AC Milan - Inter (pre-game comments)

Great preview as usual Haroon.

This will be a great game.

can't wait

FORZA MILAN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great post, Haroon. However, I have to disagree with Adriano being the reason for this change in the Inter team. I believe that it is all due to their new coach and everything else, including Adriano, are the biproducts of Mancini/s work on the team. Let's not forget that Inter has had many many great players over the past 6-7 years but ...
Also, I believe that Adriano's guardian should be Stam and not Nesta. Alessandro would do a much better job on Vieri who is more in his category than the Brazilian.

agree tt inter's success is not just becoz of adriano..mancini palyed a part as well in gelling the team together..eg. he spent the world cup qualifier week break with vieri and those not called-up by their NT to his yacht, building up in what i blieve is the reason for vieri to regain his scoring touches, his morale. However Mancini is starting to build what Milan already has, the gd camaderie between the players. Therefore...until Mancini gets it all worked out, Ancelotti's side would still prove too good for the Nerazzurri

As much as I hope we win, i still have a bad feeling about this derby. JUst hope that i am just having a bad day..

Originally Posted by zlatanov

Great post, Haroon. However, I have to disagree with Adriano being the reason for this change in the Inter team. I believe that it is all due to their new coach and everything else, including Adriano, are the biproducts of Mancini/s work on the team. Let's not forget that Inter has had many many great players over the past 6-7 years but ...
Also, I believe that Adriano's guardian should be Stam and not Nesta. Alessandro would do a much better job on Vieri who is more in his category than the Brazilian.

zlatanov,

Adriano has been bailing out Mancini time and agaim. I started to have doubt about Mancini when he converted Inter into Lazio 2 by importing ex-players from there and the end result is that they warm the bench.

The Inter side is playing decent football and yet it is heavily reliant on Adriano. Adriano has helped to give the side the confidence from his displays rather than Mancini making it fall into place all of a sudden. If Adriano was not present in this side then Inter may not have gotten these few positive results resulting in a defeat or two and putting immense pressure on Mancini himself.

He played Zanetti as left back

I think you are right about Stam and he may well end up be the key to neutralize Adriano. In central defence though it is about defending the ball so whoever has it will be pegged back by either Nesta or Stam when it enters our D.

The time has come....and I know were ready. This is the best Inter Ive seen..well ever, and they will put up a fight against Milan. Unlike previous years, I think Inter is going into this derby knowing they can win and it will show.

Vamos Inter MIlan! Destruyan a los cobardes rojos de Milan!

Originally Posted by BFC82

The time has come....and I know were ready. This is the best Inter Ive seen..well ever, and they will put up a fight against Milan. Unlike previous years, I think Inter is going into this derby knowing they can win and it will show.

Vamos Inter MIlan! Destruyan a los cobardes rojos de Milan!

Originally Posted by Haroon

zlatanov,

Adriano has been bailing out Mancini time and agaim. I started to have doubt about Mancini when he converted Inter into Lazio 2 by importing ex-players from there and the end result is that they warm the bench.

The Inter side is playing decent football and yet it is heavily reliant on Adriano. Adriano has helped to give the side the confidence from his displays rather than Mancini making it fall into place all of a sudden. If Adriano was not present in this side then Inter may not have gotten these few positive results resulting in a defeat or two and putting immense pressure on Mancini himself.

He played Zanetti as left back

I think you are right about Stam and he may well end up be the key to neutralize Adriano. In central defence though it is about defending the ball so whoever has it will be pegged back by either Nesta or Stam when it enters our D.

Haroon, you are a bit too careless in these analysis - Adriano is the result of what Mancini and the rest of this new Inter have done and are doing. He is not the one who has bailed them out he is just the result of what they have helped him become. This is the same superfluous comment as when somebody says that Milan are Sheva dependent or rather Sheva is Milan - people see the result and mistake it for the reason. Please, try to look a bit deeper into this and don't just state the obvious part of it. Adriano also played for Zac but we all know how that ended, furthermore, Inter has had several Adriano-like players in the past but have never played so well apart from a short period under Giggi Simoni.
Plus Mancio took over just 2 months or so ago and it is more than understandable Inter to have some shaky performances at the start. With time everything will and seems to fit in better and better and Adriano, whom you see as the reason for this change, surfaces as the most formidable payer in Serie A and probably Europe. However, this is due to the whole team's work which is the result of what Mancio has done so far.
Also, there is nothing bad when a coach brings with him players who he knows best - one, he knows their pluses and minuses, and two just becasue a player didn't perform that well with one team (Lazio, Chelsea, etc.) doesn't meant he won't become a better player for Inter - different environment, different everything.
As for Zanetti at left back, well on the right Inter have a much better player - Ze' Maria - so, only the Left back is open for the Argentinian. Plus Inter don't have a good/reliable left defender apart from the aging Favalli so not many options for Mancini here.
All in all, let's not forget Eusebio's words: "Nobody is bigger than his team"

can anyone recommend me a good inter's forum website?
forza milan!!!! happy to see crespo and stam back, i hope crespo starts to deliver this time, even though most likely inzaghi will start.

