Argie Bargy - All Comments

Pragmatism, pain & plankton: the Apertura season review

Argie Bargy — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:42:34 GMT

Ed Malyon rounds up the (half-)season action in Argentina... THE CHAMPIONS Boca Juniors broke all sorts

Black eyes, stamped chests and the worst idea ever

Argie Bargy — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:25:16 GMT

This week’s three major stories all unfortunately show some of the worst traits of Argentinian football

Weekender: Snooty, stocks and kids going south

FourFourTwo's Inside Track — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:13:35 GMT

1) Ivor Lott 1-2 Tony Broke It's the haves vs the have-nots at Stamford Bridge this weekend as Chelsea

Atlanta, Artime, Zubielda, Bohemians and Millionaires

Argie Bargy — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:26:04 GMT

River Plate’s life in the second tier of Argentine football is going pretty much as planned. Unbeaten

Going through changes: Fortune favouring the brave at Copa America

FourFourTwo's Inside Track — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:54:56 GMT

A lot has been said about the early rounds of this year’s Copa America, most of it criticism of the lack

re: Neymar and Ronaldo both come under fire from a Messi gun show

Yorugua — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:37:05 GMT

The Paraguayan Messi all but disappeared against Uruguay in the pivotal "Hexagonal" match... so in your face Argentina! --- time to start looking at other countries from which to steal talent from (Hoyos, Iturbe).

Messi vs Ronaldo is no contest, Messi wins very easily. Messi welcomes contact whereas Ronaldo dives over it. There's no doubt that Ronaldo is a talented player but his theatricality and need to ham it up even when he takes a free-kick really paints him as an all around show-boat. Look at what Messi does, his passes are economical, his move towards goal is based on his dribbling (again all economical)---Ronaldo dribbles to show off but never to get from point A to point B.

re: Neymar and Ronaldo both come under fire from a Messi gun show

taturco — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:59:34 GMT

As always, an option to expand on your always great articles. itunes.apple.com/.../id392915026

Keep up the good work.

re: Why Blackburn new boy Formica isn't 'the new Gabriel Batistuta'

taturco — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:46:05 GMT

Au usual, to complement your great words, a little podcast about southam footie. Keep the good work going!

www.independent.co.uk/.../free-download-the-south-american-football-show-2067783.html

re: El Americano and the Paraguayan Messi look to make the grade

mastrilli — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 07:05:00 GMT

do we need him much more than the albiceleste, americanos are known for being athletic which is a polite way of saying we lack skill and tactical awareness, mike from so cal would be a welcome addition, Vamos Los Estados Unidos

re: Draw for South America's hypothetical cup fails to set pulses racing

Yorugua — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 13:21:11 GMT

The Flaw is adding so many Brazilian teams... even the Copa Sudamericana saw 2 semi-finalists from Brazil, and one of the finalists for that competition is a Brazilian team that is near dead last in the Brasileirao!

re: Shortlist looking rather long as Boca seek to replace Borghi

Joel Richards — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:26:28 GMT

Well, JRR, split seasons certainly haven't helped. You must feel more pressure when you step onto the Bombonera knowing one bad result means your boss might be trouble, no? It's true there's little time for clubs to find solutions to problems.

And Cappa going probably is more to do with the relegation averages than split seasons, also the fact that he has half of the media against him.

When will you be fit again?

re: Shortlist looking rather long as Boca seek to replace Borghi

JrRiquelme — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:45:41 GMT

While it has undoubtedly made the league a lot more exciting, do you agree that the decision to introduce the split-season is largely to blame for the culture of short-termism that has engulfed Argentine football in recent years?

If River had the same record after 13 matches of a 38 game season, would Cappa have gone?

Because there are so few games to be played now, each result is given huge significance. Boca, River, or any of the ‘big 5’ for that matter, can not solve their many problems overnight; they all need to find stability, but I can’t see that happening with the league as it is.

Thoughts?

re: The worst kept secret in Argentine football finally 'revealed'

ArgieBrit — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 22:23:22 GMT

Good stuff Joel !

re: The worst kept secret in Argentine football finally 'revealed'

taturco — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:41:38 GMT

Always a pleasure to read you and share our podcast with you! Hope you enjoy! www.independent.co.uk/.../free-download-the-south-american-football-show-2067783.html

re: The worst kept secret in Argentine football finally 'revealed'

JrRiquelme — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 01:04:26 GMT

Excellent stuff as always, Mr Richards.

You really think I will get back into the squad? I'm quite touchy, a real individualista!

re: Futbol para nobody

LeperDave — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:04:28 GMT

Sure, it's madness that AFA canceled everything this weekend, but what I find truly crazy are the number of Twitter posts I saw yesterday from people who were obviously oblivious to this fact as they posted links to websites showing the Newell's Old Boys vs Godoy Cruz match live.

I didn't bother checking for any of the other matches, but I'm sure they had just as many, if not more. Granted, I don't always get things right on my blog, but posting links to live matches that have been postponed boggles my mind.

re: Futbol para nobody

Yorugua — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 13:59:44 GMT

What a ridiculous country! ––– Canceling a whole schedule of games for that guy? Please... its not like he invented the cure for Polio.

re: Huracán bring a breath of fresh air

taturco — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:14:04 GMT

Some complementary comments on your great review, plus information on Perú and Bolivia, this week on the podcast. Hope you enjoy and take something out of it.

www.independent.co.uk/.../free-download-the-south-american-football-show-2067783.html

re: Badge kissers, killers and little donkeys

taturco — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:59:25 GMT

A little info on Brazilian National squad coach Mano Menezes regarding Dinho here, in the Podcast about South American Football!, don't miss it! http://ind.pn/9EDYfj Plus, the mutation of football academy focus and its wrong turns in Argentina! Death to "enganche", sad sad thing!

re: The Turk looks to down Racing

taturco — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:06:35 GMT

Good thing that Gio Moreno is fitting in... and even if I'd have loved to see him play the clásico/derby, it IS crucial for the Colombian national squad to revolve around him. Ecuador will be a tough and good match, and this clásico without him will have to be Racing's statement that they can do it without him... yes, Colombia, after he establishes himself, will have to go through exactly the same statement.

re: Estudiantes to bag 150 points?

Joel Richards — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 15:22:29 GMT

Apoligies to Gimnasia, Argentinos, and readers. Missed off the result from that game which ended 4-2, so the final goal haul was 36, not 30...

re: Quilmes flat after River draw

taturco — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 18:23:17 GMT

Great article Joel. I'd like to complement your thorough Argie report with this podcast that includes some information on Colombian fotball's grim reality, the preparations for the U20 World Cup and more action from Brazil and Chile! http://ind.pn/9EDYf j

re: Ramón's Falcon getting job done

taturco — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:55:28 GMT

some complemantary comments on this podcast, hope you enjoy it! itunes.apple.com/.../id392915026

re: Good night and good luck

eddy — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 01:09:17 GMT

The Diego Buonanotte situation is tragic.

I wonder why the Argentina government or the AFA does not take the same steps to control violence that the powers-that-be have done in Italy, where the problems with fan violence seem to be similar. Banning all fans from the stadiums for certain matches could be effective.

And in Amsterdam only registered fans with season's tickets can get into matches, unless one can acquire special permission from the club, which requires an interrogation process.

re: Godoy Cruz win battle of 'The Others'

taturco — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 23:20:49 GMT

Dear Bargy. I hope you don't mind me complementing your super articles on Argentinian Football with this little podcast on, yes, south american football! This week we tackle Colombian Derby Weekend, plus reviews from Argentina's Apertura and Brazil's Serie A.

www.independent.co.uk/.../free-download-the-south-american-football-show-2067783.html

Keep the good articles coming up!

re: Highs and lows put Albiceleste in shade

ArgieBrit — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:59:42 GMT

That's Argentina,mate.

No questions as how we invented the tango,innit?.

re: Highs and lows put Albiceleste in shade

ArgieBrit — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:59:40 GMT

That's Argentina,mate.

No questions as how we invented the tango,innit?.

re: Highs and lows put Albiceleste in shade

JrRiquelme — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:17:02 GMT

By 'Young' did Old Big Nose mean young in terms of experience, or years spent on one of the universes?

re: More than a friendly for Sergio Batista

this_is_skimps — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:22:34 GMT

@AnnaxJo He did not at all insult Heinze, so your rant was unnecessary.

