Argentine NT: News, Stats & Players [R]

There's one occassion around 85 minutes mark when Argentina won the ball and Pipita tried to accelerate but he couldnt, its really funny because its like watching an old car engine failing to start lol

 

The only silver lining is that we looked just as horrible pre-1986 World Cup, for those who remember. Everyone was baying for Bilardo's blood, and some wanted Maradona off the team.

We even lost to a semi-professional team right before the World Cup.

 

Exactly, Di Maria made so many dangerous run with his fast sprint but there's many occasions where he just doing it alone and literally none of his teammate coming close to him so had no option other than keeping the ball himself. The same when everytime Messi gets the ball.

 

Higuain and Biglia already looks tired in today's game , let alone on Lapaz. Its blessing in disguise.

The only hope would be Messi or somebody struck an early goal so we can at least get a point. We will most likely conceided soon or later with the way we've been playing.

 

Reports that Messi insulted the assistant ref in yesterday's game, and will face ban.

 

I think Chacarita Jrs can play better than this team.

Higuain, Aguero, Banega, Mas are garbage, at best we're headed for a round of 16 exit at WC unless things change fast.

 

Bein Sports had a great documentary on the '86 Albiceleste, and it very poignantly portrays the pessimism you speak of regarding that squad. Available in Spanish and English.

The trailer is here:

 

What can i say about that performance that was not already said?

I know there are several players whom we all unanimously feel should not be on the squad, let alone the starting XI. But... these are all still very good players who ALL (Romero STARTING is the perpetual mystery) feature, and well, at their various clubs - even Biglia and Pipita.

This is down to the shockingly poor leadership, and game planning of Bauza.

This team is older yes, but the fairly obvious lack of a cogent plan is glaring. GLARING.

Messi has his faults and stubborn streaks, but he is very arguably the most gifted player in Argentine history, and THIS is a very very sad way to approach his last hurrah with the Albiceleste - led to battle by some delusioned hack who would have never been considered for the DT post of Argentina if there were any semblance of normalcy in AFA.

PA-PE-LON TOTAL

 

Oh wow. Thank you for this, Cigar. Good to relive old memories.

 

Beautifully put. Even players less talented can lead you far if there is a coherent gameplan. See Conte's Italy with the likes of Giaccherini, Immobile, Zaza, Pelle, etc. --- they handily beat Belgium and Spain and only "lost" to Germany on pens.

In today's world, tactics and a proper gameplan/organization make all the difference in the world.

 

Time to try 3-4-3?

Romero
Roncaglia - Musacchio - Rojo
Buffarini - Perez - Banega - Mas
Messi - Aguero - Di Maria

In an ideal world I would call up Gomez and Tagliafico, they would be better suited as wingbacks in this formation.

 

That's right. Italy have always had at least that, the last time they hosted was last time I can recall the manager doing something odd - and that was only the failure to start Baggio against Argentina in Naples that magnificent day looooooooong ago...

Well, as @RiverGaucho pointed out, look at F'n Brasil - Complete metamorphosis. Does anyone here think Brasil would have lost to Germany in Brazil 7-1 if this man had been rightfully appointed back then instead of the tired, retread Big Phil? I realize the squad's were different and, Neymar for instance, has improved greatly. But this Brasil is incomparable to the Selecao from just one year ago. We all know why.

The whole thing embitters ...

 

It is a great watch if you have BEIn Sports, it is on the demand feature, or Netflix perhaps (I don't have Netflix ... or... the ubiquitous Iphone..).

Yes what memories that tournament evokes, of watching history, with family and friends, in what were likely for many of us, and many Argentinos, happy times.

 

Bravo sucking hard for City might be a blessing in disguise for Argentina. Rulli will probably be playing for them next season, and if he can do a good job, surely Bauza can't ignore him anymore.

 

But I also remember brazil won 99% of their friendly games by big margin and also winning conferderation, but then how did they perform in 2014 WC.....

 

No, wrong. Argentina NT is managed by "the group" (aka king Messi and his friends from the same generation), and the group has already decided that the GKs are Romero, Andujar and Guzmán. They don't want to make room for outsiders and the current coach doesn't have the personality or standing to contradict "the group".

 

Dybala managed to force himself into the team, as have the likes of Mercado and Funes Mori, so it isn't impossible.

It's not like Rulli has had any problems off the pitch like Icardi has, his image is clean. All he needs is one good season for a big club so he can get noticed, and for Romero to spend another season collecting a paycheck on the bench.

 

So Dybaba trained normally with the group, finally it's Messi Dybaba time.

 

Any news if Messi is going to be suspended?

Bauza has managed a team playing at high altitude, so he "should" know how to approach this game.

 

Bauza calls up Pinola who is about a 1,000-year-old instead of Tagliafico. No shocker here.

No, he won't be suspended.

 

Those crazy news regarding Messi is just a passing wind. Media can generate money just by claiming Messi fart on the pitch.

 

You raise an interesting comparison, which reminds me of another team which did exceedingly well in World Cup qualifying before a disappointing World Cup performance.

16 years ago, it was your team which was indisputably CONMEBOL's best. Your team won 5 straight, only lost to Brazil in Brazil, and drew Paraguay twice. Your team also qualified quite early, finishing with an impressive 43 points.

In the aftermath of Korea/Japan, as many debated why Argentina failed, some claimed Marcelo Bielsa made strange roster picks, but some said your team peaked too early. I don't think your team would have lost in the first round had the World Cup been played 1 year earlier.

Brazil is doing very well right now, but we haven't peaked - which is both encouraging and sobering. We are likely going to get even better, but if we do peak before the right time (in addition to the possibility of injuries and of players doing well now hitting slumps right before the World Cup), who knows what'll happen?

I however think that a total flop is unlikely in Russia, though. As your countryman RiverGaucho pointed out, 1 year ago, Brazil was a mess. In a very short period, Tite has cleaned up that mess. It's unlikely for a top-tier team to go from mess to best to flop in a very short period.

But as always, we'll have to wait and see until the World Cup.

Best of luck tomorrow.

 

Cigar, I watched it. Very beautifully put together. I still remember what the team went through in 85.....we were considered a complete disaster, not unlike today.

Thank you, again.

 

No Dybala starting.

Messi-Pratto up front.

Perez and Banega come into the mid.

Roncaglia and Rojo fullbacks.