River Plate: El MAS GRANDE de la HISTORIA (Match Thread / General Discussion)

Discussion in 'River Plate' started by locoxriver, Jan 19, 2019.

  1. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
  2. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    The draw for the new Argentine season just took place, and we’ve been placed in “Zone A” along with San Lorenzo and Racing:

    Zona A: Aldosivi, Argentinos, Arsenal, Banfield, Central Córdoba, Colón, Estudiantes, Godoy Cruz, Platense, Racing, River, Rosario Central y San Lorenzo.

    Zona B: Atlético Tucumán, Boca, Defensa y Justicia, Gimnasia, Huracán, Independiente, Lanús, Newell's, Patronato, Sarmiento, Talleres, Unión y Velez​

    The first round of this tournament will be round-robin style, meaning we’ll face each of our groupmates once, as well as one inter-zonal match vs Boca in the middle (game 5; March 14th)

    The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals of the knockout portion of the cup, which will be composed of single-game series throughout (neutral venues).

    -----

    Edit: Full schedule

    [​IMG]
     
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  3. megamac20817

    megamac20817 Member+

    Jul 9, 2005
    Buenos Aires
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Ah, I see AFA continues to butcher Argentina's league system to the point of absurdity. What a horrifying mess of improvisation piled on top of incompetence. The worst part is that I can't even see the prospect of improvement on the horizon, there are so many votes tied down to the lower leagues that "making the 1st division as large and unwieldy as possible" will always have majority support.

    At this point I'd appreciate a return to the classic Apertura/Clausura format if they're not going to give us a European-style 20-team, 38-match season.
     
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  4. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    I was pleasantly surprised by Maidana’s form yesterday vs Boca. The guy still has it! Rojas and Diaz could learn a thing or two from him...

    Makes you wonder what would have happened vs Flamengo and Palmeiras had Jony been there, but it is what it is
     
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  5. Ron Mexico

    Ron Mexico Member+

    Jun 27, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    For sure. Glad he's still a solid option at CB and that age has not been a major setback.

    Once again Armani showing why he is the best keeper in the country. Nico also played a great game almost scoring the game winner and created the goal for Palavecino. I'm kind of frustrated with how inconsistent Borre is at times. Dude can be brilliant and then there's games like this were he didn't create much of anything.
     
  6. balazsriver10

    balazsriver10 Member

    May 23, 2013
    Debrecen
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Hungary
    My new jersey ♥️

    Best wishes from Hungary IMG_20210409_072101.jpg
     
  7. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    The Libertadores groups were drawn today. Looks like we're in for some interesting games...

    In Brazil they're already talking about this being the group of death

    [​IMG]

    Breaking down our rivals:

    - Fluminense: The Brazilians finished 5th in the 2020 Brasileirao (18-10-10 record), which concluded a little over a month ago. In the ongoing Campeonato Carioca (Rio de Janeiro's state tournament), they are ranked 4th with just 3 games left in the first stage -- high enough to give them a qualifying spot in the knockout stage of the competition.

    Flu is coming off a 4-0 win on Tuesday and also beat Flamengo 1-0 a few weeks ago, but their first two games of the Campeonato Carioca brought some questionable results, as they lost to minnows like Resende and Portuguesa.

    Players to watch:

    - Former Brazil international Fred currently leads Fluminense's attack. The 37-year-old has finished as the top-scorer of the Brazilian league on three occasions and is currently ranked 4th in the list of all-time scorers in the Brasileirao -- just 3 away from the legendary Romario.

    This last season (2020/21) was his driest on record for Fluminense (just 5 goals in 24 games), although he seems to have gotten off to a good start in the Carioca, scoring 3 goals in just 165 minutes played.

    - Left-back Egídio Pereira Júnior finished in the top 5 list for assists in the last Brasileirao, even though he often alternated as a starter and a sub throughout the season.

    - Other players to keep an eye on include Kayky (wonderkid who already agreed a move to Manchester City), Marcos Paulo (20-year-old forward who plays for the Portuguese youth NTs), and possibly 18-year-old Miguel Silveira, a prospect that has been promising for years but hasn't yet had his breakout moment. Former Brazil international Ganso is also part of the squad, although he seems to spend most of his time on the bench nowadays.​

    Maybe @ElMuneco could provide a little more insight into the squad?

    Interestingly enough, we have never played Fluminense officially in our 119-year history, although there are 4 friendly matches on record (1 win, 1 loss, 2 draws) -- the most recent having been played 40 years ago.

    ------

    - Independiente de Santa Fe: A regular rival of ours in recent years, this will be the 5th time we face the Colombian side during the Gallardo era. The most recent match was a 0-0 Copa Libertadores Group D closing match in 2018 (we were already qualified to knockouts), although we had also beaten them 1-0 in Colombia earlier in the group.

    Of course the best memory the Bogotá side brings is our face-off in 2016 for the Recopa Sudamericana title, which became Gallardo's 5th trophy as River's coach

    [​IMG]



    Overall the two sides have come face-to-face officially 6 times, with the Colombians failing to register any wins so far..