Anyway, glad that Argentina won against an established power - finally. Had that side been better picked and coached, who knows, we may have been speaking of different World Champs.

Great blog

re: More than a friendly for Sergio Batista

taturco — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:30:24 GMT

I share a Podcast with you, it focuses on South Smerican football, hope you enjoy it and spread it around! There's a bit about batista as caretaker manager and other squads' activity.

http://www.independ ent.co.uk/sport/foot ball/news-and-commen t/free-download-the- south-american-footb all-show-2067783.htm l

re: More than a friendly for Sergio Batista

Joel Richards — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:54:01 GMT

@AnnaxJo - I wasn't making an opinion in the piece about Heinze, and if you check, its there in black and white: "most of these criticisms miss the mark"...

re: More than a friendly for Sergio Batista

AnnaxJo — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:34:41 GMT

"While the home side limber up for the match amidst complaints.... that Heinze is still allowed in the country"

Er, wow, how sad. Random hate for probably the one Argentina player who worked harder than anyone in the World Cup. Just leave Heinze alone. Have you ever considered that all these Argentina managers call him up for a REASON! You know, maybe because HE'S GOOD ENOUGH TO BE IN THE TEAM.

My God, he practically bled blue and white out in South Africa, and when Argentina returned, he looked absolutely distraught, more so than anyone else. The fact that you abuse someone who is so passionate about the national team is pretty pathetic.

Who scored the winning goal against Nigeria?

Who cleared the ball off the line twice against Mexico? (at least, i think it was Mexico)

It's his 70th cap tonight, and no player gets to that many unless they fully deserve to be there.

Learn to show a little respect, yeah?

re: My Perfect 10: Juan Román Riquelme

JrRiquelme — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:32:02 GMT

Cheers Taturco, will check it out. And I hope you were nice about me: I don't take criticism very well.

As for my injury, reports suggest it's a problem with my left knee. I hope to be back soon.

Joel, excellent stuff as always. Best blog on the internet!

re: My Perfect 10: Juan Román Riquelme

taturco — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:56:34 GMT

Roman is a divisive personality in the clubhouse, but his quality is unquestioned. His game keeps on bringin the question, judge the man or judge his game... and... can they really be divided? When you' ve won so much, like he has in Boca you can argue that you can...

I share a bit more about this in an all new podcast covering the game in South America, this week we talk relegation in Argentina and get to grips with Brazil’s mammoth football season.

Check out The South American Football Show in association with The Independent

www.independent.co.uk/.../free-download-the-south-american-football-show-2067783.html

re: Equality or mediocrity?

LeperDave — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:23:07 GMT

Equality or mediocrity?

Yes. But considering the fact that most if not all the best talent in Argentina gets snapped up by Europe by the time they're 23, what do you expect?

Still, it makes for far more entertaining title races, so in a way it's a bit of a blessing.

re: Equality or mediocrity?

Yorugua — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:44:38 GMT

JR your command of the English Language is outstanding... you think you can give Tevez some lessons?

re: Equality or mediocrity?

Joel Richards — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:56:07 GMT

@JrRiquelme was rather hoping you'd tell us when you'll be back. Give us the heads up when you know. As for the barras - unlikely

re: Equality or mediocrity?

JrRiquelme — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:20:39 GMT

Any idea when I will be back from injury? Word is I need an ankle operation.

Also, any news on potential repercussions following the actions of Velez' barras? They left All Boys stadium a total mess, and they will have to play at Huracan's stadium this weekend.

re: Friendly advice from Leo to AFA

ArgieBrit — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:03:18 GMT

ANYTHING will be better than Diego,but Sabella looks like the most decent option.

re: Friendly advice from Leo to AFA

Yorugua — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:49:24 GMT

That was the best I've seen Messi play in an Argentinean jersey... the link-up with Banega was sensational.

Whatever Don Julio does, please do not bring back Maradona, he was horrible.

My only wish now is that Argentina finally cap Maxi Lopez, then this squad can fulfill its true potential.

re: The ego-pleasing Apertura preview

Joel Richards — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:20:55 GMT

@JrRiquelme Can't quite see it happening, it'd be quite a feat to be as bad as they have in the past two years with Cappa and the players they have. If its on the cards, though, and they change the rules, all hell will break loose

re: The ego-pleasing Apertura preview

JrRiquelme — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:13:43 GMT

Would be incredible if River dropped, and the odds are stacked against them. Do you think they will? And if they do, do you think a cheek rule change will take place?

re: Chau, Diego: the end for El Diez

Yorugua — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:48:57 GMT

I'll miss the ridiculous Miami Vice silk suit and two watch combo the most. But if there's one thing that should be commended about El Diego, its the fact that in 25 games as Argentinean Coach, he never once went for a draw: 18 wins, 7 losses... that's impressive. Outstretched Ego aside, his incessant gambling and tinkering with the lineup pointed toward an inner-drive to win the game at all costs; Not many coaches are willing to do that nowadays.

re: Riquelme not feeling the Amor

Yorugua — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:54:57 GMT

Boca should sign him and loan him off to the MLS, that's the only league he can actually play in, even Mexico is too fast for him.

re: Four more years for sharp suited Diego?

logz90 — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:00:41 GMT

@Yorugua

you have been talking sense in the blogs for some time now. get yourself in the forums big dawg!!

re: Four more years for sharp suited Diego?

Yorugua — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:48:31 GMT

I would say he is 80% responsible for Argentina's loss to Germany, the non-call up of Ever Banega, the realization that Veron was finished came too late (isn't that what friendly matches are for?) --- playing Higuain instead of Milito upfront, playing with Tevez as a starter, the difference between Tevez & the Germans was as clear as night and day, if passion is all that is required to play for the Albiceleste, than Tevez should always be on the first team but I would say Argentina needs more than passion, you need players... Messi is not Maradona, watching Maradona use Messi as a defacto-Maradona was sad, never have Messi's shortcomings been illuminated as they were in the Germany game. Messi is a striker, he's not a play-maker and he's not an enganche (hook) player either, Banega would have been that player Maradona and most of Argentina crave, I do commend him for not calling up the Jurassic players (Riquelme, Cambiasso, Zannetti & Crespo).

The right tactical formation to make excellent usage of Messi exists out there, one that makes him a withdrawn striker... Even though Diego was lost in the plot tactically, he should be given another shot, maybe until after the Copa America next year.

Just one last word, Ivan Bello should be given a courtesy look on the NT.

re: Four more years for sharp suited Diego?

wastlord — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:14:15 GMT

do the AFA care more about drama and chaos than winning? me tinks this is one of those organisations that is so riddled with corruption and internal issues that it cant see the wood for the trees. Pound for pound argentina produces more footballing talent than any other country (brazil has nearly 5x the population) yet they constantly shoot themselves in the foot.

Rip it up and start again... this time with a plan to

harness the talent and then mould it into a team with a chance to win.

Oh and appoint a coach who isn’t quite so high profile or with quite so much baggage.

Having said that Diego is awesome and the current arg setup is v entertaining! like car crashes are entertaining.

re: Sex please, we're Argentinian

Yorugua — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:02:07 GMT

‘You can’t deny the players an asado, a glass of wine or a bit of dulce de leche for a whole month,’ --- Quote of the year... Ha, Ha! Excellent piece.

re: Brad Pitt, AC/DC and Peruvian porn stars - quotes of the season from Argentina

Joel Richards — Wed, 26 May 2010 10:40:09 GMT

@Lucas - correcto. guess this is the day of conception? Either way, felt and looked like a party, which I was trying to get at.

@Yoruga - no worries!

re: Brad Pitt, AC/DC and Peruvian porn stars - quotes of the season from Argentina

Yorugua — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:47:40 GMT

Yeah my bad, he's keeping his eye, his career is Kaput though and you're right, I apoligize for being the wet-blanket here...

re: Brad Pitt, AC/DC and Peruvian porn stars - quotes of the season from Argentina

Lucas — Tue, 25 May 2010 14:52:12 GMT

Today Argentina does not celebrate its 200th birthday. It's 200 years from the Revolución de Mayo.

