Pros and cons of Almirón’s start at Boca: what has improved and what are the debts to pay amid a calendar that gives no respite

Immediacy reigns in Argentine football. much further inside Mouth, a giant club that needs urgent answers. That is why it is possible to do an analysis of this mini cycle Jorge Almiron, which takes just twelve days. In that period he played four games, one every 72 hours. So, you have to look back to think about what will come of Saturday, three heads-up with big rivals in one week: Racing in the Bombonera, Colo Colo in Chile and River in the Monumental. How is the blue-gold team facing those challenges that will define most of its chances in the league and in the group stage Libertadores Cup?

The balance has chiaroscuro. If the gaze points to the glass half full, it will be necessary to turn to the attitudinal question. Almirón spoke of “mysticism” for his first victory as a Xeneize coach, a hot game that was getting out of hand against Deportivo Pereira in a Bombonera full of anger. The more appropriate term would be that he showed personality to deal with the situation. Likewise, he got a draw against Rosario Central when Arroyito’s game was diluted. Not giving up or even defeating, in the spirit of Almafuerte, is a trait that can set the course.

The other half of the container is empty in an aspect that Boca must start taking into consideration very quickly: they receive goals in all their matches. It’s fragile back. From an archer who in his curriculum alternates great saves with inopportune mistakes to defenders who are not up to par. Marcos Rojo’s absence weighs heavily, mind you. And he is not the only victim: Juan Ramírez, Luca Langoni and Darío Benedetto, players that Almirón has been considering since he first started working at the Ezeiza sports complex, will not be available in this series either. Frank Fabra, on the other hand, was injured against Colón and the coach could not count on him.

From that first match against San Lorenzo to this draw against Rosario some tactical issues need to be resolved. He moved from the five-man line of the Nuevo Gasómetro, more typical of the moment, to the 4-3-3 that has always characterized Almirón. The scheme is defined. Also, some proper nouns. Two of them begin to have their own weight. Partly out of necessity, partly because they are starting to gain space with their performances.

Almirón gave the flight to Valentin Barco. It is true that Fabra’s injury forced him, but he also relegated Agustín Sandez, who was above the Colombian when Hugo Ibarra was the coach. The 18-year-old has huge potential. Without going any further, he was the great against Pereira. You also need to improve the brand. The Colorado is much sharper when attacking than solid when defending. It was made clear in Rosario Central’s first goal. For this reason, the coach does not rule out using him in the middle of the field in the future.

Payero replaced Oscar Romero against Pereira and entered the duel with Rosario Central. Almirón is defining what kind of setter he wants. The Paraguayan has an organizational role. The former Banfield midfielder brings more dynamism. Between them, Pol Fernández and Alan Varela is the circuit on which the coach relies to generate the game. In all four games he won possession, but didn’t always control the game. The technical staff is working on this aspect, to make the ball circulate more aggressively. When Cristian Medina came on against Estudiantes and Rosario Central, the team had a different face, but the youth teams started a step behind. Also, Equi Fernandez.

There is another negative aspect of this Boca de Almirón: it shoots more than its rivals, but does less in proportion to the possibilities it generates in the area. In four games he tried 52 times on goal; only 13 were in goal and only 4 ended up in goal. The lack of strength also explains the momentum of their attackers. The authors of the Xeneizes shouts were flyers or defenders. Sebastián Villa participates, but does not define. The same Miguel Merentiel and Norberto Briasco. Will they be discovered?