Argentine NT: News, Stats & Players [R]

Otamendi earned us 7 points in this qualifier and thats actually worrying. Our forwards & midfielders better starts scoring...

Luckily for us, our rivals has been dropping points all the time aswell. Since Colombia lost, this draw would still make us staying at the top even if Uruguay win.

 

Ottamendi and Pazella are not cut out for the NT. Molina/Montiel were not the strongest on that side today. Otamendi loses another duel inside the box. The defense was autrocious, Ruilli saved them.

Sometimes I question the intelligence of our players. Venzuela played with more purpose. Headers bounced and found their man. Passes were made far better. Argentina kept passing into drenched areas. More than a few passes were being delivered in the middle of the pitch the soggiest area. They kept doing the same attack. On the counter Argentina made bad marking and bad decisions. It was a mistake to take off Almada. The extra defender didn't help.
Our attackers always are scared to shoot.

Balederdi came on and showed some strenght and power.
I like Pezella for river, but he and Otamendi are not national team level.

Nothing more to say, 1-1 draw. boring game. Nothing to take away from this. It should have been an easy 3 points with the 1-0 lead, but our second string defenders are slow.

 

I refuse to seriously analyze this game, it was a joke and shouldn't have even started.

 

Imagine this guy play in that pitch...

 

IMO, its all about 2026

The only argument that I will accept for "anyone but Otamendi" its because in 2026 he will be 38 and super washed up.

And that's what this whole qualifying games should be about; who are in the starting XI, and who are the additional 12 players or 14 players (depending if FIFA allows 23 or 26 men roster) additional players in the '26 squad.

To be honest, I think only Dibu, Romero and maybe Mac Allister are the "for sure" starters in any type of game for the WC.

- Messi will be 39 years old, and will be in so much minute restrictions that it would make Embiid blush (I believe in Joel!! this is our year baby!)

- But I digress, the only other player that has an argument for a "for sure starter" argument in any type of situation is DePaul - after that, its all situational.

This doesn't mean that we don't have enough talent, to the contrary, we have enough good talent that Scaloni can lineup with different strategies depending on the situation (i.e., opponent and fitness). Ergo, Scaloni NEEDS to experiment with different lineups.

Muchachas y muchachos, vamos! if there is a manager/coach that we can all agree, that he/she has enough credits to earn carte blanche to experiment with weird line-ups, its Lionel MOTHERFU#$I#G Scaloni.

Tonight we didn't have Dibu, Romero, or Mac Allister. And we played away on godawful conditions, but at one point Scaloni played 2 RB, 3 CB and a LB? I am totally cool b/c I trust Scaloni.

 

We've officially became Mac-Dibu-Cuti dependent.


Next game we'll see the truth about Messi, i'm starting to feel the moment in which he's no longer good enough to start is approaching.

 

Seems like the players doesnt have that extra motivation when they're playing the away games after recent Copa victory. They've been in autopilot mode in last 2 games. The strategy has been like "lets the situation unfold by itself". The absent of regulars like Dibu, Cuti, Mac and even Nico definetely has an impact.

Against Chile, players were running non stop like its a final. The problem though, players were certainly affected by the heat against Colombia and today they're clearly affected affacted by the swimming pool pitch. Put any European teams in that condition, Colombia and Venezuela probably would have gotten an even better result. So I'd reserve my full judgement until the home game against Bolivia. Hopefully weather is good, no heavy rain or overheating.

As for Messi, I know he's still delivers at MLS but its basically below serie B quality. His passing is still there, he can still shoot well from distance but oddly enough his close range finishing has been bad since 2023. He's been in one vs one situation many times and couldnt put it away.

Scaloni still never change his 85th minute subs policy though. Do you really expecting your subs will always save your ass within the last few minutes every single time?

 

True. Messi still pretty good in 2022-2023, still banging some goals in qualifier and friendlies, but he's been average at best in Copa and poor after Copa.

 

We have to allow Scaloni to cook, He has two years to find a new team. He's been adding youth since September.

 

Scaloni is not cooking. He’s throwing instant ramen in the microwave. Honestly, we’ve had too much lackluster matches with him in recent memory and this includes the CA.

He needs to shape up and do so fast. I still do not get why he is so reluctant to make the proper adjustments. Most of the fanbase sees it.

BTW- Bolivia is coming in to play for a draw. They’ll love 4 points in these 2 rounds. So, we will need to break them down as they will sit back with the entire team.

And we’ve got some more forgiving matches coming up in November. Make the proper changes.

