Argentine NT: News, Stats & Players [R]

People are jumping on the backs of quite a few of our youngsters. They need to remember at this age consistency of performance is quite variable. The talent doesn't change. It's more of a question of players adjusting, learning particularly as today with teams having reams of data about how players operate how to change their game and improve their decision making. And also coping with how teams will also try and rough up pibes like Echeverri. He's got to learn to take that and if necessary respond in kind. Mastantuono for instance doesn't back away from the physical side of things.

If they do that and are progressing (it does help of course if they are playing regularly which some are not) that's what we need to be looking for. Not expecting 19-21 year olds to suddenly seize the footballing world by storm.

The likes of Garnacho for instance has plenty to work on but he's been showing an upward trend in his stats. I'd be concerned if he wasn't progressing.

I'd also be concerned with some players as they have had very little in terms of breaks. It's a pertinent issues and long term fatigue especially after coming off an injury can affect performances too if the mind is willing but the body is unable too. Julian for instance and Lautaro with the sort of games they play.

FIFA and conehead have shown themselves to be the utter clowns they are in handing Emi his ban. In a way it's a blessing so we can see our number two step up and perform. Currently could be any of Musso, Benitez or Gazzaniga. I'd go with Musso.

Pleased with how both Paz and Perrone are doing. Paz did waste a year sadly but his talent is more than evident and Perrone just does what Perrone does. Breaking up play and acting as the midfield maestro in distributing the ball and being available for it as well.

Palacios unfortunately seems to be on the bench for Leverkusen. He was hardly used during the Copa and has hardly played at all in the early stages of the Bundesliga. Maybe he is carrying a niggle but hopefully he can force his way into the first team again.

 

Injured before Copa America Didn't play because he was injured. He is coming off surgery 4 weeks ago, has been on the bench because he's healing. It's nothing to do with performance. Basically out of comission since June. He was subbed in late during the leveruksen vs bayern

 

Cheers mate. Didn't realize he had surgery. That's a blessed relief. I was wondering why he wasn't playing given he was so integral to them last season.

 

Subbed in today for the last 10 mins against Milan too

 

Lautaro finally being rested. He started from the bench in CL and scored few minutes later.

Benfica vs Atletico Madrid should be interesting, so many Argentines.

 

Paz gets called up!

#SelecciónMayor Lista de convocados 🇦🇷 para los próximos encuentros ante Venezuela y Bolivia, correspondientes a la Fecha FIFA de Eliminatorias. pic.twitter.com/4XKJJ5BRX0

— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) October 2, 2024

Further proof that Scaloni reads this forum!

Dybala is back in the mix.
The midfield remains unchanged. No Equi, Varela.
Balerdi is called up again.
Soulé is dropped.
Almada is back.
The fullbacks could be a problem.

Nothing too drastic but I am glad Paz got a call-up.

But I swear, Pezzella and Otamendi are the bane of my existence.

 

I think Ayala and Samuel are doing their due dilligence to eventually suggest to Scaloni a better list of players. It's easier to find attackers from mid to front than it is to find matured defenders who won't get turned inside out.

Twitter everyone is shouting Barco, but that guy is 19 and gets turned inside out easier than a pancake. He's good but not NT good yet.

 

Varela should be in this squad instead of Paredes.

Other than that, no complaints.

 

I just realized the guy has been a member of all of our recent championships. I believe there was once a time that he contemplated to play with Mexico. Talk about having a trajectory that would've been wayyyyyyyyyy different.

Hopefully the next to go is Pezzella. I mean, seriously? Scaloni surely would not take a 35 year old Pezzella and a 38 year-old Otamendi to the World Cup, right? He needs to smarten up.

And Varela being left out continues to be a head-scratcher. I know he has a very good rapport with Leandro but come on... Is he worried that he may be too god and he'll have to change up the midfield?

 

ahhhh fudge. Nicola Gonzalez has been subbed off due to injury. Just a few days before the WC qualifiers . . . great.

 

Damn it! Why!?!??!?!?!

 

Di Maria still doing well even in CL, maybe he should untire for a while.

Mac scores in CL today while Emi is having a great game as Villa beat Bayern.

 

Two goals for Messi so far tonight, including a great free kick

Jordi Alba 🔗 Leo Messi@InterMiamiCF have the lead! pic.twitter.com/GQMsIdXk7k

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 3, 2024

MESSIIIIIIIIII!!!

Messi magic again to get his brace. 🪄 pic.twitter.com/tqT4Md1ydO

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 3, 2024

 

How come he only scores a few penalties there? Cry7ng has scored like 50 of it. I suppose there's a different penalty rule in the desert...

 

Miami clinches the Supporter's Shield (most points accumulated) with the win tonight. Yet another title for Messi.

 

Whats' the difference with MLS title?

Nevertheless, Messi now has won multiple titltes in all 4 different teams he played (Argentina, Barcelona, PSG , Miami). 9 titles since leaving Barcelona.

 

Splitting players at that age 😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/sKHyrq9Tdl

— Messi Media (@LeoMessiMedia) October 3, 2024

 

There is a playoff system in the MLS. And I believe it’s by conference as well. Just think of the NBA or the NHL(President’s Trophy).

 

For the squad for the October games.

- At this point, I don't expect to see Senesi, Medina, Maffeo, Varela, Equi Fernandez. Shame that Castellanos was dropped.

- I don't know what is the point of calling up Otamendi, Pezzella, Acuna. Good thing that Guido was dropped though.

- Sad that Soule and Barco got dropped as we would need to prep for the future.

- Happy to see Nico Paz called up as he's been in good form for Como.

We'll probably see a lineup like this vs Venezuela

--------------Alvarez----Messi
Lo Celso----MacA----Enzo------RDP
Tagli-----Lisandro----Otamendi---Molina
-------------------Rulli

 

Because it's an American system, the playoff trophy, MLS Cup, is considered the "true" championship trophy. Supporter's Shield was created after the fact due to pressure from the fans to give some kind of trophy to the team that gets the most points during the regular season. The distinction sort of makes sense because of the unbalanced schedule (not everyone plays the same teams the same number of times because of the separate Western and Eastern conferences), you can't really call the team that finishes with the most points the champion.

 

Speaking of GK, Emi played against Neuer today and while Emi did some of his classic saves , Neuer emulated his classic sweeping fail against Korea

 

Speaking of a player of that age... Angelito already has 19 goals + 12 assists since rejoining Benfica... and he's just rejoined them a year ago.

 

I see no point in it all. We know what they have done & they won't be in prime condition for 2026. It's only 21 months away which seems a while but it will be quicker than we all expect.

Scaloni really needs to wake up. The midfield core is pretty settled along with Romero & Emi and upfront. The critical area is who supplies the creativity & preferably it will be Mac + 1 other and down the flanks.

He Lionel has to really overhaul the wingbacks and find another central defensive partner for Romero & see what the likes of Senesi & Medina are all about. Otamendi is on the decline & even nearly messed it up in the WC final. Barco still needs to learn his role but the likes of Soler & Maffeo should be there. Dropping Soule ? Not a great way to manage a pibe. Varela still not considered.

Will he be considered if he gets his move to Liverpool as they are still very much interested in him ? I'd even call up Anselmino & Mastantuono just to get them in & around the first team squad. It's a pretty poor selection for me given the point in the cycle we are at. If we didn't qualify for the Mundial given where we are right now I'd be shocked. Really shocked. He has to get these players and see how they do in proper competitive matches not a few friendlies before the next Mundial.

 

If Nico Gonzalez is hurt and can't go, who's the replacement?

Angel Correa does not offer what Nico G does, but Angel is always an able body imo.