My Argentinian Football

Argentina Get A Wake Up Call

2009-04-02T08:46:00.008-04:00

“We didn’t lose because of the altitude,” Clarin cited Heinze as saying. “We lost because they were better than us and we didn’t play well.”

Well said, gringo.

Going out and playing your game in your own backyard is one thing. Apparently, it is something else entirely at 3,660m of altitude.

Where does the blame go when a team loses 6-1? Was it the coach and a lack of tactics? Questions about the goalkeeping, defense, midfield, and offense come to mind. Perhaps it was the mind and physically altering altitude. How about the fact that Diego moved his players at altitude merely hours before the game?

Maybe there is no one to blame and it is simply that Bolivia played a great game.

The truth is all of these things combined to give Argentina its worst loss in World Cup qualifying history.

Argentina did not seem to have much of a game plan on the field. In contrast to Bolivia, who were well prepared and immediately attacked Argentina with confidence. They sent crosses in, shot from outside the box several times, catching Carrizo out of position on many occasions, with him barely getting a hand to many of his saves.

Carrizo was sloppy with the ball at times. He often seems like a player who relies on his raw talent and reflexes rather than on intelligence and solid positioning. Papa does not deserve too much criticism, as he is a largely inexperienced player at international level. Heinze and Demichelis looked lost, and apparently decided to not cover their men. Zanetti, normally imperious and infallible, had an off day and actually committed a foul inside the box. Can anyone remember the last time that happened?

Mascherano and Gago were entirely out of gas and with little idea on what to do with the onslaught of the Bolivian attack. In hindsight, they clearly needed some rest. But that's no excuse for giving the ball away and not covering your men properly for the entire match. Lucho did the smart thing and just shot on net and got a goal for his choice. That's about all he did though.

Messi botched two chances that he normally finishes with ease.

However, a lot of blame goes to Diego for failing to change tactics or have any clear game plan for his men to follow. It is evident so far that Diego has been a great motivator to the team, but lacks the tactical insight and experience of the likes of Lippi, Ferguson, Mourinho, Ancelotti or Benitez. Although even the best coaches get it wrong from time to time.

We cannot judge a team or a coach on one terrible game. Just as we cannot say Maradona is a great coach simply because he won three games.

However, Maradona as a coach was a risky choice to begin with - one that might not necessarily pay off and it will be something Grondona will have to be responsible for, good or bad.

Until then the 'albicelestes' will recharge their batteries. Diego will have a lot to think about before the next match.

Riquelme Quits! Thank "God"

2009-03-11T08:48:00.007-04:00

We can thank the man they call God in Argentina for Riquelme quitting. Here are the relevant statements.
Maradona points out what already many of us have been saying:

"It's not useful for anybody if he gets back to collect the ball from (defender) Martin Demichelis.
"He could be useful, but only if he is faster. This could be his great chance and he has to bear that in mind."

Riquelme's Response:

“I found out on the radio that I would not be selected for the friendly against France [back in February] and I also found out, on television, that the coach wants me to play in a different position. It is clear that we cannot work together.

“For me, the seleccion is now finished. I have my own principles and the coach does not share the same views. Hopefully, everything will turn out well for the team and they can qualify [for the 2010 World Cup] without me,” he said.

After Roman quit, Maradona outlined that he had Riquelme in his mind for the qualifiers. He added that now he will erase that idea totally.

Oh the drama...

The different code of ethics...

Maradona is not the type of person to sugarcoat things. He is known for his brash demeanor and for saying what's on his mind. This personality type is clearly going to clash with Riquelme's fragile ego. Riquelme does not like any criticism. He does not like to be told to change his style. He likes to be told he's great.

Still don't believe Riquelme has a bad attitude?

Maradona will publicly criticize his players if he feels it is necessary. He has done this with Messi already. Let's compare Messi and Riquelme's responses to Maradona's criticism.

Maradona had accused Messi of being too selfish and not looking hard enough for the pass.

Messi's response was a mature one. Once Maradona was appointed, he stated clearly in the press that the comments did not dampen his affection for the legend and will look forward to playing under him. Messi also changed his previously arranged agreement of not playing friendlies to appease his new coach. It does not end there. This season Messi has quietly amassed 10 assists (along with an astonishing 18 goals) in 23 games. Xavi is the only other player in top flight football to currently have more assists than Messi (he has 11 assists).

Messi's response was indicative of a young man who is both humble enough to listen to criticism and confident enough in his own abilities to not get rattled either way. Messi's confidence will serve us greatly in the coming future, as we will be relying heavily on him.

A player of Maradona's ability is acutely aware how important self-confidence is at the highest level of the game. He also knows what it is like to have a country against you, and he knows what it is like to have a team rely heavily on you. He wants to see if his players can handle the pressure and the expectations. More importantly, a player's response to criticism is a good test in judging what kind of player we will be relying on in the World Cup. Maradona clearly has high expectations for his players. Those who don't live up to them will justifiably fall by the wayside.

Riquelme has already shown that he does not deal well with pressure, criticism, or high expectations placed upon him. If the greatest player in the game tells you to improve on something, publicly or privately, you swallow your pride and listen.

Maradona's era is unfolding as a survival of the fittest - mentally and physically. He wants his players to be mentally tough, physically strong, fast, smart, and most importantly skillful. These are all qualities Maradona possessed - and we venerate him for it. Mental toughness is not to be underestimated. At the highest level, it can be the difference between victory and going home early.

As for Riquelme, I am glad he's finally gone. I have been so sick and tired of Riquelme fans feeling sorry for him. I have been so sick and tired of Argentina having to accomodate their style of play at the expense of winning anything meaningful. Riquelme had his chance and he blew it on more than one occasion. This is his second time quitting.

He does not deserve another chance, and the national team will be better for it.

Riquelme can be happy playing in the lower leagues, and content himself with winning trophies against players that are not of the calibre he should be playing against.

Riquelme's Absence

Riquelme's absence does present a lot of problems for the national team. There is no one currently on the roster who has his scope of vision on the field. There is also no one with his range of passing or with his free-kick abilities. These will be setbacks for which the entire squad will have to compensate.

My prediction:

The national team may suffer his absence in the short term. Teams often need time to adjust to new tactics. Maradona's impending tactical decisions will be of great interest to all Argentina fans. However, like Villareal, Argentina will prove to be better for this in the long term. Many people had thought Villareal were a one-man team with Riquelme. Now look at them! They finished 2nd in La Liga, and are on their way to the Champions League quarterfinals. If it was ridiculous to think Villareal needed Riquelme to win anything, then it is absolutely insane to think Argentina need Riquelme to win. I predict that Argentina will have its best tournament showing since 1990.

As for Maradona, I have stated my doubts about his appointment. So far he is proving my doubts wrong. It's nice to see someone do that.

Pablo Vitti - An Argentine in Toronto

2009-02-11T09:35:00.007-05:00

Toronto FC signs Independiente striker Pablo Vitti on loan

Well done Toronto FC in getting a player with a lot of potential. Toronto FC has needed some firepower and getting an Argentine can make the difference. Schelotto showed many people what an Argentinian can do in the MLS. Let's hope Pablo Vitti can do the same. I know I will be there at the first game cheering him on.

For those of you that don't know, Pablo Vitti won the U20 World Cup back in 2005. The squad boasted the likes of Oscar Ustari, Ezequiel Garay, Pablo Zabaleta, Fernando Gago, Lucas Biglia, Lionel Messi, and Sergio Aguero. An astounding line-up of young footballers. Pablo Vitti wore the coveted number 9 for Argentina in that tournament.

Pablo Vitti has received some much needed adjustment time by already being part of the squad for training sessions.

Toronto FC's first game of the season takes place March 21, 2009.

Be there or be square!

Diego Visits Portugal - And Other News

2009-01-15T09:35:00.007-05:00

Diego Maradona is giving us a lot to write about; and so is Di Maria. If you click on this link you'll see why I love Di Maria. This kid has been standing out from the pack since the first time he donned the albiceleste jersey in Canada for the U20 World Cup. As I've said before, great players find a way to make it happen when it counts - and Di Maria picked his moment while Diego was in the stands. (For those who recall, Messi scored a hattrick while Diego was in the stands).

If you look at his latest goal, you'll see what Argentinians call "huevos." Which, bluntly put, means balls. The more politically correct terms would be; confidence, panache, daring, etc. But let's face it, it takes balls to make a play like that. We will be seeing a lot more of this kid. He is already proving to be a great player at such a young age. His value should also increase in the footballing market as there aren't many great left-footed footballers out there.

Later that evening, Diego had dinner with Di Maria. Accompanying them were Lucho Gonzalez and Lisandro Lopez. The FC Porto players received permission to stay in Lisbon while FC Porto travelled for their match against Nacional. All for the chance to dine with the coach. Personally, I would think the directors at FC Porto would be a bit nervous. I can see Diego encouraging the players to consider plying their trade in Spain, Italy, or England.

Either way, it is a good sign that Argentina now has a coach who is willing to travel and speak with the players individually. I think it sets a great precedent for the team. It will also help the players to feel like they are all contributing.

Other News

Carlos Tevez is Frustrated

Tevez is unhappy and reports in Italy are linking him to Inter Milan in the January transfer window. This is not the first time he's been linked to Inter Milan. Reports had surfaced that Inter were interested in him during his West Ham days. However, I think it's unlikely to happen in January. Wayne Rooney is out for three weeks with an injury. Sir Alex would never let his striker go to a team he is about to face in the Champions League. Nor would he risk being without a striker while he is trying to reach the top of the EPL table. However, MSI have surprised us before (West Ham anyone?) so you can never say never!

Crespo Is Back

Crespo played a great game against Cagliari, assisting Ibrahimovic. He is looking very hungry to get some real minutes under Mourinho. Inter's latest game against Genoa saw a 3-1 victory from extra time. Crespo was looking good out there. His rhythm and finishing touch should come back if he gets some regular playing time.

Mauro Zarate the Playmaker

Another gem for the albicelestes. With the return of Brocchi, Zarate has struggled to find the net as regularly as he first did. Zarate has found himself deployed slightly more in the flanks these days. But he is still producing the goods for Lazio. His last game saw two perfectly placed crosses for Pandev to finish. He can't be ignored for too long.

Gonzalo Higuain the Playmaker part II

Higuain also got himself a pair of perfectly placed assists on the weekend. One to Arjen Robben, and one to Raul. Real Madrid now have Juande Ramos behind the bench, and it is good for Higuain that he is impressing his new coach. Let's hope it stays that way.

Barcelona and the Red Hot Lionel Messi

Barcelona are without a doubt the team to beat this year. While Cristiano Ronaldo deservedly won the Fifa World Player of the Year - we all know who the best player in the world is today. He wears the number 10 for Barcelona these days. With a hattrick against Atletico Madrid last week, and a game winning goal in the weekend, Messi is the player to watch. I would be very surprised if Barcelona didn't win the Champions League this year. When a team is firing on all cylinders (Xavi, Eto'o, Iniesta, Henry, Dani Alves) and they have that superstar player who takes them to that very next level - you have a title contender. So sit back and enjoy Barcelona folks.

Diego Hearts Inter Milan

2009-01-14T09:14:00.005-05:00

(and it's making me a little happy)

It's no secret Inter Milan loves Argentinians. Particularly Moratti. Now, we can say one very popular Argentine loves them back.

“Moratti is a fine man and has led Inter to the top. Then this summer he hired Mourinho, the coach who without doubt I would have chosen if I had been chairman. It was the best possible appointment and I told Moratti when I spoke to him. Jose has everything, he can speak to the players, the press, the locker room. For me, he is the best.”

Some high praise from the great one himself. Maradona continued to be quite vocal these last few days. Regarding the Tevez situation at Manchester:

"Certain episodes are certainly bringing his exit closer. Italy and Inter in particular would be excellent solutions. What's more, his contract is running out, which makes it easier to change clubs."

His comments are sure to rile up Manchester United - as they would not appreciate a man of Maradona's stature publicly endorsing one of their star players to leave them for the team they are about to face in the Champions League.

He also said his son-in-law should go to Inter Milan. With the way Atletico Madrid have been playing, I have to agree.

"Advice for Aguero? I would tell him to run towards Inter," Maradona told Il Corriere Dello Sport. "I can imagine the partnership he would make with [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic."

Well Diego, that would be quite the partnership. Although I wouldn't want both Tevez and Aguero playing for Inter at the same time. That would be too many number 10's, and not enough number 9's on one field.

It seems Diego has responded in kind to Inter's faith in him. Reports surfaced last year that Diego was appointed as a scout for Inter Milan. The relationship between Diego and Inter Milan seems to have grown since then.

Maradona Is the New Coach - Giving Me A Serious Case of the Holy-Shits

2008-10-29T09:34:00.007-04:00

Sky News Update: "And Diego Maradona has been selected as the new head coach for Argentina..."

Me: "Huh? (long pause) ... Holy shit."

That was my initial reaction. It wasn't a good "holy-shit" either. It was more like - "holy-shit-this-is-a-catastrophe-waiting-to-happen." As you can see from my previous post, I didn't even give him serious consideration. I figured they just added him to the list because it would make some good headlines. After reading up on Maradona's official statement, I relaxed a little bit. But not too much. There's a very clear duality to this guy. My reasoning is this: Which Diego will we get in the long run? Will we get the Diego who led us to World Cup Title and a World Cup final? Or will we get the guy who got busted for cocaine? Will we get the guy who practically single-handedly chose his Napoli squad, going on to defy all expectations with a Uefa Cup and 2 scudettos, resoundingly beating AC Milan and Juventus along the way? Or will we get the guy who couldn't even finish a full season as coach for Racing Club? Is it the guy who made the enormous turn-around, coming out of retirement and leading a very shaky NT under Basile, into World Cup qualification; or will it be the guy who tested positive for illegal performance enhancing drugs? The affable chat-show host, or the near-overdosed drug addict?

These are all questions that spur through my mind within the flicker of a few seconds. I can't say what will happen. But I can say I'm worried. So here are the pros and cons as I see them:

PROS

- He knows his football. Love him or hate him, he was the major factor in determining Napoli's success. Not only did he prove to be the best footballer in the world, but he also hand-picked the players he wanted to work with. This should translate well for his selection of the national team.

- He knows his weaknesses. He immediately stated that Bilardo would be the General Director. He understands that his skills lie mostly in leadership and motivation. He knows that his tactical knowledge would need assistance from the likes of Bilardo.

- He knows what it takes to win. Some people might have all the talent in the world, but they never win when it matters. Unfortunately, they go on throughout their careers never having won the big trophies. Maradona doesn't have that problem.

- When Maradona talks, people listen. If Diego tells a footballer to smarten up, who's going to question him? It's Diego. If he gives a speech, a rallying cry, the players will be hanging on every word. He still carries an immense aura around him. His legendary status still commands a lot of respect.

- He has mentioned Batista and Brown. Those are good signs.

CONS

- Only one I can think of. Diego has a snapping point. He lives in a world where the universe revolves around football. The people of Argentina want a World Cup. And they don't want to be disappointed. This means an emormous amount of pressure. He hasn't been in the hot seat for awhile. I believe Diego's mishaps in his footballing life has been due to the kind of scrutiny and pressure that his genius draws. Some of the greats have been able to handle it better than others. Once again, the hopes of a nation will be placed squarely on the shoulders of this man.

I sincerely hope for his sake that he copes well with the scrutiny and pressure.

Only Argentina would teeter between tragedy and comedy. I hope for the best.

Off With His Head

2008-10-17T08:51:00.005-04:00

I feel a bit bad that I'm so happy about this. Ok, maybe I don't feel that bad about it. Our constant whining has finally been heard - or Basile knew he was going to get sacked anyway, and wanted to save face. Either way, when Argentina can neither win nor play well, something will have to give.

As a coach, Basile bothered me for so many reasons. Primarily though, his tactics are very much outdated. Batista's revamped 4-2-3-1 proved to be far more effective. And we have the evidence to prove that. Hopefully, Batista will get first consideration as we played great football with him as coach. My only hesitation with Batista is his choice of not deploying a true striker of Diego Milito's or Cavenaghi's qualities. I would even like to see Zarate as our striker.

Anyway, let's not get our hopes up - after all this is Argentina we're talking about. Something's bound to go wrong. Personally, I'd like to see Batista in as coach. Simeone could use a little more experience as a coach before taking on the mantle of bringing Argentina to the promised land.

Miguel Angel Russo has an impressive resumé. He has a lot of experience both as a player and a manager. He has deployed San Lorenzo in a 4-4-2 formation with much success. As of right now, Miguel Angel Russo (according to Clarin.com) is the lead candidate to get the job. I wonder if he would continue to use 4-4-2 with the NT. I'd be curious to see how that might work. However, I can't say I'm too familiar with his coaching style.

I think Batista deserves it for what he did in Beijing.

Tocalli is another choice, but the Argentinian press has not even kept him on their radar. Interestingly enough, we won our U20 World Cup with Tocalli using primarily a 4-2-3-1 formation. With Batista and Tocalli's recent successes, it's small wonder I'm pissed off with our history of brain-dead tactics under Basile.

I certainly hope Bianchi is not selected. Firstly, because he simply couldn't cut it in Europe. A sure sign of inflexibility. We just had an inflexible coach.

Basile's particular skills as a coach were never tactics anyway. In this day and age, no coach is going to win a World Cup with just a talented team. He must be able to outsmart the other coach. Case in point, Chile-Argentina. Where Basile tried something different (4-3-2-1) and failed. He was quite simply, out-coached. From the beginning, Chile were better organized, disciplined (they did not resort to dirty tactics like Brazil or Uruguay) and hungrier for the ball.

I believe it is up to the coach to have his team organized, disciplined, and determined. They are the leaders of their teams.

The Striker's Ball

2008-09-25T09:46:00.009-04:00

I confess, so far this season I have only been able to watch EPL and Serie A games.(Don't blame me, blame cable). I did manage to catch Atletico Madrid (in scintillating form as of late) once though.

So here is my rundown of things that stood out to me. There are a few Argentine forwards making a case for a place in the NT starting line-up.

Mauro Zárate

The young star is (in my opinion) the best striker in Serie A. He is simply unstoppable. If you haven't seen him play yet, I highly recommend you take the opportunity to watch a Lazio game. He is a big reason why they are currently second in the standings. I know that my first impression of him was not positive. I preferred Di Maria to him. (I still do). However, since his stellar performances for Birmingham in the EPL - and add to that his lightning fast adaptation to the English game. His adaptation to the Italian game has (if possible) occured even faster - to the dismay of opposing defenders. Even when he doesn't score, he seems to do everything else right. His confidence is sky high, and he deserves at least a call up!

Diego Milito

It appears Genoa missed their favourite son. When the people of a city love you that much, it's easy to see why one would sacrifice higher wages to play in Genoa. Diego Milito has returned the love in goals. With four goals in three games, Diego is another Argentine striker who is making an immediate impact in Serie A. Coco Basile, are you paying attention?

Julio Cruz

He's been relatively quiet these past weeks. Mourinho and his new signings have been getting a lot of press. However, Cruz always seems to find a way to come off the bench and score when it is needed. With the rise of the young phenom Balotelli, the addition of Quaresma and Mancini, and the return of Adriano, it will be increasingly difficult for Cruz to find space. However, if he keeps popping them in, then he won't need to worry.

Hernan Crespo

He's made it abundantly clear in the press that he is not happy about his absence from the CL roster. Naturally, I have a soft spot for Crespo, and I am confident that he is still a great striker (unlike Christian Vieri for instance) who is capable of scoring 15+ goals a season at the highest level. I am of the opinion that he should have gone to Sampdoria for less money. The reasons should be obvious. First off, he would be an automatic starter. Secondly, he would partner with the immensely gifted Antonio Cassano. Two players who would compliment each other nicely. Celtic have made it known that they are interested in his services. I think it would also be a nice fit. However, el Coco maybe doesn't follow the Scottish league. Plus, I'm not sure anyone would be able to convince a Milanese wife to move to Scotland. We all know how London turned out.

On a side note, I'd like to mention his absence from the CL roster might be a blessing in disguise, as he is now an attractive option for a top team competing in the Champions League. It can work in Crespo's favour, as he still seems as hungry as ever for success at the highest level.

Gonzálo Higuaín

Speaking of making cases, Higuaín seems to be making a convincing one. A madrid based paper recently had the Madridistas polling a whopping 83% in favour of him starting over Rául. Although let's face it, fan reaction can be fickle. Rául was outstanding last season. How quickly we forget. However, I'm not going to argue if Higuaín starts. He has been in great form, and despite being played out of his favoured position up front, he has found a way to be a factor anyway. That is a sign of good character. However, I don't think Argentina has comepletely forgiven him for his dilly-dallying with France. I happen to think it's forgiveable. It's a personal decision, and he seems to take his own time when it comes to doing what he wants. As a player I like his style, he does not have a wide array of skills to his game, but he consistently utilizes the skills he does have to its utmost potential, and that is very rare amongst footballers. Rául and Bojan Krkic are good examples of players who do the same thing. He has come a long way since his arrival to Real Madrid two years ago. Before we know it, he might just be a starter on the biggest club in the world. Not bad for a 21-year-old.

Javier Saviola

I have to say that Saviola has made perhaps the dumbest choice of his now stagnant career. He was in fine form in Barcelona not too long ago, and has opted for an exciting two seasons on Real Madrid's bench. And boy has he kept that bench warm for them. There was a time where I thought he was overlooked by Barcelona. Now I just think he's a silly young man. It always astonishes me the lack of common sense some people have (people who take Lo Monaco seriously, for instance). My piece of common sense for Saviola: swallow your pride, go to a smaller market team, take a pay cut, and guarantee yourself games in the starting line-up. It did wonders for Gilardino. If not, be doomed to keeping benches warm for the rest of your prime footballing years. Think about when people won't call you the little rabbit anymore, but "the old crazy man" who talks to himself and scares little kids.

Lavezzi and German Denis have been playing well also. Although I expected a few more goals from them thus far. Perhaps German Denis needs more time to adapt. Either way, Napoli are in fine form, which is good news.

Lisandro Lopez

He had a breakout season last year, with 24 goals in 27 appearances. FC Porto slapped a big price tag on him and it did the job of scaring off suitors. However, if AFA is to take him seriously, then he should move to one of Europe's top leagues. What are you waiting for Licha?

Fernando Cavenaghi

He managed to escape a fate of professional obscurity in Russia, to remind us all that he's still around and can still score goals from pretty much anywhere he wants. However, if you are going to leave Moscow, why go to France? Why not call somebody in a Spanish club and say "hey, remember me?" Maybe his agent is a conniving weasel, only concerned with getting his slice of the pie. With the World Cup two years away it's not too late for Cavenaghi. If he has another great season in France, then we can expect that he might move to either Spain, Italy, or England. Young talent doesn't stay in France for long.

The Usual Suspects

Messi, Aguero, and Tevez are expected to have great seasons this year - and with good reason. Tevez might have to fear for his spot in the starting line-up now that Berbatov is in the picture. However, I have full confidence that he will find a way to make himself important (as all great players do). Aguero is making waves internationally these days, as many pundits have noticed that Messi might not be the only future World Player of the Year from Argentina. Those of us who have followed Argentinian football these last years are not at all surprised. As for Messi, he does look good with a #10 on his back.

Which leads me to my next problem. We have quite simply, too much attacking talent inside a very small sector of the footballing spectrum. I'm talking about the footballing spectrum that ranges from attacking midfielder to support striker. How many attacking midfielders/forwards can one national team possibly need? Let's count them. Messi, Aguero, Tevez, Zárate, Higuaín, Sosa, Saviola (if you can count him) and Lavezzi. Then there are those of the more midfield-persuasion: Riquelme, Aimar, Di Maria, Buonanotte, and Maxi Rodriguez. That's thirteen, ladies and gentlemen. It's nice to have these problems, but it seems to me, (and perhaps I am stating the obvious) that everyone wants to be the next Mario Kempes or Diego Maradona. We need some kids who want to be the next Javier Zanetti (speaking of which, congratulations are in order for 600 games of Serie A football - a remarkable achievement).

