One of Damien Comolli’s tasks as Director of Football is to scour the continent and find the best young players who he can recommend to the Liverpool manager. Well I’d suggest he avoids Argentinian players. Why? Whilst there are many talented players in Argentina, they seem to be too much trouble.
Watching Barcelona matches, it’s quite amusing to see that Javier Mascherano is a largely unused substitute. How ironic that the Argentina captain, the player previously touted as the best defensive midfielder in the world, the man who moved to Spain because his wife wanted to live somewhere warm, now spends most of his time warming the bench. For him to break into the team he will have to edge ahead of Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Pedro. Oh and you can probably add Fabregas to that list in the summer.
The furore from the Catalan club during the transfer window when Liverpool were loathe to sell now seems hugely melodramatic. The incensed anger from Lionel Messi because Liverpool were condemning his national team mate to slavery by refusing to let him leave for less than our valuation (Messi’s club have a price tag of £150m written into his contract) now seems absurd. And the lowly figure of £18m that Barcelona paid for a player they see merely as a sub now seems extortionate.
I bet Mascherano is wishing he wore the trousers in his relationship. And that’s got nothing to do with the cold.
It’s not all bad news Masch, you’ll get an occasional run out in the Spanish cup.
Over at Eastlands, Carlos Tevez has been causing Man City a headache with his antics this season. And whilst it was funny to see him leave Man Utd on his own terms and fire parting shots at Fergie and Gary Neville, his attitude towards his current team is ludicrous. One minute he’s going to leave. The next he’s going to stay. Whenever he’s injured he scuttles back to South America at the first opportunity. And when he does play he wears so many layers he can hardly run. Throw in his threat of retirement because he’s homesick and it’s absolute madness. The man is 26, he is earning £150,000 a week and he only has a few years left on his contract. He should see it out, give 100% and when he does finally retire he will probably be able to afford to buy Argentina if he wants to.
If I were him I wouldn’t relish living in Manchester either but it’s not like he has to stay in England for the rest of his life. Just a few years. When you think how many normal people have to relocate for work and you consider how many lads dream of being professional footballers it puts the situation into perspective. But then perspective seems to be a quality that many modern footballers lack.
Back to Argentinians, the recent behaviour of Mascherano and Tevez, along with the memory of how Veron spectacularly flopped when he played in England, means if I was managing Liverpool, I wouldn’t be in any rush to sign an Argentine player. (Lionel Messi excluded of course).
So basically don’t sign any players from a certain country because of 3 examples?
Absolute bullshit mate.
Look at what they both done, and in Tevez case, still doing on the pitch.
That’s like saying ‘Don’t buy Brazilians’ because Fabio is always injured, Lucas is ‘Crap’ Anderson is fat an overweight?
Rubbish article.
Your not that bright you are ya mate! I’d say the two main examples (Masch and Teves) the real problem is their agents and the bubble footballers now live in because of the absurd wages they receive.
I miss the days when football was played for entertainment and passion!
My point is with a limited budget we need to get it right when we buy players. There have been too many mistakes over the past few years. The manager should always give himself the best chance of success when buying new players. For example, would it be prudent to buy an African player next summer when we know he will be missing for four weeks due to the African Nations tournament? It would be ok if we had a large squad as we wouldn’t miss that player as much but not when we have a slim squad. If Argentinians tend to struggle to settle why take the risk with money we don’t have?
Bullshit but I do like yr humour
isn’t Maxi argentinian….
I’d sign Ever Banega Argentinian or not!!
Sorry disagree mate. Tevez and Masch have had problems because of there greedy agent. He is behind everything and ruined then when they were in Corinthians after they were champions in Brazil. He used West ham as a stepping stone to show off the two and then after big money transfers wanted more.
Argentinian players are experted out more than any other country than even Brazilian players and there are many more Brazilian. Argentinians are usually better educated and so can adapt better.
I´d have Tevez any day but I think Masch had a great workrate but at times stifled Gerrard and Lucas.
Inter Milan do quite well with their Argentinians
what a naive article!
im sorry to inform you that every country has its own stock of “argy bargys”!!
your statement its absolutely xenophobic
Ludicrous article making an insane argument.
Aguero ..bargy ??
“I’d avoid any argy bargy.”…
Thank God its not You!!
Why the hate?
It’s his opinion. I personally agree with him
south Americans in General have been mediocre or had an incredibly mediocre start in the prem. From Veron, Anderson, Kleberson, Robinho, Jo, Coloccini, Jonas Gutierrez, Ramires, Eduardo (born Brazil), Leto, Insua, Paletta, Zabaletta, Deco (born Brazil)and even Sandro at Spurs hasn’t really settled in all be it due to injury.
So I see your point. Maybe you needed to cast the net a little wider though.
As for South American TheycallmemrBurt, I’d rather have Lucas and Aurelio in the side than Konchesky and Cole.
I don’t think your comment is really fair.
Leto never got a go in the league, so technically can’t be judged in England. Eduardo looked a good player before the injury. Robinho could have made it here with the right attitude. Deco in his prime could have played in the Prem (he was lightweight by the time we saw him but he wasn’t afraid to put his foot in a few years earlier). Anderson has had injuries (and has a bit of an attitude problem as I understand it).
There are plenty of South Americans who have done well in the Prem. Masch and Tevez may not have the best attitude but they were/are amongst the best in the league in the their respective positions. Gilberto Silva was excellent for years. Santa Cruz did well when he avoided injury. Alex at Chelsea; Valencia at United; Juninho, Middlesbrough; Solano, Newcastle. i could go on but I think I’ve made my point. South Americans can easily succeed in the Premiership. Just like other countries, you’ve just got to get the right ones for the right clubs.