first they were coming, and then they weren't as the idea of giving them 100% of the gate money and most of the TV revenue didn't sit well at the SFA. (nice to see they have a little sense at least) then it was back on again, possibly with a little help from the global credit crunch. Messi Messi Messi. Argentina have a number of quality, world class players, but the main draw for many is the boy wonder. yet, most knew that the chance of him coming was virtually nil after the Olympic fiasco. Barca had done a deal with the Argentinian FA to exclude Messi from all friendlies. yet, Gordon Smith felt there was a good chance of him arriving. but rumours were growing that Messi wouldn't be gracing the Hampden turf. on the October 3rd Smith told us that it turned out he wasn't on a list of players that Argentina had said they would select their strongest side from, you mean to say you'd never seen the list!?!? the Argentinian FA have confirmed that Messi will not play at Hampden - i wonder what other players aren't on 'the list'.
If they cannot be bothered to bring their full team then they clearly have little respect for Scotland or the Tartan Army. I suppose we already knew this given their initial demands. If Smith is able to cancel said friendly then I would fully support his action. Let's bring in a nation who wants to play at Hampden.
i agree with that but surely the SFA should be doing all they can to find out just who the Argentinians intend bringing. get the list and give the people an idea of who could be turning out. after all it's supposed to be a glamour friendly. my brother and i were intending to take his daughter and two of her friends. they're football daft and were desperate to see Messi in the flesh. i said from the start to him that Messi would be a no-go.
the appointment of Maradona by the Argentinian FA at this point in time must be like manna from heaven for our SFA. Duffield Smith can regurgitate the Messi factor again and the hope that Maradona can change the agreement between Barca and the Argentinian FA regarding Messi's inclusion for friendlies. fat chance. perfect timing as the tickets go on sale for the match...
Very well said, I know ARG is a football power, but how many friendlies do they need against Guatemala or Ecuador?
here's their squad for the game - Goalkeepers: Juan Pablo Carrizo (Lazio), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar) Defenders: Nicolás Burdisso (Internazionale), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Martín Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Daniel Díaz (Getafe), Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid), Javier Zanetti (Internazionale) Midfielders: Ángel Di María (Benfica), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Luis González (Porto), Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Maximiliano Rodríguez (Atlético Madrid), José Sosa (Bayern Munich) Forwards: Sergio Agüero (Atlético Madrid), Germán Denis (Napoli), Lisandro López (Porto), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Carlos Tévez (Manchester United) no Messi as we all knew already. no Riquelme either.
Somehow this strikes me as a sad, pathetic marketing exercise a la LA Galaxy to Australia. That said, I shall look for Messi with interest and (apparently) see nothing and ignore Maradona's attempts to play to the gallery in Glasgow.
Barca is paranoic about Messi and how we use him...in the middle we have a new coach, plus the whole Olympic affair that happened recently...those are the reasons of not using him. And in a more comprehensive analysis is not a case of being Scotland. Majorly the problem relies in the big ammount of friendlies AFA arranged/sold to a certain Russian enterprsie. This friendlies are just money grabbing affairs and clubs get pissed off when using their player. Fans in Argentina too get piss off because of creating a team on the fly and with almost zero training face rivals, deteriorating the image of the NT...and worse? with few to almost NONE friendlies played in Argentina...and when having those? almost never in the provinces. About the full squad, that is debateable, because even Diego wants to change some players that might be first team not long ago. And the argie NT cahnges players like nothing. In that list are some of our best players involve, many of them know they will have to demonstarte they can gain a place under the new managers.
Burley has announced his squad for the Argentina match - Goalkeepers Craig Gordon (Sunderland), David Marshall (Norwich City), Allan McGregor (Rangers) Defenders Graham Alexander (Burnley), Darren Barr (Falkirk), Christophe Berra (Hearts), Kirk Broadfoot (Rangers), Gary Caldwell (Celtic), Alan Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur), Stephen McManus (Celtic), Jamie McAllister (Bristol City), Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United) Midfielders Scott Brown (Celtic), Kris Commons (Derby County), Barry Ferguson (Rangers), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), Paul Hartley (Celtic), Shaun Maloney (Celtic), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), Barry Robson (Celtic) Forwards David Clarkson (Motherwell), Steven Fletcher (Hibernian), Chris Iwelumo (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ross McCormack (Cardiff City), James McFadden (Birmingham City), Kenny Miller (Rangers) no big surprises. Ferguson and Hutton return to the squad after injury. any bets Iwelumo hits a hat trick this game...?
