I've got to say that ever since I got that version from a very reliable source saying that Miguel Angel RUSSO was already selected by the AFA to replace Alfio BASILE as Argentina boss, everything seems to be heading in the opposite direction.
Perhaps it's a move by the AFA to keep the pressures off RUSSO, or maybe Julio GRONDONA (AFA President) is changing his mind to listen to the majority of the people who want Carlos BIANCHI installed as Argentina manager.
Winner of every club title there is to win, BIANCHI couldn't stand GRONDONA and he said "no" a few times when he was the favourite to take the hot seat. He even said he didn't want to talk to GRONDONA and that he would never be the national team manager as long as GRONDONA was around.
All that seems to be changing. Versions on the media indicate that the AFA made contact with BIANCHI and that the former Velez and Boca Juniors manager would be ready to forget about the fights of the past and sign a contract that will at least tie him up until the end of the next World Cup.
Apart from RUSSO, Diego MARADONA and Sergio BATISTA are still in the mix and I wouldn't want to be anywhere near Diego if the AFA decides to ignore him. He could become a very critical figure and could start firing his famous dialectic darts in every direction.
GRONDONA will be in Zurich, Switzerland to attend a FIFA Congress or something and he would announce his decision (reportedly) on Monday.
I can't wait to hear it.
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Seba, something just occurred to me that hiring BIANCHI as the new boss is NOT a good idea. Let me rephrase my question; is it a good idea to hire someone who has a bad history with the AFA president?
It is normal in human being behaviour to say forgive and forget but just how true is the latter?
Think about it…..
I feel that every party that is involved might want to give some serious consideration.
Here is a article that Maradona should get a shot as the coach.
Gregory Sica >
INSIDE SOCCER
Maradona deserves Argentina call
Story Highlights
Diego Maradona is the right choice to coach the Argentine national team
Former world superstar is one of four candidates to replace Alfio Basile
Maradona is one of the few people who could deal with the players' egos
No other figure captures Argentinean hearts like Diego Maradona, whose redemption tale is unmatched in Argentine pop culture.
Kempinaire/Icon SMI
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Diego Maradona is in Tblisi, Georgia, this week preparing for a game of Showbol. But he surely has his ears glued to the telephone, waiting to hear what becomes of Argentina's latest coaching drama.
Arguably the greatest player to have ever graced a soccer field, Maradona, surprisingly, is one of the candidates to replace Alfio Basile as the head coach of the Argentine national team. AFA president Julio Grondona will announce his final verdict on Monday.
Maradona is the flashiest name, of course. But he is also the only candidate who lacks top-level coaching experience. The other names are Miguel Ángel Russo, Sergio Batista and Carlos Bianchi -- three coaches with long histories of experience, all of whom have the credentials to lead Argentina to the World Cup and beyond.
The safe choice is probably Russo, who will likely lead Argentine powerhouse San Lorenzo to the Apertura Championship this season. But in terms of excitement and overall public opinion, Maradona gets my vote.
No matter how controversial it may seem, Maradona has certain qualities that could transform Argentina into a firm title candidate for the 2010 World Cup. Maradona has given Argentine soccer so much over the years, and a coaching role could be the best way to repay him for all his achievements.
But there are many obstacles standing in his way. Since his retirement in 1997, El Diez had been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. He was constantly in trouble with the law, and his drug and alcohol addiction reached such an extreme that just a few years ago, he was feared to be on his deathbed. After spending several months at rehab clinics, where he received intensive counseling to cure his addiction and excessive weight gain, Maradona eventually cleaned up his act.
With his drug problems behind him, Maradona is prepared to begin a new chapter in his life. He may be inexperienced in a coaching role, having failed in brief stints with Argentine teams Deportivo Mandiyú and Racing Club during the mid-90s. But his track record speaks for itself.
Maradona played a starring role for Argentina as it claimed the 1986 World Cup and, in that same tournament, he scored arguably the two most famous goals in World Cup history: the "Goal of the Century" and the "Hand of God" in the 2-1 quarterfinal victory over England.
Maradona is a proven winner on the international stage. And although he remains a legend in his own right still today, how realistic are his chances of being selected? According to Noray Nakis, a senior director of the Argentine national team, they are very good. On Tuesday, he admitted that Maradona is a firm candidate to fill Argentina's vacant coaching position.
"Maradona has the greatest possibilities of being the coach of the national team," Nakis said. "In the dressing room, he motivates the players and he finds himself in a great personal moment."
If Nakis is right, and Maradona does become the coach of Los Albicelestes, it could be one of the most unconventional moves in the entire history of Argentine soccer. Argentina has traditionally opted for coaches with many years of experience, including Basile, who was hired again in '06 after leading Boca Juniors to four titles in one year. He was also the last coach to have achieved success with the national team, having guided Argentina to back-to-back Copa América titles in 1991 and '93 during his first spell in charge.
The appointment of Maradona, however, would set a new trend. And although it would indeed be extremely risky, it could well be the change Argentina needs. Maradona, who turns 48 on Oct. 30, has the potential to revolutionize Argentine soccer. What gives him the edge over his competition is that he continues to be as popular as ever in his country and is an international soccer icon. If he were to become Argentina's next coach, not only would he get undivided support from the general public, but he would also be presented with a glorious opportunity to prove himself in a position where many have failed in the past.
