Tomorrow Newell's Old Boys venture to Buenos Aires to face River Plate. This match may well be the first real test for La Lepra in the Torneo Inicial so far. River, just back to the Primera after a season in the B, are off to a decent enough start with two wins and two draws after their first five games.
Newell's, on the other hand, are only a point off the pace set by early leaders Boca Juniors. Three wins and two draws is a great start to the season. Newell's are the only team after five matches to yet concede a goal. If we can survive our sixth and still be able to say that it will be amazing.
What worries me about Newell's however is our lack of goal scoring so far. Five games in, and we have only four goals ourselves. Other worries for Sunday is that defender Marcos Cáceres will be out due to an ankle sprain, and midfielder Maxi Rodriguez will be missing due to being called up to the Albicelestes (Argentine National Team.) That leaves questions as to who coach Gerardo Martino will have playing in their place.
Milton Casco or Cristian Díaz are listed as the possible replacements in defense. With Maxi not available it seems that either Lucas Bernardi will play in midfield in a 4-4-2 formation, or Ignacio Scocco will start with the team shifting to a 4-3-3.
Guzmán; Casco or Díaz, Vergini, López, Heinze; Pérez, Villalba, Bernardi or Scocco, Vangioni; Sperduti, Figueroa
Personally, I'd rather both Bernardi AND Scocco started. Figueroa could easily be dropped to the bench. We will see what happens.
The fans also have some choices to make later this year as the team president Guillermo Lorente will be facing likely candidate Jorge Griffa in elections in December. The two met this week and are reported to have agreed to a "non-aggression" pact. We will see how long that lasts.
Showing posts with label election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label election. Show all posts
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Four Years Of Transformation
Found the following video bouncing around Twitter this morning. It is a good reminder of what Newell's Old Boys were left with after the years of abuse at the hands of Eduardo Lopez and his lot, and just how much work it took for Guillermo Lorente and his administration to set things right... something that, financially, is an on going mission.
New elections are scheduled for December. New candidates are out there. The team has not always been the best, Lorente and those under him have made a few mistakes along the way. But that is how you learn.
Hopefully the coming presidential campaigns will not detract form what happens on the field, but how well the team does could well effect the elections. The team must do well this coming season, as they begin the year buried in the fight against relegation. Certainly with Gerardo Martino as coach, and the return of Maxi Rodriguez a glorious season is possible. But only time will tell.
Mr. Lorente, your presidency hangs in the balance.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Looking Ahead To The 2012 Elections
Just a little over three years ago Guillermo Lorente took over as president of Newell's Old Boys. Elections are supposed to be held every four years, meaning that the team had best turn their fortune around quickly or Lorente will find it very difficult retaining his position with the club. That said, let us take a quick look at the man who held the position before Lorente took over.
For those who do not know, the previous president at Newell's was Eduardo Lopez. This bastard, by hook and by crook, managed to avoid having elections for some 14 years. Lopez did not leave office peaceably, the Barras Brava, who had been working as team security under the rat, took everything they could out of the clubs offices... computers, paper work, security cameras, desks, tables, and chairs. The only thing that seemed to remain was the building, and a few busts of team founder Isaac Newell, but even those were vandalized before the keys were turned over to the new president. The bank account was not only drained, Lopez left the team well in debt, the total figures took two years to sort out due to Lopez and his cronies leaving no records behind. The final figure was some 68 million pesos in the red, a figure that will take years to balance.
Sadly, the administration headed by Lorente seems to have gone backwards in terms of performance. The team Lorente took over did fairly well, players that were brought in early on did well. Since the disclosure of the debt, however, things have fallen apart. No one wants to sell or loan a player of quality to a team that is likely to not be able to pay a fair price. Hampered by his attempts to balance the budget has lead to some massive mistakes in player signing, and dare I say sales as well... the sale of Mauro Fórmica could have been handled far better, and the departure of Nacho Fideleff left the team with out a true left back...
And then there was the complete and total fiasco that was the attempts to sign Juan Manuel Cobelli. The young Cobelli was proving to be a force as a true 9 early on during the 2011 Clausura, which has been the area the team has been lacking since Joaquín Boghossian left for Europe. Problem was Cobelli was still on a youth contract, and it was not until he had scored three goals that the team tried to sign him to a full professional contract. This error was compounded when the player, on the advise of his agent and older brother Sebastián Cobelli, made his intentions to not sign known. Sebastián, who had played for Newell's himself, sighted interest from teams in Europe. Bad advise it would seem as Juan Manuel then sat out the rest of the Clausura, and is currently on loan to Chacarita Juniors in the National B.