We have so much depth in attack, but we can't find a suitable replacement for Gabriel Heinze. How is that? How is it possible in a country like Argentina, that consistently produces great players every single year?

It seems odd to me that come 2010, we will have more than a few world-class attackers sitting on the bench, while an injury to any given defender might put our World Cup ambitions into jeopardy.

Until then, let's at least enjoy the attacking talent on display.

Sensini Talks Sense

2008-09-04T09:48:00.004-04:00

Yeah, I couldn't resist the cliché "headline pun." For those of you that don't know, Roberto Sensini was a former Seleccion defender. His professional career spanned an impressive 19 years - beginning with his days at Newell's Old Boys, to his final seasons at Udinese. His standout career achievements are his two Uefa Cup titles won with Parma in 1995, and 1999. Along with two Italian Cups in 1999, 2002. Both with Parma. It's also impressive that he won a Scudetto with Lazio in 2000, considering it's usually Milan, Inter or Juventus at the top.

He is currently the coach of Estudiantes de la Plata in Argentina. His latest interview at Fifa.com has shed some light on his experiences as both player and coach. I think it's worth a look.

Beijing 2008: Argentina Win Gold!

2008-08-25T10:04:00.006-04:00

A well deserved victory. I read recently, that one-man teams don't win tournaments. This gold medal proves that to be correct. There were some complaints about it being a dull final. Save those complaints for the people who chose to have a midday final in 42 degree heat (107 degrees farenheit). The pitch also left much to be desired. However, Argentina found a way to win, despite the obstacles. There is no need for excuses when the team plays so well.

Another glorious through-ball from Messi once again found an open Di Maria, who once again cooly finished - giving us (once again) a game winner. Except this time, the goal gave us a gold medal.

I really have to commend Batista for his fluid tactics. From my perspective, defensively, Argentina looked as if they played 4-3-1-2, with Di Maria pulling back to assist in defensive duties. When attacking, it was a fluid 4-2-3-1. With Messi taking the ball from deeper in his own zone and Di Maria often pushing forward. It worked because it best utilized the many attacking midfielders we have. I do believe I've mentioned this before. Need I say more?

An exemplary effort by a fine Argentinian side. While it was a group effort, I believe some praise should be handed out to Messi, who was the player of the tournament in my opinion. Di Maria as well, was outstanding. Gago and Mascherano were spectacular. Mascherano is now written in Argentinean history as the only athlete to win two gold medals. Not bad for a 24-year-old.

Special mention to Romero. He was solid throughout, and made the absence of Ustari easier to bear. He handled himself very well. As for Batista, I already like him more than Basile. Argentina has played with more grit and determination under this coach. Something seems to be working. I would still like to see a classic #9 up front when we get into WC qualifiers and in 2010 in South Africa.

Special mention to Diego Buonanotte, who scored a glorious free kick with pin-point accuracy in his first competitive match for the men's team. Quite an achievement for such a young player. Hopefully we'll see more of him.

We also look forward to the careers of Garay and Zabaleta blossoming into world class players. Consecutive clean sheets against a motivated Brazilian side and Nigerian side in high-pressure situations is outstanding.

I was not surprised with Lavezzi's contribution. He has been turning out consistent performances for Napoli.

Musings on South Africa 2010...

On another note, one of the major positives for this, is that we might be assembling the best Argentinean side since '86. We have a bright future ahead of us...

A Trip to the Gold Medal Final: Argentina 3, Brazil 0

2008-08-20T09:18:00.024-04:00

Argentina's victory was impressive for so many reasons. But what stands out for me is that they rose to the occasion and played their best game against their most difficult opponents. They outworked, outran, and outfought their opponents, and still played some great football. They played together as a team - united in an astounding collective effort. It's one of the best displays I've seen in a long time for Argentina.

While I want to celebrate this as a gold medal, I'm going to resist that temptation. However, a semifinal victory over our age-old rivals must always be duly celebrated.
Pictures are worth a thousand words so, here are some.

Batista sticks with Aguero and we get rewarded...

Man of the Match (Looks like Diego can expect a grandchild. Not just any grandchild, but one with some spectacular football genes)

The Midfield Battle

Gago was simply everywhere... sorry Ronnie!

The Best Tackler in the World

Messi and his Mentor - Pregame

Student Surpasses Teacher

Poor Ronnie... any superstar (and Brazilian at that) who takes a young Argentine under his wing will always be ok in my books.

Football vs. Rugby

Why so rough guys?

Buddies

A future captain...

The Martyr of Trequartistas, an endangered species

A wonderful assist from a top defender

The Best in the World

"I couldn't have asked for more. I won a starting berth, I'm playing well and I was part of a victory like this. What else can I say?"

An outstanding group effort

Beijing Olympics: Argentina Book A Place In The Semifinal

2008-08-16T19:56:00.005-04:00

"Messi is unbelievably good. Of course we're their opponents, but I like him," said Dutch coach Foppe De Haan.

Another game where Messi was dominant. I have to congratulate Holland as they attacked well. If Drenthe had put his chance away, it would have been a different story. Here are my observations:

Ustari - A horrific injury for the young star. He is out for eight long months. The only upside for Getafe is that they still have their first choice keeper. When Romero came in, it was apparent to me what it is Ustari brings to a team. He is more confident, his kicks are more accurate, his positioning and reflexes are superb. I like Romero, but it is clear that Ustari is different. Let's hope he recovers sooner rather than later.

Zabaleta - Mature for his age. You can see it on the pitch (and off the pitch). He is not the least bit out of place at this tournament. Had a good game against Holland.

Garay - Great defender who is having a good tournament thus far. I have no complaints with his game against Holland.

Pareja - I think he's out of his element in this tournament. The Dutch players were a bit more than he could handle. I was not impressed.

Monzon - Same as Pareja. On the first goal he looked like he was sleeping, then didn't really cover his man, hoping for an offside call. In extra time he was caught out of position and could have cost us a late equalizer (luckily Drenthe blew his chance). I'm not impressed with Monzon. Both Pareja and Monzon do not seem up to snuff for this competition and will be cause for concern against the fearsome Brazilians.

Gago - A solid display as always. Along with Mascherano - he seems a bit overworked at times. I suppose that's what happens when you have so many attacking midfielders on the field at once. Despite this setback, he is coping very well and had a good game against an impressive Dutch side.

Mascherano - In all the matches I've seen Mascherano play, it's hard to recall him ever having a bad game. I think that sums up his performance against Holland. He is quite simply the consummate reliable player. One you can depend on for consistently top level performances.

Di Maria - Yes, I take full credit for singling him out in the U20 WC. Am I above patting myself on the back? No way! The moment I began seeing him play in the U20 tournament, it was clear to me that he had what it took to play at a very high level. In the second half against Holland, he raised his game. He began to attack aggressively, with confidence, and was rewarded with the game winning goal for his efforts. He had the balls to take corners kicks late in the game before an expectant Riquelme. When things got difficult he assumed responsibility. An excellent player, Benfica did well to sign him. As for his penalty kick misses, he should have at least converted his second chance. However, I'd rather a game winning goal that sends your team to the semifinal, than a pk goal when the team doesn't need one. My only critique, is his dive inside the box late in the game.

Riquelme - Another game, another ghost-like performance. He was not a factor. Knowing Riquelme, I would normally figure he's due for a good performance next game. But our next opponent is a very hungry Brazilian team. We can't seem to beat them even when they're not playing well. With the exception of one game, Brazil has had Riquelme's number. The intensity increases as the tournaments progress. Riquelme has a tendency to fade when this happens. Let's hope he proves us wrong!

Messi - There isn't that much more praise I can give this young superstar. A goal, and a game-winning assist. In interviews, he has said on more than one occasion that he is seeking to improve his game. One of the areas he refers to, is his eye for the right pass. His final pass to Di Maria was something Riquelme should have been doing. There was a good chance we could have lost this game without Messi's stellar performance. His lightning speed enables him to captilize on defensive errors - which lead to our first goal. Another of what will be many man-of-the-match performances in this young man's career.

Aguero - He hasn't scored yet this tournament. He had his chances and did not convert them. His game against Holland was another example. However, in his defence, I will point out that he is being played out of position. While he was employed often as sole striker in the U20 World Cup, his opponents were generally smaller than his current opponents. It makes it more difficult for him to be a factor inside the box. Also, his creativity is being used minimally since he rarely has the ball outside the box. And when he does, he doesn't have a proper striker to give it to. Why does AFA insist on playing without one?

Lavezzi - I felt Lavezzi should have started this game. His two goals certainly put him in higher standing for a place in the starting line-up. Of the players we have in this tournament, he seems to be the most comfortable as a striker. Upon return to Italy, his qualities will be used to the fullest when playing alongside German Denis.

The Never-ending Rivalry

We should not take our title as defending Olympic gold-medalists as an indication of being favourites. As far as I'm concerned, Argentina should very rarely be considered favourites against Brazil. More than anything, I hope that Argentina does its utmost to prevent a blowout. If we're going to play a possession game, then there should be an emphasis on effective passing and ball distribution, rather than cute passing that has little effect on the game. Argentina will need a great collective effort without any real mistakes if they want to reach the final.

As for Brazil, their ugly style of football is a shame to see given their offensive talent and capacity to produce quality, eye-pleasing football. Their tactic of "let's foul them enough to break their flow but not enough to get a yellow card" seems to be working somewhat. They've received 5 yellow cards in their previous game. Even Holland - a team known for playing stylish football - dwarfed Argentina in fouls committed.

We can expect more of the same from Dunga's side. Their tally of yellow cards could prove to be a real problem for them. Whether they win or lose, any player receiving a second yellow will not be able to play the next game. Hopefully (and I'm being optimistic) this will translate to a less physically obtrusive match.

Unlikely.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that we see football instead of rubgy!

Diego Simeone: Future Albiceleste Manager?

2008-07-21T13:42:00.003-04:00

As always, I'm concerned about the future of the albicelestes. Currently, El Coco does not convince me as the manager who will bring World Cup glory to the people of Argentina. However, I have my hopes set on Simeone continuing with his success. Most likely, he will ply his trade in Europe at some point. Will he become manager for La Seleccion one day? I certainly hope so.

However, if you want to read a thorough article on Diego Simeone, read Marcela Mora Y Araujo's article. I think it sums up his time as a manager pretty well. Enjoy!

Argentines In Serie A

2008-07-03T11:38:00.003-04:00

I stumbled upon this article on goal.com. It's a comprehensive look at all the Argentines currently plying their trade in the peninsula.

The only footballer that is not mentioned is Mauro Zarate, who is well on his way to Lazio on a loan move. I think it's a smart move for Zarate. If he plays with the kind of confidence he had at Birmingham, then we can expect some good things from this forward.

Otherwise, have a look at the number of players. For as much as I watch Serie A football, I'm still surprised at how many Argentinians there are. Hopefully we can add Palacio and Riquelme to this list.

Coco Basile: Where Argentinian Tactics Should Be Going

2008-06-27T10:26:00.003-04:00

I have made many rants towards Basile's poor tactical choices. I have also argued that our team has suffered many losses due to tactical inflexibility. This is the direction Europe is going. Tactical flexibility. I can imagine the future of football as one where tactics are implemented in a more fluid manner, changing throughout the match (perhaps more akin to American football, in that sense.)

AFA should be thinking about the future, and where Argentina fits into it. Hopefully they're not simply concerned about the day-to-day. Hopefully they're not simply concerned about selecting players that are popular, but players that fit well into a cohesive framework.

Hopefully...

Something Smells Foul: Argentina - Brazil

2008-06-19T10:38:00.007-04:00

So unlike previous qualifiers, I was actually able to watch this game. Although, I somewhat regret going to the trouble to watch it. I lost count of how many fouls Brazil committed on the pitch. If a team of Brazil's calibre, wants to play defensive, I'm fine with that. What I'm not fine with, is when a team hacks, kicks, pushes, shoves, fouls, and generally plays dirty at every Argentinean possession. So I hope Dunga gets fired for that reason. It's football, not Rugby.

As for the referee, I would have liked to see a red card for the Brazilian #4, as two blatantly rough fouls should have seen him off. When a referee refuses to give out yellows or reds, it only works as an incentive for a team to persist in playing dirty football. Small fouls every once in a while is understandable; but the constant, incessant fouling was not only frustratingly disruptive to the game, but dangerous to the players involved. So that's all I need to say about that.

A tie in Brazil is nothing to complain about. I'll take it.

Now for the players...

Pato - Phenomenal save in the first half, of course, his brilliant moment preceding one of the most awful mistakes I've ever seen a keeper make. Only Pato would make such a brilliant save and then immediately make me feel embarrassed for him. Pato chasing Robinho was like watching Wile E. Coyote chase the Road Runner. It would have been funny if it wasn't so sad. In all fairness, he tugged on Robinho's shirt inside the box, which deserved a penalty kick.

Burdisso - Pretty solid, a little shaky with outlet passes, but overall, I can't really complain about Argentina's defence this game.

Coloccini - Of our defenders, I usually criticize this guy the most. However, he also had a fairly solid game. Can't really complain here.

Zanetti - Had some good runs up the pitch, and was reliable coming back.

Heinze - Every once in a while this guy does something ghastly, but somehow, he has found himself winning consecutive titles with Manchester United and Real Madrid. I guess he gets the job done.

Mascherano - Made some timely tackles, great defensive coverage. We rely heavily on this guy.

Gago - Every time I see Gago play, I like him even more. In the claustrophobic Brazilian midfield, he provided some of the few moments of quick thinking and smart passing that saw us break out into decent attacking opportunities. He did what Riquelme should have been doing.

Gutierrez - His speed caused a lot of problems for Brazil. His chemistry with the team is off, but I like what he provides for the team. Speed in the midfield will be increasingly necessary against a claustrophobic, ruthless midfield like Brazil's. Maybe if he cut his hair he might be even faster!

Riquelme - Not much of a factor in the big games, no surprise here. Although Brazil's constant fouling didn't allow him to play his game, in his few opportunities to make something happen, he balked.

Messi - Once again, the most consistently dangerous forward we have. Even his "off" games still provide a spark. He's dangerous deep in the pitch as well as just ouside the box. Once he accelerates, he's very difficult to stop. He was fouled almost murderously, and the referee should have done a lot more to protect him. My only criticism is he should have done better with the few chances he did have. The home fans were unhappy with the performance of Dunga's side. Aside from derogatory chants towards Dunga, they rose as one to applaud Messi when he was substituted late on. That's what you call respect.

Cruz - Speaking of missing chances, Cruz was the guiltiest yesterday. I would have liked to see Licha, Cavenaghi, Milito, Crespo, or Denis in this role. Cruz is nervous out there, and does not play with the same confidence that he has with Inter Milan. Missed a great chance with his left foot, blew it over the net. I'm sure there's a Brazilian in the nosebleeds, grateful for the ball.

Subs

Aguero - He combines well with Messi, and I still adhere to the philosophy that we don't need Riquelme. I would like to see Messi and Aguero in charge of the creativity, behind a proper striker. They could have used one when playing together late in this game.

Battaglia - Can't say I really noticed much from this guy.

Palacio - Played literally 5 seconds, before the whistle blew. Amazing.

International Friendly: Argentina 4, Mexico 1

2008-06-05T09:46:00.005-04:00

I have been saying in recent months that Argentina is well behind Europe in tactics. I may be getting a ahead of myself here, but things might be changing for the better.

I was pretty excited to learn about a change in tactics. With Basile's 4-3-1-2 becoming increasingly predictable, it was time for a change. I watched the second half of the game. I like the 3-4-3. It looked like 3-4-1-2 at times, with Messi as enganche. I think this set-up plays into the characteristics of the top talent we have. Aguero played as a CAM for Independiente, and then developed as a support striker for Atletico Madrid. In the U20 world cup, he was often deployed as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1. So he has all-round qualities that make him highly versatile, and extremely difficult to stop when given the space that a flexible set-up will afford him. At least from what I saw. Burdisso (once again) proved decisive on a set piece.

(Once again) Mascherano and Gago combined well. I will also take this opportunity to (once again) praise Maxi Rodriguez. This man is the consummate midfielder, and is a coach's dream. Where can't he play?

It will be interesting to see how this line-up and formation would fare against a great team like Brazil in a World Cup qualifier in Brazil. Needless to say, the pressure is entirely different than a friendly.

My Props to Basile

I liked the way Argentina played for the most part. They were a little risky at times in their own end, often trying to short-pass their way out their own zone in dangerous situations. I've been critical of Basile ever since our 3-0 humilation against Brazil in the Copa America final. The fact that he has opted to play Cruz, shows commitment to having a balanced attack. However, I think Basile's best asset is player management skills. He managed to field a new formation that clicked very well, using the right players for the right positions. It's also tactically flexible, with Aguero and Messi moving freely and Zanetti having the option of pulling back or pushing forward when necessary. I sincerely hope this recent line-up will be given more of an opportunity, as it demonstrates the kind of attacking quality we have.

Other points

- I like Burdisso, and this game only reinforced it. While currently a little off-rhythm, he is still solid defensively and deadly on set-pieces.

- For this formation, we rely more on quick passing. Perhaps Lisandro Lopez is more suited to this set-up as he is the only Argentinian I know who is at the top of a 4-3-3 formation. For the minutes he played, I liked what I saw. I like Julio Cruz. He had an assist. Given his age, he's not the striker for the future, but for the short term, I think he has a lot to offer. If Basile chooses this formation for the long-term, I think any of our strikers will need time to adapt to it. In my opinion, Cavenaghi is currently the frontrunner as Crespo's successor. He has the qualities that suit different styles of play and he has hit a nice run of form this year.

- The Riquelme Factor. This game reinforced my own belief - that we do not need Riquelme for offensive power. Maxi, Aguero, Messi and a good striker provide Argentina with enough firepower to break down the best defenses. Also, Gago's ball distribution and eye for that devastating pass only adds to the amount of offence that Argentina is capable of - if given the right tactical set-up.

- Maxi was once again effective in taking set-pieces. No surprise there.

The only negative I can see is that it was only a friendly. 3-4-3 is a ballsy formation against a team like Brazil. I don't expect Argentina to win in Brazil, however, I sincerely hope this formation is given a chance over several attempts against strong opponents. Only then will we know what this line-up is capable of.

Till then, vamos vamos Argentina

The Future Begins: Mourinho at Inter Milan!

2008-06-03T12:09:00.004-04:00

That a team with so many Argentinians is now being coached by my favourite manager, is good news. I have already found myself intrigued and often laughing at Mourinho's first comments as manager. I am also hoping more Argentinians in professional football will become coaches in the future, so they can one day guide us to a World Cup victory. So Zanetti starting taking notes!

Acknowledging the cultures behind the game:

"I have experience in leading a group and a good knowledge of different footballing cultures, having worked in Portugal, Spain and England. I think I can bring this knowledge to Italy. The Champions League is also a competition between different footballing cultures. One day you're up against a British team, and the next week against a Portuguese team, who obviously have competely different philosophies."

Telling the Truth Rather Than Being Politically Correct:

Have you been studying Italian for long?
"I understand your question well. You want to know when Inter contacted me for the first time. I like telling the truth and the truth is that Inter contacted me for the first time the day after the second match against Liverpool, but nothing had been decided then."

Why People Love Him:

"The president asked me to be José Mourinho, which means working with great passion, with great empathy with all the fans, the players and the club. We must begin a new cycle. A cycle with a great coach in Roberto Mancini has just ended, but we turn the page now. It's a new life for the club and all of Inter. I have great respect for the work done by a great coach like Mancini, but I am José Mourinho. I have different methods and a different philosophy. I work with passion and motivation. I have always had strong relationships with the players and I'm sure that after a few weeks we will be able to talk about a strong relationship with my new players. I believe that sporting results are the logical consequence of who works well. I am sure I will work very well. I'm expecting positive results and entertaining football."

Setting the Precedent and Tossing Press Rumours Aside:

"I want the chance to change things a bit because I don't know any coach who has the same ideas as another. But I didn't like what I read about me not liking some of the players in the squad, and that I want to buy all the best players in Europe. This is not true. I have a clear message that I want to transmit to my players. From now on I want to talk about them as my players. I want to tell all of them that I like the squad and I have faith in them. I have seen a lot of Inter's matches during the season and I appreciated the team's mentality. It's hard for me to wait until mid-July to start."

I, along with many, also find it hard to wait.

The Future of Inter Milan: Mancini to Mourinho

2008-05-29T09:42:00.005-04:00

Mancini's sacking and Mourinho's imminent arrival has caused a storm in the press. I decided to put my two cents in, as I have followed Inter Milan avidly since around 2002. (What can I do? They have so many Argentinians!)

Why I Like Manicini:

1) From day 1, everyone underestimated him. He defied people's expectations by turning a shaky, inconsistent team, to the dominant force in Serie A. No one expected three consecutive Serie A titles. In the summer where Hector Cuper got sacked, several names were tossed in the air. Moratti himself later admitted that Capello was their first choice. When he had talks with Mancini, the largely unproven manager was able to convince the oil magnate that he was the right man for the job. In this demanding world of top-level football, it is a rare occurence when an unproven manager takes the helm at a top club. Staying at the helm is very difficult.

2) He knows his football. Maicon and Maxwell have been some astute buys. I admire any manager that can find a largely unknown player, and take him to the kind of level where his play makes him a known player in many parts of the world. Figo left Real Madrid and showed he could still play. Inter Milan pulled off some surprises under Mancini.

However, Mancini's success has begun to fade considerably.

Why Mancini should go:

1) He does not have the respect of the majority in the dressing room anymore. The majority of the the players have voted for him to leave. He has had spats with Figo, Crespo, Vieira, Ibrahimovic, and even the team doctors!

2) He quit abruptly after their loss to Liverpool. Then abruptly returned the next day.

3) Inter Milan's form has been gradually slipping since January. To the point where they almost lost their scudetto. Something that was inconceivable in January.

4) Which leads me to my next point. Inter Milan's cycle of success is done. As Cruyff says, teams have cycles. Many of Mancini's players are growing tired and restless under him.

5) Inter Milan did not have a winning record against any of the top teams in Serie A this season. (Not Roma, AC Milan, or Juventus).

6) Mancini isn't the guy to take them to Champions League glory. Their performance against Liverpool left much to be desired. He was sufficiently beat by a more tactically astute manager (Rafa Benitez). They have failed to make even the final four in the Champions League since Mancini has been in charge. While I think injuries have been a big issue in their European campaigns, the elite managers find a way to win. (see Liverpool's last CL title).

7) Also, in the biggest game of their CL campaign this year (the second leg against Liverpool), Mancini played a 4-1-2-1-2 formation, with Stankovic as his CAM. Since when was Stankovic their offensive "go-to" guy? Personally, I believe Mancini, Mihajlovic, and Stankovic are a close-knit bunch, and Mancini ultimately rewarded a player for his loyalty to him, rather than to play the more offensively talented midfielders like Figo and Solari.

This is not an attack on Mancini. I think he is an excellent manager. However, if he is to become an elite manager, he needs to improve on his European performances and his player management skills. Managers like Prandelli, Ancelotti and Mourinho, have the kind of respect where players are willing to follow them.

Mourinho succeeds in the very areas Mancini lacks thus far. His player management is second to none. His relations with upper management is also excellent (except with Avram Grant). Abramovich bought Mourinho a Ferrari 5 months after their mutual seperation. That is the kind of respect Mourinho has. His top players want to follow him to the club he goes. How many managers in the world achieve that? He inspires loyalty and comradery in his team. Like Sir Alex Ferguson, I agree that the game needs people like Mourinho. The game needs characters. Mourinho brings a sense of mischief and fun to the game.

