Football News

Tony Montana (United States)

Posted on 11/5/2012 at 7:46 PM 0 banega and Lamela are two midfielders we need on la selecion....banega should start for Gago and Lamela might be starting by 2014....he is a number 10 which argentina hasnt had since Riquelme....Mind u Messi is not a traditional 10 because he can play EVERYWHERE!

Johnny (Thailand)

Posted on 11/5/2012 at 5:00 PM 0 Pastore with marital problems ? http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1214682/javier-pastore-cites-%27personal-problem%27-for-psg-form-loss?cc=3888

Abs (United States)

Posted on 11/4/2012 at 7:11 PM 0 I would go with both .. They both need to be around the national team. If not for this world cup then at least for the coming competitions. These two should be the future of Argentina !!

Flaco (United Kingdom)

Posted on 10/30/2012 at 2:28 PM 0 @Kutz I saw the match Palermo vs Genoa, he was so good as LB, he assisted the goal, was loaned to Novara last season, he improved much. Also, Munoz each time he become better. Hope the two will do the best under Gasperini. I forgot Dybala too. They are the future.

sulav787 (Canada)

Posted on 10/30/2012 at 12:29 PM 0 off topic maradona to blackburn!!! http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/premierleague/story/paper-chase-oct-30-diego-maradona-linked-with-blackburn-rovers-103012

Kutz (India)

Posted on 10/30/2012 at 11:15 AM 0 Anybody for Santiago Garcia /Palermo 24 years 190cm LB...looks like seria A has got a lot of argie defenders who are doing well they should be given a chance for NT .. Roncaglia ???..I know the theory of "we keep using the same players to form a cohesive unit" !! But to me it seems like wastage if we don't try out players where there is a need for change and reinforcement..for now sabella is doing a super job winning .. But so did Diego until we got slaughtered by Germany ..our defence is fragile to say the least ..Based on the recent wcq I have watched the last 3 games at least twice and our defence is crying for help ...i hope sabella tries out the young and the vets zainette/ cabiasso can be used as subs the invaluable experiemce that comes along ... Looking at them play for inter there is no lack of hunger for the ball and leaving 100% on the pitch .. With rgds to c.tevez no one thought he whould be as discipline and important to Mc ..roberto gave him another chance and look at him now , i think if he comtinues like so he deserves another chance nefore the world cup to play for the nt , him not wanting to play for the national team is another story which I'm sure can be taken in the same light as him not wanting to play for MC. Who is I charge of AFAs youth development ??

Hallelujah (Indonesia)

Posted on 10/30/2012 at 5:34 AM 0 I prefer Sabella to call up Ever Banega instead of those two players. For Lamela case, Argentina team will only bring 5 forward players ; Aguero, Higuain, Messi.. and for the other two imho it will be Barcos to cover Higuain and Lavezzi to cover Aguero.

Leandro (United States)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 8:56 PM 0 Yeah @Kenneth, good read, you can tell Totti like Lamela. They complement each other well and are both mischievious in front of goal.

Kenneth (United States)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 7:10 PM 0 Lamela is already at a big club, i'd be happy if he stayed in Roma a few more years until Totti retires he seems to be learning a lot from him.

messi (Lebanon)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 5:28 PM 0 I vote for non, what we need is banega and rancoglia of fiorentina ,sry for miss spelling

vicky3110 (India)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 2:12 PM 0 Aimar..Banega also deserves consideration but Sabella might think its too early.

Johnny (Thailand)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 9:44 AM 0 @DrMagdy-I haven't heard yet what's up with Sanchez Mino's arm. Hopefully nothing serious.

ddr1123 (United States)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 9:17 AM 0 @flaco my bad, it came out wrongly :), one line in a rush. Sure he care, at least we all want to believe that too. What I mean is, he has a lazy approach for today's game. Almost like he does not care. He has to be supremely successful in each of his touch to change the definition of the game. Either he adopts or he redefines the game. And to redefine the game he has to be a superman. At this point he seems to be - this is how I am, take it or leave it. The guy is massively talented, silky touch and comfort on the ball. But either he has to adopt (like he is doing with PSG coaching staff, spending lot of time to read David Silva's game) or be his kind and start a new era.

sulav787 (Canada)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 8:56 AM 0 how good is this guy Ricardo Gabriel Álvarez? i havent seen much of him..