Originally Posted by kenny_shev

Dont underestimate Inter this season though. A 5-1 win away to Valencia is something that doesnt come by that often.

3-0 Against Arsenal last year... Altough this Inter is better they are very suspectible in defense. Mostly because they like to play the ball like us.

On tv Maldini asked : "who is Adriano?" I liked that.
Hahaha..I wonder what the guy is thinking now.....

Some of you may have seen this, but for the benefit of those who didn't, here's some interesting stuff from Goal.com ahead of the "Derby della Madonnina".

Note: I've done some "editing" by inserting some smileys, but no change in the contents.

Fan v Fan: AC Milan-Internazionale
10/22/2004 3:07:00 PM

This weekend sees one of the highlights of any season – the great Milano derby. Both of the city’s sides enjoyed an excellent midweek in the Champions League – and now Goal.com looks forward to Sunday’s clash through the eyes of a fan from each team. For Milan we have Joel Whitehead, and for Inter, it’s Manu Sehgal…

Goal: First of all, how do you feel about your side’s campaign so far? Have you been delighted or dismayed by it?

Joel: Up to this point, Milan has not played on the level they should be at. The squad has dropped valuable points to lesser sides, and though they are improving, it will be necessary for the rossoneri to score more goals if they are to retain the scudetto. I was not so much as worried at the beginning of the season, just disappointed that they were not able to have a strong focus coming out of their successful pre-season. Now, Milan has begun to get the results they need, with the Champions League victory over Barcelona a step in the right direction.

Manu: The team has been playing well offensively. It is obvious that Inter do not have a problem scoring goals as was evident in midweek champions league action. I’m delighted with the performances but it will come down to consistency which Inter have never shown for as long as I can remember.


Goal: Tactically, where do you think this match may be won or lost?

Joel: Three words: defence, defence and defence. Milan has righted the ship, and rediscovered the form which saw them become arguably the best side in Europe (only Porto has been better). Internazionale are scoring a lot of goals at the moment, but if Milan get the lead, look for the rossoneri to slow the match down and come away with the victory.

Manu: The match will be won or lost in the back. It’s no secret that Inter are horrible when it comes to defending. I think Valencia didn’t score so much because we were fouling them like mad. AC Milan have a great defence. It’s like entering a whole different galaxy when you play them. Teams that are accustomed to scoring all the time find it very difficult against players like Nesta, Stam and Maldini. So Inter need to play at the same level, or they will suffer.


Goal: Which opposition player do you consider to be the greatest threat to your team in this clash?

Joel: Without a doubt, the most in-form player in the world at the moment is Adriano. We have now come to expect for his name to be on the score sheet after every match. He has it all: power, pace, and skill.

Manu: Shevchenko is brilliant. He seems to score all the time, and he rarely misses chances that are created for him by Pirlo or Seedorf. He is a threat because I know someone like Materazzi would be made a fool if he has to watch him.


Goal: Who from your team should we keep a particular eye on here?

Joel: There is no question that Milan’s greatest asset is the Ukrainian goal-scoring machine, Andriy Shevchenko. He is favoured by many to win the European Footballer of the Year award, and he has a propensity for stepping up his play in the most important matches.

Manu: Simple. Adriano has it all. I almost **** my pants watching him vs Valencia doing that incredible spin move but hitting the side netting. Not only does he score, but he draws so much attention leaving other players open who will hopefully finish their chances.


Goal: What are your side’s greatest strengths?

Joel: Milan’s greatest strengths are team organisation and unselfishness. When they take the pitch, not one player has a question about where he needs to be, and what he needs to accomplish. This is more than can be said about many of the other top sides in Europe. Also, Milan always plays for the greater good, with no egos getting in the way. Every player in the squad knows his role, whether he be a first choice every time out, or a rarely used substitute.

Manu: Our strength lies on the right side. Javier Zanetti is great going forward and if he feeds the strikers, than Milan will have a lot to deal with. Like I said, offensively we are strong but playing Milan is not a cake walk like it was against Valencia’s defence. La Liga is known for its horrible defensive tactics. I remember a few years ago when Real Madrid were scoring in La Liga with ease. They came to Milan for a champions league game and were shut out losing 1-0. Milan are that strong in the back. Inter must capitalise on their chances.


Goal: And weaknesses?

Joel: Well, Milan is a very relaxed side, never on edge. At certain moments, they do not have the necessary sense of urgency. One example which comes to mind is last season’s Champions League quarterfinal round debacle at the hands of Deportivo La Coruna. Milan had a 4-1 lead after their opening home leg, and in the return fixture were destroyed 4-0 and eliminated from the tournament. Though this is not a huge problem for them, they just need to get psyched up for some matches and finish the job.

Manu: Our defence has not been too organised. Materazzi seems lost out there, and Toldo has been pulled as a starter. Javier Zanetti somewhat holds things together in the back (for a short time) but Inter are renowned for mental lapses that are always costly.


Goal: What do your lot typically think of their lot?

