Post by 7even on Jun 12, 2006 16:09:35 GMT
The former Argentina international striker Mario Kempes has aimed surprising criticism at current Albicelestes star Juan Roman Riquelme.
Kempes, who won the Golden Boot at the 1978 World Cup, believes that the Villarreal star plays at too slow of a tempo, even when his team are losing.
"Riquelme loves to have the ball at his feel," the former Valencia hit-man told reporters
"This is good when you are winning because you can make your opponent nervous."
However, Kempes believes that when Argentina are up against it, Riquelme's style of play may prove to have a negative effect.
"When you are drawing and you have to win he is too slow for his own team, and when you are losing, well, you watch him on the television and he makes me want to throw my television out of the window."
Kempes also believes that Riquelme is not consistent enough for international football.
"Riquelme is not a constant player - he is never going to play well for an entire match, he will have his good and bad moments.
"Personally I think that Argentina will have to depend on what the forwards do, they have good movement when attacking and this will be vital."
Argentina kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast and will now be working hard to prepare for their next game against Serbia & Montenegro.
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Well this guy has clearly been smoking too much crack. Anybody agree with him? How can he possibly say that about such a talented player? Sure, every player has their downsides, or their bad spells, but to say he isn’t consistent enough for International football, and that he’s too slow is pure ludicrous.
Kempes, who won the Golden Boot at the 1978 World Cup, believes that the Villarreal star plays at too slow of a tempo, even when his team are losing.
"Riquelme loves to have the ball at his feel," the former Valencia hit-man told reporters
"This is good when you are winning because you can make your opponent nervous."
However, Kempes believes that when Argentina are up against it, Riquelme's style of play may prove to have a negative effect.
"When you are drawing and you have to win he is too slow for his own team, and when you are losing, well, you watch him on the television and he makes me want to throw my television out of the window."
Kempes also believes that Riquelme is not consistent enough for international football.
"Riquelme is not a constant player - he is never going to play well for an entire match, he will have his good and bad moments.
"Personally I think that Argentina will have to depend on what the forwards do, they have good movement when attacking and this will be vital."
Argentina kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast and will now be working hard to prepare for their next game against Serbia & Montenegro.
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Well this guy has clearly been smoking too much crack. Anybody agree with him? How can he possibly say that about such a talented player? Sure, every player has their downsides, or their bad spells, but to say he isn’t consistent enough for International football, and that he’s too slow is pure ludicrous.