Flaco (United Kingdom)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 7:44 AM 0 @ddr1123 Who said Pastore does not care. In each interview I read for him, that he eager to return to the NT.

Flaco (United Kingdom)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 7:39 AM 0 @cleanball Against Nancy, Pastore was positioned as DM as they have several injuries in that position, but at the second half, it was better by positioning him as AM.

sulav787 (Canada)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 7:32 AM 1 Only three teams can qulaify for chapions league from seria a and 4 from germany.. this shows how seria a is degrading..

Flaco (United Kingdom)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 7:30 AM 0 I read yesterday that Sabella will tour Europe to choose players for future team. He is thinking in R. Alvarez, really this player need a chance. For Pastore, Sabella said at press conference last September, that he is monitoring him. Pastore played so far this season 7 positions, that why he is not playing the same level; he is more like (Cesc-Ineista). I remember reading that Chelsea want him in place of Lampard. Another thing, I see Serie A becoming low, not as previous seasons, players are giving much spaces! Pastore once compared Ligue 1 and Aerie A; in Ligue 1 you can find more spaces, and Serie A is more tactical. For me I do not see that now, all stars migrating from Serie A.

soumya (India)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 6:42 AM 0 @atown...i agree with u....gaitan is another promising player....i think he is better than perez or salvio....and he can play as a ATT mid and winger both position....

el principe (United States)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 6:23 AM 0 Zeman relies on Lamela a lot more than Luis Enrique did last season and as we see, Lamela answers it on the pitch. I think it is just a matter of time before Lamela moves to a bigger team. His versatility fits all kind of team. In Barca he can play all the three forward position of Barca as well as the attacking midfield (Iniesta's spot). In Madrid, he can play right or left or center. In MU, he can be their left sided midfielder or the right sided one as he would challenge Nani or Young or replace Giggs. The likes of Chelsea and Arsenal also can use him. The best team for him I think is Man City. City lacks of creativity. Other than David Silva, they have none. Nasri is nowhere near his level at Arsenal. So I guess this year is Lamela's last year. As for Argentina, well as we know, Sabella is looking for Di Maria's back up. Who else is better than him?

sulav787 (Canada)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 5:53 AM 0 these two can only be a backup for our fav4 and i would love to have them on the bench as plan b.. but what we need now is a good midfielder with strong defensive skills.. and someone who can up the tempo when we trail ... like banega ..after such a long gap due to injury banega already looks vgood.. sabella should try him instead of dimaria or aguero agaist sArabia.. lLopez for higuain or aguero... biligia for mach or gago... and he can also try pastore for messi.. he plays good behind strikers...

vik (United Kingdom)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 5:23 AM 0 with the current style and strategy we are adopting via sabella's reign then neither! lamela maybe but not yet. i stress though Pastore style does not fit in current hustle and bustle in europe's elite. he needs to adapt his game fast. banega needs this call up against saudi's. it will get him extra playing time and will push gago for a place. otherwise gago is getting comfortable.

cleanball (Indonesia)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 12:19 AM 0 Maybe Sabella is trying to give more times to both of them to improve their form and role in the club level first. They are young and have big potential o become great but still to have work hard and learn more. Last game against Nancy, Pastore played behind the strikers and works well with Ibra as it looks like Ancelloti trust and give him ample time to perform at PSG. But I prefer Lamela to be called first as he is doing well at Roma and worth wearing the N/T Jersey.

atown (United States)

Posted on 10/29/2012 at 12:06 AM 0 what about nico gaitan do you any of you guys think he will be called up?

Dr.Magdy (Egypt)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 11:57 PM 1 At this moment none of them will benefit the NT ,I'd prefer to see either Martinez or Sánchez Miño given a shot against Saudi Arabia instead (by the way Johnny ,Is Sánchez Miño's arm badly injured ?) But if I had to choose between Lamela and Pastore .. I'd take Pastore any day ,Pastore is way way more talented than Lamela , Lamela at his best is nothing compared to Pastore back when he was at Palermo. Surely Pastore took the wrong road ,but it's not his fault ,The greedy Zamparini is the one to blame ,his only concern was how to get the most benefit from Pastore .. Pastore is just 23 years old and for a playermaker I wouldn't worry much ,Playmakers are like wine ,only gets better with age.

