Well the fixtures keep coming. Right before the end of the transfer window we have gotten two excellent players in Kharja and Pazzini, both of which have been included in the squad for this weekend. While we probably won't see them in the starting eleven I fully expect a debut for at least one if things aren't going well and vice versa. I feel like Pazzini is the sort of player that can make a change at any point during the match so I feel like he will get a chance regardless, because fixtures will be coming thick and fast. As for the match itself... it will be a very tight affair. We all know of Palermo's attacking threat, and we were somewhat surprised when we went to the Enzo Barbera stadium earlier this season and played really well dominating Palermo in front of their home fans. This was one of the few games under Rafa where we truly played as a team. Even though we dominated possession Josip Ilicic, one of the Slovenian revelations thus far this season for Palermo scored an unlikely goal and we were 1-0 down at half time. Yet the team pulled together, and Eto'o scored two wonderful goals, one of which was a brilliant team move between him, Maicon, and Stankovic, who will unfortunately be out for a month. We all know about the threat of Pastore, and unlike last time a certain Fabrizio Miccoli will be playing who is a threat from anywhere. I found it interesting that he never made it at Juventus, but once he laces up his boots for Palermo he is probably one of the best strikers in Italy when on form. The trident is complete with Ilicic, the Slovenian attacking midfielder who has been a revelation thus far this season. Backing up the attacking minded players are Nocerino, the veteran Italian midfielder, and Bacinovic, another Slovenian who has shown some good things thus far this season popping up with goals here and there. The veteran back line of Cassani, Balzaretti, Munoz and Bovo is also very solid. Their fullbacks are Italian internationals, and I feel if there is one place where we could expose Palermo is in the center of the pitch further up, as well as their center backs who are not without weakness. In goal is also an upcoming Italian international, and with Emiliano Viviano the future of Italian goalkeeping in Salvatore Sirigu. If he's on form, he will also be difficult to break. As for Inter, Coutinho is back! And Sneijder has been started to train more regularly. Hopefully the Dutchman will be back to his best before Bayern, but it's looking doubtful as the games for the Champions League start in 2 weeks. Overall we are looking to keep pace with Bilan, after the loss to Udinese. The Napoli win in the club boosted morale, and any tight victory will help bring enthusiasm to the following fixture. The following squad has been named: Goalkeepers: 1 Julio Cesar, 12 Luca Castellazzi, 21 Paolo Orlandoni; Defenders: 4 Javier Zanetti, 6 Lucio, 13 Maicon, 15 Andrea Ranocchia, 23 Marco Materazzi, 36 Simone Benedetti, 39 Davide Santon, 57 Felice Natalino; Midfielders: 8 Thiago Motta, 14 Houssine Kharja, 19 Esteban Cambiasso, 20 Joel Obi, 29 Philppe Coutinho; Strikers: 7 Giampaolo Pazzini, 9 Samuel Eto'o, 22 Diego Milito, 27 Goran Pandev. I see this formation going into the match: --------------------Castellazzi------------------------- Maicon--------Lucio---------Ranocchia----------Santon -----------Zanetti----------Cambiasso----------------- ---------------------Motta----------------------------- ----------Pandev----------------Eto'o------------------ ---------------------Milito----------------------------- I am hoping Santon gets a start with Ranocchia... two future Italian internationals. Key Battle: The midfield battle between Bacinovic, Migliaccio, and Nocerino versus Motta, Pandev, and Cambiasso. Last time we took control of their defensive midfield, and they couldn't muster up an attacking move, but Palermo has been playing decently lately and with Pastore and Miccoli we have two creative forces that are a thread. Hopefully Cambiasso continues his good run of form and shuts down the midfield alongside Pupi. Forza REGAZZI!!!!
would like to see coutinho start instead of pandev, and trying out pazzini instead of milito in the second half. palermo always good players from thin air, i really like how they build their team.
his still not 100% so best thing to do is play it safe dejan, cordoba, mariga and chivu are not available while we see the return of JC back in the squad Goalkeepers: 1 Julio Cesar, 12 Luca Castellazzi, 21 Paolo Orlandoni; Defenders: 4 Javier Zanetti, 6 Lucio, 13 Maicon, 15 Andrea Ranocchia, 23 Marco Materazzi, 36 Simone Benedetti, 39 Davide Santon, 57 Felice Natalino; Midfielders: 8 Thiago Motta, 14 Houssine Kharja, 19 Esteban Cambiasso, 20 Joel Obi, 29 Philppe Coutinho; Strikers: 7 Giampaolo Pazzini, 9 Samuel Eto'o, 22 Diego Milito, 27 Goran Pandev.
