Happy Anniversary Flaco

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Don’t know how this slipped by me. Saturday’s match marked number 100 for Rolando Schiavi in a Newell’s jersey. Before next weekend’s game with Tigre he will be presented with a plaque commemorating the accomplishment.

He’ll also be face-to-face with one Ricardo Caruso, ex-Newell’s boss and head man at Tigre, who had a very acrimonious parting with Schiavi when Caruso was heading out the door. Should be interesting, maybe.

That Was Slightly Less Painful

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I suppose I should be happy with a point on the road at Lanús, but the game still left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth. I know it is early yet, but one goal in two matches worries me. And that was from a set piece and not the run of play. (Video of the goals after the jump)
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Torres Officially Gone

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Well, despite practicing this morning with La Lepra and being included in the squad list for the Lanus match, a deal was done and he is off to Quilmes. After practice, word came down and he was off to Buenos Aires to rejoin his original club.

The deal is for a one year loan with an option to buy and I don’t think there is any transfer fee although I believe there was a cancellation of a debt between the club and Quilmes (or Torres).

In my mind this could be a costly move for Sensini since I don’t see anyone ready to step up and start scoring or doing a whole lot else. While Torres wasn’t a prolific goal scorer he brought a lot to the field. In a way he reminded me of Damian Steinert, who followed Caruso Lombardi to Racing and is now playing with defending Turkish champs Buraspor.

Except maybe Steinert was flat out speed and Torres isn’t quite that fast. And Steinert won a title with the club and Torres didn’t. But other than that, similar.

If the striker play doesn’t pick up they might as well season the kids and get Dening and Falcone in a few matches.

Torres Deal on Hold

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Well, the teams had agreed to terms and yesterday morning it appeared as if Diego Torres was on his way to rejoin Quilmes, the club that brought him to the Primera. Instead, a last minute deal change by Quilmes left him with his bags packed standing at his front door with no place to go.
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He Shoulda Stayed in Rosario

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Somehow I wound up looking at the All Boys squad list tonight, looking for ex-Old Boys and guess which name jumped out at me? The Ogre, Cristian Fabbiani.

The way the jerk jumped ship for River he deserves all the bad karma he’s gotten. He actually joined All Boys after washing out in the Mexican second division. Hah!

Nothing Serious

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So I’m scanning the usual Newell’s sites looking for info on Torres (it does appear that maybe Quilmes is in his very near future) and I ran across an ad for Medical Hair. More than 500 micro hair implants done in Rosario and more than 13,000 preventative treatments says the ad.

Why, they even have a before and after picture from a celebrity endorser who just happens to be the one and only Ricardo Caruso Lombardi. Yep, the ex-Newell’s coach is doing transplant ads for a hair company in Rosario. He isn’t in Tigre gear and the tagline under his name only says DT. I’ve tried to figure out how to put the ad up here but no luck. The ad is on this page but I don’t know how long it will be there.

He’s a bit of a loose cannon and a somewhat divisive figure, but he kept Newell’s from the drop a few years ago so he shouldn’t have to pay for a drink anytime soon in Rosario.

And if you read Spanish, check out this story by Domingo Caratozzolo about that day 19 years or so ago that La Lepra beat Boca in La Bombonera to become champions.

One more thing. This friendly tonight needs to be Bob Bradley’s last game in charge. I’m just saying.

Newell’s Loses an Ex-President

By: Jeremy | 2 Comments

Last Saturday, Mario Garcia Eyrea passed away in Rosario. He is best known as the president who took a chance on one Marcelo Bielsa back in the day.

You know the story. Two titles and several years of success followed.

Honestly, he was before my time as fan, so I don’t know much about him. I believe he was the last president before the Rat Bastard took over, but don’t quote me on that.

Anyway, the man who hired el Loco deserves to be remembered as a good guy and his loyalty to the club will always stand out amongst the long list of club presidents.

Adios Don Mario.

Damn.

By: Jeremy | 1 Comment

To start with, I’m in Haiti. While I am extremely thankful to have a little wifi, it is more like using dial up with a wireless router, so I couldn’t watch the match. I was reduced to following it online on ESPN which is almost like not following it.

