Argentine NT: News, Stats & Players [R]

I'm just about to post this, saw the highlight only off course but its always good to see a win against Brazil. Second goal was stunner by Palacios. The lads preasured Brazil throughout the game and the other goals showed determination.

 

There are rumors that Spalletti will not play Icardi again this season. This has been an utter mess. But also, if this rumor is true then Icardi will surely miss out on the Copa squad.

I have to say, he has only himself to blame. He can’t keep his woman in check.

 

Yea, its all started with his wife criticizing Inter & their policy in media.

 

As this season closes out, no young player other than DePaul, Palacios and possibly Musso really came into their own as international class level. Maybe Ascacibar too although his team has had a torrid season.

My biggest concern is the lack of first-rate attacking midfielders, we may yet see Messi and DiMaria in our starting midfield for the next World Cup.

 

You’re forgetting Lo Celso and Lautaro. They’re probably two of the most brightest prospects we have and they’re producing now.

Also, we have a talented U20 side, perhaps the most talented and best team we’ve had in over a decade.

There is still 3.5 years till the next World Cup. Who knows who can pop up.

 

Icardi is back and he scored a penalty. Unfortunately, Cristian Romero was given a harsh red card for his foul.

 

Lo Celso came on as an elite player last season or the season before. I forgot Martinez indeed, but it still feels like a fallow age group. Really hope you're right about the current U-20s.

 

There is an age gap, after 2007 until recently, there were some terrible teams. 2011 had a few promising names, and personally, I think that side blew a chance of winning the entire thing if they hadn't choked in a PK shootout to Portugal. They were defensively sound but could not score goals. Now, from that team, Tagliafico is in the senior side, so is Pezzella, and Pereyra all have been called up by Scaloni. Also, the team had Battaglia and Coco who has not really lived up to the billing.

It is difficult to have a Sub 20 side, wherein a couple of years, 6-7,8 of them will make it to the senior side. 2005-2007 sides gave us that. After that, there has been a sudden drop in the talent pool. We're going to need the 2021 team come through the ranks, so they can meet with the 2019 team(If they progress as I hope they do). But also, if you have a veteran side, that is blended with a young core, then you can find a recipe for success as well.

But as I stated, with this team we have quite a bit of promise. I am not going to say we are favorites but we should do well in this tournament.

We open up against the RSA, this is where we need to pick up our three points. After that, we will have Portugal who is the UEFA champions and SK, who were runners-up in Asia. It will be a good test for us.

 

The u17 team beat Uruguay 1-0 and currently top the table. The goal was similar to the first and third goal against Brazil. They seems to shoot from outside the box too many times though.

 

Dybala wins and scores a penalty v Milan but gets subbed off a couple minutes later. Leaves the pitch pissed and you can see him in the stands upset. Granted, it wasn’t a good match by him but he scored and could’ve helped his confidence to continue playing. Mandzukic like Cristiano will never be taken off, no matter what. Rinse and repeat I suppose.

Next season is going to be a very important one for Dybala. Once he’s at his club, he’ll need to play with a bit more fire and desire, the same kind that he showed in his last season at Palermo and his first couple at Juve. Plus, I think he needs to drop some weight. He’s not moving as smoothly as he once was.

 

Dybala probably going to missout Copa spot maybe to Aguero, I think. He really needs to make the right decision & leave the club.

Messi scored against Atletico Madrid and now 11 poiints ahead of second place. Hopefully he'd get some rest. The reported injury during friendlies doesnt seems to exist at all.

 

Min you he missed his second opportunity. I once was desperate for him to be picked by Maradona and not taken by France. He did have potential. I thought he would mature and overcome his fraility in big matches. But it never materialized.

Swap him for Batigol or Crespo and in all probability we would be sitting with two Copa's and a World Cup. And all this nonsense about Messi not being the best player in the world would end.

