I didn’t watch the game against São José, I had scheduled to go to the stadium, but I ended up traveling with the family. I managed to watch 4 minutes of highlights, which are useless in terms of analysis, except for the goals. And even then, out of game time.
About the goals, Wanderson is a great player, he hasn’t taken off this year, like the rest of the team, but he has intelligence outside the curve. PH is a goalscorer, and Lucca scored his first, typical of a striker.
After all, it’s all about hiring. Aranguiz and Luiz Adriano confirmed, and it looks like only Luiz Adriano arrives for Gauchão, although Aranguiz could arrive before July, when Valencia arrives.
They wouldn’t be my dream signings, I think Faravelli, who played yesterday against Fla, would be cheaper than Aranguiz, with the same answer, but I won’t talk about the Chilean without seeing him play first. Even though he’s not the same as he was years ago, I think he’s still in Brazil and can fit in the team. Concerns about age and physical form (injuries).
I don’t expect much from Luiz Adriano, maybe experience. It wouldn’t be my option, but neither was Mercado.
I remember little about Valencia, but he likes the type of player, and, for sure, goes up the ladder. I’ll also wait to play to talk about it, because here the demands are different.
My main point, however, is that Inter has not yet brought its biggest need, the starting midfielder. I believe that Mano will keep Johnny and Baralhas for the greNal, putting Matheus Dias and someone in De Pena’s place, maybe Estevão or Lucas Ramos, so that we can evaluate the kids for a longer time, but it’s a fact that we still haven’t found a way to play without Gabriel. (On the other hand, there is a certain joy in not having a first wheel)
Cuellar would be the option, I don’t know if business has cooled down, but he’s the player who would solve the problem and still create a doubt about the second position in the middle, allowing Mano to have alternatives for assembling the team. The news indicates a difficult, or expensive, path, but it is the position that set up the Inter team last year, and our biggest need since Gabriel’s injury.
All of the team’s mechanics, from Bustos’ rise to Renê’s advances, depend on covering with speed and positioning, which Johnny can’t offer, and we haven’t seen another try.
This is Mano’s Achilles heel, and it doesn’t seem to get enough attention, not even from him.
For the defense, with less pomp, Nico Hernadez, another I don’t remember, just like I didn’t know De Pena, Wanderson or Kaíque. We didn’t have left-handed defenders, and even if it wasn’t essential, it’s important, hoping that doesn’t mean Vitão doesn’t stay. By the way, Inter needs a business model to acquire Vitão, because, I think, it will soon be sold for a much higher value, especially when the team fits.
My concern now is with time, as I expected reinforcements for the Libertadores group stage and Gauchão finals, and they did not come. I understand the club’s economic hardship and even believe in some planning aimed at sales in the middle of the year, with the most favorable window, but I fear that these shortcomings could affect performance, including financial performance.