willieNow, I realize that most of the players I chose are from the Copa 07 squad, & its true. I simply loved them so I'm a bit biased. The line up is a 4-3-1-2 but looks more like a 4-2-2-2. Because our defense is average among the elite, a two man shield could offer protection as our further 4 players can easily expose the opposition. W/ Insua's pace he can bring the width that cambiasso doesn't provide, adding more offensive capabilities. Riquelme naturally leans to the left, which would allow messi more room to cut inside. Any mess outside can be scored through via riquelme, veron, & cambiasso as they all are potent from distance. Higuain would be a target to keep the ball up & finish off the plays & score. If we needed to, cambiasso can move to the wing, veron drop to make it a more traditional diamond. But this squad would be able to maintain possession & w/ a mixture of speed & skill could be a force to be reckoned w/.
Subs to score would replace cambiasso, veron, & higuain w/ aimar, maxi, & tevez.
23.10.2009
SpaceGhostLooks good. Might be leaving the left flank a bit exposed for an aggressive right back.
Maradona would probably need to be axed to get Riquelme back.
24.10.2009
Robert O'CarlosSeems brave to have Veron and Riquelme in the mix. Isn't Veron only in the team these days because Riquelme couldn't be bothered to turn out for his country any longer over some non existent perceived slight?
Left back has long been a problem. Insua seems the most likely long term solution.
Would be interested who you would choose as manager, Willie. Maradona plainly isn't working.
:-)
24.10.2009
FeriAtsOn a tangential note, Messi doesn't seem to deliver for Argentina. He is nowhere near his Barcelona form in the national team. A manager with balls would sit him on the bench.
24.10.2009
Robert O'CarlosI've not seen much of Barca this season. How is Messi doing with a more static frontman like Ibra up front?
24.10.2009
willieWell, partly the reason he does not preform is the lack of support & all the weight & duties are on him. w/ riquelme he'll be given the support he needs & will no longer e the main playmaker. veron as well is there to create when riquelme or messi can't. Messi needs a strong man up at top to hold the ball & give him an option, thats why he's been successful with Barca. But the main thing is that he truly needs to improve, because the best players make the difference.
24.10.2009
Robert O'CarlosInteresting that you should say Messi needs a strong target man. He flourished at Barca with a very mobile forward in Eto'o and seems to have been partnered with tricky mobile types such as Tevez, Higuain or Aguero for his country.
If that's the type of forward he works best off, I'd wonder whether Ibrahimovic will dull his edge.
Getting back to your team, I think this would be great against 'lesser' teams such as South American qualifying teams. At a World Cup against better organised teams, I'd be concerned about the lack of movement maybe.
:-)
24.10.2009
willieMessi did but Eto'o was still pretty strong & the main point in the attacking trident. When argentina have put meesi, tevez, aguero, they all get into each others way & dont have a person to pass who can old it.
Against european teams this team would have some trouble, but remember, it's about the speed of the ball, not the player. In the copa the team moved quite well as the tourney progressed & it was really a total team effort. Teams who would play like brazil that day could beat this team though.
24.10.2009
SpaceGhostProject Guardiola 2010!
Probably would mean 4-3-3, so have Riquelme do a little more "leaning to the left" and centralize the midfield with Cambiasso and Veron on either side of the little chief.
25.10.2009
