Let’s forget about the two friendly games in India, where the European version of the Albiceleste played and won 2 games earlier this year. In those we thought some nice things, but also still that the team needs huge improvements at the back.
And here is where Sabella, the new Manager was presented with a double opportunity to try new players from the local league.
A double header with Brazil, the Auld enemy, where only players playing in those countries could be selected by their teams.
Those games should have had 2 purposes, in my opinion
1) see if any of the “locals” have the ability, the skills and the class to become regular international players
2) bring a format of work in which to start establishing tactics and ways to incorporate these guys into the system in which the full strength side plays
Now, for Brazil it was a bit different. A huge base of their national side, now ply their trade on the national league, meaning to them it was not so experimental, as some of their players have already international experience.
Our, however aren’t, and Sabella did what a “club manager” would have done. On paper the rival is stronger; let’s play to “not lose”.
And it is on that mistake, that the two games became pointless to Argentina.
The new players, learnt absolutely nothing about what will be required of them if they were to be called up to the “real team”.
Traditionally, Argentina are about possession, dictating the pace, passing and passing until they find the holes from which to punish the opposition.
But the Manager showed signs of the pressures the job he took entails. He forgot about the main priority and objective of looking at players and try to slot them in within his tactical system for the 2014 WC qualifiers. He went into this 2 games to get results, he went with the idea of not losing. The players are left with the idea of playing for Argentina is that, try not to lose.
Sabella had a double chance to improve and explore new options. In my opinion, he wasted them.
And here is where Sabella, the new Manager was presented with a double opportunity to try new players from the local league.
A double header with Brazil, the Auld enemy, where only players playing in those countries could be selected by their teams.
Those games should have had 2 purposes, in my opinion
1) see if any of the “locals” have the ability, the skills and the class to become regular international players
2) bring a format of work in which to start establishing tactics and ways to incorporate these guys into the system in which the full strength side plays
Now, for Brazil it was a bit different. A huge base of their national side, now ply their trade on the national league, meaning to them it was not so experimental, as some of their players have already international experience.
Our, however aren’t, and Sabella did what a “club manager” would have done. On paper the rival is stronger; let’s play to “not lose”.
And it is on that mistake, that the two games became pointless to Argentina.
The new players, learnt absolutely nothing about what will be required of them if they were to be called up to the “real team”.
Traditionally, Argentina are about possession, dictating the pace, passing and passing until they find the holes from which to punish the opposition.
But the Manager showed signs of the pressures the job he took entails. He forgot about the main priority and objective of looking at players and try to slot them in within his tactical system for the 2014 WC qualifiers. He went into this 2 games to get results, he went with the idea of not losing. The players are left with the idea of playing for Argentina is that, try not to lose.
Sabella had a double chance to improve and explore new options. In my opinion, he wasted them.