Inter Milan 2010 Season Review

Here is my review of our team, along with a rating out of ten for each player, in what has been our best and most successful season in my twenty four year living memory.

Goal Keepers
Cesar = Last season he established himself as one of, if not the best goal keeper in the world, so living up to the leaps and bounds of his development and performances last season was always going to be difficult. He made a good start to the season, but dipped in form during middle and cost us some valuable points with some uncharacteristic errors. Nevertheless, at the end of the season he showed his quality and experience when we needed it most. He made vital saves in the Champions League, notably on Messi against Barcelona and on Olic and Robben in the final against Bayern Munich which were significant moments in helping us capture Champions League glory. His save on Ronaldinho’s penalty in the second Milan derby which we won 2-0 finishing the game with ten men was also a highlight.

Rating - 8.5.

Toldo = Rarely featured due to being back up to one of the best goal keepers in the world. When called upon he has been dependable, but less reliable than in recent seasons due to lack of playing time and the fact that his age is showing. Still, has remained an experienced professional who I am sure is a good influence in the dressing room and will continue to be so if he remains next season. Watching him, one of the longest serving members of our current team, celebrate the Champions League success was touching.

Rating – 5.

Defenders
Maicon = Similar to Cesar, established himself as the best player in the world in his position last season, so set expectations high. Not as consistent as last season, but more often than not he did demonstrate why he is the best right back in the world. Similarly to Cesar, he came good at the end of the season when we needed him to. Despite showing inconsistent form a few times this season, at the business end of the season he upped his performance levels. Not only was if an ever present threat down the right wing, but he scored vital goals against Juventus, our goal and Serie A goal of the season, and Barcelona to keep our hopes alive in Serie A and the Champions League.

Rating – 8.5.

Lucio = An excellent purchase. I feel he cemented himself as the best centre back in the world with his performances in the Champions League this season. His performance in the first leg of the first round against Chelsea was the single best individual defensive display I have ever seen in my life as football fan. He was also immense in the second leg and the second leg against Barcelona. He has formed a formidable centre back partnership with Samuel. We have been lacking a centre back of his quality and attributes that could take us up to the next level. Occasionally he showed lapses in concentration and his positioning was off, but no where near as often as the vast majority of centre backs in the world. His performances are one of the main reasons we won the treble, especially the Champions League.

Rating – 9.5.

Samuel = Excellent season. Solid. Strong. Consistent. Composed. Formed the best centre back pairing in the world alongside Lucio as they both have so much quality and their characteristics compliment each other perfectly. With the best right back in the world and the ever present and consistently high performer Zanetti, we have the best defence in the world, and arguably the best goal keeper in the world behind them. It was such quality defensive skills exploited by Mourinho that was one of the biggest reasons we won the Champions League. Also cored a few goals, notably the vital last minute goal against Siena.

Rating – 9.5

Zanetti = Perfect season. Flawless. A fantastic captain’s display. Whether he was playing in centre midfield or left back he gave everything, played with his heart on his sleeve and did so with all the quality of one of he best players in the world and of his generation. Against Barcelona in both legs he contributed to limiting Messi, the best player in the world. He has played at a consistently high level ever since he made his debut for us as a twenty three year old. At the age of thirty seven he is truly an exceptional and outstanding player. He never loses possession. He never gets injured or has fitness worries. No other player deserved to win the Champions League more than him. It defies belief that he has not been called up for the World Cup.

Rating – 10.

Cordoba = Deteriorated last season, which was one of the main reasons Lucio was purchased. Since Lucio’s arrival he has become a defensive utility player and has played far less than in previous seasons. When called upon at centre back he has been his usual dependable self. However, since Chivu’s injury Mourinho played him at left back a few times, where he has looked uncomfortable both defensively and offensively. Still, despite his lack of playing time he has remained a professional, not complained (like certain Inter Milan players past and present), and did not request a transfer amongst speculation of a move to Manchester City during the January transfer window when Mancini took over as manager.

Rating – 5.5.

Materazzi = Similarly to Cordoba, played less than in previous seasons, but when called upon has been dependable and not complained about his lack of playing time. Has also provided valuable advice to Balotelli and set an example for the young striker to follow. However, there was an ugly and highly questionable confrontation with Balotelli after the first leg of the Champions League semi final against Barcelona. Still, you could see the joy and happiness on his face celebrating our Champions League victory coming from the pride he has representing our club for so many years.

Rating – 5.5.

Chivu = Chivu is a centre back, not a left back. He played left back in nearly every game in both the 4-3-1-2 and 4-3-3 formation we played this season where full backs are required to attack a lot down the wing, and he has no attacking attributes. He played very well defensively (unlike Maxwell last season), but offensively he offered little. He picked up not only a career threatening, but also a life threatening injury. He came back far quicker than anybody thought, and came back with confidence and an strong mentality, which I give him full credit, especially as a defender, as other players who have suffered such injuries take a long time to recover their confidence from, such as Cech. Since his return at the end of the season he always performed well defensively when called upon. He did a pretty good job and limiting Robben’s effectiveness in the Champions League final.

