BREAKING NEWS: Diego Maradona Appointed As New Head Coach of Argentina

ME FIRST!!!

Good thing he can still enter the UK. We’ll see you (and Maradona) at Hampden.

Good lord! How embarrassing.

“One other detail revealed tonight worth noting: due to his past run-ins involving drugs, all proposed friendlies in the United States or Australia have been suspended, as Diego is prohibited from entering either country.”

We’re about to be coached by a fucking criminal.

Mauro, there’s no other criminial I would pick than Diego.

I’m 50/50 on this. Diego seems to have completely turned his life around lately and he’s always wanted the National Team job. That and he won’t take shit from anyone in the AFA. The other half of me says he has little to no experience in coaching.

According to the info I have:
Diego Maradona, Carlos Bilardo, Pedro Troglio, Julio Olarticoechea and Héctor Enrique would form the coaching team.
Fernando Signorini (trainer), “Profe” Divos (trainer) .
Sergio Batista and José Luis Brown would keep working with the young teams.

5 coaches for the NT. One of them Maradona and another one Bilardo.
Oh boy… qué vergüenza !!!

WTF?!!!!!!!

Don’t get me wrong, I will always support Argentina no matter what, but I think Grondona is the drug addict here. Hey Grondona, you smokin’ a bit of the ganja?

Well Arg10, Maradona will not be alone in the position so someone will have to take in the rear. Who’s going to compromise their ideals? Troglio?

C’mon, this is ridiculous. Grondona has his sacrificial lamb. All the criticism will go towards Maradona and after we are eliminated from the upcoming World Cup, he will get the boot and Grondona will get to stay and continue to waste generations of players.

looks like afa are going for it all in 2010 risking yes if it works WORLD CUP GLORY now more then ever do these players have a fire under there asses

I think it’s quite good that friendlies won’t be played in either the US or Australia, the boys will have less travelling to do!

They could have just kept Bilardo as coach and Maradona as assistant coach..Bilardo could be ruthless and maradona will have a different way of working..so it doesn’t work well..

Good grief. I still don’t know what to say.

Maradona will take over in February after the scotland friendly. Just wait and see what happens.

Mauro is right. Grondona is a bastard. If this ‘experiment’ fails (and how could it not) he has Maradona to blame. If it works, who was the genius who put this together he will ask?

Oh boy… qué vergüenza !!!

You encapsulated it Albo. The Argentina public know football. If they feel misgivings about it who else won’t.

Such a large staff leads to muddled thinking , factions, friction and no clear vision.

Ist better to have one coach with an assistant to communicate his ideas and a small select staff of specialists ie physios, pyschologists a defensive coach and goalkeeping etc.

This is not an excuse for having a cafe meeting evrery few months. Does tis mean Aguero is guaranteed his starting spot in perpetuity too ?

Madness. Poor Bianchi and Diaz and Russo and Simeone too. Even Batigol. Now was the time to bring in a wise head and blood someone younger under him to carry on the sucession.

No wonder Tocalli left this shambles of an organization. Pity there is not a Pichot like figure as in the rugby to sort things out and take Grondona out.

Let’s face facts, the players all love him, will play out of their skins for him. We should think positive, i don’t think it’s a bad move by the AFA.

Well there’s only one judge of that daystar time. Come September 2010.

Personally I think its a horlicks of a decision a complete mess. No surprise considering the hand of him and his friends are involved.

Saludos.

They’ll love him and play positive at first, but if there is no direction to the project, they’ll become confused.

Maradona also stated that he will be the only person in charge to select who plays for the national team: “I will choose the team, I will be the only one to do so. Of course I will be listening to Carlos (Bilardo) in everything, because you can’t avoid listening to a man who knows so much,” he added.

The players might love him, but people’s demons don’t just get up and leave when they are in their late 40s. I just can’t see this working out, and that makes me very sad.

will this mean riquelme out..aimar in..

Maradona’s numbers as coach:

He shared the role with Carlos Fren (an ex-player from Diego’s Argentinos days) at the head of Mandiyú de Corrientes, a second division side. They earned 4 points out of 12 possible and then both resigned.

His 2nd stint, he and Fren again took the reins at Racing Club. 2 wins, 6 draws and 3 losses while with Racing. They left after 11 dismal matches and a lot of hoopla.

Overall numbers as coach. 3 wins(!!!), 12 draws and 8 losses.

The expectations will be sky high that it might drive Diego back to drugs..

The one good thing about this is that Blatter must be going:
“Oh God, what’s coming to us…”

Remember in Germany? Blatter asked him to come and take part in the opening ceremonies and Diego commited himself to be there?
He was announced to the public and didn’t show up.
But the best part is the explanation he had for it:
“I came here to Germany to see La Selección, not Blatter”

That’s our coach…

The only logical explenation i can come up with regarding Grandonas decision for this is that Maradona is willing to work for free. Grandona is most likely keeping the head coach salary for himself. Which btw is over 1 million dolars a year.

Apparently an Olympic Gold Medal (Batista), a Primera and Copa Libertadores titles (Russo and Bianchi), and a World Cup (Bilardo) doesn’t count for anything these days.

Seriously, I can’t find anyone out there who is happy with this decision.

He was announced to the public and didn’t show up.
But the best part is the explanation he had for it:
“I came here to Germany to see La Selección, not Blatter”

Tha was funny. He does have a core of values to be fair ie when FIFA manipulated the vote so that the media whore Pele could win and Diego stalked out.

But I can’t say I’m happy seeig him on the bench. The pressure might cause him to implode again. He would be fine as a motivator but tactics wise if he does not listen to Bilardo. And Troglio ?

When you let men of the calibre of Bianchi, Diaz et al through your fingers and press ahead with an emotional decision and not a rational one , it usually ends in tears.

Bet Maxi will be in shock as he strides home from Chaban Delmas.

Christian, Carlos Bianchi won the intercontinental cup with Velez Sarsfield beating AC MIlan.
Later on he won the intercontinental cup with Boca, beating Real Madrid.
Not done yet
Then he went and won another intercontinental cup with Boca, beating AC Milan, for the second time and with two different teams!!!!
Do you know a coach with better numbers than those?

“Do you know a coach with better numbers than those?”

Apparently Grondona does…

Brilliant, DEAD ON article from the LA Times:

The word out of Buenos Aires on Tuesday afternoon was that Argentina had selected Diego Armando Maradona to be its new national coach.

If true — and there was no reason not to believe the early reports by cable television station Todo Noticias and the website of the respected newspaper Clarin — Maradona would certainly set some soccer firsts.

He would, for instance, in all likelihood be the first national team coach to have fired a gun at reporters.

He would be the first national team coach to have been tossed out of a World Cup for failing a drug test.

