Yeah agree the midfield 3 is still decent if lined up like that but with Sabella you never know. The rest of the midfielders are shockingly average, at least with Banega he has shown to be better than the rest
Argentina at the WC
- Thread starter Raoul
- Start date
Pretty sure it'll be that three, that's what most say anyway. You're right though, they don't have very good cover for their first choice midfield three.
Alvarez is a better choice than Banega
di Maria, Alvarez and Mascherano would be a quality 3 man midfield
The same Alvarez that played mediocre for Inter all season. I would rather have Riquelme lol
http://www.whoscored.com/Teams/75/Show/-Inter
Not really that mediocre compared to Cleverley or Fletcher is he?
He last scored in November, Pastore (whos had an average season) is a better option esp as same position.http://www.whoscored.com/Teams/75/Show/-Inter
Not really that mediocre compared to Cleverley or Fletcher is he?
Cleverley and Fletcher lets not go there ha
Alvarez might not have scored a dozen goals but he is creative, good at passing and dribbling with the ball
He also does a good job defensively like di Maria
You would have Mascherano as your DM and 2 attacking midfielders di Maria and Alvarez who can create from midfield and do good job helping Mascherano and the defense
I see your point but his attacking options are not needed with Messi and Co. Rather have Banega who will sit and attack occasionally. Alvarez lacks that discipline, he wants to be a match winner
You say Banega is inconsistent then ask what is wrong with Gago? Really? He's not only inconsistent but gash. Banega should not only be in squad but starting. Gago also made less than half the appearances that Banega had last season. Shocking decision.
I didn't ask what's wrong with Gago, I asked what's wrong with that midfield three. I haven't followed Gago's club career since he left Spain but internationally he provides a nice balance to the team. I could understand dropping him if they had another top midfielder but not for the inconsistent lazy playboy who's best form at Valencia came in his last season, behind the striker (Messi's place).
Not picking the likes of Caballero and Musacchio is questionable, leaving out Éver Banega is not.
I've just drawn these in the staff sweepstake at work. I can already hear the commentator screaming in the last minute of the final: '..and it's MESSSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII...' Come hither to me money.
Come hither to me money. -------------------Romero---------------------
Zabaleta --- Garay--- Fernandez --- Rojo
-----------------Mascherano-------------------
-----------Gago---------------Di Maria-------
--------------------Messi----------------------
---------Higuain---------------Aguero----------
Ricardo Alvarez, Lavezzi, Biglia, Enzo Perez may rotate sometime.
Except GK (why didn't they take Caballero!!), everything is solid.
That attack-line
Zabaleta --- Garay--- Fernandez --- Rojo
-----------------Mascherano-------------------
-----------Gago---------------Di Maria-------
--------------------Messi----------------------
---------Higuain---------------Aguero----------
Ricardo Alvarez, Lavezzi, Biglia, Enzo Perez may rotate sometime.
Except GK (why didn't they take Caballero!!), everything is solid.
That attack-line
The number of attacking players you need depends on how many defenders the opposing team is using
If a team decides to park the bus and have back 4 with 5 in midfield, that is 9 players plus the GK all defending against your players
You are not going to break them down with only have 3 forwards, so they need help
That help can come from attacking FBs and your midfielders
The team you pick depends on whether you want Argentina to be the team parking the bus, or the team trying to smash the bus up
I see them as one of the big teams so I choose an attacking bus smashing team every time
Only playing against Trinidad and Tobago so very stupid to go overboard but they played very well tonight. Won 3-0 - Palacio header, Mascherano tap-in (rebound from Messi's free kick which hit the post) and a Maxi Rodríguez tap-in after good work from Palacio. Garay, Zabaleta, Agüero and Higuaín all missed out through injury.
Negative would be Lavezzi, who was dire and squandered many clear-cut chances.
Negative would be Lavezzi, who was dire and squandered many clear-cut chances.
Thought Messi played well, even if he missed a couple he normally would convert. Looks like he has that spark again
Yeah I thought so too, although I kinda stopped paying attention towards the end. Some nice passes and unsurprisingly they had to hack him down on a few on his runs.