So far I have not seen anyone step forward and state that they will be challenging Lorente for the top position with Newell's, but that does not change my feeling that he will soon lose that lofty position if the team on the field does not turn things around, and quickly. The opening of the 2011 Apertura had me praying for points so that Newell's would not be facing a relegation battle during the 2012/13 season. Not only did those points not come, but the team performed so poorly that now as the 2012 Clausura draws near there is the worry that the relegation battle may happen now... and Lorente will certainly not survive a drop to the National B.
For those who do not know, the previous president at Newell's was Eduardo Lopez. This bastard, by hook and by crook, managed to avoid having elections for some 14 years. Lopez did not leave office peaceably, the Barras Brava, who had been working as team security under the rat, took everything they could out of the clubs offices... computers, paper work, security cameras, desks, tables, and chairs. The only thing that seemed to remain was the building, and a few busts of team founder Isaac Newell, but even those were vandalized before the keys were turned over to the new president. The bank account was not only drained, Lopez left the team well in debt, the total figures took two years to sort out due to Lopez and his cronies leaving no records behind. The final figure was some 68 million pesos in the red, a figure that will take years to balance.
Sadly, the administration headed by Lorente seems to have gone backwards in terms of performance. The team Lorente took over did fairly well, players that were brought in early on did well. Since the disclosure of the debt, however, things have fallen apart. No one wants to sell or loan a player of quality to a team that is likely to not be able to pay a fair price. Hampered by his attempts to balance the budget has lead to some massive mistakes in player signing, and dare I say sales as well... the sale of Mauro Fórmica could have been handled far better, and the departure of Nacho Fideleff left the team with out a true left back...
And then there was the complete and total fiasco that was the attempts to sign Juan Manuel Cobelli. The young Cobelli was proving to be a force as a true 9 early on during the 2011 Clausura, which has been the area the team has been lacking since Joaquín Boghossian left for Europe. Problem was Cobelli was still on a youth contract, and it was not until he had scored three goals that the team tried to sign him to a full professional contract. This error was compounded when the player, on the advise of his agent and older brother Sebastián Cobelli, made his intentions to not sign known. Sebastián, who had played for Newell's himself, sighted interest from teams in Europe. Bad advise it would seem as Juan Manuel then sat out the rest of the Clausura, and is currently on loan to Chacarita Juniors in the National B.
So far I have not seen anyone step forward and state that they will be challenging Lorente for the top position with Newell's, but that does not change my feeling that he will soon lose that lofty position if the team on the field does not turn things around, and quickly. The opening of the 2011 Apertura had me praying for points so that Newell's would not be facing a relegation battle during the 2012/13 season. Not only did those points not come, but the team performed so poorly that now as the 2012 Clausura draws near there is the worry that the relegation battle may happen now... and Lorente will certainly not survive a drop to the National B.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The Unhappy Ogre
During the later stages of the Aperatura I read time and time again qoutes from Fabbiani saying he wanted to stay, he wanted to stay, he wanted to stay. Now, suddenly, with Lopez gone, he gives an interview and says he was never paid, from the beginning of the season and throughout. Because of this, he's asking to be released from Newell's, and is joined by Sebastián Peratta, Pablo Aguilar.
Meanwhile, the contracts have been gathered from the AFA offices, and Lorente and his crew are working to straighten things out. Still, there's the problem of proof. With out the books to show who's been paid, and who hasn't, and how many payments were missed...
Ogro, you won our hearts with your play, now must you lose our trust with your greed? Yes, if you are owed money you are entitled to it, but do not punish the new president for the sins of his predecessor. Give Lorente time to sort things out, if you must do otherwise, go after he who did not pay you, not the club he ran into the ground.
The new team treasurer, Jorge Ricobelli, has said that the team must do just that. May the Wheels of Justice be swift, least the entire roster turn their backs on the team.
