Their CM is wank as is their DF
Sadly for Messi it wont be enough
Sadly for Messi it wont be enough
Argentina at the WC
- Thread starter Raoul
- Start date
Other than Spain though I'm not sure any team can claim to have top quality in every position. Germany and Brazil certainly can't.
Will Higuain be starting for Argentina because i fancy him for the Golden Boot.
Dunno why people keep saying that. Mascherano, Gago and di María is a good midfield three.
Yeah, he'll start.
Argentina and Higuain double 33/1 decent value i think and i will have a look around for a better price.
66/1 with Bet365 if you have an account there (I'm tempted to bet on it too...)
Me too. Sounds pretty certain to start as well. Gonna double him up with Spain to win it at about 150-1
Yeh i just seen on oddschecker then, worth creating a account really. How can odds for the same bet be so far apart on a different site ?
Just a loss-leader to get you to sign up
If i am going to do a bet then i would just use another site anyway so most likely i'll never use that website again like i do with most other betting accounts i have.
Well Skybet got me with 5/4 Arsenal top 4, worth signing up for a .5 point over true odds and I got a free bet on Germany as a saver.
I've got accounts with pretty much everyone that hasn't already banned me. Best way to get maximum value from the bets I want to make, and get a lot of free bet offers along the way.
Too much like hard work - I've just got the 3
Keeping track of which accounts I still have money in is a bit of a pain but apart from that it's not too bad, just use oddschecker to see where the best price is then use that site.
I don't understand the notion of having to win the World Cup to be the greatest player... especially as you can't really choose what country you belong to... I mean, imagine Ronaldo or Messi were from Finland, that would make it nigh on impossible to be the greatest player with that stipulation? Surely it should be based on individual accolades...
the funny thing is, Messi was offered to play for Spain but rejected it. that's probably the only reason why we're still having these discussions about the greatest player of all time.
The Argentinian team has no balance whatsoever. The attacking quartet of Di Maria, Kun Aguero, Messi and Higuain is excellent but barring that, nothing. No great midfielder(s), and barring Garay and Zabaleta, their defence is weak. Even in the attacking quartet, Di Maria will man one of the wings, but what about the other? Neither of the other 3 will be shunted out. Against a good side, they'll be found wanting.
Holland's defense was protected by the duo of De Jong and Van Bommel though. Will Mascherano play in defense or MF for them?
He'll play in midfield.
If they do it right, this side looks reasonably balanced to me, albeit with a weak left-back:
----------Higuain
-----Aguero-------
DiMaria--------Messi
--Perez-Mascherano
LB-------------Zabaleta
---Garay-Otamendi
though you`d prefer to see Caballero in net instead of whoever they go with. I think the wings are okay in that Di Maria can help on one side and Messi + Zabaleta is so scary that that team`s wing should be pegged back. If the wings are really a problem, throw Sosa at RW, play Messi as a 10 and bench one of Aguero or Higuain.
I`m not sure they have the manager to do it (especially since he seems to have bowed to pressure and failed to choose what looks to be clearly the best keeper available), but there are options in the squad.
I have no idea why Gago would be the man they go with as the 8, though, considering the low odds of him getting through 4 knockout games in a row. Surely they should go with Perez?
Mascherano played in midfield for Argentina but it has been ages since he last played in that position for Barcelona. Against top opposition, he might be found out. Messi might take a call and shift to the wings. But it'll be a doble edged sword. A team might be pegged back on its left wing but shall try to counter from that wing only. The CBs will hence move out of position trying to cover causing havoc to the shape.
Any good prospects in midfield coming out of Argentina?
Mascherano is a pro. He'll be fine in his natural position.
What about this?
Aguero
Messi
Di Maria - Banega - Gago - Zabaleta
Mascherano
Fernandez - Garay - Demichelis
Romero
Messi
Di Maria - Banega - Gago - Zabaleta
Mascherano
Fernandez - Garay - Demichelis
Romero
I doubt they`ll play 3 at the back, and I`d still prefer Perez`s all around game to Gago`s superior distribution and lack of everything else, but it`s not the worst idea. Might look better with Mascherano as the RCB instead of Demichelis and a better passer in front of the D. Maybe play Gago there.