The 16th of July in 2016 would be its 200th birthday

re: Brad Pitt, AC/DC and Peruvian porn stars - quotes of the season from Argentina

Joel Richards — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:53:25 GMT

@Yoruga didn't quite seem in keeping with the tone of this blog... Last I heard they think they've avoided him losing it - you heard anything else?

re: Brad Pitt, AC/DC and Peruvian porn stars - quotes of the season from Argentina

Yorugua — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:38:32 GMT

I'm surprised you didn't even mention the name of the Atletico Rafaela goalkeeper who is going to lose his eye.

re: 'Leg squasher' Diego takes big risks in naming his final 23

Giovanni — Mon, 24 May 2010 09:05:08 GMT

Silly silly man, by concentrating so hard on who his frontline choices will be, he has neglected the rest of the squad selection.

Leaving Cambiasso, who has arguably had a better season than any other defensive midfielder in the game this year, is a travesty.

Instead favouritism towards one certain gap-toothed hot-head, namely mascherano, is going to cost him dearly.

Yes certainly it may appear that Mascherano does fit that "i want more passion" bill that maradona has become obsessed with, its the same passion that usually gets him booked within the first 20minutes of any big matchup.

Esteban Cambiasso, is quieter, but far more efficient and is a genuine box to box player. Certainly a more logical thinker.

Mascherano, has about as much tactical awareness as the proverbial headless chicken.

Jonas Guttierez?? Dont even get me started on that steaming pile of [censored]

re: 'Leg squasher' Diego takes big risks in naming his final 23

Joel Richards — Fri, 21 May 2010 22:49:53 GMT

@maykay - certainly is

@yoruga - more dangerous?! that's ambitious, but would be a sight to behold. Toca madera

re: 'Leg squasher' Diego takes big risks in naming his final 23

Yorugua — Fri, 21 May 2010 17:33:06 GMT

I'm not really a fan of Messi, but if Diego holds true to the 4-4-1-1, Messi will be able to roam free and be more dangerous than he already is at Barcelona.

re: 'Leg squasher' Diego takes big risks in naming his final 23

maykay — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:51:35 GMT

that front line is mighty scary.

re: The original 'Next Maradona' nears history as Palermo's ex calls in the lawyers

meryem sahin — Sun, 16 May 2010 19:13:43 GMT

maradona is my dream..ı hope he win 2010 world cup with argentina

here more maradona goals videos http://www.iddaalive.com/

re: The original 'Next Maradona' nears history as Palermo's ex calls in the lawyers

Joel Richards — Sun, 16 May 2010 16:37:55 GMT

@yoruga - was just saying that the first of the next Maradonas - before D'Alessandro, Saviola, Aimar, Messi, etc. - was Bichi Borghi, because he replaced Maradona at Argentinos...

re: The original 'Next Maradona' nears history as Palermo's ex calls in the lawyers

Yorugua — Sun, 16 May 2010 12:29:46 GMT

"Next Maradona"... why don't you just say who that it is...

re: The original 'Next Maradona' nears history as Palermo's ex calls in the lawyers

pervaza — Sat, 15 May 2010 20:59:24 GMT

Nice post!

re: The original 'Next Maradona' nears history as Palermo's ex calls in the lawyers

Joel Richards — Sat, 15 May 2010 19:22:48 GMT

maykay - he didn't play against Banfield but he did play last week. The deal hadn't gone through so Boca didn't want him to play in case of injury and they missed out on the sale...

re: The original 'Next Maradona' nears history as Palermo's ex calls in the lawyers

maykay — Sat, 15 May 2010 17:25:24 GMT

Joel, do you know if Gaitán is playing against Banfield? Apparently, Benfica don't want him to play, as he might get injured.

re: Diego keeps the world waiting before unleashing axe on Cambiasso and Zanetti

Dolo Eventual — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:28:19 GMT

I was very young, but I remember clearly the banners in Mexico 86 "PERDÓN BILARDO" (forgive us Bilardo)

Everybody new better than him, The Menotti squad wanted to lynch him.....but finally the team that scores more goals wins the game

re: Diego keeps the world waiting before unleashing axe on Cambiasso and Zanetti

Yorugua — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:22:03 GMT

I think Unai Emery screwed Banega's chances of making the squad, with that public spat 2 months ago, Emery is an egotist of the first caliber... the only thing I can say about this squad is that at least he had the good sense to cap Diego Milito. You heard it here first, Milito will bag at least 2 goals in this World Cup.

From what I saw from the Argentina-Haiti friendly, they don't look too bad, if he can get his "Europeans" to play like his "local" players, Argentina should be fine for the World Cup.

re: Martin Palermo, Palermo Martin, but not Palermo Riquelme

Dolo Eventual — Thu, 13 May 2010 08:43:07 GMT

I live between Chacarita and Barracas.

Not posh areas.

One is "Chacalermo" and I baptized the barrio where "el matador" was born (worse than La Boca) "palermo Bronx"

re: Diego keeps the world waiting before unleashing axe on Cambiasso and Zanetti

wastlord — Wed, 12 May 2010 12:02:13 GMT

awful, truely awful.

this squad makes me feel sick.

it really couldn't be much worse.

well done Diego you f***ing retard, you have made sure your country has no chance of winning the WC. clap clap clap.

COLOCCINI! HE PICKED COLOCCINI! THIS IS BEYOND A JOKE.

and palermo.

they deserve to lose after this.

re: Home is where the points are as Ortega loses his cool

LeperDave — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:58:06 GMT

Estudiantes should win the league, based on being the better team, and having the easier three remaining matches.

Estudiantes (33 Points)

Chacarita (away) 13

Central (home) 14

Colón (away) 20

Total Opposition Points: 47

Argentinos (32 Points)

San Lorenzo (away) 17

Independiente (home) 32

Huracán (away) 23

TOP: 72

Godoy Cruz (31 Points)

Central (away) 14

Colón (home) 20

Arsenal (away) 18

TOP: 52

Independiente (31 Points)

Boca (home) 17

Argentinos (away) 32

Lanús (home) 25

TOP: 74

The fact that Argentinos & Independiente will be facing each other will more than likely eliminate one, if not both of these teams, from contention. While it’s conceivable that Godoy Cruz could make up the two point lead that Estudiantes have over them, I think there’s no reason to believe that, even if they don’t play all their top players in the final three matches, Estudiantes will end up taking a full 9 points.

re: Martin Palermo, Palermo Martin, but not Palermo Riquelme

wastlord — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 20:32:23 GMT

Just make sure the naming ceremony is during July. Palermo doesn't need to be in South Africa.

re: John Román Terry and other stories

Joel Richards — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:59:20 GMT

"that face..." Hmmm.

Twist no. 163: Pablo Mouche, the Wayne Bridge in all this, didn't deny it in a Friday afternoon radio interview, and refused to talk about the issue at all.... I stick by the 'believe who you will...'

re: John Román Terry and other stories

JrRiquelme — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 13:35:36 GMT

Trust in Roman! Saw the press conference yesterday, impossible to imagine that face could lie.

re: John Román Terry and other stories

Joel Richards — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:56:29 GMT

Riquelme denied the whole episode on Friday. He said he never did anything of the sort and he called his compañero to say so. He says 'this is all totally set up'.

Believe who you will...

re: John Román Terry and other stories

JrRiquelme — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:38:59 GMT

To be fair, Joel. Like you wouldn't have tried it on? I'm sure he flashed a wink at me during a club do. So I thought, "what the hey? I am Román!"

re: Boca still in ruins as River give Astrada the chop

wastlord — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:45:36 GMT

bless the drama, from argentina!

re: If anyone can uncover the next Messi, it's Zinedine Zidane

wastlord — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:46:42 GMT

so who do you think the next Messi is?

There is bound to be some crack kid in argentina somewhere... enlighten us!

re: How dangerous is it to watch football in Argentina?

Joel Richards — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:23:03 GMT

@LeperDave my mistake. meant to say it was the third murder in Rosario in a month - between Newell's and Central. The son of the Central barra brava's numero uno was killed...

re: How dangerous is it to watch football in Argentina?

LeperDave — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:54:28 GMT

"Just last week saw the third murder in two months involving the Newell’s Old Boys barra – that of the former leader, ‘Pimpi’ Caminos, who was shot dead. The first of the three deaths was 14-year-old Walter Caceres, on the way back from a game."

