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You Tried Like No Other
Inter circus is back in town!
We are unique
Antibiotics, stomach pain and her immune system
(20-01-04)
A gentleman with a BIG heart, a fan, someone passionate, very respected, and
perhaps too emotional for the game has now stepped down.
As many people would now argue he was the last club president in Italy with
decency in his blood. He was well respected among his colleges, Lega Calcio
and everyone who worked with him.
Unfortunately his good heart plus the fact that he more acted like a fan rather than a president while making critical business decisions contributed to his failure.
Just in the middle of writing a short article trying to summarise our performance (or perhaps our non-existing performance) half way through the season, it suddenly hit me.
The time on my screen said 20:37 and the news was released about 20:30!
The headline reads:
MASSIMO MORATTI & FOUR ADVISORS RESIGN FROM INTER BOARD!!
Shocked and at first upset I check several Italian pages, and
Moratti's face is all over the news! Yes, he has stepped
down and so with his decision finally swallowed his pride!
Sadly enough he never managed to live up to his fathers success
no matter how hard he tried.
All he managed to win was a Uefa cup title and a primavera Scudetto! Frankly
speaking nothing worth mentioning when you consider all his endless efforts
year after year.
As ambivalent as ever regarding the matter i try to phone few
close friends to calm myself and get some sympathy!
Most fans did have a love and hate relationship with the man. Loved for all
the above characteristics and the money he spent for the club in order to
bring in all the stars.
Yet, disliked as for several wrong decisions in the past which directly worked
against the clubs success.
So what to expect next?
Faccetti is now appointed as president by Moratti himself.
I believe for the time being it is a wise choice as Faccetti has been in the
board for a while and also is a living legend among Inter fans.
Considering what Moratti has done for Inter in the past, and
the love that he clearly has for Inter I seriously can not see him totally
out of the picture. After all he still owns
51% of Inter shares (will still be the owner) and so in one or another way
he will have to be involved.
This, precisely is what most fans were hoping for. A scenario where Moratti financially reinforces the club, Yet does not make any decisions in terms of player transfers and so on.
Pretty selfish way of thinking if you ask me, but then again we all want what is best for the team. And right now, no matter how hard it is to admit it, but this does seem to be the best solution for our beloved club. Sad but true!
I would still give anything to see him winning Lo Scudetto while being president, but I guess one can not have everything in life. And this is one of those wishes that will never come true!
Massimo Moratti will be remembered for many reasons for years to come. Pazza Inter or Pazza Moratti, call it what you like. He has now stepped down. Not only because of all the protests outside Meazza after the Empoli game and not because of the all the banners in the stadium wishing his departure, but for so many other reasons.
Anyhow as he stated late last night, his decision will now help him to act a bit calmer which consequently will help the club in order to find some stability. Lets hope a positive era is about to start and that our players will now show a positive reaction to his decision.
Frankly, despite all the sufferings in recent years, I would not have changed him with the likes of Moggi or Berlusconi! And yes, I have my own reasons for that.
His big heart and passion for the club will be missed. Him chatting
away with the players at Apiano Gentile will be missed. Everyone will miss
the good hearted man that he was.
Hopefully his present in Meazza will still continue and so one day we shall
see him among all the others involved in the club celebrating the long awaiting
Scudetto.
Another positive aspect of Moratti’s departure is the fact that we now shall never see Ingrato’s fat body in our beloved team jersey again. Moratti stepping down will most likely also mean the departure of Alvaro Recoba!
Here is a short interview with Moratti, after his announcement.
//////
MILAN - Outside his residence in Milan last night, Massimo
Moratti made his first declarations after resigning from the Inter board of
directors.
He said: "It's not a drama, it's a decision that allows me to take a
step back, which allows me to see things better, and nothing else."
Was the reason yesterday's [Sunday's] protest at the stadium?
"I saw one of the banners and it wasn't terrible."
But how did you arrive at this decision?
