Inter win deservingly

The first word that comes to mine is embarrassing. We completely failed to take the match to Inter and even when playing with a numerical advantage following Schneijder’s unfair dismissal we failed to get back into the match. Instead, we let Inter extend their lead whilst we went on to miss a penalty in the dying minutes following another red card to Inter which this time went to Lucio. In the end Inter deserved the win as they simply outclassed us in every area of the pitch. While we failed to show up at all.

In football, these big matches are decided by the slightest of mistakes. Therefore, it is in these big matches that any weakness in a team’s armour will likely be exposed. Abate’s defensive frailties was one of our weaknesses that Milito took great advantage of to score Inter’s opening goal. It was a horrendous mistake by a player that has much to learn defensively and whilst he has improved immensely this season, it is clear that he is by no means a finished product. Far from it actually. The January transfer window is still open and though I suspect no new arrivals will be arriving, it would do our team a great deal of good if we could bring in some extra quality at full back. Or perhaps the return of the experienced Zambrotta will solve our problem?….maybe.

So the first goal we conceded was a due to a weakness we have at full back. Whilst our second goal was conceded because of a lack of depth in quality. For it really is a mystery how Favalli is still playing for us let alone being our first back up for Nesta. He is and has always been a complete liability and it was his needless and reckless tackle on Maicon that led to Inter’s second. Maicon was running across the face of goal and presented no real threat to goal. But, Favalli, being the incompetent and jurassic presence he has always been decided to lunge at Maicon, a player known for going to ground easily, and as a result Inter were awarded a free kick which Pandev duly dispatched past Dida.

And does Dida realise that playing as a goalkeeper he can actually use his hands? Pandev’s freekick, whilst being on target, was not too far away from Dida’a reach. In fact, if Dida knew he could use his hands then an outstretched arm of his may have just got a touch on the Pandev’s free kick. I will not continue to accuse Dida any more however, as I believe that this incident aside he actually had a good game.

No, the fall of the blame for Inter’s second rests solely on Favalli. I watched the game at my local Italian cafe and upon arrival I said to a friend that Nesta was out injured and that this worried me greatly. Not because we could not win without Nesta but because we would struggle to win with Favalli.

True, we also have Bonera and Onyewu and it therefore could be argued that we do have the quality in depth at centre half. But I do not buy this argument, as Favalli has been first back up all season long whilst last season he was a regular starter.

The fact of the matter is that we still lack depth in certain areas whilst we also still carry weaknesses in our starting side. Such deficiencies just have not been exposed of late as we have really not been tested by the likes of Genoa, Juve and Siena like we were last night against Inter. Inter are without doubt the strongest all round side on the peninsula at the moment and they were always going to be the real test for us especially because they are our fiercest rivals.

Despite picking out the culprits who were responsible for letting Inter in on goal, overall we were simply outplayed by Inter. Up until Schneijder’s sending off we were clearly second best. Inter looked dangerous every time they went on the attack. They were particularly fast and dangerous on the counter attack also and I suspect that this was something Mourinho worked in preparation in order to take advantage of our rather slow play and aging players.

Following Schneijder’s dismissal we did take the initiative, however, we failed to create enough chances to score. With the likes of Ronaldinho, Pirlo, Beckham and Seedorf all on the field, how we did not create enough chances is baffling. But I will raise one reason why with one name….. Borriello.

Admittedly, Borriello has been in fine form of late, has scored some great and important goals and has even pushed himself into contention for a World Cup spot in South Africa. And whilst I have admitted that Borriello has come good, for I have always been one of his critics, I am still not convinced that he has that added quality that can make things happen.

When things are going well, Borriello has and does well. But I do not believe he is the type of player that can makes things happen. With the players surrounding him he should have made more use of them. Instead, perhaps due to his positioning or lack of ideas from Ronaldinho, Pirlo and Beckham, we resorted to whipping in crosses trying to pick Borriello out in the box. Such a ploy played into the hands of Lucio and Samuel who are both strong in the air.We should have tried to play the ball on the ground and in behind the defence. But not once did Borriello or any other Milan player make such a run.

Until Borriello proves to be a match winner or at least score in the big matches like these, I will never believe that he is good enough to lift Milan to greater heights. He makes for a great backup striker, but surely a club like Milan should be served by players of the calibre of a Drogba, Torres or Eto’o.

Alongside the players I have leveled individual criticism at the rest of the team’s performance was not much better either. Much was expected of Ronaldinho folllowing his return to form but against Inter the Brazilian maestro failed to make an impact along with Beckham and Seedorf when he came on.

Ambrosini was his usual tenacious self though he was far from outstanding whilst Gattuso reminded everyone that he is past his prime.

At the back, Silva did not have a bad game but playing alongside Favalli instead of Nesta did reduce his effectiveness whilst Antonini was matched by the marauding Maicon.

Our best player on the night was probably Pirlo which does not say much for despite doing his usual job of keeping our midfield ticking, he did not do enough to influence the tide of the match. The same can be said of Beckham. He did what he does best, whipping in crosses and perhaps on another day one would have been converted by a Milan player. But against Inter this was not the case as the Englishman’s influence failed also to change the tide of the match.

Not only were we outplayed on the pitch, but on the sideline Mourinho definitely out-witted Leo. Mourinho has to be applauded for shutting out a Milan attack that in the previous three games had scored twelve times. In fact, we failed to properly test Julio Cesar in goal at all so organised was the Inter defence.

Inter deserve much credit for this win. They out-classed us in every aspect and came away with a deserving win despite playing with ten men for more than half of the match and despite having to close out the match with just nine men.

As for our title hopes we have been dealth a huge blow. Though it is not impossible it seems now rather unlikely that we will win it.