He would be the first, at least from Argentina, to have regularly lambasted the foreign policy of the United States while fawning over Cuba’s Fidel Castro.

He would be the first to have blatantly cheated at a World Cup by illegally using his hand and afterward claiming it was “the Hand of God.”

He would be the first, or at least the first from Argentina, to have been pursued by Italian tax authorities for not meeting his obligations in that sphere, not to mention fathering a child by a women other than his wife while he was in Italy.

And he would be the first Argentina coach to have his son-in-law, Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero, as one of his starting players.

If true, it is an astonishingly foolish move by Julio Grondona, the president of Argentina’s soccer federation. In fact, it smacks more of an attempt by Grondona to win some popular support among Argentina’s fans …

than it does of a well-thought-out move for the good of the national team.

According to Todo Noticias and Clarin, Maradona will have Carlos Bilardo at his side to hold his pudgy hand and steer him along the way. Bilardo was Argentina’s coach in 1986, when Maradona and company won the World Cup in Mexico.

That, of course, was before the Maradona downward spiral that saw one of the world’s most accomplished players ruin his reputation through cocaine and alcohol abuse.

He is not the first to do that by a long shot, but the others were not elevated to a position in charge of one of the world’s finest national teams. George Best had drinking problems but never coached Northern Ireland. Gerd Mueller had drinking problems but never coached Germany.

Seven years ago, Germany named Christoph Daum as its national coach only to discover that Daum had used cocaine. The job offer was quickly withdrawn.

Argentina, it appears, does not operate by the same moral standards.

How long this marriage will last is debatable, but it certainly makes things interesting for the South Africa 2010 World Cup.

Great article. Any odds out there yet on how long Diego will last?

its a circus!!!

what a waste of such a talented generation

grondona just wants more media

another factor people dont realize….FIFA is corrupt…fifa hates maradona
you can guess the rest…lets just say refs will make some interesting calls when we play

although i was skeptical about maradona being the right coach for argentina, i think he deserves a chance. he has won the world cup before and knows what it’s like and what must be done to achieve this. im sure with his technical staff, he can build an amzazing team and inspire them for glory. acctualy i think this could be great if it works out, if not then move on to the next coach.

people people that thing between ur ears is nown as a brain use it…..
maradona is player motavator figure head public face HE AINT THE MANAGER get a grip this sounds s genius idea

wow… The only reason I’m not more devastated is b/c how much worse can we possibly be? just wow. Like you all, I don’t endorse this one bit.

The key here is how much of an influence Bilardo will play in terms of tactical selection. He will have a voice and I know he said that he’s the GM of sorts and Maradona will make the tactical decisions, sort of like how a NBA club is run by the GM and coach. However, taking the NBA example, the GM by way of player selection, etc… can shape the overall philosophy of the team and it’s the coach’s job to impart and implement that vision. If that is the case here, in some ridiculous twilight zone / fantasy stuff, this could work. Here’s why:

Bilardo plays 3-5-2. That’s his formation, brilliant tactician, great at set pieces (both attacking and defending), and most of all, gives proper defensive structure. Yes, his attacking football was centered around one man and without him, we suffered, but as a whole, there is much more talent in the Argentina system than there was in 86/90. Moreover, he will really help Messi as he’s great with players who like to cut in from the outside.

As far for the rest of the guys, I have no idea about them. Goycachea + Batistuta if they are brought on will be nice, but it doesn’t look like Batista + Brown are going to come on board.

Maradona, if he is more caretaker and motivator and less tactican, with Bilardo really pulling the strings from behind will be ideal. But who knows how this is going to work. Maybe for 1/2 years, there can be a marriage amongst 10 men, and mainly b/c everyone fawns at whatever El Diez does. But that can only last for a while, the question is will the honey moon last till at least the WC?

also, on this Maradona issue. he is buddy buddy with almost all the guys on the team. is this going to be a jolly go long gang? I dunno, for some reason, I’m worried about the professionalism of our team going forward. I pray more and more Bilardo will have a greater influence than is mentioned.

What happens when we lose and Maradona has to call out a player? And will he prefer his favs (Tevez, Aguero) over a true #9…. so many questions

Just checked the poll at Clarin. A greater percentage of Argentines are opposed to Maradona getting the job than Americans are to George Bush being President.

I reckon he should be given a chance to be honest, we will not know until we see the results then we can only contemplate about our NT’s Future. One thing which I know is that Maradona is a great motivator and someone who loves Argentina football team with a passion, he’s loved by every Argentine player and commands great respect from them. Argentina’s future is in the hands of Maradona whether or not he’ll lead us to the Glory days will only be settled after 2 years..all we can do now is HOPE and be Positive about it.

M A R A D O N A !!!!!
You know? Maybe you are right. Maybe Maradona have a lot of thinks and a lack of others but… talking about balls, he is the man indeed. Don’t you remember the mach against england? They do!!! Believe me. I’m sure. The best is comming

Have faith guys! Theis might actually work!

If I want to believe anything in football, It’s Diego. That’s what I’ve done in 1986.

Yeah, but still we don’t know what we gonna get.

He’s the magic, the joy and the sad. All in one. He’s the emotion, Bilardo is the brain. That’s what I saw in 1986. Not sure about it, now.

But that’s all I have, in Diego, just believe. He’s the reason I am here (another is Riquelme).

From Grondona’s point of view, this is the perfect time to (A) try something new–more than just one coach–and (B) the perfect time to try giving the one person the people have asked to have involved in the national team as the main man in charge. He has only a year and half to try the new consortium of coaches and if it fails he has Maradona as the scapegoat and he’d be rid of the rock he’s had in his shoe for some time now.

Since Grondona has never fired a national team coach shortly before a World Cup and Basile’s resignation caught him by surprise, this gives Maradona a chance to be the savior and Grondona the chance to get him out there in front of the national team all set up to fail while unloading all the responsibility.

I loved the guy as a player, but having just finished his auto-biography “Maradona” I am convinced that they guy is too wacky to successfully coach Argentina. But I have been wrong before

argentina here is your dunga!!!!!
I used to wonder why pele never went into coaching and I think seeing the mishaps of players who try to turn their playing success into coaching success without going back in humility to start at the bottom shows that pele was more down to earth than I used to think.
why not bianchi? how far will this infatuation with maradona go? he was the greatest argentinian player sure but that’s that, he is not the end of it all.

Why you people are against Maradona? Is it the tribute your are giving to a man who made us proud in 1986.
WHY?Why you forget that he is the greatst ever player in this planet. When he was player he done it for us and shall do it know and DIEGO knows it very well that it is time to gain his place in the hearts of people who were disappointed becoz of his drugs.
I hope the glory will come. HAPPY days are here again.

noori because a player does not a manager makes!!
so what is maradona was a great player? there were other great players who climbed the management ladder but to parachute this guy only because he wants it is absurd!! this has nothing to do with his drugs issue but with his short record as a manager which was pathetic. this is now going to be a maradona show about maradona and for maradona. enough is enough, move on, he is history let’s look at the future.