When I first started following Inter Milan, they seemed to be the organization that could just never get it right. It seemed no matter which successful coach they hired or which player they bought, it never worked out. Their transfer policy was a revolving door of footballers. There are so many players who have played for Inter Milan - or been owned by them - who excelled elsewhere. Mutu, Edgar Davids, Seedorf, Pirlo, Cannavaro, to name a few. All players who reached an extraordinarily high level outside of the club. AC Milan have been the main benefactors, as they managed to take Seedorf and Pirlo, who became key components in their CL victories.

Mourinho has an uncanny ability to groom players to a higher level of play. Deco, Carvalho, Drogba, Lampard, Essien, Terry, are all examples of what he could achieve with Inter Milan's players.

This leads me wondering about the Argentinians in the club at the moment. Mourinho likes his 4-3-3.

Javier Zanetti. I was apprehensive about this guy in my early years of following football. However, in the last three years he has grown on me. His defensive prowess is impeccable. His movement and tireless energy are an example to everyone. I believe he's untouchable. However, it will be interesting to see where he would play in a 4-3-3 formation. Maicon has won his spot as a RB, even Zanetti thinks so. Luckily he's versatile and the fans adore him. So he will probably find a spot in Mourinho's starting line-up.

Cambiasso. The consummate midfielder. His game is complete. He's good in the air, he's good defensively, he has a great shot, has the eye for the devastating pass, and tirelessly runs. His only flaw, is his mental and emotional strength. He can be shaky at times when it really matters. I think Mourinho is good at helping players to become mentally tougher and stronger. He should work well with Mourinho.

Burdisso. I love this guy, but I believe he has been marginalized in the last year. Materazzi and Cordoba have played extremely well in the last two years. It has been difficult for him to earn a starting spot. He has been linked to Juventus (not the first time). I think Burdisso is good enough to be a starting CB on any great team. If Juventus play him as a starter, I think Burdisso should go.

Cruz. Had an unbelievable first half, then tailed off in the second, going close to three months without a goal. I believe he is best when he comes off the bench. At the moment, Inter have Ibrahimovic, Cruz, Crespo, Balotelli, Adriano, and Suazo. It's getting crowded. Whether he fits into the future remains to be seen. He has always displayed a maturity and calm on and off the pitch. It's partly why I really like him. I also haven't forgotten his pk against Lehmann in the World Cup. This guy is as cool as they come.

Crespo. Another striker I like. He played under Mourinho as is therefore familiar with his coaching style. I think he has the qualities to head a 4-3-3 attack. He has gotten better over the years in dribbling, passing, and ball possession. His age means he is past his prime. It also remains to be seen whether he will feature in the new manager's plans.

Solari. I never understood why a player of such talent would sit on the bench for so long. Perhaps it's money. Personally, I'd rather be a starter and get paid less than to spend so many years on the bench. He's a very skilled LM. There aren't too many of those around. I think he'll get the boot.

Samuel. Got a contract renewal. So I believe he'll feature in the plans of Mourinho. He's prone to injuries at his age, and he has not been a regular starter since his arrival from Real Madrid. However, when he has played he has been solid and reliable.

Overall, it's difficult to tell how big the shake-up will be at Inter Milan. Today's Barcelona is vastly different from the pre-Rijkaard years. The same could happen at Inter Milan.

Taking everything into consideration, I believe Mourinho is a better candidate than Mancini to take Inter Milan to that upper echelon of clubs that enjoy domestic and European success.

*I would just like to add... I couldn't pass this quote up!

“Mourinho has shown he has two massive things down below,” said Gattuso.

“He can speak better Italian than me and I was born here.

"He is a great coach and he will be good here, it's a shame he has gone to Inter."

Argentina - Catalunya & the Nonsense That is 4-2-2-2

2008-05-25T10:45:00.002-04:00

We won 1-0 on a Lavezzi goal. However, I don't understand the 4-2-2-2 formation. No one has ever won anything with that formation in the last decade, and no one has played beautifully with that formation that I can recall. The last time I saw this formation was Brazil in the 2006 World Cup. Even with the talents of Kaka and Ronaldinho, they still managed to play dull. They also lost in the quarterfinals, without scoring.

The formation is totally impractical. It's like the coach decided to pick all his favourite players and put them all on the field at the same time. When does playing as many attacking players as possible ever work? Real Madrid's galactico era is a perfect example of this nonsense.

Aguero, Messi, Lavezzi, Higuain, are all support attackers. We have four support attackers, no true strikers, no true wingers, no true CAM's. Batista, please explain to us, how you could possibly justify this set-up over other tactical formations.

I would like to pick Batista's brain to figure out what his reasoning was, because I can't figure it out.

Manchester United, Champions!

2008-05-22T10:44:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Manchester United and all their fans. Special congratulations to Carlos Tevez. He had some great chances that he was unable to convert. However, he was very cool when scoring his pk. When I saw Nani getting ready to get on the field, I was thinking that Tevez did not deserve to be subbed off. Luckily Fergie agreed, and took Rooney off.

So cheers to Tevez and Manchester United, and bad luck for Chelsea. Losing on penalties kicks is never easy!

In Rooney's defence, he was injured not that long ago, so he looked sluggish on the pitch. I don't think he was pleased with his performance, as he looked upset when subbing off.

Cristiano Ronaldo is looking to be the World Player of the Year. He is top scorer in Champions League, in the EPL, and he scored a crucial goal in the final. Unless there are surprises in the upcoming Euro 2008, Cristiano should take this award hands-down.

Season Summaries: La Liga, Serie A, EPL & The Special One

2008-05-20T09:46:00.006-04:00

To begin with, I'd like to say that I don't have the patience to get into details here, as there is so much to talk about. So I'm sticking to main points.

Barcelona

Interesting season. They had the best attack in the game at the beginning of the season, and well into January they were looking pretty good. However, Ronaldinho's mysterious "injury" has kept him from being a major part of this campaign. I think this had a big effect on the overall performance of the team. When he is on his game, he is their talisman. Messi, in the wake of things, was the standout offensive player. Barcelona have one of the best (if not THE best) teams on papaer. Man-to-man, they are exceptional in every position on the field. They bought the right players for the right positions on the field. I think it's a problem of motivation and communication between the coach and players. I like Rijkaard - as most people do - but being liked doesn't win you trophies, nor does it make you play beautifully. I think Rijkaard might be heading for Chelsea, as Henk Ten Cate (his former assistant manager in the Barcelona glory days) works there alongside Avram Grant. Chelsea want to play some attractive football, and they are a team that is accustomed to 4-3-3. Rijkaard may also go to AC Milan. Who knows. On a side note, I've never been sold on Gaby Milito. I think DeMichelis, Burdisso, Garay, Gonzalo Rodriguez are all better.

Laporta has lost some fans these days. However, I think he may have made the smartest choice. He could have chosen a top, well-known manager. Instead he once again opted for an unproven, former professional footballer in Guardiola. To add to that, Guardiola is also a symbol for the club. If Barcelona once again experience success, this will only further enhance the brand that is "Barcelona."

Real Madrid

Los Merengues are on the upswing. After a few frustrating years without any silverware, the new crop of Madrid players have safely put the crazy "galactico" era to rest. The new Real Madrid have put the emphasis on team-play, rather than singling out superstars. Robinho was the standout player in the first half of the season. Suddenly, rumours circulated that he wasn't behaving "aptly." Robinho suddenly faded into the background. Prior to that, some speculated Real Madrid were perhaps too dependent on the young Brazilian. Schuster proved that to be false. Even without Van Nistelrooy, they managed to win games.

Higuain had a good campaign for himself, and is proving to have the qualities for top-level football. He can now boast himself as the "title-winning" goalscorer this season. He can also boast of having a first-touch first-goal against Barcelona in his first derby.

I am very impressed with Fernando Gago. He has risen to the occasion and played very good football for a player so young and so inexperienced. He needs to strengthen up a bit, and he needs to be stronger in the air. But I think he will improve those characteristics with time. His vision, ball-possession, and passing are the reasons he has been a fixture in this squad.

Atletico Madrid

They have also had a good campaign, qualifying for champions league. Aguero had his breakout year, living up to the enormous expectations put upon his young shoulders. Maxi Rodriguez has shown he can lead a team, and is one of the best all-round players in the game today, in my opinion. I would have liked to see him at a top club. However, Atletico Madrid rely on this guy, and if a team captain leaves, it can be demoralizing for a team trying to break its curse. Atletico Madrid have had a solid year, with a lot of offensive talent, they only need to shore up on defence (Ujfalusi being rumoured to join the team) and in defensive midfield.

Real Zaragoza

They have had a disastrous season, with Diego Milito reportedly on his way out. Ayala must be kicking himself for having left Villareal for a team that failed to even stay in La Liga. I don't know how Aimar and Ayala would even stay. Nor do I see how Zaragoza will hold on to their top players given their debt and their demotion. I always like to see Argentinians in top clubs, so we'll see what happens. Although they say playing in the lower leagues builds character. Just ask Del Piero.

Villareal

What a story. Riquelme gets the boot, the team suffers temporarily, and then blossomed into a formidable side, gaining automatic qualification for Champions League by finishing 2nd overall. Who would have predicted that? Personally, I'm happy to see it. I don't like teams that are overly dependent on one player. It's not good for the game, nor is it good for clubs. Riquelme's style of play requires that kind of dependency. So I'm glad that things turned out well for Villareal. They are still that small side who know how to play good football and made the right moves in the summer. They bought Giuseppe Rossi for 10m - for peanuts as far as I'm concerned. This guy is one of the best attackers in the game. He has done well everywhere he has gone. How many players can say they played well in England, Italy, and Spain? All at the tender age of 20! At 19 years of age, he was carrying Parma out of the relagation zone. Now he is a starter on an excellent team. He absolutely should be going to Beijing or Euro 2008 for Italy. Let's hope some people are smart and know what to do with this precocious talent. Right now, Villareal seem to be the only smart people. God bless a team that knows how to scout the right talent. As De Niro says in a Bronx Tale, the saddest thing in life is wasted talent!

Sevilla FC

Speaking of teams that know their shit when it comes to scouting talent. Sevilla FC. The only reason I'm mentioning these guys is because I felt they made a smart buy in Federico Fazio. He had a great campaign in the U20 WYC in Canada. In the last nine games of the season, the three games that Fazio did not start, Sevilla lost. The six games that Fazio did start, Sevilla won, five of those games being shutouts. What is more, Fazio was deployed as a midfielder for 4 of those games, and scored three goals in two games. Not bad for a first season in the big leagues - and not bad for a 21-year-old. For all you Argentina fans, keep an eye on this kid. If AFA know what they're doing (and I'm not always convinced they do) they will bring this guy to Beijing.

Inter Milan Champions!

Javier Zanetti celebrated his 13th year at Inter Milan with a third consecutive scudetto. However, the standout player was Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Inter almost lost this title. They were dead in the first half against Parma. It wasn't until Zlatan came on the pitch after half-time, that the team came back to life. Cambiasso was unable to play due to injury. However, he was a central part of their scudetto campaign. Congratulations are in order, as three consecutive titles are quite an achievement. They managed to do it without a supserstar attacking-midfielder. Hopefully they'll buy one this summer. Crespo's future is in doubt as he likes to play, and I believe he can still offer a lot if he's given regular play. However, competition for a starting spot is fierce. Javier Zanetti got absolutely mobbed after the game. I felt scared for him when he got surrounded by some pretty crazy-looking fans. You weren't exactly sure if they wanted to hug him or kill him. They had that zealous fanatical look about them. He stayed calm as usual, luckily nothing happened!

The EPL

They had a great season. Tevez has won a League title, and is in a Champions League final, in his first season with Manchester United. Not bad for the little guy. Arsenal played some excellent football this year, it is a shame they don't have the same resources as Manchester, Chelsea, or Liverpool. They play some beautiful football. Mauro Zarate had a good second half with Birmingham City. He has been linked with Arsenal. I hope he goes. I'd like to see an Argentinian playing alongside Van Persie and Fabregas. Mascherano has proven himself to be, in my opinion, the best ball-winner in the game at the moment.

The Champions League Final

I know I said I would make predictions earlier, but I forgot to blog about it. My personal prediction was Manchester-Liverpool final. I was close, but no cigar. Chelsea have surprised me with their form under Avram Grant. Grant has surprised me too actually. I have been saying since September that Manchester United are the team to beat this year. I think they are the favourites to win it. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Chelsea won it. We all know they have the team to do it. However, Manchester are my choice, and I'm hoping Tevez will be a factor in this game. He knows better than most people that he might not ever get a chance at a CL final again. Let's go Tevez!

Mourinho

Am I the only person that misses this guy? I personally hope he coaches Inter Milan next year. He doesn't look like he's going to Spain, as Schuster has done well, and Guardiola has been appointed for Barca. Valencia can't afford him, and most likely Sevilla won't be able to either. That leaves AC Milan, Juventus, and Inter Milan. In the press, he has been linked mostly to Inter. I can see this happening as Mancini caused a shitstorm when he quit then returned suddenly as Manager the next day. Hardly helps your international reputation as a top club when your coach behaves erratically. It also doesn't help the brand, nor the morale in the dressing room. However, 3 consecutive titles always helps. So it is unclear if Mourinho will actually end up in Inter Milan. Ranieri may experience the same thing he did at Chelsea - which is, being replaced by none other than the "special one" himself. Juventus have not been linked to any managers. AC Milan have said they will support Ancelloti. A year and a half ago, I believed Ancelloti would definitely get sacked, and Berlusconi continued to have trust in him even when many doubted Ancelloti. That trust paid off with a Champions League title. However this year AC Milan did not fare well in the CL nor in Serie A, as they did not qualify for CL. Perhaps this is the time for them to rebuild, start fresh, with a new coach in charge. Mourinho might be the guy. I think Mourinho at AC Milan is possible, but unlikely given the organization's emphasis on Italian identity. Usually, that means an Italian coach. The exceptions being former players like Rijkaard and Van Basten, who have been linked in the past.

Reasons I need Mourinho back in football.

#1. Omelettes.

#2. Expensive Wine & Referees.

#3. The Right Question.

#4. Telling It Like It Is.

The Periphery

Other notables this year, Ezequiel Lavezzi had a breakout season for Napoli. As did Cavenaghi, who is once again back in the AFA picture. Mario Santana also had an excellent season with Fiorentina, helping the team achieve CL qualification, ahead of AC Milan. He scored some vital goals down the stretch. Lucho & Licha had standout seasons, winning the Superliga with FC Porto. Ever Banega has done well. He is in the middle of a very rocky season for Valencia. Hopefully, he will be given a chance to prove himself, as he possesses great qualities in both defence, offense, and maturity on the pitch. Argentina will be needing more all-round players like him in the future.

Cristian Ledesma of Lazio was injured for much of this season. Sergio Almiron's chance at the big stage did not work out too well for him at Juventus. We'll see what happens with him this summer.

That's all I can think of for now. For the ending of this last blog, I will leave you with a Mourinho quote:

"I just hope I'm surrounded by love, so I can express all the qualities I have as a manager..."

Argentina Beat Egypt... (and other Shenanigans)

2008-03-31T09:42:00.006-04:00

Ok so my first commentary goes to Argentina beating Egypt. I watched the game online. Argentina fielding a secure 4-4-2. My overall assessment is Argentina played well. I enjoyed watching the game. Egypt had several moments where they could have scored, and were dangerous on the counter-attack.

The things that stood out to me were:

- Gago's performance
- Gago and Mascherano combined extremely well. While they differ somewhat in style, they put a lot of pressure on the opposition.
- Aguero played very well. Showing calm when his opportunity arose. (He could have scored a second goal when Gago fed him a brilliant pass).
- DeMichelis played very well. His assist to Aguero shows his eye for the right pass out of his own zone. (Perhaps a traight influenced by his experience as a CDM)
- I would have liked to see Cavenaghi play some more.
- Burdisso's goal is typical of what he has done for Inter. However, this one was particularly nice.
- Maxi has the ability to provide well-placed free-kicks and corners for the NT

Overall, the midfield play was quite impressive. While in possession, they moved the ball well with quick short passes. When they did not have the ball, they put a lot of pressure on their opponents, making it difficult for Egypt to get their game going.

I would like to see how this line-up would fare against a stronger opponent. The last time Argentina played 4-4-2 was against France. We also controlled the midfield very well in that game.

Lucho was a placed on the left, and was not as effective given his natural position on the right midfield. Cavenaghi did some good things within his short time on the field.

My problem is that I'm not convinced Basile will try different tactics in real game situations. I hope we try other formations to see what works.

Other Shenanigans...

Zarate and Cavenaghi both scored twice in their respective matches. Higuain, while having many chances to score, finally came through to score against Sevilla. Heinze scored the opener. Tevez, Crespo, Lucho, and Licha also scored.

Zarate's goals were very impressive to me. I did not expect him to do well in England, as the league is quite physical. However, he's done well so far, and I'm hoping he can continue his form and mature under the pressure of facing relegation.

My Most Recent Visit to Argentina...

I just returned from Buenos Aires. What I noticed about Argentina is how little they care about soccer in Europe. I find this to be both a blessing and a curse. It partly explains why Argentina is so behind tactically. They do not see themselves as behind, because they're not really paying attention to the details in Europe. That's the curse. My brother and I had wanted to catch the Liverpool-Inter Milan second leg, and we had asked where to watch it. None of our friends or family knew. Inter Milan has the most Argentinian players of any European team I know. Nobody cared! The blessing is that as long as people over there continue to be so passionate about their local football, Argentina will continue to produce players with exceptional talent.

I was lucky enough to attend the River Plate - Racing Club match as well. I sat in the most prestigious area in the River Plate stadium (don't ask me how I got those tickets!) Racing Club (my team) did not do too poorly, considering they're facing relegation, and they tied a top team that was playing in their own stadium. Sadly, it looks as if Racing Club is headed for relegation. Back in the 1960's, they were a formidable team. Nowadays, nobody supports them. Everyone likes to support the winning team, rather than their local team.

Speaking of supporting your local team, Toronto FC lost their first game of the season against Columbus Crew. Schelotto plays for Columbus, and had a solid game. Toronto FC, did not, missing a penalty kick (by the awful Samuel). We have a new coach, and I hope he knows what he's doing. At least he has us working on set-pieces in practice, our last one did NOT. Mo Johnston unfortunately is still a heavy fixture in our organization. Personally, I hope he knows how to scout better than he knows how to coach, because he was an awful coach. Carver has yet to prove himself.

sigh...

Our fanbase is a little too rowdy, but I think the fact that we have 20,000 people coming to watch TFC at home, says a lot about soccer in Canada. We dwarf our competition when it comes to fan attendance. Our average attendance was 20,000, while the competition was less than HALF that. Toronto has enormous potential in the MLS, we just need good management. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like it will be happening soon. Let's hope I'm proven wrong!

Sad Surprises...

2008-03-06T11:14:00.002-05:00

So us Argentina fans don't have much to root for this tournament. Real Madrid, FC Porto are out, Inter are well on their way out. I was surprised to see how well Arsenal played. AC Milan's record of never losing to an English team is now demolished. The young defeated the old.

But most importantly, Messi is injured. It was heartbreaking to watch him have to step off the field once again. It is so easy to see that he wants it so bad. He wants to play and win with such a desire that it's difficult for anybody not to sympathize with him.

He seems to get injured the same time of the year as well. It's a difficult moment of the year as the season hits a very strenuous moment, with many games, and a lot of pressure. I had read from some sources that the Barcelona doctors had warned Rijkaard that Messi risked injury if he played. I hope this story is false, and that a coach wouldn't risk such a player when Barcelona were clearly favoured to progress.

As for my predictions, I am currently at a paltry 50%. I'm hoping I'm wrong about Liverpool-Inter. Inter Milan is the only team I'm really cheering for now that everyone else is eliminated. If Inter are eliminated, I have Mascherano at Liverpool to cheer for, and Tevez at Manchester United. I still believe Manchester United are the team to beat. Barcelona without Messi are just not the same in my opinion. Chelsea were impressive, and they can never be ruled out. Since the current situations have presented themselves, Barcelona look less likely to win without their top scorer. Since Real Madrid and AC Milan are out, it looks like a wide open field for more suprises.

Hopefully my next round of predictions will fare a little better. So here's to a safe and speedy recovery for Messi, and for Inter Milan to surprise us all!

Tevez & Messi Alight in Champions League

2008-02-21T08:50:00.005-05:00

If you follow goal.com, you'll have noticed there has been much debate over who the best player in the world is. Cristiano Ronaldo being pitted against Kaka. While I have my opinion on this debate, I think the debate is premature. We still have a Champions League Final to watch, an exciting Euro 2008, and (to a lesser extent) the summer olympics.

Tournaments are a special time for football. Unlike regular season play, the psychological dynamics of elimination changes the nature of the game. In my opinion, it makes it a lot more exciting. It's also a time when some players rise to the occasion. From what I've seen in soccer, it seems there are only a handful of players who know how to play tournaments. Tevez and Messi are such players.

I have consistently read about Cristiano Ronaldo on soccernet.com, goal.com, as well as Rooney. An article was recently posted, saying that Rooney was the "heartbeat" of this Manchester United team. However, yesterday's game confirmed my own suspicions. Tevez is that special player for the big occasion. He is the type of player that does not always score the prettiest goal, but somehow, consistently manages to find a way to score when it matters.

While I think Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney are great players, I think Tevez will prove, like he did yesterday, that he is the right man for this kind of tournament. While Tevez is seen as the "new guy" at Manchester United, he is actually quite experienced, and quite mature for a player his age.

At the age of 23, he has already been crowned 3-time South American Footballer of the year. He has already been captain of a team (in Brazil of all places). He has lead his country to an olympic gold, won a starting spot on the men's national during the Copa America (where he started on the bench). He took his game to another level on English soil, by leading West Ham to avoid relegation.

I haven't mentioned his days at Boca. This is already an extremely impressive resumé, and it needs to be considered, when comparing him to players like C.Ronaldo and Rooney. So in conclusion, it would not surprise me at all, if Tevez becomes Manchester's tournament hero. He is just a special type of player.

As is Messi. If Barcelona hope to win it this year, they will need performances like these from Messi. He is currently the top scorer in Champions League. A lot of Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Kaka talk, has put Messi firmly in the background. Which is great, as it allows him to focus on what he does best. Given his age, I believe Messi is a superior player to both of them, and will soon prove this on the pitch. He is bound to be crowned World Player of the Year. This could be his year. In retrospect, perhaps the smartest thing Rijkaard did, was not play Messi in the Champions League final. The experience of watching his team win, from the bench, must have been torturous for a guy as hungry as he is. In other words, Messi is playing like a guy who was tied down to a chair while watching his team win a title - and has now been let loose.

This move has worked in Barcelona's favour. It might end up winning them another Champions League title. Messi is that good.

Special mention to Mascherano's performance against Inter Milan. For a short guy, he finds a way to imprint himself in a match by sheer defensive ability, and tireless running and coverage.

I believe Manchester United are the team to beat this Champions League, they were formidable last year, and have actually improved. AC Milan, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, are also the usual suspects. Chelsea also have a very strong team. However, without Mourinho, I'm not sure they can do it. I'm hoping FC Porto makes a good run, as they have a strong Argentine contingent. Inter Milan were unlucky, as Materazzi's sending off was unfair, in my opinion. However, I predicted Liverpool would go on through, and I'm standing by that prediction.

However, the Champions League is a unique competition, and it hardly ever goes into the hands of inexperience. Of the five teams that I consider real contenders, four of them have won it already. Ancelotti, Benitez, Ferguson, Rijkaard. Schuster is the one manager who can win this tournament for the first time, this year.

I don't see Arsenal winning, nor Inter Milan. Real Madrid also have a lot of experience up front. Raul and Van Nistelrooy are two of the greatest living goalscorers in Champions League history. They're on fire this year. The team is playing well and will be sure to progress by beating Roma handily at home.

