Inter-ness + Viola: Not Exactly Pretty
(Sammy: "Why you always gotta be hatin', Frenchie?"
Seb: "Hatin' is my job, brother.")
One thing you can always count on from an Inter-Fiorentina match is that Sebastien Frey will be phenomenal. Other things, however, are somewhat less expected. Like, say, Quaresma being amazing, or Comotto playing in the middle of the back.
The game itself wasn't particularly memorable -- Fiorentina fought their hearts out but looked tired, while Inter were almost entirely unable/unwilling to finish -- but Inter were better for most of the match, even if it ended up being decided by Gila hitting the post at one end (after a completely sick bit of individual skill), and a Milito PK at the other.
Inter 1 - 0 Fiorentina [highlights|Inter pagelle|Viola pagelle|Viola ratings table]
Milito pen 84 (I)
Inter: Julio Cesar; J Zanetti, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Stankovic, Cambiasso, Muntari (Thiago Motta 73); Quaresma (Mancini 73), Milito (Vieira 87), Eto'o
Fiorentina: Frey; Comotto, Kroldrup, Dainelli (De Silvestri 77), Gobbi; Montolivo, C Zanetti; Marchionni (Jorgensen 18), Santana (Castillo 86), Vargas; Gilardino
Mario was left out entirely, because, depending on who you believe, he was a)late to training, b)flu-striken, or c)left out for tactical reasons. Yay drama.
Wes, being made of spun sugar and all, is still broken.
(He was in the stands, too.)
Matrix, meanwhile, was on the bench with his trusty hat, which no one dares steal because he's got it labeled so clearly.
Srs business Cesare is ready to go.
He's either cold or praying, but he's ready to go.
Both, probably.
Over in his dugout, Jose was being typically grumpy.
Thinking about getting a haircut? Dare we hope?
"OMG WOULD YOU PEOPLE LEAVE ME ALONE?!?!"
Inter boys. On paper it was a 4-3-3, but in application it looked more like 4-1-3-2. Ish?
Sorry, JC. Make that 1-4-1-3-2. Better?
Playing in place of Maicon, who can't keep his mouth shut, Javi was damn good.
He's no Maicon, but he and his thighs still managed to get forward a few times, and to create legit threats to the Fiorentina goal.
His greatest accomplishment, though, was making Vargas look human.
Vargas was still one of Fiorentina's best players, but Javi stopped him in his track on multiple occasions, which is something almost no one else has been able to do.
All that, and he still found time to protest against injustice. That's a captain right there!
Lucio was his usual, fierce self.
He was very busy on Inter's corners, but sadly his only really good chance went well-wide.
Thankfully for Inter, Gila hit the post after beating him and Walter, so we have pictures of Lucio hanging out with Krol rather than looking sad.
HAY WALTER.
He thought he scored off a corner with his head.
His disbelieving little celebration was adorable, while it lasted.
But then the referee decided Walter's shirt-tug on Dainelli was worse than Dainelli's shirt tug on Walter, and he waved the goal off. (Props to the ref and his balls.)
So Walter went back to hang out where he belonged, which mostly meant either standing around waiting for Gila to get the ball or fighting with Gila.
It was, at times, a little scary for Gila.
Generally, Walter handled him really well -- Gila's chances were few and far between.
Oops. Walter's bad.
Gila: "No, no worries. I'm fine, really!"
(Walter wasn't the only one who got a little handsy.)
Gila did manage to create a ridiculous chance for himself.
He took the ball on his chest on the move, flicked it back over his head to split Walter and Lucio, and put it off the outside of the post.
Gila's woe, let me show you it.
He could not believe he'd done the hard part, and then gotten so unlucky on the finish.
First, there was rage.
Then, quickly, came the return of the "god hates me" face.
Cesare was sorry for Gila's pain.
It made him a sad panda.
A serene panda, but a sad one nonetheless.
And, to make things worse, his shoes are suede, and this rain is ruining them!
Right, back to the match. Chivu was bad, again.
He gave the ball away a lot, especially in the first half.
And had a terrible time trying to contain Marchionni.
That high-pitched squealing you heard when little Marco went off hurt?
Yeah, that was Chivu, who was delighted to get some relief.
Cuchu was so happy not to be playing Barca anymore, he was practically dancing.
He was hanging out in front of the defense and was solid, if not spectacular.
Deki played an unusual position for him -- he was deeper than usual, and even covered for Javi when he got forward.
And he did well from there -- played some great balls through to Milito, and also defended well.
And he got forward into the box himself when he could, something that stunned Dainelli.
He had a little battle going on with CZ, which was amusing in how incredibly low-key it was.
Apart from CZ wanting to know why Deki was picking on him, the whole encounter was disappointingly free of the usual Deki!drama.
Like Chivu, the guy who played behind him, Muntari struggled, as well.
His engine never stops running, which helps cover up some of his errors, but he still had a hard time.
Best. Picture. Ever. Both of them are all "What the hell happened?"
He actually did some good things -- played a great ball to Ricky, for example -- but he had a bunch of good chances that he completely blew.
He wasn't pleased about all the missing, either.
Before I get to the Ricky pictures, I need to share this non-photoshopped MOTM poll. Who ever would have guessed we might see this day?
