Argentine NT: News, Stats & Players 2011-2013 (Part II) [R]

"In terms of ability and his overall impact on the game and what's he achieved so far, he would be the best I've ever seen," Gary Lineker

I believe Lineker used to think Diego is the best...

Here's a very nice article from Time
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2105368,00.html

Re: Argentine NT News, Stats & Players Thread 2010-2011 Part III[R]

Here's a part of the interview:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2105369,00.html

Re: Argentine NT News, Stats & Players Thread 2010-2011 Part III[R]

Ardilles actually pointing the right thing

"People before say Pelé was running 5,000, 6,000 meters. Now they are running 9,000 meters. "

Re: Argentine NT News, Stats & Players Thread 2010-2011 Part III[R]

It's nice of Lineker to say this, especially being an English legend, but he is wrong. Maradona had greater ability than Messi has.

Re: Argentine NT News, Stats & Players Thread 2010-2011 Part III[R]

The very notion of trying to rank someone who may not even be half way through his career to the all-time greats really bothers me. I don't see why people can't wait until Messi isfinished playing, let it breathe a little, and then assess his standing among the greats. Even then, it'll be hard to objectively compare, but doing it now is absurd. Now, I think he's on a path to be compared with anyone, but if he stopped playing today, could you really stack him up against Maradona or Pele? I don't think so.

Re: Argentine NT News, Stats & Players Thread 2010-2011 Part III[R]

Actually Rio Ferdinand said in various occassion that Diego is his football idol, Rooney also said Diego is his fav footballer while Giggs claimed Diego to be no.1 left footed in the world.

Yes, off course Diego has better ability & mentality altogether, but Messi in the last 3 years is much sharper up front. You could just imagine how dominant C Ronaldo would be without Messi.

One thing Messi still unable to handle is those defender on SA qualifier.

Re: Argentine NT News, Stats & Players Thread 2010-2011 Part III[R]

But that's what people and media will always do in every sport, Diego has been chased by media since he was very young cause everyone could feels what will he'll become.

Re: Argentine NT News, Stats & Players Thread 2010-2011 Part III[R]

Personally I don't really care about the whole "is Messi the greatest" debate. ASll I know is that if you are a football fan then you should just enjoy watching him play because, obviously, he is a very, very special player and we won't see his like again for a very long time (if ever). He leaps ahead of players such as Zidane, Zico, Platini, Gullit, and, imho, joins that select group of all time greats of Pele/Maradona/Beckenbaur/Cruyff.

Re: Argentine NT News, Stats & Players Thread 2010-2011 Part III[R]

To be honest I agree with Siempre Albiceleste. However that isthe way of the world now to hype and sensationalize and judge before a career is over.

So for instance in hockey Ovechkin was being proclaimed the next Great One. Look at him now. And he is not even the best Russian player or in their top ten of all time.

Something similar could be said for Messi. People ignore Diego at their peril. For me is he is still the best with such audacious skill and what is more flair that attracted millions to watch him.

Messi is more pragmatic but he is still behind in terms of passing and set piece ability and leadership. That he is improving both the first and second set him in good stead to match Diego.

However Diego lifted sides like Argentinos Juniors and Napoli by their bootstraps through his sheer will at times alongside his skill.

Ardiles may say the game has evolved. Yes footballers are far more athletic, defences even tighter but have defenders actually improved. When I look about the world I fail to find many decent ones who can actually mark, anticipate and tackle correctly.

And as for pitches. Imagine what footballers of yesteryear could do with lighter balls and bowling greens to play on compared to some of the mudheaps they played on with heavy leather balls absorbing any moisture and turning the ball into a deadweight.

Not to mention the far tighter refereeing that Diego never benefitted from.

A great player for me like a great club is great in any era. All great players have that extra special skill, spatial awareness and footballing intelligence to anticipate situations and create them. All great club sides from River Plate's maquina to Grande Torino to Ajax to Barca all share the same characteristics.