I know about Caminos and Caceres... but as a Newell's fan I have to ask about the other murder. I haven't seen anything about it. Not that I'm as vigilant about reading everything I might, due to a) having to work to pay the rent, and b) my Spanish has had nearly 40 years to become very rusty.

re: Will Argentina be car-crash TV at the World Cup?

Dolo Eventual — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:36:01 GMT

Obviously you have heard from the Clarin monopoly media that Diego gets part of the players "transferencia" money.

Right, greed was missing in the endless list of reasons why Maradona shouldn't be there. Or anywhere.

According to the main media holding, this villero, drogadicto, Kirchnerista, big mouthed little man, gives Argentina a bad image.

Que la sigan chupando!

re: The naming-and-shaming weekend review

Dolo Eventual — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:24:29 GMT

I don't know how, when, and specially WHY I've always been a River Plate fan.

Football didn't exist for me as a kid...but I was a River fan.

Now I'm suffering.

We all know that River should have gone downtown, if fair play existed....but luckily for us, it doesn't.

Tigre??? Lanús??? give me a break!

re: It's all kicking off

Dolo Eventual — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 13:58:10 GMT

Southafrican top notch sports journalist,my friend-brother for the last 19 years, even before my two year's adventure in that nutty great country.....told me about this blog.

I am trying to combine the non-fan interests(girls, mostly) with the fascinating effects of World Cup on our nature.

I've read just a couple of posts....enough to become a follower.

As you might have gathered, English is not my mother tongue..not even my aunt, maybe my sister in law tongue.

I'd like your opinion about some short pieces I come up with....always in the outskirts of the game, like la iglesia maradoniana!

I started and neglected a blog, just to store items that I'm going to develop now.

Remember....GIRL!!

I like your style, che

letterdash.com/.../argentineans-and-the-world-cup-ii

re: Oscar-winning performances all round

Esteban Bekerman — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:53:56 GMT

Hi Joel! I think your blog is excellent. I did laughed a lot with your posts, even when you are more serious and well informed than most of sports journalists here in Buenos Aires. I suggest you to visit my blog (estebanbekerman.blogspot.com), which I'll be updating more often since this month. So see you on the web, and if you want to grab some beers and talk about football, here you'll always have a pal. You are also invited since now to be a guess of honor at my place, not only to drink something and chat but for seeing the books and archives of football I have. You can count with pictures or info of any of that stuff if you need it. Well, just let me know if you want to meet or need anything. In my blog you'll find my email.

re: Oscar-winning performances all round

OscarF — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:31:31 GMT

This blog rocks!

re: Maradona slowly finding the right blend

OscarF — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:58:48 GMT

Hey,buddy,what about the Germans kicking like the Uruguayans ?

I expect the headlines if it was the other way around...

re: Maradona slowly finding the right blend

The Brain — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:35:43 GMT

It's all clicking. And you doubted him....

It's seems the common maxim is going to functionality in the World Cup and despite lacking a creator like Riquelme or someone with the all-round skill of Cambiasso, they largely have a organised midfield and a conservative backline.

re: Tea-time for Banfield and Vélez

OscarF — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:27:37 GMT

Good stuff.I always enjoy your blog.

Will you be covering Germany-Argentina ?

re: Tea-time for Banfield and Vélez

Ross1873 — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:38:18 GMT

James Rodriguez certainly does look a promising prospect.

re: The country where everyone's a manager

JrRiquelme — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:15:02 GMT

Viatri was shocking last night, I really don't rate him much at all. Abel Alves really has his work cut out for him, though I was massively impressed with his decision to finally get rid of Pato and drop Ibarra - both are liabilities.

I would like to see Cappa at Boca, or perhaps Falcioni after Banfield are knocked out of the Libertadores.

By the way, Joel. Are you really going to do write all that and not provide us with your Fantasy team in full!?!?!?

re: The country where everyone's a manager

wastlord — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:53:42 GMT

hopefully the new palmero gets the old palmero dropped, old palmero sits on bench getting fatter... does his groin reaching to the back of the fridge, two days before the WC squad has to be in!

re: Will Argentina be car-crash TV at the World Cup?

wastlord — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:38:28 GMT

Its all a cunning ruse: struggle to qualify; appear to be the worst run team in the world; have a lunatic for a manager; pick the wrong players; play the wrong formation; etc, etc.

Think on it… last three Wcs Argentina have been favourites and messed it up, one way or another. This time only my cat is giving them any chance of winning. No pressure to eat away at them. No expectations to choke on.

Mark my words: They are going to win it. A blindside run from nowhere, taking out Brazil on the way (or is that Bolt[on]zil these days) before sneaking past Spain in the best final ever (5-4)!

re: Will Argentina be car-crash TV at the World Cup?

Joel Richards — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:24:25 GMT

@gt607 - absolutely right, typo there, for 'only' it should be 'not'

@yoruga - exacto. you say tomato, I say tomato. that doesn't work, but you get the idea. train wreck, car crash, same same.

For now it looks like Pastore has the chance to be the midfield playmaker (after Verón), but Banega may be given an opportunity. Hard to leave him out right nowe.

Oh, and Maradona really likes Lavezzi for his character more than his goals...

re: Will Argentina be car-crash TV at the World Cup?

Yorugua — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:12:04 GMT

Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but you mean car-crash tv as in the term "train-wreck?" --- I know you're trying to work Maradona's car crash woes... but you failed to tie it up. Do you mean the squad is underperforming so much that they're like a train-wreck? I mean to me that term applies to someone like Favor Flav (Public Enemy fame)...someone so clueless about the reasons why they are famous---Argentina are simply a mismanaged squad with way too many players to decide on. There's a case for taking Diego Milito and Palermo, a lot of the problems that Maradona faces (& I don't even like him that much) is that most of these players in Europe are over-rated (Lavezzi comes to mind) which was also the case for Saviola. Messi's problems on the NT is that Diego doesn't play him as a ball distributor which is what people are expecting since he's the player that remind most of "Maradona 86"----Messi is still played on the right flank. The true debate would be whether Ever Banega should be capped to play as the offensive distributor Argentina has been missing since Riqueleme quit the NT. There may be petty jeolousies among these players as well (Tevez, Messi, Lavezzi) which may be fractioning the NT. I think Maradona's Argentina will have a decent World Cup without being anything special, but they are far from being a train-wreck team (if that is indeed what you meant by the car-crash comment).

re: Will Argentina be car-crash TV at the World Cup?

gt607 — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:49:19 GMT

The blue and red, you mean.

re: Round 3: Maureen on, Ponce off

JrRiquelme — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:05:09 GMT

Pato is quite possibly the worst goalkeeper I have ever seen. TyC say he both him and Ibarra will finally be dropped.

Makes you wonder where the youth has gone?

What has happened to Boca's youth system and why have they suddenly stopped producing talent, Joel?

Also, do you think, as I do, that both River and Boca will finish mid-table at best?

re: Round 3: Maureen on, Ponce off

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re: River's youngsters deal final blow to Basile

JrRiquelme — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:49:32 GMT

He must have read that message and thought long and hard about things - he's apparently resigned!?!?

Just over an hour until Superclasico and boca have no coach and no manager.

Schelotto and Diego Cagna linked, don't want either of them really.

re: River's youngsters deal final blow to Basile

JrRiquelme — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:02:40 GMT

Reports seem to say Bianchi is 99% sure of taking over. He's never going to match his previous achievements in the job.

Why is he so desperate to take over? Seems he'll be on a highway to nothing.

re: Meddling Macri stirs Boca

Joel Richards — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:50:01 GMT

Even though Riquelme drops it into most interviews that he is indeed playing a 'free' year, and even though Boca won't have much money to throw at him to stay, he's already had lots of offers to leave so he might well stay on.

As for the way the club is run, well, it had to change. In the same interview as above Macri said 'football reflects the state the nation is in.' Argentine football is in no state to pay its players multimillion dollar contracts, which is of course exactly what they received under a certain Boca president...

re: Beach girls, fainting gringos & classic football

Joel Richards — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:18:25 GMT

Yoruga - agreed

re: Meddling Macri stirs Boca

JrRiquelme — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:06:43 GMT

Joel, do you think Riquelme will leave the club at the end of his "free year?"