ATM..Inter are getting bent over! 2-0 to Palermo. The Sicilians should of had a third, but somehow Pastore hit the post!
wow.....2-2 Pazzini scores again....a brace on his debut. All he needs is decent service, and he'll bang in the goals..
Palermo have self destructed!!!! Penalty to Inter.....********!!!! Pazzini beats Munoz and gets a penalty! goal..eto 3-2..********
That was a hell of a match. Pazzini was outstanding. Maicon was a force on the right in the second half. And I swear to god, Julio Cesar, when he is healthy, there is no better player in the world. He had at least 3 saves in the second half that no one else on this planet could have made. Forza La Beneamata.
Love the dubious penalty! Certainly wasn't one. Palermo choked big time nonetheless. Pastore was horrible.
I was going to avoid checking the score and watch the replay on ESPN3, but I couldn't overcome my curiosity. Must have been a hell of a match.
Internazionale-Palermo 3-2 [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVOW3X8368w"]YouTube - Internazionale - Palermo 3-2 ::: HD Highlights[/ame]
JUlio Cesar's save with his leg in the second half was insane!!!How did he do that .it was luck or he really meant to block the ball with his leg??
Thanks to the rossonero and banok for painting a picture of what happened from the looks of things Palermo were really sticking it to us, thank god for JC, Maicon and Pazzo, as well as eto'o cant wait for mara's take on this game
Well... that had everything. I don't know why but I really didn't panic throughout the match. Somehow I knew we would turn it around, and I think that speaks to the quality of this side. The match started off well, and we were in control early as we started to possess the ball similar to the way we did at the Enzo Barbera Stadium. I was also really glad Leonardo listened to me and started Ranocchia and Santon, finally a ballsy move from the manager, which possibly didn't work out in the end.. but we need to give time to our future. Just as we started to play well Ilicic delayed, and delayed and got the ball through to Cassani who showed in 2 seconds why he is a full Italian international, and why he should be on the team. However, I also felt Santon was a tad unfortunate as the play looked a bit offside from the player not involved in the build up. Yes, Davide got taken to school on the Cassani touch to the outside, but with how much game time he has been getting since his injury I can't argue too much. He will need games to get match fit. Plus we must not forget Ranocchia was nowhere on Miccoli as well, so even though Santon is at fault for letting Cassani get free Andrea is at fault for letting Miccoli tap it in. Things looked to be a struggle from there, but I still felt we could come back. I felt reminiscent of Mourinho's Inter, where we went behind and we were so much in control, maybe I was hallucinating, that I still felt things would come for us. And so they did.. we started to take control of the ball, and Palermo couldn't muster anything. We kept switching the ball, attacking down the flanks and through the middle and Sirigu and the Palermo defense just kept responding. It started to feel like it might be one of those nights, especially after Maicon was unlucky not to get the ball from Nocerino's legs for Palermo's second, and Julio getting a touch to it. Then Milito's chance came and went at the near post, and just like that it was half time. We needed a lift, as towards the end of the first half I sensed that the task might be a little too large for Coutinho, who looked like he was put out there by Leonardo to orchestrate the attack. Leonardo came to this conclusion, and made a bold move with the introduction of Pazzini and Kharja who came in for Santon and Phillipe at halftime. Zanetti switched to his familiar left back role, and Kharja came to the forefront of our midfield. And he was exactly that missing link between Cambiasso, Motta, and our trident. I hope now you guys might understand what I was talking about when I said he was a cross between Cambiasso, referring to Kharja's fighting ability and Motta, due to his physical and creative presence. We needed to go for it, and Pazzini slotted into the right of Milito with Samuel once again playing all over the front line. I feel like Etoó is at his most dangerous coming off the top and building up play for a shot, cross, or another pass. He has learned to do that so well this season with Milito, and I'm hoping he might build into the same understanding with Pazzini. I counted three times where Samuel got the ball from the left in the 2nd half alone, and penetrated their right flank which led to an opportunity, not to mention his attempts at goal and his penalty. We are just a different team with him on form, and I think this also speaks to the influence of Jose on Etoó's game as he developed more of this team quality last season under the Portuguese master. After the 2nd half started, we went all guns blazing, and it