Haven't been on this forum for a while, but obviously I am very happy with the way things sit in Serie A so far this season.
I say so far, because the ugly memory of 5th May 2002 never really fades....
(look at the run-ins for my two teams, Wolves and Inter, for that season and you'll realise the importance of the whole "it ain't over till it's over" thing....)
Next year, we'll need to think about replacing some players. Not because they are no good, but because, well, frankly there comes a point where we have to look to the future, no? These players are not so young any more and deserve to go out on a high note (except the third one, who deserves a clout on the head with a large piece of lead pipe). For example:
Marco Materazzi Javier Zanetti (much as I wish he could, he can't go on for ever) Alvaro Recoba (please go please go please go please) Francesco Toldo
The midfield seems to be a strongpoint, finally, and the attack is all good, at least not something we have to put as a priority.
However:
I know that Nico B will happily slot into the space vacated by Marco M., but how long will Walter Samuel stick around if he's not playing regularly?
The goalkeeper situation needs addressing too, as big Frankie won't really be a force to be reckoned with next year, being in his mid 30-s (I think).
So: along the lines of Burdisso, that is to say a youngster who was bought with an eye towards the future (very un-Inter, that), what are the thoughts of the Inter contingent on this forum regarding the way forward in transfer policy?
Is there a young Italian waiting in the Primavera side a la Oba Martins? Or are we going to hear the traditional Vincent Kompany chestnut again? Is it only Gary Breen who can fill Marco's boots?!
"Bad news. The fog is getting thicker." "And Leon's getting l-a-r-g-e-r!"
How is Andreolli these days? I know Casiraghi picked him regularly for the ITaly U21 team. Did he end up going to Newcastle or were they just rumours?
Aside from the obvious cries of Messi and Signor Taveez, I think we need 1 v. young and talented D.Midfield player. Vieira isnt going to be around forever, but he is of the sature that he could pass on a lot of useful info to a burgeoning young midfield player.
Just rumours...i don't think Newcastle wanted a player that had already played in the Premiership and would thus take less time to become acclimatised.
"Why do you take my statements with a papal seriousness?" "I don't want the virgin olive oil..."
Surely Inter fans realise this, like the last one, isn't a real league win? This year in Serie A has been a waste of time, we might as well ignore it. Hence why I (and others) have been rather quiet on the forum recently, it's just not worth talking about.
As for Inter, yeah they'll win the league, they'll buy a load of expensive players they don't need, and then Milan and Juve will finish above them next year. Same as usual.
Personally I'm not fussed about last seasons "title", this season though will be great for us - I've said it tonnes of times but it's not our fault if other clubs get up to monkey business. Also I remember a lot of people actually saying Milan would be right back up there and possibly win it even with their points deduction - they haven't managed it because they've been pretty rubbish for most of the season. Probably players using the points deduction as an excuse - which is lame if you look at what Reggina have done
I haven't seen much of the team this season so I can't really comment much but I always think we need a top top goalkeeper - Toldo doesn't really play and there's just something about Julio Cesar that doesn't click with me - there's not that many top goalkeepers about really though I suppose - Buffoon, Canizares maybe? Cech will be unavailable - maybe Cudicini would be worth a punt?
Originally posted by MICHAEL_LA_VIOLA: >Surely Inter fans realise this.... isn't a real league win?
What?
No, really. What???
This was really difficult not to respond to with a very long posting (and we should all be very grateful that didn't happen).
If you're going to throw the "Juve weren't there so it doesn't really count" argument into the ring, then here's the scoop: There's a reason they weren't there, just as there's a reason that Milan and all the rest got the points deductions they did. Them's the rules.
Michael: at the risk of boring everybody else, please clarify. Even if no-one else does, I'd like to know the "thinking" behind your posting.
It's complete cr@p!
Taking issue with someone for the first time on this forum, it is...
Originally posted by MICHAEL_LA_VIOLA: Surely Inter fans realise this, like the last one, isn't a real league win? This year in Serie A has been a waste of time, we might as well ignore it. Hence why I (and others) have been rather quiet on the forum recently, it's just not worth talking about.
As for Inter, yeah they'll win the league, they'll buy a load of expensive players they don't need, and then Milan and Juve will finish above them next year. Same as usual.
Milan started 8 points behind. They are now dozens of points behind. Inter have had a record breaking season. If you think this side would not have got a draw or win against Juve then you are kidding yourself. Inter are hot, hot stuff.
It's funny how people denounce this season and last season but dont tar the previous 5 or 6 sesons when Juve, Milan and Lazio won whilst being corrupt to the core.
Originally posted by MICHAEL_LA_VIOLA: Surely Inter fans realise this, like the last one, isn't a real league win? This year in Serie A has been a waste of time, we might as well ignore it. Hence why I (and others) have been rather quiet on the forum recently, it's just not worth talking about.
As for Inter, yeah they'll win the league, they'll buy a load of expensive players they don't need, and then Milan and Juve will finish above them next year. Same as usual.
I thought you hadn't been on the forum much because you'd disappeared up your own (place the sun don't shine).
I must say you haven't really been missed in the slightest.
Originally posted by MICHAEL_LA_VIOLA: Surely Inter fans realise this, like the last one, isn't a real league win? This year in Serie A has been a waste of time, we might as well ignore it. Hence why I (and others) have been rather quiet on the forum recently, it's just not worth talking about.
As for Inter, yeah they'll win the league, they'll buy a load of expensive players they don't need, and then Milan and Juve will finish above them next year. Same as usual.
Milan started 8 points behind. They are now dozens of points behind. Inter have had a record breaking season. If you think this side would not have got a draw or win against Juve then you are kidding yourself. Inter are hot, hot stuff.
