Inter are strong yet fallible
- Richard Hall
The city of Milan may be a buzz due to the Far Eastern investment and the Nerazzurri and Rossoneri look strong again but at least one half isn’t getting too excited. Nobody in their right minds can lambast the Milan faithful for the searing hope they hold that, their new multi -million-pound squad may, at last, offer something that may bring them back to what they had been less than a decade ago. For Inter it is a different story, they have seen substantial investment last term but it resulted in little bit a plethora of coaches falling on their sword and what is more they have seen a league season start like this before.
Roberto Mancini was the man who had started the campaign in September 2015 with a 100% record. Interviewing him at Appiano Gentile the day before they played Fiorentina at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza one didn’t find it disrespectful to ask about the squad depth. Out of all the questions, this was the one he took to with great enthusiasm, much more than the rest. His reply was honest. ‘No, it’s not enough, we are not adequate for a full season, I wat people to realise this but our results mask the truth” The next day they lost 1-4 against Fiorentina.
Luciano Spalletti finds Inter in a much better place. Firstly, the ownership has changed and they have the ability to compete, providing they navigate the ever so irrelevant Financial Fair Play. The first eleven is a match for Napoli, Juventus and Roma (on their day) and with a fine wind, can take results of some of the better teams in Serie A. Wins against Roma and Fiorentina have proven that and Milan and Napoli are on the horizons, that’s the next test. Mauro Icardi, Joao Miranda, Ivan Perisic, Samir Handanovic, Antonio Candreva, Joao Mario and Borja Valero form an excellent base to the team, despite only perhaps three of these constantly being top performers nearly every game, the rest are not far off.
So why should Inter worry with a team better than poor old ‘Mano’ had to deal with? Firstly, despite Spalletti getting the team off to a good start the mentality of the squad can still be questioned. There are no substantially viable ‘impact’ substitutes that can come on and change the game or give the necessary solidity needed at certain times. Eder has industry but isn’t clinical and is arguably not that creative, is he an option out wide? He certainly can’t fill in for Mauro Icardi who with this seasons striking rate (and the others), if injured has Eder or Andrea Pinamonti to replace him? The latter is talented but is 18-years of age and not quite ready.
The list then goes on and other than Roberto Gagliardini and Marcelo Brozovic, it is hard to see who can fill the gaps with the acceptable quality that would see Inter challenge for a Scudetto. Everyone is talking about Yann Karamoh, he has had 20 good minutes, Andrea Ranocchia is back up to the center back and Yuto Nagatomo is a backup full back, still.
Whilst it is easy and justified to perhaps assume that these under-performing players (Karamoh excluded) may cost Inter if they are to be seriously tussling with the top half one should perhaps wait and look back at Danilo ’D’Ambrosio. He hasn’t been perfect, not at all but he is improving, Eder has looked lively and had more direction in his game and Brozovic has looked like he finally has a place in this squad so maybe under Spalletti there is progress.
There is not for one minute, anyone who could say that Inter’s squad players will step up and challenge the first eleven but some just may. The squad’s first eleven is strong but the depth is questioned. If Spalletti can continue to improve the group, then perhaps these secondary players can prove themselves again. After all, remember the potential in Ranocchia? D’Ambrosio at Torino, Eder at Sampdoria? If they can perform back to the levels they have proved they can before, then maybe Inter can do better than that fall away season on September 2015
@RichHall80