Champions League Round of 16 This Week

I totally agree day1star. I just never thought Riquelme was worth building a team around. Once you do that, it’s success or failure by him and him alone, and with his temperament, fitness, and will, that’s really not a good place to put the NT.

we have key players, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have backup, in case something happens. I wish Riquelme hadn’t done that, he gives us another dimension and on his day is one of the finest players there is. Plus, he’s not past his sell by date, far from it.

Will everybody be fighting until the WC? The Arg. FA, maradona, the players, the media there seem to be in a constant fomented screaming match. Much like this forum

Seriously, though. Maradona, I think, has a great mind for football. He isn’t just this animal of talent that worked on pure instinct and guile. he was smart out there, and he has that as an expert of the game. But his mouth always gets in his way. He needs therapy.

The problem with Riquelme is that he makes his fans dream. We can this sort of pure geometrical order in the way he plays, and he is ALWAYS the smartest player on the field. But his body seems broken down, and, like Maxi said, he never seemed to have that steely ambition that Zidane had.

Arg got all excited watching Messi’s spectacular form in barcelona, seeing how well he played off Henry and Eto’o, but it’s hard to have that freedom and opportunity without players like Xavi and Iniesta. I always viewed Riquelme as a less professional but more genius version of Xavi.

They’ll need a supplier for Aguero, Tevez, and Messi. WHo can fill that role? I mean, really?

Thanks god for Masherano. Gago is underacheiving, I think. Banega looks like he doesn’t even train. This is going to be very tricky, trying to find a cohesive midfield.

for all the people who just can’t understand why some of think riquelme is so great, maybe this article can help:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2008/10/riquelme_one_of_a_dying_breed.html

We definetely need a player to fill that Gap but it think maradona is going to test out several players in that position..Ibagaza has been great for Villareal, Aimar scored in the last weekend for Benfica, D’allesandro, i’ve seen him play and i do belive Maradona can teach this guy alot and he’s according to me a player that has underachieved!! What we need is new players to be tested in some positions like midfield ones..we need an attacking midfielder which was dont really have more of!! When we look at Spain they have several attacking midfielders but when it comes to defensive they’re barren and use brazilian born senna there!! we have to turn our weaknesses into strenghts and for that players like Riquelme, Heinze, Pato have to get lost from the team. I like Riquelme but his time is over now, i want a fast paced player to replaced him to work with our trio of aguero, messi and tevez!!..Gago had been really poor in the recent games and is looking out of sorts now!! Why doesnt Maradona see elsewhere? Luciano Galletti of Olympiakos is the top scorer in the greek league so why not try other options too..Look at the italian team in the last match, so many new faces on display so i think we need to experiment more till we find a team that will be indomitable!!

ZANETTI,
We don’t have the time to experiment and test players. WC is in only 14 months. The only thing Maradona should do right now is to continue to practice with this 4-4-2 built around Messi.

Lavezzi +1.

Benfica lost with a pathetic team performance (may be this is how the portugese league is ), only player lively was Di-Maria, while Aimar had his glimpses of vision and talent but nowhere near what he had been.

to boca fans:

please be advised riquelme is a joy to watch when he is on point

but his flaws outweigh his positives

for instance

- he is slow.. he cant make runs for shit

- he is arrogant, (i heard he has to practice on his own)

most importantly – HE IS INCONSISTENT, for every 2 good games he has he has 4 bad ones

at this level you cant play with those odds

trust me its time to move on, we will remember the 40% of good games he had
cause he had some good moments

Posted from  Canada

aguero scored and maxi got an assist as atletico beat villareal 3-2.

aguero scored and maxi got an assist as atletico beat villareal 3-2.

banega played today, he was great.

How does Riquelme practice “on his own”? Does he pass the ball to himself? I mean, really!

he does not train with the rest of the team he has “special” practices

you never heard about this?