Joel: Milan doesn’t see Inter on the same plane as they are. Now, don’t get me wrong. Inter are a good side, and Milan respect them to a certain extent, but they have been dominated by my rossoneri in recent times. Milan honestly believe they are, and will always be, better than their neighbours.

Manu: They are a great team. There seems to be balance all over the pitch. Great defence, Good mix of playmakers and ball winners in the centre, and strikers who score consistently.


Goal: What single thing irritates you most about them?

Joel: Every summer, Inter buy a few players who will supposedly put them over the top. Then when the end of the season rolls around, they find themselves without any silverware to show for the money they spent. Yet, their owner Massimo Moratti still breaks the bank again the next summer.

Manu: Gattusso makes me sick. This man is a rich footballer while I struggle from paycheck to paycheck and I know that I could do what he does on the pitch. He is absolutely horrible. And to think he’s loved by the Milan fans makes me want to vomit. What a disgusting excuse for a footballer.


Goal: And what do you grudgingly admire?

Joel: What I most admire about Inter is their squad depth. Milan has a good bench, but not the all star substitutes which Inter has access to. It boggles the mind to look at their squad list and how they have not won anything for a while.

Manu: They have incomparable class in defence and now that Stam is healthy, they are even a stronger back line. Nesta & Maldini are the best defenders in the world. I look at Inter’s defence and it is truly laughable. Materazzi is a clown out there and our starting goalie is going through a crisis.


Goal: What’s your fondest memory of past clashes against them?

Joel: The date: May 13, 2003. The place: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan. It is the semi-final round of the Champions League, second leg. Milan were the home team in the first leg, and the match ended in a scoreless draw. Inter are now the home squad, and if they don’t win, they cannot allow Milan to get a draw of 1-1 or better. It is a very fiercely contested match. Off of a pass from Clarence Seedorf in first half injury time, Andriy Shevchenko puts the ball past Francesco Toldo, Inter’s keeper, as he is simultaneously fouled by Ivan Cordoba. Inter’s young Nigerian Obafemi Martins equalized in the 84th minute, and they were pushing for the winner in the last few minutes. As the referee blew his whistle and finally signalled for full-time, Shevchenko runs a full field sprint in sheer adulation to celebrate with his overjoyed team-mates. The true spirit of Milan on show: team over individual.

Manu: The Champions league semi final two years back was a great spectacle, and probably awesome for the city. It’s unfortunate that Inter played like **** in the second leg and only started playing in the 85th minute.


Goal: What do you think the score of this match will be?

Joel: My heart tells me Milan will get their act together and get their first large score line victory of the season, but my mind says the talent of Inter will keep it close. A win seems ideal, but a draw would suffice. I’ll take my guys over theirs, with Inter seeking revenge later on this season in the return fixture. Milan 2-1 Inter

Manu: 3-2 Inter. I think Adriano is that good that he can overcome the class of Milan’s defence. Stam is weak against pace. Inter must exploit this. It will be difficult to keep them off the scoreboard so Inter should just try to go out and outscore them.


Thanks lads – enjoy a passionate tactical battle!

Yeah, that was a great fan vs. fan interview. Oh, and Manu is the guy who is supposed to be an Inter fan. I say it for, apart from his prediction, he seems to admire Milan A LOT. Can't blame him.

Originally Posted by zlatanov

Haroon, you are a bit too careless in these analysis - Adriano is the result of what Mancini and the rest of this new Inter have done and are doing. He is not the one who has bailed them out he is just the result of what they have helped him become. This is the same superfluous comment as when somebody says that Milan are Sheva dependent or rather Sheva is Milan - people see the result and mistake it for the reason. Please, try to look a bit deeper into this and don't just state the obvious part of it. Adriano also played for Zac but we all know how that ended, furthermore, Inter has had several Adriano-like players in the past but have never played so well apart from a short period under Giggi Simoni.
Plus Mancio took over just 2 months or so ago and it is more than understandable Inter to have some shaky performances at the start. With time everything will and seems to fit in better and better and Adriano, whom you see as the reason for this change, surfaces as the most formidable payer in Serie A and probably Europe. However, this is due to the whole team's work which is the result of what Mancio has done so far.
Also, there is nothing bad when a coach brings with him players who he knows best - one, he knows their pluses and minuses, and two just becasue a player didn't perform that well with one team (Lazio, Chelsea, etc.) doesn't meant he won't become a better player for Inter - different environment, different everything.
As for Zanetti at left back, well on the right Inter have a much better player - Ze' Maria - so, only the Left back is open for the Argentinian. Plus Inter don't have a good/reliable left defender apart from the aging Favalli so not many options for Mancini here.
All in all, let's not forget Eusebio's words: "Nobody is bigger than his team"

I do disagree as Adriano had a good time at Parma. Zac has magical powers to make players under-perform so nothing new there. As the season progresses Mancini's skills will become evident. Of course I want him to fail miserably. After all this is Inter we are talking about. It would also be interesting to see how Inter performs in the absence of Adriano.

Inter may win only against Juve, not us.
the only reason I ever scared by Inter was Maurizio Ganz.