"It's something that on my behalf will give responsibility to who will
take my place. I think Facchetti is the right person; it's an important role
for me and it will allow me to be calmer."
But did everything stem from yesterday's [Sunday's] match?
"Yesterday's match certainly wasn't the best, from every point of view."
The majority of the fans can't imagine Inter without Moratti...
"The ownership doesn't change; this is something that also happens in
other clubs."
You have given a strong sign which will make people reflect...
"If it has this effect, it's better
///////
Id like to finish this short writing with a quote from a friend:
"at the end of the day, Angelo will look down on you, with a smile on his face... knowing that you tried like no other."
Grazzie Massimo
Non Mollare Mai
My day started with an sms from Italy!
It read,
news: Cuper sacked, Zac your new coach. He is a good coach, believe me! Ciao
Matteo! He is a Milan fan (who else would rate zac as a good coach???)
Yet again, Inter circus with Moratti acting as the clown
is back in town.
We are never short of entertainment.
As if Lippi wasn’t enough, now we need to put
up with Zac! Can not find another word for disaster. Such a mess!!
City rival exchanges make me sick.
Anyhow, we shall give our new coach a bit time in order to evaluate his strengths
and capability. Hence we should not write him off before he has had a few
games under his belt. However, right now I’m pretty much pessimistic
and frustrated in regards to this scenario.
Cuper sacking was in the air, yet it came as a shock!!
Cuper did so much for us, he created a stability which wasn’t there
before. He made the team united. There were no more especial treatments for
babies such as Ingrato. He created harmony and introduced many primavera players
to our squad.
It also seemed as if Moratti’s patient had doubled since he became in
charge.
The question remaining is that if prior to the season our board
decide to believe in Cuper, and so, buy players to suit his system then why
changing it after few games into the season. What the heck did u eat last
night Massimo?
After all we have had only 1 defeat in competitive games this season. Changing
a coach during a season has rarely been successful. It might be used as an
adrenaline rush for a few games but the again things will go back to its normal.
Cupers motto was simple. Have a SOLID back four, and sooner
or later the goal opportunities will arrive. In his 2 first seasons he lacked
the players (especially natural wingers) who could fully accomplish his 4-4-2
system. However, this year his shopping list were completed! We got our wingers
yet we kept the majority of our key players!
And if it wasn’t for a certain Russian we would have kept Hernan Crespo
as well. Instead he was shipped over to UK, and, in came a handful amount
of Euros. Are we THAT desperate for money!?
A lot of people will arguer that we need to start from scratch!
I certainly don’t think that will be the case. Cupers great work will
remain for a while. Shame, as he did so much for Inter, YET without shining!
His results speak for themselves, though without an eye catching performance.
His continuity will be missed.
I believe our players should take a lot of the criticism , as at the end of
the day, they are the ones who perform on the pitch. And they just have not
performed. As simple as that! Players with such high wages should get a grip
and perform on the level which is expected from them.
Call me a pessimist but surely winning Lo Scudetto will
now be too difficult as I believe at present time we can not compete at all
fronts (Serie A, C.L, Coppa Italia). Our rivals are way ahead off us in terms
of preparation, game plan and also league table.
I wish Verdelli would have been given the chance to lead the team until the
end of the season. Then we could have brought in either DelNeri, Mancini or
perhaps a certain Mr Eriksson.
Now it will b a tough battle with the likes of Chievo/Parma
and Udinese in mid table.
(First I wrote it as a bit of sarcasm but the more I read it the more I believe
this will be the case!) Lets hope I’m wrong!
The recent events brought my memories back to this banner which was aimed
at Moratti at one of our pre-season games.
It read:
la stuidita non ha limit
la nostra patzienza , si
(Ur stupidity has NO limit, bur our patience does!!)
I have always backed our president, I still do, but to be honest I'm starting
to have my doubts about his ability to run a club like ours. I wish he did
not allow his emotions effect his business decisions.