Also, since Macri left Boca seem to have abandoned the model that made them so successful for such a long during his reign over the club. No real talents have emerged from the world famous Boca Juniors academy in some time now, why so?

re: Why City were never going to bewitch Verón

LeperDave — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:53:14 GMT

From my experience with Argentine futbol fans, while it's true that Veron is a god to La Pincha, those who are not look at him as a solid player still. Now, for the most part I'm only in contact with such via the web, and most of those are currently living abroad, which could make a bit of difference in how they express their opinion on the matter.

On the other hand, the only ones who like Riquelme are the Boca fans... of course, that could be due to the fact that there is a Boca fan among those I'm in contact with.

re: Beach girls, fainting gringos and classic football

Yorugua — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:16:33 GMT

It's a good thing you didn't put a picture of Mirtha Legrand and opted to go with the fantastic picture of the 3 lovely ladies above otherwise there would have been a good chance no one would have read this today.

re: Why City were never going to bewitch Verón

Marrsio — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:34:49 GMT

I'd take him at Liverpool - a very fine player who was better at United than most people think and was a little unlucky with injuries.

This pass show it:

www.youtube.com/watch

re: Argentina’s new year resolution: Be like Barça

kbones — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:24:27 GMT

hey look! I've got some secret recordings here: www.youtube.com/watch

also some people believe that San Iker screwed up the May Gran Derbi royally but don't listen!

about the Argie midfield - haven't I heard of Banega having some good games lately? not exactly the Iniesta type, but two Xavis are not so much worse than one plus Andres.

and Keita doesn't play in Toure's position. never

re: Argentina vs Catalunya: The Trilogy

Yorugua — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:47:20 GMT

In an alternate Universe, Barcelona gets their hooks into Messi before the age of nine, convince him to renounce his Argentinean Citizenship and plays for Barcelona and the Catalunya (once every 4 years)... Barcelona would've been happy, Messi would have been happy since he wouldn't have to worry about the pressure to score for Argentina and FIFA would've been ticked off.

But Fantasy out the way, who cares about Argentina vs Catalunya????

re: Argentina vs Catalunya: The Trilogy

N.e.j.c. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:25:01 GMT

Ahhh...

Good to see at least one continent actually caring about this competition. (about point 1)

re: It's the Aperturas '09 Awards!

dmvdc — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:02:07 GMT

What's the take in Argentina on the Estudiantes v. Barca Club in the Club World Cup final? Do they even care?

re: It's the Aperturas '09 Awards!

LeperDave — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:53:49 GMT

"Most fans agree that although the quality of the coverage is considerably worse, being able to see all the games live on TV compensates seeing fewer replays of the vast and original range of fouling techniques with which Rolando Schiavi delights Newell’s fans every weekend."

As one of those Newell's fans, all I have to say is: if Schiavi is such a hack, why do rumors of Boca Jrs wanting him back crop up every during transfer window?

re: Passarella aims to change River's course

LeperDave — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:35:00 GMT

Hope he finds the books left in better order than what Newell's president Guillermo Lorente found when he took over from Eduardo Lopez... which is to say that the books are there to look at.

re: Estudiantes graduate to Club World Cup

LeperDave — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:36:25 GMT

Estudiantes recent form has been far from convincing. It will be interesting to see how well they do at the CWC, as recapturing their early form won't be easy.

re: Metallica and the vengeful ref

Joel Richards — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:24:49 GMT

dmvdc - I wouldn't wish Argentine refs on anyone. And the music's going from bad to worse.

As for Lavezzi, Maradona's a big fan. That said, Diego said he likes El Pocho so much was because Lavezzi trains his culo off whenever he's called up, but doesn't kick up a fuss when he's not in the team ( unlike several others...). So, benchwarming duties for Lavezzi in South Africa.

re: Metallica and the vengeful ref

dmvdc — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:53:54 GMT

(1) I would pay to have Argentina's refs officiate all of Fergie's Man U matches.

(2) At least the music wasn't "Santa Maradona."

(3) Do you know if Maradona plans on having Lavezzi in the WC side? (To whatever extent we can say Maradona "has" "plans.")

re: The Knife-Throwing Weekend Round-up

dmvdc — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:38:15 GMT

Not, however, worth the click for the accompanying music, "Santa Maradona."

re: The No Dancing, No Dreaming Weekend Preview

Yorugua — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:03:16 GMT

Argie Bargy... This has nothing to do with your article but are you familiar with "Showball?" --- I bring it up because I believe Tinelli originated the concept, which is Futsal played with aging Football has-beens, Maradona took the idea and used it on his own TV show, giving Argentineans the opportunity to see him before he eventually dies from the drug overdose we all know is eventually coming, until of course he became Argentinean NT coach. Anyway I recently saw a variation of Showball on Brazilian television, what a horrible idea if there ever was one... One of you guys or maybe Celso (Brazilian Guy) should write about how horrible Showball is, unless of course you like it which would leave me in the minority.

re: The Lenient Yellow Card Weekender

testbench — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:37:02 GMT

for me...argentina must resign thear coach....maradona is not a suitable to take the post....the right person

re: The Lenient Yellow Card Weekender

dmvdc — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:44:56 GMT

I'm liking the La Liga Loca-Argy Bargy interaction.

In other news, it's intensely depressing to watch Argentina play the way they have. They have such an immensely talented group of individuals; there is no way they should suck as bad as they do.

(Says the person who began to support Argentina after seeing Riquelme for the first time many moons ago. No bitterness about Riquelme & the national squad, nope.)

re: The Lenient Yellow Card Weekender

andres in ny — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:49:25 GMT

I think the Gallegos are just better at everything than their South-American cousins, excluding complaining to the referee of course while showing Sicilian-inspired hand gestures - Heinze is great at that.

re: Maradona looking to poop Spain’s party

Tim Stannard — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:28:15 GMT

As a quick update - the Twitterfeed will begin from 20.30. There is come confusion as when the match kicks off tonight. BBC and other international media say 22.00 local time. The Spanish FA says 20.45 and 22.00. But it seems that it starts at 20.45.

re: Maradona looking to poop Spain’s party

Ninja Death Star — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:14:19 GMT

No mention of Sara Carbonero.

*logs out*

re: The 90% Complete Need-To-Know Weekend Round-up

DannyfromBA — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:45:21 GMT

Hey Joel!

As someone who had the dubious pleasure of going to Huracán-Arsenal de Sarandi this monday I can complete the list. Freezing cold, pouring rain, no roof, fairly average game. 1-1 after Arsenal equalised with the last kick of the game, sending all fifty of their supporters wild with excitement! But good round up, as a paid up member of La Academia Racing's toils upset me so, not to mention my mate Lucho who made a 2400km round trip to watch them lose on Saturday!

Suerte, Dan, www.theargentimes.com/.../a-weeks-a-long-time-in-futbol-fecha-13-

re: Sudamericana season goes south for Argentinians

Yorugua — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:09:14 GMT

That an Argentinean team is not in the final four is a cause for celebration my friend.

VIVA CARRASCO!!!

re: A year with Maradona – in his own words

Yorugua — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:29:45 GMT

You forgot one, although it was never said publicly: "Whose got the party favors?"

re: A year with Maradona – in his own words

sean_diesel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:58:13 GMT

Fantastic stuff. Thanks for posting it.

re: Olé have Heinze for breakfast

Liverpool-girl — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:49:32 GMT

I would love to have player like Gaby Heinze to Liverpool!

He has been the real heart of Argentina, there are not that many Argentine players that really play for the country. Of course, I understand it is difficult to take that Gaby is more English type of player than most English are. Physical and willing. Otherwise I can not understand why you wrote this? Have you seen him playing at all?

He has been rock solid in OM this season, and in Real Madrid, fans blamed him for every mistake defence did-no matter who did it. Well, of course, what else is new? Everyone who have seen RM this season know they really miss Gaby.

Looks like everyone who know what red card means can write about football....

re: Olé have Heinze for breakfast

Kris — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:13:35 GMT

Really, i am disappointed, as nearly all writers, which wrote to you before i does now, are!!! I´m from Germany and i watch Gabi´s passionate all giving game since many years with much fun and joy! He´s the best defender, who i ever saw and i´m relieved to see, there are some guys here, who have knowledge about football. Real knowledge! You have it not, Joel !

