Argentina has now dropped to fifth in qualifying in South America, and with two games remaining in October, they are on the cusp of not qualifying automatically for the World Cup and even slipping out of the playoff spot. We debate whether or not the legend Maradona should keep his job as the head coach of Argentina for these last two games and going forward.

Chamo: Lets get the obvious out of the way, he has done a poor job. He has managed to do something I didn't think was possible with arguably one of the most talented rosters in the entire world, he has lost four of his last five matches. He has made some interesting and thus controversial lineup decisions, especially along the back line and can't seem to find the answer to get the most out of Tevez, Messi and Aguero. Still, he has to finish the job now, it is too late to sack him. Firing Maradona would have an adverse affect on the mind of the team and would almost guarantee they would not make it to South Africa next summer. Let him ride out this most recent failure, gather his bearings, and we will see Argentina in the World Cup.

Biggy: To say that he isn't getting the most out of Tevez, Messi, and Aguero is like saying that FIFA10 is going to be a good video game. It is blatantly obvious. Let's consider your personal stand against Bob Bradley as the manager of the United States. You have said he is not the most qualified, and he uses his players poorly. Just by your logic, Maradona would have been gone two qualifiers. However, Bob is getting wins, where Diego is getting squat. The fact that a team with these studs not only is not in the automatic qualifying spot but in danger of slipping out of the playoff spot.

They have to call in a coach who is going to pick a consistent squad that can gel, and produce results so that they don't miss next summer's trip to Africa. I can't even imagine a World Cup without Argentina, but I can with Maradona at the helm. Yes firing him would have an adverse affect on the team, but less of an affect then he has had by constantly tinkering with the lineup and wasting the talent he has.

C: You should get paid for how often you rep EA Sports titles, in particular Fifa, you should check into that, make us some good money. I agree that Maradona should have been gone after two failures, but now it is too late. My beef with Bradley is similar, had they figured it out at the beginning of summer it would have been the right move, especially if they convinced Klinsmann to come in.

Now it is too late for both of these managers. The difference between the Maradona situation and the Bradley situation is that Maradona chooses at least 75% of the correct lineup, a lineup any manager would select given the same pool of players. Bradley is so far out in left field with most of his selections that once he does make it to South Africa, they will be three and done. Maradona, while struggling right now, at least chooses most of the correct talent pool to make it out of the group stages, should they make it.

B: See here is the problem. They have to make it. They, unlike the US, are not in good position currently to make it. Argentina has the easiest schedule of teams left, at home versus Peru and at Uruguay, but Ecuador plays at home versus Uruguay, and at a likely already qualified Chile, who will probably have no starters playing. Uruguay has tough match ups, but if they can win at Ecuador, they will have everything to play for in the last match, and are beastly at home. This means Argentina might have to win twice, considering how close Venezuela and Columbia are.

The worst part of this? This is for the playoff fifth place spot. Not even an automatic qualifier. The fact the might see Honduras or Costa Rica should scare Argentina, as Honduras is full of talent, and going to Costa Rica is terrifying, unless you are Mexico. Regardless, sometimes you have to stop the bleeding to fix the wound. Argentina has lost three in a row and four out of five. That is inexcusable from a team with that much talent. Who is in charge of managing that talent? Why, Maradona. Who is running the show, bringing in over sixty different players for the past six games? Your friend Maradona. Sure, Bob Bradley might not be the best coach for the US next summer, but everyone can learn from Maradona next summer sitting on his couch watching the World Cup from home.

Argentina has one month from yesterday until their next qualifier. It is time to go get Basile or Peckerman, managers with experience with this team, or someone else. Anyone else. This team has no continuity, no soul, and are wasting the talent of three of the best young forwards in the game. It is a tragedy. Also, EA sports, ship me FIFA10 since I shout you out so much?

C: I believe the Dutch are a perfect example of where your idea is flawed. Chile, especially not being fully qualified yet, will bring a full squad. Not only that, in order to prepare for next summer, you don't rest players eight months early. That makes no sense. Yes they are worried about injuries, but 8 months is long enough to not worry about anything less than a leg break. Holland proved that against Scotland. They are through, and were through before their match against Scotland as well as well before their lineup was due for this past week of internationals.

Even still, van Persie, Kuyt, de Jong, Sneijder, anyone you would expect to see was brought along. Therefore Chile will be no pushover and I almost guarantee Argentina will come out with a vigor comperable to a team in the World Cup finals. Too many players have something to prove now and it only helps that vetran players like Juan Sebastian Veron will not be available for the match. Argentina is a team of incredible skill, but unless they can persuade Riquelme to return it is not a squad that needs a whole lot of experience to succeed, no matter what Maradona thinks. Messi, Aguero, Tevez, most of their squad, while being young, have loads of experience that other squads do not. Maradona, while struggling, just needs to realize a few things to succeed, and in that sense I believe he is better off than Bob Bradley, who is beyond repair.

B: Outside of resting players, I think that you can likely see many fringe players starting to get experience and to get a shot at proving their worth. This makes for a significantly weakened side in most cases. Regardless, Maradona has had his shot. Mexico has replaced their manager and it has galvanized their side. Argentina needs less distractions and to be able to play consistently instead of worrying if their manager can even perform. Maradona has not proven himself as a capable manager, and to heal the wound you have to stop the bleeding. In this case you have to stop the bleeding now. The problem is that Messi, Tevez and Aguero aren't showing that maturity that they have, because they do not have faith in their manager anymore. When a squad is in this much disarray, you have to solve the problem starting at the top. Maradona, with his other possible job offers and excessive other outside interests doesn't seem to have Argentina's best interests at mind, and a clouded mind is certainly not what they need from a manager as they perilously slip down the ranks in South America.

C: But Maradona went to a shaman to have voodoo done! They will win the World Cup now! His logic is infallible, as we all know soccer matches are won based on the amount of black magic your manager can have cast on your squad.

B: Let's make a checklist.

[  ] Maradona knows how to manage a side
[X] Maradona has a shaman on speed dial
[  ] Shamans know how to properly use Messi, Tevez, Aguero and Rodriguez
[  ] Argentina is going to the World Cup next summer if they keep this up
[X] Black Magic is Argentina's best hope at this point.

This concludes both my dominance of this discussion and optimistically Maradona's reign as manager of Argentina.

C: There was really no winning this argument for me, its just fun to argue against you.

What do you think about Mr. Maradona and his ability to ammend Argentina's current position? Let us know!