CL Group B Thread - Inter, Bremen, Panathinaikos, Anorthosis

Welcome Ninis

I only saw the highlights but from what I gathered, Anorthosis look a very well orgainised team a bit similar to Rafa Benetiz's tatics in midfield and defense working very closely to be solid and compact and deny space to the opposition.

Both teams look good blue, though personally I wouldn't mess with Balotelli by playing him outwide, but have him as the first choice backup striker. Is he really suited to playing out wide?

Welcome to the board Ninis

Heard a lot about Sotiris Ninis. Hopefully he'll turn out to be a top player.

Calidad wrote:Both teams look good blue, though personally I wouldn't mess with Balotelli by playing him outwide, but have him as the first choice backup striker. Is he really suited to playing out wide?

The thing is, wingers under Mouringo in 4-3-3 don't have to play so wide, as usual in this system. They are more like second strikers, half-centre, half-wide. It causes a problem for player like Quaresma (he never played before like this), but should work well for Balotelli.

stinger wrote:

Calidad wrote:Both teams look good blue, though personally I wouldn't mess with Balotelli by playing him outwide, but have him as the first choice backup striker. Is he really suited to playing out wide?

The thing is, wingers under Mouringo in 4-3-3 don't have to play so wide, as usual in this system. They are more like second strikers, half-centre, half-wide. It causes a problem for player like Quaresma (he never played before like this), but should work well for Balotelli.

I actually thought the opposite... Mancio prefered wingers who could alternate between playing AM and wing, so the likes of Balotelli and Stankovic were ideal. Mourinho prefers more like the traditional wingers who alternate between midfield and attack, and hence he bought players like Quaresma and Mancini (Mancio would have prefered players like Hleb and Stankovic instead).

Anyways, so far Balotelli has shown the ability to adapt to the winger role. Even tho he ends up playing as a support striker half the time, he is great with making runs on the right and with crosses.

The problem with Mourinho's formation at Inter is not at the wing, but that Ibra is no Drogba. Ibra is essentially a support striker, he is most effective facing the goal with a striker ahead of him, rather than with his back towards the goal and being the CF himself. I hope Mourinho quickly realises that and plays Adriano/Crespo/Cruz as the CF, with Ibra either on the wing or as a support striker. We need to find the system that makes the best use of our champions, rather tha force fit a system for the players to adapt.

bluenine wrote:

stinger wrote:

Calidad wrote:Both teams look good blue, though personally I wouldn't mess with Balotelli by playing him outwide, but have him as the first choice backup striker. Is he really suited to playing out wide?

The thing is, wingers under Mouringo in 4-3-3 don't have to play so wide, as usual in this system. They are more like second strikers, half-centre, half-wide. It causes a problem for player like Quaresma (he never played before like this), but should work well for Balotelli.

I actually thought the opposite... Mancio prefered wingers who could alternate between playing AM and wing, so the likes of Balotelli and Stankovic were ideal. Mourinho prefers more like the traditional wingers who alternate between midfield and attack, and hence he bought players like Quaresma and Mancini (Mancio would have prefered players like Hleb and Stankovic instead).

But isn't it because of differences in wingers role under Mancini's 4-4-2 and Mourinho's 4-3-3?

stinger wrote:

bluenine wrote:

stinger wrote:

Calidad wrote:Both teams look good blue, though personally I wouldn't mess with Balotelli by playing him outwide, but have him as the first choice backup striker. Is he really suited to playing out wide?

The thing is, wingers under Mouringo in 4-3-3 don't have to play so wide, as usual in this system. They are more like second strikers, half-centre, half-wide. It causes a problem for player like Quaresma (he never played before like this), but should work well for Balotelli.

I actually thought the opposite... Mancio prefered wingers who could alternate between playing AM and wing, so the likes of Balotelli and Stankovic were ideal. Mourinho prefers more like the traditional wingers who alternate between midfield and attack, and hence he bought players like Quaresma and Mancini (Mancio would have prefered players like Hleb and Stankovic instead).

But isn't it because of differences in wingers role under Mancini's 4-4-2 and Mourinho's 4-3-3?

Yup, thats exactly why. I just hope that doesn't stop Mourinho from using Balotelli and Adriano in the wide roles.... IMO Adriano should always start, and balotelli is usually more effective than Mancini even in the wide role.

I just hope FRINGS has a good game tonight

show them buggers

If things stay like this, Bremen will be bottom of their group
2 home games still to come, but one of them is against Inter.

No worries just yet I guess, because Almeida has equalised.

We are so $h!t, but somehow we managed to steal a point away from home yet again.

Werder

Anorthosis (I told you they will be dangerous)

I hope Mou rotates the squad, and gives a full game to the likes of Balotelli, Quaresma & Cruz - actually I hope these 3 start up front.

I don't mind seeing Burdisso in the defence tonight, inspite of his "heroics" against famagusta.... Samuel is not in squad, and he anyways needs a rest. Maybe we should also rest Maicon, Maxwell & Materazzi, by starting Cordoba with Zanetti (who needs no rest, ever) & Chivu completin the defence. So ideally, I would like to see the following team turn up:

But I am quite sure that won't happen, and Mou will revert back to his dreaded 433 (which is really 451 in disguise).

Looks like Chivu is still out injured... so at least one of Maicon or Maxwell will have to start. It may be a good idea to rest Maicon in this one, its not a key game.

Figo may get some play time. Why has Ibra been included in the squad, I don't understand - we have no need to overwork him, we have so many options.

Luckily Mourinho doesn't listen yo you. Maicon starts. Come on Inter, Werder & Sporting!

De Guzman wrote:Luckily Mourinho doesn't listen yo you. Maicon starts. Come on Inter, Werder & Sporting!