In my opinion Bianchi would have been the best choice.

But now Maradona is our coach so i would like to take it something like this;
What did we get with an experienced coach BASILE? & here i hope Maradona does the reverse of Basile that is no experience but success with the team

MANE
Puppet Pele is a chicken who was afraid that his success as a player would be at risk if he ever takes the brazil coaching job & fails. first tell him to get respect of his fellow brazillians namely ronaldo, edmundo, romario, scolari, etc.

What i am most worried abt is our player selection, i hope he continues to select Riquelme (my fav player) but with a plan B just incase.

Mightie
(formerly SAL)

correct me if i’m wrong.
i don’t know how far maradona can bring this team to the worldcup,but i have confidence with him since i’m realize why i’m so love argentina football until today and the answer because a young boy show the world how to play football in 1986.
from that time i’m missing the argentina football until today.
maradona win and showed the world how a truly argentina football.
and i think he deserves to get this job and i will support him.

Maradona maybe is not the right choicee.But if he combind with Bilardo the dream of Wcup2010 can become true.Maybe from there Bilardo know who the clash combination like messi and tevez.1986/90 player i love player like Luis brown,Burruchaga,Caniggia, and more.But is hard to find player like caniggia.He is a good finisher.I will pick Batista bcoz he know how to communicate with new player such as Lavezzi,Acosta,Garay,Buona notte and more.Look like Brazil Dunga bring star player like Ronaldinho…What happen to them with olympic squad…With Batista just a simple and technical player is enough to show Argentina is the best.Bianchi i don’t know about him.Maradona he is a gud player and no one can be like him even Ronaldo,pato,rooney and more.Who can do like Maradona do in Wcup 1986.The best ever world cup Memory.

Wow!

I was telling you guys that Maradona was certainly not an outsider & was above the 3 other candidates, but I’m still surprised about it. I don’t understand well. Maradona has insulted Grondona so many times. I found weird to see him on Grondona’s side against Uruguay. All this is a bit strange…and messy too.

I think all the success of our team will depend on Bilardo’s influence towards Maradona.

POSITIVE

- Bilardo, a tactician & friend will always be on Maradona’s side, this is very important!
- Maradona will protect the players from the medias and will be our “Mourinho”.
- Maradona will name HIS team (maybe no Renova?!).
- Diego is a great motivator and is passionated (works for free?!)
- Basile is gone…

NEGATIVE

- Maradona is FIFA’s worst enemy and that is a terrible point, even if he’s 100% right (Blatter will want us to fail and will name referees to do his job).
- Huge dependence on the Maradona/Bilardo relationship.
- Maradona isn’t skilled tactically, this is bad.
- Maradona is unpredictable and childish.
- Will probably never use a pure #9.
- Might favor Aguero, Tevez, Messi and maybe even Riquelme.
- Maradona has no experience.
- We’ve lost 2 years and a half because of AFA & Basile.

Maradona is going to be destroyed by the international press and it already begins. I don’t care if Maradona was a drug addict. What counts is the future, not the past.

I’m shocked but happy. People really don’t realize about how terrible the situation was with Basile. He was the most terrible NT coach I’ve ever seen.

SKYWALKER is absolutely right when he explains us that all this is more of a short term strategy. I’m sure it can work. Especially in the 6 first months. WC will come very fast, only in 1 year in a half.

I’m shocked about the AFA’s decision. I didn’t want to expect it. But I prefer the Maradona/Bilardo tandem than Russo or Batista. At least, with Diego, we know where we’re going. With Basile for example, we were in the fog, completely.

AURELIUS, SKYWALKER it’s always nice to read you.

AURELIUS,
As you seem to be the only one interested in Cavenaghi, here are my impressions about his game yesterday. Cavegol is the player in France who shoots with the greatest efficiency. He scored another gol yesterday. The kind of gol that Higuain or Tevez, for example, could never score. A sort of little lob with the external part of his foot. Yesterday, Cavenaghi wasn’t lucky. He did a magnificent volley that finsished just upper the crossbar. His movments are similar to Trezeguet’s. You know, when he comes in midfield to offer solutions to his teammates, gets the ball, pass it on the wing and quickly runs in the box. His weak point is his head. For the rest, he’s a pure fox. A #9. Of course, you know all this
Placente didn’t play because Blanc likes the turnover management.

The Maradona/Bilardo team is just a desperate stab at reliving the glory years of the 86 World Cup. They are looking backwards, not forwards. That never works.

Maradona was the best player ever, but we all know about his personal issues.

Someone also made a great point — FIFA absolutely despises Maradona. Fifa has taken out that hatred on the national team. (I’m not one for conspiracies, but you don’t get in the “group of death” every year after Maradona retired out of sheer coicidence). We just asked for every ref call and every group decision to go against us.

Riquelme is done for. If this is really Bilardo’s team, Riquelme will no longer have a role.

These players need a father figure or an iron hand. You can have one or the other, but you can’t have both, not at the same time.

I think that this is going to blow up in their faces.

Thank you mon ami Maxi.

I pray and keep praying that he is chosen. Alongside Aguero it could prove to be a deadly partnership. Both moving around creating space.

I know Girondins fans idolize him but if he leaves ? Will it make him better known at getting a shot at the NT.

2006 was all about movement lateral, forward,backwards as one unit constant triangulation. No opposition can live with it.

Does Maradona honestly think Papa is better than Monzon or Angeleri beter than Garay or Fazio. There is a reason they are still in the domestic league.

I agree with Alexa entirely. Only time will tell but now was the chance to bring in Bianchi and a raft of younger coaches under him to bring stability. Tocalli back with the youth.

Apparently in comments to the media ,Maradona is being indiscreet as ever implying the careers of Zanetti, Cuchu and Roman are over as well as Burdisso.

His sort of style will cause friction .The media esp.the foreign press will seize on any loose words to make capital of .Truly a poor decision I believe and not what is best for Argentina to take on 2010.

Chau amigos

The Maradona/Bilardo tandem can bring the best or the worst.
What a dislike with Maradona is that he is not professional. That’s another AFA mistake (of course they don’t care). Inter president, Moratti, must be amazed. He had just hired Maradona as a recruiter for South America.

ALEXA,
Maradona names the squad. And Riquelme is one of his friend. But Maradona has always praised players who are fast and technique, like Messi, Saviola, Tevez, Aimar, Ronaldinho, Aguero. We have lots of players like this. We’ll need to wait and see. I can’t wait his first seleccion now.