However, the going trend in CL football is, whoever makes the finals one year, will most certainly not make it the following year. So that means Benitez and Ancelloti will not be true contenders this year. So of the 5 I've pointed out, that narrows it down to Barcelona, Manchester United, and Real Madrid. It will be one of these three teams according to my predictions. It's a win/win for us Argentina fans. Barcelona has Milito and Messi. Manchester has Tevez, and Real Madrid has Gago, Heinze, Higuain, and the benchwarmer Saviola.

As for who is progressing this round, Manchester, Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Liverpool, FC Porto (wouldn't bet money on it), Sevilla, and Chelsea.

Let Me Dream: Letting the Young Guns Shine

2008-01-16T09:19:00.001-05:00

The Argentinian Olympic soccer team will be soon assembled with Sergio Batista as the coach. I'm going to be honest, I don't know anything about him. I am 100% certain the coach will not play the team like this. But like I said...

---------------Ustari--------------------

--Zabaleta---Garay---Fazio---Insua------

-----Banega----Gago----Valeri-----------

------Messi(c)-------Aguero-------------

--------------Denis---------------------

Ustari is not getting a lot of time in Getafe. Personally, it seemed like a stupid move for Ustari to go to Getafe and sit on the bench, when he could be getting experience in the Apertura/Clausura. The upside is that he is directly under El Pato, so he can learn a lot and hopefully become a better goalkeeper than Pato, who seriously disappointed me in the Copa America final. Ustari needs some experience, and the Olympics would be the perfect level of competition. It will be less competitive than La Liga, so it can be a good opportunity to build his confidence and get some minutes under his belt.

Zabaleta, Garay, Fazio, and Insua could form a great backline in the Olympics. I would only add Garay who is a great young talent. He scored 9 goals last year, which made him the second highest scoring defender in Europe (one behind Materazzi). He is currently playing top-flight football, so he would make a good addition. From what I saw throughout the U20 tournament, Fazio impressed me with his size and strong ability with the ball and his outlet passes were spot on.

Banega, Gago, and Valeri would make a formidable trio in midfield. Each fairly well rounded players hungry for more experience at the international level.

The attack is pretty straight-forward, with Messi and Aguero being able to cut in on their preferred foot. Denis I like a lot from the little I've seen, and I think we need to find a replacement for Crespo. We need more depth in the striking department. I would also like to see Higuain play as a number 9 in this tournament. At this level, his lack of physical strength might not be a hindrance given the average age of the tournament. However, he does not striker me as a natural #9 as Denis does.

I like the idea of a young, hungry squad, determined to prove itself at this level. I'm not so sure why veteran experience is so necessary. If we were to add some, I'm not sure where we would add it. I believe our weakest point in comparison to the rest of our squad would be our defence and goaltending. It simply is not at the same level as our attacking abilities. Adding veteran presence would certainly improve our defence, but it would take away some much needed experience from a defensive roster looking to improve by experience.

Banega has himself stated he is comfortable in any position in a three-man midfield. He has played as a number 5 and as a RM. He has also played further up, in a more creative role. He has ben adept in every position he's played. Gago, has shown to be most comfortable directly in the centre of the field, in my opinion. He organizes the play well, and is a good possession player. Diego Valeri is a newcomer to the scene. He has been a LM for the title winning team of Lanus. He has shown adeptness in many areas of the game including: defensive positioning, free-kicks, goals, playmaking, etc. I'd like to see him start some games. He has been compared to Lampard and Riquelme. Javier Zanetti rates Valeri very highly and has urged Inter Milan to buy him.

I have made it abundantly clear that I don't want Riquelme on the team as I don't think we need him. If there were to be veteran presence on the team, I'd like to see Zanetti, Milito, and Mascherano (at 23 he already is a veteran!). I'd even like to see Burdisso, so he could get some minutes and build some confidence as he has been pushed to the sidelines with Materazzi's current form. It can often be demoralizing for a player to be on the bench for too long.

Anyway, there you have it, my picks. For a look at the last Olympic Soccer Team, click here.

Updates & Rumours

2007-12-05T09:12:00.001-05:00

Riquelme is going to Boca. I think many of us saw that one coming. I think his skill belongs in the highest level, in Europe. I don't think Riquelme makes decisions based on his skill, but rather with his heart.

I'm tired of this man. I think he should just leave the National Team, and make room for the next crop of talent. We're good enough to easily qualify without Riquelme. Clearly, he won't be able to even play at the level he currently plays in 2010. Riquelme has already made statements about playing in the 2010 World Cup. I certainly hope he won't make it. He'll just be too old by then.

In other news, there has been some rumours regarding Saviola leaving Real Madrid, in a swap for Tiago. I'm not sure I can believe it at this point. Although, I would not be surprised if it happened. Tiago is very unhappy at Juventus. Schuster is said to be unhappy with Diarra. So he may be looking for that defensive midfielder. Saviola is once again, hardly playing. I sometimes wonder what the hell Saviola is thinking. With the number of forwards they have, how can he expect to play much? If there is one thing that is certain in the Real Madrid camp, it's that Raul will always play. That guy will start even if he has herpes. Cassano learned that the hard way, and now Saviola is learning that. It's a shame. In Raul's defence, he's playing extremely well at the moment. The idea of Raul and Van Nistelrooy both at the top of their game, is quite scary for the opposition to think about.

Manchester City is said to be in the hunt for Mascherano's signature. Mascherano has been quoted in the press as being unhappy about not having his future sorted out already. There does seem to be some uncertainty in the Liverpool camp. With Benitez being at odds with management, and Fernando Torres making claims of where the players' loyalty lies. (With Benitez of course).

Nine times out of 10, these transfers don't happen in January anyway. However, following the rumours will give you the precedent for things to come.

What I've Been Reading These Days

2007-11-14T09:51:00.001-05:00

My Italian friend stumbled upon a book entitled "How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization". He lent it to me and I began reading it, and was pretty shocked at what I read. I'm still amazed at the degeneracy of hooliganism. With a death in Italy, it seems the problem will never go away anytime soon. In that sense, it makes me proud to be a Canadian. I can go to a hockey game, and not worry about these things.

The book is fascinating, from a cultural perspective anyway. I would recommend it if you want to learn more about the culture of soccer in different parts of the world. It's an eye-opener for me.

I also came across a very interesting article about where the game is going, it's found in none other than my favourite soccer magazine. I should get paid for endorsing it!

I'm amazed at the passion some coaches have for their players, for improvement, and finding a way to get better. Arsene Wenger's comments at the end of the article really surprised me.

Who doesn't love mystery?

On a side note, Lisandro Lopez is making some waves this season, read up on it here.

Sergio Aguero's Stunning Strikes

2007-10-26T10:34:00.000-04:00

So I stumbled upon uefa.com. It's a site I really enjoy, as I do the magazine. This article about Aguero shows that he's making an impression in Europe now. I've been thinking about a formation consisting of two attacking midfielders for the NT. Similar to Ancelotti's Milan last year. Aguero's form is incredible at the moment. He's only 19! It's an exciting time for Argentinian forwards indeed.

His goals were spectacular. When your team scores three goals, and you score two and assist the other, you know you've had a good game. His first goal with his left foot showing the power of a canon; his second goal the touch of a ballet dancer. At some point, I'd like to see a 4-3-2-1 formation like this:

------------------ Pato -------------------------------------------------------------

------ Zanetti - DeMichelis - Milito - Heinze----------------------------------------

------Maxi--------Mascherano---------Cambiasso---------------------------------------

---------------Messi---------Aguero--------------------------------------------------

--------------------Crespo-----------------------------------------------------------

It bothers me that Basile simply sticks to his style of football and refuses to change it. With the players we have, we can afford to try different things.
I was previously attached to the idea of Messi as a CAM. I still believe he can do it if given the time to adapt his game accordingly. I imagine the NT is under a lot of pressure to secure points for qualification. So this doesn't leave a lot of time for too much experimentation. However, I think players like Maxi and Aguero (who have been very successful in different positions) leave us a lot of options in terms of trying different tactics.

I also enjoyed Real Madrid's 4-2-3-1 formation of last year under Capello. (An interesting article where Capello gives some insight behind his success and strategy. I agree with his belief that there is more than one successful tactic. Maybe Basile should stroll into uefa.com. I also like Capello's approach of striving to improve his players. Clarence Seedorf being a great example.)

If Aguero were to stay on the bench, I think this formation could prove very successful. France pulled it off in 2006, with Zidane pulling the strings. If Basile insists on Riquelme, I would like to see this:

--------------------Pato-------------------------------------------------------------

----Zanetti--DeMichelis--Milito--Heinze----------------------------------------------

----------Mascherano--Cambiasso/Gago-------------------------------------------------

------Messi---------Riquelme-------Maxi----------------------------------------------

--------------------Crespo-----------------------------------------------------------

Both Messi and Maxi have great vision, with the physical build-up / stamina of midfielders. They are fast, can cut in on their preferred foot, tackle well, play one-touch football well, have the vision to see the right pass, and can score from outside the box as well as inside the box. Ultimately I know I'm dreaming, because Basile looks like an old man who sticks to what he knows, and won't change it for anybody.

What a shame.

Tevez at Manchester United: Why It's Working So Far

2007-10-22T11:08:00.000-04:00

There's been discussion about Tevez and Messi. Tevez and Rooney, being too similar to work. With Basile claiming Tevez is his number 9, and Fergie claiming Rooney will be his number 9. Talk about confusion! However, I'm more inclined to listen to Fergie when he speaks, as opposed to Basile. Let's face it, Manchester United are going to be the team to watch this year. They've made the right moves in the summer, bought superb attacking players (Anderson, Nani, Tevez), and their last two games indicate a developing chemistry between the players. The man behind it all is Sir Alex. He knows what he's doing. It is also because of SAF that Manchester manages to play exciting football while winning quite frequently, which is all you can ask for in a team.

What inspires me, is Tevez' attitude. Displayed here in this article. Tevez' maturity is quite a change from his controversial early days at Boca - where his personal life frequently made headlines. Controversy has followed him throughout his career. These days he makes the headlines for what he should make the headlines for - his football. When he speaks, he reveals himself to be honest and very ambitious. After everything he has accomplished already at his young age, he still strives to improve. He is honest enough to point out that Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player on the team. He knows his place in the team. He acknowledges the veteran presence, and acknowledges that he is at a place where he can elevate his game even further.

This no-nonsense attitude that he displays on the pitch, and in his rapport with the press - is what endears him to the fans. If the team is down 1-0 in the final minutes, Tevez is the man you want on the field. His connection with the fans also seperates him from many players. He always finds a way to be very important to his team. Whether on Boca, Corinthians, or West Ham; Argentina, Brazil, or England - whether on home turf or "enemy" territory, he finds a way.

His attitude is fearless. I can't think of many Argentinian players who would have the audacity to be a top player in countries that are far less likely to welcome them. He seems determined to win over everybody. He also seems to be drawn to teams with a very hardcore fanbase. Boca, Corinthians, and Man United all have fans with a distinct reputation. This means that if you're loved by these kinds of fans, they will love you and be loyal. But it also means, if you don't perform, then you can expect a serious backlash. Fans with these reputations can get very rowdy and very vocal. We all saw this when Mourinho went to watch Corinthians play and he had to leave immediately for fear of fans attacking him; Or when Tevez had his fallout following the World Cup, the hardcore Corinthian fans crowded his car while he tried to drive away.

I was the most skeptical of his choice to go to England, but I seriously underestimated the drive, the tenacity, and the ambition of this little guy. I have no doubt that he will be instrumental in his team's success. It is inevitable with him. Also, SAF sees him as a support striker, and is playing him as such, so I'm happy.

Once Tevez, Rooney, and Cristiano Ronaldo are firing on all cylinders, Manchester United will be very difficult to stop in Europe and the EPL.

Argentina beats Venezuela

2007-10-17T12:32:00.000-04:00

I watched the game last night, as one of my family friends paid for the game on cable. So here are my points, or should I say, here are the things that stood out to me:

- It's easy to see that Messi is on another level compared to these players. He could have easily scored more than one goal, but chose to pass the ball on many occasions. This is why I love him. Players like him are so important to a team. He's quickly becoming the real leader of this squad.

- I hate when Argentina is winning and they act cocky. When this happens they start to overpass the ball and get lazy. Often making silly plays and losing possession in dangerous areas.

- German Denis really impressed me. He was more dangerous in 5 minutes, than Tevez was the whole game. And it isn't Tevez's fault! Tevez isn't a poacher, he's a support striker. It's clear to me, that Denis' instincts are best suited for when he doesn't have the ball. This is an essential element to the classic striker. Tevez is best when he's "in the hole." I say it time and again, the best teams are those that have the right players for the system in place. The last time a team at the top level won with a 4-3-1-2 formation was Ancelotti's AC Milan in 2003. Rui Costa, Shevchenko, and Inzaghi spear-headed that attack. Each player ideally suited for his role.

- Mascherano actually started to play some offence at the end! I couldn't believe what I saw. He dribbled at a player one-on-one, and he blew a left-footed shot over the net. Am I upset? No! This type of attitude needs to be encouraged. I like to see players develop different areas of their game. He did his "offence" near the end of the match, when it was clear Argentina were never going to lose. Let's see some more!

- DeMichelis had a pretty solid game. Although it's difficult to tell. I'm not even sure Venezuela had a shot on goal. When we play Brazil, then we can see what he can do. So far, he's been starting as a CB for Bayern, and Bayern have been smoking everyone. Also, I like that we have a CDM who's versatile enough to play as CB. It gives us more options in the back. As I'm sure DeMichelis will be able to spot a good outlet pass from deep in his own zone. I'm happy for this guy though. In Bayern he was ousted by the likes of Hargreaves, he was ousted for the World Cup (we all know what he said then), and it seemed he was doomed to the background. Suddenly, he's starting on 2 of the best teams in the world. And I like his hairstyle. So how can you go wrong?

- Burdisso was seriously injured, so far it seems it's not drastically serious, luckily. This is the worst match I've ever seen Burdisso play. And I've seen the vast majority of his games in Europe. However, as I said in my response, he's quickly becoming a jack of all trades, master of none. He should have gone to Palermo or Juventus, to become a regular starter as a CB...

- Mostly a very boring game except for the goals and the last 5 minutes.

It's Been Awhile

2007-10-04T13:47:00.000-04:00

I haven't blogged in a while. The loss to Brazil in the final of Copa America really took the wind out of my sails. It made me re-evaluate where Argentina stands in the football world. It's a lot lower than I thought. We are the underdogs who can win against the best if the circumstances are right. That to me, is the identity that befits this national team. I see nothing wrong with that identity.

Argentina and its many fans could use a nice dose of humility. We have no choice. I've often criticized English fans for overestimating the talent of their own NT. However, it seems I was guilty of it with my own NT.

When Argentina wins, I will celebrate it when we beat a team of exceptionally high calibre. Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Holland, and Portugal. Even among these, I could make my list of who's better. But that's not the point. They're all great teams with great players in every single position, who make it very difficult for anyone to score on them.

If Argentina can beat a great team when it actually matters, I'll be impressed.

We beat Chile...

Riquelme scored two wonderful free kicks. If you want tips from a master, look here. But I'm convinced he isn't our man for the future. Pirlo has done the same thing, and he can play defense! 4-3-1-2 shouldn't be our formation. We have enough players to successfuly use a 4-3-2-1, or 4-3-3, or 4-2-3-1. 4-3-1-2 has become very predictable for good teams to defend against. If Carlo Ancelloti abandoned it while being lavished with all the money and talent he wants, then it is clear Argentina needs to change. 4-3-1-2 isn't the only way to play beautiful football. I used to be so attached to this formation, but then I think, back in the early days of soccer, they used to play with 2 defenders, and 8 forwards. Nobody in their right mind plays like that anymore, because tactics evolve once people find loopholes in your game.

And although I'm hardly a genius for saying this, Argentina will never win a World Cup with Riquelme in the line-up, and we will never beat Brazil outside of Argentina, so long as we're playing this old system. 4-3-1-2 might work if you had Kaka or Ronaldinho's speed to offset defensive tactics. Aimar's injuries make him a liability as the focal point, and while I'd like to see Messi develop as a CAM, I don't see why we shouldn't try other tactics. The problem is, Basile seems to be a one-dimensional coach. I like him, but it's clear his tactics work against inferior teams only. With teams that are individually better than us, or at least on par with us, we just don't win. Simple as that. The definition of insanity was once described as doing the same thing, over and over, and expecting a different result. I believe thats the definition for stupidity as well. Although I'm not sure Basile knows how to successfully implement any other tactic anyway.

I'm scared to think of our prospects in 2010, when Basile will face strong European teams.

Messi's recent form has left me inspired enough to write something about it. I'm delighted that he's being considered for the World Player of the Year. AT 20 years of age, that's quite a feat. Aguero, Tevez, and Messi have been bright spots for us recently, and will continue to be for many years. However, our bright spots are almost always attacking forwards. I'd like to see a little more depth in other areas of our team.

However, as goal.com recently pointed out, Totti's absence from the list tarnishes the whole thing. As well as Ibrahimovic's absence - who has been playing some of the best football there is to see in Italy. Although I don't see the big deal. Everyone knows Kaka will win it. You might as well make the list one person long. However, I do believe there is silver and bronze, and I think Totti is up there in the top 3 in the world. Clearly politics are at play. Either that, or I'm smarter than the people judging these awards. That wouldn't surprise me either.

Fifa U20 World Cup Champions!

2007-07-23T21:12:00.000-04:00

Not much to say about the match itself. Argentina played excellently. I was worried at how we would respond to the goal. However, the players responded in the best manner possible. You could see Aguero trying to motivate his teammates after the goal against. Everyone picked up their game after that goal - particularly Banega - who raised his game to another level afterward. Great game to watch from the stands. A wonderful memory for me and my family, who were lucky enough to have witnessed a title win in our own country.

As promised, here are the videos... they're not that great, but in my defense I will say it was my Dad who filmed, not me!
The players were kind of endearingly funny, as you'll probably notice.

You'll notice Aguero wearing a devil mask that I saw a fan wearing earlier. The players also took some drum sets from the fans and showed us their drumming skills.

And followed by some celebrations on the streets of Toronto. I'm actually in this one, but I won't tell where, it's like Where's Waldo, sort of.

Aguero, the Copa America Final, and the Philosophy of Victory

2007-07-13T10:11:00.000-04:00

Aguero

I Don't Even Think He Has Reached His Peak...

I think he can play even better in this tounament. Which is quite something. I really like this kid. I was right behind the net when he scored both goals. Perhaps I should have brought my video camera to tape it. As I noticed on Mundo Albiceleste. To be honest, I didn't really think about it. If Argentina makes it to the final, as I believe they will, I promise I will bring my video camera to film the highlights, and post it here. His goal celebrations indicated to me, a person who is confident, but not cocky. Which I liked. Unlike Gilardino's violin celebration in the World Cup, (where he went on to score zero goals afterward), Aguero seems genuinely more confident now, but lacks the overt cockiness that leads to stagnation. Surely the boots Messi left for him to fill must have been daunting. So far so good. But I do believe he has even more up his sleeve.

Di Maria's inclusion into the starting line-up has me patting myself on the back a little. I called it dammit! It takes guts for the coach to go against the hype and field the right player rather than the popular player. Zarate, while probably very skilled, failed to impress me. He failed to show he was a team player, and he looks cocky. Clearly, it has not helped his cause, as Di Maria has shown to work far more effectively with the team. His speed and left foot are more complimentary to Aguero's bull-like style of play and powerful right foot. Having played less minutes he has already better stats than Zarate. Props to Tocalli!

Speaking of props to Tocalli, with the exception of Zarate, I noticed the sincere determination of the U20 Argentine team. I don't see a lot of ego.

My Take: Brazil-Argentina, Recent History

In ice hockey, we have the NHL (National Hockey League). A season is played where all the teams play each other, and then afterward, the playoffs. Which is our tournament, and the winner hoists the Stanley Cup. The "Holy Grail" of hockey prizes. In the playoffs, teams only progress by winning 4 games in a best-of-7 series.

What does this have to do with Brazil-Argentina?

Well, I'll tell you. Oftentimes in hockey two teams of the highest calibre face each other in a playoff series. When this happens, it is almost a guarantee that the series is decided in six or seven games. When two teams are so evenly matched, victories are often decided by a) the home crowd b)momentum/hype/attitude.

"A" is obvious enough to understand. "B" requires more explanation. What I mean, is that in the hockey situation I described, when one teams wins the first game, the hype follows the victors, the winners get a little lax, and the losers are more determined to turn the series in their favour. Since the teams are so evenly matched, these seemingly small things will make the difference.

Which of course, leads me to the Brazil-Argentina rivalry. In the 2006 qualifying match in Brazil. Argentina were given a lesson in humility. Ronaldo was on fire, and earned three spot kicks, and converted all three himself.

What followed? In Argentina, the attitude in the press leading up to the match, the comments by Pekerman were, that Brazil were the favourites in this game. Were Argentina desperate to vindicate themselves for the loss in Brazil, in front of their home fans? For sure.

Were Brazil a little too sure of themselves, believing the hype as favourites? Probably. 3-1 Argentina. One of the best matches I've ever seen as an albiceleste fan.

What resulted of course, was that suddenly the fans, the team, the coach, began to believe the hype that followed. I imagine it is very difficult to ignore the hype. In Argentina, the obsession with football is almost all-encompassing. Fans overreact when they win, they overreact when they lose. Teams behave in similar fashion. They win, and they often feel like they are entitled to the victory. Rather than focusing on earning the win and respecting their opponents.

Cue the Confederation Cup final, where Argentina did not regard Brazil as favourites anymore, and seemingly expected to win the match, since of course they had just beaten them 3-1. Brazil meanwhile, must have been salivating at the chance to vindicate themselves after being humiliated by Argentina. 4-1 Brazil.

Cue the 2006 World Cup. Going into the World Cup, who were the favourites? Brazil, Brazil, Brazil. Argentina? Went out in 2002 in humiliating circumstances. Were they desperate to vindicate themselves after such an early exit? Of course. What resulted? Argentina, from the lack of pressure and spotlight, were able to impose their game with little scrutiny. Soon after, the 6-0 drubbing of Serbia had Argentina as the talk of the tournament. The beautiful football, the "embarrassment of riches," suddenly, Argentina were tagged favourites to win the whole tournament, when a week prior, it was Brazil. Despite leaving the tournament at the quarterfinals, there was still much talk from within the Argentine camp and without, that Argentina had been unfairly eliminated, and had played "the best football" in the tournament.

Cue Brazil-Argentina in England. Brazil wins convincingly 3-0. This victory I take less seriously, as it was only a friendly, and Basile fielded some players who evidently belonged to the Argentina "D" team. However, embarassment still resulted, and Argentina were left to contemplate many things.

Which leads me to the upcoming Copa America final. In the previous Copa America final, Argentina had a stranglehold on the game. They were one minute away, and I noticed in the final part of regular time, we were up 2-1. How did we play? Cocky. And I did not like it at all. You must show respect to your opponents, especially a team of Brazil's calibre. I remember D'Alessandro doing silly tricks with no real aim other than to show off - "dicking" around with the ball as I call it. That lax attitude was a factor in Brazil's resurgance in the match itself.

Many of the Argentine camp distinctly remember the pain of the last Copa America exit. They remember the pain of the 3-0 and 4-1 loss to Brazil. Thus, the desire to win is in Argentina's favour. We are also fielding individually better players. If we field them with the right attitude, where we respect our opponents, (as I believe they will, given the recent losses), then I think we can win.

You combine this with the fact that many of these players will never have a chance to win anything with the national team again, or play with the national team again, and what you have is a team hungry for victory.

The signs are pointing to a resounding Argentine victory.

I'd also like to take the opportunity to discuss the meaning of victory. I have noticed many albiceleste fans who had made the claim that Argentina were the best team of the tournament in 2006. You know what I think of those comments? Complete and utter nonsense.

