5 Issues Inter Milan Need to Work on During November International Break
The international break always allows club sides to take a deep breath and reflect on their respective situations.
In Inter's case, there will be a general feeling of discontentment, though things are not quite at crisis levels.
The Nerazzurri currently sit in ninth in Serie A and are progressing well in their Europa League group.
Though there have been some positive periods for the club in Walter Mazzarri's second season in charge, they have thus far failed to find any consistency, so there is plenty of room for improvement.
Here are five things Inter need to work on during the international break.
Rodrigo Palacio's Goalscoring Touch
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He may have come into the side late as he struggled to recover his fitness after the World Cup, but Rodrigo Palacio's start to the season has been surprisingly slow.
The Argentine marksman, who scored an impressive 17 goals in Serie A last campaign, is yet to get off the mark this time around.
While he has shown glimpses of his top form and has proven useful in creating chances for his teammates, Mazzarri would love it if the pacy 32-year-old would rediscover his 2013-14 form.
Inconsistency Issues
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Under Mazzarri, Inter have never managed to win three games on the trot.
This inconsistency has been apparent in 2014-15, as the side cannot manage to make a run to the top part of the table by stringing together a number of good results.
Recently, for example, after recording a fighting draw against Napoli, they defeated Cesena away and then Sampdoria at home.
It finally appeared as though the side had kicked into gear.
A win against lowly Parma in the next round would have seen the Nerazzurri jump to as high as third on the ladder.
Instead, their hot streak went out the window and they lost 2-0 to the same side who would suffer a 7-0 thumping at the hands of Juventus a week later.
Such losses are inexplicable for a club with the resources and squad of Inter, and they must be avoided in the future.
Creativity Through the Middle
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A major problem for Inter through the whole season has been a lack of spark in the attacking third.
Striker Mauro Icardi has shown he is capable of putting chances away if he is presented with enough of them, but the so-called creative players behind him have not being complying with their brief.
Fredy Guarin, Mateo Kovacic, Hernanes and Zdravko Kuzmanovic have all had their moments in recent months, but more often than not, the Nerazzurri look unimaginative and predictable through the middle.
One or more of these players need to begin producing their best on a more consistent basis.
Defensive Lapses
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It appears Mazzarri has settled on his preferred back three, which is a positive for Inter. However, those in the defensive line must stop succumbing to lapses of concentration which hurt the side.
Though Juan Jesus has been largely faultless, Nemanja Vidic and Andrea Ranocchia have both been guilty of amateurish errors which players of their experience should not be making.
Perhaps with more time playing as a unit, such mistakes will become less common, but it is another area that needs working on.
Discipline
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Vidic, Yuto Nagatomo and Gary Medel have all been shown their marching orders this season. Considering it is still early days, this is a sign of ill-discipline at the club.
For a side that appears to be treading a fine line when it comes to confidence, a red card can throw a huge spanner in the works.
Inter are not a particularly physical side, so red cards should not be regular occurrences for the rest of the campaign.
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