Inter signings augur new dawn

Date: 8th August 2014 at 8:30am
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Jose Mourinho Massimo Moratti InterSince Jose Mourinho brought Inter to the summit of Europe, the Nerazzurri have fallen far off that once mighty perch. Despite not taking a complete nose-dive like their crosstown rivals AC Milan, another underwhelming season will not sit well with the fans.

After the ‘Special One’ departed the San Siro in 2010, the club managed just one piece of silverware since: the Coppa Italia in the 2010/11 season.

The Nerazzurri also went through six different coaches in three years, before settling on Walter Mazzarri who has held the post since May 2013.

One trophy and five different managers in four years?

Not the most enviable of records, is it?

A new era has begun for Inter, largely thanks to Erick Thohir and his deep pockets, with the club now fully resourced and financially strong enough to attract players.

Yann M'Vila InterSo far this summer, the club have signed Nemanja Vidic from Manchester United and Yann M’Vila from Rubin Kazan among other names, which continues their strong recent showings in the transfer market following last season’s capture of Hernanes and Mauro Icardi.

Inter have also secured a loan move for Southampton misfit Pablo Osvaldo, who should bolster the club’s forward ranks.

Despite their heavy involvement in the transfer market, the question remains whether these signings are viable in the long-term?

Yet, you could argue that none of the above names, except Icardi (21), are long-term solutions for the club.

Vidic is in the twilight of his career and has merely been brought in as an experienced defender to stabilize the backline. M’Vila is approaching the prime of his career, but has a troubled controversial past, and mentally is not your most resilient of footballers. Hernanes is an outstanding midfielder but is 29 years of age. As for Osvaldo… well, the less said about him the better.

These are just the cream of the crop of Inter’s signings however. Although they have signed many lesser known players that could very well form the cornerstone of their reconstruction, their major transfer strategy is a risky approach for a club emerging from a sustained period of mediocrity.

On the other hand, one could argue that these types of signings are exactly what the team needs, experienced footballers that can compliment and guide the youth emerging through the ranks.

Inter have enjoyed a sustained period of stability for over a year now, which is very rare at football clubs in the modern era.

Walter Mazzarri InterMazzarri has held the post since May last year, and the arrival of Thohir as chairman in October has seen the head coach given backing by the board, both contractually and financially.

The 52-year-old has brought some fluidity to the Inter game, and has given minutes to the clubs next generation, while not being afraid to make the tough calls on seasoned veterans Esteban Cambiasso, Diego Milito and Walter Samuel.

Last season was a poor campaign for the club after such a promising start, but Mazzarri needs time to build the squad.
His strict focus on the 3-5-2 formation is a weakness according to some, but in the modern game, this type of structure is becoming more and more common, as is the counter attacking methodology that it brings.

Inter need stability in the managers office more than anything, and Mazzarri’s substantial progress since taking charge is enough reason for him remain in the job for the foreseeable future.

The Nerazzurri look to be on a natural progression curve, but that does not always guarantee results.

Inter are at a crossroads: they can either continue on their natural incline, or they can crumble under the weight of expectation.

This season will reveal a huge deal about the character of Mazzarri’s young squad, and only time will tell if they are ready to lead the club out of the wilderness.

You can follow Domenic Favata on Twitter: @DomFavata

 

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