The u17 are playing in fits and starts. Not surprising given their ages. However both u17 and u20 need to play the Argentine style. Love the ball. Treat it like a dance partner and make use of it. The style seems too savage. However it is pleasing to see fullbacks who actually attack the box and shoot. I would say it is a long time since we saw a Chamot in full flight. You need wing and fullbacks to open up the game today with compact midfields and defences.

 

About Paredes. First things first. I do not want to throw any of players under the bus especially when they are playing for the seleccion. I wanted that of Higuain. To improve. I personally think Leandro is miles off playing for the seleccion in such a crucial role. He needs to learn the craft more and improve his decision making because at the moment there is no impetus from midfield and he is constantly putting the defence under pressure. He did it last year too in the pre WC friendly.

As a coach I would sit Messi in one corner of the dressing room and point at him. This is the greatest player in the world. Maybe now the best player in the history of the game. Then I would point at all the others in the dressing room. He cannot do it all by himself great though he is. It's up to you and you and you to take responsibility to make his life easier. Use your brains when you are out on the pitch and if he is double or triple marked make use of the space. Don't just pass to him and hope for magic.

You are all good players use your own abilities. And this shirt this beautiful shirt of the sky and stars, remember the history of it. All the great players that have turned out for the seleccion. Do it justice and you too can become part of that great history.

At present it still seems even under Scaloni as soon as Messi appears all responsibility is handed to him aside from Lo Celso. This has had a crippling effect on the team in recent years. It's not Messi's fault but his team mates.

I did not see Tagliafico (super defender though he is) or Montiel make enough attacking runs to offer options. It is almost sideways and back, sideways and back allowing the opposition to stifle us, reform and get their bearings. There is still not enough movement off the ball and the only time we look dangerous is in transition when the opposition play breaks down.

Perhaps we should be playing a countering game.

Off to Wembley later. Unfortunately Bobby P who has been playing very well since his return from international duty is carrying a minor hip injury and will probably be on the substitutes bench today for the FA Cup semi-final.

 

De Paul scored a beauty today from far out. Got a 2nd from the penalty spot.

Lo Celso had 2 goals, one was a beautiful curl with his right foot.

We need these 2 guys creating and scoring behind Messi at the Copa.

 

The sub 17 beat Chile 2-0 & top the table.

 

Aguero stopped from the penalty spot in Champions League first half against Tottenham.

 

One of the big reasons why argentina has had a tough time bedding new players is because of Messi and his friends and also unbelievable coaching bias.

Sabella, for all the good he did for the NT, had some absolutely HORRENDOUS choices for the 2014 world cup. He had players like Gago, Ricky Alvarez, Federico Fernandez, and the worst of all- Campagnaro.

The likes of Tagliafico, Pezzella, and Lamela- who was doing really well back then- could have all been of some use in that world cup. Any striker worth a damn would have done better than Palacio in the final and semi. For all the blame Higuain gets, and I agree he's a laughing stock, Palacio had two golden chances in both matches and missed horribly.

Every coach from Argentina from Bilardo, with Maradona calling the shots, left out Ramon Diaz, 1998 Passarella left out Redondo, Bielsa in 2002 Saviola and Riquelme, Pekerman with Zanetti and Samuel, Maradona with a host of bizarre choices, and then Sabella. Sampalobby had a truly terrible squad as well.

Its hard for Argentine coaches because we have a much bigger and more talented player pool than anyone else, but some of the choices over the years have been beyond idiotic.

Go back to 1978... The best players playing in Argentina at the moment were Alonso, who played only a few minutes, then Bochini and Maradona- who both missed the team. JJ Lopez also should have made the squad. Even Perfumo could have arguably still been there.

All the talk of the tournament being fixed could have been forgotten had he called up the best players... Menotti had some truly awful selections as well in both 78 and 82.

 

^^^Well said Gaucho. Hence my username. It truly is frustrating.

 

Battle of 2 CL choker teams. Second leg is still wide open though.

 

When this graphic popped up... pic.twitter.com/JBAkBs95cl

— Kristof Terreur (@kristofterreur) April 10, 2019