Watched some of the first half, can't believe that one miss from messi right before the break
He definitely looked more up for it though, predictably wants to get in form before the World Cup.
Edit: never mind only just saw there play and the defender cleared it, wasn't a miss.
He definitely looked more up for it though, predictably wants to get in form before the World Cup.
Edit: never mind only just saw there play and the defender cleared it, wasn't a miss.
They missed a lot of chances, specially Lavezzi. I think if Aguero played, he would have been more clinical.
Di Maria seemed to make a lot of wrong decisions -- shooting when it was better to pass and passing when it was easier to shoot. But overall, passing and commitment was good. A little fine tuning is required. Messi though looked very eager.
Di Maria seemed to make a lot of wrong decisions -- shooting when it was better to pass and passing when it was easier to shoot. But overall, passing and commitment was good. A little fine tuning is required. Messi though looked very eager.
Anyone care to give any advice on their defensive line up? Simply for Dream Team purposes!! Will Rojo and Fernandez start?
Aguero is the best striker for Argentina
he is a level above imo
he is a level above imo
Messi looks more up for it than the last few months, but still nowhere near the level he was (before 2014) at Barca.
Going on Sabella's favoured XI during qualifying, yes. Garay-Fernández was the favoured CB pairing for most of the campaign. Although he has recalled Demichelís to the NT so you never know.
Yeah, but Messi's finishing/shooting has been poor all season (about -10% compared to the previous 4-5 seasons, down to Suárez and Cristiano levels) and was present once again in this game. He's really lacking confidence in that department IMO, for that reason, and the fact that he'll likely spend a lot of time in MF as well, I doubt he'll score an exceptional amount of goals in the WC.
Would it matter much? If you have Aguero and Higuain, he can afford to play as a pure 10.
I dont understand all the criticism. To me the rgentinian first 11 seems one of the strongest in the tournament. Much stronger than the likes of Portugal/France/Holland/England/Brazil/Colombia/Belgium. In fact I feel with Germanys injuries and squad issues, their starting 11 is even stronger than Germanys. The only team better is Spains.
Romero - We all know Willy should have been chosen. This is probly the only week spot.
Zabaleta - One of the best right backs in the world.
Garay - Had a great season for Benfica.
Demichelis - Yeah hes got his detractors, but he was better than Kompany (And most center backs) in the second half of the year.
Rojo -Young attacking fullback. Most countries have them.
Mascherano - Still one of the best in the position
Gago - Meh.....
Di Maria - MOM for Champions League Final. Top assit leader in La Liga.
Aguero - What can be said?
Huguain - What can be said?
Messi - What can be said?
I dont think theres a first 11 at the world cup with a better peforming side this year than Argentina.
Romero - We all know Willy should have been chosen. This is probly the only week spot.
Zabaleta - One of the best right backs in the world.
Garay - Had a great season for Benfica.
Demichelis - Yeah hes got his detractors, but he was better than Kompany (And most center backs) in the second half of the year.
Rojo -Young attacking fullback. Most countries have them.
Mascherano - Still one of the best in the position
Gago - Meh.....
Di Maria - MOM for Champions League Final. Top assit leader in La Liga.
Aguero - What can be said?
Huguain - What can be said?
Messi - What can be said?
I dont think theres a first 11 at the world cup with a better peforming side this year than Argentina.
Would love Argentina to win this but can't see it. Romero, Rojo and Gago are nowhere near good enough especially against the top teams. Not a big fan of Fernandez either. Losing Zabaleta would be massive. So much talent in an attacking sense but an injury to Zab, Garay or Mascherano would be too much IMO.
Anyone seen this or was it mentioned here?
I haven't followed Argentina much, so can't really comment on their chances. But in recent WCs imo they had good players but didn't make a good team. Has this changed now?
I just don't have any connection with them, I started disliking them when Simeone got Becks sent off
(but I like his Atletico though!). My dislike for them changed a bit when we got Tevez who I just loved when he was with us! Obviously after he left all my sympathy for Argentina was gone.
Then regarding Messi, I don't have anything against him and he definitely is one of the greatest ever, but my favourite Barca player has always been Iniesta! And then Xavi! I just don't have the desire to follow Messi with Argentina, he doesn't interest me that much. Then I like Aguero and Di Maria, but same story, can't be bothered to follow them too closely.
