Bye Bye, Sensini

Another weekend has come and gone, and Newell's Old Boys lost yet again, this time 2-0 on the road to Vélez Sarsfield. Really, all things considered that is not a bad result. I am not going to dwell too much on the match, as the after effects are far more earth shaking... seems that the loss was one too many, and so now La Lepra are in search of a new coach. Yes, that is right, Roberto Sensini, the Senseless One, has walked away from the helm.

I am sure that there are many who celebrate this. I am saddened by it, to be honest. I did not always agree with the man, but can not but help from feeling sorry for him now that he has walked away. I am, of course, more disappointed that this had to happen in the middle of a championship... but considering the position the team is in, second from the bottom of the current standings, it is hardly surprising.

Now, of course, we already have a lot of speculation as to who will be the new coach. Ricardo Johansen, who was an assistant under Sensini, has the endorsement of his former boss. Dario Franco, Javier Torrente, even El Loco Marcelo Bielsa have been mentioned. For now, however, the only thing that is certain is that nothing is certain.

Also worth mentioning is the return of Juan Manuel Cobelli to the reserves. Last week management offered the young forward a full professional contract, apparently as he had reached a limit on appearances on the senior side under his youth contract (not sure on this... if anyone reading this understands the situation better, please let me know.) Thing is his play has earned him interest outside of Argentina, and so the promising youngster is weighing his options before he puts pen to paper.

Had Sensini and company really known how to gauge talent they would have gotten him signed to his professional contract before the season started, and not bothered chasing Claudio Bieler. Bieler, in my humble opinion, is no 9, where as Cobelli has convinced me already that he is indeed just that.