Why?

When Argentina wins, what do these fans say? They say we won because we were the best. When we lose, it's because of external circumstances that had nothing to do with the quality of the teams on the pitch. Sounds like arrogant nonsense to me.

I had recently read an article from a link I found on Linda's The Beautiful Game and I have to say I completely agree with Eto'os philosophy.

If a team wins, it's because they were better. Respect must be shown to the team that wins. Barring match-fixing, teams that win clearly demonstrate that they are doing something right. Germany were vastly more prepared for the penalty shootout than Argentina was. Ayala on uefa.com this year, had commented how astonished the Argentinian team was at how good the Germans were. Some bad luck had also played into it, for sure. But when the match is deadlocked at 1-1, clearly, the teams are very evenly matched. If your opponent has gathered statistics of every penalty shot you've ever taken, and amassed a wealth of information on your penalty kicking style, and is referring to this information during the penalty shootout, then you give respect for their preparation, and accept that their victory was not as "lucky" as some would have you believe.

If you play more attractive football, then that's what it is, more attractive. It might sound like abstract German existential philosophy but... it is what it is. Furthermore, if you are going to place attractiveness in such high regard, then correct if I'm wrong, but I do believe victory is attractive as well, no?

If Brazil wins on Sunday, then it is because they deserved to win. A team of Argentina's calibre should never make excuses. If Argentina wins, then it will be because they have deserved it.

Holy Shit

2007-07-12T09:50:00.000-04:00

Did I expect Argentina to smoke everybody in this tournament? Sure. Did I expect Messi to score a goal like that? No.

When Tevez passed the ball to the wide open Messi, I expected another set of lightning fast dribbles and perhaps a shot in the top corner. The second the ball left Messi's foot, for a split second I thought "What the fuck is he doing?"

When I saw the ball hit the mesh, I was shocked to realize what I just saw. No matter how many times you watch him, he still manages to suprise you - as I'm sure the Mexican defenders learned. What a goal.

Riquelme has proven to be absolutely deadly on set-pieces. You know that feeling you get when it seems like your team is dangerous, on the verge of scoring at any moment? That's how I felt with Riquelme on every set piece. The moment a free kick or a corner was taken, I just got the feeling that anything could happen.

Which leads to the turning point of the match wherein Riquelme's ball was cleverly disguised as a shot for the top corner, when in fact it was a pass for Heinze. It could not have happened at a better moment too. The half time whistle was blown shortly after, the momentum in favour of Argentina.

Messi's goal was the nail in the coffin for Mexico. After that, Riquelme had an open shot, which he blew away with his "I'm gonna take my time on this one" approach.

However, when Tevez earned a just penalty, Riquelme took the opportunity, and gave the goalie another chip himself. Talk about demoralizing for the goalkeeper.

Call Me Crazy...

But one big difference I see in this squad versus the World Cup squad, is the level of competition within the squad for standing out. Messi is giving Riquelme a run for his money as the man to focus on. Tevez once again earned his starting spot from the bench, this time defying conventional tactics. Veron is playing well in his position of being the first man the ball goes to from Argentina's own end. Basile seems to have found room for a lot of attacking stars, without compromising the defensive end of things.

Tevez and Messi, while having played similar roles for Argentina, have found themselves on the field together. Veron and Riquelme have found themselves on the field together for the first time, despite being very similar players in their particular brand of slow, playmaking football. Usually, players like them are only fielded one at a time, thank you very much. Basile has managed to find a way. I have to commend him for that. It explains why he has been so successful.

The one common link I see from Riquelme, Messi, Tevez, and Veron, is a burning desire to be the man that stands out, to be the player that makes the difference in a game. That they're all clicking together is a benefit for us fans. Some beautiful football is being played.

The #10

Much debate has been made about the future of the #10. Right now, we have 3 on the field! Carlo Ancelloti's tactics may have signified the future of football, as Pirlo was raised through the ranks as a classic CAM behind two strikers. Suddenly, he found himself as Redondo's replacement at AC Milan, and the strategy proved ingenious. Michael Ballack has also commented on his preference to play deeper in the pitch, as the typical area wherein the CAM operates is now often clogged with strong defensive midfielders, amidst smothering defensive tactics. He had discussed these things with his coaches, and how tactics need to change given the clogged area of the pitch.

With Pirlo operating from deeper inside his own zone, where he has more space to create, suddenly, the attack becomes broader, the possibilities greater. Perhaps, if this decision on tactics was made earlier, Argentina's destiny may have been different in 2002 and 2006. Of course, we'll never know if this would have made a difference.

Pirlo managed to develop his defensive game and therefore is a more rounded player. In Germany, I had paid particular attention to his contribution to his team's performance. What was astounding, was how little tackling he actually did. His brilliance defensively was not his tackling, but rather his vision. He anticipated passes, and was constantly intercepting them. This simple act may not be as dangerous with a player like Gattuso, or Mascherano. But with a player like Pirlo, the ball is suddenly inside a pivotal moment where defense quickly becomes attack within the same player.

Anyway, I digress...

Heartbreak at Home

2007-07-10T13:25:00.000-04:00

Sad day for Canadian soccer. We didn't win, didn't score, didn't show heart, didn't do much of anything. Except lose. If Canada had played all three games the way they played the last game, then we could have held our heads high, regardless of the consequences. Unfortunately, we only showed character in the final match. To do this in front of our own country only makes it more painful.

There were times where we were so frustrated watching the game, and it was not only us. It was Craig Forrest, our heroic national goalkeeper who lead Canada to its only Gold Cup victory, who was more frustrated than we were. His commentary was quite scathing at times, both on television and online. His passion for Canada certainly lead to less "politically correct" commentary, but I sympathized. The players themselves agreed they should have, and could have done more.

It's depressing to think about.

On a brighter note, going to Ottawa to watch Argentina play Korea was wonderful. Ottawa is bar none, one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. I had been there once before to commemorate the death of our most famous Prime Minister. But I had never had a chance to do much sightseeing. Ottawa is absolutely breathtaking.

To see Argentina fans walking by the hundreds was a little odd, but certainly added to the wonderful atmosphere. Aguero's free-kick was spectacular, however, Argentina was lucky to escape without any goals against. A better team would have put those opportunities away.

One interesting thing happened to me while staying for the second match (Brazil-USA), the Korean DPR national team came out to watch the game on the stands right behind where I was sitting! The moment they appeared, all of us in our section stood up and gave a long round of applause for their national team. I loved seeing that kind of respect from fans. Definitely a highlight for me.

Another highlight of that trip was watching the USA really take it to Brazil. They played with the utmost confidence and did not back down. It was wonderful to see a team not cower, given the reputation of their opponents. I had my doubts about how good Freddy Adu really was, but I had to say I was especially impressed by his performance. As well as #15, Sal Zizzo, whom Brazil found especially difficult to contain. He looked unfazed by who he was playing against. At least I can speak highly of the USA national team. While some would consider Canada and the USA as rivals, which I suppose we are - I still think it's good for the game if USA continues to compete at high levels. And it is certainly good for Canadians, as we often go there for athletic scholarships!

Anyway, here's to hoping for a brighter future in Canadian soccer, and for Argentina to win the rest of the way in this tournament.

O Canada

2007-07-05T12:48:00.000-04:00

I Am So Proud of My Country

I have to admit, 2 months ago, I balked at whispers that Fifa was furious at Canada's advertising/marketing campaign, or lack thereof. The idea that we would waste the spectacular opportunity to further promote the game in my country, was not easy to accept. When I saw no signs on the streets, no articles, no commercials, no hype, I was convinced we may have blown it. It was just on the eve of the tournament itself, that I began to see the posters, the commercials, the advertisements.

That we beat our own attendance records for a sporting event, is amazing. It makes me very proud to be Canadian.

Get ready For a Rant...

Not everyone may be interested in this, but here in Canada, there is a hard core of people who refuse to accept soccer as part of Canadian culture. It is astonishing to me, that a country founded by immigrants, (the vast, majority coming from footballing nations) would show such hostility towards the world sport.

Well actually, it is not that astonishing. For those that live here, it is easy to see that the hostility is rooted in a deep insecurity of losing our prowess in Hockey. A sport we invented, and a sport we continue to dominate in. Canadians so heavily identify themselves with this sport, this culture. They obsess over it, they talk endlessly about whether they will win, they long to prove they are the best in something. Hockey is one of the few sports that offer Canada that identity. That glorious feeling of saying "we are the best." Some people are so afraid of losing this, that they rebuke any attempts at ushering in another sport.

On sportstalk radio, commentators disparage soccer at every opportunity. Their attitude belies a moral superiority. That hockey is a sport in itself that requires higher ethics, where "men are men." They belittle the game of soccer, it's players, and it's unspoken rules. This coming from people who openly condone fist-fighting in hockey, but diving is seen as "beneath our standard" for moral etiquette. Their talk also belies a love for the game based on these moral values.

That's nonsense. If we were the best in the world at soccer, those same belligerent loudmouths would be spouting how soccer is our sport and the rest can go to hell. Our love for the game has roots in geography more than anything else. With a winter as longs as ours is, what else is there to do? If there's ice, you might as well skate on it, if there's snow and mountains, you might as well ski. If enough people do it, it becomes part of the culture.

There is a time and place for sensitivity, and this is not one of those times. I get the 2 largest newspapers in Toronto, (The Toronto Star and The Globe & Mail). If you open the sports section, the Fifa U20 World Cup does not even make front page of the Sports section. It is relegated to the back. You know what makes front page sports? Whether or not the Toronto hockey team will keep their goaltender. Front page news. Who are these idiots that decide this?

The biggest sporting event in our history, and it doesn't make front page sports, let alone front page news.

When a family member of my best friend's family heard Toronto would get a professional soccer team, he spewed invective and bashed the idea as preposterous. That soccer was, is, and always will be a failure in Canada. I had to restrain myself, and keep my cool as I argued the merits of Toronto FC, why it would work, how big the community was, the infrastrucure of the MLS, a stadium for every team, the cultural ties of immigrants and soccer, the amount of money behind it, the management behind it, the marketing, the time of year, USA '94, women's soccer. I also mentioned how kids play soccer more than any other sport in Canada. The list goes on. However, as I've recently learned, ignorance knows no bounds, and those who do not want to see overwhleming evidence, those who do not like to be proven wrong, will not see it. Period.

The only reason I can see such resistance is that soccer carries more weight. You could not get 400,000 people to attend a Lacrosse tournament. Something about the sport has made it the biggest game on this planet.

20,000 people attend Toronto FC's matches every home game. That's more than hockey, more than basketball, and certainly more than baseball. As far as I'm concerned, soccer doesn't even have to be the biggest sport. I'm happy attending the games, and having a small but passionate community. If the sport gets bigger, then great. If it gets smaller, that's fine too. I like the sport enough that I want my future kids to play it, and that I want to attend games regardless of popularity.

The resistance is perhaps due to the fear of how powerful this game seems to be. The passion it seems to arouse in people around the world. It's simplicity, it's cultural connotations, it's controversy, it's beauty. Personally, I love the game enough that I'm willing to spend money on season's tickets. I love it enough that I go to the stadium to cheer for my country despite being embarrassed by Chile. I love it enough that I'll drive 4 hours to watch Argentina play.

I love hockey too, and it will always be embedded within the fabric of our national experience. I'm quite secure in that. Every sport has its own unique something, and hockey and soccer are no exception. But clearly, there are people in this country who love the beautiful game, and whether some people like it or not, that's just the way it is.

Sport, is a beautiful thing, and it allows us to express ourselves, it allows us to compete, it gives us a collective experience. When it happens, it must be embraced, not resisted.

Argentina, Argentina

2007-07-04T10:32:00.000-04:00

Ok, we won 4-2 in Copa America but I really felt the U20 performance was 100% "La Nuestra." The game was one-touch football at its best. And no team plays it quite like Argentina does. The 0-0 match against Czech Republic was difficult to watch as they were not playing as a team. Specifically Zarate.

However, the first goal against Panama, and particularly Aguero's unselfish pass, set the tone for the rest of the match. Hopefully Aguero set the tone for the tournament as well. I really liked his play. Two goals and three assists out of six goals is something worth noticing.

The last goal was superb, and from what I've seen so far, Di Maria combined with Aguero better than Zarate. Hopefully Di Maria will get more minutes.

Speaking of hope, I'm hoping 6-0 in the second game of a world tournament is not a bad omen...

Romy scored an unlikely header (believe me, I was shocked too) and a trademark sublime free-kick to put Colombia out of its misery. Crespo said he'd take the penalty, and he took it. It's the first time I've ever seen him shoot high and in the middle. Unfortunately, the penalty went both ways as he immediately had to be substituted off the field and replaced with Diego Milito. It is a shame, as I would have liked to see him finish this tournament in style, and perhaps make a farewell to the national team with a title. I really do hope he gets better, as I've read he may be able to play the final if Argentina makes it.

Diego Milito showed a solid understanding with his teammates and I believe he will be even better next game. I think he needs a little more time to settle in.

As for tactics, Basile stuck with the same starting line-up, as I expected. Colombia field better attacking players and a defensive presence like Cambiasso would be needed. He made some much needed tackles and over-all had a good game.

Veron showed why he made the starting line-up as he was often used as the man to start the attack in his own zone. Similar to Pirlo, except fielded more to the right.

We'll see what happens next game.

4-1 Argentina

2007-06-28T23:05:00.000-04:00

Ok some quick points that I'd like to make:

- USA played an excellent first half. Their game was boring, but at least it was effective for a while.

- Argentina seemed to come alive when Aimar came in.

- I think Arg lacked speed and creativity from deep in the pitch as Mascherano was covered by both strikers the moment Arg tried to pass the ball up. Once Aimar appeared, they seemed to have more options from deeper in their own zone.

- game could have ended 1-1. The minute Arg. had the lead, USA were forced to attack a little more, which left more openings on the pitch. Argentina began to really get their game going after that.

- Everyone seemed to have a good game. Cambiasso & Milito could have played better tho.

- Heinze was scrappy yet somehow managed to play a big part in 2 goals.

- Messi and Aimar's speed allowed them to be more effective in the tight space USA provided.

Conclusion:

Argentina were still unfamiliar with each other.
If Argentina scores first, I don't expect them to lose.

Is There a Better Attack in Football?

2007-06-27T12:20:00.000-04:00

Nope. Some teams will come close next year, but I don't think anyone can match this. How Rijkaard is going to juggle these players is beyond me. To be honest, I'm not sure it would be fair for anyone of these four to be on the bench. However, from Barca's standpoint, if a forward gets an injury they have good cover. Which, (let's face it) was the reason Barcelona did not win the title.

Looks scary doesn't it?

In Other News

Peru spanked Uruguay. It escapes me how Uruguay did not call up Chevanton, who is a great player. Given Recoba's injury prone history, they could have used a creative player like him. Who knows...

The Uruguayan soccer federation seem to have decided that they will pick one formation/system in which to raise their soccer players. The system will be used from the youth ranks, all the way up to the NT. They have some wonderfully talented players, I'd like to see Uruguay bring some more success to their country.

If this will actually pan out, we have yet to see.

He's Back (Part 2)

2007-06-26T13:48:00.000-04:00

Personally speaking, I love his style of play. I love to watch him when he is on his game. He truly is beautiful to watch... when he is on his game.

I thought it might be fun to give some rules regarding the midfield maestro:

Rule #1 about Riquelme: do not give him space.

This man will destroy you. In South America, there is less focus on defence or tactics than in Europe. The game is open and attacking. If you look at Riquelme's goals in regular play (in Copa Libertadores), it is astonishing the amount of space he is given. His shooting is impeccable, his ball control world class. If you let him do what he wants, he will do just that.

Rule #2 about Riquelme: fan/manager/team support will make the difference.

If this man feels that the team, the coach, and the fans are behind him, he plays his best. His performances last year in the Champions League final revealed his curious nature. His performances at home had a certain magic that you did not see in his away games. When Inter Milan played Villareal IN Villareal's stadium, Riquelme was ablaze in his own confidence. However, when the support wanes, his playing tends to reflect it. He is an unquestionable icon at Boca; his playing has reflected that status. He loves the Boca shirt, and it loves him.

Rule #3 about Riquelme: Skill of an Athlete, Soul of an Artist

Perhaps this is the same thing. Perhaps not. Riquelme plays when he is inspired. But like Valdano says, Riquelme isn't always inspired. The Riquelme of Villareal post-Champions League exit, is not the Riquelme at Boca Juniors. Unlike the stereotypical athlete, where the body performs in almost robot-like fashion, programmed to give it's best no matter what the circumstances; Riquelme seeks belief and inspiration. Like a stereotypical artist, he is moody, and he feels the pulse of the people who support him.

Rule #4 about Riquelme: He Does Not Follow.

Pekerman has dubbed him a "rebel." And perhaps this is true. He chose Villareal for one reason: he would be given the freedom to play as he sees fit. It has proven successful. He was given the time to adapt fully, and repaid his team's faith in him by leading them to an unprecedented CL semi-final. However, things got sour afterwards. The way Villareal has treated him throughout this season, has indicated that they are not pleased with Riquelme. Riquelme on the other hand, seems to hold strongly to what he believes in. For better or worse.

The Culture of Soccer in Argentina

This is an enormous topic, and I'm only going to graze it slightly. I have noticed the issue of culture and criticizing it, seems to be taboo these days. People are very sensitive when it comes to these matters, as I've subsequently learned, and many have bought into PC culture to a fault. I do not wish to partake in politically correct bullshit. It takes the conversation away from the reality that we are immersed in. Not to mention, I am openly critical because my background has afforded me no blind allegiances. I'm Canadian first and foremost, but I'm Argentinian in many ways, as well as Italian in some very important ways too. So my irreverence, is in part due to the fact that I don't completely identify with one thing. I feel at liberty to criticize that which is a part of me, and that which my family left behind. In other blogs, my comments have been labelled "derisory." I don't think my opinion is. Even if it was, what is wrong with that? Should we be blindly patriotic? Should we ignore the problems that are prevalent in football? I will only say this once, as I think it is pointless to have to justify this. My desire is to see an Argentina that stands on its own feet. That it's football players win as much as possible, and that it's players can play in a fashion that is true to themselves, and true to the desire to improve oneself.

The reality in Argentina from my own experiences, from the things I've read, from the family and friends I have down there, the endless trips I've had down in my second home in Buenos Aires, is that there is a point where you cannot seperate soccer and culture in Argentina. Perhaps this is true of all footballing nations. However, this is not to say that the culture is the same everywhere. Since I am of Argentinian descent, I believe I'm in the position to explain the certain quirks that are involved, and how wholely unique Argentinian culture is.

The fear that results from the economic turmoil, the poverty -it's all playing a part in the game. Players like Riquelme are worshipped to a certain extent, out of fear of losing them to Europe. Argentina simply cannot afford these players. The fans are more loyal and supportive because a) You're one of them. b) They don't want you to leave. The fans overpraise them, treat them like demi-gods, and what happens when these players leave and arrive on foreign soil?

The fans overseas are not the same. They will not live and die with you, they will expect results immediately, they will cross their arms, and wait for trophies, goals. They want results. You're foreign, you are not one of them. The team, has less time to develop you as a player. And they are certainly less interested. They invest millions, they want results. Many Argentinian players leave the places where they are heroes, and they arrive having to start over again. Humility suddenly becomes the most important factor in your development. You must go there, and be willing to put the team first.

Last summer I had travelled to Germany for the World Cup. Prior to my arriving there, I had spent some nights in London. I was with an Argentinian and a group of people from the Basque region (they all support Atletico Bilbao). After a night of drinking and partying in the London bars, we were all walking the streets. My Argentinian friend, subsequently got in a heated argument with some Spaniards at an intersection. Now the discussion was hardly philosophical in nature. However, the attacks became personal, with the Spaniards retorting "Sure we never won a World Cup, but you guys come to our country, and we're the ones that feed you."

Let's put niceness and political correctness aside for a minute here, and accept that people really believe this. I believe these are underlying beliefs that exist, the tension of immigrants, the tension of rejection/acceptance. Riquelme, I believe, feels that more than most players.

In the Intertoto Cup, you can see the brilliance Riquelme displayed against Real Madrid, he played with balls, as they would say in Argentina. I look at the highlights on youtube, and I can't help but think, the Boca players must have been thinking "we just took it to the man." The underdogs are showing the world what they can do.

That underdog attitude is so prevalent in Argentina, since the poverty is more widespread than in developed countries. Countless people identify with the underdog, they want to see the underdog overcome the favourites. Riquelme arose from these surroundings. He still identifies with it. Like Diego playing for Napoli. He played his best when he was treated as the most important player. Treated as the kind of player without which the team could not survive. He identified with Napoli as underdogs.

These elements are all in the make up of a player. Perhaps I'm wrong about it, but I don't believe I'm too far off the mark.

I still believe Riquelme will have a memorable tournament, and will be brimming with confidence in the Copa America. He came amidst some controversy, as he has suddenly returned. I do not like the circumstances within which he returned. He seems to be coming and going as he wishes, while many players would give anything to play for their team. Clearly, Basile believes he can weather the storm, and create a winning team. Even though I do not like the circumstances in which Riquelme has returned, I believe he will do it.

A red-hot Riquelme, combined with a very hungry Argentina, a lot of open space and attacking football - should equal another Copa America title for us. Riquelme will take to space like fire to oxygen.

He's Back. (Part 1)

2007-06-22T10:24:00.000-04:00

The deep set eyes, the modest haircut, the silent demeanour, the pained expression, the arms outstretched as if glory is his destiny. It's all back. Another #10 who divides the critics.

I often find myself not knowing what to think of him. Sometimes I love him, and sometimes, he bothers me. In my many attempts at trying to write this post properly, I realized that the difficulty in discussing Riquelme, is that you inevitably touch upon many other topics: the role of "enganche," the evolution of soccer (tactics and players), the culture of soccer in Argentina, the personality of the soocer player. All of which are extremely relevant to the discussion. So with this in mind. I'd like to look at his recent history, how good he really is, and the man off the field. This article has turned into a sloppy mess, and there's nothing I can do about it now. It's all over the place, it's too long and it's unorganized. But Copa America is coming, and I want this up before it happens. Plus, I'm so sick of this article, perhaps I created Frankenstein. Sigh, oh well...

Last year, his play had me praising him in wonder. I was amazed at his ability to change a game with a simple pass. I felt he was under-appreciated within the football world. Leading up to the Champions League semi-final, there was no midfielder who was playing as well as he was. Every opponent respected his game, and every coach was forced to take notice of him. And it wasn't hype either. He earned it. His play reached a certain level that demanded people take notice. Some coaches even chose to man-mark him.

However, after his performance in that CL semifinal, and the World Cup, followed by his less than top-notch performances for Villareal this season, I started to see things a little differently. Suddenly, the chirping criticisms I've read about came to mind when Villareal were eliminated, and when Argentina was eliminated. The moodiness, the slowness, his tendency to disappear when it matters, his outdated style of play.

Now I ask myself, what do I value in a soccer player?

The way I was raised, from when I was little, playing tennis and soccer, was to place a high value on being the type of athlete that plays his best when it matters most. In tennis, like in all sports, games are often decided in moments. It is in those moments that my father would challenge my brother and I. When it was 6-6 in a tiebreaker, or when it was match point, how would you play? Would you go for the shots? Would you play aggressively? He would challenge us to see what kind of player we were. Did we get weak in the knees when the game was on the line, or did we rise to the occasion and focus?

Perhaps this might seem harsh. I do not see it that way. The majesty of sport will always ask you a question, and some will know the answer, some will not. The heroes find an answer, the losers are left to sit and contemplate. If you are not the hero, then life isn't so bad. You give yourself a pat on the back for trying your best, and you go home. If you are the hero, its because you made the difference. In Boca, Riquelme is a hero, because he pulled through when it mattered most. By those same standards by which we expend our energy and devote our time to worshipping or praising them, or watching them in wonder, Riquelme lives by them.

