my tickets

Lucky asshole..

It's being shown live on ESPN. I am taking a holiday or at least a working from home on that day. Now I am not feeling that bad about not being able to make it to the stadium.

I must also add here that one has to feel for Lisandro. What rotten luck! After ages he got a call up but now he's injured for several weeks. Who knows if we will ever again see him in an Argentine shirt?

congrats on getting the tickets sagnik! have fun man

Here's the full Argentina squad.

# Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club
GK Mariano Andújar July 30, 1983 (age 28) 6 0 Italy Catania
GK Sergio Romero February 22, 1987 (age 24) 21 0 Italy Sampdoria
GK Esteban Andrada January 26, 1991 (age 20) 0 0 Argentina Lanús
DF Pablo Zabaleta January 16, 1985 (age 26) 15 0 England Manchester City
DF Nicolás Burdisso April 12, 1981 (age 30) 44 2 Italy Roma
DF Nicolás Pareja January 19, 1984 (age 27) 1 0 Russia Spartak Moscow
DF Marcos Rojo March 20, 1990 (age 21) 5 0 Russia Spartak Moscow
DF Martín Demichelis December 20, 1980 (age 30) 33 2 Spain Málaga
DF Federico Fernández February 21, 1989 (age 22) 2 1 Italy Napoli
DF Nicolás Otamendi February 12, 1988 (age 23) 11 0 Portugal Porto
MF Ángel di María February 14, 1988 (age 23) 23 4 Spain Real Madrid
MF Javier Mascherano June 8, 1984 (age 27) 73 2 Spain Barcelona
MF Javier Pastore June 20, 1989 (age 22) 10 0 France Paris Saint-Germain
MF Éver Banega June 29, 1988 (age 23) 11 0 Spain Valencia
MF Ricardo Álvarez April 12, 1988 (age 23) 0 0 Italy Internazionale
MF Lucho González January 19, 1981 (age 30) 43 7 France Marseille
MF Jonás Gutiérrez July 5, 1983 (age 28) 20 1 England Newcastle United
MF Fabián Rinaudo May 15, 1987 (age 24) 3 0 Portugal Sporting
MF José Ernesto Sosa June 19, 1985 (age 26) 7 1 Ukraine Metalist Kharkiv
FW Gonzalo Higuaín December 10, 1987 (age 23) 16 8 Spain Real Madrid
FW Lionel Messi June 24, 1987 (age 24) 60 17 Spain Barcelona
FW Sergio Agüero June 2, 1988 (age 23) 30 13 England Manchester City
FW Eduardo Salvio July 13, 1990 (age 21) 3 0 Spain Atlético Madrid

Now how will they line up.

I read a comment from Sabella that it will be three forwards behind Messi. That gives a fairly good idea of the lineup.

We can call it a 4-2-1-3 or in more usual terms a 4-2-3-1.

Goalkeeper - Romero has pretty much made this position his own.

Defenders - This is harder to predict. I can't understand why he has recalled Demichellis. I am guessing Zabaleta as RB, Rojo as LB and Burdisso and Otamendi as CBs.

Midfielders - Mascherano, Banega/Lucho

Playmaker - Messi

Forwards - Di Maria, Higuain, Aguero

So now let's put into a formation.

Romero
Zabaleta, Otamendi, Burdisso, Rojo
Mascherano, Banega/Lucho
Messi
Aguero, Higuain, Di Maria

My first impressions are that it looks defensively vulnerable. Also the understanding between the forwards will have to be developed much more. The problem is that many weaknesses may not be found in friendlies. How will we get to know if we are ready for top level competition? I guess the WC 2014 qualifiers would give us a better idea. For the umpteenth time we have a disappointment in store for the many fans of Javier Pastore.

I notice that we hardly have any full backs except for zabaleta

I wonder if we're gonna have a 3 man backline

Otamendi---Masch----Rojo/Pareja

Sounds good on paper and we have the midfield/forward power to have a strong attack while simultaneously having a solid defense. Espescially if we put Lucho and Banega in it

I say

Otamendi----Masch------Rojo
----Lucho-----------Banega----
--------Pastore----Messi--------
--Di Maria------Higuain-----Aguero

The key is to have pastore and messi close to each other so that they can link up. Apart from defensive duties, Lucho and Banega have good passing skills and can hold the ball well.
Masch can definitely play a sweeper type role.

