Well, I'm happy with the result. Maybe I'm conceding the Scudetto race too soon here, but Inter has what seems like $50MM in salary overhead compared to us -- and we're just trying to get back into the Champions League.
The first half was generally better than I expected. Sure, we didn't make enough of our opportunities. I blame Nedved for a lot of that -- the guy kept trying to score singlehandedly from 30m+ out, ignoring his teammates in front of goal, and skying the ball no where near the net. I stopped yelling at him every time he was in that situation, because he would keep doing it anyway.
We had a good bit of possession, though, and in that first half we looked more threatening and looked for the early goal. Inter had their chances, but the offside trap mostly worked. That is, until Grygera stopped paying attention to where his teammates were.
And speaking of fullbacks -- did we have any in defense? I swear I felt like I was watching a 2-5-3 formation sometimes. Inter would dump the ball in the corner and the closest black-and-white stripes was a kid buying a kit in the Juvestore in front of the stadium. Hello? Anybody there?
Second half Inter threatened more and we looked more sloppy. The subs were generally good -- Nedved had to go and was wasting too many of our chances. Del Piero wasn't adding enough to the dynamic. And Gigi had to save our bacon too many times -- though arguably a couple of times they should have called offsides but didn't. I think they got tired of doing that all match against Inter, so they let a few by.
Still, I have to feel for the ref in a tough match like this -- nobody is going to like your calls either way. When Cordoba frisked Del Piero in the box, I could see calls for a PK only because we've surrendered PKs less obvious than that. But otherwise I do think the ref did a good job.
In the end, we made the most against a team that largely matched up strongly in favor against us. The team held their own and didn't give in -- least of all Gigi.
Buffon - 7 - Shouldn't have had to work as hard as he did, but he did. MOM. This game was lost without his play and his captain's focus to keep us in the game.
Grygera - 4.5 - In nowhereland on defense -- left us completely exposed too often. Sloppy ballwork almost cost us a couple goals going the other way. Good sub -- should have happened sooner.
Legrottaglie - 6.5 - He was mentally in the game and held up to some pretty tough opposition.
Chiellini - 7 - He was beyond in the game. Maybe a little too in the game. You got the sense that he was going to pop a cap in Ibra's ass in the parking lot after the match. While I like that spirit, it can sometimes implode on you. But his defensive play -- sometimes brutal -- seemed the right pace to disrupt things. Some clean tackles, and some that left people with welts.
Molinaro - 5.5 - In defensive nomansland as well as Grygera. But he had a much better second half, sending a few creative balls in on the offensive end and smartly pairing with Palladino on some exchanges. Still woefully over his head out there.
Zanetti - 7 - Our best midfielder for much of the match. Control and smarts.
Nocerino - 6.5 - Again better as a destroyer than as a right wing midfielder. And he showed very good tenacity and pursuit of the ball, entangled Inter often, and even made a decent pass or two. Not bad for someone with his better years ahead of him.
Nedved - 4.5 - Yes, we still love you. But you really hurt the team today. No show of teamwork. No sense of his personal limits on his ability to make deep, risky shots. Squandered almost all our first half opportunities.
Palladino 6.5 - His problem has often been that he can get picked clean of the ball in the closed field. There was a little of that, but more often he would maintain possession. Some real development there. Nice cross to set up the goal too.
Del Piero - 5.5 - Our captain got too entangled in the defense. He forced a couple of free kicks. He wasn't able to be very effective today.
Trezeguet - 5.5 - Few touches today, but that's not unusual. However, he didn't do enough with them. And too many of his touches were in midfield.
Subs:
Iaquinta - 7 - Great header down to set up the goal. He worked hard to chase after balls, which I thought was exemplary for a sub to commit that kind of energy. No laziness here.
Camoranesi - 7 - We were a different team when he came out. His entry swung the game back in our favor, and it wasn't just his goal from a lucky deflection either.
Zebina - 6 - Not on long enough. But not a bad cross when he was (shockingly). Was a noticeable improvement over Grygera.
Coach:
Ranieri - 6 - Generally good subs, though Grygera was on too long. The team came out rather aggressive but unable to convert. They weren't intimidated though and kept their heads in the game to win back a point.
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