Argentina Reading

Boca always uses a 4-diamond-2 two formation with Riquelme. Effective but predictable.

Posted from  Belgium

Athletico Madrid games are often spectacular and they won 4-2 over Barca !

AURELIUS,
Milito was not good at all. He is responsible of at least 2 gols. He’s not reliable. Puyol even made a mistake because of Milito on the penalty foul. HE was always in danger against Aguero. I hope Basile saw this. I am sure he doesn’t care…

Athletico is an average team an El Kun had lots of difficulties to build but he still scored twice. He missed a huge chance and didn’t give an easy ball to Maxi completely alone on the second post, on a Madrid counter attack. A paradoxal game for him.

I like Maxi Rodriguez a lot! Very collective and defend well on the wings. Him and Savio exchanged positions and disturbed Barca. He is always very clever in his positioning when his team is building on the other side. This is one of his strenght! Even if he only had a correct game, he had a standing ovation from the Madrigal and it shows how important he is for this team.

Incredible choice of 2nd forwards for Argentina: in a 4-3-1-2, One single spot between Messi, Aguero, Tevez, Palacio, Lavezzi, … wow!

PS: Ronaldinho is becoming more collective. He will be more confident in his futbol soon. Good for him.

ALBO, yes. Honestly, i am bit sad for “the exception”…

mfgt2, yes.

I’ll give precise news from Cavenaghi tonight. He will face Mario Yepes, ex River Plate defender, one of my favorite player, who is playing for Paris (a very poor team who ended Gallardo’s career).

Maxilopez
imo, Maxi Rodriguez and Esteban Cambiasso are the best players we have, who can really switch form offense to defense without a problem.
Since nobody wants to move Mascherano from his well deserved #5 position (and soon captain of the team , or Riquelme from the #10 spot, it makes a lot of sense trying to get these 2 guys on the sides of the diamond.
The side positions of the diamond require players who can attack and defend at any time. they are the ones who go from 4-3-1-2 to 4-1-3-2 back and forth.
Hence Pekerman’s and Basile’s insistence to see if they can adapt.
I believe Maxi Rodriguez was born for that position.
Cambiasso is a different story. He’s another # 5. That’s the way I see it.
Salud

Posted from  United States

Good Glorious Sunday Amici,

Where to start ……… ok lets take the game that made this weekend so enjoyable.

SS NAPOLI v inter…..and the winner is NAPOLI with great play by Lavezzi. A shameful performance by inter which will be compounded again this week in Champions league play.

Roma 4 Parma Nil……a great game. Is there a more entertaining team then Roma? Besides Milan the answer is an unequivocal NO.

MILAN 1 Lazio 1 …..the game ended in a tie but it was end to end action. This kid Pato is unbelievable.

The players today are bigger faster and more talented then in previous generations. That applies to every sport not just football. To suggest that small talented players aren’t being chosen is rubbish. All you have to do is check the rosters of any teams in Italy, England or Spain.

Also let me respectfully request that some of you keep your posts under 12,453 words. You are taking a long time to really say really very little. Again don’t be offended.

And with that let me just say

Regards,

FSC’s Argentina soccer coverage should be renamed “River Plate Soccer”.

Yes ALBO, we’ve talked about this many times.

I believe that Cambiasso is only very good when defending on the left of this “diamond”. It’s a waste using him as a winger… Basile has 2 years to react.

Our team has so many amazing defensive midfielders: Mascherano, Lucho Gonzalez, Cambiasso, Gago, Banega. Even Maxi and Zanetti can play defensive mid. It’s impressive. Lots of coaches would have used a 4-5-1 for this team.

Many European coaches would have started this kind of very effective team for Argentina, for some time now:

————Carrizzo———–
Burdisso-Dimi-Milito-Heinze
Lucho-Masche-Cambi-Maxi
——-Messi——————–
————Crespo————–

“The side positions of the diamond require players who can attack and defend at any time. they are the ones who go from 4-3-1-2 to 4-1-3-2 back and forth”. The guys who can do this presently are: Lucho, Maxi & Zanetti. It isn’t a problem at all for Maxi to play on the left, he’s an excellent and versatile player. Some other players could have this kind of role but might not have the level.

