ARGENTINA NATIONAL TEAM SHAKEUP

[jenni_blog]

Things aren't working the way they should be for Argentina's national team. With so many supremely talented players, you'd think they'd be world champions every time they play in a World Cup. But fact is, they're not, as everyone knows. The team has been through so many managers and coaches recently that I can't remember them all. So I decided (again) to take it upon myself to revamp the team. You'll notice that Lionel Messi is not on it. This is because I don't think the team works well as a whole with him there. I doubt that any manager would have the balls to leave him off, but I do (even though I don't actually possess any of those.) ;)

Okay, this all totally tongue-in-cheek and there is room for Messi simply because as the winner 3 times of World's Best Player, how could he not be included?

But this is my idea for the new Argentina National Team, and it is based on what I see is the current best performance in the particular positions I am filling. I also like the idea of having more than one player from each club (if possible) because of their familiarity working together, and I have tried to accomodate that as well. You may not agree with my choices, however, so I encourage you to make your own. Mine are heavier in defenders and midfielders, the reason for that being that I don't think Argentina has too many world class goalkeepers and forwards, compared to other countries. I also believe in not calling up the same old OLD guys, so the only one of those here is Pablo Aimar, and that is because his current form is so good.

Right...so for me, the current best Argentine goalkeepers are:

Adrian Gabbarini (Independiente/Argentina)





Second-best goalkeeper:

Gaston Pezzuti (Atletico Nacional/Colombia)



Right Back(s)

Fabian Cubero (Velez Sarsfield/Argentina)



Central Defenders

Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United/England)



Fazio (Sevilla FC/Spain)



Nic Otamendi (FC Porto/Portugal)



Sebastian Dominguez (Velez Sarsfield/Argentina)



Left Back

Emiliano Insua (Sporting Lisbon/Portugal)



Right-sided midfielders

Nic Cabrera (GELP/Argentina)



Angel di Maria (Real Madrid/Spain)



Central midfielders

Augusto Fernandez (Velez Sarsfield/Argentina)



Erik Lamela (AS Roma/Italy)



Fernando Gago (AS Roma/Italy)



Ever Banega (Valencia CF/Spain)



Javier Pastore (PSG/France



Pablo Aimar (Benfica/Portugal)



Nic Gaitan (Benfica/Portugal)



Left-sided midfielders

Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle United/England)



Maxi Velazquez (Independiente/Argentina)



Forwards

Kun Aguero (Manchester City/England)



Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid/Spain)



Pablo Piatti (Valencia CF/Spain)

Comments

[aglaiya.livejournal.com]

*lol* you did it!

I don't agree with your choices as you know ;) the only player I would take from yours is Emiliano Insua!

NO Vélez player!!! I love them all but they aren't good enough to face the best players of other countries in a WC.

Maybe: Kun and Gonzo.....

NO Nic Otamendi! I remember his performance vs Germany 2010 WC.

Nico Cabrera *LOL* I love him but he is never good enough to play in a NT!

Gago I like a lot and if he is IN FORM he is a MUST PLAY!

Éver as the player for the dirty things.

The number one argentine goalie is for me Cristian Campestrini! Adrián Gabbarini and Hilario Navarro aren't bad.

I don't know much about the players in European leagues and I'm not interested in them....

Result: I cannot name a team! I mostly like the players who will never play that good to play in a NT!

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

I did it! But of course, I don't know what I am doing, and it was so much fun! The players I chose are ones I've seen and whom I was impressed by at the time. And of course this all depends on who is in form at the time, and things can change so drastically.

Yeah, you made a good point. Maybe the current crop of Argentines are NOT good enough to complete with those of other countries in the WC. And maybe that is why so many coaches still choose some of the old guys who used to be good before.

And Argentina doesn't seem to have very many really top quality strikers, but the ones I chose are good, I think. And Piatti could be replaced by Messi, but I don't think Messi should be in the team.

Nic's performance at the WC 2010 was NOT his fault, since he was played out of position at RB. I listed a lot of defenders. The most in form two should start in central defense, the others can be subs.

Nic Cabrera I remember as being very speedy, and he would be on the bench while Di Maria starts all matches.

Gago can play the defensive midfielder role. I do like him a lot too, and not just because I'm fond of him. :P

Ever Banega has changed and should be a real asset to the team, but perhaps he should come in for Gago when necessary and the two of them shouldn't play together.

I don't know about Campestrini, but perhaps you are right! I chose only two goalies, so perhaps he could be the third.

The European players were the best ones I could think of playing in Europe atm. Pablo Aimar is in great form currently, and is a large part of the reason Benfica is doing so well in the CL.

If WE choose the players we think are the best, then the team WE make cannot do worse than the currently existing NT! Remember the Copa America! :(((

[aglaiya.livejournal.com]

I love what you have done! To choose a team isn't easy and as I said I cannot do it.

NO Messi is the very best thing! I think a team without him will play better because they have to play by their own and there is NO Messi to rescue them *lol*

I know Nic isn't bad and I love him but.... okay maybe he can do it.