Rating – 7.5.

Santon = Had a pretty bad start to the season. I think he got caught up in the hype of his wonderful debut season and the call up to the Italy squad for the 2009 Confederations Cup, which had a negative effect on his performances at the beginning of the season. His performance in the game against Palermo in the San Siro is a prime example. He also lost his confidence. He suffered a relatively serve injury that kept him out for a couple of months. He also complained about his lack of playing time as he wanted to go to the 2010 South Africa World Cup with Italy. Yet, Chivu’s horrible long term injury was a blessing in disguise for him and for Inter Milan. Santon took taken his place at left back alot during his absence and reproduced the form that made him a house hold name last season. He showed an equal balance between defence and attack, and played with maturity, purpose and quality. His most notable performance was as a second half substitute away to Parma. He made up for his bad start to the season with his performances in January and February. Unfortunately he got injured in near the end of the season which cost him playing our way to out treble success and his World Cup place, which is surely would have got had he been fit and playing regular football.

Rating – 7.

Midfielders
Cambiasso = Proved that he is the best defensive midfielder in the world this season. Played with so much quality, passion and pride. Always closed down. Always tracked back. Won 90% of his tackles. Contributed defensively, offensively and in our build up play. Scored a vital goal in the first leg of the Champions League first round against Chelsea. One of the major reasons the likes of Drogba, Lampard, Messi and Robben were kept quite when the played against us. Did his job pretty much perfectly all season. It is a damn shame he has not been called up to the World Cup.

Rating – 10.

Stankovic = I feared he would struggle when we signed Sneijder as he would a) get less playing time, and b) perform less well considering he was moved back into centre midfield after playing behind the two strikers for the previous three seasons. However, just like when he was written off when Mourinho first joined Inter he has proved me wrong yet again. He was in stunning form during the first half of the season, probably because he was moved back into his natural position: centre midfield. He showed experience and quality by rarely giving anything away and always looking to start moves and keep moves flowing. He scored five goals this season, including a characteristic goal in the first Milan derby (a great long shot) and a fantastic long shot from pretty much the half way line away to Genoa. Unfortunately he sustained a relatively serious injury, and when he returned he did not display the same form he did in the first half of the season. Nevertheless, he always tried his best and bought experience to the table when called upon.

Rating – 8.

Sneijder = Another excellent purchase. Finally, we have an attacking midfielder with the quality, technical ability, vision, creativity and positioning that we have been so desperate for in recent seasons. He has proved to me since being at Inter that he is one of the best set piece takers in the world. He has scored important goals against the likes of Dynamo Kiev, Siena, CKSA Moscow and Barcelona, and when he does not play the team suffered as he links up play between our midfielders and our strikers excellently. My only criticism of Sneijder so far is that he was sent off three times this season, most of them for dissent. He really needs to stamp that out of his game because we are lost and at a big disadvantage without him. He is such an important part of our system that when he is absent we struggle to create chances and our overall performance suffers.

Rating = 9.5.

Thiago Motta = A questionable purchase, but established himself well during the season. Struggled to make an impact in the first half of the season, despite scoring the opening goal in the first Milan derby. He took longer to adapt and make an impact compared to our other signings, but finally in the second half of the season he did show signs of why Mourinho signed him. He played very well in the second leg against Chelsea and scored some important goals, notably his brace against Bologna. Developed from a squad player at the beginning of the season into an important team player at the end of the season. It was shame he missed out on playing in the Champions League final in the way he did.

Rating – 8.

Quaresma = Hardly used. When he came on as a second half substitute against Barcelona in the Nou Camp during the group stage of the Champions League he was our best and most dangerous player. That earned him starting place in the following Serie A game against Fiorentina, when again he was our best and most dangerous player. Unfortunately for him and for Inter, he got injured in that game for a couple of months. Since his return from injury he has only made a few substitute appearances, where he has showed the form he did last season resulting in him being branded a flop. Played very well against Livorno in only his second start of the season, but was not rewarded with another starting place.

Rating - 5.

Muntari = Last season he was our best signing. Not just because the other two were Mancini and Quaresma, but because he played well. This season he was a shadow of his former self. He literally did nothing right in any game he played in this season, other than setting up Eto’s goal in the second game against Juvenuts. Even his only goal this season was a fluke. There is a good way and a bad way to play as a defensive midfielder. Muntari does it in a bad way by rarely winning the ball without fouling a player, is clumsy, loses possession, gets booked pretty much every game, gives away needless free kicks and has a problem with dissent. Collecting two yellow cards and getting sent of eighty seconds after coming on as a substitute against Catania, a game which we subsequently lost, exemplified this. It is not surprising that in pretty much every game that he started this season Mourinho substituted him at half time. He can be replaced by so many players in the world for not too much money. He is strong and powerful with no technical ability. He is a perfect Premier League player, coincidently the league he has been linked with a move to.