I really don’t see the logic here. I think the LA Times column is right on the money about Maradona’s past and not-so-distant instabilities. This is a gamble on the highest order. I’d really like to get some sincere constructive comments from Argentina fans on this one at:
http://startingeleven.blogspot.com/2008/10/maradona-to-coach-argentina-is-this.html

interesting comments maxi, i too hope that the renova deal is finished. and you are also right about fifa we will have an even bigger bulls eye on us for every competition we play. we always seemed to be put in the toughest group, i guess that will continue. i am just as shocked as everyone here, and yes they maybe more negatives than positives here, but i want my team to suceed. so i am pulling for maradona 100%

By the way, it’s the end of Pato’s international career for sure

Yes AIMAR10, it’s a strange feeling. My brain tells me that Maradona is not professional and could waste everything, and on the other side, my heart loves the character, the futbol symbol that fights against FIFA, and most of all: the passion.

It’s true, the expectations will be huge for next WC. Unlike in 2006 in Germany, where nobody was waiting for us.

A good point: Maradona is going to teach Messi when to give the ball, when to keep it and how to be less individualistic. Messi could not have a better teacher than him, isn’t it?

Maradona will maybe give the #10 jersey to the kid. I believe it’s an important day for Argentina futbol.

Maxi, you summarizes it nicely. With Maradona, he’ll straighten the players out, he’ll command respect. With Bilardo, 1 and half year is enough.

Here’s Tim Vickery’s view on Maradona’s appointment.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7696408.stm

I personally think this is a pathetic and impromptu decision. Trying to relive the glory days by appointing a legend and the manager who coached the legend. I’m not sure if it’ll work – but if it does this will be the greatest player-coach duo in history.

I think the decision borders more on an emotional level. The people connected with Argentine football watch and adore and follow more than just for fun or the tactics but on an emotional level – perhaps unseen with any other national team.

I for one – emotionally cannot wait to see the results, and emotionally think this could work. But practically I have a lot of doubts.

Huge decision, the next 6 months will tell.

The reason people have doubts about Maradona is because he is such an open book (everything good and worse) and we know all his flaws. We just arent aware of the flaws of other coaches: some are egoists, some are unfriendly, some favor european style, some are way too old to understand modern football, and some dont even have any clues.

If the focus was there on any of the coaches continuously for like 40 years, I am sure we would know as much flaws on them too.

I don’t really understand why some are saying that we are looking in the past with Maradona. Just look at other nations: Bilic, Klinsman or Van Basten were players from the past & had no experience. They had some success.

What is important for a coach is to be skilled in terms of management, psychology and of course tactics. Heart/passion is important too. Maradona has 1/4 of these qualities. Bilardo, 3/4. A tandem is built on a relationship that must always be positive. In fact, it’s more than a simple tandem, because Grondona has said it: AFA named a team. Many people are involved to coach the NT. Maradona is the nice (marketing) face of the iceberg. I hope it won’t be that difficult to work with him…

ASIL,
It’s a mess in the locker room and Maradona, who will “command respect” to the players, you said it, could be the answer from AFA.

AFA has never neglected the marketing aspect. Grondona and Renova had probably talks about who would be the best candidate. Maradona is a myth, a legend… and a marketing power. Millions of argentinos are going to buy new shirts of El Pibe. Plenty of people will pay a lot to see him coaching Messi how to shoot free kicks. Journalists will be thousands in each conference room. In France, people will want to watch the friendly in Marseille in february to see Diego screaming on the bench. That’s why Renova won’t have some influence on the seleccions. They already have what they want: money thanks to Maradona…

Dear all,

i can see the appointment of el diego as big gamble by GRONDONA, there are goods and bads of this news.

The bad:

- lack of experience to manage such a top international side where the expectations are always very high and the current bunch of players shows just why the expectations are just so high

- the complexity of the personage can be a problem for da players

- hatred of FIFA to el diego can be a problem to argentina

now comes the good

- he will be surrounding carlos bilardo and troglio, the first one is an established name in the area of coaching, with some big achievements like a world cup and final of the worldcup

- el pibe generates such sympathy in and out of argentina such that the popular support will almost a certainity

- he is such an emblematic figure that players will want to please him, it will be more a matter for players to gain esteem of their highly esteemed coach.

- el pibe is such a competitor that, i have got the feeling that he will instill it to the players. he is such a big motivator. players used to multiply efforts when they saw him in the stand, imagines just how it will be when they will have him on the bench

- pibe will have a great desire to prove the whole world that he can be great also from the bench and turn the bad luck plus the conspiracy of FIFA

- he will teach the players the value of the national shirts

- he can find words to make aguero, tevez reach the promise

again i agree that it is a huge gamble, but i can see more positives things than bad ones. I am tipping diego to succeed

p.s: it will be good if goycochea is the goalies coach.

On Olé, what I’ve understood is that Maradona would like this kind of line-up. I don’t know if it’s reliable information or not.

————–Carrizo————–
Angeleri–DeMichelis–Heinze—Papa
—–Maxi–Mascherano–Di Maria—-
————Riquelme—————
——Messi————————
————-Aguero—————-

No one except Mascherano would be guaranteed to start and I like this kind of attitude. With Basile, subbing Heinze, Pato, Riquelme, Messi, Tevez didn’t seem to be tolerated.

Cambiasso would be Mascherano’s sub.

I don’t know what Papa (central midfield) and Angeleri would be doing here.

It would be the end of the NT for Zanetti & Pato.

This is a (poor) translation of an article I thought interesting to share.
From Olé by Hernán Claus.

Carlos Bianchi is history. He won’t see his dream come true. He knew it as soon as he learned that Maradona and Bilardo were having a meeting with Julio Grondona.
Bianchi saw it coming, considering he had declined Grondona’s offer 3 different times before in the past.

The question is why the most wanted coach by argy fans (hands down), by the media, by the stats, and by history itself, lost his bid to a Maradona without any decent credit as a coach, without any experience standing by the sidelines.

Don Julio (Grondona), at this age and times didn’t want to receive another “Thanks but no thanks” like he got from Bianchi 3 times before.
Besides, and as it is usual, Grondona had no interest whatsoever to know what the other members of AFA had to say about all this. They are non-existing moneymaking fuzzy characters.
The truth is that Julio Grondona received Maradona and Bilardo in his pent-house of Puerto Madero and the only other people present at this meeting were Humberto and Julio Jr, sons of Julio Grondona. (Humberto coaches Talleres Club, and Julio Jr. is the president of Arsenal de Sarandí.
The key inside element was the Humberto and Julio Jr. didn’t want to hear about Bianchi because of how he had treated their father (3 times declined offer) in the past. The Grondona kids wanted Bilardo.
That’s where Grondona decided to create a team, arguing that La Selección can’t be run by just one person. (I imagine AFA must be a different story).
Julio Grondona wants Checho Batista and Tata Brown to work with them, but Batista doesn’t accept to be an assistant anymore.
So Grondona wants to create a coaching team (!).
If they don’t agree to it, then Batista and Brown would have to go and they would bring Troglio with Gamboa or Mancusso. But Grondona’s dream is Diego and Batista.

