INTER FIND THEIR FEET IN DIV 2 – EARLY SEASON REVIEW.

Where to start? I know – a nice big pic….here you go!

What an almighty shock!

To suddenly be given the reigns of a genuine super club after toiling at Olympiacos, looking for bargain 88’s without a penny to spend, and then, THEN, to find yourself with Trump like riches…the responsibility dawns on you like a Storm troopers jackboot. A sickening thud of crushed bones and brain matter as you realise the enormity of the challenge to, not only succeed, but to avoid the crushing humiliation of embarrassment.

You rise up, you shake that stultifying, brain shattering assault and decide to fight back. To fight the best way you know how. With quality, with intelligence, with sheer guts and the will to never give in and never give up. The same things that brought you here in the first place.   

There was no way I was going to suffer the mid-table mediocrity of the previous incumbent. It had to be a decent promotion challenge.

To that end out went some very, very good young talent and in came experienced, high rated, proven quality to assist in this endeavour.

The 1st to go was Geoffrey Kondogbia.  I struck Gold with Alonso in exchange. A terrific piece of business. Michael Bowes is feeling the pressure of that transfer as I write, but he will, ultimately, be  the winner of that exchange. I feel good about the transfer, especially since Alonso is a Bayern mainstay under Ancellotti and has just signed a contract extension . Alonso is quality through and through – just ask any Liverpool fan!

Then there was William Carvalho to my beloved. I won’t lie. The deal suited both parties. Citeh got a world class CM that just needs a move to a bigger club, and Inter got….Frankenstein! Brilliant.

Everybody knows that Frankie loves to score goals, and indeed he is our top scorer! Even if he drops he will still be an important addition to our squad – but we are mindful that age is against him. He won’t be here long.

Here is another big picture to break it up –

 The next big move was Fernandinho for Jovetic and Jesus Juan to City. We felt, erroneously, that with Guardiola taking over City in real life, that Fernandinho would be a good bet for a 93. How wrong we were! The Guardiola rev has fallen apart as he deals with English clubs realities of ‘we will not be beaten’. The self styed ‘magician’ was left with egg on his face as commentators rightly pointed out ‘Did you not see Leicester play last season?’

A shocking result, a shocking case of hubris and mismanagement. He is only saved by the fact ‘it is not his team yet’ – must do much, much, better. Although the Barca result lives long in the memory. Thank you!!

I have also brought in old faves like Evra, Mathieu and Huntelaar from my previous club, for which I am extremely grateful, if not a mite surprised.

Al in all we have boosted he first XI to 92 as stands, and brought in some kids, the best of which is Tete at 86, Stepinkski who is now 84, and Fernandes, whom we have retained, at 82 due for a +1 or 2.

The youths we have bought look good and would have done well in the youth cup.

We have also padded out the squad as best we can with players around the 85-88 mark due for a rise. We have bought smart.

The squad as stands is definitely my own. We have 4 players only from the previous administration.

RESULTS

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I knew that, despite our newly strengthened  squad, that it would take time to gel. But even I was surprised to see draws against teams we ought to have beaten handily. You have to take these results on the chin, especially against Everton where we were minus Alonso and Ribery, and against Genoa – a freak result! But for those 2 matches we would be top of the league!

All in all I am happy with managing Inter. It is a short term appointment as I will resign if I gain promotion to Div 1 and after a season there trying to push above our weight.

Their is only one club for me, you know it, we all know it, I know it. That is Manchester City!

But for now,  I am managing a band of lunatics. I will give all I have to serve this club and will not falter with every breath I can muster. We are Inter. We are The Crazy Gang!