I think Crespo will soon announce his international retirement, he's 31 and will be 35 at the next WC. Who will take his place as the main target man? There's not many options. Argentina have an abudance of second/support strikers but not many out and out goalscorers.

Ernesto Farías?...

it's really problematic place

The future looks good upfront for argentina we have saviola,tevez,messi,palacio and of course aguero.

yeah very true, but non of them are pure CF like Crespo.. in the other hand do we nessesarily need player like that?. I mean Batigol did build up some game so he wasn't a pure CF either..

i hope cavenaghi comes to a major europeen league very soon. Maybe he will be the next.

Batistuta was as pure an out and out goalscorer you'll ever see!

i might have a different point of view, argentina not always need that kind of striker to scores.

burruchaga,caniggia and valdano scoring record are nowhere close to bati or crespo.

But argentina can build their team on midfield and those midfielder can set up and inspire the others to score, it dont have to be a guy like crespo or batistuta up front. Burruchaga and caniggia are not out and out striker but if you look how maradona set up the winning goal for them againts germany 86 and brazil 90 , that's wht argentina's need.

maxi rodriguez is another example that we dont always need CF to scores

in the next 4 years maybe tevez & messi combination can have an impact like maradona, scoring and assisting... who knows

we have many great forwards like messi, tevez, aguero, saviola, palacio...but as u guyz said, non of them are finishers like the GREAT BATIGOAL or crespo
for me, it's cavenaghi...he is without a doubt our best finisher..but to get a starting place in argentina's squad, he should move to a big european club...hope to see him score loads of goals in the future..
we also have maxi lopez...i think milito and farias aren't good options coz they are already 26 or 27..

Tevez can work as the main striker and he can get a lot of goals. We can play a system where we play with messi tevez and someone else up front. That's all I can see right now.

For the Batistuta/Crespo target man type I expect there to be a young newcomer come on the scene eventually. Maybe even Maxi Lopez or Cavenaghi will hit form in the next few years.

Barcelona have a long history of buying Argentinean players and giving up on them way too soon. (Maradona, Riquelme and Saviola were all Barcelona rejects) So, you probably know where I am going with this, I am hoping that Maxi Lopez gets traded/sold from Barcelona and emerges as a true "9"- Our midfield looks promising, but we need to replace Riquelme b/c he would probably not be back for 2010- Farias, Cavenaghi or MLopez can become our strikers, we have 4 years to think about it and to argue about and to bang our head on the wall about it .. . .why did Pekerman sub Riquelme out of the game??? WHY??? WE COULD HAVE BEATEN GERMANY!! WHY? WHY? GOD WHY? ok, sorry about that, but I digress, my answer is Maxi Lopez.

Another person I thought was Figueroa. He's really great in the air which is something we've currently been lacking up top, and we won't have Ayala to continue with his superhuman, body parallel to the ground, golaso headers.

riquelme would be 31 or 32 at 2010 , not too old for midfielder but the problem is riquelme is no tevez in stamina.

i agree with sandesh that they could play messi and tevez upfront. the only problem is that we had no striker who's good at header, tevez has great finishing but not his header.

maxi could be great if he recieve a regular start often which is likely not going to happen except if he move from barcelona.

OT a little bit, anybody notice that tevez is a bit overweight?

Yeah if Pekerman does quit for good I can't see Riquelme being called up for the NT again.

I think Messi could fulfill that role perfectly. I think he has everything to truly be the next Maradona.



He's always been like that, similar to Rooney. Don't let the bulk deceive you, El Apache is a machine.

no, i saw him after that match he's way bulky then he usually is

Maybe so but he was everywhere for the entirety of the game. I remember when Tevez had to normally be subbed for Boca, usually around the 60-70th minute because he would get tired but his fitness level against Germany was undeniably impressive.

for me, cavenaghi is the best choice, but at first, he needs to join a GOOD european side..
maxi is tall and is good in air, but i think his finishing isn't that good..
and yes, tevez can play as a ST too..i hope we all remember olympics where he was our ST.....
as a PM, i want aimar to take over it..riquelme will be too old and will get tired too early..
we can also drop messi in a Pm position if we want..and we still have d'alessandro, aguero and gracian......

aimar would be 29 and it would be his last chance.

still, i cant believe saviola, messi & aimar played 0 minute on germany's game.

crespo didnt look effecttive but who knows if he keep playing? how many chance klose has before he score that header?

i think the only option now is playing messi & tevez upfront....

what position plays aguero? can't he take romans part?

Anyone else notice the dreadful irony? Take Román out, you lose. Simple as that. We were rocking England in the friendly until Román came out. Whoops! There goes the game. Now the same in the WC. I have to say, I was really believing in Pekerman for a long time until he took out Riquelme. Pato getting injured was the killing blow because it ruined Pekerman's tactical plan (I'm sure he was going to play Messi) but he still should not have taken out Riquelme. Oh well.