 

We won CA despite performing nowhere near the 2020-2022 level. Like has been mentioned, Cuti , Licha , Dibu & even Tagliafico has been crucial as we conceided just once the whole tournament. We're still great in 2023 but since begining of this year, the players are not as combative as they used too. It cant be just due to age because since most of them are 23-30 aside from the two seniors.

The Chile game might be an exception, maybe because they're celebrating the CA at home & its also ADM farewell ceremony. This is why introducing youth players is important cause they eager to proof their worth. Julian seems to be burned out and havent look quite the same since the WC. Sure he's still score few goals in Copa, had goal & assist against Chile but compare to his WC form? not even close. Enzo is another one who looked jaded in all recent games.

We need to get at least 7 points at minimum from remaining 2024 matches. I know there's no trophy at stake but I want us to finish at the top. Last time was in 2002... ok in 2014 but Brazil wasnt there so its not the same.

 

He really didnt do anything with the youth. He brought Garnacho and Carboni to Copa and they played a single game. I can understand if he wants to wait till Copa is over, but its now over and we won that thing, yet its still the usual suspects who started in all 3 games since then.

Also, all these injuries are suspicious. You cant tell me Dybala, Garnacho and Carboni all injured at the same time just in time for qualifier games.

 

Messi was injured in Copa. After Copa, yesterday is his only Argentina game. In a pool. Let him play a few more games before going in with the pitchforks.

Enzo, Julian and our fullbacks is a much bigger problem IMO. And we desperately need some more pace going forward.

 

Messi is doing this more often every match. This doesn't achieve anything. Do you actions on the field dude during the game.

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Sure, I understand its his first game with NT since that injury and in very bad pitch but he's not exactly in top form during Copa. He missed out multiple sitters. That one clear chance he got today, its very bad finishing regardless the pitch condition. I noticed somehow he becoming more nervous in 1 vs 1 situation and its pretty noticable.

Also, Messi wont even chase opponent even if the guy is only few inches away. I agree that Julian and Enzo along with Molina are showing little speed in past few matches. Julian and Molina in particular were really fast in 2022 yet Tagliafico somehow look faster than Molina against Venezuela...

 

No injuries, terrible pitch, dictator president, cat 5 hurricane. Conmebol is run by uneducated fools.
All things considered, everything turned out fine. Back to Argentina

 

ohhh damn. That kid was just starting to blow up,. This will set him back a long time. Sad.

 

Granted, it all depends on the severity but I think he’s done for the year. Rushing back from these things is never a good idea. Neymar has been out a year from the injury.

Get well, pibe.

 

Yeah, the worst possible timing for him. It'll set back his career for a long while: this season is over for him. Next summer Inter will most likely loan him again, so he'll have to fight for minutes again at yet another club.

To be honest, this basically ends his hopes to make the WC. While he's out competitors like Soule or Buonanotte will be getting a lot of playing time and experience.

 

He could come back stronger in the next season and be included in the team in the final year

First reports were 9 months, but now it's 6 months. So full recovery by May, June.

 

Better to take the longest estimation with this type of injury. WC still 20 months away, even a 9 months rest means he'd still have almost an entire season to play.

 

Can't comment too much on the game, the pitch condition was terrible.

Pezzella and Otamendi need to retire internationally. Balerdi is there. So is Senesi and Medina to take over as well.

It's been said before, but Scaloni really should have done better in terms of squad selection. With Nico G. and Garnacho injured, Thiago Fernandez could have been called up and see how he does. Maffeo is doing well in Spain while Montiel is not playing at all and Molina still not in good club form. Castellanos should have been called up. Buonanotte, Nico Paz, Carboni are all similar style of players especially with Messi in the squad. Not sure if we needed all of them in the squad.

Seems like both Lisandro and MacA are injured/having physical problems. Vs Bolivia, I would go with this lineup.

-----------------Alvarez-------Messi
Lo Celso-------Enzo------Paredes-------RDP
Tagliafico-----Balerdi------Romero------Molina
--------------------------Rulli

Subs: Soler, Montiel, Palacios, Almada, Martinez

Let's get 9 points for the rest of 2024. That should be more than good enough to clench WC qualification.

 

Comments from Mundo Albiceleste about Carboni's injury:

Thoughts? Also do you think maybe it's time fitness and preparatiion was probably looked at better in Argentina? I read that Dezerby said Carboni wasn't fit or ready to play in Marseille, which is why he didn't start. He was only starting to get back into form.