Since I have seen Campestrini for the very first time I thought he is very good! I can remember I wrote long ago Arsenal wouldn't be that good without him.

Argentina has always some very good players with very good personal skills but to build a team isn't only about to put some players together!
Hahahahahahaaha I remember we put a 'team' together before... I guess now it has changed a lot.

I LOVE your last sentence!!! WE both would do it much better!!!

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

I did not even consider any players from teams I don't watch. There could be some good ones there as well - like from Arsenal de Sarandi and Argentinos, and all other Argie teams that I don't see at all. I will watch the ones in the Copa Lib, but otherwise there is too much to watch, and as you know, I only care about the EPL, Bundesliga and La Liga, and the CL and Europa League.

I tried to use the Castrol Index to see how the players I chose were rated, but the stupid thing only considers players from what it calls the 'five big leagues', and Argentine Primera A is NOT one of those! - LOL - Idiots!

I think the last team we picked mostly depended on the players' LOOKS. LOL - this time I didn't do that. ;)

And for sure we fans could choose a GREAT team, even if it isn't a winner! It doesn't even depend on the players sometimes. The referees can help the team get into the WC, but they can't help them to get to the finals!

[aglaiya.livejournal.com]

The referees can help the team get into the WC, but they can't help them to get to the finals! big *LOL*
Remember the Paraguay vs Spain match 22010 WC!!! Spain never deserved to win and the did it only with the help of the referee! The semis were also whistled by some idiot referees.

We did it only for the 'look' and the players we love before *smiles*
I understand what you did this time.

Do you really care about player ratings (castrol index)?

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD, OF COURSE I REMEMBER WHAT THE REFS DID TO PARAGUAY IN THE WC QUARTER FINAL! (Or was it the semis?) That was one of the BIGGEST injustices EVER! I will never forget the look on Oscar Cardozo's face, and how upset he was. It was the ref's fault that Oscar got rattled, I am sure of it!!! The poor guy!!!

At least they came second in the Copa America, deservedly so, because I still think Uruguay is the best team among the South Americans, but for sure Paraguay is second!!!!

The 'LOOK' is good for us! XD

*LOL* no, I don't care about the STUPID Castrol ratings! They are based on past shit it seems to me, and NOT on what is going on now! These people don't really know football or the players, I am convinced of it now that I have checked some of the ratings! They don't know shit!

I only wanted to see what they would say about some of the players, but so many weren't even on it. How stupid......

*is pissed off*

Why am I so pissed? Because I actually overcame the PB problem, and I posted my first of 2 picspams on the Liga Postobon in the Colombia comm. You can go and have a look if you like, and then see why I am so mad!

Here is link:

http://4colombiafooty.livejournal.com/79714.html#cutid1

[aglaiya.livejournal.com]

We have our own head and we will always like other players than the 'big' ones....
Our teams would be GREAT!

PB is doing shit to me too and sometimes I have to try and try and try and try and the fucking bulk uploader doesn't want to work..... looks as if they want money again! They should better fuck themselves!

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

I find recently that PB works just fine when I use Google Chrome as my browser. But for some reason it won't work with Firefox. And they advised me to do these 3 things:
1. install latest version of Java (I did).
2. install latest version of Adobe Flash Player (I did.)
3. Use Google Chrome browser (I did that too and it worked.)

[aglaiya.livejournal.com]

*lol* Who is PB to tell me the browser I should use? They are idiots and I will use the browser of MY choice!!!

For me it works pretty well with firefox (latest version) again!

When ALL people do it your way they soon will have the power to tell you what you should do or not. Maybe one day they will tell you you don't have to drink coffee;) They better should make their shit compatible with ALL browsers!

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

LOL. I LOVE your attitude about things. Usually I am all for people doing their own thing, but for me some things are not worth fighting about. I guess PB owns its own site and will do what it wants, unless it loses too many users. :(

I am also VERY interested in your thoughts about the Man Utd - Liverpool game today. My blood is still boiling and there are some people I'd like to kill. :(

[aglaiya.livejournal.com]

That's ME!!! I will nevre do what others want me to do!!! NEVER!!!

*LOL*

[lady--croft.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with your comments on Messi. Of course you know I am a Real Madrid fan and you may think my opinion is somewhat tainted by that fact but I really just plain and simple don't think Messi is the type of player I would want on my team either. He is good but he really needs to have the right players around him (which he does in Barcelona but clearly doesn't on the nat'l team). On the national team it seems like he just doesn't gel...like everyone wonders what are we going to do with Leo? Do we bend over backwards for him or do we just treat him like any other player? IMO he hasn't done enough for the national team to be treated any better than any of the other regulars. He certainly isn't their best player. I'd take both Kun and Gonzo over him as striker for my team. At best Leo would be a sub for my team. He's a great on the bench for an intimidation factor but let the regular players have their due. They earned it.

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

Gosh, I am late with this reply. So sorry. :(

Yes, I am in exact agreement about Leo Messi. I think if I were pressured to take him, then I would have him sit most games out and just bring him on as a sub if necessary. I'm sure Pep would like me too, for not putting his star player at risk. XD