He Is Going, Going... Maybe Not

Just as suddenly as it was reported this morning that Genoa had come in to scoop up Newell's Old Boys Mauro Fórmica, it now appears that deal has fallen through. Seems that Genoa came with cash in hand, but not the full fee. This in fact is what was holding up the deal with Galatasaray as well. Guillermo Lorente and company have become wary of such deals because Almería of Spain made such a deal for Hernán Bernardello, and sense then they have fallen behind in their scheduled payments. I can not say I blame them, but frankly the odds of finding a buyer in futbol today who would be willing to pay a full transfer fee up front are slime to none.

Personally I feel a bit like someone has wrapped a string around me and spun me like a top. I am sure that this madness is even worst for Mauro. As things stand there is a month to go before the start of the Clausura, and in most of the world the transfer window extends a week or two beyond that. By the time it comes to a close we may all have been spun around enough times we will not know up from down.

Mateo, Barrientos, Achurcarro In - Road Trip To Uruguay Announced

Newell's have already added three in coming players: midfielders Diego Mateo (from Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy,) Hugo Barrientos (from Huracán,) and paraguayian forward Jorge Achucarro (from Atlas de México.) Mateo and Barrientos are both in their 30's, while I believe Achucarro is 27.


Achucarro scoring during a game in 2007

For Mateo, it's a home coming. After spending the last three years with three different teams, he will come back to the team that he started his career with. If this is any indication, Newell's will continue playing with two defense midfielders, though, if I'm not mistaken, he has also been used as a defender in the past.

Ivan Pillud is off to Spain, with Espanyol on loan, but he was only on loan from Tiro Federal to start with, so no incoming cash for Newell's on that deal. Armani will no doubt return to Tiro Federal.

Salcedo's rumored to want to go to Independiente. Considering his lack of form for River during the Apertura, and then with Newell's in the Clausura, I have to wonder why anyone would want him at all.

Hernán Bernadello is going to Almería in Spain. This, in my opinion, is the biggest loss for Newell's so far this off season. Hernán, who will be 23 on August 3rd, has played a solid role as a holding defender, and was a threat to score with his strong right foot when allowed to venture forward. He's a huge fan favorite, and will be missed by every Lepra the world over.

Atalanta in Italy are interested in Leonel Vangioni. Leo has held the left side of the midfield admirably. He has a good shot with both feet, and is only 22 years of age. While he doesn't have the same kind of fan base as Bernadello, it may well be harder to find someone who can fill his shoes on the left of midfield.

In preparation for the up coming Apertura 09, Newell's will be traveling to Uruguay, facing Peñarol on August 2nd, and then either Danubio or Defensor Sporting on either the following Thursday or Friday.

This is a good move, as compared to the usual playing warm up matches against lower division teams. While I have no illusions that the league in Uruguay is as good as that of Argentina, Peñarol are a powerhouse in that country, having played in 78 years in the top division with out a single relegation, winning 36 domestic league titles. Their worst finish ever was 14th, well above the relegation zone.

Playing in Uruguay also gives some of Newell's players who have never played outside of Argentina a taste of playing internationally. Hopefully this will inspire them into qualifying for the Libertadores sometime in the near future.

(Yes, I know Uruguay is just short boat trip over Río de la Plata. But with the shoe string budget Newell's is on these days...)

Clausura 2009 Final... Signs Of Things To Come?

I didn't see the game last night, once again my social life (what little I have of such) interfered. As it is, from what I've read, the match was played with a fair number of regular players missing from the line up:

Germán Caffa
Rodrigo Chávez, Alejandro Machuca, Juan Insaurralde, Christian Díaz
Mauricio Sperdutti, Lucas Bernardi, Carlos Vaca, Leonel Vangioni
Alejandro Da Silva, Santiago Salcedo.

Losing 2-1 to Racing Club, left Newell's in 12th place, and could well end even lower depending on the results of several matches yet to be played. Machuca scored for Newell's, taking the lead in the 3rd minute off a free kick taken by Sperdutti.

Of the players missing from the line up one must speculate whether we'll see them in Rojinegro ever again... well, OK, Rolando Schiavi is only on loan to Estudiantes for the remander of their Libertadores run. Their next opponents, Nacional de Montevideo, are protesting this, but FIFA has given the go ahead after the team from La Plata had 3 defenders forced out by injury. Reports are that Newell's get $100,000 (US) plus Estudiantes are paying the insurance and Schiavi's wages.

One player who won't be back is Hernán Bernardello, who's off to Almeria in Spain for a reported 3.15 million Euros. How much of that will end up in Newell's coffers is debatable. As I understand it, the team only owned about 7% of the defensive midfielder's contract to begin with. While I wish him well, it's another bright young player leaving the club too soon. He's 22, 23 in August. I pray for the day when we can keep hold of such players until their at least 26.

Leandro Armani and Iván Pillud were on loan from Tiro Federal, odds are that they'll make the long trip back to that club... well, actually they could walk, now, couldn't they? (For those who don't know, Tiro is another Rosario club.)

Salcedo played last night, but it's been rumored that he'll be returning to River Plate. I doubt we'll be seeing Mauro Formica playing for Newell's during the Apertura 09. As the team's top performer during this Clausura he could well command a high price, and the team is still in need of cash.

Honestly, to wipe out the debts, Newell's could well have to sell off nearly, if not all, of their best starting 11.

So far I've seen reports of Paraguayan Jorge Achucarro joining Newell's from Atlas in Mexico. Again, to be honest, I'm hoping that it's just a rumor. If it's true, it probably means more countjavascript:void(0)er attack/long ball futbol is in store for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile the mantra is going through my head, the one I stated before this Clausura opened with 2 straight wins... "It's going to get worse before it gets better." The question is, just how much worst does it have to get before we see the light at the end of the tunnel?

For the club, I'd say that we're on the right track. For the team, well, that's another matter. But best to put the club right first, Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys must be that first and foremost. El equipo de futbol? It's the most visible part of Newell's, but if we sacrifice all else to build a team that can win championships, only to lose it to bankruptcy? No, Lorente is doing things right, in that respect... so far.

Lucas Bernardi To Return... Fabbiani, Fabbiani, Fabbiani

With the aftermath begining to settle, Newell's are in no position to spend a dime on in coming players. To the rescue would come Lucas Bernardi on a free transfer, and he says he know's the situation, he just wants to come back and help out.

The question is, will the move work? Right now, I'd say that he'd only come back to face Hernán Bernadello for a place on the starting 11. Then again, maybe it would allow one of them to venture forward more often.

I'm still expecting a January fire sale. Bernardi I don't see going. Fabbiani we know is gone, good ridence, so long, have fun a River when they go down in three years (did I really just wish that on Los Millonarios? If they fill their team full of foul smelling mercenaries like El Ogro, it's just what they deserve.)

No, forget that. I want to see the deal with River fall through, and Fabbiani end up with Los Canallas. It will give me reason to hate him proper.