Argentina

[JamDav1982]

Yeah but that's just like leaving Messi out of the squad and taking Milito instead.

I am not making excuses or saying he is right I am saying that it the reason why he is doing it.

Not just with the GK either, he calls up a lot of poorer players.

On ability alone Cambiasso would be in the team miles ahead of Gago, Banega or Biglia. Or Fazio, Mussachio etc would be in ahead of Federico Fernandez but Sabella is not going to budge.

He seems to have his starting eleven and doesnt want to upset them or bring in players that will make them worry about their place.

 

[Cule4life]

A club atmosphere? Why not take the whole estudiantes squad while you are at it and drop the pretense. You won't get a better "club atmosphere" than that

 

[JamDav1982]

A club atmosphere? Why not take the whole estudiantes squad while you are at it and drop the pretense. You won't get a better "club atmosphere" than that

He was not far off doing that one stage. Calling up some real dross that were current or former Estudiantes players.

He has decided on his starting eleven and most of his back ups and wont change it.

To be fair to him a lot of what he has done has worked.

The defence has improved, Messi is playing his best ever football for Argentina and they have just cantered to the top of the SA qualifying.

 

[beautifulgame]

He was not far off doing that one stage. Calling up some real dross that were current or former Estudiantes players.

He has decided on his starting eleven and most of his back ups and wont change it.

To be fair to him a lot of what he has done has worked.

The defence has improved, Messi is playing his best ever football for Argentina and they have just cantered to the top of the SA qualifying.

This. you all overlook this. you begin to question decision with little basis that is is results.

with all that said, the only decision i can really be upset about is that of Romero over Willy. The others i can stomach given the football he has demonstrated not only at Argentina but also at Estudiantes.

 

[Chainsaw]

If you take a look at the Sabella's team you see the core is mostly made of the players who are almost all of the same age. Most of them been playing together since U-19 up to now. Bringing Willy in who has "never" been in the NT, right before the main event, may cause more damage than good to what Sabella has tried to make over the years with his team. Willy might feel like an outsider among the players who know each other for years. He got to know a defence that he has never trained or played with in such a very short time, which is nearly impossible now that we're only months away from the WC.

 

[FCBarca]

Of course, at this juncture it's almost a moot point...The larger point was that Willy has been excellent for a few years now, there was ample time to call him up prior to now...Defense & keeper have been the weakest links with Argentina yet there's been very little in the way of callups for a variety of European based players who could help

 

[Flavia]

He was not far off doing that one stage. Calling up some real dross that were current or former Estudiantes players.

He has decided on his starting eleven and most of his back ups and wont change it.

To be fair to him a lot of what he has done has worked.

The defence has improved, Messi is playing his best ever football for Argentina and they have just cantered to the top of the SA qualifying.

Sabella is doing a great job, no doubt. But the AFA still forces his hand on some points. CBF also does it with Scolari. South american coaches don't have 100% freedom to choose their squads.

 

[Chainsaw]

Of course, at this juncture it's almost a moot point...The larger point was that Willy has been excellent for a few years now, there was ample time to call him up prior to now...

I agree but that's Sabella's choice and there's nothing we can do about it. Romero actually wasn't a bad choice as Argentina's #1. He has his shaky moments, but he also has some great reflexes.

Defense & keeper have been the weakest links with Argentina yet there's been very little in the way of callups for a variety of European based players who could help

The era of Ayala, Samuel and Zanetti is over. Sabella, base on what he has, has made a very good job tightening up the defence.

Sabella is doing a great job, no doubt. But the AFA still forces his hand on some points. CBF also does it with Scolari. South american coaches don't have 100% freedom to choose their squads.

+1. Like recent talks about including Carlos Tevez in the WC squad again.

 

[zanela]

If you take a look at the Sabella's team you see the core is mostly made of the players who are almost all of the same age. Most of them been playing together since U-19 up to now. Bringing Willy in who has "never" been in the NT, right before the main event, may cause more damage than good to what Sabella has tried to make over the years with his team. Willy might feel like an outsider among the players who know each other for years. He got to know a defence that he has never trained or played with in such a very short time, which is nearly impossible now that we're only months away from the WC.

Intl football is all about fine margins. One poor decision, can prove fatal to the team's chances of progressing. Having no worthwhile competition in the squad, only breeds complacency, and its exactly why Romero's performances have gone south (+his no-show at the club level). He knows regardless of his club situation, and NT performances, he can always walk straight in to the XI. Keeping the self-serving Tevez out makes sense, as this Arg is messi's Arg. But Romero is not indispensable to this team. Willy and Romero should co-exist for the greater good of the team. If Romero doesn't like it, too bad, he can stay back at Monaco waiting for his next paycheck. Its not like he'll be missed much.

As for the highlighted part, like romero knows? The fact that he's hasty to come off his lines, even when his defence is there to cover for him suggest, despite the familiarity in the dressing room, there is no reliable communication between them on-pitch. His positioning is poor in general, and so are his reflexes, and ball distribution (something even Andujar is better at). Having an odd good game here and there isn't the hallmark of good goalkeeping, but consistency is. And Romero is far from a consistent one. Willy, unlike Romero, is more of a leader, and commands his area better. His body of work has earned him respect and praise, even by some of the current Arg members. I have no reason to believe he won't be well received by the squad, or that he'll create dressing room prob. The man is a pro through and through. His potent fundamentals will facilitate his settling period. And the defense will be better off knowing they 've a reliable keeper at the back.

As for the class of 87/88 argument. Sabella has had no qualms about calling up the likes of Braña, Somoza, Guiñazú, Ponzio etc. Most of them in decline, and unfamiliar to the "current young rockstars". Yet, Sabella didn't feel the need to acknowledge the best Arg has between the sticks. If excellence is not rewarded, you're setting a bad precedent to the others, and if sabella can't find a place for willy in his squad to Brazil, he is morally and practically wrong. Any excuse against his inclusion at this moment is just lame. End of.

 

[beautifulgame]

Sabella is doing a great job, no doubt. But the AFA still forces his hand on some points. CBF also does it with Scolari. South american coaches don't have 100% freedom to choose their squads.

Finally, thank you.

People that have lived in South America long enough know this like truism and it especially case in recent years

 

[JamDav1982]

Finally, thank you.

People that have lived in South America long enough know this like truism and it especially case in recent years

What players do you think are being forced on Sabella and who does he want to call up that he cant?

I dont think it is that big an issue and the real reason players are not being called up is due to Sabella having the majority of his squad decided long ago.

The biggest pressure to include a player would be Tevez and he wont do it.

 

[blopa20]

Sabella is doing a great job, no doubt. But the AFA still forces his hand on some points. CBF also does it with Scolari. South american coaches don't have 100% freedom to choose their squads.

I guess it must pass several selections that but the more demonstrative case of this situation was the convening of such Icardi as Sabella does not want but the AFA wanted to play a game that does not use regardless Italy after the player does not play anymore in the selection.

 

[Behrox]

I just hate seeing Lord Romero play instead of Willy who is the better keeper by a margin

 

[barcanuck]

This team lives and dies on the attack - the quad attack of Leo, Kun, Dive Maria and Pipita is what it's all about.

 

[zanela]

The boys got a visitor.

Though Pocho sticking to Leo, in every frame, is starting to worry me. Hope he doesn't transmit his legendary finishing skills to Leo.