End of the article.
My opinion: This is the crap type of people who represent and guide the most talented players we have around the world. How sad, how poor.
The “populist” out for Grondona. The man who reigns AFA from his house with the help of his 2 sons.

I remember in the WC2006, Maradona was in the stands for every match except for the quarter-final with Germany, and sometimes i wonder had he been watching in the stadium that day might the result have been different.
Then last year, i watched all of Aguero’s matches, and in the matches where Maradona was in the stands he totally destroyed teams, not that he wasn’t good in the other matches, but he just seemed to raise his level of play.
I would imagine that most players who play for him, will play out of their skins just to impress him, and he won’t have any problem substituting or not playing players who don’t perform well.
There’s too much negativity about, he should be given a fair chance the same as Basile was.

WOW!!!!! I am shocked. Is this really happening?? I love Diego 100% for all he has done. He will always be my biggest hero. He is the best player this world has ever seen…but a coach?? Hell no!
Bilardo knows how to defend and is tactically a good coach. But I have a feeling that his ideas belong to the past. Bilardo loves the 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation, but he also played 4-4-2, with Boca for instance.
Troglio was a good player in both River and in Italy, but I don’t know him as a coach. Hector Enrique was a great midfielder in 86, but I know nothing about what he has done since that. Same goes for Olarticoechea. He was a member of the squad in 82, 86 and 90. But has he done any coaching at a high level? Bilardo is the only really good coach among these gyus, but he belongs to the past. This will be: A CIRCUS!!
Mark my words, the argentine NT will become a circus. Diego will only pick his friends. One positive thing is that he will not pick players for their names…he will pick the ones he wants to pick. But this will be a circus.
I hope to God I am wrong, but with this leadership I am not sure we even will qualify for the World cup. I hope to be back with a more positive post soon when I have been thinking more about this.

Mightie great, i really like it
And Maxi i am big fan of you know. Your comments are huge source of information for a man like me who is BIG fan of argentina but no source of information except this blog. know I m a regular browser of this blog and you have made this blog beauty. I really respect you know. Please carry on.
And friends, Maradona is our coach know we have to accept him

So nice to see Monzon discarded in favour of the technically limited Papa and no role for Gago ?

Heinze at centre back ??? He’s worse than Milito. No Gonzalo or Garay either.

Poor Higuain and Cavegol. They must have thought their chance had come only for this to happen.

Frankly it is a disgrace that Argentinian football is governed by clowns. It took a players revolt to get the situation changed in rugby but its up to the people not to vote in Clarin but demand this bastardo Grondona and his cronies be removed.

Shameful.

Here’s my view – on Goal.com

http://www.goal.com/en-india/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=938320

no, I am not and have nothing to do with john or ken. I am sure that the blog moderator can see the ip address and realize that whomever is playing troll is only doing so to antagonize others.

Ken,
What do you mean? Whats your take on that?

I really don’t see anyone within Argentina who really deserves the job, hands down. If you can waste 2 years with the old fat uncreative Basile, why can’t you waste 2 years with Maradona while there isnt any other candidate to die for?

Maradona has been there and done it.
He was the captain of the team for so many years. He led the Napoli team too and proved it.
All the players in the team look upto him.
He is the most passionate soccer fanatic.

To win a world cup mean you have to win 7, 8 games in a row. However good you are, there will be one or two games where luck doesn’t favor you, or where your opposition plays better than you. There are lots of them that can win 6 out of 8 games. But the real winner is the one who can turn things around in those 2 games where luck isnt favoring you or when you are behind.

Pekerman was a failure. Basile was a joke. If anyone in Argentina can build a team who can inject a fighting spirit in a team when they are chasing, it has to be Maradona.

The job of a coach of a team like Argentina isnt to team Messi how to score freekicks or teach Riquelme how to defend. Most games are decided in the dressing room in your own mind.

NOORI,
Thanks but I’m not the only one here you know Corsican regards to Pakistan!

AURELIUS,
I believe we need to wait the first Maradona list for the friendly against Scotland. I’m sure that Maradona, Bilardo & the rest of the staff will try to suit our best players into a clever system (3-5-2 is obvious). But Cavegol, Denis & Lopez should worry They said they would come in Europe to talk to the players and select the best people.

CHRISTIAN,
I think you have a couple of posts to delete…

RUNE,
Basile has resigned. The circus has ended.

ALBO,
Thanks for sharing the AFA info. Well, it seems that the real AFA administrators are the Grondona kids. Maybe the dog and the cat have voted too. Mafia exists even in futbol. Especially at Blatter’s vice president house.

Just ignore the troll.

Time changes a lot of things, and only time will tell whether this will work or not, personally i’m a lttle bit optimistic. I know that we will definitely qualify that’s not an issue.

Sorry guys, I was away from the blog and missed those posts. Should be gone now.

Chau

Cesar Delgado scored for Lyon!

Denis twice for Napoli.

Chelito Delgado is one of my favorite players.
When I have chance I’ll tell you a story about him.

Diego Milito scored for Genoa.

Delgado was poised to come back to River because he was never playing with Lyon. It’s maybe going to be a different story now. He has some great quality & is nice to watch.

Denis is making some in noise in la serie A.

Sorry, it wasn’t Milito but Motta who scored.

Denis has scored a hat-trick.

Zomggg I almost screamed like a little school girl when I read this at work! Maradona is the greatest player in existence and to have him lead Argentina is just freaking awesome. This man does not take smack from no one, he has a hardcore personality and the cockiness just tops it off. Much respect to him. Hope he brings Argentina glory once more.

AJ, nice article

I mean the other AJ, ajNYHC

What Bilardo has to say:

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?Contenutold=938563

what i love about the selection of maradona is the hunger he has for the winning the world cup ever since his unfortunate exit in ‘94. this hunger, in my opinion, will transfer to the players and make them play with the killer instinct they’re lacking. i think this drive that he will instill will make up for the tactical problems we’ve been having. if our players played with half the hunger and desire maradona displayed throughout his career we would’ve won a couple of world cups by now. it always frustrates me how we cool down when we score early or think we have the game in the bag. i believe that bringing this winning attitude is what will make the difference needed to win the world cup. i can’t think of any one other the maradona that is capable of doing that… if you’re still worried about tactics then bilardo will cover that

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http://www.goal.com/EN/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=938563

hey guys, whats going on. well thats a bit of a surprise for me, but I am not gonna be against it untill, it has failed. I remember a lot of us were happy when Basile got the job… and we called pekermen, pekershit here all the time.