Meanwhile, the contracts have been gathered from the AFA offices, and Lorente and his crew are working to straighten things out. Still, there's the problem of proof. With out the books to show who's been paid, and who hasn't, and how many payments were missed...
Ogro, you won our hearts with your play, now must you lose our trust with your greed? Yes, if you are owed money you are entitled to it, but do not punish the new president for the sins of his predecessor. Give Lorente time to sort things out, if you must do otherwise, go after he who did not pay you, not the club he ran into the ground.
The new team treasurer, Jorge Ricobelli, has said that the team must do just that. May the Wheels of Justice be swift, least the entire roster turn their backs on the team.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Delving Through The Cesspool
I just got an e-mail from my sister Beth, who's not a soccer fan at all, but complemented me on the blog, saying that she enjoyed reading it. Thanks again, sis.
Wish I was enjoying writing it just as much at the moment, but that's kind of hard. Teams in Argentina have no owner, the team president is in charge, and as a the new man is claiming his office, he's found that the old one left the building, but none of it's contents.
To put it another way, as the Ratopez left, he took every thing that wasn't nailed down with him. He even left the club treasury bare, while, once he realized that he probably wouldn't keep his office, he stopped paying the team employees, including the players.
Actually, he went beyond that. The security cameras, and all the wiring that went with them were missing as well. The building that housed the offices is not in the team's name, the player contracts were gone.
Lorente has sent a delegate to the offices of the AFA to make copies of the missing player contracts. This leads me to a new fear... what if those contracts aren't made out so the players are signed to Newell's, but instead to Lopez himself? It seems farfetched, but it's been common in recent years that Argentine player contracts, expecially those still playing in the domestic league, are owned by the agents (just look into Carlos Tevez and his contract, no, Manchester United do not hold his contract, but have him "on loan.")
Meanwhile, I just tried to go to http://www.pasionrojinegra.com, with no luck. And Gamboa has quit the club.
It's good that Lopez is gone, but things are going to get worst before they get better. I hope Lorente is up to the task of cleaning out this cesspool Lopez has left in his wake.
Wish I was enjoying writing it just as much at the moment, but that's kind of hard. Teams in Argentina have no owner, the team president is in charge, and as a the new man is claiming his office, he's found that the old one left the building, but none of it's contents.
To put it another way, as the Ratopez left, he took every thing that wasn't nailed down with him. He even left the club treasury bare, while, once he realized that he probably wouldn't keep his office, he stopped paying the team employees, including the players.
Actually, he went beyond that. The security cameras, and all the wiring that went with them were missing as well. The building that housed the offices is not in the team's name, the player contracts were gone.
Lorente has sent a delegate to the offices of the AFA to make copies of the missing player contracts. This leads me to a new fear... what if those contracts aren't made out so the players are signed to Newell's, but instead to Lopez himself? It seems farfetched, but it's been common in recent years that Argentine player contracts, expecially those still playing in the domestic league, are owned by the agents (just look into Carlos Tevez and his contract, no, Manchester United do not hold his contract, but have him "on loan.")
Meanwhile, I just tried to go to http://www.pasionrojinegra.com, with no luck. And Gamboa has quit the club.
It's good that Lopez is gone, but things are going to get worst before they get better. I hope Lorente is up to the task of cleaning out this cesspool Lopez has left in his wake.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Ding Dong The Rat Bastard's Gone
Guillermo Lorente and the MOLE crew entered the offices of Newell's to take charge, only to find the place to have been cleared of all it's computers. I don't know the laws of the land, I don't claim to even no the laws of the land I'm living in, but if charges can't be brought up on the Ratopez for the theft of team equipment then something else must be done.
No word as yet as to the state of the team's bank account, but it would not surprise me if Ratopez took care of that as well.
Good news is that the current administration is doing their best to keep Gamboa on as coach, with Gustavo Dezotti, the team's new manager, holding talks with Fernando. Considering that Marcello Bielsa was in town for the election, I'm also hoping that he had time enough after casting his vote to track down and have a word with Gamboa as well.
Once the coaching situation is cleared up, one way or another, and the computers replaced, it will be time to deal with the January transfer season. I certainly hope the the nucleus of the current side can be maintained, supplemented with some solid acquisitions to bolster the team in areas that were lacking during the Apertura.
If, however, my fears are proven accurate, that won't be possible. Let us now all pray that I am wrong, and Ratopez forgot to clean out the bank.
