Yeah, but politically as Argentina's NT Coach
How do you take the ball out of Messi's hands and survive if the team doesn't advance? You may know/think Messi is cooked but the fans remember the magic of the old Messi and that magic won't die until they see the flame flicker out.
They haven't seen that yet so if you sideline or minimize Messi and the team doesn't win the fans are going to come to your door because you sidelined a national hero who led Argentina to the doorstep of back to back WC titles.
FWIW, I don't completely disagree with you but there is a practical/political issue in attempting to reshape Messi's national team role with him still on it.
Complete thread:
- FU: So, whom are you all rooting for now? -
HCE,
2026-07-09, 08:41
![[*]](themes/default/images/complete_thread.png "Open whole thread")
- it's coming home
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-
Jay,
2026-07-11, 18:24
- The Wire of God. -
Bryan (IrishCavan),
2026-07-12, 04:39
- VAR ignoring Pickford… -
PMan,
2026-07-12, 13:44
- I don't think that was a confrontation with Odegaard. -
ndroman21,
2026-07-13, 09:50
- He did it multiple times during the lead-in and aftermath... -
PMan,
2026-07-13, 10:13
- Ah...the one I saw was with Odegaard. - ndroman21, 2026-07-13, 10:39
- He did it multiple times during the lead-in and aftermath... -
PMan,
2026-07-13, 10:13
- I don't think that was a confrontation with Odegaard. -
ndroman21,
2026-07-13, 09:50
- VAR ignoring Pickford… -
PMan,
2026-07-12, 13:44
- Damn. The Argentina Vs Swiss game - hobbs, 2026-07-11, 20:05
- Yeah, I've heard that one before -
HCE,
2026-07-11, 18:26
- The Wire of God.
- A well-timed Trump tweet re Kane -
atxND,
2026-07-11, 07:01
- gross -
KGB,
2026-07-11, 10:47
- Ronaldo too - Chris, 2026-07-11, 10:13
- gross
- Mbappe's just scored -
IrishGuard,
2026-07-09, 14:30
- Yes, they use one world feed for the WC -
HCE,
2026-07-09, 14:54
- Or doesn't show, as the case may be -
IrishGuard,
2026-07-09, 15:03
- Or doesn't show, as the case may be
- Yes, they use one world feed for the WC -
HCE,
2026-07-09, 14:54
- Norway - Haaland is a HUGE Caniac and that's good enough. -
Chris,
2026-07-09, 09:34
- If Norway can manage to win -
Jack,
2026-07-09, 11:21
- Without looking, I'm comfortable saying Haaland is the best -
Brendan,
2026-07-09, 12:05
- I’m a soccer dilettante, but - Jack, 2026-07-10, 15:45
- Without looking, I'm comfortable saying Haaland is the best -
Brendan,
2026-07-09, 12:05
- Agree - love Haaland. - KGB, 2026-07-09, 10:48
- Dan Burn needs to have a game -
hobbs,
2026-07-09, 09:50
- Dan Burn can't stop Haaland. Nobody can -
HCE,
2026-07-09, 10:07
- That goal over Gabriel was ridiculous - Brendan, 2026-07-09, 11:47
- Haaland first goal against Brazil speaks to your point -
hobbs,
2026-07-09, 10:29
- Yeah, he does stuff like that every week -
HCE,
2026-07-09, 12:06
- Funniest soccer video Ive seen lately -
Mark,
2026-07-09, 18:04
- Roy Keane ended Alfie Haaland's career -
Bryan (IrishCavan),
2026-07-10, 04:28
- It’s a wild story. -
San Pedro,
2026-07-10, 06:16
- Its still playing out today -
Mark,
2026-07-10, 08:12
- It's such a great, long held grudge. Keane is a nut. -
San Pedro,
2026-07-13, 11:16
- It's such a great, long held grudge. Keane is a nut.
- Almost a different sport back then. - Bryan (IrishCavan), 2026-07-10, 06:32
- Its still playing out today -
Mark,
2026-07-10, 08:12
- It’s a wild story. -
San Pedro,
2026-07-10, 06:16
- Roy Keane ended Alfie Haaland's career -
Bryan (IrishCavan),
2026-07-10, 04:28
- Quansah given 2 game suspension for his red. - Bryan (IrishCavan), 2026-07-09, 13:11
- Funniest soccer video Ive seen lately -
Mark,
2026-07-09, 18:04
- Yeah, he does stuff like that every week -
HCE,
2026-07-09, 12:06
- Dan Burn can't stop Haaland. Nobody can -
HCE,
2026-07-09, 10:07
- If Norway can manage to win -
Jack,
2026-07-09, 11:21
- You soccer aficionados probably already know this - BPH, 2026-07-09, 09:31
- I like the idea of anyone new winning it. - PMan, 2026-07-09, 09:19
- Anyone but England -
HullieAndMikes,
2026-07-09, 08:58
- what’s the beef -
Jay,
2026-07-09, 09:39
- Isn't that enough? -
Dylan,
2026-07-09, 13:59
- I don't like anything about them -
HullieAndMikes,
2026-07-09, 12:43
- 100% -
Savage,
2026-07-09, 12:55
- 100%
- This English team is full of good dudes. -
San Pedro,
2026-07-09, 10:10
- Rice played for The Boys in Green and then abandoned them - Savage, 2026-07-09, 12:54
- I quite liked that 2021 England team - HCE, 2026-07-09, 12:14
- Yep. Kane's dad's from Galway, Rice's grandparents from Cork - Jack, 2026-07-09, 11:14
- Isn't that enough?
- what’s the beef -
Jay,
2026-07-09, 09:39
- Vive la France! -
Dylan,
2026-07-09, 08:54
- Also leaning that way -
Jack,
2026-07-09, 11:19
- He won it in 2018, just FYI - HCE, 2026-07-09, 11:22
- Yeah. I think France & Argentina are the most complete teams -
hobbs,
2026-07-09, 09:45
- Not sure how "complete" Argentina is -
BPH,
2026-07-09, 09:57
- Let me amend that. IMO ARG is the most complete team - hobbs, 2026-07-09, 10:20
- They're not complete at all. Completely fortunate so far. -
San Pedro,
2026-07-09, 10:11
- Their run defies all logic -
HCE,
2026-07-09, 10:21
- Yeah, but politically as Argentina's NT Coach - hobbs, 2026-07-09, 10:55
- I don't care for Messi, but his record is insane. -
San Pedro,
2026-07-09, 10:27
- I think he's dominant *in moments* at 39 - Brendan, 2026-07-09, 11:42
- Their run defies all logic -
HCE,
2026-07-09, 10:21
- Not sure how "complete" Argentina is -
BPH,
2026-07-09, 09:57
- Also leaning that way -
Jack,
2026-07-09, 11:19
- it's coming home