was just the stuff of fiction. Pazzini scored on his debut with a turn that was just brilliant, and a reflection of how far he has come in his career.. I remember when he was still at Fiorentina, on the cusp of greatness, and still unable to break into the player we knew he could be. It was a coming of age type of goal, as now he has scored for one of the largest clubs in the world, and we can ony hope there is more on the way. Maicon was back to his marauding best, and he just kept coming wave after wave.. and the 2nd goal was bound to occur as the quality of our service and attacking was brilliant. Motta dropped a little further to the role occupied by Pupi earlier in the first half and Kharja was given a little more freedom offensively which spelled pressure further up the pitch which indirectly led to the 2nd goal. And what a finish it was by Pazzini.. he might be this year's Milito. He just has that feel about him right now that everything is going in. While I shouldn't get ahead of myself, it felt like he wouldn't miss and that is when a striker is at his most dangerous. As I mentioned before, this game had a touch of everything therefore it would be unfair not to mention Julio Cesar who had 2 world class saves with his return into goal. While I felt Luca's was a tad unfortunate to be replaced, we all saw in the 2nd half why our number one is number one in the world. When on form, he is untouchable and the 2nd save on Balzaretti in the 87th minute was world class. Even though he was lucky to be at the right place at the right time, he still had to flick his feet as the ball bounced from the turf right as the volley hit its spot. The save on Pastore's penalty was also brilliant, as he waited for Javier to pick his spot.. and the reflex and speed to get back onto his feet just illustrated the quality. We keep fighting, and as all champions we won't be going down without making a case ourselves. We have won Lega Calcio the past 4 years, and we are determined to stay there. We needed this win to keep pace with our city rivals, and this, much like United's victory over Blackpool last weekend in the English Premier League illustrated the quality of a champion.. coming back when your backs are up against it. Leonardo put it best after the match: "You can analyse things and pick holes as much as you like, but I'd sign on the dotted line right now for every game to be like that. No matter what they find themselves up against, this Inter team are always able to dig deep and come up with something. Coming back to win this game is a great sign. Perhaps not even Pazzini could have dreamt of having a debut like that. Inter are even 'crazier' with him in the team." And I agree, as the club is on a whole different level with a philosophy that wasn't there before Jose. I think that also speaks volumes of the previous manager from last season, and what he has been able to insert into the minds of players, as well as Leonardo's enthusiasm which can be seen upon the faces of the Nerazurri. He laughs with the team, and he struggles with the team, and we aren't done yet. Onto Bari!!!! Forza REGAZZI!!!!
Incredible Pazzini. This just shows you what a great team can do with what I thought was an average forward. Either way, I doubt he will still be average from now on.... http://www.goal.com/en/match/50527/inter-milan-vs-palermo/player-ratings Player Ratings: Inter 3-2 Palermo Goal.com rates the participants at the San Siro... By Adam Scime Inter Milan Julio César 7.0 He perhaps could have done better on the second goal, but he made a brilliant stop on a corner that was almost deflected in by Zanetti and stopped Pastore's penalty. Maicon 7.0 The full-back bombed down the right all match long and assisted Pazzini's header with a perfect cross from a set-piece. Defensively he was beaten on the second goal, but overall a good performance. Lucio 6.0 The third Brazilian at the back was average on the day. Stepped in when necessary but not one of his vintage displays. Andrea Ranocchia 6.5 Unbeatable in the air. The winter signing made several crucial interceptions. On the counter he was beaten for pace, but that was his only drawback. Davide Santon 5.5 The youngster was absolutely burned by Cassani on the opener and no better on Palermo's second goal. partly atoned for his errors by stopping the ball from rolling into the net at the end of the first-half. Esteban Matias Cambiasso 7.0 The former Real Madrid midfielder was once again his busy self in midfield, guarding Pastore and also being the anchor in possession. Thiago Motta 5.5 The midfielder's long range efforts flew over and he wasn't able to stamp his authority on the match. Also gave away a penalty with a clumsy foul. Luckily his side were not punished. Javier Adelmar Zanetti 6.5 The 37-year-old was unstoppable once again, dragging his team forward from midfield when appropriate and also stepping into defence after Santon's exit. Coutinho 5.0 His return from injury was not a happy one. The