No word as yet as to the state of the team's bank account, but it would not surprise me if Ratopez took care of that as well.
Good news is that the current administration is doing their best to keep Gamboa on as coach, with Gustavo Dezotti, the team's new manager, holding talks with Fernando. Considering that Marcello Bielsa was in town for the election, I'm also hoping that he had time enough after casting his vote to track down and have a word with Gamboa as well.
Once the coaching situation is cleared up, one way or another, and the computers replaced, it will be time to deal with the January transfer season. I certainly hope the the nucleus of the current side can be maintained, supplemented with some solid acquisitions to bolster the team in areas that were lacking during the Apertura.
If, however, my fears are proven accurate, that won't be possible. Let us now all pray that I am wrong, and Ratopez forgot to clean out the bank.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Election Counted
Well, with a count of only 5927 for the full vote, Lorente took the race with a strong 66.9% percent of the vote. I'm relieved that Lopez is out, or at least it looks that way. There is still the possibility that he'll try his luck at court again, but his luck has not been that good of late.
If the man has any honor, he will now step down and walk away.
Now who expects that?
If the man has any honor, he will now step down and walk away.
Now who expects that?
Election Day
The day has come, though I don't know when we'll get the results of the voting. Lopez or Lorente will take the glory, and we will either celebrate, or cry.
The importance of this election can be illustrated by the fact that Marcello Bielsa, currently coach of Chile's national team, will be in Rosario to cast his vote. Bielsa lead Newell's to two Championships as a coach during the early 90's. They also beat Boca Jrs in the 1990-91 Torneo Integración on penalties, back when the winner of the Apertura faced the Clausura winners to claim the over all title.
With all the back handed tactics that have failed Lopez to this point, I hope there are no problems during the actual voting. Lopez has stated there are no Newell's Barra Brava, but today could well prove him wrong... but, still, images of violence fill my head.
I pray my fears are wrong, that all go peacefully to the polls. I pray that the votes are all counted, whether cast for Lorente, or Lopez. And I pray that an honest man wins.
The importance of this election can be illustrated by the fact that Marcello Bielsa, currently coach of Chile's national team, will be in Rosario to cast his vote. Bielsa lead Newell's to two Championships as a coach during the early 90's. They also beat Boca Jrs in the 1990-91 Torneo Integración on penalties, back when the winner of the Apertura faced the Clausura winners to claim the over all title.
With all the back handed tactics that have failed Lopez to this point, I hope there are no problems during the actual voting. Lopez has stated there are no Newell's Barra Brava, but today could well prove him wrong... but, still, images of violence fill my head.
I pray my fears are wrong, that all go peacefully to the polls. I pray that the votes are all counted, whether cast for Lorente, or Lopez. And I pray that an honest man wins.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Lorente Interview, MOLE Mailer
Good news on the Gamboa front. In an interview in Clarin, Lorente said, should he win the election he hopes he can count on Gamboa fulfilling his contract.
For those who can read spanish, the full interview can be found here.
All thanks to Lorena Rodriguez, whom e-mailed me the link, along with this one.
Dale Nuls, Dale MOLE, Dale Lorente!
I hope and pray that we can still chant that after the vote on the 14th has been counted.
For those who can read spanish, the full interview can be found here.
All thanks to Lorena Rodriguez, whom e-mailed me the link, along with this one.
Dale Nuls, Dale MOLE, Dale Lorente!
I hope and pray that we can still chant that after the vote on the 14th has been counted.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Newell's vs Arsenal 11-21-08 highlights
Here's a video of the highlights from last weekend's game between Newell's and Arsenal. It includes footage of both of Spolli's yellow cards, and frankly I have to say that, while they were fouls, I do not think either were deserving of such sever punishment.
There's also bits of some interviews at the end. I do not know off hand who the Newell's player that they interview is, but they ask him why Newell's lost. He simply and honestly replies "because we did not play well."
Still, even with out the win, it is not the end of the world. Hopefully Gamboa will be allow to continue the work that he's started, and the players dressing in rojinegro will continue on to form the nuclious of a bright future for Los Leprosos.
That leads me to my biggest fear... with the election coming up in December all kinds of odd things can happen. And then there is the January transfers. As is the way with Futbol Argentino we can expect a few faces to move out, and others to enter the picture.
