Player Ratings for Catalunya vs. Argentina... Version 2!

Earlier I posted GK's player ratings, now it's time to post Dave's player ratings! Compare both and see who you agree with more!

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Have been waiting to see the NT play for awhile, and even though this is not a true FIFA team, Catalunya is full of talent. It does not matter who we play, every time the Albiceleste suit up it is important game. With that being said, and this being an “exhibition match,” I don’t know what I was expecting, but I was not expecting a 4-2 loss. Much like our struggles in every other match Catalunya showed our faults. Our lack of even having a defense that works, combine with no organization in the midfield allowed for Catalunya to hold possession and push forward to break down our terrible defense all game. There were some positives, which were our ability to actually have an attacking presence for once. We created plenty of chances, but we could not finish for anything all night…Anyway here are the ratings.

Pozo 4: Poor performance by Pozo, should have saved at least 2 of the four gols, but it is hard to come up big, when your defense are non existent. Had a great save on a break away from Bojan. Overall was slow to react and showed no confidence in coming off his line all game. Should never be called up to the NT again.

Alvarez 4: First time starting for the NT and showed some quality in the first half. However, as the game went he was caught out of position far to many times and allowed Bojan to run around him. Alvarez would push forward and played some good balls into Higuain but could not track back fast enough and allowed Catalunya to counter on us too easily. Was too slow to apply pressure out wide on their wings. Also, all game his corners and free kick distribution were pathetic. Like Pozo should never be called up to the NT.

Demichelis (8/3): A tale of two halves for Demichelis our captain in the back. In the first half Demi showed why he is probably our most set in stone defender coming up big with strong enforcing tackles all half. He saved Otamendi by sliding out of nowhere to push the ball out of bounds on a break away. Demi was always in good position in the first half. However, in the second half he seemed clueless. He was always slow to react, and was caught flat-footed by Bojan who blew by him and scored on us. Another gol was Demi’s fault as well when a free kick was sent into the box and Demi was caught sleeping allowing Hurtado an open header on Pozo. Also, all game he made poor distributive passes up front which would just be picked off.

Otamendi 3: Much like our other defenders was caught out of position way too often. Showed no confidence in applying pressure to Catalunya’s strikers. Was beat 3 or 4 times in our own box all game and proved that he is still young and has very little ability to perform on the NT. Also, allowed his defender to get on the inside of him far too easily to let Catalunya score first at the end of the first half.

Papa 3: Terrible performance by Papa. He always seemed to be nervous even when he did not have the ball at his foot. He does not have the talent to be on the NT as well. He would push forward with the ball only to lose it. In the first half a sloppy tackle on Bojan who was in, should have been given a red card. We do not need Papa to be playing left back for our NT. Anyone such as Insua and even Heinze could play there far better then Papa.

Gago -1: Wow so much negativity in these defensive player ratings. I have nothing to say for Gago other then he was invisible. It was like we were playing with only 9 outfield players when he was on the field…Awful should not be called up ever again unless he goes to a team in the transfer window, starts every game, and a miracle happens. That’s, one two, three, four, five players that started this game that should not be even called up to the NT.

Bolatti 4.5: He played well in the first half covering for two positions because Gago was not existent. Played well with helping out Otamendi and Demichelis in defense and bossed some of the Catalunya attackers around. However, as the game went on Bolatti failed to solidify his position in the midfield. Would make poor decisions and would be too slow with moving the ball up to Pastore. There was one instance where Bojan caught him because he was too slow to react which gave Bojan a breakaway.

Pastore 6: Played the role of linking the midfield to the attack and did a decent enough job for his first cap on the NT ever. Played good balls out wide to Di Maria and played well with Lavezzi. Pastore was a little slow at first but as the game went on he settled in fine. Set up Di Maria multiple times as well as got the ball forward to Higuain. Also not to mention a wonder strike for our first gol. He popped the ball up to himself, by accident, but was quick to react and power it into the side netting past Valdez. Continue to keep an eye on Pastore and he may find himself into the WC side.