It's funny how people denounce this season and last season but dont tar the previous 5 or 6 sesons when Juve, Milan and Lazio won whilst being corrupt to the core.
It's not funny, it just shows how ignorant these people are when it comes down to it.
This has been a fantastic season and will continue to be.
Enjoy. Believe me, nobody envy you. Deep doen, I'm even you loser-inter fans feel hollow about this season's seeming victory. Never has there been a dry, boring season like this. You can console yourself with the "Juve, Milan were punished cos of bribery drool". Yeah, most said Milan would still win the league despite the point deduction and the distruption of thier pre-season preparation. It is 'cos everyone knew how pathetic inter are. So you win this one. Enjoy. Because it would be the last "major" trophy you win in teh next 20 years. Beginning next season, you are reverting back to type
Not over yet. But when it is, believe me, we will. And you won't be given the space to forget it.
> Believe me, nobody envy you.
No? How about mid-table Milan or Serie B Juve? 14 points adrift Roma, perhaps. I rather think everyone envies us! Spit yer sour grapes out, would you please.....
>Deep doen, I'm even you loser-inter fans feel hollow about this season's seeming victory.
OK, you got me. These last 16 games, away derby win included, have left me bitter and resentful. Why oh why oh why is my team so good? Why do other teams come to us to lose?! Oh please, make it stop....
> You can console yourself with the "Juve, Milan were punished cos of bribery drool".
Were you technically awake when you wrote that?
>Yeah, most said Milan would still win the league despite the point deduction and the distruption of thier pre-season preparation.
Yes, many did say that. And Milan, of their own volition, sold Shevchenko and proved them all wrong. Genius! Way to go, rossoneri!!
> It is 'cos everyone knew how pathetic inter are.
Pathetic. Awful, isn't it? Not only do we not cheat, but to add insult to injury we go and win 16 in a row. Now that's just plain rude, isn't it?
You sound very bitter. Well, go and be bitter on your own. Don't spread your sour grapes to the rest of us.
I'm glad I wasn't the only one who remembered all the Milan fans and pundits claiming even with the points deduction they'd still win the title - hahahahaha as if!
Originally posted by MICHAEL_LA_VIOLA: Surely Inter fans realise this, like the last one, isn't a real league win? This year in Serie A has been a waste of time, we might as well ignore it. Hence why I (and others) have been rather quiet on the forum recently, it's just not worth talking about.
As for Inter, yeah they'll win the league, they'll buy a load of expensive players they don't need, and then Milan and Juve will finish above them next year. Same as usual.
Milan started 8 points behind. They are now dozens of points behind. Inter have had a record breaking season. If you think this side would not have got a draw or win against Juve then you are kidding yourself. Inter are hot, hot stuff.
It's funny how people denounce this season and last season but dont tar the previous 5 or 6 sesons when Juve, Milan and Lazio won whilst being corrupt to the core.
Paul, I'm not disputing the fact that Inter are a good team this season. And I'm not saying that Juve would be ahead of you.
I'm merely saying that from the start, the league always seemed fairly irrelevant, because it was so disjointed. Juve are in the division below, Milan (and Fiorentina) were docked points - how could Inter not win the league? Yes, they're a good side, and even disregarding Juve's absence and Milan's woes, their results have been very impressive. But do you lot really want (excluding last year's "win") your first league win in almost twenty years to come like this?
I just find it strange that Inter fans are celebrating their (almost certain) league win as if it's some kind of historic victory...it's not, it's merely a win by default. When Juve are in Serie A next season, and when Milan (and Fiorentina I hope ) can mount a challenge from an equal starting position, THEN we have a league on our hands. You've got to be favourites right now for the 2007/08 league - but I'm afraid that's what really counts, not the 2006/07 season - that will merely be remembered as the season Italian football took a backseat.
Why does it matter that I don't give a fig about the league? Well, it doesn't. But I'm not the only one - Serie A has been a massive turn-off this year. No wonder Bravo don't show it anymore - no-one watches it, no-one wants to advertise during the game, and therefore Bravo can't afford the rights. And so Inter are winning a league no-one cares about. Well done.
First off, Id like to say that I think MLV is a wicked poster...so whoever said he wasnt missed or whatever is a poopooface.
Italian football has taken a massive hit this season. It is the least competitive Scudetto race for as long as I can remember. Milan have had a poor season and Juve arent there. So whilst it is certainly true that you can only beat what's put in front of you, Inter have had to beat few great teams.
The Milan derby and the record breaking 16 consecutive wins are, however, proof that Inter have a phenomenal squad that for once are playing as a team as opposed to 11 headless chickens (allbeit very talented ones).
The big test of the season will be the CL. If Inter get to the final or win it they can say that they had a terrific season. Had it been a full strength Serie A then there is little doubt Inter would still be top. Inter are the best team in Italy.
Finally it is worth pointing out that whilst this season is neither particularly exciting nor competitive, it is a fair and honest campaign. Which cannot be said of a scudetto race for at least 10 years (my first memory of bad refereeing so bad that no honest, competant referee could have acted as he did was that famous Juve v. Inter showdown a decade ago when Inter were hot favourites...).
For Italian football in the long run it is better to have a few boring but fair seasons than it is to have exciting but dishonest seasons. This season will be the first scudetto that means anything at all, even if that is not very much...
Originally posted by Phonicsdude: For Italian football in the long run it is better to have a few boring but fair seasons than it is to have exciting but dishonest seasons.
Let's hope so - my fear is that Italian football won't regain the support (and money) and will take a knock that will still be felt long after this season is over.
) can mount a challenge from an equal starting position, THEN we have a league on our hands. You've got to be favourites right now for the 2007/08 league - but I'm afraid that's what really counts, not the 2006/07 season - that will merely be remembered as the season Italian football took a backseat. 