So i am willing to just wait and see what happens, i think the player will completely respect bilardo and maradona, so this could work, as for tactics i am sure bilardo will have a huge say. also maradona has played a high leven in his career, I am sure he would know what to do given the situations. my only fear is, maradona could be childish at times, but then there is bilardo…

i think our players are good enough to win even with an average coach. the reason basile lost it is because he lacked to have the respect of the players. I dont think that will be the case with maradona and bilardo. so lets just see what happens. this might actually work.

I am praying AIMAR will finally get his chance. I remember when Maradona once said Aimar is the only player he would pay to see. lol

I watch football because of this MAN. Give him a chance……….

People around the globe love this MAN and from now on people will be more attached to Football

wow, so many comments to get through. read em in a bit.. but will leave you with this quote from the above article that might allay some of our fears…

Although many expect Bilardo to help guide Maradona through the coaching process in the early stages, he affirms that he will soley be dedicated to the “tactical” part of the game because it is the coach “who has to do the other things, and coach.”

that’s all I wanted to hear…

Hey there, Seba has just uploaded an article that is dedicated the Greatest’s Birthday. Would appreciate if you drop by and send him your wishes.

Hi Ken. How’re you doing?

Stay, around…

All these people are criticizing Maradona because of his past. They are hypocrit and mean. 80% of the Brazilians, Pelé, Berlusconi, etc. Maradona and Argentina will have to fight the whole world. Everybody is going to talk about us. This is football, one of the most popular (which means stupid) topic of discussion. Maradona needs to be respected like Basile has always been.

In the last 24 hours, all my friends became aware about Maradona appointed as our new coach. They have no link with Argentina and each of them says to me: “now I’ll support Argentina because of Diego”. Maradona is an incredible & powerful marketing tool, despite being an ex-drug addict. Almost everybody love him.

Renova won’t have their previous influence towards the NT coach otherwise Maradona would have never said “I am the only one who selects the players”. It’s a very good thing for us, futbol fans. And for Grondona (& sons) too.

Maradona Maradona Maradona I will give him his chance. The key for me is that I beleive the time line is short and a risky decision needed to be made. The players will play hard for maradona and with all the talent we have if the play hard we will be in good shape. I also have much respect for bilardo and his abilities as a tactician. This has a chance to work and of course if it does maradona will truly go down as the greatest with one more feather in his cap then Pele. One thing I hae always said is that th emodern game is fast and requeires fast players. I think that we will see this with maradona and billardo adn that I will love to see. Riquleme could ahve a role but the team will no longer be centered on him. In fact as I have ben saying the only player that this team should be centered on is Messi. Put players out there that most match up with messi and his skill set. I beleive that bilardo and maradona will do this.

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R.I.P. Don Pedro Pompilio, president of Boca Jrs. who passed away last night after suffering a heart attack. He was 55.
He was a good man. everybody respected him.
Que en paz descance.

Nominees for Fifa world player revealed

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=938364

Surprise, there is no Roberto Carlos and Cafu. They were there last year also if I am not wrong.

Jokes apart, why is Michael Ballack there?

Mauro Icardi making splash at Barcelona
30.10.08 | tribalfootball.com

Argentine teenager Mauro Icardi is beginning to make a big splash at Barcelona.

Barca beat Real Madrid for the striker last season and he struck twice for the club’s Juvenil B team in their 6-0 victory over Bellvitge on the weekend.

Serie A teams are after Eduardo Salvio from lanus, and Munoz from boca.

Hey guys, is Ezequiel benavidez a def. mid. or att. mid. or a striker?

Diego is the new coach wether we are happy or not, ahe will be there for a while now. This a new era in the argie NT, lets supportive first then after we can be judgemental. ALRIGHT LADS…!!!

I never knew i would see the day when Messi and Higuain have the standings in goal counts in la Liga…lol…5 goals each.

noori thanks for that

no doubt maradona single handedly won the world cup in 1986 with an average argentina team & the same thing he did with napoli. it is even true that he added some players in the napoli team to turn it into a winning force.

below articles clearly say that he was more than just a player for his teams
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news-detailed.asp?newsid=11623
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/239203,former-napoli-president-says-maradona-already-coached-that-side.html

so this means he does has high managerial qualities but the only problem is that he wont be involve on the field like he use to in his playing days to make sure that the strategies work accordingly.

what i am most excited about is the combination of messi & maradona

u guys might like this article:

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=939940

u guys might like this article:

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=939940

tell me what u think and who would prefer.

its so peaceful
good job christian

RIVER PLATE SI BOTTOM OF THE TABLE…!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THEY SHOULD BE DEFINITELY BE SCARED…!!!

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J-Argie, it is pathetic that we’re bottom of the table, but remember this is Argentina, where a single bad season doesn’t mean anything thanks to the ridiculous pro/rel, averaging system set up. I’m certainly not crying about it, but it would be nice to think that River are playing for something these days.

Thanks Mightie.

“River es un grande”.
They can’t be where they are right now.
They belong at the top, competing with Boca and others for whatever it is that they are playing.
It doesn’t matter weather it is the Apertura or la Copa Sudamericana or whatever.
River have to get back to the place where they belong. with the best.

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BTW GUYS TODAY IS MARADONA’S BIRTHDAY!

MANY BEST WISHES TO OUR COACH, AS I SAID BEFORE I AM HOPEFUL.

Pipo Rossi, Hermindo Onega, Amadeo Carrizo, “La Máquina”, Norberto Alonso, Enzo Franccéscoli, Ariel Ortega, and so many super-stars of Argy football are watching and hurting.
Aguilar do something. Leave!!!
Even Boca fans want you out.

nice article

http://www.goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=939788

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After reading both Beckenbauer and Pele’s words, i pray that Maradona succeeds and they both end up eating their words.

By the way, Maradona will be in charge of the friendly against Scotland on November 19th.

Don’t read too much into Pele’s words. He has a habit of saying the most ridiculous things. Even Brazilians don’t respect what he has to say at times.

I’m curious to find out how Bilardo and DM end up working together. I’ve read rumors of Riquelme being dropped, Veron being reinstated – but thats what they are, just rumors.

I’m not quite sure if Garay and Gonzalo will even get a shot, because Heinze and Demichelis are preferred.

Mascherano will most likely be the captain.

I’m very curious as to what will come off this. The Scotland game will give us all a little preview.