Posted from  Canada

Riquelme does all the jogging, warming up and stretching with all the Boca players, he also does football and other sports they play as part of the practice.
The special treatment is in the gym, with weights and things like that.

I find it funny that some bloggers want to rest importance to Riquelme’s quitting of the NT.
Today he was a star for Boca 3-0 Argentinos Jrs.
Forlín, Figueroaa and Palacio scored, but all those thousands ands thousands of people who own La Bombonera every weekend never stopped singing in support for their total hero:
Juan Román Riquelme. Yes, “la hinchada de Boca” decided to support Riquelme and sing songs against Maradona !!
Tell you the truth, as a Boca fan, I can’t believe all this is happening
Boca fans against Maradona is one of the most bizarre things you could imagine in football.
But Riquelme is their hero. that’s how it turned out.
Riquelme 1-0 Maradona
Now, it’s time for Maradona and the young rascals to show if they got game
You know, “you talk the talk, but do you walk the walk?”
Vamos Albiceleste !!!!

Posted from  United States

Luciano “Lucho Figueroa has been playing at great level and scoring consistently as a #9 for Boca (Palermo’s sub). I like his style, full of energy, very strong player.

Posted from  United States

i like figueroa too albo, he comes with the right attitude the concern i have is he dives too much and i thing it’s sometime too obvious, might get a reputation with referees.

Hopefully the last note on this discussion topic,
This all mess-up created for paper selling will create a self imposed pressure on players and coach to perform ..err..to satisfy the ego to show what they can.
So I am expecting a new/forced enganche in the coming matches and we will still win.

New Thread please .

Posted from  United States

yes we need a new thread.. dale vamos! )) I love this blog.. we’re getting closer to the world cup qualifiers, i’m sure you are all getting very excited and pumped!! can’t wait!! march 28, i will be at the MONUMENTAL to watch the game!! eat your hearts out! jajajajja ::)))))))))))

Good for you, Julian !!!!
Enjoy the game.
I have a feeling we’re going to do just fine.
Saludos a los chochamu

Posted from  United States

ROMAN= CHICKEN, MARADONA = GOD and thats no ones mere opinion its FACT the fact roman has done this alone should keep him out, i love the guy as a player/playmaker but come on !”!”ITS ALL ABOUT ME!”!” at such a time is pure selfishness ARGENTINA HAVE A CUP TO WIN FOR CHRISTS SAKES….

i can not see this in any other way than roman fearing maradona and roman not being man enough to have maradona manage him its like his shitting him self of maradonas presents OH AND POSTING FACT DOESNT MAKE ONE A TROLL TROLLING =TROLL FACT=INTELIGENTS users of troll in forums = mental qweakness in the light of anothers post

to call troll = weak try proving the guy a troll and prove your point not just make the point ANY WEAK FUK CAN DO THAT PROVING IT TAKES A MAN

well now romans gone ill take back my 3-5-2 predictions and ponder a little longer to a solution

Posted from  United Kingdom

I guess we wont be arguing over whether Roma should be starting ? Also it is no surprise that the Boca fans supported Roman as they should he is their player. I am sure when Argentina play on the 28 there will be a lot of signs in support of Roman. It is to bad that in history things do not always end well. This does not mean that Riquleme is against the NT or Maradona now. I hope that he will though his support behind them before the 2010 WC and I am sure that he will.

Posted from  United States

Sorry about the spelling . In a hurry. I meant throw his support behind the team.

Posted from  United States

Well, I would go back to our superb 4-3-3.
It’s to me, the most balanced lineup we can play

———————Carrizo———————

—Angeleri—Demichelis—Samuel—Papa—

——————Mascherano—————
——Gago————————Maxi R.——

Messi————Tévez————Agüero

If it’s true that Demichelis can’t play the next game, I would try Forlín, who is becoming a real good CD.

Posted from  United States

One thing that Maradona has been doing and very well indeed, is to scout young talent.
He really has an eye for who really plays the game and who doesn’t.

Posted from  United States