Argentine NT: News, Stats & Players [R]

Aguero hits a hattrick.

 

I am impressed with the progress Lo Celso is making at PSG. Allowed to use his flair and also improving defensively. Very tenacious and a distinct improvement over Banega who is so lazy and inconsistent.

Another article on Dybala. He does need to maintain more consistency and do it more on the bigger stage if he is to supplant Messi at some stage (an idiotic suggestion but no one could fill his shoes not for another generation ie 30 years).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42715734

Pereyra is also struggling. I think injuries and a lack of fitness are making him a shadow of the player he was at one point.

Vietto hattrick in the Copa del Rey against Las Palmas including an exquisite lob. He is a natural finisher. Simeone did a hatchet job on him and he wasted time at Atletico. He is a talented forward.

 

Tagliafico put on a defensive clinic in his debut and won the man of the match award.

 

At this point if Sampaoli doesn't call Tagliafico and picks another 3 instead (like Insua or Mas) he's a total retard (Of course I assume Acuña will make the list).

 

PSG is a bizarre squad and is not a team that should never be respected. The Arabs that run the club clearly allow the players do what they want, there is no discipline and the asylum is controlled by the goons who run it. Every other game Neymar has an "injury" and a couple days later he is partying at some night club. He clearly is saving himself for the World Cup and it tells you how little he respects the club. He knew he couldn't get away with such stuff at FCB so he bolted.

I would prefer Lo Celso be developing elsewhere but he's doing just fine and that is a positive for us.

As for the Dybala article. It is no shocker it is the same author who bashes him in most of her articles and podcasts.


I caught a bit of the second half of FCB match. Messi, I know we hardly ever talk about him because he is so good and there isn't a reason to talk about his performance but he was really magically. He was busting his ass in the 88th minute when they are up 5-0 by making long runs. But for all that magic, he needs to cool it and take it easy. I don't think any of us want to see him burning himself out by Russia.

As for Kun, he continues to flourish under Pep. We can only hope he brings some of that magic with him. It is said that Sampaoli met with Pep to talk about our players.

Alario had two goals in the weekend. If he continues to progress at this rate, he'll be on the move in no time.

Tagliafico, it is no surprise he did well in his debut match. Some players are born leaders and he is one of them. It appears that Sampa spoke to him and maybe he can earn a call for these friendlies. I would love to see him not only get a call but start for us.

 

At 30, no sign of slowing at all...

 

Is anyone having the same laugh i'm having by watching all these argentine journalists saying, over the last month, basically that every Boca player should go to the world cup? I have heard things like "Gago and Benedetto are recovering quickly, they may be in time for the world cup", "Buffarini and Mas signed for Boca because they feel playing here they will have a chance to make the list", "Pablo Perez is in the sight of Sampaoli" "Pavon is already in the list 100% confirmed" etc. Then other journalists are even saying that if Tevez shows he's on form he could make the World Cup LOOOOOOOOOL

Bosteriodismo is so funny, soon they will start asking for wanchope to make the world cup squad too.

 

Here comes @RiverGaucho

 

Masche off to China...

 

Di Maria scored his 10th goal of the season and 100th goals in his club career.

 

Man coutinho is so overrated its insane. His first game was horrible.if that was dybala he would have been crucified across all boards

 

Our players are always under the microscope. He will always be overrated considering the insane amount barca paid.

 

No man. It was just his first start. Most of Barca's players were off this game.

Coutinho is a classy player.

 

The expectations for Dybala is much higher as he is a much better player. He is expected to lead the team. But I agree, the criticism on Dybala can be harsh at times.

Coutinho is a good little player but I've never seen him as something extraordinary and certainly not 150 million's worth. If he was born in Asuncion, there is no way he would've gone that much. He is from Brasil and he's going to sell shirts for FCB.

 

Well yes, I agree. Dybala will get more criticism, as he is supposed to be challenging Neymar/Mbappe for the Ballon D'Or's in the future.

 

By 2025, a player of Biglia level will cost $250 million .

 

I don't blame the papers for writing what sells to fans of the most popular team, but of course there's no reason to take any of that seriously.

 

In other news, Icardi is rumored to be on his way to Real Madrid. I for one do not care for Madrid (Not that I care for any of the Spanish clubs) but supposed move seems a bit peculiar. In a World Cup year, does Icardi really want to move? Not that I do not think he will succeed there but I'd rather see him move when Madrid is clearing house and replacing the likes of Benzema, Ronaldo and the of the "old-guard". Will he get starting minutes over Benzema, who is an Frenchmen like Zidane and he who appears to treat him like a son? It is perhaps best Icardi waits and plays out the season at Inter then makes his move.

Pastore is also trying to make a move to... Inter. He supposedly turned down the likes of Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Sevilla. He says he wants to go to Inter since his wife is Italian. He talks about wanting to make the World Cup team but yet he turns down a handful of clubs where he could play regularly because his wife is Italian and they want to move to Milano? Regardless, I doubt he makes

I think Pastore is by far one of the biggest disappointments in the last 6-7years. I do not fault players for chasing money but he lost any drive that made him special at Huracán and Palermo while living and playing in France.

His PSG teammates, ADM and Lo Celso appear to be on Sampa's radar as he met with both of them recently. That is promising news, IMO.

 

I think its pretty debatable if Benzema is French... He spat during the Marseilles causing a media storm and outpouring of hatred from fans and has been excluded from the national side ever since. He has stated many times he doesn't like France... So I think the fact that Zidane and Benzema are of Algerian origin is what makes them bond, not the coincidence that they were born in France.

 

Benzema is a piece of a crap. He got thrown out of the national team for trying to blackmail his teammate.

Not to mention he's only scored a few goals this season and he is still seen as an untouchable. There is clear and dangerous bias coming from Zidane, which he is setting a negative precedence.

There were rumors within the last decade that French officials were trying to limit African(Ethnically North African/Sub-Saharan) players from being selected to Les Bleus. This was to break up supposed divisions and cliques within the team from ethnically same/ similar backgrounds. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised by either of these rumors were true.

Outside of having a "homer" pick, I have France going all the way that is if they get their stuff together. Will they get along or will there be infighting that causes a rift?

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Staying in France, Lo Celso came on in the second half and did very well according to reports. He scored his first goal(I believe). He was subbed in for Pastore who apparently had another terrible match. His dreams of making the World Cup appear to be slipping away. Might as well stay in Paris, collect your check and ride the bench.

Going to Italy. Perhaps Icardi leaving could be true since Lautaro Martinez is rumored to be on his way to Inter. Pupi apparently wants him there and the cost for him will be something under 20ME. I know he recently signed a new contract, which should've raised his release cause. I am not sure what it is(without doing some research) but if it is for that ballpark, then it is a steal for one of the best young talents in all of South America.

 

I really hope Sampaoli will not call Tevez back. If he's getting a call up, then he certainly will get playing time even if he delivers nothing. He hasnt been active footballer for 2 years now.

 

Tevez and Fatso would be disastrous. Both of them need to stay as far away from the seleccion as possible.

And speaking of inactive players, Romero. The winter transfer window came and gone without him moving. This will mean he will be not playing in any meaningful matches, unless you want to call the FA Cup meaningful. There are reports that this is a cause of concern for Sampaoli. So, it is said if Franco Armani has a good campaign with River, he may be selected. Colombia were interested in calling him up, but recently he has stated his desire to play for us. So, I am sure, @RiverGaucho will tell you, Argentina has not won a World Cup without having a River keeper between the posts. Marchesín and Guzmán are the alternatives.