Di Maria 7: His rating would be a lot higher had he scored all four brilliant chances that he had all game. All game Di Maria was running at defenders looking to combine either by drawing the ball back or crossing it across the box. To start the game he had a brilliant cross to Lavezzi, who pushed the header wide. As the first half went on he continued to press forward and had a few one on one’s with Valdez, only to shoot wide or be stopped at the last moment. Di Maria proved how dangerous he can be, and how valuable he is to our NT. There should have been a PK called on Valdez when Di Maria beat his man end line and Valdez to the ball, only to have Valdez chop his legs down. Anyway, great attacking mindset by Di Maria. Much like our other attacking players, we lacked the finishing touch tonight.

Lavezzi 7: Played very well in the attack and single handily sprinted past much of Catalunya’s defenders. Lavezzi is a truehearted player who runs much like Tevez and Jonas (workhorse mentality). All game he worked hard and drew defenders to him to set up Higuain who could not finish at all tonight as well. Lavezzi ran at the entire 4 man defense cut to his right and had a rip that was saved away from Valdez. Also, he missed a header which was sent into the box by Di Maria. And finally at the end of the game he had a little cross-laid into the middle which he hit wide. Many missed chances but good optimistic play. Anybody who questioned Lavezzi’s value to the NT cannot say he doesn’t deserves his spot after a performance like this one.

Higuain 5.5: He played well when he had the ball and was trouble for Catalunya’s defense all night. However, our #9 could not finish to save his life tonight. He had a one on one with Valdez after he cleverly beat Puyol and Pique but hit it over the top. Also, Lavezzi supplied him with a brilliant cross at the 6 yard box which he headed right at Valdez’s chest. As the game went on he became frustrated and it showed. He would force runs and recklessly shoot the ball wide. That being said Higuain did show some very good foot work, he proved his quality having the ability to beat Puyol and Pique all night, he showed his speed by blowing past them on the outside many times. Also, he played well as the game went on in combination with Di Maria. He will continue to grow and I hope that he can play well with Di Maria in the future.

Subs:

Pareja 3: Finally we got to see a different center back get some playtime as Pareja was subbed in for Otamendi at half time. However, Pareja looked more confused then Otamendi out there in the central defense. All half he was out of position and was too slow to move the ball out of the back. Very sloppy play by Pareja, even gave up a PK for clumsily colliding with Catalunya’s striker. Poor play and should not be called up again as well.

Datolo 6: Did well as a sub, his first touch on the ball was a run at the defense and then combined well with Di Maria to set up Pastore’s gol. Datolo had the same mindset as Di Maria and would always look to pass and move. Definitely a useful spark to have on the bench.

Palermo 0: Came on for Higuain in the 66th min and did nothing all game, I think he touched the ball once…Never call him again.

Banega N/A: Can’t really give him a rating because he entered the game in the 75th min for Gago. But he did show his ability to hold up play on the ball and combine well with other midfielders. He played one clever thru ball to Di Maria who again put his shot wide. Overall would like to see more of Banega.

Salvio: N/A 78th min sub for Papa

So in the end an overall terrible performance by our defense and midfield lets us down again. The only positives that I can take out of this game is that Pastore looks to have a bright future with our NT and should have more play time, Di Maria is a attacking machine and when his finishing is on he will definitely be important, Lavezzi’s work rate is top notch, and the fact that our defense was so utterly dismantled all night by Catalunya will hopefully wake Maradona up and make him think twice about who he calls up for defense. Names such as Zanetti, Samuel, Garay, Insua, and Zabaleta should be given chances to play defense instead of, Alvarez, Otamendi, Papa, and Pareja. So now we will wait and see what changes will be made to our next team that gets called which I don’t believe is until March. Another embarrassing loss under Maradona…we will wait to see what happens.