The goalscorer is a big problem. For now, Tevez will have to do but he's not tall enough. We have to hope that Maxi Lopez somehow turns into a great player and a good header of the ball to replace Crespo.

yes, after he took out roman they lost possesion to england and lost within few minutes... pekerman build his team around him but he's the one who take him out so early... ballack was injured and klinsmen didnt take him out and it was the right decision. After england's game pekerman said it would be a lesson to learn. yeah wht have he learn?? took roman off again and lost again.

its more shame this time because many other nation would badly want to use talent such aimar, messi ,saviola,crespo and riquelme while pekerman put cambiasso and cruz.

and for tall striker problem, you dont need a header to win a match... how many times ronaldo scores with his head despite his height? he's dribbling and shooting accuarcy are the one that made him a great goalscorer, and if you really notice most argentina header's goal came from defender.

I don't think it is impossible for him to make but it doesn't depend on his form alone anymore even if he is playing reasonably well as there would be other younger and probably better option but who knows.

If Aguero Messi and Tevez mature quickly then wouldn't need him but one thing is sure his delivery from set pieces will certainly be missed.

This is true, there is no better set piece-taker in the world than Riquelme. Juninho is right behind him and then Beckham, but in four years time that will be his most valued skill I think. But anyway, when Roman's contract with Villarreal starts to run out, I am 99% sure he will go back to Boca; at least that's what he said he will do. So when he returns we'll see...if he can last a season playing regular first-team football in Boca, I'm sure he'll be a choice for the NT.

It's such a shame that Riquelme hasn't won a WC yet. He deserves it.

if riquelme isnt there anymore the new coach or if it still pekerman they need quickly to find a new style of play for the team... as for the current style argentina does not even look like a world class team when riquelme is not there. The midfield control suddenly gone and no great set up being made to the striker. You can look at his corner to ayala & crespo or his sublime throughball to saviola. He's slow but the germany has no idea how to handle him. But its easy to beat argentina when he's gone.

and for now i dont think argentina has a tall player with crespo strikes ability. However we shall see how crespo perform in italy for this new season.

player doesnt need to win world cup to received greatness status.

di stefano, van basten or george best didnt win it either.

if anything goes well for him, riquelme might have his very latest chance in 2010. zidane is now 34 or 35 and still performed well, i'm sure roman can do the same thing, even if he's only a sub... who knows

in fact riquelme played better then ronaldinho in this world cup.

Riquelme's game is not based on his speed. His game is about controlling the ball and waiting for "it" to happen, his speed is his ability to see the play before it happens and do it, that's why I think he could still be there in South Africa. At 31/32 he should still be around, with his mental faculties, and four more years experience, he'll be even better at controlling the pace of the game to the pace his team wants to play.

Maxi Lopez. Once he gets playing time, he'll be the man. But, with messi, Tevez and Aguero do we really need a tall CF capable of heading the ball? They all play the passing game, ball on the turf.

First he needs to start scoring more than 1 goal every 3 games for Spartak and wasting an amazing amount of chances (and they are playing in the Champions League this fall, so it's not as if he won't get chances to shine in Europe, just like D. Carvalho did)

Why not look at a goalscoring trio of Saviola, Messi and Tevez? Surely playing it with Tevez in the centre, Messi and Saviola supporting could work in goalscoring. You'd not get one out and out goalscorer but you'd get a trio of players that would get goals for you.

----------------Tevez----------------
-----Saviola-----------Messi--------

tevez is very good as a poucher too, just look at his scoring record at boca, corinthians or olympic. But argentina at this time they had crespo & saviola so tevez usually play deeper so he's never directly serve in front of the goal. But if you put him as main goalscorer i'm sure he can but not as far as crespo position.

In the future I don't think we can rule out Palacio.



Very attacking, and if necessary you could take off an attacker and put Gago on, but that formation would bring quite the bag of goals.

Funny thing about Argentina. By the next World Cup, they could well have the best attackers in the World in their line-up. Any team that can boast the likes of Messi, Tevez, Aguero and Saviola in the starting XI is worth being worried about.

Good players no doubt, but all are midgets. Argentina badly need stronger taller players who can run with the ball. I think this is one of the reasons why they haven't done well in a World Cup since 1990, In the last decade Brazil have had lots of tall strong forwards who can ran at defences, like Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Kaka, Ronaldinho and Adriano. Whereas Argentina have weaker players like Ortega and Claudio Lopez and now have 4 very small attackers, although Tevez is very strong.

Let me just give you a european prospect on this..:

hmm.. let us think... maybe....


MESSSSSII...?!


(next time give us a thougher question..)

Obviously you love Messi, as we all do here in this proud forum, but he's not a forward, buddy. He's a midfielder, he's not the striker. Chelito Delgado is talented, maybe he can do it. Otherwise we'll have to wait on Cavenaghi. I don't know how long Maxi Lopez will take before he starts improving again.

Hello guys I´m a fan of Argentinian soccer...Great Skills, amazing Pannas, Hardplays,etc...
I think that Basile it´s going to use this little guys like: Agüero, Messi (He is a Striker for a lot of people, Incluiding me), Carlitos, Saviola.....
...But Obiusly Argentina have to nominate a high guy like: Nico Frutos(Anderletch) or/and Cavenaghi...two great Strikers with many goals converted per season.