When thinking of Riquelme, I think of these things. I look at the pantheon of football greats, and I feel that, what sets the greatest apart from others, is their ability to do exactly that. To rise to the occasion, to find it within themselves to do what is necessary to win when the pressure seems insurmountable.

I think about Zidane scoring with his left foot in a Champions League final, or scoring two headers against soccer powerhouse Brazil, on the biggest stage. I think about Zidane having the sheer audacity to chip the best goalkeeper in the world, on a penalty kick, once again on the biggest stage. Headbutt aside, these are the achievements of a player that belongs on a certain stratosphere.

The Evolution of the Game and Useful Comparisons

I compare Riquelme to the other #10's of the world, and it is clear what his weaknesses are. His lack of speed, his moodiness, his tendency to disappear, his seeming inability to deal with criticism.

If you look at Ronaldinho, you see his speed, his World Cup victory, his Champions League victory, his ability and willingness to adapt to Rijkaard's dutch system, despite his upbringing of Brazilian tactics. His quickness to smile, hugging his teammates. I've read several articles this year, and there was intense scrutiny on Ronaldinho's "poor form." The scrutiny did not seem to affect his play. Perhaps he was internally bothered by it. However, look at his stats. 21 goals and 8 assist in top flight football is an astounding statistic. It makes me wonder, if Riquelme had put up anywhere near those numbers, I'm sure the critics would be less divided. If he had won anything in Europe or on the World stage, once again, he would have less critics. If he had made that penalty kick against Lehmann, we would have seen Villareal in the Champions League final. He would have been seen differently. In fact, Riquelme had himself remarked during the lead up to the Arsenal-Villareal match, that only the winners will be remembered. Those same rules apply to him as they apply to all others.

He may play a beautiful game, but there is also beauty in victory. Liverpool may have dominated the game against AC Milan, but no one will care. So while it is important that Riquelme plays as he knows how, the game will evolve because the dream for fans, footballers, and managers, is victory.

Is victory important at all costs? No. But it is not #2 on the "list of things to do" either. Barcelona have shown that a team can dominate and play beautiful football. However, look at their line-up. The team is a hybrid of everything footballers should possess. Their defensive midfielders (Xavi) can also take free-kicks, they can pass, shoot, dribble, they are equally comfortable in attack as well as in defense. They are complete players. Their attacking midfielders Messi, and Ronaldinho can not only dribble, but they have enormous dribbling ability at top speed. Eto'o, within the spectrum, also possesses enormous ability in many areas of the game. Total football? Yes. But it is not only the Dutch. Roberto Carlos is a left-back who can take free kicks with the best of them. Can you imagine Italy's WC championship without Grosso's heroics, Zambrotta's runs, and Materazzi's headers? Even the wondrous Pirlo, has the skill of Riquelme, but the sensibility of Gago.

You look at Messi, he was raised as a central attacking midfielder. However, his speed and dribbling grant him the versatility to adapt. The game is constantly evolving. Speed, strength, versatility are increasingly becoming necessary factors in today's game. Three qualities Riquelme does not possess to the same degree. Against strong teams like Arsenal and Germany, it was difficult for him to impose his game. His contribution coming from set-pieces in one of those matches. Even against Holland, another strong European team, he was not able to do what he did against Gremio.

Against Brazil and Arsenal, Gilberto seems to have his number. Riquelme's Argentina has lost 3-0, 4-1, and 3-0. With one spectacular win in favour of Riquelme. However, that game itself, is also telling of the man. He was devastating, but once again, he did it at home. He did it when everyone was behind him. However, the sheer devastation Brazil has left, implies that perhaps something needs to change in our game.

I think of Kaka's 10 goals in the Champions League, I think of him earning a free-kick, and assisting the second goal. He was a factor in every match he played. Regardless of whether it was Liverpool, Bayern Munich or Manchester United. Regardless of how physical the teams were, how water-tight the defenses were. He played with confidence in every match. There were no discernable differences between the "home" Kaka, and the "away" Kaka.

So having said all that, I still believe Riquelme is a great player. I simply believe he does not deserve to be placed in the same stratosphere that is reserved for only football's finest. The Zidanes, the Maradonas, the Peles, the Cruyffs. I do not even believe he is as good as Pirlo, Totti, Kaka or Ronaldinho. Nor do I believe he has the game that can overcome even the greatest opponents. He may surprise me, but I believe it is these setbacks in his games that explain why no top teams with enormous budgets are willing to take him.

The Argentine Summary (Rising Stars in Europe)

2007-06-18T09:41:00.000-04:00

La Liga

The final match certainly lived up to expectations. La Liga turned out to be like a Dramatic TV Series, like 'the Sopranos' or 'Lost.' The kind of show where you're tuned in every week to watch the latest's episodes shocking plot twists. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was rooting for Real Madrid as I wanted to see Higuain and Gago taste some success at the highest level (aside from the World Cup). I also like to see a changing of the guard in sports. When one team dominates for too long, football can lose a bit of the sizzle.

Obviously, I'm speaking as an impartial observer. If Toronto FC won every match and every title, I would certainly be happy about that. (Toronto won 4-0 yesterday, another beautiful game, despite the scorching heat). Danny DiChio just might be my favourite player right now. Anyone who says in an english accent "I'm an ugly bastard, but I'm a family man" has to be #1 in my book.

Since the season's done, and since I watched a LOT of football - EPL, La Liga, and Serie A - I'd like to summarize the Argentine contribution in Europe. I began blogging in October, and I've made several comments and I'd like to see where I stand on them now.

Tevez

Obviously, I was not happy when he went to England. The second half of the season certainly proved he could play in the premiership, and it is evident that as a support striker Tevez can be devastating in England. However, I still believe he should play in a top team, and Chelsea won't have room for him. Neither will Manchester United. Arsenal can't afford him, and Liverpool does not seem to be able to afford him either. I prefer to see him play in La Liga or Serie A, simply because ths style suits his characteristics more than England. If Tevez can adapt in England, then he has proven he can play anywhere.

Current speculation suggests he might actually stay in West Ham. It is difficult to tell at this point. I assume whoever offers him the best contract will nab him. If West Ham does this, then he might once again defy expectations by staying in West Ham. Either way, my summary of this player is he's better than I thought he would be. He's proven himself to be a leader, and his play helped instill confidence in his teammates, and I'm confident he will also play the same role for the National Team.

Mascherano
Another player who crossed the pond, only to see the bench in England. It was not until Rafa Benitez came to the rescue and showed (at least to me) that Mascherano certainly can play in England. Moreover, Mascherano repaid Rafa's faith by having an excellent Champions League and snatching a spot in Benitez's coveted starting line-up. What can I say? I was delightfully surprised. His future looks bright, and I'm hoping he will have a second chance at a CL final. Given his recent play for the NT, he looks like a sure starter for the upcoming Copa America.

Higuain

Pipita was impressive. Like his performance in the final, his impact was subtle, but he did make a difference. I stated at the beginning that you cannot expect a teenager to cross the pond and save a club like Real Madrid. He was played mostly as a winger this season (he played wide on a 4-2-3-1 formation.) Some reports have speculated that Higuain is Beckham's replacement. I'm not so sure about that. Beckham's skill with crosses and free-kicks makes him very difficult to replace. However, what Higuain lacks in precision free-kicks and crosses, he makes up for with ball control, smart play, and an eye for goal. He seems to be a mix between forward/winger.

He looks like a little Raul if you ask me. Aside from looks, he's also a player who does not seem to have one particular outstanding quality, but still manages to have an impact on the game. Maybe one day he can put some more balls in the net. I hope the Real Madrid management continue to develop Higuain so that he can play at the same level he was playing in Argentina, and if not, better than that. The big teams have a knack for buying and selling players with consumate ease. Let's hope they show patience with this young guy.

From what I've read, it seems Higuain will not play the U20, which is very disappointing for me, since I have tickets to those games! Also, I believe he is a rising youngster that has the potential to be a great player. The U20 would have been great for him. He said he wanted rest. Rest is for sissies!

Fernando Gago

Since my favourite player of all time is Redondo, it is only fitting that I have a soft spot for this guy. He plays like him, kind of looks like him, idolizes him, and is determined to be as important for Real Madrid as Redondo was. I thought he adapted well. I don't think his adaptation is finished yet. He has still shown to be risky at times, which I'm sure Capello was not crazy about. He was not fielded in the most important game of the season, perhaps due to this fact.

Basile rates him highly, and has described him as a kid with a lot of personality. I've watched every game he's played this season, and you can see what Basile sees. He always wants the ball, (like Redondo) he is willing to take risks in order to make a difference in the game, and makes sure his presence is felt in every game. He is vocal, constantly talking to his teammates, or the opposition, he goes out of his way to talk to players, and he wants to be a leader. He has never complained when being benched, he has not been afraid to be honest in assessing his own performances, and I believe these are important attributes in a great player.

With the departure of Emerson, Gago and Diarra should form a great combination. However, Capello's formation of 4-2-3-1 was ideally suited for the players he had at his disposal. It gave room for both Gago and Diarra. If Capello leaves, (which I don't think is a wise choice for Real Madrid) then who is to say the next coach will use the same system?

Once again, I'm hoping Real Madrid will show patience and trust and let the young player grow into his position. His vision is second to none, and that is not something you can teach. Either the player has it, or he doesn't - and Gago has it.

Sergio Aguero

I have not been able to watch too many Atletico Madrid games this season. The few that I've seen, Aguero was either dynamite, or not really present. He is still very young and should adapt to the league very well. He agreed to play in the U20, which is excellent news! I'll be able to watch him live. He has big boots to fill, when he arrived on the scene they were comparing him to Messi. Which is funny, as they are only a year apart. He broke Diego Maradona's record for being the youngest ever player in the Clausura. Like Maradona, he has the chance to get revenge for not being selected on the NT by showing how good he really is in the U20.

Aguero certainly has the talent to take this tournament by storm. Sometimes, playing at a lower level than you are used to, can help develop your game to an even higher level. Batistuta has pointed this out when he went to Serie B with Fiorentina, and it has done wonders for Diego Milito and Luca Toni. Both players whose teams were demoted to the lower leagues, only to return as more lethal finishers.

The character of a player is absolutely fundamental to his progress. Many players have talent, not all have the character that is required to succeed at the highest level. Messi has himself stated that the U20 WC was the defining moment in his footballing career. It helped shape him as the kind of player who can play the big games. Let's hope Aguero can do the same!

Nicolas Burdisso

I love this player. He has had an almost flawless campaign. I've argued that he is generally under-appreciated. He is the best aerial Argentinian defender I've ever seen. He has more goals this season than Gabriel Milito has had in his entire Spanish career. Since Materazzi and Cordoba are both figure-heads in Inter Milan, Burdisso has had to play somewhat second fiddle. This season he has been played as RB, CB, LB, and CDM. If this continues, he may be a "jack of all trades, master of none." I believe he is a true CB, and has managed to never make any real mistakes in any position, given his natural attributes as a CB. It will be difficult for him to land a starting spot as a CB given Materazzi and Cordoba's stature within the club. He certainly has the talent to be a starting CB on any team.

Argentina can certainly use his aerial ability and with the exception of one game this year, he has been rock solid when played as a CB for Inter Milan. Pekerman selected him out of nowhere, and he has shown great temperament in his immediate start for Argentina in the World Cup. He was played out of position, and in all honestly, playing him as a RB is like playing Cannavaro as a RB. However, I think he did well all things considered. In fact, the only serious defensive errors that I recall in that tournament were from Coloccini and Heinze. So Burdisso should get some serious respect.

Maxi Rodriguez

He is still the most underrated Argentinian player in the world in my opinion. He is the most complete player Argentina has at the moment. He tackles, he does defensive duties, he is great one-on-one, he provides excellent crosses, he's creative, lethal with both feet, and has excelled in almost every area of the pitch. He has played as a CAM in Argentina, a Forward, a Right-Winger, a RM, and a LM. He scores from inside the box, and outside the box with equal ease. When it mattered most, on the biggest stage, and in the most important games, Maxi Rodriguez scored three wonderful goals and managed to score a PK against the fearsome Lehmann. Is there anything this guy can't do?

He was out for almost an entire season, but like all great players, he rebounded from this injury immediately, scoring three goals and providing one assist in 3 games since his return. I only wish he had accepted AC Milan's interest. He could have been playing alongside Kaka, Pirlo, and Ronaldo. Playing with Torres and Aguero ain't too shabby either. However, Atletico Madrid seem to have a curse that they can't shake off. While AC Milan are busy winning Champions League trophies, Atletico Madrid are busy trying to keep their players healthy. Some of it is bad luck, but if you read up on Redondo and AC Milan, and Crespo's praise regarding these issues, injuries aren't always bad luck. So it is with this in mind that I'm concerned about players with Maxi's talent, missing an entire season.

Pato Abbondanzieri

So maybe he's too old to be considered a rising star. However, he is new to top level football, and is therefore a rookie in some ways. He has proved to be one of the best goalies in La Liga. All the stats support this idea. Number of saves, the least goals against while playing for Getafe of all teams - and he gave me a LOT of points in my yahoo soccer pool!

Goalkeepers seem to have a longer expiry date than most players, so I'm hoping this is true of "el Pato."

Gabriel Milito

The captain's armband he carries indicates that management at Real Zaragoza consider him a leader. Overall, had a solid season in the back. I have not seen too many Real Zaragoza games, but Gabriel Milito has never wowed me. His hair certainly has not endeared him to me either! He really should cut it. He seems to be wowing the right people though - as he is in the middle of a bidding war between Juventus and Liverpool, (and Real Madrid according to some sources.) The $20 million price tag is deemed fair by these top teams, although he will most likely be sold for less. I'm not sure why Liverpool wants him, they already have a rock-solid defence, they could use that money for a world class forward. Whereas Juventus and Real Madrid will certainly be in need of a top CB next season. Either way, I hope he goes to Juventus or Real Madrid as I believe he will be more needed there. If I had to choose, I would hope he goes to Italy, they have a knack of churning out the best defenders in the world. He may be able to take his game to an even higher level.

Diego Milito

The man who is a spitting image of Enzo Francescoli, the other Milito; Had a great season with 22 goals. He seems to be Crespo's natural successor. He's not exactly a rising star, as he has been in Europe for a while. However, he has a lot of potential to be a consistent 20+ goalscorer. He scores goals any which way, with any foot. Liverpool and Juventus have been sniffing around for his services. I'm not too picky with Milito. He seems to be doing fine with Zaragoza. With service being provided by the likes of Aimar and D'Alessandro, not many strikers would complain. He has steadily improved his goal tally since leaving Serie B, and next year he perhaps might eclipse his current tally. Definitely one of the strikers to watch in Europe!

Players On the Periphery

Cristian Ledesma

(Not to be confused with the Ledesma that plays for Boca.)I've yet to mention this guy on my blog, but he has been a fixture on an impressive Lazio side that qualified for Champions League. He has generally played behind the CAM in a 4-3-1-2 formation. He recently scored a wonderful free kick against Inter Milan. He paid his dues starting out for Lecce, then moving up to Lazio where he has earned a regular spot. Lazio had a very impressive second half of the season, and Ledesma played an important role in their success. Certainly a player to look out for.

Sergio Almiron

Not to be confused with his Dad lol. He is another player who has proven his worth with Serie A's surprise team of the season, Empoli. He looks to be receiving more exposure as Juventus are close to signing him. For his age he offers a lot of experience, and like many Argentinian midfielders, he has skill with the ball and vision on the field. It was not long ago that Empoli were in Serie B, and this year they finished seventh, just behind Palermo for a Uefa Cup spot.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: The Controversial Juan Sebastian Veron

2007-06-12T11:03:00.000-04:00

Veron's inclusion into the NT has caught me a little by surprise. He's a little past his prime, Messi has been given the mantle as Riquelme's successor (thus far), and Veron has spent a year away from the top leagues in Europe. Like most Argentinian number 10's, he's the kind of player that inspires divided reactions. So I will take this opportunity to share what I think of him, and what I've read over the years, and seen personally (I was in the stands when Argentina tied Sweden - still the most depressing moment of my football journey so far).

The Good

In his heyday, Veron was one of the best midfielders in the world. At Lazio, he was at his peak, winning the scudetto, coppa italia, and the italian supercup. He is a strong character, a leader on and off the pitch, possesses wonderful vision, an exquisite right foot, and a shot that never seems to arc. Unlike Mascherano, Gago, or Messi, he possesses a gift for not only short passes but also wonderful long balls that arrive with pinpoint accuracy. His talent for a wide array of passes means he is a threat from almost anywhere on the pitch. Fielding a modern formation of 3-3-1-3, Bielsa's team was built around him, which is no small compliment. Veron, while not wearing the #10 (that went to the awful Ortega), he certainly played the role of "Enganche."

This entire system was very successful during the qualifying stages. Argentina was a machine, it did not lose, and largely thanks to Veron's abilities.

The Bad

2002 was not a good year for this man. The 3-3-1-3 formation, while very successful in the qualifying stages, meant that the system largely hinged on Veron's abilities. He was injured prior to the tournament, and admitted he was not at 100% during the tournament either. This combined with the fact that Argentina found themselves in the "Group of Death," facing teams that played with almost 10 players inside their own half.

He also made a colossal mistake in choosing England over Italian or Spanish football. The slower pace of La Liga and Serie A suited his characteristics. In England, he spent what could have been his best years, playing in a League that stood as an obstacle to expressing his talents.

2002 was not a good year for him, and I believe his footballing career was never the same after this. By the time he returned to Inter Milan, he was already not at the same level he was when leaving Lazio. People suddenly began crying "Oh Veron is back to his best!" This is untrue. Veron never lost it, he simply played in a league that wasn't good for him.

The Ugly

Veron is a character. There is no doubt about it. He's hot-headed, stubborn, and vocal about his opinions regardless of who he pisses off. While these might attribute to his leadership characteristics, it has also proved to be detrimental to everyone associated with him. His anger has found him with several yellow cards, expulsions, and confrontations with teammates and managers. He did not have an amicable split with Sir Alex Ferguson, he did not get along with Juan Pablo Sorin (nor Riquelme), he was involved in several bust-ups with Adriano, all of which were reported to the national press.

His confrontational attitude has at times lead to a poor image of his club and country. His stubbornness in trying to prove himself in a league that did not suit his style of play proved to be disastrous in hindsight. He could have left England after Manchester, and instead chose to carry on in Chelsea.

His vocal approach can divide a team, and it can be a reason as to why Pekerman (and Inter) did not keep him.

I still believe he should not have played when he was hurt in 2002. It takes a bigger man to admit that he can't play at 100% than to risk his team's fortunes.

In Sum

Players like him don't lose their creative spark. They have a gift that is a natural expression and the pitch is their canvas. He played a major role in winning the Apertura against Boca and leading Estudiantes to their first title in 23 years. I think this proves he can still make an impact at a high level of football.

Copa America is coming and I imagine Veron is a back up to Messi and Aimar. He also might play behind Messi in a Pirlo type position, orchestrating the play from a deeper position. This could be effective given his wide array of passing skills; including accurate long balls, free kicks and corner kicks. His style compliments Messi much like Pirlo compliments Kaka.

We'll see what Basile has planned for him. Since he has been selected, I would assume Basile believes Veron's personality or differences with teammates will not be an issue. Sorin and Riquelme won't be playing, so there should be no negative history.

Personally, I think he will prove to be a good back-up, and he will be motivated to end his national career on a good note, whether on the bench or on the field.

The Future of Argentine Football

2007-05-30T16:56:00.000-04:00

Translated from Clarin by Me

El "Coco" does not want to alter his basic system and he wants to maintain the 4-3-1-2 while he doesn't have a natural "enganche," a Riquelme. Riquelme's absence leaves a space just right, in the hierarchy for Messi. El "Coco" put Messi at liberty, behind the two forwards, but not as a conductor. The coach is finding a way of maximizing Messi's potential, without changing the overall scheme of things: setting up a midfield that guides, with three midfielders that know what it is to take charge of their respective teams from a different position on the field.

With Lucho González, Gago and Cambiasso, Messi's freedom is total. Because the team alternately revolves around the three talented midfielders, who enjoy keeping possession of the ball and distributing to the forwards. This way, the coach begins to ideally surround his #10. It would be starkly different to have a combative midfield, with players who recuperate or fight agressively for the ball: Lionel would be alone in producing creativity and the obligation would be pushing his role to the absolute limit.

Grondona's desire ("Messi has to play") is beginning to be a reality. And if the midfield compliments and helps facilitate his movements then we can enjoy the Leo that we see in Barcelona.

César Luis Menotti, another Argentine legend, has also chirped in on Clarin regarding Messi. For those of you who don't know Menotti, he was the coach of La Seleccion in '78. Known by and large for his philosophy of beautiful attacking football, his alliances in this area include Coco Basile and Jorge Valdano. He said "...Y a Lionel se le puede pedir que disponga su libertad en función de la estrategia del equipo."

Meaning, "..and to Lionel, we can ask that his freedom is arranged within the function of the team's strategy."

I cannot say these things better myself. This Saturday, two things can happen: it's just another friendly, and we all enjoy a wonderful match, or; Messi just might play himself into the most legendary position of the Argentinian National Team. If this is the case, (and if the 4-0 scrimmage in favour of Messi's side is any indication), then we might be witnessing a turning point in Argentine Football history. Where the next #10 begins his journey at the tender age of 19. I for one, certainly hope for the latter.

Copa America Coming

2007-05-29T11:58:00.000-04:00

Diego voted player of the year in Germany

Diego, who moved to Werder for six million euros from Porto last year, polled (a whopping!) 50.7 percent of the votes of 268 players in German soccer magazine Kicker. The closest runner up was Geskas at 10.7 percent. You may be wondering why I might be talking about Diego. I recently got in a discussion with Ashley Gray regarding the Copa America no-shows, Kaka and Ronaldinho. This discussion made me consider my own philosophy behind the Copa America. Her point, which I feel is valid, is that the best players should participate in this tournament. It certainly raises the profile of this tournament. However, while I share the same passion for seeing a great tournament, I think that a player as talented as Diego for example, would not be able to shine if Kaka or Ronaldinho played. I did not watch too many Bundesliga games this season. I would love to watch another classic Brazilian #10 use the pitch as the canvas on which he paints.

Did anyone watch Real Madrid/Reccreativo followed by Barcelona/Atletico Madrid? The Real Madrid game was actually exciting. 3-2, very competitive, and a goal in the dying minutes. The Barcelona game? I fell asleep at half-time. Watching teams completely outplay another team is boring. I think in the end it's bad for soccer. The more competitive the matches, the more exciting it is for all of us, the better the reputation of the tournament. If Argentina and Brazil field their best teams, I really believe this tournament will suffer. Historically, this tournament is already a one-sided affair in favour of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. Aregentina has already won 14 Copa America titles! I think we have enough. By 2010, it will have been 24 years since our albicelestes have won the biggest prize in football. I think we should do what is necessary to improve our chances of winning the World Cup. The Copa America can be the ground in which we see what our own players are made of.

I used to be one of those people who didn't care for the Copa America. Years ago, if I couldn't name a player on the team, I felt it was reflective of a sub-par tournament. My attitude has changed drastically over the years. Particularly in the last Copa America, where my heart was broken, and I realized how exciting the tournament actually was. The more I've learned about this game, about the fringe players for the albicelestes, the more I realized how important this tournament is for each national team. The level of competition is not the same as that of Europe. That's just a fact. Playing Ronaldinho and Kaka won't change this. While I know this, why am I still so excited to watch this tournament?

I realized that the same people who dismiss this tournament are the same people who never watched Maradona play when he was establishing himself as the greatest player of the modern era. They're the same people who missed Messi's performance in the U20 WC in 2005. They're the same people who missed Brazil's stunning win in the Copa America final of 2004. The future legends of football will be playing this tournament. Some like, Cavani of Palermo, Anderson of FC Porto, Diego of Werder Bremen, will be playing this tournament. If you don't watch this tournament, I think you'll be the one missing out.