Kenneth (United States)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 11:11 PM 0 I suppose Lamela since he fits into the plan a little bit better, he could be a replacement for Di Maria..The thing i don't like about Sabella in friendlies ( maybe it will change because of WCQ being over for 5 months) is that he waits to long to make a substation, normally you would see someone come in at 55-62 around there, he waits till after 70 and sometimes after 80.

elpipita (Iraq)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 10:59 PM 0 I agree with johnny, neither players fit sabella's mold, but of the 2 I'd say coco has more of a chance, he's younger with more potential and versatility. I do remember sabella commenting about coco playing as a forward and would need to play much deeper if he was to play for Argentina.

Johnny (Thailand)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 10:19 PM 1 Just so I don't get misunderstood-I like both Pastore and Lamela. Always have. But I think both are nowhere near the type of players Sabella wants as back ups. Though that said, I wouldn't be shocked if he added Lamela, purely as an emergency replacement for Di Maria. I personally think if Sabella is looking for necessary backups, he ought to have someone like Aimar to fill in if Messi is hurt, or can't go. I just can't see Gago being as good in that role as Aimar. Or.........Andy D (who had two great through balls for goals the other day for Inter). But, I know, there's a snowflakes chance in hell that Andy D will get called, and a snowflakes chance in Miami that Aimar will get called.

ddr1123 (United States)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 10:16 PM 0 If I have to choose one, I will choose Lamela. Seems like he is stepping it up. Whereas Pastore, I am not even sure, he cares.

River Plate (United States)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 10:12 PM 0 since its for a friendly ill pick both and let the starters rest.

aka Mr. D (Peru)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 10:07 PM 0 It's a trick question since neither will be allowed to play as an attacking midfielder under Sabella. Either way, one of these guys needs to be Plan B off the bench.

pablo.d (New Zealand)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 9:55 PM 0 johnny: you are correct italy seems very poor but than again apart from the top couple in spain and really the top 4 in england theirs a lot of poor teams in all the leagues these days. football is becoming a play ground for the rich and it is making the gap between the haves and have nots massive as the rest cant really afford to splash the cash in trans fees and wages.

Johnny (Thailand)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 9:32 PM 2 I hear you pablo.d. Lamela has been playing well. On the other hand, I'm beginning to wonder if playing well in Italy adds up to much. Level of competition and quality seems increasingly poor to me. Maybe I'm wrong though in my assessment of the current state of affairs in Italy. BTW-Boca and River played to a 2-2 draw today in the "superclasico".

Jack! (United States)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 9:29 PM 1 It has to be Lamela, you go with who is hot. And Johnny is correct, neither are really type of players that are in the plans of Sabella. Lamela could be a Di Maria replacement though.

pablo.d (New Zealand)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 9:06 PM 0 johnny i do agree on in 2 to go out and the two to go in ie the sosa/maxi for jonas/aimar but i still would like to see lam into the set up, he deserves a chance on current form.

Johnny (Thailand)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 9:01 PM 2 I wouldn't pick either. I don't think either player fits Sabella's plan. Lamela maybe a bit more than Pastore. My adjustemts ? Get rid of Maxi and Sosa and add Jonas and Aimar.

mzzl (Russia)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 8:50 PM 1 Nacho Scocco!

Shinigami (Canada)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 8:43 PM 0 Lamela is more of a winger and should definitely at least be in the squad. If one of the fantastic 4 gets injured I'm sure he is more than capable of taking their place

pablo.d (New Zealand)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 8:39 PM 0 pastore is not ready for the n/t at the moment, i do have high hopes for him but on his currant form if he played and failed it would close the door on his n/t crearer for a long time with so many others also knocking on the door. wait until past form is 100% back.

Roman (Canada)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 8:37 PM 4 Aimar!

Flaco (United Kingdom)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 8:20 PM 0 Who ever will be called, is playing against Saudi Arabia a measure? Do you think Sabella will call the player next year? Argentina need AM I see Pastore best option for midfield. He has more experience, his passes improves.

AllyShaw (United Kingdom)

Posted on 10/28/2012 at 8:11 PM 0 Pastore. but its a close call.