Mou is an idiot - he hasn't given anyone a rest.

Why we cannot rest Maicon when we have Zanetti, Figo & Quaresma for the right, I just cannot understand!!! Ditto Ibra!

I would have done the same as you & rested a few players, but think/expected Mourinho wants to make sure tonight you win the group (think you could have done that too while resting a few players), so I've Zlatan & Maicon in my FF team.

8-0 pleaz all passes to Zlatan.

Hope Ten Cate plays attacking (like he said he would).

De Guzman wrote:I would have done the same as you & rested a few players, but think/expected Mourinho wants to make sure tonight you win the group (think you could have done that too while resting a few players), so I've Zlatan & Maicon in my FF team.

8-0 pleaz all passes to Zlatan.

Hope Ten Cate plays attacking (like he said he would).

Its Mou, it will be 1-0.

You are not qualified yet and Mourinho wants to make sure you will today. It very unlikely you won´t but surprises hapen sometimes and Mourinho never undestimates no one. It is a professional aproach and while you may think it is exagerated remember you are 2 games away from the end of the group stage and an unlikely result today would be difficult to overcome.

If things go well for Inter he will use the subs.

Ronaldooooooooooooooooooooooo

If Mourinho only had him instead of Quaresma this season.

See? Never take a Champions League game for granted.

Protheus wrote:You are not qualified yet and Mourinho wants to make sure you will today. It very unlikely you won´t but surprises hapen sometimes and Mourinho never undestimates no one. It is a professional aproach and while you may think it is exagerated remember you are 2 games away from the end of the group stage and an unlikely result today would be difficult to overcome.

If things go well for Inter he will use the subs.

I disagree, mate. We have so much strength in depth, that the fresher "second team" would have played better... this team did so well in the weekend against Juve, but it surely must have taken a lot out of them... and that was so obvious today on the field. Most players were lethargic, and lacked work rate. Thats coz of overwork. I am 100% certain that if Mou had played the team I had lined up, they would have performed better - only coz they would have been fresher.

This was one of the worst performances by Inter this season, if not the worst. We lacked enterprise, initiative, and will.

And btw, we qualified anyways... even the loss was good enough. So its not like Mou had a lot to lose. What is worse is that key players like Ibra and maicon now must be even more exhausted...

The blame for this defeat, and if we drop points in the weekend coz of this, is solely on Mou's shoulders. No one else is to blame.

Ten Cate embarrasses Mourinho

kas wrote:Ten Cate embarrasses Mourinho

Was to be expected : Ten Cate always embarrasses everyone

Inter get's through to the next round by the skin of it's teeth. They had such an easy group to qualify but they still managed to make an adventure out of it

TarunDang wrote:Inter get's through to the next round by the skin of it's teeth. They had such an easy group to qualify but they still managed to make an adventure out of it

Easy group, maybe. And Inter have been far from imressive, sure. But we did qualify with a game to spare - thats not really "skin of teeth".

Looking at your form & recent results you seem to be struggling yet again in the CL. Even though you have Mourinho at the helm & probably the best squad in the world...at least on paper. What do you think the cause is? Do you consider it a team mentality issue or could it be something else?

bluenine wrote:

TarunDang wrote:Inter get's through to the next round by the skin of it's teeth. They had such an easy group to qualify but they still managed to make an adventure out of it

Easy group, maybe. And Inter have been far from imressive, sure. But we did qualify with a game to spare - thats not really "skin of teeth".

Two reasons:
1. Mou's attempts to force fit his system, which does not suit the characteristics of the squad - this will take time. Specially regarding Ibra's position, he needs to play a bit deeper to make best impact. Mou has played him a lot as the main CF, which not only wastes his talents, but also under utilises the squad coz there are other players who can play that role much better than Ibra.

2. Lack of rotation - having a great squad does not help if you do not rotate the players and give key players some rest. Mancio did this bit so well, Mou hasn't shown the same inclination as yet. This could hurt us a lot in the coming weeks, with tough games ahead of us.

I can only hope that Mou has a plan, and this is just his way to reach that level quickly.

TarunDang wrote:Looking at your form & recent results you seem to be struggling yet again in the CL. Even though you have Mourinho at the helm & probably the best squad in the world...at least on paper. What do you think the cause is? Do you consider it a team mentality issue or could it be something else?

bluenine wrote:

TarunDang wrote:Inter get's through to the next round by the skin of it's teeth. They had such an easy group to qualify but they still managed to make an adventure out of it

Easy group, maybe. And Inter have been far from imressive, sure. But we did qualify with a game to spare - thats not really "skin of teeth".

bluenine wrote:I hope Mou rotates the squad, and gives a full game to the likes of Balotelli, Quaresma & Cruz - actually I hope these 3 start up front.

I don't mind seeing Burdisso in the defence tonight, inspite of his "heroics" against famagusta.... Samuel is not in squad, and he anyways needs a rest. Maybe we should also rest Maicon, Maxwell & Materazzi, by starting Cordoba with Zanetti (who needs no rest, ever) & Chivu completin the defence. So ideally, I would like to see the following team turn up:

Toldo
Zanetti-Burdisso-Cordoba-Chivu
Cambiasso-Muntari
Quaresma--------------------Mancini
Cruz - Balotelli

But I am quite sure that won't happen, and Mou will revert back to his dreaded 433 (which is really 451 in disguise).

You lost in Europe by resting certain players, and then wanted Mourinho to rest more...you then lose at home to Panathinikos because of that, and then slag off Samp for doing the same thing, when we are actually struggling in the league...

Unbelievable...double standards and hypocrisy of the highest order.

Bluey, Super Mario will start surely?