30-06-2018, 18:55
I don't think I'm suited to become the world's greatest football manager but I kinda think if you were Argentina's manager you'd want to go forward all the time and hope your forwards could score more than the defence could concede.
Would you leave Mauro Icardi out of your squad entirely? He was top scorer in Italian football with 29 goals last season.
Dybala got 26, did he get on the field just once, even though he has a lot of skill and doesn't have to play out-and out striker?
Aguero got 26 in England and didn't play that much, that got him a few minutes here and there in Russia.
Higuain got 23, plays well with Dybala, did get a game and didn't shine.
Messi with his 45 goals in Spain, played where he wanted apparently, including as a false centre forward. But that didn't guarantee him good support or service.
Now I don't know whether the French could have handled it, but Argentina could have played Higuain up front with Dybala, Messi and Aguero coming in behind him, permanently switching the point of attack. (And Icardi would have been ready on the bench!) Banega and one of their choice of midfielders could have become an effective supply chain, Mascherano could have swept up in front of their vulnerable defence, who might as well have been reduced to three as they don't have four decent ones. And perhaps behind them they might have played their goalie who plays in Mexico, who the Mexicans apparently rate (and they've got a decent keeper!)
I apologise now. I just had to say this. I can't believe how a country could have this much talent and get so little of it on to the field. There's us thinking we've a chance because we've got Harry Kane. Argentina've got him times at least 4.5 ....... and they've gone out without ever threatening to do much else for more than a few minutes.
Would you leave Mauro Icardi out of your squad entirely? He was top scorer in Italian football with 29 goals last season.
Dybala got 26, did he get on the field just once, even though he has a lot of skill and doesn't have to play out-and out striker?
Aguero got 26 in England and didn't play that much, that got him a few minutes here and there in Russia.
Higuain got 23, plays well with Dybala, did get a game and didn't shine.
Messi with his 45 goals in Spain, played where he wanted apparently, including as a false centre forward. But that didn't guarantee him good support or service.
Now I don't know whether the French could have handled it, but Argentina could have played Higuain up front with Dybala, Messi and Aguero coming in behind him, permanently switching the point of attack. (And Icardi would have been ready on the bench!) Banega and one of their choice of midfielders could have become an effective supply chain, Mascherano could have swept up in front of their vulnerable defence, who might as well have been reduced to three as they don't have four decent ones. And perhaps behind them they might have played their goalie who plays in Mexico, who the Mexicans apparently rate (and they've got a decent keeper!)
I apologise now. I just had to say this. I can't believe how a country could have this much talent and get so little of it on to the field. There's us thinking we've a chance because we've got Harry Kane. Argentina've got him times at least 4.5 ....... and they've gone out without ever threatening to do much else for more than a few minutes.