something is rotten in the football state of argentina...
Occasionally I check out the AS website to get some "insider" information about Spanish football, and a couple of days ago I found two articles about Lionel Messi and the Albiceleste that I need to share with you. My most awesome friends viewfromnowhen and mer5 were so kind as to translate them for me. YOU ROCK! *GLOMP*
( For the first time in his life, he finds himself blamed as one of the people with the most responsibility for the disaster his country's football is going through. )
( For the first time in his life, he finds himself blamed as one of the people with the most responsibility for the disaster his country's football is going through. )
From a very subjective point of view, I can sort of understand why Grondona made Maradona coach of the national team. He wanted some security after the failed mission with Basile. He didn't want to be bombarded with criticism yet again. And in view of this, appointing a "national hero" for the job seems a good idea. However, if you consider who this "national hero" is, you do have to wonder. As you said, he has no real coaching experience, and at the same time he refuses to accept help from those who do because he wants to rule alone and make all decisions. He pretty much failed at his two previous coaching jobs, and I think we can safely say he's failed at this one as well. Grondona might have bought himself some time when he appointed Maradona because it was unlikely that he'd get heavy criticism unless something really horrible happens, but now that this horrible thing (a.k.a. the failed World Cup qualification) is looming in a dangerously short distance, I wonder how long he can afford to do nothing.
Shouldn't we all remember just how young he is?
Good point! So many people forget about this. And honestly, don't we all underperform when our working atmosphere is bad or our boss is incompetent? lhuneldaiel said that Messi's play has become predictable even for the spectators, and I think that's quite a natural consequence of frustration. If what you're doing isn't working out, you tend to fall in routines which are easy to figure out for others. Brilliance has to be encouraged and supported.
I personally don't know whether I want Argentina to qualify or not. On the one hand, I agree with you, only a disaster like a World Cup without Argentina could present the wake-up call that is obviously needed, but on the other hand, it would be at the expense of the players. I don't want them to be punished for what Maradona is mostly responsible for.
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