Cos Ricky had an absolutely fantastic first half, and not a bad second half, either.
It's just really lucky Gobbi's life didn't depend on stopping Ricky, otherwise our flan-headed friend would no longer be with us.
Ricky was just tearing Gobbi apart, which led to CZ having to try to kill Ricky, and then speak sternly with Gobbi about doing his job.
He spent a lot of time on the ground, though he was legitimately being fouled and not just falling down.
It was (very) easily his best match in an Inter shirt, and he's never looked so comfortable before, especially not at the Meazza.
You know how you could tell he was comfortable? HE USED HIS LEFT FOOT! OMFG.
He was so good, he was applauded off when Mancini went in for him.
(Yes, Inter fans actually cheered him. I'll give you a second to digest that.)
So, he plays his best game in 14 months, and what reward does he get? An injury that could keep him for a month! Speaking of god hating people.
Mancini played about 15 minutes.
True to form, he failed to do anything even remotely useful.
Speaking of people who didn't do anything useful.
Sammy enthusiastically worked his tail off, like he always does.
But he's really struggling in front of goal, which is a small problem, both for him and for Inter.
To their credit, though, Fiorentina's central defenders handled him well.
Dainelli in particular, while his game wasn't exactly flawless, made some absolutely perfect tackles on Sammy, and even managed to looked elegant while he was executing them.
Krol, meanwhile, went less for the subtlty and grace and more for the bear hugs.
Hey, whatever works, right?
Sammy's worst moment was when he was in all alone in the last couple minutes, ready to put the match away.
He did a bunch of fakes with his shoulders, but Seb kept his feet and stoned him.
Sammy was not well pleased with himself.
So he hid for a while, which was understandable.
Depending on who you ask, his strike partner was either great (Tuttosport) or mostly ok (everyone else).
(Oh, look -- pending Gobbi fail. That was a theme of the day.)
When Deki put Milito in on the right with a perfectly timed through ball, it seemed sure he'd finish, cos that's what he do.
Frenchie, however, had other ideas.
Yeah. Stoned him, too.
Milito was slightly peeved.
Which was sort of awesome -- it's nice that his expectations are even higher than ours are for him.
(Being pretty while he's sad.)
Then, in the second half, he failed to finish from a bad angle on the left (after being put in by Deki again).
He was disgusted with himself.
This is the point at which I became sure he was going to score.
Cos if he didn't, he was going to blame himself for any dropped points.
(Hiding in the shirt was popular yesterday.)
Seb: *acts like he has no idea why the Inter strikers are so distressed*
Seb: *stops acting and does a little well-deserved preening*
Special: *rages like only a wet rat can rage*
Wah, wah. Wah!
Quit peeking, ok?! His notes are PRIVATE NOTES.
I think the rain is melting his brain -- he's not even sure if he's asking a question or making a point.
Right. Deep breath. Breathe, Special. Breathe.
I don't know what was going on with the fourth official, but it cheered Jose right up.
The man does love him a fourth official, doesn't he? I wonder if they look forward to working Inter matches, or fear them like bear attacks.
Special: *WERKS*
Special: "Hey fourth official! Shoulda put a ring on it, that's all I'm sayin."
While Jose was flirting, Milito was actually doing his job, and drew a late PK.
Comotto, who had just moved to the middle of the back, got Milito's his legs instead of the ball when the Argie cut back.
Despite all the protesting, Comotto admitted after the match that the call was legit -- he said he got Milito.
So Milito stepped up and took it himself.
It was the only time anyone Inter managed to do it all night, but he sent Seb the wrong way.
And put the ball into the back of the net.
(That's nine goals for him this season. Not too shabby, huh?)
Javi was delighted.
Monty, not so much.
Milito himself was so excited he had no idea where to run at first.
Then he took off for the curva.
&hearts
He cannily eluded Cuchu.
Motta, however, was a little harder to shake.
Make that impossible to shake. Daw.
And, well, everyone knows you can't escape Deki when he wants a hug.
Oh holy moses, Walter. *quivers faintly*
Meanwhile, back at the ranch:
CZ: "Hey, you guys! I found this in our goal. What the hell?"
Gila: *long-suffering sigh*
Jorgy: *thinks against that it's getting close to retirement time*
(Shortly after all the hugs, Milito went off. Not for tactical reasons, just because you gotta get Paddy in the game. Obviously.)
Then, after the final whistle, Jose went all Pato for some reason.
God only knows what was going on there.
I don't know about anyone else, but whenever he pulls shit like this, all I can think about is what a saint Beppe is.
While Jose was doing his weird dance, Deki was catching up with Fiorentina's former Yugoslavia posse.
Sammy and Seb were exchanging phone numbers ...
... Deki and Frenchie were renewing their love ...
(It's amazing how Deki has to get up on his toes to hug even someone he's taller than. The man has a gift. Of some kind.)
... And the Viola were thanking their wet fans for making the trip.
Up next for Inter is a little trip to Turin, definitely without idiot!Maicon, and very possibly without Wes, while Fiorentina host Atalanta, without the suspended CZ and with Jojo still questionable, since he had pain while warming up yesterday.
I'm out of town next weekend, so spams will be late. Again. Sorry about that.