I don´t know, from which tree you were jumping...that you are talking the same bull-sh*t, all in Madrid told. They need only an culprit and found one in Gabi! But, if the midfield and the storm in Real Madrid would work, as they should - for much more millions, than Gabi got - then he wouldn´t have to be in those f...situations, you are blaming him. Gabi was the only one, who was there, where he should be. But how can he manage all problems, the other 10 players did the whole game through. Now, he is away...and if you would have had your eyes open, you would see, what a precious player he is! It seems, the direction of REAL wasn´t able to give him this support, Didier gives him. Gabi is a jewel and Didier saw it, ever! Shame on Real, they didn´t recognize it! Only Bernd Schuster...but you also were unable to see, what he was able to do as a preciosu trainer. he put the team to a real team. You only haven´t had the patience to let it work. Now, look on your team...look at those losers! Ha! I laugh my ass off. Thinking, much money is building a team! You fools! Hah! Really...i laugh my pretty ass off.

And such a fan of them and low-level reporter is adoring them. That´s suitable to you! Shame on you and your very bad and not informed way to write. You are as a sheep, writing, what all others do! That´s not a good journalist! Gabi is with his little toe better in writing(and playing) than you! Of course, he always is honest and open and has heart! He has a big heart...he is a lion in playing and being a good human! You can learn from him. Look at him...may be, one day, you are an adult person, and may be, a person, who is not only writing, what others say...Look at France, they see Gabi´s attitude and his great fighter heart!

And learn from him!

Seldom i was so in rage, as i am in that moment!

As i said, luckily, there are others, also here, who see, what Gabi is able to do and what a bullshit you be able to write. Joanna...what a great comment. Whoever you are, you should take Joels job, you are much more professional in this! Good work!

re: Olé have Heinze for breakfast

Alyson — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:52:26 GMT

Joel..... I am truly shocked that you have written this and put your name to it! Maybe you remember me?

Gaby has been and still is an enormous inspiration to Rebecca. She is now at Birmingham City Centre of Excellence, receiving coaching from England players.... she is reaching for her dream thanks to this wonderful man. If he is guilty of anything, it is for showing intense desire and passion in every moment, he stands out above the rest at all times and so can become an easy target for such pathetic reporting and cheap jibes!!!

Everything that Joanna says above is so right. You have patchworked together a despicable article completely ignoring anything positive. And I know that you have met him when you were at Real, happy to be polite to his face! You should know better than this! You were happy to report and celebrate how Calderon singled him out in Pamplona when Real won La Liga.... embodying everything that Real stood for, fight, passion and determination to win, to never give up! That is Gabriel Heinze, a true fighter, spirited, passionate, loyal. Shame on you Joel, I am so disappointed in you, I thought you were much better than this! Vamos Gaby!!!

re: Olé have Heinze for breakfast

Joanna_06 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:15:42 GMT

This the biggest piece of bullshit I have ever read! I am a huge fan of Gabriel Heinze and I watch his every game for club and country, I have done for the past three years. I am not going to ignorantly insist he is the best defender in the world, I'm being realistic here. But this highly over-exagerrated and biased piece of over-dramatized rubbish is a disgrace to journalism with it's inaccuracy.

Gabriel Heinze is the epitome of everything an Argentine footballer is and everything the rest of the national team should try more to be. He is called 'error prone' because he doesn't back out of challenges and fights for every ball while putting himself in high risk of injury, and personally, I would rather have a player that would make a few mistakes while at least TRYING, than having a player than shies away and doesn't even bother. And for some rather pathetic reason, these mistakes are always used as a unfair view of Heinze's game as a whole, when actually the man makes far more vital and well-timed tackles and blocks than the silly, petty little errors that journalists always feel the need to rave about.

Not only can Heinze actually play, despite what a load of money-grabbing reporters who barely actually watch the games seem to think, but despite who wears the armband, Gabriel Heinze is the Argentina national team captain at heart. If you would actually bother to LOOK when the team comes out after half-time, it is Heinze who is giving the damn team talk and I wouldn't be half surprised if he was doing the same in the dressing room, too. At the end of the 6-1 defeat to Bolivia, Heinze was the only player actually still trying by the end of the match and then he went out of his way to try and re-encourage his team-mates, talking to them and attempting to lift their spirits while actual-captain Mascherano sulked. And the one game Heinze was actually made captain, the commentators said (rather accurately) that Argentina looked much more organised that night. Yes, they lost, but if you watched the match you would see that the first goal was a wonder-goal, one of those things that you can't do anything about, no matter how well you are playing, and the other only happened after Heinze was subbed, the commentators pointing out: "the back line has really lost it's shape since Heinze went off."

But despite your horribly inaccurate views of Heinze's game, the thing here that I really found disgraceful was your view of Heinze's attitude and personality. I don't know who you've been watching, but the character put across here is some money-grabbing, big headed imbercile who thinks he's the greatest thing to walk this planet. Everything written here is the complete opposite of what Gabriel Heinze is. Heinze, who on several occasions when asked an opinion of himself, has personally said that he does not like to talk about his traits because he doesn't think he's very good in comparison to other players. The man who said: "I don't want to be remembered as a footballer, I want to be remembered as a good person". I hope for his sake that he never comes across this horrid disgrace of an article because he's too kind and genuine a person to deserve to be so insulted.

So, in summary, your article is a piece of poorly written, inaccurate and rather pathetic, trash and maybe you should actually learn who the hell Gabriel Heinze is before you start making up a load of complete bull-sh*t about a player who is more passionate, more talented, and more determined than most and a true unrecognised leader that holds the team together. His national team-mates adore him and I think they know a hell of a lot more than you, because you clearly know f*** all about a subject you've considered it your unintelligent business to comment on.

re: The Suck It and See Weekend Preview

Botan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:05:55 GMT

Maradona is not to be touched, he is a legend, in Argentine they could take a better care of him,he is a living symbole for thier country ,I think they don't know him well yet,he is thier national treasure ,who knows Argentine without him?They could take a better care of him by apointing some advisors to him ,we all know about his mistakes ,they could have him avoid these mistakes, he is not so educated, ist a mission impossible?for a country to take care about his national treasure its an easy mission.

Imagine in my country (Iraq) and homeland (kurdistan) they worship him ,he is a hero, we know him very well form early stages of his live to his last speack and we still worship him and love and even more and more, there is no doubt that he is the best who touched the ball.99% of Iraqis don't know Argentinian Presedent but 100% of us know about Maradona's life stages.

I just want to say respect your symbols otherwise you are nothing.

re: The Suck It and See Weekend Preview

Yorugua — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:00:05 GMT

Maradona's tirade will cost him a 5 game suspension, Argentina already has two friendlies lined up until November 18th --- I presume that they will play some additional friendlies in between now and when the World Cup rolls around, so Diego will still coach in the World Cup.

As for the "special" comment attributed to Grondona... special in what way? That drug addicts who coach national teams are entitled to some leeway?

Sepp Blatter has been right on two things regarding the CONMEBOL, one was the high altitude issue being horrible for football players and two Maradona deserving a 5 game slap for his moronic ghetto rage at some hapless reporter whose job consists of making Maradona look good anyway.

re: Uruguay vs Argentina: Best of mates

prsancho — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:12:07 GMT

It wasn't even close Argentina being out of the WC Finals (I don't believe Costa Rica could match them anyway), but it was really fun to watch.

Uruguay lost the best opponrtunity to beat Argentina and recover some respect. They really developed into a good football team, but -to compare with european standards- they still are Scotland. They need to improve more to become England (being Brazil and Argentina compared to Germany and Italy).

P.S.: And, please, southern brazilians as myself (and Brazil's manager Dunga as well), we drink a lot of "mate" too, besides the uruguayan leadership on this matter is undisputable.

re: Uruguay vs Argentina: Best of mates

Yorugua — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:31:15 GMT

This is the knock-down, drag it out derby of all time, although the press have hyped up Maradona's incompetency as a coach, I suspect players like Veron will save his skin---and I'm not even rooting for them, but I'm a realist when it comes to the Uruguayan National Team, there's been to much failure in recent years to warrant a "cheerleader" attitude. Too many heartbreaks and the same old song about how many Uruguayans play in Europe, but how many of them actually start? And where do they play? Granted Forlan is good, he's playing on the second best team in Madrid... Lugano plays in Turkey! Caceres scores a goal for Juve, but is he playing starters minutes? Cristian Rodriguez has been injured... I could go on and on but to make a long story short, I got this creepy feeling that despite Uruguay's best intention, Maradona & Argentina pull off the upset. Uruguay might get the "playoff" option, maybe, that is if Brazil & Chile don't do any favors to Venezuela & Ecuador.

re: Madness and machismo in equal measure

Yorugua — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:56:30 GMT

This is it Joel, Argentina vs Uruguay... the most important clásico the world has ever produced.

