River Plate 2013-14 Season: La Vuelta a las Copas [R]

It's a huge gain for us but we need to get three points tomorrow. I don't think estudiantes is that great of a side and were going to be helped that he match is at the Estadio Unico de La Plata, which is a FIFA approved stadium.

In recent years, river has really floundered at small grounds. With our style of play we really need a decent sized pitch.

Slightly off topic, but in regards to teams playing copa libertadores I hate how they always use it as an excuse. I know we're talking about a different economic climate for argentine clubs, but in the past river used to always reach the quarters/semis of the copa and also fight the local tournament until the end, more often than not winning it. Velez played their starters today, but in reality their reserve team should beat some scrubs like quilmes

 

Chichizola!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Amazing game from Chichizola not just the pen he had 3 very good saves as well. Vamos pibe!!

Keko x Cavenaghi. Cavenaghi was just plain awful. Not just his missed goal, but his passing was pitiful and his physical condition is so bad. Every time he touched the ball he ended rivers attack. Pathetic

 

Unfortunately he was the same againist Rafalea...
What about Simeone??? Why not is he in the bench??? We could be a great alternative for Cavegol...

 

Oh my God, what a game from Chichizola!!!!!!!! He had 5 huge saves!!! He was the best player today (and Kranevitter). VAMOS PIBE!!! I think is was an equitable draw, but the final 5-10 minutes was terrible... Ramon had to change Keko earlier I think... Bad news it that Colón won againist Newell's...

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! G R A N D E , C H I C H I !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ramon gave up on the game and played for the tie. We didn't even generate a chance the last 15 minutes.

What was up with putting in both FM And Ferreyra!? The game was calling for Keko and probably even Fabbro to try and retain the ball! I don't know what Ramon was thinking we are not just fighting for the title but for a spot in the sudamericana. We can't let points slip away by playing for the tie!

Any time river plays defensively, we end up suffering 10x more than normal. Bad Ramon, just plane bad from you tonight

Chichizola was amazing. You know, I used to think he was a crack. In his first four games for river he didn't let in a single goal , then he made that error against Velez for Silvas goal and he sort of fell apart, but he's still got talent. He did well in the game against CASLA in the copa lets not forget. Grande chichi!!!! Hay q seguir asi vs Velez!!!

 

well what hasnt been said. The point will do, Cavenaghi is a borderline disaster. Give me Villalva or Simeone, I think Simeone would be well suited especially as a 9 with a pretty good aerial presence.

Estudiantes is better than I thought, they close space well in defense, and break out of it quickly into attack. They are very well organized, and outclassed River today. Honestly I wouldnt be surprised if they won the title.

 

I think Chichizola will be a very good goalkeeper, he is a big talent! It is true that he had some big mistakes in the past, but he is very young, most of the goalkeepers will give their best and the most balanced performance from his 27-28 years. By than will they have the necessary routine. He can learn a lot from Barovero, but in my opinion it will be the best for Chichi if he goes to loan for another team in the first division for one or two years, where he can plays in every week and after that if he gives his best performance, he could be the number 1. In the other hand it is good to know that we have a very good goalkeeper, like Chichi, when Barovero can’t play. It is a complicated topic what will be the best for Chici in the future.

 

Well Chichizola's contract expires if I'm not mistaken in June, so we'll have to see what D'Onofrio, Francescoli, and Ramon- or whoever the new coach is- what to do with him- if the player wants to stay.

After yesterday, I'm sure some smaller provincial teams would be interested in Chichizola, but if it were up to me I'd go all out to keep him.

Let's not forget, Chichizola has had some bad games- Olimpo last season especially- but Barovero has had some disasters too, like against Belgrano and Colon. I think we need to keep chichi as you say he's still very young and goalkeepers tend to mature later, I fact I'd say the prime years for a goalie are actually 30-35 and some goalies play at a high level into their 40s. Obviously were talking about all time legends, but Amadeo Carrizo was river's number 1 until he was 42 and he was playing at Millonarios in Colombia until he was 45. Right now Buffon and Casillas are in their mid 30s and still the best in the world and Rogerio Ceni is still scoring goals for São Paulo at 41

 

So apparently Ledesma could play this weekend. I don't think any of us can deny just how important Ledesma has been for us this season, but I don't think Kranevitter should be the one sacrificed as is being reported. I would take out Rojas. He has been terrible the last few games, and while I know Ramon likes to have balance by having a left-footer in the team, its always Vangioni or even Lanzini who provide width down the left.

