Argie Bargy : racing, independiente

Power of the Jonas Brothers stretches Argentina's weekend

Joel Richards — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:25:00 GMT

In the world of Fútbol Para Todos, where all first division games are broadcast live on national TV, we are used to ‘weekends’ stretching into the working week in order to fit in all the games.

Kicking off on Friday night and finishing on Monday has, so far, been the longest ‘weekend’ of football. But this weekend, we enter new territory.

Round 14 will start on Friday night, and end late on Tuesday.

It should be the superclásico weekend, but there was a hitch. First of all, the president’s husband, and former president Néstor Kirchner passed away. Given the relationship with AFA, as looked at in this blog, plus the reaction within Argentina to Kirchner’s death, it was probably the correct move to cancel football.

In fact, next season will be called the Néstor Kirchner Clausura, in tribute to the ex-president. In the meantime, the fixtures were all pushed back a week.

This is where the hitch occured. In recent weeks, Núñez has been over run with leather, as Bon Jovi were in town. Then just this week, Sir Paul McCartney has delighted the locals with his 60s repertoire. The very presence of SPM has produced an outbreak of highly gratuitous references to Beatles’ classics in the press, but clearly computers here don’t have an English-language spell check. ‘Help. A need somebody’ is the worst offender so far.

Anyway, joining the Bon Jovi/SPM roll call to play the River Plate stadium this weekend are the Jonas Brothers.

But, it’s also River v Boca.

So it is that the superclásico, after much toing and froing which amounted to a contest between the two supergrandes proving who has the grandest one, will be played on Tuesday night.

This is what the Jonas Brothers look like, if you wondered/cared/own a gun

The pitch needs time to recover after all those thousands of teenyboppers, you see.

In the meantime, the rest of the sides will get on with business.

First up is Huracán – Colón, where the home fans will be split over how to receive Joaquin Larrivey. Should they a) cheer his every touch after he scored around 40 goals in the second division, helping the side win promotion to top flight. Or should they b), throw the most vile and heinous abuse at the striker whose foul on keeper Monzón went unpunished in the title play-off a year ago between Huracán and Vélez, and from which Vélez scored the winner and logically, won the title. We all know which it will be.

The other game to watch for is Quilmes against Godoy Cruz, although you’ll have to do so on TV. The game is being played at Banfield’s ground and behind closed doors.

Quilmes, 13 games without a win, were subjected to attack by their own ‘fans’ last week after another defeat. The team bus was stoned, while players had their windscreens smashed and scratched as they tried to leave the ground.

Quilmes vice-president, Aníbal Fernández, who also happens to be the government cabinet chief, admitted this week that he knows who the aggressors are. ‘They are two idiots and I hope they are put away for 70 years, and I know one of them very well, he’s a neighbour.’ That what we want to hear! Justice!

Criminals put behind bars! No such luck. Fernández continued: ‘the issue is that nobody will report them to the police.’ Despite his role at the club, despite his role with the government and despite admitting he knows who they are, Fernández himself will not act. Perhaps the large banner held by the Quilmes barra brava which carries the name of his political group has something to do with this. Perhaps not.

Politics aside, Quilmes are in freefall. Godoy Cruz are one of the best sides in the country. There’ll either be a goal-fest, or a historic win for the Brewers.
Fixtures

FIXTURES Friday 12th Nov Huracán v Colón, Banfield v Gimnasia Saturday 13th Nov Arsenal v All Boys, Tigre v Estudiantes Sunday 14th Nov Argentinos v San Lorenzo, Quilmes v Godoy Cruz, Independiente v Olimpo, Vélez v Lanús, Newell’s v Racing Tuesday 16th Nov River v Boca.

The Turk looks to down Racing

Joel Richards — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:35:00 GMT

The Turk had his feet up at home, sat on the sofa with his son, watching Wrestlemania and eating croissants. The trip to Miami was booked for this week, and after two years in charge of Colón it was time for some R&R, time with the family, time away from football… some down time. Time to take stock, reappraise, recharge, and prepare for the next job.

Over in Mendoza, however, things were looking distinctly grey for Independiente. Although they had taken the lead, Godoy Cruz replied with three before the break, making the Rojo presidente Julio Comparada decide there and then, at half time, to bring in a new coach.

Comparada had already said 'Thanks but no thanks' to Daniel Garnero, after a terrible start to the season with no win in seven games for the seven-times Libertadores winners. Ricardo Pavoni came in while Independiente sounded out various coaches, with the Uruguayan Jorge Fossati in pole position to take over. The problem was that Fossati is currently in charge of Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia, and might not have been able to get out of his contract for another couple of months.

The board, meanwhile, were hoping to protect the new coach from the result of this weekend’s clásico. Pavoni had won his first game in charge with a late goal. 1-0, three points, breathing space.

But then the following week Godoy Cruz scored three in the first 45 minutes, added another before the final 90, rushing forward the need for a decision. The lycra-watching weekend was over, the holiday in Miami was cancelled, the offer was made, the meeting was set up, and hands then shook.

Antonio ‘The Turk’ Mohamed was the new Independiente coach. Having never lost to Racing in his coaching career helped boost the feel-good factor in the red half of Avallaneda. ‘We can negotiate what system we use,’ he said upon taking over, ‘but not the side’s attitude.’

As if the team needed any extra motivation ahead of this weekend’s derby with Racing, the fans offered it at Thursday’s training session. A 50 metre banner read ‘we want commitment and sacrifice from the players. On Sunday whatever it takes, play like fans. Win or die.’ The spelling mistake on the banner only slightly detracted from the menacing tone of the message.

Mohamed quickly identified what he’d need to do – find the backbone of players around which to build his side. Hilario in goal, Eduardo Tuzzio at the back, youth team product Fernando Godoy and legendary striker Andrés Silvera are the chosen four.

While Independiente gee themselves up for the derby, just 100 metres from their half-finished stadium are Racing. The Academy haven’t conceded in three games, with a 4-0 and a 3-0 win either side of a goalless draw, and should go into the game as favourites.

There are two problems with this.

First is recent history. Racing haven’t won the Avellaneda clásico since 2005. They have lost six and drawn four with their neighbours in the last ten meetings. Players say these things don’t matter, but fans can’t forget it. Nerves are on edge.

The other problem is Gio. Giovanni Moreno is turning out to be something of a revelation this season. Brought over from Colombia in the preseason, the classic number 10 has scored three and set up several other goals too. He strolls around the place, perfectly happy in the knowledge that it is up to lesser beings to do things like mark, run, or stay in position. His job is to be brilliant, and he does it really quite well. Think of a cross between Peter Crouch, Riquelme, and Guti – physique, languid (ahem) nature and gloved left foot, respectively – and you are more or less there.

Gio has fast become Racing's key player since joining. So when the Colombian national team decided they simply had to have him for their friendly with Ecuador, it doesn’t take a genius to work out how that news went down at Racing.

Miguel Angel Russo will have to reshuffle his deck and do without Gio, but if Racing can put an end to the awful run of form against the local enemies, they’ll make Mohamed wish he was still at home watching men in lycra.

Matchday 10 fixtures
Estudiantes – Olimpo
Arsenal – Banfield
Huracán – All Boys
Lanús – San Lorenzo
Argentinos – Godoy Cruz
Newell’s – Quilmes
Independiente – Racing
Vélez – Colón
Tigre – Boca
River - Gimnasia