I highly doubt that he will play this formation, especially if we are playing teams with strong wingers and attacking full backs

shinigami99 wrote:I notice that we hardly have any full backs except for zabaleta

I wonder if we're gonna have a 3 man backline

Otamendi---Masch----Rojo/Pareja

Sounds good on paper and we have the midfield/forward power to have a strong attack while simultaneously having a solid defense. Espescially if we put Lucho and Banega in it

I say

Otamendi----Masch------Rojo
----Lucho-----------Banega----
--------Pastore----Messi--------
--Di Maria------Higuain-----Aguero

The key is to have pastore and messi close to each other so that they can link up. Apart from defensive duties, Lucho and Banega have good passing skills and can hold the ball well.
Masch can definitely play a sweeper type role.

I highly doubt that he will play this formation, especially if we are playing teams with strong wingers and attacking full backs

Not enough width in that formation it seems, and Lucho and Banega aren't defensive enough and will leave the 3 man back line very vulnerable

Why is he playing Messi at AM ffs, *bleep* you sabella, we have Pastore Lucho and Alvarez for that role.

wooohoooooo 3AM the crowd is hysteric at kolkata airport.messi lands in 15 minutes with mascherano.

3 Years back, when Maradona came in Calcutta, crowd was bigger. However it was Govt sponsored. In Messi's welcome, people came of their own.

about 1500 fans at 3 AM .People are dancing. Shouting Messi. Messi.Many young guys are still coming riding Bikes, small trucks.

Lionel Messi arrived Calcutta airport. More than 2 thousand people present to welcome him

First picture of Leonel Messi in Calcutta. While entering hotel. poor quality

messixaviesta wrote:Here's the full Argentina squad.

# Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club
GK Mariano Andújar July 30, 1983 (age 28) 6 0 Italy Catania
GK Sergio Romero February 22, 1987 (age 24) 21 0 Italy Sampdoria
GK Esteban Andrada January 26, 1991 (age 20) 0 0 Argentina Lanús
DF Pablo Zabaleta January 16, 1985 (age 26) 15 0 England Manchester City
DF Nicolás Burdisso April 12, 1981 (age 30) 44 2 Italy Roma
DF Nicolás Pareja January 19, 1984 (age 27) 1 0 Russia Spartak Moscow
DF Marcos Rojo March 20, 1990 (age 21) 5 0 Russia Spartak Moscow
DF Martín Demichelis December 20, 1980 (age 30) 33 2 Spain Málaga
DF Federico Fernández February 21, 1989 (age 22) 2 1 Italy Napoli
DF Nicolás Otamendi February 12, 1988 (age 23) 11 0 Portugal Porto
MF Ángel di María February 14, 1988 (age 23) 23 4 Spain Real Madrid
MF Javier Mascherano June 8, 1984 (age 27) 73 2 Spain Barcelona
MF Javier Pastore June 20, 1989 (age 22) 10 0 France Paris Saint-Germain
MF Éver Banega June 29, 1988 (age 23) 11 0 Spain Valencia
MF Ricardo Álvarez April 12, 1988 (age 23) 0 0 Italy Internazionale
MF Lucho González January 19, 1981 (age 30) 43 7 France Marseille
MF Jonás Gutiérrez July 5, 1983 (age 28) 20 1 England Newcastle United
MF Fabián Rinaudo May 15, 1987 (age 24) 3 0 Portugal Sporting
MF José Ernesto Sosa June 19, 1985 (age 26) 7 1 Ukraine Metalist Kharkiv
FW Gonzalo Higuaín December 10, 1987 (age 23) 16 8 Spain Real Madrid
FW Lionel Messi June 24, 1987 (age 24) 60 17 Spain Barcelona
FW Sergio Agüero June 2, 1988 (age 23) 30 13 England Manchester City
FW Eduardo Salvio July 13, 1990 (age 21) 3 0 Spain Atlético Madrid

Where's Lisandro Lopez?

Sagnik were you at the airport??

Is anyone else going to this game Indians?


Also, just thought I'd comment, I think its great that Messi is being given this crazy recognition and this idea that its all about Messi. However, the problem is the Argentine FA are taking this policy too: Its all about Messi. They've got to stop this. You can't just give the ball to one guy and expect results in the modern game. I know people say Maradona did it, but Maradona couldn't do it today trust me... Its just not the same now. If they build a good team though, Messi will star like Maradona did.

BarcaKizz wrote:Sagnik were you at the airport??

Is anyone else going to this game Indians?