AC Milan... What Can I Say?

2007-05-24T11:34:00.000-04:00

All my feelings about the game can be summed up as follows:

1) The game wasn't all that exciting. Not many opportunities, overall quite conservative.

2) Kaka, while being shut down for almost the entire game, still managed to: create the free kick (alonso's foul) that lead to the first goal; create the spectacular through ball to Inzaghi for the second goal. What can we say about this player? He's too good!

3) Inzaghi played as good as Inzaghi can play. Lucky deflection for the first goal. His second goal was classic Inzaghi. He's offside 100 times, but he only has to be onside once, and next thing you know, the score is 2-0. Wonderful finish.

4) Mascherano had an excellent final. He showed maturity and good temperament. I thought he handled Kaka well. Unfortunately for him, Benitez needed to take a risk. My feelings on this little rivalry is best expressed by this article.

5) I thought the officiating was biased in favour of Milan. The ref should have added 30 seconds to the game from the substitution, and he ended it 20 seconds earlier, thats pretty much a minute, and it SHOULD have been alotted. There were also some calls I thought were bogus by the last 10 minutes. AC Milan has a 10-0 record with this ref, and Liverpool have struggled. I found that odd. Normally I wouldn't think twice about it, but considering Berlusconi's reputation, it's certainly possible some shadiness occurred.

6) Possible shadiness aside, Liverpool dominated the match, but could not convert their dominance into goals. Man to man, I think AC Milan possess better individual players. Pirlo, Kaka, and Inzaghi in particular, were the difference offensively.

7) I thought Pennant was a disappointment. His crosses left me expecting more.

Anyway, congratulations are in order to AC Milan, a team I hope Leandro Grimi succeeds in, and a team I hope will buy Tevez... ;)

I will leave you with some comments about AC Milan

"This is a family – it is not a cliché – because there are players who feel they belong to the club and that is one of our greatest strengths." - Galliani

"“We are a strong group and there is harmony between me and the players – this makes the difference. We all feel that we belong to this outfit," - Ancelotti

"Every player who leaves Milan always regrets his decision ...the club never forgets a player who has given so much to the shirt." - Maldini

Good Management: The Future of Carlos Tevez

2007-05-21T03:47:00.001-04:00

If You Don't Listen to Me, Why Not Listen to Crespo?

"Carlos would be brilliant in Italy. With his class, quality and pace he would drive defenders crazy in every match.

"He is a world-class star. It would be possible for us to be an excellent pair in attack. I believe we would score many goals because we would complement each other on the pitch.
"I don’t know what Inter’s intentions are, but if they are interested then I will try to convince him to sign."

Did you hear that people? Crespo said they would compliment each other. I hope all the people that post their dream teams realize this fact; Players on the pitch need to compliment each other. I suppose I don't need to say that again...

As for Tevez at Inter, I don't see too much of a problem with it. On the way to TFC's game wednesday, I spoke with one of my Interista friends about the prospect. With Figo's imminent departure and Zanetti getting older, Inter will be in need of a leader. Personally, I've never been too convinced of Zanetti's ability as a leader. Tevez has done a better job of getting his teammates to elevate their level and win championships. He has asserted himself as a leader wherever he's gone, and I'm confident he would do the same at Inter. In terms of tactics, I think Crespo hit the nail on the head, and that guy knows what he's talking about. I'm sure the number of Argentinians at Inter would be attractive as well. I watch EPL, Serie A, and La Liga, and it's clear that Serie A and La Liga embrace Tevez's style of play more than the EPL does. It still baffles me that a coach at the professional level (Pardew) would play Tevez as a Left-Winger. If there's one lesson to be learned, it's that you don't field players of Tevez's calibre out of their ideal position. And it's kind of sad that I, munching on delicious popcorn in the bleachers watching a football game as a fan, can have more common sense than a trained professional manager in such an important matter.

And let's ask ourselves this question: What would have happened if Pardew stayed and Carlos remained on the flanks? He would never have expressed what he did in the final months here, and people would have dismissed his talent. All because of poor management, and poor choices.

Inter Milan vs. AC Milan

While I have a soft spot for Inter Milan due to the Argentine connection, I believe it's important to be objective and look at things for what they are, as opposed to blindly supporting your team. To me it is quite clear that AC Milan (scandal aside) is a far better organization. With the exception of Maxwell, Maicon, and Adriano, Inter rarely discovers players on their own. Crespo, Ibrahimovic, Cambiasso, Vieira, Figo, have all been crucial to their success this season, and it is simply them taking advantage of other team's misfortunes. Particularly Juventus and Real Madrid. There really aren't many players you can say are world class on that team. Grosso and Materazzi are World Cup Champions, however, they were not playing on the National Team because of Inter's faith in them. Grosso was discovered by Palermo, Materazzi was warming the bench for much of last year. It was Lippi who gave Materazzi his chance in spite of how Inter treated him. Ibrahimovic and Burdisso are on the verge of becoming world class.

However, if you look at AC Milan, you have,

Kaka: (touted by me and many others as a future World Player of the Year).
Shevchenko (formerly): European Footballer of the Year, won the CL with his penalty kick.
Maldini: no need to explain.
Pirlo: won the 2 most prestigious prizes in football, the CL and and the centre-piece to Italy's WC.
Seedorf: won 3 CL titles with 3 different teams!
Nesta: CL winner, WC winner (although only played one match due to injury)
Cafu: 3 WC Finals, 2 WC's, CL title.

This is an extraordinary list of players with some extraordinary achievements. Every single one of them a Champion. Every single one of them a world class player. Pirlo and Seedorf were ex-Inter players who never made the cut!

My basic analysis indicates that AC Milan place a lot of faith in previous winners. They also manage their players well. Success is not easy to achieve. The closest I've come to understanding success on a glorious level has only been through books and magazines. One that stands out is Champions Magazine. I recommend it to anyone who is a thinker and has more than a passing interest in the beauty of football. It has a lot of insight on what makes the difference on the pitch, and off it. Success is inseperable from great management.

If you look at AC Milan, their players have a manager for whom they are willing to give their sweat, blood and tears. Crespo himself has said the best coach he ever had was Ancellotti. That's saying a lot. AC Milan players hardly ever want to leave. When Crespo finished his second stint in Chelsea, who did he call out? AC Milan. It wasn't Inter Milan. Redondo was another player that spoke very highly of AC Milan. These are the kinds of clues people like Moratti and Mancini need to pay attention to if they want to take Inter Milan to the heights of their rivals.

I also think these are factors that Argentinians with such talent need to consider. Look at the World Cup final, how many starters played on Real Madrid, AC Milan, or Juventus? Thuram, Zambrotta, Pirlo, Gattuso, Zidane, Gilardino, Buffon, Del Piero, Makalele, Trezeguet, Cannavaro...

Now with Atletico's 6-0 demolishing, it makes me think of Maxi Rodriguez being pursued by AC Milan post-2006 WC, and I wonder what he's thinking right now...

On a side note Messi had 2 goals, and Higuain & Gago played an important role in the game winning goal. Gago making a beautiful and unexpected pass for Roberto Carlos from just outside the box. Eto'o had an outstanding game. He was unselfish, and very generous towards his teammates, and for a striker, that's practically unheard of! After today's Barca game, I truly hope Eto'o does not leave Barcelona. There is no striker in the world that can head that trident attack like Eto'o. I really felt like there was genuine love and respect for each other on that team and the chemistry and almost telepathic understanding between Eto'o, Ronaldinho, & Messi, will most likely be impossible to replace. Yup, La Liga (and Toronto FC) are definitely providing the most football entertainment for me these days.

Another Argentine Legend Agrees With Me

2007-05-20T12:52:00.000-04:00

Mario Kempes:

"He’s been a pro for only two years now, but Leo has proved that he has quality and personality. We’ve seen him play on both the right and left wings; what I want now is to see him play in the centre; that way he would have a wider vision and enjoy more time on the ball, and he wouldn’t have the touchline right behind him all the time. Not being constrained to the flank, his game would have various and different options; currently, all he can see whenever he gets the ball is a bunch of rival shirts

He’s very modest. I met with him earlier today at Camp Nou, and we went down to the pitch so that he would show me how he scored that goal against Getafe. We came across some fans, and Leo lowered his head when we met them. He’s shy, he’s embarrassed about being famous; that’s a very good way to react, compared to what other young boys do. And his family is also really benefitial to him. The good thing about Messi is that he comes out on the Bernabéu stadium and for him it’s the same as playing a game on the streets with a group of friends. He must listen to his coaches’ advice so as to become a more complete player, but he must never forget his roots."

I really hope we get to see Messi as a CAM for the Argentinian National Team...

So I'm Chillin' With Marco Reda, Paul Stalteri & Craig Forrest

2007-05-17T11:43:00.000-04:00

Sitting In Freezing Rain For 2 Hours Builds Character

Actually I wasn't chilling with Craig Forrest, but he did walk by while I hung out with Marco Reda (of Toronto FC) and Paul Stalteri of Tottenham Hotspurs (and formerly of Werder Bremen). I was glad to see Marco Reda as I haven't seen him in a couple of years. He expects to be healthy the next couple of days and hopefully the coach will play him soon.

For those of you who don't know who Craig Forrest is, he's a Canadian Football legend. A previous national goalkeeper who lead Canada to a Gold Cup. I watched every single game of that tournament on TV and winning in a final in penalty kicks was an absolute thrill to watch.

Toronto FC won again at home last night and the weather was absolutely brutal. When your jeans change from light blue to dark blue, you know you're wet. We beat last year's champions Houston Dynamo. Duane De Rosario was able to play his first MLS game against his hometown. Lucky for us, Toronto 1, Houston 0.

So, You're the Argentinian NT Coach. Who do you pick?

2007-05-15T21:34:00.001-04:00

Copa America is coming and here's what I'm thinking... the tried and tested 4-3-1-2.

---------------------------------Ustari (Maybe)-------------------------------

----------------- Zabaleta - Burdisso - Milito - Heinze ---------------------

--------------------------------- Mascherano ---------------------------------

------------------------- Maxi Rodriguez - Gago ----------------------------

------------------------------------- Messi -----------------------------------

--------------------------------- Tevez - Milito ------------------------------

The Gago & Mascherano Dilemma

We have a possible dilemma regarding two very similar players in Gago and Mascherano. I think Gago & Mascherano on the pitch at the same time may pose problems as they are too similar and therefore may have difficulties adapting in such a short amount of time.
The way I look at it, they are mildly different in style, and certainly different in experience. Mascherano has more experience, and his record is exceptional. He has given outstanding performances in the U20 WC, the Copa America, the World Cup, and the current Champions League, not to mention his club championships with River Plate and Corinthians.

Gago is younger and has also accomplished much by the age of 20. He has won everything with Boca, and has won an U20 WC wherein he shared his position with Biglia. There is no question that Mascherano is better right now. However, if given time, it's possible Gago may be able to offer what Mascherano lacks. While Masche is the more precise, aggressive tackler, offering a more physically defensive presence, Gago is the more elegant player who relies more on vision and playmaking. From what I've seen already, Gago is a superior playmaker who can play high up the pitch as well as deep in his own zone. Perhaps they are different enough and smart enough to compliment each other rather than step on each others toes. This is wishful thinking on my part. If Gerrard/Lampard and Kaka/Ronaldinho are any indication, it shows that playing certain players out of their ideal position prevents a team from perhaps playing to their full potential. Just a thought.

There are a lot of questions, and I think they can be answered by testing it out. I don't think its too risky, and I think Gago may have the ability to adapt to a new role as he likes to play offensively.

Even looking at this group of players, there are 3 starters from the World Cup which I think leaves plenty of room for the players who have yet to prove themselves. Tevez and Messi have done enough to make me believe they will do very well at this tournament. The main thing is if this team can play cohesively. If Messi doesn't get Riquelme's role on the pitch then I'll be pissed! None of this Messi/Tevez strike partnership nonsense. We need a classic poacher with aerial ability to compliment these short playmakers.

If you got other ideas, I'd like to hear them

I Love You Man! No I Love YOU

2007-05-14T16:44:00.000-04:00

So Higuain scores perhaps the most critical goal of Real Madrid's season. Even Ruud is falling in love with him. Albeit excessively if you ask me. I missed the game, the reason - I'll explain later in this blog. Walter Pandiani scores a hatrick like our boy Messi. Except, he was not able to celebrate like a hero because Real Madrid seem to have awoken from their golden slumber. I hope Higuain is given a chance to play next year. He hasn't scored many goals, but he seems to score in big occasions. He's only 18 years old, and I'm looking forward to seeing him play alongside Aguero in the U20 here in Canada. I watched the U20 Argentinian NT play against Canada. Since I'm a Toronto FC season ticket holder I get to watch all the International Friendlies. I only watched the first half since I had tickets to see the Arctic Monkeys that same night. I was pleasantly surprised to see Canada dominate the first half against Argentina. Unfortunately, if you don't score against a team as good as Argentina when you have possession, then it will bite you in the ass. Argentina won 2-1. I have to say I was disappointed in how many people were cheering for Argentina. Let's not confuse things: I love the albicelestes. It's where my family and cousins live. I have a lot of friends there. But Canada is where I live and I cheered for Canada when they played against Argentina. David Edgar, who plays for Newcastle, was certainly a standout and he scored the lone goal for Canada.

'El Manchado' Scores Again

Tevez has been making my headlines frequently as of late. But what am I supposed to do? Shut up about it? C'e n'est pas possible. A victory against the wondrous Manchester United is no small feat for a little team like West Ham. Kudos to my boy Tevez who's been making everybody take notice in Europe. The big question is where will he go? It's almost certain that he will leave West Ham after this season, and it looks like he doesn't like speaking English... or maybe its the dreary London weather. I know of many Argentinian families personally, who have had a hard time of adapting to Canada. The culture, the weather, the people, many Argentinians just can't deal with it and they return to the motherland. I love Canada, and London isn't so bad either from what I've seen. But if I had to choose sunny Barcelona vs. grey old London, I know which one I'm choosing! As for culture, I had a sneaking suspicion that a kid from Fuerte Apache wouldn't want to stay in grey London when he can go to sunnier skies. In terms of tactics, I think Tevez would fit right in in AC Milan. He's a suitable replacement for Shevchenko.

Crespo Times 3

Crespo is in wonderful form these days. In his last three games he has six goals! He scored the lone goal in Inter Milan's 1-0 win against Messina. He scored two goals against Roma in their 6-2 loss. And now a hatrick in a 4-3 victory against Lazio. It was mother's day so I missed that game too. I was too busy cooking salmon and shrimp on the barbie.

The Reason I Missed the Exciting Real Madrid Game

Toronto FC! They scored their first goal in history and I got to witness it firsthand. It was an amazing game and I am so delighted that Toronto now has a professional soccer team. The atmosphere was indescribable. I've seen so many football matches and the excitement and buzz is always special when you're dying for your home team. I've travelled a lot and seen many games and it's nice to come home and cheer for your own soccer team. 20,000 were there to support Toronto, and Toronto is in last! I love this game. Everybody was given a souvenir cushion seat to take home with them. We won 3-1, and after each goal, 5,000 cushion seats were converted to frisbees and tossed on the field. Someone even managed to hit the opposing goalie in the head. That's just good aim.

If you want to see what it was like to be at this game, click here.

Tevez, Mascherano, & the Champions League Final

2007-05-07T14:44:00.000-04:00

Carlitos Tevez

Ok let's start with Tevez. Another outstanding performance from Carlitos. West Ham beat Bolton 3-1. Tevez providing two goals and one assist. His first a sublime free kick. I find Tevez's free kicks interesting to watch because he never puts a lot of power behind his free kicks. (Compared to many other free kick takers). Yet he manages to beat goalies with superb touch and placement of the ball. When I saw his goals on replay I just yelled out "BAM BITCHES!"
Was it rational of me to do so? No.
In my defence I will quote Batistuta, amids tears after the 2002 WC elimination: "Lo que pasa es que pocas veces el futbol respeta la logica."

I was quite pessimistic about Tevez and Mascherano doing well in the Premiership. I was delightfully proven wrong and have a new found respect for the way it demands more strength from its players. I do believe that England should put more emphasis on skill and ball control if they ever want to see their NT improve. However, the Premiership can help make more complete players of those with skill. Such as Tevez or Cristiano Ronaldo. Ron is a much stronger player now than he was when he first started in the Premiership. It is a tough league for South American players to adjust to, and hopefully Tevez and Mascherano will continue to prove to people they can play in such a physically demanding league. To see Tevez play with such leadership and audacity gives me a lot of hope for the future of the Argentinian NT. Although in Argentina they don't say 'audacity' they say balls.

Mascherano

I can't believe that just a few short months ago, Mascherano was on the West Ham bench. Think about that for a minute. Fast forward to last Tuesday, and you'll notice he started both matches against Chelsea in the Champions League semifinal. It is a testament to how good Mascherano is, that Benitez would have enough confidence to start him in the most important matches of Liverpool's season. However, it is also a testament to how brilliant Benitez is, to be able to know what to do with talent when he sees it. There is a wonderful story circulating the web of how Benitez appeared at Mascherano's apartment, alone and uninvited, and proceeded to explain for 4 hours, using rocks, how Mascherano would fit into the team tactically. I'm not sure if it's true, but whatever transpired between coach and player seems to be working. I like Xabi Alonso, but it seems that Benitez prefers a more defensive midfielder to accompany Gerrard in the middle.

Ah Mourinho...

Mourinho's brash demeanour came to life on camera when he was filmed telling the camera to "fuck off" after his team's tie to Arsenal. It cut out before he could finish, but it was still funny to watch. The English media is a double-edged sword, and Mourinho has often used it to his advantage. This time, it was humourous to see the media getting the better of him.
From what I've seen and read of the special one, I believe he must feel very conflicted. On the one hand, he does not seem happy at Chelsea. If he was unhappy last year, he must be miserable this year. The media have been in his face all year, the critics have been louder than previous years, and so have his rivals. From Wenger to Sir Alex, to Cristiano, to Benitez. The pressure has mounted to a new high, so the arrows are pointing to him leaving. When he arrived, he seemed full of mischievious arrogance. He appeared to me as someone who could find the humour in his boastfulness and he didn't strike me as someone who took himself that seriously.

However, in the last year he has seemed more irritated in games, edgy, and he looks generally pissy, even by Mourinho's standards!

He has established a very tight bond with his players, as has been often documented about him. If he leaves, I believe it will tear him up inside that he did not win with his beloved boys. That he could not prove his doubters wrong and say "we proved we're the best." It must be eating him up inside.

Champions League Final

Once again AC Milan surprises me with the decisive manner of their victory. Three nil and Kaka playing brilliantly once again. Another standout performance was Gattuso. He completely shut down Cristiano Ronaldo and Heinze on the flank. I've seen him play many a match, and I've never seen a look like the one he gave after the win. It kinda looked like the way a warrior looks when he believes he's unbeatable, like a berserker rage. A radiant Calabrian rage ready to take on any opponent, no matter how large or how numerous. Kind of funny, but kind of awesome at the same time. AC Milan has so much to play for in this final. Not the least of which is a chance at vindicating themselves for blowing a 3-0 lead against Liverpool in Istanbul. Two years gone, and AC Milan get a second chance. Not many teams get that precious second chance. This final is going to be a showdown.

Last year's final I was quite confident that Barcelona would win it. They were the favourites by a pretty wide margin. This year, I can't really say who are the favourites. Historically, Milan have appeared in more Champions League finals and have won 6 CL trophies to Liverpool's 5. Both coaches have won recently. Current form suggests this to be an even affair. Liverpool have a great rotation going and it seems to have made the difference. They're even better as a team than they were in '05. They play with more confidence and more experience and they already have a CL trophy under their belt while not hitting their peak! They've managed to win without buying any superstars. Gerrard is the only player that can be considered a "superstar." Liverpool have managed to find great players under the radar.

AC Milan have some star names and obviously an exceptional coach in Ancellotti. The biggest factor in favour of AC Milan is "revenge" or "vindication." I play in an indoor soccer league here, and my team lost to these cocky guys in the final. Next year, my team had the opportunity to play the same team again in the final and I remember how badly I wanted to beat this team. We did everything in our power to make sure we did not lose that game, and we succeeded. So I can only imagine what it must be like at that level. With the prestige of the greatest club trophy on the line, the history of blowing a 3-0 lead in front of millions upon millions of people watching from all over the world. I can only imagine the resolute desire these players must feel deep inside.

It is going to be a showdown.

Oh Mourinho

2007-04-27T15:33:00.000-04:00

An article supporting what I've been saying about the "special one."

Lionel Messi and His Magic Feet

2007-04-19T09:20:00.000-04:00

I Cannot Believe My Eyes

It's been an incredible season for Messi. A hat-trick against the Real Madrid rivals and a goal that is worthy of comparisons to Diego. Words do not do it justice really.

Messi vs. Getafe

Tevez Scores Against Chelsea!

It was a stupendous goal. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by a 4-1 drubbing by the hands of Chelsea. Either way, the man is putting the ball in the net, regardless of the opposition. Even I'm surprised by how well he is doing the last 3 months.

Tevez vs. Chelsea

Argentina-Chile Goalless Draw

Certainly not a whole lot of excitement here. But worth mentioning. Veron is out injured. Poor guy, that guy must have been dreaming about putting on the Albiceleste shirt on again. You can read more about the tie here.

Kaka/Ronaldinho, Gerrard/Lampard

2007-04-18T09:51:00.000-04:00

What is it with management when they think they can play 2 players of the exact same position on the field at the same time?
In the last few months, there has been much speculation about Ronaldinho moving to AC Milan. Having Ronaldinho and Kaka on the same field, to me, is like having Gerrard and Lampard on at the same time. It's nice in theory, but it just doesn't work.

They are the same type of player. They're the CAM (centre attacking midfielder) in a 4-3-1-2 formation. Does anyone remember the Brazil team of 2002? Where did Ronaldinho play? Behind Rivaldo and Ronaldo. And you know what, it worked better than having Ronaldinho and Kaka on the field at the same time.

It seems to me, Berlusconi is thinking marketing first, tactics second. We all saw what that philosophy brought Real Madrid's galactico era. Nothing.

I think history has proved that the system should come first, the players second.

It's a little bit like having 2 Cafus. Sure you could find space for 2 Right Backs on the field, but why would you if you have all the money in the world? Why not buy the proper player for each position?
You could possibly play Kaka and Ronaldinho in a 4-3-3 formation. But is AC Milan, a team that has been playing 4-3-1-2 and 4-4-1-1 recently, going to change its tactics to accomodate one player? Will the rest of the squad be happy with it? Will the team be able to adjust AND be successful in Europe and Serie A?

Of course, there are versatile players, this can be seen in Barcelona. But even in Barcelona, each player is designed to fit into Rijkaard's system. Each player fits into his role like a glove. The only way I can see Ronaldinho fitting into a 4-3-1-2 system alongside Kaka is if he's played in a Shevchenko style role, a forward that acts as a link between the CAM and the striker. It scares me to think that a team like AC Milan might try and think 4-2-2-2 will work.

4/4! I Should Have Bet Money

2007-04-12T11:52:00.000-04:00

My predictions all came correct and I didn't make money off it. Silly me. I'm glad Valencia are out, as I've stated in previous posts, I don't much like them or their management. Exceptions are Ayala, who Drogba recently touted as "the best I ever faced." David Villa, who looks like a villain in a movie where the villain is actually kind of cool. Morientes I also like. However, Chelsea dominated this match and deserved to win. Valencia certainly gave Chelsea a run for their money, as I predicted. However, this tournament is all about character.

Speaking of character, Rafa Benitez made an astute comment about the special one.

