PearLBLacK
Banned
I still doubt that they could reach far with this performance. Much improved from previous performances, but they were too dependent on individual brilliance. At least the midfield was okay. Di Maria should never play in a 3-man midfield, or any midfield for that matter, unless Argentina was playing a 4-2-3-1 with Messi in the hole, Higuain up front, and Masch & Gago in midfield.
Any news on Banega?
Any news on Banega?
F
Flavia
Guest
Defense seemed solid for once. Good thing they're improving.
FCBarca
Mike the Knife
They looked pretty solid which is probably the most important thing, apart from Leo's genius...Didn't see the sort of keystone cop defending that was a hallmark of their defense in the last 3 or 4 years, save 1 deep turnover that Suarez very nearly made them pay for...Could've been a tighter game, I suppose, were Forlan not a shadow of his old self
I thought Gago & Mascherano were good but definitely not great - always hard to gauge their midfield when you've got Barcelona as the standard, everyone pales in comparison...I thought both Kun & Di Maria were pretty subpar until the 2nd half where they seemed to come alive more...Gonzo was poor and I was surprised he was still on as late as he was...Is there a worse keeper for a top tier NT than Romero?...Los Albicelestes seem to win in spite of him
Then there's Leo, it really did feel like a Messi showcase throughout - everyone was zeroed in on him, his teammates, the fans and Uruguay...Yet he still bossed the match, it's remarkable...Sooo glad I stayed up past 4AM to finish the match, I was in bed at halftime and started to realize I might miss something special
I thought Gago & Mascherano were good but definitely not great - always hard to gauge their midfield when you've got Barcelona as the standard, everyone pales in comparison...I thought both Kun & Di Maria were pretty subpar until the 2nd half where they seemed to come alive more...Gonzo was poor and I was surprised he was still on as late as he was...Is there a worse keeper for a top tier NT than Romero?...Los Albicelestes seem to win in spite of him
Then there's Leo, it really did feel like a Messi showcase throughout - everyone was zeroed in on him, his teammates, the fans and Uruguay...Yet he still bossed the match, it's remarkable...Sooo glad I stayed up past 4AM to finish the match, I was in bed at halftime and started to realize I might miss something special
hellsangel1
New member
Uruguay didn't really offer much when they had possession to really trouble Argentina. We saw this last international break as well, good game at home (largely from the forwards) and then crap away from home. Argentina probably will do well against most South American sides but i'm still not convinced of their credentials when it comes to the WC. This team,with that defense and midfield will be lucky to get to the Quarters.....
AURELIUS
Member
They looked pretty solid which is probably the most important thing, apart from Leo's genius...Didn't see the sort of keystone cop defending that was a hallmark of their defense in the last 3 or 4 years, save 1 deep turnover that Suarez very nearly made them pay for...Could've been a tighter game, I suppose, were Forlan not a shadow of his old self
I thought Gago & Mascherano were good but definitely not great - always hard to gauge their midfield when you've got Barcelona as the standard, everyone pales in comparison...I thought both Kun & Di Maria were pretty subpar until the 2nd half where they seemed to come alive more...Gonzo was poor and I was surprised he was still on as late as he was...Is there a worse keeper for a top tier NT than Romero?...Los Albicelestes seem to win in spite of him
Then there's Leo, it really did feel like a Messi showcase throughout - everyone was zeroed in on him, his teammates, the fans and Uruguay...Yet he still bossed the match, it's remarkable...Sooo glad I stayed up past 4AM to finish the match, I was in bed at halftime and started to realize I might miss something special
Eh ? The reason Messi has improved for the seleccion is because of the coach. Messi has said as much. Sabella has made sure the players don't just pass it to him every time and see what happens.
He has managed to get the side passing and moving again in neat triangles and one twos. He has made the counter attack effective. He has made the fullbacks creep up the pitch and yesterday they really opened the pitch up. Rojo even managed to crack off a few attempts at goal the first time I've seen since Sorin departed that position.