My thoughts are with Hector Cuper! wish u all the best!
Yet another tragic say in our recent history!
Towards Intertoto 2004
Sunday 19th Oct 23:17
I have just looked up the thesaurus for the word ‘unique’.
‘Sole’, ‘exclusive’, and ‘exceptional’
were some of the terms I was provided with. Meaning that the term ‘unique’
doesn’t necessarily need to be positive.
Many people suggest that each club have its own uniqueness.
I have to agree with that statement. I believe if you really get involved
with a club including their fans, history and etc, soon you will realise certain
issues which does distinguish your team from others. Hence make it unique.
However, whether there will be a positive or negative distinguishes is another
story in itself.
Believe me, when it comes to moaning we are top on the standings.
However, let’s now put aside all the moaning, pain and misery aside.
Actually a lot of Inter fans that I have been in touch with would rather call
the ‘pain and misery’ as ‘misfortune’ instead. Which
leads us to yet another debatable subject. But lets not get into it.
Normally 14 years of moaning and misery (misfortune) should have taught us
a lesson or two. But has it?
Lets be a bit more positive, shall we?
‘A bit more positive’! Did I Just say that?
Well, a year ago and I couldn’t even think positive when it came to
Inter. Let alone trying to manipulate other interisti to be positive. The
word positive being associated with Inter did not even exist in my dictionary.
Anyhow, I will give it a try to write down few points which make our club
unique.
1- Our fans.
Without having won the Scudetto for many years, yet in recent
years we have been averaging more fans for our home games than most if not
all of the big teams in Serie A. Last year we top that list with more than
60 000 per home game. Now beat that!
Compare this to I Ladri who managed a total of 35 000. Not a large figure
for a team whose number of Scudetti equal our number of injured players per
season.
Neutral readers will certainly argue that Delle Alpi is not
a friendly place to go to! But hey, if you truly support your team you should
go and show your presence.
A silly reason, as far as Im concern.
Let’s face it. We are blessed with a great number of fans who support
us in good and bad times. And the way they chose to do it is utterly admirable.
2 – Our president
One can hardly argue about the love and passion that our president
have towards the club. No other president follows the progress of his team
as closely as senior Moratti does. His presence at majority of home games
and also plenty away games can not be ignored.
There is no doubt that he also has done mistakes in the past. Though I would
still consider him worthy of a big trophy very soon.
Its not an easy task to be in charge of a club such as ours. Especially knowing
that your father did manage to win 3 Scudetti while being in charge. Talk
about being under pressure.
Take Morattis’s overall management into consideration and surely we
can witness the fact that he is still learning! Yet, for the time being I
can’t visualise a future without Moratti in charge.
3- No real champions
By champions I’m referring to someone that have actually
won a big trophy in his career. Take a look at our entire squad. Wider reservations
about the team will certainly confirm this. How many first XI players can
you find who have actually won something BIG in their entire career.
Ok, We have Killy Gonzales (wining LaLiga with Valencia), Andy VDM (wining
the Dutch league with Ajax) and Brechet (wining French league with Lyon).
But unfortunately none of them have (at present) the ability to influence
others in terms of that so important “wining mentality”.
Sadly most of our players lack a real record number of trophies in their CV’s.
Perhaps a “wining mentality” course is Turin would be something for Mr Moratti to invest in!
4 – Transfer policies
Usually by the time where our other Scudetto contenders are preparing themselves mentally and physically for the championship, we are trying to solve our internal crisis. Things looked a bit brighter this summer. But we all witnessed how things suddenly changed for the worst in the last 2 weeks of silly season.
Im convinced that only days prior to the 1st kick off of the
season our players are jogging around Appiano Gentile thinking to themselves
that despite who they are and what they have done for the club, they might
not be wearing the Nerazzurri jersey again. A very sad thought indeed.
No one by default is safe in our club. Quite intriguing, isn’t it?
