Who should be our starting centerforward in the WC?

First, I'd like to say that I've done a lot status, records researching in order to write this post, and i kept the competition between only Crespo and Bati and excluded others like Cruz and Saviola..

Its a very hard choice indeed since Argentina's system only leaves room for one central striker - and battling to fill the role are two of the world's greatest! :lick:

This issure is very complicated, and there's a lot of things that Bielsa should consider before taking any decision..

Facts:

1. Last season, Crespo was the top scorer in Serie A with 26 goals for Lazio, and this season, Crespo has 13 goals so far, although he suffered from injuries.

Batistuta scored 20 goals last season and 6 goals this season so far. Bati also suffered from injuries AND lack of form.

2. Bati has hero status in Argentina:

As you all know Batistuta is the leading goalscorer in the history of Argentina, and at the begining of the World Cup qualification, Batistuta was the starter and it looked that it will be like that for ever. Bati scored Four goals in four games. So, Bati has history in his side.

3. When Batistuta was forced out by injury in the Qualifications, Crespo took his chance in fine style.

I remeber that After only 10 starts plus two appearances as a substitute, Crespo lead the qualifiers scoring charts with nine goals and since that. His form has most of the time been kept Batistuta out of the squad.

4. Crespo's advantages in my opinion that he has youth on his side, and he seem to make a greater participation to collective play than Batistuta which I find very appreciated by other players, I see Crespo contributing in defence and work harder than Batistuta on the pitch.

Conclusion: we can't ignore the fact that Batistuta is an idol in Argentina. He has popularity and track record, things that Crespo doesn't have as much as Bati back in Argentina. But when it comes to who is better on the field and who has done most of the scoring for us recently, Crespo is da man!

Making a final decision between the two strikers is sure to give Bielsa plenty of sleepless nights before the World Cup ! :undecide:

But Nevertheless, its not a bad problem to have afterall , we're really lucky to them both, and I really hope that Bielsa takes the right decision.


Forza Argentina !!

I agree, Mahmoud. Many here seem to base their opinions merely on sentimental and emotional reasoning, without giving any hard facts. The facts point out quite clearly that the perfomance gap between the two strikers is wider than it has ever been.

reasons.??

55 goals in 75 matches....

Historic goalscorer for Argentina.-

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SZeppelin - Kempes and Maradona are historic goalscorers, should they play? You can me historical figures until youre blue in the face, but it doesnt remove the fact that Batigol has totally underperformed recently.

Most of all, I hope Bielsa is above favouring Batigol just because he was his former mentor. Starting Batigol instead of Crespo may cost Argentina the World Cup, and I dont see Bielsa sacrificing all his hopes and dreams for such a shallow reason.

In the end, however, they're both great players and if Crespo ever got injured, suspended or tired, Batigol would always be next in line.

leg100 said:

Starting Batigol instead of Crespo may cost Argentina the World Cup, and I dont see Bielsa sacrificing all his hopes and dreams for such a shallow reason.

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What is this suppose to mean?

Fact:
Batistuta everytime that has been called for the Argentina squad has perform well, even scoring in his last match against Paraguay..something Crespo has a hard time doing..i've followed Crespo's carrer, and sometimes he has problems scoring against big teams, not only in Lazio, but inn the NT, i don't doubt his skills, but you are forgetting the fear factor, ask other defenders they will tell you that they are more afraid of Batistuta than of Crespo.

Fact:
Batistuta has never ever, been in the bench in Argentina..
Crespo,has..

Fact:
Batistuta, despite being injured all season, scored 20 goals for Roma, with one leg, that goes to showthat when he wants something, he sets his mind to it, des´pite the fact that Roma don't play all balls for him, like Lazio does for Crespo.

Fact:
People seem to play too much importance to what a player does for his club, instead of what he does for his country..of course it's important to be in form for your club, but what tyou do for your NT is more important, i'm not shure how well will Crespo handel the pressure of a world cup final..., Batistuta has benn taking care of his body, so he wouldn't be injured in the Wc, therefore, has hasn't given his all in Roma this season..

Batistuta is a hero in Argentina and a legend...i doubt that Crespo will ever reach the statuts of Mystical proportions that Batistuta has...probably lack of Charisma....

Anyway, s long as we win the Wc, i don't care who starts, of course if Bati is the one who gets the glory, much better--.....

SZeppelin75 said:

Fact:
Batistuta everytime that has been called for the Argentina squad has perform well, even scoring in his last match against Paraguay..something Crespo has a hard time doing..i've followed Crespo's carrer, and sometimes he has problems scoring against big teams, not only in Lazio, but inn the NT, i don't doubt his skills, but you are forgetting the fear factor, ask other defenders they will tell you that they are more afraid of Batistuta than of Crespo.

Fact:
Batistuta has never ever, been in the bench in Argentina..
Crespo,has..

Fact:
Batistuta, despite being injured all season, scored 20 goals for Roma, with one leg, that goes to showthat when he wants something, he sets his mind to it, des´pite the fact that Roma don't play all balls for him, like Lazio does for Crespo.

Fact:
People seem to play too much importance to what a player does for his club, instead of what he does for his country..of course it's important to be in form for your club, but what tyou do for your NT is more important, i'm not shure how well will Crespo handel the pressure of a world cup final..., Batistuta has benn taking care of his body, so he wouldn't be injured in the Wc, therefore, has hasn't given his all in Roma this season..

Batistuta is a hero in Argentina and a legend...i doubt that Crespo will ever reach the statuts of Mystical proportions that Batistuta has...probably lack of Charisma....

Anyway, s long as we win the Wc, i don't care who starts, of course if Bati is the one who gets the glory, much better--.....

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Hats off to ya materoud: Great post:star: Couldn't agree with you more. I simply don't understand how people actually can even say that playing Bati as starter may cost us the WC:dazed: Don't you think it is a bit too far-fetched? After all, it's not like we are picking up a boy from the streets and expectig him to score goals. Come on.....this is Batigol....55 goals didn't come out of nowhere If it comes down to this, I will simply say : Crespo is more likely to under-perform than Bati in the WC. Of course neither has to perform badly....it was just an example.
But I also am geting tired of this endless debate of who should be playing as central striker (and also the one between Caniggia and Saviola:yawn: )
Come the WC....it's Bielsa who will make the decisions, not us. So, why waste so much time speculating?

Vamos Argentina