Champions League Matchday 4

INGRID,
Welcome to the blog! I have always liked your humour KEN, I know you are not that mean.

ALBO,
This is Maradona. I agree with you, I don’t know what to say…
I am optimistic and even still happy about the whole situation because Basile has gone. This is what I care about presently. But how long will I feel like this? Anyway, it must not be easy to be designed as the NT coach and have so much people around yourself saying you what to do. Maradona wants the total control. He should decide who to take on his sides. But he hasn’t proved anything yet as a coach so AFA just want to use his marketed face and put the real coaches around him. The good thing with Maradona is that he could put AFA and Grondona in trouble and even create an electrochoc. All this situation is the consequence of one man: Grondona. He is responsible of all this. He and his friends named Maradona. So he needs total freedom and Maradona seems to be asking for this. Diego hasn’t signed yet, it’s quite risky, it’s true

Bianchi spoke his mind (in his usual diplomatic fashion) and said what he needed to say.
(Poor) translation of Bianchi’s comments to ESPN, reproduced by Infobae.

http://www.infobae.com/contenidos/413040-101096-0-Por-primera-vez-Bianchi-habl%F3-del-Seleccionado

“Who wouldn’t like to coach the NT of your country?”
“The only reason I declined the offer three times in the past is because I don’t like the way our AFA president works.”
“So that leaves me out of contention.”

When asked his opinion of Maradona and Bilardo, Bianchi answered:

“I’m only thinking about the Albiceleste team. I want us to become champions in 2010″.
“I’m not going to give an opinion about Maradona because I don’t find it necessary.”

When a reporter mentioned that in his opinion Bianchi had been mistreated by Grondona, he answered:
“I appreciate the respect most of you guys give me”
Unfortunately, there are many people in our country who make decisions in that fashion.”
“All I know is that I can sleep at night because my conscience is clean.”

Posted from  United States

Wow – that is diplomatic and classy. Lets see where this mayhem leads us. Isn’t Maradona supposed to announce the squad today?

Posted from  United States

Yes but it seems long ajNYHC.

ALBO, I suppose we’ll discuss about Maradona’s attitude many times until WC 2010. There is only one thing that counts: the field. Lets wait and see.

I like Bianchi’s words, he’s honest. I have one question for you ALBO: why doesn’t Olé or even the national press has never put a terrible pressure on Grondona? It is strange. Argentina is the most passionated country when it comes to futbol but the press seems calm & quiet toward AFA.

By the way, Cavenaghi & Placente are on the bench against Cluj. A shame.

Messi on the bench for Barca, smart by Guardiola. Barca are kinda already through, so he can give Messi some rest.
Aguero on the bench for Atleti……Maxi is back!

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Typical Maradona!! There is a possibility that he won’t get the job now….he will off course not let Grondona decide this, so anything can still happen here. CHAOS!

Guardiola is really using Messi when needed. I like this. Let Messi get some rest. Aguero is still not a 100%. Even not being fully fit – he’s amazing. Hope he gets some time today on the pitch to show Torres how to lead and inspire a team.

Posted from  United States

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Nice meeting you Ingrid.

Posted from  United States

Also i like that messi is not playing but I do wish that when people look at stats they will realize the most of Messi goals and assists will come against the best teams. I am not one that looks at just stats but when they are used to justify awards it is sad.

Maxi it was raining hard that day maybe it was just a raindrop

I am a homer but I think you have to let Maradona do what he needs to do to feel comfortable in the job and if it takes a little of the power away from Grondona that might be good.

Posted from  United States

The list is out!

Carrizo, Sergio Romero
Zanetti, Demichelis, Heinze, Cata Diaz, Burdisso, Coloccini
Jonas Gutierrez, Lucho Gonzalez, Gago, Mascherano, Maxi Rodriguez, Sosa, Di Maria
Aguero, Tevez, Lisandro Lopez, Denis, Lavezzi

http://www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2008/11/04/seleccion/01795816.html

Posted from  Canada

Great goal by Maxi against Liver***l!