Higuain did his part in the build up hugging the flanks and stretching the Uruguayan defence. Against Chile it would not surprise me if he pop's up with a goal again. They played very well. It was a team effort and collective play from front to back.
Garay and Fernandez stll lack pace but both made interceptions at timely moments and passed the ball out of defence effectively. Romero ? A poor keeper ? He looks to be returning to the form he was showing at AZ. Dealt with everything he needed to.
Gago and Mascherano played very well. Masche both covering the flanks when the fullbacks were up the pitch and in spraying the ball about as a deep playmaker. Gago showed some excellent touches too and supported the attack well although he still lacks what Banega could do in terms of physicality in the tackle and also still dropped concentration a couple of times.
Nonetheless a short passing game was effective followed by quick switches of flank allowing a man advantage on several occasions all of which utilized the ball effectively. di Maria and Rojo made a very solid unit . di Maria has played effectively in a midfield three often four when Messi drops deeper than the callow youth he was in 2010 where he and Maxi were exposed against Germany. Zabaleta was less effective though as the predominant axis of attack is down the left usually following Messi.
If he does not start to match his club form (albeit he was better than in his previous outings) it was pleasing to see Gino Peruzzi on the bench.
Kun is still coming off his injury and was withdrawn to prevent any over exertion and also the thuggery of the Uruguayans causing any serious damage.
What is also pleasing is at last setpieces look dangerous. Riquelme has been hard to replace at these but Messi has stepped up in this regard and with Fernandez and Garay there is a real threat at corners as well as direct free kicks at goal.
A pleasing replication of the game pattern against Germany and another small step for Sabella in taking the team along in the right direction. Just need a few personell tweaks perhaps here and there and the addition and trial of a few youngsters like Peruzzi and Lamela who is growing rapidly at Roma and young Mugni and trialling a couple of other centrebacks. A more concerted press at times and more awareness on corners defensively too.
Pastore needs to grow up and develop a more hard nosed approach to his game. Ditto for Banega. Lavezzi and Tevez can remain in exile.
hellsangel1
New member
I'm not really as optimistic about Argentina as the above poster but things certainly look much better than they did before Sabella arrived.
FCBarca
Mike the Knife
Yeah, you could see that, everything wasn't build around Leo, per se...They tried to create width (Almost exclusively from the left) and Leo wasn't dropping very deep to get every ball - they look more fluid as a result, so sure, credit to Sabella
The neat triangles are still a big work in progress though - I saw misplaced passes, poor touches and too many players often in the same area
I just don't agree about Gonzo, whom I like - I thought he was poor...Agree on Zabaleta, didn't seem to make the right decision on several occasions
Kun will be fine, I'm actually happy he continued in the match because after a couple of times where he seemed to be looking for the whistle, I feared he was going to be subbed off
Was Lamela called up for these matches?
Who was that DM for Uruguay?...He played well, I thought...Gotta be disappointed in Forlan though if you're Uruguayan
The neat triangles are still a big work in progress though - I saw misplaced passes, poor touches and too many players often in the same area
I just don't agree about Gonzo, whom I like - I thought he was poor...Agree on Zabaleta, didn't seem to make the right decision on several occasions
Kun will be fine, I'm actually happy he continued in the match because after a couple of times where he seemed to be looking for the whistle, I feared he was going to be subbed off
Was Lamela called up for these matches?
Who was that DM for Uruguay?...He played well, I thought...Gotta be disappointed in Forlan though if you're Uruguayan
hellsangel1
New member
I don't know why people aren't talking more about that cowardly elbow on Messi in the last few minutes of the game. I wanted somebody to break that defender's legs, how that wasn't a red card is absolutely beyond me . a fucking disgrace.
AURELIUS
Member
Referees in CONMEBOL are terrible. Caceres was lucky not to be sent off including an absolutely pathetic dive, Lugano for a deliberate stamp on Romero and Pereira for his thuggery.