"We have to make sure the will to succeed returns, [for the players] to feel the shirt," Maradona told Radio Del Plata on Tuesday. "Maybe this has been forgotten, but it is fundamental to feel it when the time comes to enter the field. Overseas [in Europe], they have excellent careers, but if they play badly one Sunday, they can make up for this the next week. Here, on the contrary, they must play their hearts out in two [World Cup qualifying] matches. But it is necessary to change some internal aspects which will improve by just talking."
Regardless of who gets the job, Argentina's main objective will be the World Cup. The team has enough quality players to be among the title candidates, but it needs a coach capable of injecting character into the side.
With the help of an experienced assistant, Maradona could possibly steer them in the right direction. Not only is he a renowned motivator (having played a key role in the dressing room as Argentina won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics), but the '86 World Cup winner contains a strong winning mentality. If he manages to incorporate this into the squad, even if he takes a secondary role, it could prove vital as Argentina looks to return to former glory.
"I will fight to become the national-team coach until the last minute" Maradona insisted. "The opportunities are there, my chances are still intact. I will have to put together my coaching team to compete with the other candidates. I'm fully devoted to the cause, and if necessary I will get to work at 8 in the morning."
Maradona is clearly motivated to take on the role, and this could benefit the national team in certain aspects. What plays in his favor are the good relationships he has with Argentina's top players, such as Sergio Agüero (his son-in-law), Lionel Messi, Carlos Tévez and Juan Román Riquelme.
In the past, coaches such as Basile, José Pekerman and Marcelo Bielsa found great difficulty in dealing with the number of egos in the Argentina dressing room, and that often affected the team's ability to cope in the biggest games. Maradona might be the right guy to get the most out of his players.
Is it time for El Diego to finally assume the responsibility? Argentina is in serious need of a coach capable of turning around its fortune. Although a risky appointment of Maradona might not be an instant success, it could have its rewards in the long run. If Maradona gets the call on Monday, it would be the greatest birthday present he could possibly imagine.
Direct Link.-
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/gregory_sica/10/22/maradona.argentina/index.html
Jack
By the way, Hernan CRESPO gives his vote to BIANCHI.
In the meantime, something off the topic. Whoever that criticize MESSI, should know that Kobe BRYANT is his biggest fan.
lol at Kobe, wasnt he a so called die hard ronaldinho fan at one time? But Messi did give Kobe a jersey during the olympics. Off topic, Kobe is great and best player of his generation but he is no Michael Jordan!
Jack!
But about Crespo, I think Argentina should call him back. The guy still is better then any target man i have seen. 33, so what.... 35 for the Olympics ahnn, look at Pupi And Maldini, as long as they stay fit they can be solid. And Crespo never did have pace, but he does one thing better then any player I have seen and that was beat the offside trap. Call up Crespo and Pipita and let them work together, a understudy. Crespo is one of the best players Argentina has ever put out and I think he should get another shot. And whoever the new coach is, i.e Bianchi, Russo, Batista they give him a call back, the man has said he dies when he see's the national team play and he is not part of the team. Think about it, Di Maria, Riquelme(I still say bring him as sub) Messi, Aguero and Crespo that will be a nice attack, with Gago and Mascherano holding the force in the middle.
Jack!
Jack I wish we had more strikers like CRESPO. But for the time being the best thing he can do is find new club and get back into action.
Having said that, and before, CAVENAGHI and Lisandro LOPES do have what it take to over from CRESPO.
When talking about CRESPO, you have to consider that he is not match-fit. I mean...MOURINHO is obviously not using him.
He considers Hernan to be behind: IBRAHIMOVIC, ADRIANO, CRUZ, BALOTELLI and even young Nigerian Victor Nsofor OBINNA.
Out of a possible 660 minutes that Inter played this season, Hernan was on the pitch a mere 20.
As a national team manager, it is very rare and very risky to call up a player that is not having enough minutes for his club.
BASILE did it with RIQUELME when he was not playing and joined the national team, but it was a special case and it paid off anyway because Roman did a great job that time around.
I'm guessing if CRESPO can find a place to play every week, he can be back in the radar with our national team. Why not? He is a proven goalscorer and he has always found the back of the net.
However...I'm not sure if backing Carlos BIANCHI is the best way to go for him because BIANCHI will surely call PALERMO if he gets the job.
Here's hoping he doesn't (even when I know if he does I'm going to support him and his team).
WOW ! Seba-do you really think Bianchi would callup Palermo ? Even with the knee rehab and not playing for so long ? Maybe he will be ok in 5-6 months, I don't know, but still that would have to rank as a shocker.
I wouldn't rule that out, Johnny. Of course BIANCHI will not call him while PALERMO is injured (some might say he would! hahaha!) but once he is running again, I wouldn't be against PALERMO joining the national team under BIANCHI.
Palermo joining the team, I just get a cold sweat up my spine when I hear that. Well as long as he does not take a PK hahaha. Well I hope not but that is me, seems that Palermo is a club player and only shows up for Boca. But I can not wait to see what he does if he is the coach.
Jack!
So it seems that Batista will be the sit in coach when Argentina plays Scotland.
Jack
Over here watching the Barca-Almeria game, and Barca are on a mission, 30min in and 4-0, Eto with a hat trick in 30min and Messi has been a part of 2 or 3 of the goals. Barca are flying right now.
Jack!
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