I don't know where else to put this and I don't want to start a new thread for a match that's over. Colon 1 - 0 Boca. Painful to watch yet again. Donde esta Gracian? As long as Boca continues to play like shite and get bad results I'll continue to blame Russo for playing this horrible 4-4-2 when he has an enganche in the bench. This is unbelievable it's like the roles were reversed. The gallinas ditch the 4-4-2, start using an enganche, and they start playing well. We ditch the enganche, start playing a 4-4-2, and start playing like shite. Seems that Russo is scared to bench Battaglia since he didn't go to Italy and decided to stay at Boca. Unbelievable, what's even worse is that he doesn't even use Gracian despite the fact that he's played great when given the chance.
Boca at Colon - Apertura 07 - Round 7 - 09.09.07 (R) Didn't have time to check the boards earlier, but did watch the game. There is lots of stuff to discuss, aside from the last minute loss. Line-up: Caranta Ibarra - Maidana - Paletta - Urribarri Ledesma - Battaglia - Banega - Datolo Palacio - Palermo Subs: Cahais for Datolo; Boselli for Palacio; Gonzales for Banega Red Cards: Urribarri I surely went crazy with the misses in the first half, both with Datolo and Palacio. Went crazier with the non-sense red card from Urribarri, for yet the same foul that got him the yellow. But really started to lose it when I saw no desire to win the game in Russo. At this point, there needs to be realism over the cassette phrases. IMO, one thing is to have Morel as CD and NEED Palermo for the defensive duties in set pieces. But ... today Boca played Paletta along Maidana from the start. There really was no reason to have Martin on the field, playing 40-50 yards away from Colon's goal. If Banega, Ledesma and Battaglia were trying to hold down against 11 for 20+ minutes ... if Russo was ready to place Boselli and Bueno ... why did he back up when Garce was red carded? Prior to Garce's red card it seemed Russo had waited for the moment to make the subs and go for the win. Even if there was less than 20 minutes to play. 10 minutes too late IMO. But what is unacceptable is that he failed to read the game and take the initiative, like he did last time and lost in the dying minutes. Colon was also down to 10. But were taking the initiative. Boca was relying on the counters. What good does Martin give Boca when playing counters? Why take Palacio out? Russo explained that Rodrigo was tired ... so what? Can't he realize there are 2 very different roles in Martin and Rodrigo? If Palacio was tired, then Martin was useless. Now, the "codigos" BS and the fact that Boselli has been waiting for his chance is pure demogogy. Yes, he was ahead of Mondaini. But, is he really in front of Bueno? Moreso if it is Rodrigo coming out? What about Gracian. Wouldn't el tano give Boca ball control and choose the right moment to be vertical? If Russo was going to place 2 forwards when it was 10 agaisnt 11, why didn't he go with a replacement for Martin with Bueno and waited until Rodrigo was tired enuff and place Gracian? Fresh legs and intelligence. Something that Boca missed thru out most of the 2nd half. There is too much to question about this game. The 3 points are certainly important, moreso in such a weird and close tournament. But Russo's cautioness is what bothers the most. The confort of getting a point in a field were Boca lost 4 out of the last 5. That is unacceptable. Russo fuct up big time today. As he did in very few ocasions in the past year. Ambition man. It is now that you make a difference, and not in November when you are already with one foot in Tokyo and hopefully the Sudamericana. What was he afraid of ... losing? Well, nothing happens if at least you try. .
Re: Boca at Colon - Apertura 07 - Round 7 - 09.09.07 (R) What the hell? We lost to Colon? Unbelievable.
Re: Boca at Colon - Apertura 07 - Round 7 - 09.09.07 (R) Elephant graveyard las pelotas! Boca should not lose to Colon.
Re: Boca at Colon - Apertura 07 - Round 7 - 09.09.07 (R) The worst thing about it was that they scored in the last minute. And a minute before that Gonzales almost scored. Also hopefully it doesn't happen to Boca with Palermo what happened to Madrid with Raul. That dispite him playing like shit Raul would always start because he's a club idol. Palermo is the captain and all but if he's not playing well Russo needs to bench his ass. Boselli should be his sub not Palacio's.
Re: Boca at Colon - Apertura 07 - Round 7 - 09.09.07 (R) It is not if Martin was playing good or bad, as he NEEDS to be supplied with chances, and this 4-4-2 Boca rarely gives him a chance. Martin was crucial in pivoting and joining up with Roman last semester, even when not scoring. But that was a very offensive Boca that took the game in any field. Today, without Roman not Gracian, neither Banega nor Battaglia have the characteristic of breaking thru and stepping into the opponent's box ... something for which Martin would be very useful. But in games when Boca is playing counter attack, Palermo's role reduces in importance. He has no speed, no right leg, has no play maker to pivot to, is 20 yards away from the opposite box, and is not seriously needed in Boca's own box for set pieces (Paletta is tall and makes up for Palermo's abscence) ... there IS NO NEED to have Martin on the field. Worst is that Palermo had asked for his sub around the 25th minute of the SH. The other view is that Boca has to recover the iniative in every field. Just like it did in Santa Fe in the Clausura. For that, Boc aneeded to have the ball a lot more. When it was 10 vs 11, it is understabdable to hold on first and go for the win in the last minutes. But this never happened. When it was 10 vs 10, it was it's duty to go for the win. It seems that Gracian and Bueno will start against Olimpo ... in place of Battaglia and Palermo/Palacio. We might see them play, together, 3 days too late. .