Cavenaghi had a difficult game yesterday, had an opportunity to score and defended, defended, again and again… His 1-2 and short passes are very dangerous. It could be awesome with Messi, Aimar or Riquelme!

KEN, if I post thousands of words sometimes, it’s because of my love for Argentina. This blog is the only place to share the beautiful game with other fans, the one that is almost only played as an art, by Argentineans. And I am not going apologize… you should because of your pathetic behaviour. I am sad for you. You are so boring.

I see what you guys are saying. I also always hated Cambiasso being used as a left winger. If you see some of the Copa games, you will see Mascherano running up the right flank. Also something I don’t like to see. I love Cambiasso, as he is a defensive midfielder with lots of attacking skills - good distribution, shooting etc.

Here is a formation, I guess could be effective. Again, my biggest belief is we should not play the whole/all game(s) in the same formation. Formations could change depending on opponent, game status etc.

here is my team

—-Ustari—-

Zanetti-Demichelis-Milito-Heinze

—–Mascherano–Cambiasso—–

Messi—–Riquelme———–tevez

——-Crespo/Aguero/Milito——-

This is more like a 4-5-1 for me With 3 of the midfielders are really attackers and relatively high up in the field for a mid fielder and can score goals.

Posted from  United States

i am looking forward to this upcoming friendly against egypt in cairo. but i really hope basile shakes things up a bit and play some different players. there many less experience players who are playing good club football. my hopefull starting 11

Ustari
zannetti-de’michilis-fanzio-garay
macherano-riquelme-gago
messi-higuain-lavezzi

AIMAR10,
I suppose Alfio Basile has not been named as AFA coach to “shake things up”. Russians marketers obviously want the “big names” in North Africa: Riquelme, Messi, Tevez, etc. AFA is playing a very different game than futbol and we might all gonna pay it in 2010.

AIMAR10,
Basile may use a 4-3-3 if the press & fans urge him to, like against Venezuela last time.

DEBASISH,
Yes, it’s ridiculous in modern futbol to always use the same formation at every game. So predictable. Does someone remember if Basile changed his starting 11 in 1994 (except Diego) ?

This is just what i would have dreamt if we had faced Egypt in Europe:

————-Lux————
—–Dimi–Garay–Heinze—-
Zanetti–Masche-ChuChu—Maxi
—–Messi—Lucho———–
———-Aguero————-

(Lux, just for fun, Cavegol needs to explode in France before the NT, Roman & Carrizzo must not come from America for only a friendly)

But the game will be in Egypt so i would have hoped this one:

————-Lux————–
–Burdisso-Coloccini-Garay—-
Zabaleta-Banega-Gago—Maxi—
————Lucho————-
——Lavezzi–Aguero———

We might lose the game because Egypt is an excellent team. See you.

MAxiLopez, your lineup doesn’t include Riquelme and that’s precisely the problem with 4-4-2. There’s no place for our best enganche.

Debasish, your lineup is a typical “double 5″.
Problem is Cambiasso hasn’t been effective in that position.

My opinion is that the whole team is bieng built to accomodate the stregnths and wekanesses of riquelme. And he is such a great player that this is ok. What i am saying is that you cant just take your best eleven and put them out there. You have to take your best eleven that wil play the best together. This is hard to juggle when you have the slow magician out there. there fore I like the idea of a with riquleme strategy and without riquelme strategy.

When Riquleme is in you have a genius wiht the ball but very poor defender. With him in the game movement off the ball and speed behind him are key.
Utsari
zanetti Demichillis Garay Heinze
Maxi Mascerano Gago

Riquelme
Messi Aguero
Aguero is a number 9!!!!!!

Now the without Riquleme gets very interesting becasue without him you need more offense and can put in more versatile players there fore I think you can live with just mascerano in front of the back four.