I wouldn`t be surprised if they end up looking like this, which isn`t too dissimilar:
Aguero-Higuain
Messi
Di Maria Gago Zabaleta
Mascherano
Rojo Fernandez Garay
Romero
Messi
Di Maria Gago Zabaleta
Mascherano
Rojo Fernandez Garay
Romero
Basically, Di Maria and Zabaleta providing width, Messi playmaking behind their scary strikers and whoever looks least shaky defensively surrounding Mascherano to deal with counter attacks.
Qualification appearances:
Messi 14
Di Maria 12
Masc 11
Higuain 11
Lavezzi 8
Aguero 8
Biglia 6
Havn't seen him mentioned at all and wondered how likely he is to play? If his chances are low, what's the explanation for his decent amount of qualification appearances?
Messi 14
Di Maria 12
Masc 11
Higuain 11
Lavezzi 8
Aguero 8
Biglia 6
Havn't seen him mentioned at all and wondered how likely he is to play? If his chances are low, what's the explanation for his decent amount of qualification appearances?
Maxi? fecking Maxi? At least throw in Banega or Perez there, since they`re proper 8`s and just better at this point.
But yeah, the rest looks good, apart from the LB.
Aguero being out, I think, and you can`t really cram a central striker in there with Higuain clogging up the middle and Messi needing gaps to hit.
Lavezzi----Higuain----Messi
looks reasonably balanced, with messi floating across.
Well I wanted to have Alvarez but I noticed hes was cut from squad, so have to make do with what's left
I don't think Banega is anything special at all and he has gone back to Argentina
I like Maxi Rodriguez and he has played well at previous World Cups
Alvarez is too attacking. They need someone who can do a job on opposition CM`s and keep the ball moving to give Messi, Di Maria and Aguero the chance to make things happen.
In real life, I keep reading it will be Gago, but who knows.
I believe in a more attacking philosophy and only like having 1 midfielder who is mostly defensive
di Maria and Alvarez are both very capable of assisting Mascherano and they offer a strong attacking threat too
We came 7th this season because we played 2 DMs in almost every game
In one of the game where we played only one - Jones, we won 5-0 against Leverkusen
Nani, Giggs, Kagawa, Valencia, Rooney all focus on creativity and attack
Example if I was adding a 3rd midfielder to Mascherano and di Maria from our team I would only add Giggs and would not add Carrick, Fletcher, Cleverley or Fellaini
Looks like Otamendi, Banega and José Sosa are the final three players to be cut from the squad. Unconfirmed but deadline is tonight so it'll probably be official soon.
I don't think Demichelis is a strong defender, he is in final squad?
Maybe is like David Luiz for Brazil and not as bad as some think
Maybe is like David Luiz for Brazil and not as bad as some think
Seems that way. As above though, not official yet.
I will change my above team and have Demichelis at CB then
Fernandez alternate CB, Perez alternate midfield and Lavezzi alternate for front 3 if injuries happen
Fernandez alternate CB, Perez alternate midfield and Lavezzi alternate for front 3 if injuries happen
Pretty sure the line-up will be Romero; Zabaleta, Fernández, Garay, Rojo; Mascherano, Gago, di María; Messi, Agüero, Higuaín.
Guess we'll know more on Wednesday though when they play Trinidad and Tobago.
Guess we'll know more on Wednesday though when they play Trinidad and Tobago.
Worst argentina of all times
Maxi, Biglia and Alvarez over Banega?? Is this guy for real and who the hell is A.Fernandez
Messi and co will look over their shoulder at that midfield...daaamn
Messi and co will look over their shoulder at that midfield...daaamn
A. Fernández is Augusto Fernández, Celta Vigo player who had a good season (though I wouldn't call him up either).
Banega is overrated, admittedly haven't seen him since he moved to Argentina but he's been inconsistent for years, and again I'll have to ask what's wrong with a midfield three of Mascherano, Gago and di María? It's not perfect but it's as good as most of the top teams. Defence and keeper is more of a problem...