What's your take on it?

re: The Argie Bargy-tastic Midweeker

Yorugua — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:43:04 GMT

You and all the reporters that assembled there were lucky that Diego didn't reach for his trusty air-rifle as he has done in the past.

Diego is a prima-donna of the first caliber, its interesting watching him come undone though, I keep looking for signs of active drug usage in his speech, sometimes he speaks with a slurred speech which gives me the feeling that Diego may be on some type of "medication" but other times I think its just the stress from coaching the Argentinean National Team and the eye of the hurricane media fascination Argentina continues to have with Maradona.

By the Way, its interesting that you point out the "tortuga" reference, as far as I'm concerned, it's not really part of the local "lunfardo" (Argentinean slang)... it's a "Maradona-ism" --- and the quote can be found all over his autobiography, "Yo Soy El Diego De La Gente" --- I still don't know where he got it from, in the book it meant different things.

Great article.

re: The Argie Bargy-tastic Midweeker

parki — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:42:37 GMT

Maradona is priceless. He visited Manchester earlier this year, went to United's Carrington training centre to see 'Carlito' and spent time to give photo ops to the entire United squad who were there. Same day, 300 yards away, Zabaleta is training with City. Full and U-23 International, Olympic Gold medal Winner for his country. Maradona did not make the great journey to even say 'Hello'.

Now - the injury and absence of Zabaleta, for the first time selected for a Maradona squad, will cost Diego his job and the World Cup Qualification.

As they say - you could'nt make it up!

re: The Argie Bargy-tastic Midweeker

Tim Stannard — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:33:28 GMT

And poor old Gonzalo Higuain - finally gets his call-up for Argentina during a spell for Madrid when he couldn't hit a cow's *rse with a banjo.

re: The Argie Bargy-tastic Midweeker

Karl13Contra3 — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:23:43 GMT

Excellent article. A lot of newspapers in Portugal seem to think that the call up of Pablo Aimar is the best thing since sliced bread. What do you think?

re: The Ten, Big Nose and The Boss

Yorugua — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:30:42 GMT

Its fun peeking in on the "drama" surrounding Maradona's appointment as Albiceleste coach but lets be honest, Maradona is a mediocre coach for a mediocre team... half the players on that team couldn't defeat the worst Real Madrid side from the last 25 years. Leo Messi is more worried about preserving his legs and getting paid by Barcelona than he is by some pipe dream of winning the World Cup which isn't going to happen.

Jose Pekerman who was a much better coach didn't know what to do with Messi in 2006 and Messi was already a starter for Barcelona back then... What's Diego who is a worst coach going to do with Messi? The comparrisons with Maradona (the player) have been completely unwarranted by the Argentinean & World Media; one goal scored ala Maradona does not make him Maradona, not by a longshot. Another problem seems to be including Carlos Tevez in any long term plans... the guy plays out of control and gambles way too much especially on a National Team, Argentina cannot win with Tevez & Messi in the lineup... the same holds true with Lavezzi, who Maradona has never seen... I'm under the opinion that Lavezzi might work if Messi were buried as a playmaker instead of a striker... but Maradona is more interested in doing the exact opposite from what common sense dictates, which is to Cap Milito & Lavezzi ASAP!

One last thing... I think the Argentinean media is completely out of control regarding Diego Maradona, Peru will be a cake-walk for Argentina & they'll win the game against Uruguay at Montevideo, why? Because Uruguay is coached by an even worst coach than Maradona... Oscar Tabarez who has given up retarded draws at home to the likes of Chile, Ecuador & Venezuela and a historic loss to Brazil in June; Diego's dysfunctional unit will roll in on October 13th and take the win... everyone will forget all about the loss to Brazil & Bolivia, Messi will play in the World Cup and Uruguay will continue it's generational slide into oblivion. Now whether Grondona decides to keep Maradona as the head coach once Maradona qualifies Argentina to the World Cup is a whole different story.

re: The Must-Impress-Maradona Weekend Review – Round 6

Yorugua — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:42:46 GMT

Doesn't it strike you that Maradona is only capping players he was familiar with or at least remembered during the days when he wasn't in a cocaine-induced stupor?

Palermo plays "older" than does Sebastian Abreu for the Uruguayan National Team and El Burrito Ortega would have been great 3 years ago for Argentina but no so today.

The only has-been that Maradona should consider is Juan Román Riquelme but he won't because for whatever the reason Riquelme will not play for Diego---- Regarding Messi, since he's apparently suffering from a case of "Gotta Protect My Legs" while playing for Argentina, If I were Maradona (thank God that I'm not!) I would bury Messi as a deep field play-maker thereby freeing him from "having to score", get rid of Tevez and play Ezequiel Lavezzi & Diego Milito upfront.

re: Traditional Big Five not so "Grandes"

prsancho — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:30:26 GMT

The Argentine concept of "Grande" is hard to understand; specially, the cases of Velez and Estudiantes. It should be Big-7 for some time now.

This "Grande" crisis however, being Boca the last to fall, is very good to the league. Very fun to watch.

Best regards,

PRSancho

P.S.: Well, Brazil has its Big-12 club (called Club of 13, and has 20 clubs in it!!), and despite the effort for some to get in, and others to get out, it still 12: Flamengo, Vasco, Botafogo, Fluminense, Corinthians, Palmeiras, São Paulo, Santos, Cruzeiro, Atlético Mineiro, Grêmio and Internacional. And, there is Big-12's Big-5: Flamengo, Vasco, Corinthians, Palmeiras, São Paulo. But only São Paulo wins...

re: Argentina deals with fantasy and reality

Fabrecass — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:15:52 GMT

how come the powerade that maradona's drinking doesn't have the sport tops? you know the ones, you pull and squeeze.

re: Olé have Heinze for breakfast

Joe_Ireland — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:58:47 GMT

Cambiasso injured. Riquelme wont play for Argentina under Maradona - big fall out there.

Heinze aint the best thought he done well last night won everything in the air, i dont believe there is anyone fit and playing who is better.

Midfield is awful! Mascherano did nothing, why is he captain? Gago for all his effort produced nothing and poor Messi again failed to have an influence on the game.

Ole are on to something the team isnt good enough, a proper manager would help though...

re: Olé have Heinze for breakfast

phantompong — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:43:27 GMT

Griffa's call explains absolutely everything Heinze has done at Real Madrid in the last couple of years (I can't speak for his whole career, since I'm not that familiar with it). It's a mystery how he's still playing international football.

re: Olé have Heinze for breakfast

Fletcher_Defender — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:14:02 GMT

you only have to watch Heinze in the two legs against Liverpool last year, to know that he is now a liability.

re: Olé have Heinze for breakfast

Alex84 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:23:09 GMT

Anyone who's watched Real Madrid over the last 2 years will know Heinze's game. He’s a total liability at the back, fouling, giving away penalties, and generally being a complete nutter.

Plus he’s useless going forward.

I'm completely out of the loop with Argentina's domestic game, but WHY is Maradona playing Veron & Gago and not Cambiasso and Riquelme?!

re: Little optimism after Diego's derby disaster

Yorugua — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:02:56 GMT

Great article, obviously Maradona is simply a figurehead and nothing more... he's clueless and thought that his mere presence would channel some type of Willis Reed-like inspiration to a bunch of clueless Argentineans (including Messi)--- Argentina would be fine if better players were capped and started (Diego Milito, Marcelo Gallardo, Juan Roman Riquelme) instead Maradona caps suspect products like Carlos Tevez who was given up by almost every team he ever played for (West Ham, Corinthians, Man U.) --- Messi may also feel out of place with this squad of misfits and is probably hoping that Argentina doesn't qualify so that he concentrate on winning another title for Barcelona... by the way there's a great article on Maradona's change of venue, check out...www.lacelesteblog.com

re: Little optimism after Diego's derby disaster

Joe_Ireland — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:53:42 GMT

Good read! it is a disaster one that seemingly has been developing since the last few games of Basiles reign. Cant defend is one thing but the attack is hopeless messi and tevez has it ever worked? dont think it has... a number 9 is needed but then havent we known this for near two years now....