    Santa Fe are coming off a good 2020/21 season, topping the regular annual league's standings and then making it to the final of the knockout portion (they lost 3-2 on aggregate to America de Cali, despite winning the second leg 2-0)

    In the current 2021 Primera Division season (Liga BetPlay), they are ranked second -- only one point behind Atletico Nacional. Their most recent match finished 3-0 in their favor vs. Alianza Petrolera.

    Players to watch:

    - Kelvin Osorio is the team's current top-scorer this season with 6 goals, ranking third in the list of scorers in the league. The 27-year-old midfielder traditionally served a more conservative role, but he seems to be fundamental to Santa Fe's attack nowadays.

    - Jorge Luis Ramos hold the team's #9 jersey and was their top-scorer in 2020, although this year he has gotten off to a rough start (just 2 goals in 15 games)

    - Former America de Cali midfielder and recent reinforcement Jhon Arias could play an important role in Santa Fe's offense with his speed and technique..

    - 27-year-old defender Jeison Palacios was chosen in the league's most recent ideal eleven and has been fundamental to the club's defense, which currently has the least amount of goals conceded in Colombia.

    - If any of you ever played Football Manager (looking at you @megamac20817 ), Sherman Cardenas is part of their current squad... talk about a blast from the past.

    They did, however, lose Fabian Sambueza (Rubens' younger brother) at the beginning of the year. The Argentine midfielder had been fundamental to their attack and was even chosen in the 2020 Primera Division team of the year, alongside Palavecino.

    An interesting thing to note is that they have quite some experience in the back, with their starting line-up regularly featuring veterans like GK Leandro Castellanos (37), RB Carlos Arboleda (34), and CB Fáiner Torijano (32). They also have a 40-year-old DMF (Andres Perez) who gets regular playing time.

    ------

    - Bolivar / Junior: The final rival of the group has yet to be decided, as Bolivar and Junior must still play the second-leg of their preliminary match-up on Thursday. The Bolivians won 2-1 in the first leg, so for the moment we'd be having a dreaded trip to La Paz in our schedule... however, given that the second leg between these two sides takes place in Barranquilla, I wouldn't rule the Colombians out just yet -- especially since they managed to clinch an important away goal in the first game.


    BOLIVAR -- The 2021 season just began recently in Bolivia, but in the 2020 table Bolivar finished 3rd with 49 points -- just 2 less than champions Always Ready. Argentine forward Marcos Riquelme finished as the league's top-scorer with an impressive 20 goals in 22 games, although he departed to Peru to join Sporting Cristal at the beginning of the year. Similarly, they lost their historic winger Juan Carlos Arce in January on a transfer.

    A peculiar note about Bolivar is that their squad includes an Albanian forward (Armando Sadiku) and three Spanish players (Alvaro Rey, Alex Granell, and Alberto Guitian). The Spanish connection is due to the club being ran by prominent businessman Marcelo Claure, who also owns stakes of Girona and was also responsible for the arrival of Spanish coach Natxo González to manage the team.

    Additionally, Bolivar is historically the main provider of talent to the Bolivian NT, with the most recent round of call-ups including 8 current Bolivar players.

    Worth noting: we have never been able to beat Bolivar in La Paz. In total, we recorded 2 draws and one heavy loss (4-1 back in 1981), although our 3 matches at home all ended in wins with clean sheets.

    JUNIOR -- Junior are the latest champions of the Superliga Colombiana (practically the Colombian Supercup), having defeated America de Cali in the 2020 final.

    In the 2021 Primera Division season, they are ranked 5th -- 3 points away from league-leaders Atletico Nacional.

    Their squad includes Miguel Borja (2016 South American player of the year), who finished as the top-scorer of the Colombian league in 2020, and Teo Gutierrez. Former Uruguayan international and ex-Villarreal goalkeeper Sebastian Viera guards their goal and was chosen as the best GK of the Colombian 2020 season.

    Junior has never been able to beat us, tallying 3 losses and 1 draw between our 4 Libertadores match-ups. The most recent encounter (back in 2005) finished 2-1 in our favor, with the winning goal being scored by none other than Marcelo Gallardo:


    Would you guys rather face Bolivar or Junior? Junior seems to have the more talented squad, although we all know La Paz's elevation is a huge pain in the ass..
     
  8. Ron Mexico

    Ron Mexico Member+

    Jun 27, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    I would rather face Bolivar. Bolivian sides have sucked ass away from their altitude advantage. Jorge Wilsterman being an exaggerated example.

    but this group is going to suuuuuck for us. Tough draw
     
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  9. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Remember Juanito Cazares, the young Ecuadorian from our youth divisions who later shined in Almeyda's Banfield before moving to Brazil? Looks like Fluminense just signed him from Corinthians and, as a result, we'll be facing him in the Libertadores...

    Forward Raul Bobadilla, another River youth product, also agreed his arrival to the Brazilian side today..
     
