Schuster: "Maradona did not reach his potential"

billionmillion wrote:Not a one man army of course. argentina were top-level team then. they won WC in 78 then with maradona in 86. one man army is not available in football

billionmillion wrote:Not a one man army of course. argentina were top-level team then. they won WC in 78 then with maradona in 86. one man army is not available in football

In 1978, Barcelona sent one of its greatest idols to check out a 17 year old Argentine that turned out to be Diego Maradona. Even when Menotti did not include him in the Selección that won the 1978 WC, eyes were already set on him and Barcelona decided to sign him and put him under the lense of the man who was the maximum scorer in the history of the Culé side, César Rodríguez. His report for the Catalan directors was so impressive it became key in the negotiations that resulted in the signing of Maradona in 1982. Precisely that year the newspaper Dicen published the report Cesar had done five years prior:

After the Boca-Argentinos match I sent a report that basically said like this:

Boca Juniors 1 - Argentinos Juniors 1. Date August 13, 1978.
REPORT PLAYER: Diego Armando Maradona.

Overall rate: very good, extraordinary.
Speed: 9,5
Acceleration: 9,5
With ball: 9,1
Without ball: 9,5
Agility: 9,5
Jumping power: 8

MENTAL CONDITIONS
Mental strength: 10
Tolerance to distress/suffering: 10
Focus: 10
Selfish: Not at all
Character: 10

General technique: unbeatable (inmejorable literally means it cannot be improved)
Specific technique
Dribblings: extraordinary (superb), efficient and unwasteful.
Power/strength: excellent
Courage: extraordinary (superb)
Efficiency: extraordinary (superb)
Shot: very good
Pass: very good
Precision: absolute/total
Vision: absolute/total
General heading ability: ordinary (unimpressive)
Heading shot: ordinary (unimpressive)
Aiming: good
Ability to hold on to the ball (balance?): very good
Shielding ability: extraordinary (superb)

INDIVIDUAL TACTICAL ABILITIES:
Footballing intelligence: all of it (that is what it literally says)
Footballing sense: all of it
Anticipation: good
Speed in efficiency: very good

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
Youth. Born October 30, 1960. Has prodigious technical skills, straightforwardness of dribble always in depth (towards the rival goal). Has vision in straight line towards goal, but he knows to let the ball go in favor of the mate in better position. Extraordinary (superb) reflexes. Very good at protecting the ball to immediately play it with great efficiency. His short passing and shots are just marvelous. Prodigious changes of pace.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:His years in South American football were not that top. Most Boca fans will tell you that Riquelme is considered to be their best player in history if you look at the performances at only Boca.

This is maradona at boca:

Young maradona in argentina:

Grande_Milano wrote:

billionmillion wrote:Not a one man army of course. argentina were top-level team then. they won WC in 78 then with maradona in 86. one man army is not available in football

1990 NT was crap, it should ve bowed down to Brazil in group stages. The only good thing it had is defence.

1986 was Maradona+Valdano, and a severe lack of star players compared to other teams