Utsari
zanetti Demichillis Garay Heinze
Mascerano

Messi Cambiasso Maxi

Tevez
Aguero

If anyone says Aguero is not a 9 I will hit you :).

Posted from  United States

I like what Todd is saying. we surely need to have a solution which does not involve Riquelme. Specially for the next WC, we need to have 1-2 solutions without Riquelme.
Now we really do not have a Riquelme replacement. Not coming up in the ranks too.
Albo, thats the reason I want a double 5. Thats the non-Riquelme solution. Though I have put Riquelme out there. Our mid fielders are not good at sharing the mid field with someone else. Problem perhaps Gago is facing too. But he is learning fast. I strongly feel we need to have the option open 2 #5s who can play with each other and share the pitch effectively. Then take out Riquelme from the mix and push Messi in his place. Then Messi’s place can be taken by Lavezzi/Maxi.

Also, the 2 #5s need not be at the same line, can be a little up and down. The upper one more creative. The throw in Lucho or Banega in that position.

What do you guys think?

BTW, people close to Argentine football, do you know of anyone similar to riquelme coming up.

Posted from  United States

John:
Inter will not play in the Champions Legue this week. They play next week, the 11th of March.

MaxiLopez: You are right about Basile, he rarely changes his starting line up. In the 94 World Cup he played with the exact same starting 11 in the two first games. In the third game, against Bulgaria, they had already qualified for the second round and he used Leo Rodriguez instead of Diego and Hernan Diaz as the right back instead of Sensini. Against Romania he used Ortega instead of Caniggia(injured) and Basualdo instead of Diego. These are the only changes that pops up in my mind when I think back….

Posted from  Norway

Let me also take time to sing the prasies of Aguero! he is 19 years old and just lead his team to a 4 to 2 win over one the the top clubs in the world. I watched the game twice and came away with no doubt that Aguero can and will be our number 9. He is fast strong and a great poacher. Without him in the line up barcelona would have won 2 t 0. Aguero was completely the source of all four goals and had barcelona playing on it heels. On the other side Messi did not start and that allowed Athletico to play a different game. messi forces teams to play very defensive and very conservative with him off the pitch most of the game it was severe asevere blow to barceleona and a confidence boost to Athletico. Messi now has one Jordon and Tiger have. he gives his team a psychological edge. Teams play with fear when he is there. When he came in he never got going.

Now understand this. There were two futbol genius on the field that day under 21 and they both play for argentina. is there any other country in the world that would even be discussing whether one of them should get playing time on the national team ? The future is Aguero and Messi adn they both need to be on the field. I beleive that after the next world cup the time will have arrived to play messi as a free player behind the two forwards. I would not call him enganche but is there any doubt that he would not devastate other teams playing there ? for now we have riquelme but when he does go it wil be time for Messi to fall back to offensive mid.

Champions league should be fun this week. Would love to see 3 to 0 for Inter.

Posted from  United States

Cavenaghi has that 1-2 link up to a tee from his days at River with Ortega for example & Bystrov at Spartak Maxi.

Hope Alfio gives him a chance.

Garay linked again with Manchester United for a summer move with Pique going to Santander . Would have a tough time with Vidic & Ferdinand as first choices but Ferdinand may be coming off his peak in the eyes of Ferguson.

Valeri as a possible call up after tearing it up at Lanus.

Patricio Gonsalez is Manchester Uniteds other target over the summer. Pity really in a way & Nicolas Mazzola as a target man for West Ham.

Chau amigos.:)

ALBO, of course I know haha. I just posted what Europeans would do. They don’t believe in playmakers for a while now… They would use creative defensive mid like Lucho or Gago.