Please play Lisandro against Paraguay Diego... with Aguero - Messi out the right.

Love watching Veron play he didnt give up against Brazil. Macherano is completly pointless in a 442 he gives nothing going forward. not a captain for me...

regarding the first goal did Heinze get blocked off by the other Brazilian? dont understand how he lost Luisao...

Read today 36 year old Schiavi in line to make debut...36 year old Palermo on bench - where have all the young stars gone???? and Carrizzo back in goal another 6 conceded then???

re: A Brazilian explains how Argentina can win

Cesarmarx — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:23:02 GMT

You Know what?

Brazil X Argentina is a big Classic of world soccer.

And Brazil give it`s best when play against Argentina.

By now Argentina is almost Dead.And i hope they get better soon, Cause we like to defeat them when they play good, Just like us.

Brazilian Guy.

re: A Brazilian explains how Argentina can win

The Brain — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:21:36 GMT

Argentina must be aware of transitions, especially the quickness of Brazil's attacks on the counter and also set pieces.

Brazil are supremely organised but Melo and Gilberto are not that good so movement and passing can defeat them. It just matters how effective Argy are. A number 10 is a no-no unless he roams around as Gilberto is great at marking from afar or close. Also Luisao is a calamity waiting to happen.

re: Have Huddersfield swung the clasico?

Fabrecass — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:43:54 GMT

Leo Messi is light years ahead of any other player in the world right now.

Please don't exaggerate like this, players will go through periods of good form, indifferent and bad, but putting players on rediculous pedestals like this is rediculous and immature. Are you really telling me there's that much of a difference between Messi, Xavi and Iniesta in terms of quality? c'mon!!

re: The Rock-Dodging Weekend Review – Round Two

carpathos — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:48:16 GMT

Joel, great chronicle about the situation of argentinian football. I live in argentina, actualy i am argentinian and also a journalist and I think what happen with the TV rights was one of the greatest things in the past years. You should try to get a look at Velez's defender Otamendi, most likely the greatest defender in Argentina right now.

re: Boca barra brava set up sightseeing service

Andy Mena — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:19:31 GMT

haha that german if goes to la barra brava from RIVER PLATE LOS BORRACHOS DEL TABLON he would never go back to LA 12...does fans go every where to see river plate in the good ways and in the bad ways...

re: Argentina vs Brazil.... a (biased) potted history

danielscunny — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:54:14 GMT

Certainly - and under this new coach, whatshisname, I think they are finally beginning to look cohesive, or at least they are actually talking about it. Two games isn't enough to tell, but unlike a fair few, I believe in the binding quality of Diego. Who isn't going to give their everything?

re: Argentina vs Brazil.... a (biased) potted history

Suivaloom — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:54:05 GMT

I think Argentina look the more balanced and complete squad of the two at this moment in time, although Brazil are coming back into form also.

A young frontline consisting of Messi, Aguero, Tevez and possibly Higuain could terrorise the planet come South Africa 2010. And that is leaving out Milito, Di Maria etc.

re: Argentina vs England... a (biased) potted history

WFH505 — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:42:59 GMT

Thank you for the clarification, but your information is inaccurate.

England beat Belgium 2-0 at Wembley on Jan 19th 1946

re: Argentina vs England... a (biased) potted history

danielscunny — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:15:53 GMT

Hi WFH505,

'new' might not have been the best term, but although England had played in Wembley since 1924 (vs Scotland 1-1) the only other team than Scotland was Argentina - in 1951. The third international team to play England in Wembley was Austria (2-2). Cheers,

re: Argentina vs England... a (biased) potted history

WFH505 — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:43:35 GMT

Football has been played at Wembley since 1923 . The Term "New Wembley Stadium" applies to the current facility opened in 2007.

So where does the line "The sides first met at Wembley in 1951, the second team after Scotland to play at the new stadium, with England winning 2-1." come from?

re: Maradona's moans ahead of French examination

murlan9 — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:21:49 GMT

now we know what chewbaca would look like if you could see his face and gave him some bling

re: All work and no play for Argentina's Big Five

Colorado — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:38:15 GMT

Hi Daniel,

My name's Matt, I live in UK and write an English language blog about the Brazlian club, S.C Internacional (internacionaluk.blogspot.com.

Anyway, the question I'd like to ask you what is your opinion of Boca's Ricardo Noir?

Boca and Inter have been in negotiations for sometime about the striker and it appears he could be finally set to move to Porto Alegre within the next few days as Palacio's injury does not require an operation.

I'd like to get an opinion from someone in Argentina about Noir.

Thanks,

Matt

re: River's nightmare season goes on and on

meatandmalbec — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:35:25 GMT

It's looking like one hell of a finish next weekend. I can hardly wait!

www.realfootballargentina.blogspot.com

re: Can Diego revitalise vapid Argentina?

Steve Play and train in Argentina — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:48:53 GMT

I agree with you, 100% coach's fault! Here in Argentina everybody thinks the same, it's coach's disaster and I hope our next coach can be the great Bianchi. The coaches at my academy know him and is number 1 candidate over Diego. Regards. Esteban (ejt75@hotmail.com)

re: Tempers fray in bruising battle with Uruguay

AdamCule — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:51:59 GMT

Actually Messi scored first.

re: Tempers fray in bruising battle with Uruguay

Redstar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:13:54 GMT

Kun scored 1st, on the 6th or 7th minute, and that was followed up by a goal by Messi afterward.

re: Maradona: "Messi's no team player'

bigboy — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:05:03 GMT

Argentina are a great with the best player in the world.

re: Goollllaazzzooooo!!! Bouncing Boca in Copa quarters

Maestro11 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:53:08 GMT

Horacio "Coco" Ameli is known for cheating on his (now ex) wife, and for chasing the wives of others. He has been pursuing my wife for 7 years, including while he was still married with children. Ironically, when the above report was posted on 8th May 2008, he called my wife from a hotel in Barcelona to ask her to meet him there. As it happened, I answered my wife's phone and told him to return to South America or face the consequences. NOT SCURRILOUS GOSSIP- FACT!

re: Olympic run goes on while domestic season gets going

BigWelshDefender — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:18:12 GMT

Good Old Argentine commentators!!

re: Olympic run goes on while domestic season gets going

Eddie — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:27:24 GMT

I saw the Boca game and it was blinding. Nice to have the Primera back.

Is anyone broadcasting the Argentine Olympic games? I cannot believe that with all the channels I subscribe to I cannot find them on the TV. I think it's reprehensible, considering that the Argentines are defending champions!

re: All seater stadiums? Never!

kat — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:09:13 GMT

Don't do it! You'd lose more than you'd gain.

The Germans have another way of supporting football (somewhere between the two) but how much of their experience is useable in the South American context is debatable.

re: Boca head to Rio carrying the hopes of a nation

Kakinho — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:55:53 GMT

hey whats wrong with boca. they tie at home then win all of the sudden horribe defense by atlas of mexico or else there wouldve been two mexican sides in the semi finals

re: Battle of the season lives up to the hype

lateralizquierdo — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:07:18 GMT

Just read about the documentary being released in Cannes about Diego. Mentions Chavez, anti-Bush, and Castro. But conventiently forgets the dedication to Menem in his autobiography...

re: Boca scrape through in Copa; Pele & Diego in spat shock

NDG — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:55:36 GMT

great blog

re: It's all kicking off

lex — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:32:41 GMT

Hey, is there a way to subscribe to this blog? I'm pretty low-level when it comes to internet savvy, so please forgive me if I've missed the obvious ...

re: Maradona: Boca boss is "a big fat steak"

David Hammond — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:24:47 GMT

Excellent - keep up the good work!

re: Monkey man and the crap clasico

palaceb — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:59:31 GMT

You're right, Racing-Independiente is absolutely nuts on its day. It scared me to death when I went in 2004.