willieThis is just how I feel the Argentine National team should play. Yes, I would recall Cambiasso, Riquelme, Sorin, & Abbodanzieri. Maradona is doing an awful job at selections & has destroyed a team once looked up to as a brilliant & potent team. It's become lost & unconfident, something Argentina has never been!
13.07.2009
FeriAtsIt's almost a law now, good players rarely become good managers. Maradona started strong and with his unstable character I was very surprised to see that he was doing well. Now things seem to return to normal.
Maybe there's one positive thing that might come out from this mess. Argentinian public might stop comparing their shining talents to him and put a very heavy pressure on their shoulders.
14.07.2009
willieThat's true, his first results gave the impression everything would be kay, until that match w/ Bolivia.
I see no wrong in comparing them with Maradona, the player, because after all he should be what the others strive for. But I agree, it's too much pressure at too young of ages.
14.07.2009
RoberticusLooks good to me; completely within the traditions of Argentine patient passing football. This is similar to Basile's team from 2006-07 before things began to go awry... for example right up until the Copa America final.
Maradona has Bilardo on board, who seems to be choosing his tactics for him; a dinosaur! Flat 4-4-2 is anathema to Argentina's abundance of playmakers. His 3-5-2 only works against opponents that use two strikers.
15.07.2009
RoberticusNot all good players make bad coaches; it depends on what kind of player they were. Consumate thinking players, tactically-minded ones tend to make good coaches. Impulsive ones, like Maradona, do not.
15.07.2009
RoberticusBut Maradona, Basile, Grondona and the AFA have squandered a generation of talent.
At this stage, I'd even prefer Pekerman back; he seemed to strike a balance between Argentine traditionalism (which is very insular) and compromises with modernity (especially athleticism and higher tempo).
15.07.2009
RoberticusMy two alterations to this line-up would be to drop one of Riquelme - Veron for Lucho Gonzalez, who tends to get beyond the midfield and score goals. He's tall and is good in the air. Although Riquelme and Veron play in different positions, they both have a tendency to slow the play down, and to do that you only need one player. By adding Lucho into the mix, Argentina would gain an extra element, a bit of variety to their midfield.
Also, Tevez as the furthest man forward? He's better playing as a second-striker or winger, not as a reference point. Even in Corinthians and Boca he was never the No. 9. For this post in this specific formation, I think Milito would be good (strong in the air, good at holding the ball up) or else Higuain for more dynamic movement all across the front line.
But fat chance Diego will call up Higuain.. and all because his son-in-law has a feud with the Madrid striker (ignore the bullshit about Higuain's refusal to play U-21s on one occassion as the reason). Is this what Argentina has come to? Such pettiness? Such nepotism?
15.07.2009
RoberticusOh, and how could I forget; no place for Heinze.
Heinze and Samuel? Both? The two of them are both stoppers, unable to bring the ball out. At least play Demichelis alongside one of them; preferably Samuel.
15.07.2009
willieThank you Roberticus for all your input. :)
The formation is very similar to the last Copa's because I did draw inspiration from it. I remember the whole tournament & how beautifully Argentina played. The reason for Tevez is because he & Messi can create more space to for Riquelme to operate. Similar to the tactics of 07. Also when you have those two & Riquelme & Verón, actually the play seems to be at a higher level because they seem to compete w/ one another encouraging the best from all of them. But Lucho in for Verón would be great especially against European teams like Germany & France. I only include Heinze because I love his never say die attitude. IF everyone was fit, I'd actually put Crespo as the CF & call-up Ayala & beg him to return :D
15.07.2009
