Argentina finished the last world cup as a runner up, a result that surprised many, inside and outside the team.
Sabella, then the manager of the team, decided to step down, and Luis Segura, new president of AFA, had his first tough decision to make. Who was to be the chosen one to follow Sabella´s footsteps.
El Tata Martino...
Sabella, then the manager of the team, decided to step down, and Luis Segura, new president of AFA, had his first tough decision to make. Who was to be the chosen one to follow Sabella´s footsteps.
El Tata Martino...
was appointed and his work so far has been gradual and trying to impose his style and names, slowly and without upsetting the status quo.
The first game after the world cup final was, ironically against Germany, who defeated Argentina in the final in Brazil. And Martino, named the same 22 players who were at the biggest stage of them all. Later Messi withdrew through injury, but that was not Martino´s doing.
At this stage the results are not important, but what it is, is the way in which Tata will shape the team, what personnel changes he will make, what style will he choose, etc.
First competitive tournament will be the Copa America in Chile in 2015, so it is only there where the results will matter, and where his work will be judged.
The chnages he wants to make, kind of started to be seen on the personnel for the games Argentina played in England (beating Croatia 2-1 and incredibly losing to Portugal 1-0 a game they hugely deserved to win), with many new names in the squad who never or rarelly played under his predecesor (Gaitan, Pereyra, Guzman, Roncaglia, Ansaldi, Caballero, Vergini, Fazio, Lamela, Silva) played, some old ones who were recalled (Tevez, Pastore, Otamendi, Banega) specially in defence, but also a few midfielders. He gave everybody play time and all seem to be happy with the progress made so far.
The challenge ahead of martino is great. The team, needs to come out of the “messi dependency” syndrome.
That has always been a “plan B” of all past managers from Maradona, to Batista to Sabella, but no one managed to solve that, and everytime that Leo was absent or did not play at his best, the team was clueless to deal with it.
The urgency now is greater, because the Barcelona star, has considerably lower his level of play (which is still enough to make him one of the best today), and his role will have to change with the time.
The signs are good. Pastore, Lamela and Gaitan are players of talent, and that could offer choices to create chances for the always dangerous strikers argentina posseses.
This games have shown, that they are not ready just yet, and they will need to work harder to help Higuain, Aguero, Di Maria and Tevez do what they do best, terrorise defences and score goals.
Lamela, will have to adapt his style of play to be less of the show off, he is for his club, and become more efficient and dictate the pace, if he wants to keep his position.
Pastore, will need to show more urgency to inflict that change of speed needed for the strikers to use their devastating velocity against their opponents.
Any of the strikers fantastic runs will mean nothing if Pastore or Lamela hold the ball for too long and slow the build up.
There are a few young players also that, in my opinion, should be brought into the fold, even if it is to get accustomed to international football, and Martinop´s ideas. Players to look at could be Iturbe, Dybala and someone that no many know (he has only played 45 minutes of first division football) but has caught my eye is Leo Suarez of Boca Juniors. A modern midfield link player, with great vision for the right pass, likes to hold to the ball, but knows at only 18, when is the right time to release it. Watch this space for his European arrival soon.
Defensively, the road may be a bit longer. There have been a few distractions and all of them had ended up in goals ( 2 against Brazil and the one against Portugal). But Martino, needs to be given time to choose his favourite players and work on that back 4 the way he would like it to be.
The road to Chile 2015 has begun, and the challenge ahead is interesting but huge. Only time will tell.
The first game after the world cup final was, ironically against Germany, who defeated Argentina in the final in Brazil. And Martino, named the same 22 players who were at the biggest stage of them all. Later Messi withdrew through injury, but that was not Martino´s doing.
At this stage the results are not important, but what it is, is the way in which Tata will shape the team, what personnel changes he will make, what style will he choose, etc.
First competitive tournament will be the Copa America in Chile in 2015, so it is only there where the results will matter, and where his work will be judged.
The chnages he wants to make, kind of started to be seen on the personnel for the games Argentina played in England (beating Croatia 2-1 and incredibly losing to Portugal 1-0 a game they hugely deserved to win), with many new names in the squad who never or rarelly played under his predecesor (Gaitan, Pereyra, Guzman, Roncaglia, Ansaldi, Caballero, Vergini, Fazio, Lamela, Silva) played, some old ones who were recalled (Tevez, Pastore, Otamendi, Banega) specially in defence, but also a few midfielders. He gave everybody play time and all seem to be happy with the progress made so far.
The challenge ahead of martino is great. The team, needs to come out of the “messi dependency” syndrome.
That has always been a “plan B” of all past managers from Maradona, to Batista to Sabella, but no one managed to solve that, and everytime that Leo was absent or did not play at his best, the team was clueless to deal with it.
The urgency now is greater, because the Barcelona star, has considerably lower his level of play (which is still enough to make him one of the best today), and his role will have to change with the time.
The signs are good. Pastore, Lamela and Gaitan are players of talent, and that could offer choices to create chances for the always dangerous strikers argentina posseses.
This games have shown, that they are not ready just yet, and they will need to work harder to help Higuain, Aguero, Di Maria and Tevez do what they do best, terrorise defences and score goals.
Lamela, will have to adapt his style of play to be less of the show off, he is for his club, and become more efficient and dictate the pace, if he wants to keep his position.
Pastore, will need to show more urgency to inflict that change of speed needed for the strikers to use their devastating velocity against their opponents.
Any of the strikers fantastic runs will mean nothing if Pastore or Lamela hold the ball for too long and slow the build up.
There are a few young players also that, in my opinion, should be brought into the fold, even if it is to get accustomed to international football, and Martinop´s ideas. Players to look at could be Iturbe, Dybala and someone that no many know (he has only played 45 minutes of first division football) but has caught my eye is Leo Suarez of Boca Juniors. A modern midfield link player, with great vision for the right pass, likes to hold to the ball, but knows at only 18, when is the right time to release it. Watch this space for his European arrival soon.
Defensively, the road may be a bit longer. There have been a few distractions and all of them had ended up in goals ( 2 against Brazil and the one against Portugal). But Martino, needs to be given time to choose his favourite players and work on that back 4 the way he would like it to be.
The road to Chile 2015 has begun, and the challenge ahead is interesting but huge. Only time will tell.