The other thing that is absolutely infuriating is that Menseguez is included in the list of "concentrados" but Simeone remains in the reserva despite scoring for fun recently.

If the season ended today, we wouldn't even qualify for the sudamericana and Ramon is still playing favorites with his friends Rojas, Menseguez, and Ferreyra. He is digging his own grave not just with his relationship with the barra-brava, but with stupid tactics and team selections. if we don't make the sudamericana, it would be an embarrassment to be honest especially seeing as the likes of Godoy Cruz, Belgrano, Gimnasia, and Rosario Central are currently in the qualifying places.

Here's a list of the "concentrados"

Chichizola, N. Rodríguez, Funes Mori, Vangioni, Ledesma, Mercado, Maidana, Kranevitter, Ferreyra, Balanta, Menseguez, Rojas, Solari, Carbonero, Fabbro, Gutiérrez, Lanzini, Villalva y Cavenaghi.
http://www.ole.com.ar/river-plate/futbol/alcanza_0_1122487848.html

 

It could be a good team:
-----------------------Chichizola----------------------
Mercado---Maidana-----------Balanta-------Vangioni
--------------Ledesma---------Kranevitter-----------
---Carbonero-----------------------Lanzini-----------
-----------Teo-------------Cavenaghi/Villalva--------

But as you say Ramón gives the chance to Rojas everytime, but I don't know why... Ledesma, Kranevitter, Ponzio is better than him, but two of them sit on the bench or not be in the team in every match, because Rojas must play...

 

hey they won! There are no easy games, but the way to a title doesnt look horrible either. Vangioni was immense, Kranevitter too. Everyone on D really. Lets hope Balanta is ok, Teo too. But Balanta would be a much bigger loss.

On to Olimpo.

 

What an emotional roller-coaster ride as usual. It seems like us River fans will be forced to suffer every match

Amazing game from Kranevittter. The kid needs to stay in the line-up. He must have recovered 10-15 balls tonight. I thought Vangioni finally looked like the guy we signed from Newell's and played the 2013 Torneo Final.

And lets not forget Chichizola. Made some really good saves, especially the one-on-one vs. Pratto, and the play at the end of the game when he clearly got to the ball. At this point, Chichi looks more secure than Barovero, who if we're honest, was really quite poor this season.

I don't want to complain when we're leaders this late in the tournament, but Ramon really has tired me out with his use of Ferreyra. The guy is useless and can't play more in River. As bad as Balanta's injury was, it may have saved us the match. Right before he asked to be subbed off, Menseguez was warming up and preparing to come in. Thank god he didn't, he'd probably've handed the game to Velez like he did against Tigre and Belgrano.

 

Gimnasia's last match is at home to Boca... Which means we need to be ahead of them in the standing by that point since we know the cowardly bosteros will throw their match in order to deny us...

In other news, we're also out of the Copa Sudamericana standings as Godoy Cruz smashed Rafaela 3-0.

I know the Sudamericana isn't that prestigious a tournament, but we need the money this Copa would give us, plus the double competition would give us a chance to rotate our squad a bit more.

Ramon needs to not be a coward when we go to Bahia Blanca. Its not a fun place to go, and it will be cold as hell, but we need 3 points, not one...

Especially, as I said, Gimnasia's last match of the season is already an assured 3 points.

 

Fabbro has a good shot on him which could help draw the Olimpo defense out... But as you say, if there's no speedy player to take advantage of drawing them out what the point?

As controversial as it might be to say, I'd take out Lanzini and have both Fabbro and Keko play. One to hit long shots and make them close him down, the other to run onto his through balls.

Lets not forget though- a small field means less ground for Fabbro to cover and his lack of speed shouldn't be such an issue, he'll practically be in shooting range when he crosses the half way line. I remember Fabbro vs. Rafaela on a similar field in the Inicial, and although he didn't score, he was able to work the Rafaela keeper a few times. It was probably his best game at River TBH

On another note, Ramon SIMEONE al banco!!! Fuera el burro de Menseguez!!

 

This type of favoritism is why a part of me hopes we don't win the title. It will give D'Onofrio an excuse to fire Ramon's lame ass and bring in someone right for the long term.

But on the short term if we do win the title, we can finally be back in the Libertadores next year.