Also, just thought I'd comment, I think its great that Messi is being given this crazy recognition and this idea that its all about Messi. However, the problem is the Argentine FA are taking this policy too: Its all about Messi. They've got to stop this. You can't just give the ball to one guy and expect results in the modern game. I know people say Maradona did it, but Maradona couldn't do it today trust me... Its just not the same now. If they build a good team though, Messi will star like Maradona did.

Lionel Messi wrote:

messixaviesta wrote:Here's the full Argentina squad.

# Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club
GK Mariano Andújar July 30, 1983 (age 28) 6 0 Italy Catania
GK Sergio Romero February 22, 1987 (age 24) 21 0 Italy Sampdoria
GK Esteban Andrada January 26, 1991 (age 20) 0 0 Argentina Lanús
DF Pablo Zabaleta January 16, 1985 (age 26) 15 0 England Manchester City
DF Nicolás Burdisso April 12, 1981 (age 30) 44 2 Italy Roma
DF Nicolás Pareja January 19, 1984 (age 27) 1 0 Russia Spartak Moscow
DF Marcos Rojo March 20, 1990 (age 21) 5 0 Russia Spartak Moscow
DF Martín Demichelis December 20, 1980 (age 30) 33 2 Spain Málaga
DF Federico Fernández February 21, 1989 (age 22) 2 1 Italy Napoli
DF Nicolás Otamendi February 12, 1988 (age 23) 11 0 Portugal Porto
MF Ángel di María February 14, 1988 (age 23) 23 4 Spain Real Madrid
MF Javier Mascherano June 8, 1984 (age 27) 73 2 Spain Barcelona
MF Javier Pastore June 20, 1989 (age 22) 10 0 France Paris Saint-Germain
MF Éver Banega June 29, 1988 (age 23) 11 0 Spain Valencia
MF Ricardo Álvarez April 12, 1988 (age 23) 0 0 Italy Internazionale
MF Lucho González January 19, 1981 (age 30) 43 7 France Marseille
MF Jonás Gutiérrez July 5, 1983 (age 28) 20 1 England Newcastle United
MF Fabián Rinaudo May 15, 1987 (age 24) 3 0 Portugal Sporting
MF José Ernesto Sosa June 19, 1985 (age 26) 7 1 Ukraine Metalist Kharkiv
FW Gonzalo Higuaín December 10, 1987 (age 23) 16 8 Spain Real Madrid
FW Lionel Messi June 24, 1987 (age 24) 60 17 Spain Barcelona
FW Sergio Agüero June 2, 1988 (age 23) 30 13 England Manchester City
FW Eduardo Salvio July 13, 1990 (age 21) 3 0 Spain Atlético Madrid

Where's Lisandro Lopez?

He'is injuried and out of Argentina squad http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/3297/argentina/2011/08/28/2639955/lyons-lisandro-lopez-escapes-ankle-break-but-is-out-for

BarcaKizz wrote:Sagnik were you at the airport??

Is anyone else going to this game Indians?


Also, just thought I'd comment, I think its great that Messi is being given this crazy recognition and this idea that its all about Messi. However, the problem is the Argentine FA are taking this policy too: Its all about Messi. They've got to stop this. You can't just give the ball to one guy and expect results in the modern game. I know people say Maradona did it, but Maradona couldn't do it today trust me... Its just not the same now. If they build a good team though, Messi will star like Maradona did.

no kizz unfortunately/fortunately i could not make it to the airport.it was 3AM and the airport is 2hrs drive from my home.however the local channels covered it and it was fantastic to see the craze.sadly messi left through a different gate and the people outside didnot get to see messi.that is why i am saying i was fortunate.the local channels are covering the open practice sessions also.


coming to your second question i will be attending the match but i dont think any other indians in this forum will.jdeepak wont and i dont know about bazinga,kiranr etc as they have not commented in this thread.

Messi mesmerises Kolkata

Baichung Bhutia: 'Messi will dominate world football for long'

its all bout messi not argentina

its really sad.. messi ,messi messi

forget the argentina team , the venezuelans havent got any respect whatsoever.. instead of their team , the paraguay team have been depicted on hoardings with messi.. imagine!!

Is anyone going to be in the chat lobby for the Argentina game?

^ I will

Funny thing is Messi probably doesn't even care about the people dying to see him.

anyone got a stream for me ?

http://thebarcaforum.webs.com/chatlobby.htm