'We were good friends until we (Liverpool) started winning, then he started changing his mind. It is the same with all the managers of the top sides. He has very good relationships with managers of teams that normally he beats."

Quite right. It's easy to be a sportsman when you're not threatened by the opposing team. However, I still have a soft spot for Mourinho. Nothing wrong with a little mischief. But props to Rafa for pointing it out. I wonder how Mourinho will respond to this obvious fact. Most likely, it won't change anything. The whole game here is psychological warfare, so Mourinho shutting up will only play to Rafa's advantage in this showdown.

Manchester Embarrasses Roma

I don't think anyone could have predicted such a drubbing. Manchester United look even stronger and more confident after that win. Poor Roma, it goes to show how important experience is in this competition. Roma looked lost. Did you see Luciano Spalletti's face? Poor guy, he looked heartbroken. Poor Nosferatu. He spoke out in the press about Roma needing to buy players. I felt it was disrespectful to the guys that played. Sure, they got demolished, but people need to calm down. They're a good side, they were just an inexperienced team playing against an experienced team, with a very experienced manager, with a lot more depth and a lot more money behind them. Roma, meanwhile, haven't made the quarterfinals since 1984.

Hopefully, Roma keep Spalletti. I think he's a smart guy, and this beating will certainly teach him a lesson that he will carry with him for the rest of his coaching days. A good manager takes this experience and betters himself from it. I'd like to see Roma improve and avenge this loss next year. They certainly have the players to do it.

AC Milan Once Again Reach the Final Four

I don't know how Ancellotti does it. The guy looks like he's half-asleep a lot of the time. Yet, his team manages to consistently do well in Europe. I'm not surprised they beat Bayern, since I called it. But I am surprised they did it so convincingly in the second leg, with a coach who looks so sleepy. Another suprise was Seedorf's performance. I have nothing to say about Liverpool advancing, as that was too obvious.

No Serious Predictions

The semi-finals of this tournament are almost always very tight. It's difficult to make any predictions with confidence at this level. Judging by the way the teams have been playing in this tournament, it should be a Manchester-Liverpool final, in my opinion. That's not to say that will happen, because we're talking about AC Milan and Chelsea too. It can go any which way. But so far, Liverpool have looked water-tight, they soundly out-played Barcelona, they have a great rotation system, which means the players are well rested, and they have a great manager. Chelsea looked tired at the end of their last match, and are competing at a very high level in not only the CL, but also the premiership, and the FA Cup. This might cost them in terms of fatigue. However, Chelsea under Mourinho, have lost to the eventual CL winners 2 years straight. This might be their year. The team have a lot of character, they have some great individual players, and they're very disciplined. As for AC Milan, Dida's been shaky this year, as we saw with Bayern's 2 goals in the San Siro. So has their defence at times. They pulled it together to beat Bayern soundly. However, they might not be able to do it against a team as hot as Manchester right now. But who knows, it's the Champions League Semi-finals! No one can be ruled out.

On A Side Note...

A 19 year old kid by the name of Oscar Trejo, previously signed to Boca Juniors, scored in his debut for RCD Mallorca this weekend. You can see it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OTmV2Rb-34&NR=1. (He scores at around 4:15).

Interestingly enough, he also scored in his debut for Boca Juniors. Hopefully, he'll be an "up-and-comer" for the Argentinian Selection. Scoring 5 minutes into your debut is also nice.

Toronto FC's Debut

2007-04-09T12:51:00.000-04:00

Toronto FC's Debut

So we now have a professional soccer team in Toronto. Toronto FC lost 2-0 to Deportivo Chivas. It's an exciting time for Canadian soccer. I have season's tickets with my brother, my dad, my uncle, cousin, and my friends. We're practically a group of hooligans. I watched the game in a pub here called the Madison. Funny enough, on one floor, there were Toronto FC fanatics already.

Certainly carrying on the wonderful English tradition of showing immense support to your local team. Decked out in Toronto FC gear and holding Toronto FC scarves, they were drinking and singing songs about the club before the club has played a professional game in the MLS. Wonderful stuff. Not to mention they were probably drinking for 5 hours before the match even started.
Ah... god bless this game.

I'm lucky enough to have a highschool friend on this team. He played excellent, which was good news for us supporting him.

Let's hope Toronto FC make the playoffs in their debut season!

onto other things...

La Liga is becoming quite the dramatic thriller now with 4 teams vying for top spot in the final stretch of the season. It's certainly providing more entertainment than Serie A, with Inter 139879387 points ahead of the competition. At least La Liga might produce a surprise. Personally, I'm secretly cheering for Real Madrid and Zaragoza. Barcelona a close second to both. Real Madrid because I like Gago and Higuain, and I'd like to see them develop into core players for a successful future in Real Madrid. Zaragoza has former Argentina Superstars Aimar and D'Alessandro, along with the brothers Milito. Naturally I'd cheer for these guys. They play some nice football, and Diego Milito might be Crespo's heir to the striker throne on the national team. It would be a nice slap in Valencia's face to see Aimar & Co. finish higher than Valencia. I would especially like that.

Barcelona winning the title means Messi winning. It also means good, exciting football would win out once again. If Barcelona win this title, they'll surely go down as one of the most dominant teams ever assembled in La Liga. Three consecutive titles and a European Cup would certainly be making a statement. Let's see what happens.

Messi Messi Messi & Jose Mourinho at Chelsea

2007-03-16T09:40:00.000-04:00

Messi, Messi, Messi, and Jose Mourinho at Chelsea

Ok, so our boy Messi scores a hatrick in 'El Clasico.' I would have made a post sooner, but really, so many people talked about this, so many articles were made, I don't feel the need to state the obvious: Messi is great. How many 19 year olds score a hatrick in a derby at the highest level of football? None that I know of.

Mourinho Leaving Chelsea Isn't News

It isn't. It makes me laugh to see everyone jumping on the bandwagon NOW, gossiping and ranting about how "oh my God, Mourinho just might actually LEAVE!"
If anyone's read anything about Mourinho and Chelsea, it's been clearly documented that Mourinho's plan at Chelsea is really for 3 years. He wins the Champions league, and then he's out. He told Abramovich that he would need 3 years to do it. Also, if anyone remembers, (and journalists like Simon Barnes don't seem to remember anyway) but Mourinho had already said he had wanted to leave LAST YEAR. He said this soon after winning the league title that he had moments where he wanted to leave the club. This is after Mourinho won league titles back to back!

So it's hardly a shock Mourinho won't stay after this year. Let's face it, Sir Alex and Arsene Wenger have unique situations. Most managers are lucky if they last 3 years. Plus, Mourinho is the "special one." So if he isn't happy, he can work anywhere he wants, and Abramovich can buy anyone he wants too. So all in all, this isn't news. People should have known LAST YEAR that this would happen.

Saviola leaving Barca?

I'd like to see him as a starter. In Barcelona, as much he wants to start, it won't happen. What with Messi, Ronnie, and Eto'o. Reports of Juventus being interested in him are good news to me. I like to see Argentinian players at the top level, playing on the best teams. I think it helps them understand what it takes to win, what it takes to play in a variety of circumstances against a variety of styles. Which only helps make the Argentinean National team better. So let's see Saviola get a chance to start on a great team!

My Homeboy Tevez

Finally, Carlitos scores. I had the privilege of watching the game live. I yelled so loud when he scored. A wonderful free kick. He took off his jersey and he ran into the crowd and the crowd went nuts. It made me a little emotional to watch. It's rare when a player seeks out a connection with the fans like that. A great game by Tevez (1 goal, 2 assists) amidst a ridiculous result for West Ham. It's a shame. What I did not foresee was how poor West Ham would be doing. I figured mid-table finish to be honest. If Tevez decides to stay in the Premiership, then I'd like to see him at least move to a good team.

CL Predictions

2007-03-09T13:25:00.000-05:00

Ok, before I even start, let me tell you how disgusted I am with Valencia. Marchena, is a captain, and normally, when you think of captains, you think, Maldini, Zanetti, or Raul. You think... class. Marchena, known to be a dirty player, is caught taunting Burdisso after beating Inter in the CL. First of all, what kind of captain behaves that way? Even if you are a stand-in captain. Second of all, how does a player come off the bench and sucker punch another soccer player and break his nose when he can't defend himself?

Let's face it, David Navarro, is an ass. He also runs like a little pansy. If you watch the incident on youtube, it's actually quite funny to watch him run. Mind you, Burdisso didn't behave in the best way. So he should be punished accordingly for reacting the way he did. But I have no sympathy for a team that has players with no class, particularly Marchena and the god-awful David Navarro. When you win, as well as when you lose, you do it with class. You don't brag when you win, and you don't go instigating confrontations by taunting other players.

So, while I love Ayala, I won't be cheering for Valencia anytime soon. Management got rid of my boy Aimar, they mistreated Tavano, and Ayala will be gone by the end of the season anyway. Ironically, because he was unhappy with management and the contract they were offering him.

So, now that that's done, here are my predictions:

Chelsea-Valencia

My personal bias aside, Valencia will put up a good fight. But let's face it, Chelsea has a far better team, a far better coach, and only one injury to be concerned about (John Terry). We're talking about a team that won back-to-back Premiership titles, a team with a lot of depth, character, and a coach who has won a uefa cup and a Champions league title with FC Porto. Flores will be outmatched by Mourinho. Flores was actually very lucky to have played against a team that could not field it's 2 best midfielders (Vieira & Cambiasso). According to some sources I've read, Mourinho's agreement with Abramovich was it would take him 3 years for Chelsea to win the Champions league. So let's see how special the special one is. Chelsea are certainly favourites, so I'm hardly a genius for picking the favourites.

AC Milan-Bayern Munich

Bayern got lucky when they squeaked by Real Madrid. They barely beat a team that is in turmoil and transition, with many injured players. Not to mention a Roberto Carlos mistake that gift-wrapped the victory for Bayern. That won't happen again against AC Milan. Milan have looked impressive thus far in European competition. Kaka is the man of the tournament so far, with the most goals at the moment. This future World Player of the Year will be too much for Bayern anyway. AC Milan, no question.

Roma-Manchester United

This is an interesting match-up. Normally, I'd pick Manchester hands down. They've been red hot in their own league, they've been playing at a very high level since mid-season last year, and they haven't looked back. Roma upset Lyon, but if you look closely, Lyon have lost the exact same way in the CL for the last 5 years now. They'd start off with a 0-0 tie in the first leg, and lose 2-0 in the second leg. So how much is it Roma playing well and how much is it Lyon doing their usual choke? Roma do not have the depth of ManU, and they're not as hot in their own league as ManU is. This could allow Roma to focus more on the CL since they have no hope of winning the league, whereas Manchester need to maintain a very high level in all competitions. Manchester might also be without a proper striker for this fixture, so Roma might also have an advantage, with Totti playing very well up front. However, if you compare coaches, well, there is no comparison. Sir Alex is a genius, winning everything under the sun with his beloved ManU, and there is no doubt that this man has the tenacity and the drive to win the league and the CL again. Spalletti (Nosferatu, as I like to call him) is a clever man, and if ManU are without a proper striker, an upset might be pulled off. However, I don't think it's likely. ManU to win.

Liverpool-PSV Eindhoven

Liverpool, hands down. If any of you watched Liverpool against Barcelona, you'll see my point. This red machine looks very dangerous, with a deadly counter-attack and a highly motivated squad. Not to mention a phenomenal coach. I don't know much about PSV Eindhoven, and I think there's a reason I don't...

So favourites all the way I guess, with a possible upset for Roma.

Juan Roman Riquelme: the Saga Continues

2007-02-23T09:29:00.000-05:00

So I never commented on one of Argentina's finest playmakers leaving Europe to return home and play for Boca. Mainly because I was too lazy. But let's give this a shot. I recently read an interview with Riquelme and it supports a couple things I was saying about Riquelme.

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=240529

1- His heart is with Boca.
2- He won't leave Boca. (at least if it's up to him.)
3- He's moody (no surprise)

What's surprising is how obvious he makes it that's he's so happy now. The guy is high-maintenance if he can only be happy with Boca.

Also, did anyone notice that Riquelme hinted at returning for the National Team? What the fuck? Where did THAT come from? What about his mom's health?

Now I'm just confused. Thanks Romy. Personally I don't want him to return to the national team. He's too volatile. One day he's happy, one day he's upset. He's also slow. He makes up for his slowness with his vision and passing and shooting accuracy. But in 4 years, he'll be even slower at 31-32, and not as accurate. I'd rather have Messi as a #10. He'll be hitting his prime next World Cup anyway. I love Riquelme as a player, his style is wonderful to watch. I'd love to see him replace Figo on Inter and run the show with his creativity. Inter will need a player like him. But who knows what will happen. Let's hope he challenges himself by playing in the best leagues (La Liga or Serie A) come September.

But somehow, Riquelme gives me the impression that it will never happen for him in Europe...

Argentina 1, France 0

2007-02-08T09:29:00.000-05:00

I must admit, I'm a little surprised that we beat France IN France, without Aimar or Messi, fielding a 20 year old Gago who has only a handful of games at the top level under his belt. I'm surprised they didn't even manage to score. I'm glad my prediction was proven wrong.

My surprises:

1) Basile specifically said in an interview that you couldn't field Gago with another defensive midfielder, as it limits his play. He played Gago with Cambiasso in the middle. Which leads me to my next surprise.

2) Basile played 4-4-2 which also surprised me since he has fielded 4-3-1-2 or 4-1-2-1-2 with the NT back in '94 and with Boca recently.

I also read in goal.com that Zanetti was to be used as a holding midfielder for this game. I wasn't able to watch the game so I don't know. On Eurosport, the midfield was posted as Lucho - Cambiasso-Gago-Zanetti. With Lucho being the LM and Zanetti being the RM. So I don't know what happened. I think the latter makes more sense. And from the clip of the goal, Zanetti was on the flank setting up Crespo's shot which led to Saviola's rebound goal.

Can I write even more about Saviola?

SURE. He was at it again in Paris. Not the prettiest goal, but when it's the winning goal, who cares? Who knows, maybe he'll be a 20+ goal-scorer in the near future.

Aguero and Milito got some minutes, so I'm glad about that. Burdisso started, I'm also happy about that. All in all, no complaints really.

Can't wait till Copa America starts. I'm also looking forward to watching the U20 team here in Canada.

Argentina vs. France Friendly

2007-02-06T21:19:00.000-05:00

Argentina vs. France

It's a friendly. No biggie right? If you ask Trezeguet, I think he might say differently. I saw him in an interview yesterday, talking about how much this match means to him. I was actually surprised. He struck me as the kind of guy that didn't really care about where he came from. It's a nice subplot to the game that he feels something special for this match. From the years of 3-17 he was in Argentina... that's a long time.

I go to Argentina every two years, and it feels to me like a home away from home. So I can imagine what Trezeguet must feel. Basile already selected his starting line-up for this match. I imagine he'll play something like this:

Pato

Burdisso-Ayala-Milito-Heinze

Gago

Zanetti-Cambiasso

Lucho

Saviola-Crespo

My main concern is usually formation and tactics regarding the albicelestes. Since we have the talent, I find that it is the coaches decisions that make the difference. So far, I can't argue with Coco here. I don't think he'll play a 4-4-2, since he isn't known for it. This is what I imagine the set-up to be, or at least what I hope it to be. I read Coco's interview on "Soccermad's" blog, and I have to say, 2 things stood out: 1) His praise for Redondo, my favourite player of all time, as the greatest midfielder he ever coached. 2) His belief that Gago cannot play with another defensive midfielder.

His Gago comment is especially interesting because it means Mascherano's position as a starter seems very shaky. It's sad to think only one of these two will play for the albicelestes in the future...

If that's the case, as Basile indicates, then may the best man win.

Burdisso & Crespo

2007-01-25T08:42:00.000-05:00

Burdisso is making me look good so far. He now has 7 goals in about 6 games. For a defender, that's rare. I can't think of any defender who's playing as hot as he is playing right now. Crespo, scored the opener against Sampdoria, in the Coppa Italia. Then Burdisso scored the next two. Burdisso might be playing himself into a starting spot. Pekerman knew what he was doing in putting Burdisso as a starter in the World Cup. I don't remember anyone complaining about his performance.

If you scroll down, you'll notice I think he should be a starter against France.

Also,

I'd like to mention that 7 of Barcelona's last 10 goals have been scored by Saviola.

2007-01-24T11:20:00.000-05:00

Coco Basile's picks for Argentina vs. France

Goalkeepers: Roberto Abbondanzieri (Getafe), Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid)

Defenders: Roberto Ayala (Valencia), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United), Fabricio Fuentes (Villarreal), Rodolfo Arruabarrena (Villarreal)

Midfielders: Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Aldo Duscher (Deportivo Coruna), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Luis Gonzalez (Porto), Leandro Somoza (Villarreal), Pablo Aimar (Real Zaragoza), Jonas Gutierrez (Real Mallorca)

Forwards: Javier Saviola (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Real Zaragoza), Hernan Crespo (Inter Milan), Lisandro Lopez (Porto).

I have to say, I'm impressed with the picks. Messi and Tevez are injured, otherwise I'm sure they'd make it. Mascherano hasn't played since god knows when. Here's how I would play them.

Abbondanzieri

Zanetti-Ayala-Burdisso-Heinze

Gago

Lucho Gonzalez - Cambiasso

Aimar

Saviola-Crespo

I'd like to see Aguero and Milito play some minutes too. The trick is, you could play Aguero as a sub for Aimar, in the position he played for Independiente; CAM. However, because of his finishing, you could play him in Saviola's position, which is higher up the pitch. He plays alongside Fernando Torres for Atletico, and he's doing well. So maybe he's better off higher up the pitch due to his recent form. I'm a fan of 4-3-1-2, or 4-1-2-1-2, because I think it offers players like Aimar or Messi the opportunity to be free and creative. I'd also like to see Higuain there, even though he announced too late who he would play for. It would be cool to see him play his first match for the NT against the country he turned down. I'm also looking forward to seeing Gago play at this level.

Prediction:

Considering Argentina will field a few players who have never played together, against a team as experienced as France, I don't expect them to win. 2-1 for France.

Saviola Saviola Saviola

2007-01-17T11:12:00.000-05:00

A hat-trick from the little guy. The guy is on fire. Barcelona could use this guy as a substitute perhaps?? He's playing better than Gudjohnsen at the moment, so I think he should start. 6 goals in 3 games is hard to argue with.

That's all I have to say.

Gago the Return?

2007-01-15T09:57:00.000-05:00

Okay, he did much better in his third match. I was skeptical about Gago playing for Real Madrid, since I figured he would just play on the bench. He's started every match so far! I'll tell you what else is interesting about Gago and Higuain. On the Real Madrid website, there's an article describing match preparations and training for the Real Zaragoza match last Sunday. You can read the following:

Pampering the rookies

One of the most noteworthy details is the special determination and diligence with which the entire squad and Fabio Capello are trying to achieve the immediate acclimatisation and adaptation of the latest Madridista arrivals within the team. This way, during the session, the coach gave specific instructions and indications to both Gonzalo Higuaín and Fernando Gago.

It's statements like these that make me think Gago's and Higuain's experiences will be a little different than the likes of Tevez and Mascherano. I've yet to read about any young foreign player given that kind of treatment. Perhaps Capello has discovered what it takes to get foreign players to adjust to new surroundings...

In terms of tactics, Gago and Higuain can play in a 4-3-3 formation. Gago is a versatile defensive playmaker. Well rounded players can play anywhere in the midfield in a 4-3-3 formation. As well, Gago can play in the middle of a 4-4-2 formation. It reminds me of a quote Fabio Capello made of Gago's "predecessor" Fernando Redondo, calling him "a tactically perfect player." Capello was obviously a fan of Redondo, and if Gago shows any resemblance to Redondo's qualities, then I think it might explain why Gago has started every match since he's arrived. My favourite player of all time is Redondo, so I'm excited at the idea that I might see another player who can play in that classic elegant style that befits an Argentinean Number 5.

I watched Aguero play on the weekend; that kid got a goal and an assist. He's showing no signs of being out of his league. He basically scored his way into a starting position this season. 5 goals, 2 assists ain't shabby for a first-half season for an 18 year-old's debut. My concern now is the future for the Albicelestes. By the next World Cup, we'll have Messi, Tevez, Aguero and maybe even Higuain (if he decides to play with the NT) hitting their stride in 2010. It would be a shame to see any one of these guys on the bench... Not to mention the development of Mascherano versus Gago and perhaps Biglia. All CDM's.

Which again leads me to ponder the Line-up and formation of the NT...

Gago's Debut

2007-01-11T12:58:00.000-05:00

Gago's debut was less than stellar. Real Madrid lost 2-0 to a shit team. However, as an Argentinean, I have to say that you can't expect a 20 year old who was accustomed to a lower level of soccer to suddenly play at another level in his first game.

I also hear that Higuain might play in the next Real Madrid match since Ronaldo is on his way out. I hope no one expects theses guys to tear it up in their first season. Not even Shevchenko can tear it up in his first year in England after being European Footballer of the Year. Even Cannavaro isn't performing as well in Spain as he did in Italy. So don't be expecting any miracles. Gago himself says he isn't a saviour.

On another note, Savi-ola, Savi-ola, Savi-ola (as I've heard people chant in the stadium) scored 2 goals yesterday. God bless el conejo.

Mascherano to Liverpool?

I like Benitez. Pablo Aimar flourished under this coach. But I don't see how the hell Mascherano is going to play much. I personally predict that Mascherano won't get much out of the Premier League. I hope I'm proven wrong.

The Argentinian National Team

2006-12-01T14:23:00.000-05:00

The Argentinean National Team Formation/Selection

Make your picks and send it to me!

Here's what I think:

Abbondanzieri

Zanetti/Zabaleta - Ayala - Burdisso - Heinze

Mascherano

Maxi Rodriguez -Cambiasso

Messi

Tevez -Crespo

I like this formation most because it's consistent with the formation used in the World Cup; while using the forwards in the positions I think suit their best attributes. Zabaleta I think is the future RB for Argentina. I still don't see why you wouldn't play Zanetti as a RB and ease Zabaleta as his successor in that position.

Heinze is a little sloppy at times as a CB. I'd prefer him as a LB, where he won't do what he did against Mexico in the world cup, or what he did against Brazil in the Confederation Cup final.

I think Burdisso is a great CB, I've yet to see him screw up for the National team or for Inter. I've also seen him score 3 goals in two games for Inter. All headers. The guy is good.

Messi should be playing behind at least 2 forwards in my opinion. He's a natural #10. He creates plays and scores equally. Messi himself prefers to play behind 3 forwards. Probably like a 3-3-1-3 formation in WC 2002 that Bielsa implemented.

Tevez is better than Saviola, and will continue to get better. He isn't as fast as Messi, but his finishing is better. He's more of a goalscorer. I've been vouching for Maxi Rodriguez since before the world cup, and I'm not changing now, that's for sure.

I'd like to see some other ideas...

Tevez and Mascherano in England

2006-10-27T09:07:00.000-04:00

Like many of you, I don't understand why Tevez and Mascherano are at West Ham. And I'm hoping he'll just leave in January to a smaller team in Italy or in Spain. South American forwards don't do well in England. The style in England is very fast, aggressive, and a LOT of long ball. If you ever watch a game in South America, there is a lot of time given for players to keep posession of the ball. The creative players in the Premiership are assigned to the wings, rather than the middle. In Argentina and Brazil, creativity is rarely assigned to the wings.

Tevez was raised in this style of play. I don't understand why the hell a player of his calibre would want to go to England when he had a choice of most clubs in Europe. Italy and Spain are obviously more suited to his instincts. I get the feeling sometimes that something fishy is going on behind the scenes.

Carlitos and Mascherano should leave in January, because no one's happy right now. The West Ham fans aren't happy, the team isn't happy, the coach isn't happy, and neither are Tevez and Mascherano! Get the hell out and go to La Liga or Serie A!