It is still weird seeing German Re’s name on the other lineup. He should always be leproso.

Since I didn’t see the match I can’t give you any pointed insight. All I know is a penalty taken by Brujita Verón led to the 0-1 defeat. Scanning the headlines, “Newell’s played bad, committed an error, and paid dearly” seems to sum it up. Sensini said after the match that a draw would have been the fairest result.

It won’t get a whole lot easier with a trip to Lanús up next.

Schiavi Has A Bit Of Fun With Lady Reporter

By: Jeremy | 2 Comments

So Rolando Schiavi, easily our most recognizable player, was over at the Malvinas practice facility watching some of the Newell’s youth during training yesterday. He’s just standing there and this reporter chic, Laura Azcurra (Argentina’s answer to Erin Andrews?), from ESPN Pura Quimica is there looking to interview the parents of some of the youth players.

She moseys on over to Flaco and starts asking him a few questions, like he’s one of the fathers and not a superstar. She pokes a mic in his face and asks if he likes football. “I like to play more than watch,” el Flaco responds. So then she asks him if he ever dreamed about becoming a football player. His response? “I would have rather played tennis.”

Then Schiavi tells her that sometimes he plays on the weekend with his friends but nothing serious. “We screw around a bit.” When she asks what do you do for a living he say “I play golf.”

Somehow she turns the conversation to Leo Messi. “Do you know Messi?” she asks. “Maybe you actually saw him around here since he is a Newell’s fan (remember she think Schiavi is a father of one of the kids) or around Rosario?” “Why yes, yes I do,” he replies. “How do you know him?” she says, a little stunned, “from Rosario?” “No, I know him from the headquarters of the AFA in Ezieza where some friends of mine invited me over for a couple of mates during practice for the last couple of World Cup qualifiers.”

Now she understands. “Excuse me but are you a football player and I didn’t realize it?” Priceless.

This is a little video that a comedy show there put together from the interview. I especially like the part where the big bleach blonde lady says that Martin Palermo scored 222,000 goals for his club team, Boca Jrs.

Transfer Dealings

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OK, time for a run down of who is coming, going, and undecided.

COMING:

Luciano “el Tano” Vella signed a loan deal for two/three years (depends on who you ask). The defender was formed in Newell’s so he should be a familiar name. He comes from Independiente after stints in Spain and Hungary. If memory serves me he was part of the 2004 championship team as well.

Newell’s has apparently worked out a loan deal with Vélez for Leandro Velázquez for one year. Some say he has signed others say not yet. At any rate it does seem as though the club has covered the departure of Cristian Sánchez Prette in the enganche position that Sensini values so much.

GOING:

Juan Manuel Insaurralde was sold to Boca Juniors for the tidy, and I think a bit light, sum of $1.8 million. The defender’s departure leaves a big hole in the back line that I hope Ignacio Fideleff is ready to fill.

Jorge Achucarro, Cristian Sánchez Prette and Nahuel Roselli are all heading out as their loan deals have ended. Each is a decent loss, Achucarro since Bogo might be leaving, Prette started and Roselli would be a good insurance policy since Insaurralde has been sold.

UNDECIDED:

While the team would love to retain his services, and if he stays in Argentina he has said it will be with Newell’s, Joaquín Boghossian is still generating some interest from Lazio in Italy.

Hernán López is another Vélez player that Newell’s have their sights on, as a replacement for Achucarro.

Diego Torres, who has fallen out of favor and saw little playing time seems bound to leave the team, citing former club Quilmes as his favorite place to go.

Another striker on the Newell’s wish list is also an ex-player, Nicolás Pavlovich. While the talks are ongoing, there is at least one other suitor for the man who helped Argentinos win the 2010 Clausura so it is by no means a sure thing.

Mauro Formica is still on the squad, despite heavy interest by River Plate and, allegedly, European interest.

I’m sure I am forgetting someone obvious, but there is always another post. Anyway that sums up the market, at least the major players on it.