Personaly I don´t like Messi, because he doesn`t won nobody yet, when he shows what things are able to do, maybe I´ll support Messi but not now.

Who is better Agüero or Messi ?

For me Agüero.

Bye guys and I hope that Roman turns Brazilian crazy this Sunday.

You know what we all need? This: Watch Riquelme turn Roque Junior into his doormat.

I won't be forgetting that one for some time to come. His first game back on the NT and a left footed golaso to boot. Thanks for the memory Xy.

well, he's a forward in barca ... so i think he should be one in argentina too.. i never heard anyone say he's a midfielder but.. i'll take your word for it... and to kronoxx : 2 bad you dont support him, mayb if you watched barça a little more you WOULD see what messi's able to do.. there's no reason to doubt him, he could become your goalscorer, he only needs time and the freedom to do it..

And if we're going on the 'what we need is this' tour... here's what I think we need :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROpc5Zg_XfI...ted&search=

Messi can score goals for sure, but using him as a pure goalscorer is an utter waste of his talent. He's so much more useful in midfield where he can use his creativity more. He's said himself that he prefers being referred to as a midfielder who likes to attack rather than as a forward. That's why we need someone else.

hmmm ok whatever he wants:) than i just hope he'll be a midfielder who scores more than the forwards..

i think cavenaghi is the only quality striker left in the NT...but he needs to get out of russia....frutos is a good striker but cannot score long ranger, or from free kicks, and isn't either quick and skillful as cavenaghi...
saviola is a good finisher, but he is too small

I think for the time being Basile will have to build the team's tactics around not crossing the ball. The philosophy has always been to keep the ball on the ground and play a passing game, but with short forwards (since they are easily the most talented), it is even more important than ever not to launch crosses into the box unless someone is wide open or unless a midfielder or defender gets in there. Depending on his performance tomorrow, Bilos may be played as a forward every now and then, but tomorrow he'll be a left winger.

Cavenaghi seems to be the only taller striker who currently has the talent to make the NT.

QUOTE(Xyrus @ Sep 1 2006, 01:47 PM)

Messi can score goals for sure, but using him as a pure goalscorer is an utter waste of his talent. He's so much more useful in midfield where he can use his creativity more. He's said himself that he prefers being referred to as a midfielder who likes to attack rather than as a forward. That's why we need someone else.

I guess in the WYC 2005 Leo played more in the midfield and Aguero was the forward.. iam not sure though.
Currently Messi is playing in the Right midfield position for Barca as the Barca midfield is already overcrowded with Deco, Xavi, Iniesta etal...
Messi has an amazing vision as u rightly pointed out and it was exemplified by his performance esp against Spain, brazil and columbia in the wyc-2005.

I just feel that Messi will edge out Roman from that much coveted midfield by the time the next WC is played...
and probably it will look more like the wyc team of 2005 with Gago doing the redondo like duties....
just my 2 cents..

I know nothing of the Argentina defence, but that looks pretty deadly to me.

That is one deadly lineup with 4 midget attackers! When will some of you realise that Argentina will win nothing with so many small players in the team. Did you see the way Kaka bullied the Argentinians yesterday with his strength and speed. Argentina need a player like him.

your right. argentina badly needs a player like kaka or/and adriano. messi, aguero, tevez, saviola, aimar and more are fast and skillfull but they lack strength. i always thought you don't need big players, but the last game proofed me wrong. asile really needs to call up cavenaghi or maxi if he will have a good season in mallorca.

How is pavone performing? He is the striker of estudiantes ,if i am not wrong.I believe that in 4 years he will have developed into a great striker.I also hope that the same will be with maxi lopez.If he plays regularly with mallorca, this will help his development as a player.At the moment it seems that we have restricted choices for the position of the center forward,but i think that we should not be pessimistic.In 4 years time i am sure that a world class argentine striker will have appeared.As for the copa america in 1 year, the best and most tested combination is crespo-saviola.

saviola crespo and riquelme combination has never disapointed but other combination seems not working very well, i mean these 3 players has telephatic understanding between each other but other players do not have that when playing with riquelme.

this last game againts brazil shows argentina striker lack of strenght plus they dont have any real finisher. messi is not maradona who's bless with muscle + strenght during his playing day despite being a short player.

You can see in that game bilos was the most effective player, he can steal the ball, run the defender and set up. also, argentina definitely need to reliase that they're very vulnurable againts counter attack. Team like Brazil & england has a player who has strenght that very effective when they do a counter attack.

In 1986 argentina won the world cup without needing huge players (only vandano, 1,88 and scored only 2 goals)... i don't believe that big players make the difference. Thats a lie... only good players make it.

For example, eto'o is only 1,80 tall and he is barcelona's top scorer.. do you understand?

Small players like Agüero, Messi, Aimar, Tevez and others, are only useless if they lack of ability. But, Agüero and Tevez for example, can both make long shots, dribble and finish plays, they are a must because there are no players like them in Argentina.