Just ask our no.10. Well actually he was never given the opportunity to show
his worth wearing the no. 10 jersey this year. Instead he was sent to UK where
he is sitting on the bench watching his new team Middlesbrough play.
If you think that is not enough humiliation for our number 10. Then you might
think twice knowing that for their previous game in EPL he was not even among
the squad picked to play against Chelsea.
My bet is that, he, perhaps was selling popcorn up in the stands.
Sad but true, a certain Stephan Dalmat, once labelled as the future Zidane
is selling popcorn in the stands.
Can any club in Serie A beat this? I surely do not think so!
5- Players salary
Here is question. Name a big club in Europe where their most
expensive player for the past few years (in terms of salary) is rarely getting
any playing time.
Was it too difficult? I thought so!
After all it is hard to know the answer because he is not playing.
Despite several salary cut the player in question is STILL getting a massive
amount of money while hardly featuring in any games.
I do not want to get involved in whether it is right or wrong to sideline
him. All Im trying to say is that cases like this can only be seen in our
club only.
Oh by the way, his name is Alvaro Recoba.
Im sure there are more issues that the ones I have just mentioned. However
it is 1am and Im too tired to think anymore.
Oddly enough we share one of our biggest pride with I Ladri! That is being
one of the 2 teams who have never been relegated down to Serie B.
Unfortunately, none of the above mentioned topics will help
us to win the Scudetto. Our club needs a greater harmony, consistency and
less publicity. In terms of transfer market we should aim for more quality
rather than quantity.
In my humbled opinion I believe that our team require a supreme effort of
collective will. Without it, we may continue our dream path which one day
will lead us to more glories.
Forza Ragazzi
Last night I received a phone call! My friend was telling me
that antibiotics don’t help her anymore. She was taking them for 2 consecutive
years. Apparently she has had some stomach problems.
She told me that in recent weeks antibiotics have minimal effect on her body,
where a higher dosage is needed in order to have the same usual effect.
Funny how, this conversation did make me realise what on earth is happening
to me.
This is how it all started,
Sun 27th of Apr, time 22:25cet and we dropped 2 valuable points. Suddenly
Lo Scudetto seemed far away! Probably in some dreamland! Perhaps a dreamland
called Turin! No, I can not say that! Turin will never be a dreamland! However,
the Scudetto is now outside our reach.
I Ladri now have an easy path towards their 68th Scudetto!
Please gentleman, have a nice and steady walk and do not stumble, and do not
look back. Because we are better off this way!
Now, to the odd part.
Our horrible second half performance, the lack of energy shown by most our
players and the loss of 2 points did not cause me the usual distress and pain!
It was a different kind of suffering! I surely did not feel the normal weekly
dosage of pain in order to keep my body operating! It was just different.
Almost as the pain did not exist.
The remaining of that evening I tried to find out the answer,
as for why I was not saddened by the outcome of the game! Usually after such
performance, I am going through hell and back! But this time something was
not right!
How great I thought! Yet, finding a reasonable answer to my current state
of mind was bothering me!
So it was not until last night when she mentioned the antibiotics, stomach
pain and her immune system that it all became clear!
I guess I have started becoming a realist! My brain/heart have finally adjusted
to the current situation. Perhaps not fully, but I feel its in the right direction.
These days I know what to expect of my team. I know when they
want to put on a show, and when they have had 1 or 2 pasta plates too many.
I can easily predict the outcome when looking at their faces and the way the
pass the ball. Hence better preparation for me, in order to suffer less.
Yes, I have started facing the horrifying truth! I will not look sideways,
and I will not pretend anymore.
I believe having constantly being let down has now almost accomplished
its work. Not feeling the pain! This, perhaps being the cure I have been waiting
for!! Too much of the good thing, right!
Only time will tell… Though, do not put your money on it….
Enough said for this time, più da seguire.....
Forza Ragazzi