Soccer • Football • Voetbal • Futbol • Calcio 2011/2012 - Page 4

Ugh don't get me started on Suarez and Neymar...both players seem like Robinho's waiting to happen, especially Neymar.

Will the America Cup be broadcast in the U.S. at all? If not, any streams available?

^
The (crappy) game tonight was broadcast on TeleFutura 46 (Univision; LA) and streamed on Univision.

Manchester City should switch from brand. Drop Umbro and get Adidas. What would City fans think about it? I think the kits brands can be the last helping hand for the radiation to be an top club.

Wouldn't say Bolivia "managed a draw." They matched Argentina throughout and a draw was the fair result.

Argentina's Performance

Aguero's volley.

There seems to be a real short-circuit in the midfield for me. It leaves the front three rather isolated in their runs. I thought Lavezzi started out strong, managing around his defender and just outpacing/muscling his man out. Tevez got off some shots, but wasn't too much of a threat. Messi was marked almost out of the game, unless he dropped back past midfield.

Mascherano spent the evening looking like Busquets - dropping in between Milito and Burdisso, making it almost look like a 5-man defensive line.

I appreciate Batista trying to run the Barça offense, but it's just not working. Messi's not out there with Xavi, Iniesta & co. - passers of insane quality who can hold their own on defense as well.

For all intents and purposes, I think I'd personally even play a different formation. Probably something more similar to a 4-2-3-1. I'm not quite sure either why Walter Samuel wasn't called up (I think he was injured for a long stretch last year, but he's still the most solid defender Argentina has). I am glad though that Demichelis has finally been found out for the flop he is.

Lone striker up top - I'd probably start with Tevez as a lone man up top for the time being. His goals at ManCity (inspite of having Dzeko as a partner) were usually crafted with him being fed up through the midfield and going at it alone from just outside the 18. Although with Kun Aguero looking all the more potent, this could be up for some debate. My personal favorite of the whole bunch is Gonzalo Higuaín, but with him having been injured for some 4-5 months, I'd rather start with someone hot.

3 "Attacking" midfielders (as a FIFA video game would describe it). - Definately put Di Maria in on the left from the start. He adds pace and width to any attack, beyond his ability to cut in from the wing for his own shot. On the right... I'd throw Messi back out to where he started. He was originally a right-sided player before Pep dropped him into the center of the pitch over the last two seasons. I'd have Messi moving up and down the right - again, speed and an ability to stretch opposing defense. He's a good passer, but the more I see Messi play in the center, I just don't think he's cut from that true "playmaker" mold, the way Kaká (in his prime) or Zidane was. In the center of the pitch, I'd have two different options, depending on the game. If I'm looking for more immediate firepower I go with (most principally) Tevez, shifting Higuaín or Aguero up top to start as the striker. Tevez @ ManCity is prone to coming back deep to pick up the ball, so he can cover ground. He's also played this position at ManUnited when Rooney was set up more as a lone striker with Ronaldo and Giggs out wide - Tevez would play supporting man. In times of more possession or flooding the midfield, I'd start Pastore. He is the type of guy to kind of dictate what goes on through the center - something Argentina has been missing since Riquelme copped out.

2 more defensive midfielders - Mascherano is a fairly obvious start as one, but here you could probably get away now with fielding Cambiasso as well (who still isn't completely back from injury, it appears). Or, you could field Mascherano with Banega, with Gago, etc. A lot of Arg's midfielders play that role. Banega is probably the most versatile of the choices - inasmuch as he could support well in extended attacks as well.

4 on the back line. I think Rojo has a bright future from what I've seen - probably keep him by default because of the severe shortage of left-backs. Heinze could still play, but you want someone young like Rojo getting prepped for Brazil 2014. I think Milito's time has passed (being a literally unused sub for Barça through all his injuries and already in his 30's). I'd probably try to milk one more tournament from Samuel, as already stated, but otherwise I'd start Burdisso paired up with Spartak Moscow's Nicolas Pareja - he and Rojo already have a bit of playtime together. He's only 25-27 and brings a bit of height to the back line. At right back, I do love "old man" Zanetti, and think he's ridiculously consistant, and merits the spot, especially at 37 playing the way he still does. If not, you for sure throw in Pablo Zabaleta. I think the defense is where Argentina needs to focus the majority of its attention over the next three years. There seems to be a real drought of "world-class" defenders for the last many years.

Keeper - kind of goes to Romero by default, inasmuch he's the most experienced of the group. Don't know why Carrizo is in the squad, what with River having dropped to the B in the last week. Andujar I've never personally seen play. But I think in keeper consistency is key, so you leave Romero in until he begins to show he can't take it. I think Arg's tactical failings at South Africa 2010 were caused by Maradona's choices, resulting in the absolute goal-fest by Germany. I can't pin that all on Romero, even though he was between the sticks.

Anyways, just my thoughts for the day.

Liverpool have added to their midfield yet again: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/060720...agreement.html The fee seems like a decent deal, but why another midfielder? Those 8M pounds could've gone toward securing a winger. Unless they're planning on going ManCity this summer without spending limits, it seems like this deal just cuts into the budget without shoring a need. They best get to unloading a midfielder or two.

Agreed! I was really impressed with Chile when they started out keeping only 3 on the back line. They bounced that ball around the midfield, and spent so much time in Mexico's half that I thought I was watching Barça. The goal they surrendered to MX was a complete fluke, and I wouldn't have been surprised to see them 3-up. I do think Suazo had an off night - normally he's more clinical. I thought Sanchez was making good runs and really pumped for the game, but I have yet to see why he's (Udinese's) clamouring for 50 million... I'd heard rumblings that both Maxi Rodriguez and Raul Meireles were headed out of Merseyside this summer. But I agree with you - Daglish should be looking elsewhere for coverage. Why they'd send Meireles packing after only one season is beyond me. He was great for a lot of last season.

I don't think he will perform at the same level when he was at Blackpool. He is good at a struggling club, but I do not see him doing well at Liverpool who have some decent players. Liverpool should look at improving their defense.

I completely agree. After watching Rodriguez do nothing for 4 months I was sure he'd be gone. I just hope the two hat tricks at the end of the season keep him at Liverpool. All I could think of while watching those was hopefully he'll fetch a better fee after showing some life and skill.

This is DEFINITELY Copa America related.

(video of covered large boobs inside...could be NSFW)
here-are-four-ample-reasons-to-root-for-peru-to-win-copa-america

JHC, Argies...pretty damn crappy team you've got there.

Bunch of individuals who have no idea how to play with their teammates.

They can take some solace in the fact that no one has looked particularly well in the tournament. People can say it isn't Messi's fault and others around him aren't playing well, but someone of his caliber should have at least a goal out of a pair of games against Bolivia and Colombia. Tevez has to be better at the top as well. Zero goals from those two after they score in bunches in the Premier League and La Liga is a bit confusing.