Diego’s squad…where is Gonzalo, Garay, Higuain?

I guess Riquelme and Veron(!!!!)will be added to Diego’s list later…

Wow – I am impressed at the initial list. Not so much the defenders – but still potent. Here’s how I see them lining up:

— Carrizo —

Zanetti — Demichelis — Heinze

Mascherano

–Maxi — Gago — Lucho – Di Maria

Aguero/Tevez — Denis

Posted from  United States

One could also ask: where is Cambiasso?…But with Masch, Gago and Lucho I think we have enough players in these positions…no need for him really. I like Lucho more than Cambiasso. I just hope Lucho soon will show me something that can justify this….

Lucho has shown his potential as showcased against Brazil in Buenos Aires when Pekerman was in charge. He acted as Riquelme’s deputy and was quite productive. But he needs to be told where to play and how.

Posted from  United States

Pep Guardiola is proving as smart a manager as he was player. Good for him.

About this list good too see Licha and Denis in there though the best finisher IMO is not there.

Also that backline is creaky. No Monzon etc to freshen it up.It will be exposed even against the likes of Scotland. And Sosa ? Biglia deserves as much a call up .Sosa has done precious little over the last season or so. No Banega either. Guess the lad must learn to control his temper.

Albo what you said it’s turning as I feared . For example Diegos comments on Leo first praising him then attacking him.

I just hope a situation arises where Diego takes out Grondona and then a gentleman like Bianchi or Diaz takes over.

Thats very poor behaviour from Diego. I’m willing to give him his chance and get behind him but those actions are not conducive to a long tenure.

Lets see what happens.
Chau.

issed your post Rune. Agreed Zarate and Higuain and Cavegol are in form and in a more pressured league than Licha and deserve a callup ahead of him.

Who knows when those two kids who have great ability will ever be called because I can tell you know the opposition if they have a player with pace will run at them every time with impunity no matter if the wing backs decide to tuck in or not.

Masche superb again .His distribution is superb. If required he could play further forward and surge as he used to at River and Corinthians.

He is far more of a player thsan just being a defensive midfielder. Supern also from Maxi lets hope he stays injury free for a sustained period of time. He is a great character to have in a squad/dressing room.

+++ Lopez, Denis, LUCHO!
— Sosa, Diaz, GONZALO!

Nice surprise, Zanetti is still around.
I have no problems with Jonas if he’s only a sub of Di Maria.
Not calling Gonzalo is scandalous.
Papa & Angeleri are surely going to be called because Monzon & Zabaleta are not on the list. Riquelme will be in Scotland too. IT MEANS NO VERON!:)

Maradona called the players to use for 3-5-2 and I love this.
3-5-2/4-1-4-1 or 5-3-2.

————–Carrizo————–
—Coloccini–DeMichelis–Heinze—
————-Mascherano————
-Maxi———Lucho——–Di Maria
——–Tevez——-Lavezzi——–
————–Denis—————-

At half time,
Zanetti -> Maxi
Gago -> Mascherano
Lisandro -> Tevez (switch to 3-4-1-2)

VAMOS ARGENTINA!

Goal Messi…after 2 mins on the field….

I think Lucho is a fantastic player but I find he is most effective alongside a flashier play maker. That sort of relegates him to being a role player despite being more than that. I always look back to his days at River Plate where he and D’Alessandro had a great partnership. D’Alessandro was flashier so he attracted the markers and Lucho was more of a worker bee on the right but he played off Andrés well and finished plays in the area as well as doubling back to defend when needed. A great addition to our squad.

Posted from  United States

Aguero on at last. Four Argentines on the Atletico side if you inc.Mariano Pernia poached by Spain.

tevez over higuain?? wtf

Posted from  United States

New thred up. Sorry to break up the current conversation, but I think the 20 man list deserves it’s own post.

Posted from  United States