I’m very much looking forward to the match, but i think we’ll be without Messi according to Barca’s agreement with the AFA.

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On Olé, Mascherano has said that he didn’t want to be the captain. Tevez told that Messi shouldn’t be it neither. Did Maradona proposed them? De Michelis would be an obvious choice. One thing is sure, it’s the anonymous end of career of capitano Zanetti.

People must really stop with Veron. He belongs to the past. Especially because of Lucho, Banega & Gago.

Riquelme is a friend of Maradona. Diego told that the NT should not turn around Roman & Messi. He is going to work on it. For him, Argentina should be competitive whoever are the players used.

On a different note, I read on JOHN’s blog that Grondona demanded to Basile to not play with 3 defenders. If this is true, i would understand better why Basile was often obstinate with his 4-3-1-2.

If I remember correctly, Bilardo likes to play a 3-men defence (which would suit perfectly with the qualities of our group).

Bilardo has also used 5 in the back, with a “libero” as last man. Remember?
Almost like a “Cattenagio”.

you’re correct Albo.. he attacks 3-5-2 but defends 5-3-2 with like you said the ‘floating’ last man. not sure how’s he going to work with us the dearth of wing players. Maxi Rod, I can see slot back, but not so much Di Maria. And hopefully no Jonas. This will make us explosive in the counter attack and provide width. but oh god, we’re sounding like a Euro team. While Bilardo is in the defensive school of Argy football, Diego will not adhere to that strictly as he will want the ball to be passed around; so hopefully it’s the best of both worlds.

Even after 2 days to think about it, I still have no idea what to expect. Will it be a train-wreck? Or will Maradona, for whom life bears no middle ground and is one that is full of extremes, be able to cap his latest comeback to good health with the WC10 trophy. I mean, it’s so hard to figure this out. He seems more mature now and less petulant. but what happens when we lose and the media has a go at Maradona, what will happen then? how will he police the locker room.. so many questions….

It’s a fact, Bilardo is considered in Argentina like a defensive type of coach.

Something I still can’t get over is the blantant way in which Maradona was elected coach of our NT by Grondona’s two sons.
Today, there was another article on Olé where Julio Grondona Jr. sends a mesage to Bianchi.
he said “you have to love La Albiceleste to get to coach it.
And that is such cheap populist rubish, (Maradona style). He said that because Bianchi doesn’t like Grondona not La Albiceleste.
Let it be known that in polls organized by Clarín, La Nación and Infobae, 75% of the argies voted against Maradona.

Until the players as in the rugby or suporters or club presidents combine then this mafiosi and his sons will rule over Argentine football Albo.

Condolences regarding Pedro Pompilo and at such a relatively young age. He was Macris right hand man at building up Boca to face the challenges of the global football world.

Sadly down at El Monumental Aguilar and friends seem intent on ruining River. It is sad to see the team that pioneered La Maquina and the cradle of di Stefano in sich a plight.

They should be one of the worlds top teams but seem to sell on every player after a few months. It is a tribute to the youth trainers at these clubs that they continue to produce such gifted players.

It would be nice to see these clubs along with Independiente, Racing etc dominate club football in South America too.

Happy bithday to Dios. Its only fair to give him a chance and I hope he suceeds with his ideas backed by Bilardos knowledge.

However the pathetic mud slinging and insults relating to Diegos past have already begun to surface in many comments ignoring his recent exemplary behaviour. I don’t condone drug taking. Idiots take drugs and I have never touched them or drunk alcohol or smoked knowing at an early age from diseased organs what damage they can do.

I don’t even condone help for addicts. ts a self inflicted choice. But Diego has taken the right choice and should e praised at least for that.

Lets hope his fire can ignite this team and make the players perform and hopefuly Cavegol, Garay etc get their chance.

He should get a warm welcome in Glasgow and has said as much. Lets hope its a winning start and good preperation for Venuzuela.

Chau amigos.

He has hinted that Messi will be included despite Barca asking him not tobe included in friendlies.

By diseased organs I mean seeing them removed from cadavers ie sufferers of alcoholism and heavy smoking. Not a pleasant sight. As they say out of sight ,out of mind.

I thankfully am in tip top shape .

I don’t know why the stupid pele always comment about Maradona.Look up your face before want to comment someone.Maradona is a cool man.Pele is a person who never want to see Maradona success.Pele is a troublemaker he is not a superstar futbol but he is a superstar big talk.Even Maradona is not my choice to be a NT coach, i hope he can do what he has done with Argentina in 1986 World cup.Muchas Gracias Burruchaga,Monzon,Pasculli,Ruggeri,Pumpido,Giusti,Luis Islas,Borghi,Enrique,Batista and now is for your turn Di Maria,Messi,Aguero,lavezzi,Acosta,Garay,Romero,Ustari,Zabaleta and other.Vamos Argentina FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT………..My heart for futbol only for Argentina….Don’t cry for me Argentina again like 2006 world cup.If you cry i also will cry.

boy what’s the hatred against pele? I know this is an argentina thing and I am walking into the lion’s den but having seen both play I understand two things: first, pele and maradona are not geniuses or intellectuals so I take their words knowing where they come from and second, history is always clearer in the distance of time and when time passes pele will be atop the pile because of his achievements which surpass those of any other player in history. simple fact is that history remembers the winners above the losers and when the scorecard is compared pele has more to show than maradona and whether maradona could have done more had he not fallen to drugs will be irrelevant in history.

anyways I guess time will tell if picking maradona was the right choice. personally I think bianchi should have been selected but the cult of maradona is far to emotionally irrational to argue against it.

Mane, Pele did not win the World Cup all by himself. He played in 3 different great team, period. Maradona did it all by himself. He wasn’t just the playmaker or the captain. He was the team motivator, spiritual leader, guidance on the pitch etc.

Of course Diego has his own bad history. I’m sure everyone one of us has done some stupid mistake in the past. Don’t you think that every person deserves another chance in life.

If Pele was that squicky clean then perhaps if he should have done some checkking on his own son, remember?

Even Romario once said “When Pele says nothing, he is poet”.

Peles jealousy is legendary for example to Dinho. His teamates some of whom can be regarded as being just as good if not better than him get scant coverage as his media bandwagon travels round the globe.

Eusebio and Puskas were as good as him but they didn’t constantly surface in the press demanding to be taken note of. Over time his abilities have become a myth.

I’ll say it again. Ask players and ex-players who they regard as the best : From Zizou , Platini ,Charlton, Beckenbauer , van Basten , Cruyff and all the others comes one word Maradona.

Charlton on Maradona. He could do things with the ball no other player I have ever seen could do. He is the best.

As John adds Romarios comment is perfect.