Apparently Boca asked AFA to not call Riquelme, also normally the players from the domestic clubs(which often are few) are called a while after the euro-based players. Even at times in friendlies they just use euro-based players because the players that could be called are busy with cup duties(CONMEBOL doesn't halt cup competitions for friendlies, even if they are FIFA matchdays), add that friendlies weren't taken much seriously before, it seems things will change now. So 3 more players were added to the call up lists, the 3 from domestic clubs, they are: Cristián Villagra(River Plate), Emiliano Papa(Vélez Sarsfield) and Daniel Montenegro(Independiente). Angel Di Maria won't join the squad due an injury on his left foot.
and the first call off is.... *drum roll* Darren Fletcher Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been ruled out of Scotland's friendly at home to Argentina next week. The 24-year-old suffered a knee injury during United's 5-0 victory over Stoke City at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Ugh so what you are really saying is prepare to get pumped. David Clarkson (Motherwell), Chris Iwelumo (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ross McCormack (Cardiff City), James McFadden (Birmingham City), Kenny Miller (Rangers) That is complete shite.
some further call offs. Craig Gordon, this was to be expected. and, Steven Fletcher Kenny Misser so far that makes four - D.Fletcher Gordon S.Fletcher Misser and McCormack and Morrison are doubtful.
the two that were expected to call off have done. so that makes the full list - D.Fletcher (Manchester Utd) C.Gordon (Sunderland) S.Fletcher (Hibernian) K.Miller (Rangers) J.Morrison (WBA) R.McCormack(Cardiff City) Burley has called up Aberdeen's Lee Miller and Dundee Utd's Scott Robertson as replacements. i think Miller deserves a chance, although his goal output has dropped from last season but he always impresses me when i see him. full squad now - Goalkeepers David Marshall (Norwich City), Allan McGregor (Rangers) Defenders Graham Alexander (Burnley), Darren Barr (Falkirk), Christophe Berra (Hearts), Kirk Broadfoot (Rangers), Gary Caldwell (Celtic), Alan Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur), Stephen McManus (Celtic), Jamie McAllister (Bristol City), Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United) Midfielders Scott Brown (Celtic), Kris Commons (Derby County), Barry Ferguson (Rangers), Paul Hartley (Celtic), Shaun Maloney (Celtic), Barry Robson (Celtic), Scott Robertson (Dundee Utd) Forwards David Clarkson (Motherwell), Chris Iwelumo (Wolverhampton Wanderers), James McFadden (Birmingham City), Lee Miller (Aberdeen)
I'd be tempted to go 5 at the back for this one, with Hutton and Robson at wing back. With Caldwell picking up the playmaker(s) in front of 2 centre-halves. And Brown and Hartley providing the energy in midfield, Maloney and Faddy the creativity and Iwelumo as the finisher up front. It's like a (very) poor man's Brazil I actually have no idea how we'll line-up. I imagine McGregor will be between the sticks, back 4 likely to be Hutton-Caldwell-McManus-Naysmith, and Brown, Robson and Faddy will start. I'm not sure if he'd play Ferguson from the start, I assume he might play Hartley. Commons and Maloney might start (probably one of them) and Iwelumo might get a chance to redeem his fat arse.
McGregor in nets. back four from right to left of Hutton, Caldwell, McManus and Naysmith. midfield from right to left of Commons, Brown, Hartley and Robson. Mcfadden playing just off the main striker which i'd imagine would be Iwelumo. i'd rather see Lee Miller or Clarkson get the nod but if that happens then he's leaving Iwelumo out to dry and basically admitting he fecked up against Norway so the big man will be given the chance to redeem himself. i wouldn't start Maloney as he is way off the boil at the minute. i'd be happy for Ferguson to start but i think he'll be wary of him just returning from injury and probably give him 20mins or so in the second half. regardless of who we use and what system we play we'll need everyone on top of their game to get a decent/good result.
Frasermc, are you suggesting starting Robson at the wing? He is a very versatile player, but he is most effective in the middle. I guess with Morrison being injured there is little else to choose from.
yep. Maloney is way off form at the minute so i'd have Commons one side and either Robson or Brown on the other. i'd prefer to have Broony in the middle as he's showing great form for Celtic in a central midfield berth at the minute. Barry can whip in a very good cross ball as he showed on Sunday when he replaced Wilson at half time and played as a left mid/wing back for the entire second half. unless we play a 5-3-2, sorry, 3-5-2 as they always like to tell us , then it'll be between Commons, Robson, Brown and Maloney for the two wider roles in midfield.
And Barry Robson has withdrawn due to a tweaked groin. OK then, where does that leave us? With news reports suggesting Ferguson is set to start, I imagine we will see Broonie and Fergie in the middle accompanied by Commons and Wee Shaun on the wings.