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  10. La Banda

    La Banda New Member

    River Plate
    Turkey
    Apr 20, 2021
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  11. La Banda

    La Banda New Member

    River Plate
    Turkey
    Apr 20, 2021
  12. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    What does Borre have to do to be benched? Dude has been ass for the longest
     
  13. Ron Mexico

    Ron Mexico Member+

    Jun 27, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    Gallardo is very patient with him that’s for sure.
     
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  14. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Don't even get me started with Carrascal..... but atleast Jorge is usually a sub that comes in later in the game.

    But jesus christ, Borre is treated like he's Ronaldo Nazario. It's incredible that Gallardo backs him so much, when other players have a slight dip and they immediately lose their spot. I think it'd do him good to be a sub and work his way back into the team, but I guess Gallardo appreciates him turning down the Gremio and Palmeiras offers... probably thinks if he treats him as the star of the team maybe he'll extend his contract.
     
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  15. Ron Mexico

    Ron Mexico Member+

    Jun 27, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    I think maybe Borre’s best performances occurred with Quintero on the field. Perhaps Muñeco is misremembering the wrong Colombian. Lol
     
  16. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Unbelievable... 10 positive COVID cases within the roster the day before the Superclasico, including De La Cruz, Borre, Girotti, and Paulo Diaz. o_O

    DLC is the biggest loss, in my opinion. He has been our best creative midfielder for the past year and his hustle is extremely important to the team.

    It will also be interesting to see how we form up top without Borre and Girotti. I'm assuming Beltran will accompany Suarez, although Fontana did go as a starter over Lucas the other day for the Libertadores so who knows. Fontana seems waaaaay below River's standards and shouldn't be anywhere near our starting line-up, let alone in a Superclasico, but the stars may have just aligned for him.

    It's a shame the Colombian Londoño Bedoya is ineligible to play in the domestic tournament this season (he's only registered for the Libertadores at the moment), because this would have been an incredible opportunity to at least take him to the bench.

    Anyway it is what it is, and it'll add an extra level of spice if we eliminate the bosteros with nearly half our roster unavailable... just hoping this doesn't have a toll on us in the upcoming, decisive Libertadores group games, although if Fluminense beats Junior we should be fine.

    Edit: Jesus christ.... now Armani, Matias Suarez, and Palavecino are presenting symptoms too (tests are pending).. now it's a completely different story.
     
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  17. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Well 5 more cases were officially confirmed: Franco Armani, Matías Suárez, Agustín Palavecino, Benjamín Rollheiser, and Santiago Simón

    15 players out in total...

    Looks like we're ********ed in the copa... besides missing our main weapons (Suarez, DLC, Borre, Palavecino, etc.), we'll literally have to play vs. Santa Fe and Fluminense with an outfield player as keeper since all 4 of our registered GKs are infected. At least vs. Boca we'll have Alan Diaz, who despite being far from ready to play such a match (he hasn't even debuted in the reserves team yet), at least is a natural GK..

    Just the thought of Fred and Kayky taking shots with, say, Casco in goal is terrifying...
     
  18. Ron Mexico

    Ron Mexico Member+

    Jun 27, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    This is a clusterfvck
     
  19. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Lol we’re missing 15 players and they still need help from the referee... in-********ing-credible
     
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  20. balazsriver10

    balazsriver10 Member

    May 23, 2013
    Debrecen
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Hungary
    Disgusting...
     
  21. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Proud of the team... how disgusting it must be to be a bostero and see your team playing at home with all their starters and the ref on your side vs. a bunch of reserve players and still get outplayed.

    Like Comizzo said...

     
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  22. Ron Mexico

    Ron Mexico Member+

    Jun 27, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    After all those eliminations and humiliations in recent tournaments, it took a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic for them to beat us...

    in goddamn penalties.

    :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
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  23. Ron Mexico

    Ron Mexico Member+

    Jun 27, 2004
    Chicago
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    1394060034129240064 is not a valid tweet id


    I mean look at these scrubs. This is something to be proud of??
     
  24. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    ... and with an illicit goal. Without that little help from the ref they wouldn't have even been able to take it to penalties. It would have been a straight knockout for Boca as usual
     
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  25. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    6 more cases: Montiel, Ponzio, Vigo, Beltran, Londoño Bedoya, and Tomas Galvan :eek:

    That’s now 22 unavailable players (21 with covid + Enzo Perez who got injured vs Boca and is now out).... River may literally not have enough available players to field a full starting line-up in the last two group games of the Libertadores

    Pablo Caceres, of our reserves team, has also been infected but was ineligible to play in the copa to begin with.

    As of now, we only have ten players to choose from vs Santa Fe, and that includes no goalkeeper. To top it off, 2 of those 10 players haven’t even made their professional debuts.

    The full available roster:

    Casco
    Maidana
    David Martínez
    Lecande
    Angileri
    Carrascal
    Peña Biafore
    Paradela
    Julian Alvarez
    Fontana

    o_O

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    [​IMG]
     

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