starlet had one shot blocked from close range though he was otherwise invisible. Eto'o 7.0 Always looking to create openings. His quick feet caused plenty of problems from the Sicilian backline. He eventually got his reward by placing a spot-kick into the net. Diego Alberto Milito 6.5 The Argentine international had a couple shots blocked and was quite active. Once robbed by Sirigu as well. He only lacked the goal today. • Substitutions Obi107166.0N/A Houssine Kharja 6.5 Came on at the outset of the second-half and worked hard for the team, creating Pazzini's initial goal with a smart pass into the area. Giampaolo Pazzini Top of the Match 8.5 What a debut! Having just arrived from Sampdoria, Pazzini scored twice and then earned a penalty (even if it was dubious). His finishing could be crucial as the season progresses. Palermo Salvatore Sirigu 7.0 A handful of very good saves against Eto'o, Milito, and company throughout the match. Reacted a tad late on Pazzini's first, but was unlucky to be on the losing side. Mattia Cassani 7.0 Provided the final pass for both of Palermo's goals and definitely had the better of Santon, not as much luck in the second-half though. Ezequiel Muñoz 6.0 A brilliant first-half with several crucial plays in defence, a frustrating second one. Pazzini turned him to open the host's account and then he gave away a penalty. Cesare Bovo 5.5 Has his back up against the wall as Inter attacked in waves for the duration of the contest. Federico Balzaretti 5.5 Pinned back by the runs of Maicon. The left-back could not believe it when his late volley did not go into the net after deflecting off both Maicon and Julio Cesar. Giulio Migliaccio 5.5 Overrun in midfield by Inter's contingent. He really could not impose himself at all at the San Siro. Armin Bačinovič 5.0 A couple of nice passes here and there, but all too often disappeared from the proceedings like Migliaccio. Could not get his side out of their own half. Antonio Nocerino 6.5 nice goal and another hardworking performance from the former Juventus midfielder. Josip Iličič 6.0 The Slovenian played a hand in the opener and threatened to open up Inter's defence on a couple occasions before drifting out of the game in the second-half. Javier Pastore Flop of the Match 5.0 What has happened to the Pastore that set Serie A alight from August to November? Smashed the post when he could have scored and then missed a penalty. Bossed by Cambiasso and Thiago Motta for too long. A few nice moves don't make up for a poor outing. Fabrizio Miccoli 6.5 Unless he was injured, it was a very strange decision to remove him while in the lead. He scored after five minutes and nearly did so again direct from a corner kick. • Substitutions Pajtim Kasami 6.0 He earned a penalty with a tenacious display after coming off the bench.
Il Pazzooooooooooo! What a debut people are talking about it as the best debut for an Inter player since Recoba and this game has drew comparisions with the legendary comeback against Sampdoria a few years back. I tell you what this signing was copping some flak before the game from a minority of supporters who thought we should of signed a more physically imposing forward like Matri or Maxi Lopez (LOL) but I'm sure that debate just got settled once and for all. Good game from Kharja too, I liked his energy when he came on the field, especially tracking back on defence and his contribution to attack as well. No doubt Pazzo changed the game, but I'm just glad to see the team show some character after falling behind, under Benitez we would of folded like a stack of cards when we went 2-0 down, instead we showed some fighting spirit and rode to victory on the back of some energetic and inspiring play from our new signings, Leonardo deserves some credit for this.
Yes it was a dubious penalty as was the "foul" on Lucio leading to the second. Inter can't help it if the ref blows the whistle. Great header on the second goal and unbelievable save by Cesar to save 2 points. It was lucky BUT he was looking right at the ball when he stuck his leg out so it was also great reflexes.
Nice try, but all the favorable calls are going towards Inter's direction. Gee I wonder why. Just check out the horrible refereeing against Milan in both the Catania and Lazio games. Gee I wonder why that is? Palermo should have had a draw 3-3... you're lucky that Pastore is in such poor form right now.
Did you see us complaining leading up to Calciopoli on your forum? Any members from our board? No. Go back to where you belong.. the ACM board. I'm all for banter, but mate you're taking it one step too far, and not in the right section I might add. And yes, we're constantly lucky. We are lucky we have been champions the past three seasons, when you have been on equal footing with us.. and especially when in some seasons teams (cough, Juve, cough) spent much more than us (looking towards last 2 seasons here) and wé're just lucky to be European champions. Yea... blah, blah, blah.