The Middle of the Field

I think our best midfiel would be Mascherano-Cambiasso-Riquelme-Messi(Maxi)

Posted from  Norway

I’m not in favor of a Cambiasso - Masche center…

I would like to see Sorin-Masche-Lucho - Messi

as that center behind Riquelme.
We know that Sorin is a runner and will work defense and offense…
Messi is going to attack and Masche is better defensively.

Cambiasso is great, but Lucho played much better in the scrimmage.

I hate seeing lucho out on the wing, because he’s so good at distributing, that the center is perfect for him.

Our best team (not necessarily best players) is:
Pato
Burdisso - Ayala - Heinze
Messi-Lucho-Masche-Sorin
-Riquelme-
Tevez-Palacio (crespo if we want to play a crossing game)

Posted from  United States

I think it has to differ from match to match. Lets look at Ivory Coast first.

Match against Ivory Coast - Starting line up
————————————————–
———Abbondanzieri——–

Coloccini–Ayala–Heinze–Sorin

Mascherano—Cambiasso
————Riquelme————

Messi———————-Tevez
———–Crespo————

Formation: 4-2-1-2-1

Now if things are going well and we need
to get into a shell, say up 2-0 & 65 mins, take of Messi for Maxi and, push up Cambiasso at
same level as Riquelme and Tevez for Lucho.
Sorin will start moving up more frequently.

———Abbondanzieri——–

Coloccini–Ayala–Heinze–Sorin

———-Mascherano———–

Maxi—Lucho–Riquelme—Cambiasso

———–Crespo/Cruz———

If things are not going good, e.g. trailing or
drawn, then get Sorin upto left flank. Get rid
of Cambiasso and get in Aimar.

———Abbondanzieri——–

Coloccini—–Ayala——Heinze

———-Mascherano———–

Aimar—–Riquelme——-Sorin

Messi———————-Tevez
———–Crespo————

More like 3-1-3-2-1. Offcourse other subs
could be Saviola for Tevez. Lucho for Messi,
and move Aimar behind Crespo etc.

We can discuss the other teams as well. This is considering the type of game IC plays. Striker upfront, fast and speedy game with long ball.

Posted from  United States

I cannot see Messi starting in the World Cup. Thats ok he can build his fitness up through the group games, coming on as a sub.

Maxi Rodriguez is impressive as a winger. I like him but I would choose Lucho over him because he has a great rapport with Riquelme and they can pass the ball around leisurely.

Stupid putting Lucho alongside cambiasso and Mascherano. Needs to be attacking with Riquelme.

Lastly dont mention Scaloni on any of the post’s again.He is one player we won’t be needing FULL STOP.

Posted from  United Kingdom

guys dont be stupid, scaloni was played right back at west ham. he plays A LOT better in midfield, just look at his performances in spain.

Posted from  United Kingdom

The man played reasonable ok in Spain, but when he came to england, we got to see all his weaknesses.

Yeah he played right back for West Ham but Argentina got too much talent in midfield which means he won’t even get a look in,hopefully.

He is a list of all the disadvantages Scaloni has. Feel free to make a list of the positives he brings to the team, should make interesting reading.

1/Hes slow
2/Cannot defend
3/Will get beaten by most wingers unless he hacks them down
4/He likes to attack but I havnt seen him do anything worthy of applause for West Ham
5/I dont like him
6/He was right back for West Ham and was caught out of position many times.
7/Considered West Hams worst player by Premiership fans
8/Useless in midfield,cannot cross

He’s got one advantage and thats all. His stamina.

Posted from  United Kingdom

Argiebargie

Does not quite look like you understand the players and their capabilities.

Lucho is not a defensive mid-fielder, though he has defensive qualities. That what makes him special. See the Porto games and try to understand his role. Same for Cambiasso, he can also distribute balls, though primarily he is a DM. But not like Gattusso or Makele. Mashcerano is more like that. Again see the Inter games to understand his qualities. That’s why both these fits so well in Pekerman’s squad. Well I will not call your ignorance as “Stupid” though. After all we are all fans of Argentina.

However, I completely agree with you on Scaloni. Though your point 5 is not that important. I would not like to see him on the pitch unless all there is no option. I can’t imagine him against Arjen Robben in the Netherlands game.

Posted from  United States

Just to complete the last post…

How Lucho fits with Riquelme. Please watch the Brazil WC qualifier game. It was 3-1. The ideal game that argentina can play, according to Pekerman. Riquelme had an able Lieutenant in Lucho Gonzalez.

Posted from  United States

i can see the linup starting in Perkerman’s selection like that,
GK:
————ABBO———-
DF:
COLO-AYALA-HEIENZ-
———————SORIN
MF:
————MASCHERANO—–
REQULM-CAMBIASSO-(LUCHO or MAXI)
FW:
MESSI———-
—————-CRESPO———
______________________________
Subsitut:
AIMAR
TEVEZ
CRUZ
MILITO
BURDISSO

Posted from  France

Who will win the WC ?????
It’s Hard to say that Argentina has less chances to win this WC compared with Brazil, this is the truth we have to say it, it’s also hard to say that the WC winner will be an European country once the tournament organized in Europe( the hosts Germany- Nederland-Italy-and maybe UK) have great chances to win along with Brazil.
as we see in each WC there is a team which makes a great surprise to reach the semi final ( like Turkey in 2002-Coratia in 98 -Bulgaria 94) - so this time hopefully not be ( Serbia) - then i can say it’s maybe (Czech- Croatia -Sweden and Poland)
Nederland will be surely qualified who will be the second team?
Argentina has to win the first 2 matches NO WAY if they want to qualify

Posted from  France

Agreed 100% with Debasish Dutta Roy.