DEBASISH,
I think a 4-2-3-1 is a very good formation for Argentina. It is also the one that used France at last world cup. It’s the only effective formation that could include Riquelme, Messi and Aimar from the beginning. Pekerman used it against Serbia Montenegro, with Maxi on the left and Saviola on the right of Riquelme.
I also strongly believe that a double 5s is absolutely essential for us. But it is also possible with a 4-3-1-2 system if 1 SW comes in the middle (switching into a 3-4-1-2)! This is what I would like to see so much! It was so beautiful to watch in 2006 thanks to Sorin and Pekerman.
In 2006, the double 5 system was like this: it was Lucho (or chuchu) in front of Mascherano when we were not leading. Lucho AND Maxi, when we were leading (4-1-4-1, with a forward defending at Maxi’s place).

TODDUTAH,
For me, maybe unlike in 2006, the whole team is NOT built around Riquelme because there is Messi. I say “maybe” because in 2006, there was also Lucho who could create (we saw it against Germany). I even wish it would be the case but it’s not. Anyway, a team always become dependent to a great player like Riquelme. I am not worried at all because we have Aimar. I hope he’s gonna leave Zaragoza next year.
“You have to take your best eleven that will play the best together” : Yes. This is why Maxi Rodriguez or Lucho are so important.
Gago and Cambiasso are out of position on the left of the diamond. It’s even worse for Gago because he hasn’t got a left foot. It’s only a personal opinion but I’m sure playing like this is mistake (2007). I really think Maxi must be on the left. Basile did this at the last game, against Colombia, using Mascherano on the right and Gago as our #5.
Aguero is good but is not Romario : ) A striker needs to have stats so we will see who is the best. We have Milito, Aguero, Denis and now Cavenaghi. I don’t consider there is a problem with our #9 spot. This is good news. The problem is behind.
If you put a playmaker instead of your Tevez in your second formation, you have the system that trashed Serbia.

Vamos Argentina.

Thanks for the correction Rune

regards

Wow

Banega Held After Drink-Driving

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=607557#Comm

Posted from  United States

By the way, watch what your MaxiLopez does on the Corsican beaches… Alfio Basile did you see this?

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=8PvOd0y82V0

thanks for the feedback. I compare Aguero to romario but do not say that he will be as good as romario but if he is close to as good then we have a great number 9. He leads in goals and assists on Athletico. With respect I dont see the other names of Denis Milito or Cavenagi being in Agueros class. Just my opnion.

Posted from  United States

Tevez The New Cantona - Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson compared Carlos Tevez with his former charge and Manchester United legend Eric Cantona ahead of the vital Champions League clash with Lyon.
»Comments Print This Story Send To A Friend Contact Us
galleria zoom “Carlos reminds me of Eric Cantona in the way that he has a knack of rising to the occasion with a goal just when it’s needed,” Ferguson wrote in the match programme.

The Argentinean arrived after drawn-out legal wrangle last summer, but Ferguson and the fans have been more than satsified with the important contributions Tevez has shown since.

“He often comes up with the goods away from home when you are up against it. I don’t think anything fazes him and he keeps his cool in the box”, said his delighted manager.

“Tevez is proving a master at scoring the really important goals - the ones that give you a win or a draw, especially away from home.”

The 24-year-old has scored 15 goals in 33 appearances for his new club already this season, and the forward nicknamed ‘the lion’ by team-mates has already set his sights high in his debut season by claiming nothing less than a trip to Moscow for the Champions League final will do for the club.

“The goal he got in Lyon was obviously really important to us, as were his goals at Liverpool, Tottenham and at home to Chelsea right on half-time when we were searching for that first goal,” said the veteran United boss.

“He’s proving to be an important player for us, no question. He’s now on 15 goals. I think that’s a great return in his first season with us so we’re delighted with him.”

Posted from  United States

Tevez aint bad either.

Posted from  United States

MaxiLopez:
Forget Aguero and Cavenaghi….You are the man who should wear the number 9 for us! What a cracking goal!!

Posted from  Norway

Debasish, on the double 5 formation the two 5s are not totally together.
As you suggested, Cambiasso (the more attacking one) is always a couple meters ahead of Mascherano.
Yet, Pekerman and Basile haven’t been able to make it work the way the wanted.

Aguero vs Barca

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD-wu-zb37Q

Loved the pass to Maxi.

Posted from  United States