Superclásico Sunday

Alexa, I completely agree :).
I think what people do not understand, or more likely, forget is that there is a “form” factor. Ronaldo is a great player but in “greater form”. He is not going to score 40 goals every season. Some of his goals this season are pure fluke, happens with all the players when in form. Perhaps next year he will score 20 goals, which will also be commendable, but Messi will go past defenders all the time, he will have the vision always. Thats a permanent thing. People are comparing Ronaldo’s best career year with Messi’s injury ridden year. That says it all. I do not need to explain.

Lastly, I must say I do enjoy seeing Ronaldo, but his value is in goal scoring. If he is not scoring, I have doubts how useful he can be to the team. Thats something which is different about Messi.

Posted from  United States

lol well put Alexa. Messi is able to dominate games with possesion and skill unlike any other player. kaKa and Ronaldo are poachers with skill and not genius of futbol like Messi. Ronaldo is totally dependent on pace and will be good for only two or three years more once his pace slows his impact on games will be very minimal. As for Messi his future will be determined by his health. Even this year the record books would be much diffrent with a full season of Messi barcelona would be feeling much diffrent right now. For all the analyzing and changing of team members in the summer a full season o fmessi fit wouild concelaed a lot of that.

Posted from  United States

But lets not forget that being healthy is a talent. Some very great atheletes have never measured up because of weakness in this area.

Posted from  United States

Comparisons between Messi and Ronaldo are stupid, for one thing Messi is 20 and Ronaldo 23. Messi at 20 is by a long margin better than Ronaldo was at the age of 20, and if after an injury hit season he is only slightly behind Ronaldo in the ratings, then that tells you all you need to know about which one of them is the better player. Most players who would have had injury hit seasons would not even be in the run in for World’s Best Player.

Have any of you guys seen the under 20 list for the friendly against Canada on Sunday. How do you think we will fare? A lot of the players are from the under 17 squad that played in Korea.
Here’s the list:-

GOALKEEPERS: MAXIMILIANO SCAPPARONI(BOCA)
DIEGO RODRIGUEZ(INDEPENDIENTE)

DEFENDERS: FERNANDO MEZA(SAN LORENZO)
ALEXIS MACHUCA(NEWELL’S)
FEDERICO FERNANDEZ(ESTUDIANTES)
JULIAN FERNANDEZ(ATL.RAFAELA)
MATTEO MUSACCHIO(RIVER)
MAXIMILIANO OLIVA(RIVER)

MIDFIELDERS: GONZALO BAZAN(SAN LORENZO)
JONATON MAZZOLA(BOCA)
EZEQUIEL BENIVIDEZ(BOCA)
MARCELO BENITEZ(LANUS)
CRISTIAN GAITAN(ESTUDIANTES)
DAMIAN LIZZIO(RIVER)
GUSTAVO BOU(RIVER)
FACUNDO TORRES(TALLERES DE CORDOBA)

FORWARDS: DIEGO NADAYA(INSTITUTO)
JONATON LOPEZ(ATL.RAFAELA)
EDUARDO SALVIO(LANUS)
LEANDRO VELAZQUEZ(VELEZ)

Hello all,

This has been on my mind for a long time now - but I’ve decided to act on it starting today. I’m building a new website for Argentina fans. Where we can all interact, post articles, watch videos and generally be able to plan and socialize on a far more detailed level. I’ve put up a starting page - and I will work on it as much as possible:

http://www.argentinafans.com/

What do you guys think? Let me know of suggestions as well - the main aspect will be to discuss and interact like here - but WITHOUT trolls. I think it’d be great.

Posted from  United States

Also, I read that Torres has scored 32 goals in all competitions, not one of them from a penalty kick. Ronaldo takes all the pens for United. I really think that Ronaldo is a great player — and thank the soccer gods that he exists, because he’s great to watch, and a real personality on the field, very unique. I just think that Messi is all around a much better player. His thinking is so much better, and to me that’s the most important thing. That’s why I think that Riquelme is still better than Ronaldo, and any of these fantastic athletes. Riquelme is a pure player, everything about him is the essence of the game. Messi is sort of that turbo mode.

Anyway, just have to say — Liga de Quito is through! I know that this is an Arg site, and the regulars here know how much I suffer for the national team. But I’m so beside myself that Liga beat Estudiantes (aggregate 3-2). I’m practically in tears.

Posted from  United States

aj—

IS this a blog? You might have an easier time with a blog. My work deals with doing blogs from time to time (and creating web sites), so if you need some help, let me know…

looks good, by the way!

Posted from  United States

Alexa, congrats!!! Liga is in round of 8s

AJ , best of luck with your blog !!!

Posted from  United States

Well it’ll incorporate a blog - but mostly I want it to be a distinct site of its own. The features I’m thinking of right now:

Blog like here.
Ability for users to freely express views and write articles.
Link to videos/podcasts
And last but not least interact on a more personal level.