Diego played in average Argentine sides and even when half fit led the team to a final in 1990 and uring 1994 the team was flying. That third against Greece is as good an example of team close control and movement and finishin as I’ve seen.

Saludos.

BAD NEWS!
it seems like maradona will get the chance to prove himself earliar.
CONMEBOL.spoke person nestor benitez said that on november 25 they will discuss the possibilaty that COPA AMERICA will me held this year 2009 in mexico.COPA AMERICA wasnt planned to be played this year at all.
i hoped 2009 was e free summer for our players,so they can rest before 2010 world cup.

well like I wrote I am not argentinian nor brazilian. I had the opportunity to see both players in their prime and yes, maradona was a great player but he was never as complete as pele was. again, I am simply speaking about what I saw. I first saw pele in the 1970 mexico world cup and then saw him twice in person when he played with santos and a host of times on television and the guy was absolutely amazing in all regards. many make the mistake of talking about pele as a pure striker when he actually played the attacking midfield before such term was even created and another aspect that is not as known is that upwards to the 1974 world cup the rules allowed for a rougher game so while maradona was fouled ad-nauseum pele and other players in the pre-1974 era were literally attacked physically in such a way that maradona never ever experienced. heck I remember pele playing in dirt fields and it was rough, really rough. the uncle of a friend of mine was a defender who played once against santos and he commented that he tried to tackle pele and if he could break his leg he would have, seriously.

that pele played amongst great players should in my opinion be something that talks about his stature as a player rather than diminish it. players like rivelinho, jairzinho or tostao could challenge maradona and yet pele outshined never becoming a target man but a key component of the team and in santos pele was the cornerstone of the team which leads me to yet another myth believed by people who are just too young to have seen pele play, that pele didn’t play in europe is meaningless because pele did play against european teams in the international cup and his santos pulverized them. europe was not then the mecca of football it’s today. one interesting fact is that brazil didn’t lose a single game when pele and garrincha played together and btw garrincha is an easy challenger to the best player ever title and he was better than maradona by far.

as for personal lives well who cares about that? these are merely football players and not intellectuals or spiritual leaders and most athletes fall prey to their own fame from ali to monzon, from pele to maradona these are only barrio guys who made money by being good at a sport and nothing more.

ALFIO,
If there is a Copa America in 2009 we won’t win WC 2010, it would be impossible. Unless we play an Argentina-B team in summer 2009. really scary news!

Great News I must say . Like Everyone says it isnot a clever move by AFA for Argentine NT Football but still better step than to Keep Basile with no hope.
I wish El Diego all the success.
My thinking says only Maxi Rodriguez / Macherano has the captaincy capabilities but thats an audience’s judgement.
I was just talkin to my dad on the day we lost to Chile that Coach of NT needs a person who is in the combination of Bilardo & Pekerman while the captain with will power and leadership like Maradona and we got a coaching team that is made of Maradona and Bilardo.

I must say we will loose most of the friendlies since the DM/Bilardo will do experiments with playing style and few players ( they should experiment with players too but that not Bilardo’s style , he would like to make a team of cohesive players before even entering last 6 months to WC ).
Argentina NT will bring crowds with added member of Maradona. I hope he comes this tuesday to Cyprus to watch Argie players of Inter in CL
We will NOT enter the WC10 as favourites but as a good team (unlike previous WCs), thats good as per my point of view.
My starting line up considering the new changes:
3-2-3-2 while defending 4-5-1-1 , Maxi will be key (so I hope he does not get injured).
I don’t want to see Riquelme until he gets back to his fitness levels he needs same rest as Messi. May be Aimar will be recalled for playmaker.
Coaching ‘TEAM’ has lots of players to choose from and Diego is added motivation for them unless they are not interested .
I hope Hienze says good bye to NT or accepts only a squad position. He does too many mistakes and gets nervous creates nervousness. Tevez should be another squad member or given time to get his skills back. Collocini’s time is up.
I would prefer Zarate and Cavenagi/Higuain given a chance atleast in friendlies.

I hope it will be beauty to watch , we will see whats in store, but atleast now its interesting with added hope.

Just would like to Mention , nice post by Mane, I agree that given the facts Garrincha-Pele-Maradona would be the order of better players. But only Diego moved peoples hearts in a level that no one did. So emotionaly I am always with Diego Maradona as the best player (atleast for me).

Keep posting !!!

I continue to say that I think and would like us to play as I see barcelona playing right now. We have the players to do it. It is essential that Messi have two forwards playing with him and making runs to open things up. I think cavenaggi higuain or aguero would be good combos upfront with Messi playing right behind them and of course rovering all over the field. That is how you best use Messi. I think Maradona will see this.

Heinze is a leader in the team and is very passionated. If I’m correct, Maradona has already said that Heinze would start as a central defender.

Elegant and technical Coloccini will certainly be part of the team too. I’m positive Maradona will give priority to technical defenders such as Gonzalo, Colo, Garay, De Michelis.

The captain will be one of these leaders: De Michelis, Maxi Rodriguez, Heinze and even maybe Mascherano, Riquelme or Coloccini.

The problem is that WC 2010 is only in 1,5 years so the coaching staff could be afraid to do too much changes, and start a totally new & young defence (what should have been done after la Copa).

What I love with Maradona is that when one player will be unefficient on the field, whether it is Aguero, Messi or Riquelme, he won’t hesitate to sub them. I think he will really do what he believes because he’s Maradona and can afford it. Of course, I hope he’ll do the best…

Maradona has heard in the medias & for the first time, the voice of someone optimistic: Rafa Benitez who said positive things about him for a near future.

TODDUTAH
4-3-3 is not in the Argentinean culture unlike at Barca. Anyway, with our amazing players any kind of system would be efficient if the players are used at their correct position. The objective is to play a maximum of our best players in a suitable system, whatever it is. We haven’t good fullbacks (what happens if Monzon gets injured during WC 2010?). So there shouldn’t be a debate. 3-5-2 is its answer. I hope Maradona & Bilardo are already discussing about this choice.

Deleted by Moderator

It has been confirmed that, besides coaching the young NTs (sub-17 and sub-20), Checho Batista and Tata Brown will be Maradona’s assistants on the major Albicelste team.

Mane, you describe Maradona very less.
Maradona is the one who rocks the world. Maradona is far better than Pele.
“MARADONA”, this name is the most popular name than any other player. No one was and no one will be a great player like him. He made argentina proud and also Napoli.

New thread up.

hi noori,
well of course maradona would be more current as he is fresher in the public’s memory and that is understandable but history didn’t begin with pele or maradona and will not end with them either. there are some individuals who for very unique reasons mark their sport and certainly pele and maradona have done that for soccer but I would say that garrincha was better than either one of pele or maradona although he is not a marquee name in history.

you are right but i still prefer Maradona