I'll just relax and enjoy their games with my neutral feelings I guess!
I just don't have any connection with them, I started disliking them when Simeone got Becks sent off
(but I like his Atletico though!). My dislike for them changed a bit when we got Tevez who I just loved when he was with us! Obviously after he left all my sympathy for Argentina was gone.Then regarding Messi, I don't have anything against him and he definitely is one of the greatest ever, but my favourite Barca player has always been Iniesta! And then Xavi! I just don't have the desire to follow Messi with Argentina, he doesn't interest me that much. Then I like Aguero and Di Maria, but same story, can't be bothered to follow them too closely.
I'll just relax and enjoy their games with my neutral feelings I guess!
I haven't followed Argentina much, so can't really comment on their chances. But in recent WCs imo they had good players but didn't make a good team. Has this changed now?
I just don't have any connection with them, I started disliking them when Simeone got Becks sent off
Then regarding Messi, I don't have anything against him and he definitely is one of the greatest ever, but my favourite Barca player has always been Iniesta! And then Xavi! I just don't have the desire to follow Messi with Argentina, he doesn't interest me that much. Then I like Aguero and Di Maria, but same story, can't be bothered to follow them too closely.
I'll just relax and enjoy their games with my neutral feelings I guess!
I don't think you can judge them on previous world cups because there are so many variables, including luck and injury. I like their chances this time just because the energy of the WC being in South America, combined with this being Messi's chance to elevate himself to the Maradona level, combined with Messi, Aguero, and Di Maria being a ridiculously good attack. Its really between them and Brazil imo.
Anyone seen this or was it mentioned here?
Isn't there some sort of FIFA rule that prevents this sort of political stunt? Or would it not apply in friendly games?
It certainly shouldn't be tolerated during the World Cup.
Replace Gago with Alvarez. 3 man midfield of Mascherano, di Maria and Alvarez is very good. It changes the dynamic of the midfield from defensive to attacking. Messi and Aguero supporting Higuain. There is no better front 3 than that from any other team. GK and defense not perfect, but solid enough.
god no. ricky alvarez has been for too long a complete moron. talented enough attacking player. but god would he ruin the balance of the team. his first season and a half at inter was riddled with brain dead play and complete selfishness of the highest order.
Gago is really out of form, but you need the balance he can bring.
Gago is really out of form, but you need the balance he can bring.
United played with 2 DMs who offer nothing creative or attacking and we were poor all season and came 7th. If Argentina play with 2 DMs I think they will struggle, because the team is too defensive.
As I heard FIFA isn't happy with that stunt to say the least.
With Messi, Di Maria, Kun and Huguain, I don't think they are too worried about offensive quality. If these 4 can't do anything, I doubt the rest can do something more special. They will need solid defensive mids to protect the backline.
United struggled bcoz of many factors. They never (I doubt any team ever) had such an attack. The top 4 in the team are simply exceptional. And if they live upto their usual standard, this team won't need more attacking players in the field.
With the attack Argentina have, there defense is not important if they dominate possession and the attack does the business which is the best front line at the World Cup.
A defence including Zabaleta, Garay and Demichelis is actually not that bad.
They can all be clumsy at times. I cant see them stopping top teams.
Anyone seen this or was it mentioned here?
what does it say?
Falkland Islands
ethnic groups - Falkland Islander 57%, British 24.6%, St. Helenian 9.8%, Chilean 5.3%, other (including Argentinians) 3.4%
70% of Falkland Islanders are of British descent
languages - English 89%, Spanish 7.7%, other 3.3%
Falklands Islands are British, CIA said it, must be true
ethnic groups - Falkland Islander 57%, British 24.6%, St. Helenian 9.8%, Chilean 5.3%, other (including Argentinians) 3.4%
70% of Falkland Islanders are of British descent
languages - English 89%, Spanish 7.7%, other 3.3%
Falklands Islands are British, CIA said it, must be true
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Gago is a defensive player, but he's not a DM. He's more of a supportive distributor, quite a good one on his day (which is very rare). He's not a second defensive midfielder, nor plays like that.