So go ahead and sign up: http://www.argentinafans.com/

I’ll shoot everyone an email once the blog section is open atleast. I’m open to suggestions from everyone as well.

Alexa, thanks - I think I might definitely take you up on that offer for help in the near future.

–AJ

Posted from  United States

ajNYHC, good luck on the website. Looking forward to it.

Posted from  United States

When is it going to be up and running? Sounds good.

Here’s the link for the interview that the BBC did with Aguero:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7384547.stm

Here’s the link for the reader’s Q&A with Aguero:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7384770.stm

Hi there everyone,

I’ve just got the latest news about our Under-20 that will take on Canada during this weekend. If you want to know more about it, then go to the following link.

http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com/2008/05/checho-names-squad-for-canada-u-20.html

Your comments/opinion will be highly appreciated.

Posted from  Malaysia

aj–no problem. I know a lot of html and css, and I oversee a wordpress blog, so that stuff i can help with. THe community/forum stuff is something i haven’t done, but i don’t think that it’s that hard to set up. I’ll give you my email if you need it…

wow — kun sounds so mature. good interview…

Posted from  United States

AJ, Nice site. I would surely be a participant in that. I have been in IT (I work at Fidelity Investments) and especially in the world of web for the last 10 years. So please let me know, I will be happy to contribute.

Posted from  United States

Thanks everyone. I much appreciate it. I want this site to the be everything Argentina. A place we can all visit everyday for all news about argentine futbol etc etc. Debashish, Alexa, maradona thanks, I’ve been in the same industry as well - but I will definitely request for more help when time arrives. I will need help with design, layout and the release of different features on the website each week.

Back to futbol…

Posted from  United States

Time for Messi to shine again today as I am sure he is chopping at the bit after not playing in the first encounter. Also interested to see if Higuain can continue his strong form as of late.

Posted from  United States

Nice idea, AJNYHC. You can count on me to be involved in discussing about Argentina.

DAY1STAR, you didn’t understand my post. Gabi Milito, good or not, is a “victim” of FIFA, RENOVA, AFA organizations. Of course I like Colocini or Garay, but they might really end like Milito because of Barca if they go there. I stop complaining (which is obviously justified) and hope players of the Argentina “B” team are gonna be competitive for 2010.

Posted from  France

TODDUTAH,
Don’t you think Leo Messi should rest now that Barca has nothing special to hope? He played Copa 2007 and will participate to the olympic games. What a tuff year.

Certainly no 4-5-1 from Batista as he has only chosen 5 “defenders”. If Golazo or Albo can confirm. I hope it will be 3-5-2, always wonderful to watch

Posted from  France

Since Milito is out, there is obviously a place open for a central defender. I hear a lot of Garay and Coloccini.

Garay - Isn’t he injured and out for rest of the season and perhaps there after. Even if gets fit, how about his match fitness?

Coloccini - I guess mostly people hated him and wanted out of the team, including myself. But he seems to be the in-form player and that matters. When you are in form, you tend to do things accidentally correct. Like a some of Ronaldo’s goals this season. Hope his form stays for a while. However, he is prone to big blunders. Also, his recent success with Deportivo is not always as a central defender. He has played in the midfield and also a lot as a left full back. May be thats an option and get Heinze in center.

Gonzalo - THIS IS MY CHOICE for the first team! He is back from injury. Has been playing consistently with Villareal. He is a true CB. Which is important. Remember even Demichelis is not really a CB. He was a good defensive midfielder, excelling as a CB.

So, I would play Gonzalo in CB and have Garay, Coloccini and Burdisso as back up. Also, since we are so poor in the full back positions, I hope we play 3-5-2. Those 3 are Demichelis, Gonzalo and Coloccini and they do not go up, unless its a set piece. Our defenders are too slow in coming back also. More reason for a 3-5-2, with resident defenders.

————–Carrizo———–

—Garay—Demichelis—Heinze–

Zanetti——————–Cambiasso–

————Mascherano———-

Messi———————Lucho/Riquelme–

———-Aguero–Lisandro———

Subs: Ustari, Burdisso, Coloccini, Gago, Zabaleta, Tevez, Cavenaghi

Res: G.Milito, D.Milito, Aimar, Saviola, Emiliano Insua, Banega

If RIQUELME is there then its a whole different story. Actually we can have Riquelme in place of Lucho.

Posted from  United States

WE ARE NUMBER 1!
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=532627&cc=5901

Posted from  United States

Yes, but not by much, Brazil are really close behind.

Barca lost. Poor Messi, poor Rijkaard, definitely deserved better from the rest of the players. Henry was crap as was most of the Barca team, Higuain scored again, Gago and Heinze had a good game. Shame on the Barca players, no pride, if you play for nothing else at least play with some pride.

Toddutah, Batista has chosen 6 defenders not 5.

Oh, yes, and as always we had very impartial refereeing in a Real match! A bit like the madrid derby against Atletico last season where nearly every decision went against Atletico. So many fouls on Messi and no yellow cards given!