La Selección Argentina V.2

First I'm hearing about Icardi having physical problems. If that is true then starting him is more sensible, but he was warming up prior to Gago re injuring himself so I don't think that was the case.

The problem is Benedetto already played badly vs Venezuela and you're going to give him his first start in a do or die match? The pressure would be off the charts

Also no excuse not to call up Higgy. You don't need to start him but there is no good argument for him not being part of the squad.

http://www.diariouno.com.ar/ovacion/eliminatorias/sampaoli-sigue-el-casting-9-icardi-el-apuntado-la-salvacion-20171006-n1483271.html

I don't think anyone in their right mind would not play a fit and on-form Icardi over Benedetto. The manager had no option, he also said it in the press conference after the match. I trust Sampaoli's words. I think he had to choose between bad and worse and he chose bad.

The worse decision for me is that he played Di María. Perhaps he could deploy Dybala there although that is not his natural position.

People need to understand that while Argentina have an array of good players they are not really compatible with one another. Reminds me of England of Gerrard-Lampard-Scholes era.

danyjr wrote:I don't think Benedetto was terrible. Have Higuaín or Agüero not missed easy, cruicial chances before for us?

He is Superliga's top scorer and it made sense playing him with Agüero injured, Icardi with physical problems and Higuaín out. Dybala would have solved nothing, apart from getting in Messi's way all the time.

Sampaoli has not been playing Dybala? And now the only way to qualify is to manage an away win at 3000m above sea level?

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

Ok. I agree that I'd that was the case then he didn't hace much of a choice (other than when deciding who to call up...).

But he still played a fair number of scrubs that have no business in the NT: Papu, Rigoni, Gago, Acuña...

Hapless_Hans wrote:I don't think Benedetto was terrible. Have Higuaín or Agüero not missed easy, cruicial chances before for us?

He is Superliga's top scorer and it made sense playing him with Agüero injured, Icardi with physical problems and Higuaín out. Dybala would have solved nothing, apart from getting in Messi's way all the time.

Sampaoli has not been playing Dybala? And now the only way to qualify is to manage an away win at 3000m above sea level?

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

Dybala kind of wrote himself off the team. He was starting and then one day he told the media "I don't want to be misinterpreted but it's hard for me to play alongside Messi". He was taken off the team almost immediately.

And this kinda goes back to the issue that Dany mentioned before, all of Argentina's top players essentially play in the same position and get in each other's way.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:

Hapless_Hans wrote:I don't think Benedetto was terrible. Have Higuaín or Agüero not missed easy, cruicial chances before for us?

He is Superliga's top scorer and it made sense playing him with Agüero injured, Icardi with physical problems and Higuaín out. Dybala would have solved nothing, apart from getting in Messi's way all the time.

Sampaoli has not been playing Dybala? And now the only way to qualify is to manage an away win at 3000m above sea level?

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

Dybala kind of wrote himself off the team. He was starting and then one day he told the media "I don't want to be misinterpreted but it's hard for me to play alongside Messi". He was taken off the team almost immediately.

And this kinda goes back to the issue that Dany mentioned before, all of Argentina's top players essentially play in the same position and get in each other's way.

Why would you take him out of the team though? It's a stupid thing to say but a authoritative and creative manager should tell him to shut up and then find a way to incorporate his massive talent. He's your second best player ffs

I mean it's quite apparent that leaving him out hasn't helped much

Not defending, just explaining. I agree.

Not to mention that Messi IS a very capabe team player on top of his individual qualities. Why wouldn't he get along with Dybala? Would be important for Dybala too. And his supposed dictatorial grip on the NT can't be so bad if Icardi was allowed to play in recent times

Also, if you have no Aguero, Icardi and want to take a shit on Higuain, why not Lucas Alario?

--> http://www.goallegacy.net/t40900-lucas-alario

BarrileteCosmico wrote:But he still played a fair number of scrubs that have no business in the NT: Papu, Rigoni, Gago, Acuña...

What would have been your starting line-up?

Romero
Mercado - Otamendi - Masche -?
Biglia - Enzo/Paredes
Messi - Dybala - Correa
Pipita

Only would play di Maria if he were on fire in training, hard to tell with him, his great is great but his awful is awful.

Point taken on Acuña, we don't really have anyone else

I much prefer Banega to both Pérez and Paredes. Especially Paredes is better suited in a more advanced position than playing close to goal as he is prone to giving the ball away in dangerous positions.

And why do you prefer Pérez to Gago again?

Our midfield just passes but it is nothing to boast about. Our CBs are good but our wing backs are shit (and they've been shit for years). Worst, despite all the class we supposedly have up front, we don't actually have wingers. Correa and di María are not world class. Messi is world class everywhere but honestly don't see him being compatible with Dybala. Imagine he's just gonna cut in from the right and practically making Dybala redundant. No wonder the guy was frustrated with Messi.

And I much prefer Kun to Pipa. Big game choker he is.

Spoiler:

I like that Paredes has the ability to 'join' the defense and forwards which no one else in our midfield really can. I would envision Biglia as the DM and Paredes in a CM/B2B role. I would also like someone else that has the ability to take the initiative and create something not named Messi, we are too predictable in our attack which is why we lost all 3 finals: isolate Messi and win.

Gago es entirely out of the question, he has been barely fit for years and is simply not dependable.

Banega had been very inconsistent at both club and country.

Kun is injured so I didn't even consider him, but imagine playing Kun, Dybala and Messi together...

@Dany and @BC

Chances on Argentina's progression?

10% direct qualification

40% play offs

50% don't qualify

Do you see them getting past Ecuador?

Wouldn't watch the WC if Messi wasn't in it TBH.

It's definitely possible. They lost to Chile. It's just contending with the height that makes it particularly tricky.

I find it interesting how in the pre-match conferences Sampaoli is constantly speaking about how Messi needs to play closer to goal, but the application in game is the complete opposite.

The closer Messi is to the opposition goal, the better. He needs to play higher up the pitch not deeper.

Argentina does have some capable passers in Paredes, Biglia, Banega, and Pastore. IMO they need to be given the confidence of bringing the ball from deep. Let them take care of that and let Messi deal with the final 3rd.

Ots an aspect of the game we struggle with since Riquelme left. The fact that 4 or 5 coaches haven't been able to solve it points to a player issue, not coaching.

Biglia is not so complete, he's better at breaking up the play than taking it forward. Banega is terribly inconsistent but hasn't really shown the initiative to play make even on his good days. Pastore is perpetually injured, but I think is not strong enough on his defensive duties to play as a CM, although he has shown glimpses of understanding with Messi when he has played. Paredes hasn't really gotten a chance yet.

Think I told you the solution for that when FIFA15 was out. Can't remember now though.

Biglia isn't good enough and Paredes is not ready. Argentina are missing a good ball playing DM, they need a Benzema-type.

unlike bob marley

Team severely lacks Higuain