The ability to move the ball around at high speed , to interchange positions comfortably and win the ball back quickly.

Football is a simple game after all.

Re: Argentine NT News, Stats & Players Thread 2010-2011 Part III[R]

For me Diego is the greatest player of all time. Ruud Gullit summed it up very well when talking about Messi and Diego, he described Messi as a great player in a great team, Maradona he said was the team. Maradona just had that incredible ability to carry an entire team, 1986 will always be the greatest individual performance by an individual player at a world cup, the guy carried the team to victory. Also what he achieved a Napoli is worth a dozen La Liga titles with Real Madrid.

Having said all of the above, I go back to my point, just enjoy watching Messi play, it is a delight, he's only 24 and we have many years to saviour.

Re: Argentine NT News, Stats & Players Thread 2010-2011 Part III[R]

Can I just correct you by saying the Diego was the offense, not the entire team. He had a solid defense to rely upon. If Messi would have won 2010 then it would have been an even bigger accomplishment because of how bad the defense was. I can't imagine Diego scoring 5 against Germany to make up for the crappy defense.

Re: Argentine NT News, Stats & Players Thread 2010-2011 Part III[R]

Erm, it wasn't me who said that it was Gullitt and I don't think he meant it to be taken literally, just emphasising Diego's ability to "carry" a team to vicory (and when I say carry, I don't mean to literally put 10 players on his shoulders and carry them round a football field).

Slowly walks backwards out of the room.

Re: Argentine NT News, Stats & Players Thread 2010-2011 Part III[R]

Had Messi won the WC in 2010, that would of still been Diego's team. We could outscore teams like nobodies business but when we fell behind that was that. You can only outscore certain teams. Lucky that South Korea did not tie us before we scored 3 goals later on.

Micho was a World Cup too late, in 2006 he would of been worth taking, not 2010. Micho is just crap, and my head hurts thinking about it at times.

Re: Argentine NT News, Stats & Players Thread 2010-2011 Part III[R]

In 2010 we had Samuel who was killing it for Inter and he only featured ONE game in the world cup. He got injured, recovered just in time for the knock-out stages and still didn't play. Lunacy.

So finally we change the title?

Happy birthday to Batigol, Gabriel Batistuta. 43 years old.

Hattricks in consecutive World Cups, bullet of a shot. If only he can teach our boys how to take penalty kicks like these:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRegpDey3uY&feature=player_embedded"]Gabriel Batistuta vs Jamaica - 3/3 - YouTube[/ame]

Absolutely miss the guy.

Miss the guy as well, just an idol.

As for teaching our boys to take PK's, I also agree. Lio has missed two crucial PK'S this season for Barcelona. One against Sevilla in the 90th+min and the one against Valencia. But I guess, having a 1-1 agg coming back home isn't so bad.

On a side note, D.Milito hits for four for Inter. Having a great little spring back in his step.

Yeah, I watched the Barcelona match. Messi has to learn how to take penalties. Thankfully (though in the end we still lost), his penalty against Uruguay went in and it was actually well placed. The one he missed today was just horrible.

As for Milito, I've always liked him and found his chance with the team came too late. He's never gotten a proper chance with the team and I feel bad for him. 2010 was his shot and Messi, Tevez, Higuain and Aguero were ahead of him in the pecking order. Not complaining, but just saying. Pointless as it may be, I would have picked him over Cruz in 2006.

In other news, Carizzo is with Catania on loan and with Andujar back with Estudiantes, he could get a chance to really get himself going again. Because as it is, he's not even in the top 2, maybe even 3 goalkeepers on the team.

Palacio is also doing well this season with Genoa. Never understood why Sabella picked him for the first 2 matches then dropped him for the last 2 matches of the qualifiers.

Who are ahead of Andujar at Estudiantes? Did he lose his starting spot at Catania?

I think Barca defence look like this today


Mascherano----Mascherano----Mascherano

The commentator keep praising him throughout the match lol

Messi missed some chances but both goals came from him