as a reference (unfortunately none are scoring).

Fundamentally, the reason for this choice of players would be to choose individuals who are known to be team players and work hard as a unit, meaning the team can naturally play higher up the field. The approach would allow the team to try and utilise the strengths on the counter (with SES, Honda, Bonaventura and Abate all having shown qualities to do it this year), but with a midfield of Honda, Montolivo and Bonaventura you should also have a side that's capable of holding possession when needed. Finally, the system has 5/6 Italians in the lineup. This means that half (and much of the spine) of the team is made up of players who have all been developed in the same culture and with similar ideas on the game, which should help to reduce how disjointed the team has felt in recent years.

GREAT POST!!