The seleccion squad for the trip to Chile sees injured Gino Peruzzi replaced by Matias Rodriguez of Universidad so he'll help with the local knowledge. Expect the same line up. Injuries to Bravo and suspensions for Contreras and Vidal should hopefully see the front four run riot and more of the football shown against Germany and Uruguay.
The seleccion squad for the trip to Chile sees injured Gino Peruzzi replaced by Matias Rodriguez of Universidad so he'll help with the local knowledge. Expect the same line up. Injuries to Bravo and suspensions for Contreras and Vidal should hopefully see the front four run riot and more of the football shown against Germany and Uruguay.
AURELIUS
Member
Higuain is in and out for games. He'll now probably pop up with a goal against Chile. He isn't the most clinical nine to ever wear the Argentine shirt . That back injury has taken some of his sharpness away but he did work hard notablu in the first half pulling wide on both flanks to create space for Messi and Kun. He's on their wavelength too thought not at the same level as to be expected considering he was never in any seleccion age group teams.
Zabby needs tomatch club form with that for country otherwise I'd like to see Peruzzi introduced.
Lamela is on the fringes. Sabella is aware of him but it's going to be difficult to introduce him currently into the formation Sabella prefers although it would be nice to see how he and Messi for instance would operate. I can imagine Lamela operating like Gago in a more advanced role with quick one twos and he does love to spread the play and is a capable dribbler with a good eye for goal.
Perhaps once WC qualification is secured and there are friendlies he'll get a look in. Others that deserve their chance despite being 20 or under are Centurion, Cirigliano (both future seleccion midfield candidates),Mino in midfield (a more balanced choice perhaps than di Maria), one of the young keepers like Martinez or Gazzanigga and young central defenders like Pezzella and Gonsalez Pirez (who've done well with River recently in the Apertura) and young playmaker Lucas Mugni of Colon.
I asked this question in the Messi thread but you're probably the best poster to ask.
I haven't seen Argentina's game recently, not the last 3 anyway. How does Sabella fit all of Higuain, Messi, Aguero and Di Maria in the lineup? I'm talking actual positions and not starting positions.
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King Leo
Banned
The quartet has performed wonderfully against Uruguay and likely to do so again against Chile. Higuain was not very effective but it wasn't his type of game. He did miss few chances but he made up for it by opening spaces in the Uruguay defense. I watched the game again yesterday and saw how he was running here and there to open gaps. Uruguay had a strong defensive wall that came down when Lugano had to be substituted, then the goals came one after the other. I personally believe Higuain will be key in following after shots from messi like he did in WC2010. The Uruguay match was a good test for the Albiceleste defense as well which I think performed best so far. More work is required and more tweaking but we're getting there. Midfield still not at where it needs to be. Gago had a so-so game. More focus and creativity will be required from him. I think when Benega comes back things should get better (not a fan of Brana). I liked Barcos and I think he will be called again.
Tomorrow's match will start with the same lineup using a 4-3-3 formation. ROMERO; CAMPAGNARO, FERNANDEZ, GARAY, ZABALETA; GAGO, MASCHERANO, DI MARIA; MESSI, AGUERO and HIGUAIN
Chile has few players missing so I expect the Quartet to do serious damage.
Tomorrow's match will start with the same lineup using a 4-3-3 formation. ROMERO; CAMPAGNARO, FERNANDEZ, GARAY, ZABALETA; GAGO, MASCHERANO, DI MARIA; MESSI, AGUERO and HIGUAIN
Chile has few players missing so I expect the Quartet to do serious damage.
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P
PhilS
Guest
It's always hard to describe where Messi plays. I'd call the Albiceleste setup 4-2-3 (Di Maria, Higuain, Kun), and then Messi wherever he feels he should be. Di Maria helps some with traditional midfield responsibilities, but his main job is attack on the left side. This is a fine attacking quartet. Lavezzi can rotate in quite effectively.
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