Rating – 3.

Krhin = A young player who rarely played. Only made three appearances this season, two as a substitute. When he has played he has not done anything to shout about, but he did not do anything wrong. He did his job and what was asked of him.

Rating - 5.

Mariga = Only played half a season as we signed him during the January transfer window. When played he played fairly well by doing what was asked of him. Nothing too exciting, but he has done nothing wrong. Promising movement and agility. Finished the season with a goal. He is more of a centre midfielder than a defensive midfielder. Far less of a liability than Muntari.

Rating – 6.

Strikers
Milito = Another excellent purchase. Purchased to play alongside Ibrahimovic, but when he was sold added pressure was put on his shoulders to deliver the goals the world class Ibrahimovic did for many seasons for us, and he did not fail to deliver. Instantly he showed he was one of the most clinical strikers in the world, and by the end of the season he is arguably the most clinical striker in the world. He has strength, vision, finishing, pace, dribbling ability, technique, quick feet, agility, tenacity, persistence, and heading ability. He is a complete striker. His goals were so important to us winning the treble. He scored the winning goals in the Coppa Italia final, our last Serie A game of the season and the Champions League final. He delivers in big games. However, goals are not the only thing he gives us. He will run the entire game, hold up the ball and put constant pressure on the opposition’s defenders for the entire ninety minutes (as shown against Barcelona in the Champions League semi final second leg). He tracks back, wins possession, contributes in build up play and provides assists for team mates (he scored one and set up two in the first leg of the Champions League semi final against Barcelona).

Rating – 10.

Eto = Arrived with extremely high expectations due to his success and goals at Barcelona, and because he was seen as Ibrahimovic’s replacement as he was part of the part exchange deal. He did not score the amount of goals he did at Barcelona, but at the end of the season he is held in just as high regard as if he did because of what he does on the pitch and offers to the team other than goals. He has excellent movement and positioning, never stops running, runs all over the pitch for ninety minutes, tracks back to win the ball from any area of the pitch, has quick pace, sparks counter attacks and is heavily involved in build up play. Like Milito, he also holds the ball up well and constantly puts pressure on opposing defenders. Although he did not score the amount of goals many expected, he did score some very important goals for us, especially the only goal in the Champions League first round second leg against Chelsea. He also scored against Rubin Kazan in our final Champions League game that we needed to win and scored in both Serie A games against Juventus. He brought composure and experience of being a top quality striker and how to perform and deliver in big games.

Rating – 9.

Balotelli – A rollercoaster season decorated in controversy. Started well, then Mourinho fell out with him as he did not listen to his instructions. Finally got back into the team, but more controversy soon followed with the Milan shirt incident and the Inter shirt throwing incident at the end of the Champions League semi final first leg against Barcelona. In between these incidents we saw some moments of quality attacking play from him demonstrating that he is one of the best young players in world football, for example his stunning free kick in the crucial game at the San Siro against Rubin Kazan. However, numerous times he has been extremely lazy on the pitch. Giving up too easily, not chasing balls, being selfish, supplying poor crosses, and not listening to his manager’s orders, generally showing that he was not a team player. Finally, at the end of the season he actually showed he would listen to Mourinho’s orders and work for the team on the pitch, as well as sincerely apologising to the Inter family for his actions after the Barcelona game. Hopefully this is a sign he is maturing and developing in the right way. There maybe light at the end of the tunnel.

Rating – 7.5

Pandev = A great January signing, on a free contract. Gave a new dimensions to our attack as he is a forward and not a centre forward like Milito and Eto. He also allowed Mourinho to play three strikers at once. He had shown good movement, good awareness, and has scored quite a few goals initially, thus making an immediate impact. His impact was not as effective as the season progressed. He has the bad habit of dribbling with his head down and running into opposing players and loosing possession, and his finishing is not as clinical as Milito’s, as demonstrated against Parma, Napoli and in the first leg of the Champions League quarter final first leg against CSKA Moscow.

Rating – 7.5.

Arnautovic = Made only a handful of substitute appearances. When he has played he has done his job and not done much wrong. He was part of the build up for Samuel’s dramatic last minute winning goal against Siena in the San Siro. As part of his loan agreement he had to start ten games this season to make his loan deal permanent, so he will return to FC Twente in the summer, which I will not lose any sleep over.

Rating – 5.

Manager
Mourinho – Fantastic management skills on display this season. Excellent purchases. Extremely effective tactics. Great motivator. Disciplined. Good handling of the media. Amazing handling of pressure. We all know how good he is. He was hired to achieve the next level success with us and he did that. Nothing else needs to be added.

Rating – 10.

Regards,

Luke Best.