The midfield should be:

Lucho-Mascherano-Cambiasso
——-Riquelme——–

It will be a 4-3-1-2. Pekerman already said so. Cambiasso and Lucho will obviously support Riquelme in the attack. I think our midfield is perfect this way.

Messi will be fit after a week. He played 15 minutes in the last game ( check out the game clip on youtube) and looked damn fine. He come on as a sub in the second half. Ivory coast players will be pretty tired by then and Messi should explode with his pace.

Lucho offers perfect balance in the midfield. Maxi is a good alternative because he is a deadly winger who can score goal as we saw from his ( very good) season with Atletico Madrid. He also looked great against England and really flashed with brilliant technique ( he volleyed one ball but the ENgland GK stopped it).

I believe that playing Messi will strenghten our offense at the cost of our midfield. Pekerman has to use his options wisely.

Posted from  Canada

I am not going to list my line up but i think it is safe to say that Pekermen will not start the same 11 each game. I think that against Ivory Coast you go a little more defensive, against Serbia focus on controlling the midfield, and netherlands you need complete balance. I think that Messi will be more of a super sub coming in when we need a second half goal. how ever if we have a lead I dont think he will be played because of the risk of reinjury. Go Argenitna

Posted from  United States

There is no risk of “reinjury” for Messi. The injury is over. This is a World Cup. You should use all the options that u have. Messi need to play more time to get into the rythm. There is no injuries worry over him. Same goes for Heinze.

Posted from  Canada

I like Todd Utah’s strategy. We’ll need different guys to contribute during the different games.

Posted from  United States

messi i a good midfielder

he assisted one of palacios goals

and he assisted tevez’s goal against croatia

he is a great player to have on the right wing

there is not a defender he cant embarass

Posted from  Canada

I am not convinced that Messi`s injury is “over”. Pekerman said that Messi`s muscle “had been playing up” recently. So don`t be so naiv and think he is fit yet. I don`t believe in Messi playing a major part in the World Cup. It is really a tragedy. Maybe we should drop him and bring in Aguero. I hate to say this…

Posted from  Norway

How could one say that england have better midfield lineup than argentina?

england ’s midfield player have poor skills !

Posted from  China

nah i think your exaggerating

messi will be fine in time

Posted from  Canada

No body seems to think that Aimar can have a great influece on the Argentine starting line-up. I know he plays the same position as Requelme and Requelme obviously can’t start on the bench. But what about having both Aimar and Requelme starting the game just like when they are a goal or two down. When Argentina is trailing by a or some goal(s) in a game, the coach brings Aimar in (not for Requelme). So they both play in the midfield and the outcome is that:
1.goals get scored;
2.if no goals at least there are great scoring chances;
3.the game becomes much faster and the guys begin to attack strongly; and
4. they win the ball often and thus get more possession of the ball.
I honestly think that with Aimar starting the game we stand a great chance of winning.

MESSI DID NOT PLAY last games of barcelona in order to be 100% for the world cup. There was a little risk to play for Barca, but to avoid risks he did not play. Now I can tell you he’s 100%. He does not need to recover condition, at 18 yeras old you recover the shape quickly.
To finish with the formation, it will be 4 defenders, sorin included.
In the midfield, as said masherano and cambiasso will always play. Then, Lucho or maxi could play with Roman.

But may be we could see Messi instead of lucho or maxi as an attacking winger midfield. It will depend on the pekermann’s strategy:

Masch Cambia
Messi Riquelme
-\/———— /\
Crespo Tevez

mash
Lucho(Maxi) Cambia
Riquelme
——————–
Crespo Tevez

“So don`t be so naiv and think he is fit yet. I don`t believe in Messi playing a major part in the World Cup. It is really a tragedy. Maybe we should drop him and bring in Aguero. I hate to say this… ”

Dude. This is completely retarded. you are an extreme pessimistic, seriously WTF ? Messi is fine and he will play a major role in this World Cup.

If you want to worry about someone worry about Rooney and his broken leg.

Posted from  Canada

Maxi Rodriguez - Mascherano - Cambiasso - ROMAN (GOD).

Cheers

Posted from  Argentina

Ok,lol. Here are the facts: Messi won`t be fit for the opening game. I am not that pessimistic, I am in fact very REALISTIC. You are too optimistic. One could say naiv. He is not fit yet, and I really doubt he will get into match fitness to be a key player after 3 months without a competitive match. Open your eyes, man!
But off course, I would love it if I am wrong on this. But I am just being realistic.

Posted from  Norway

Messi will be in a great shape for the world cup, he could have played for Barcelonna, but perkermann asked to rest him again. Barçà has been kind. But he’s not 100 % YET. But during june he will be 100%.
In fact lots of Arguies will be 100% while opponents who played too much games this year(like Henry, Ronaldinho…) will be tired.
Crespo did not play a lot, Maxi, Messi, Heinze too.

Posted from  France

Is there not any chance that Pekermann is playing mind games with everyone and Messi is fit, fresh and ready to go? Just imagine what he could do if opponents dont think he is fit, he would wipe the floor with them!

Posted from  United Kingdom