Lopez could end up retaining his position and punish all those who opposed him by disassembling what is a very good Newell's team. With all the quality players being fielded at the moment it could bring a lot of money... which would no doubt go the same why the fee for Cardozo went.
On a similar vein, if he's replaced, the new man in charge could decide to rid the team of players simply because they were brought in during Eduardo's reign. If that's the case, I'd expect Gamboa could be stripped of his job.
Just thinking about it has me wanting to pull out my hair... and I don't have enough of it left to be doing that kind of thing. Instead, this will be the last I post of such speculation until after the election takes place.
There's also bits of some interviews at the end. I do not know off hand who the Newell's player that they interview is, but they ask him why Newell's lost. He simply and honestly replies "because we did not play well."
Still, even with out the win, it is not the end of the world. Hopefully Gamboa will be allow to continue the work that he's started, and the players dressing in rojinegro will continue on to form the nuclious of a bright future for Los Leprosos.
That leads me to my biggest fear... with the election coming up in December all kinds of odd things can happen. And then there is the January transfers. As is the way with Futbol Argentino we can expect a few faces to move out, and others to enter the picture.
Lopez could end up retaining his position and punish all those who opposed him by disassembling what is a very good Newell's team. With all the quality players being fielded at the moment it could bring a lot of money... which would no doubt go the same why the fee for Cardozo went.
On a similar vein, if he's replaced, the new man in charge could decide to rid the team of players simply because they were brought in during Eduardo's reign. If that's the case, I'd expect Gamboa could be stripped of his job.
Just thinking about it has me wanting to pull out my hair... and I don't have enough of it left to be doing that kind of thing. Instead, this will be the last I post of such speculation until after the election takes place.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
And The Candidates Are Lopez And....
In December there will be, at least theoretically, an election for the Presidency of Newell's Old Boys. So far every thing I've seen has every leper in the world wanting the current Pres. Eduardo Lopez out, but no word on who anyone wants to put into office.
Reasons for wanting Lopez gone are many, though he's the longest reigning President the team have ever had, 14 straight years in charge so far, yet has only won two elections. During his time we've won one championship (Apertura 2004,) had a season where it was reported that a Barras Bravas had set themselves up as player agents, holding the contracts of several of the players and presured the coach to play them whether they were capable or not. And let's not forget all the stories of how much of the money that came into the club via transfer fees have mysteriously gone missing...
Looking at that, one has to ask, just what has Lopez done to deserve such a long run in charge? Well, sense he's been in charge he's used a number of methods to ensure that he remains in power, from not allowing socios to vote that have not paid their dues (which is a thinly veiled excuse to keep those who do not support him from voting - there are no records kept as to who'a paid up and who isn't... so how was this done?) to making sure that no other candidate registered before the election deadline - no other candidate, no need for an election.
In this pre-election season the courts in Argentina have ruled against Lopez from not allowing socios to vote. First it was that he couldn't limit them at all. Eduardo appealled that and it was overturned in favor of a ruling that stated that if a socio had paid for the three months leading up to the election they could vote. Lopez then made it nearly imposible for anyone to pay their dues. Anyone who showed up to do so was turned away. Due to this the second ruling has been overturned back to the initial ruling, everyone votes, dues paid or not.
But that has lead everyone's attention to be on Lopez's manuevers on who can and who can't vote. Could this just be a smoke screen to keep us from realizing that there is no other candidate? Has anyone else thrown their hat into the ring? Please, someone, anyone, tell me that there is a viable alternate candidate.
Reasons for wanting Lopez gone are many, though he's the longest reigning President the team have ever had, 14 straight years in charge so far, yet has only won two elections. During his time we've won one championship (Apertura 2004,) had a season where it was reported that a Barras Bravas had set themselves up as player agents, holding the contracts of several of the players and presured the coach to play them whether they were capable or not. And let's not forget all the stories of how much of the money that came into the club via transfer fees have mysteriously gone missing...
Looking at that, one has to ask, just what has Lopez done to deserve such a long run in charge? Well, sense he's been in charge he's used a number of methods to ensure that he remains in power, from not allowing socios to vote that have not paid their dues (which is a thinly veiled excuse to keep those who do not support him from voting - there are no records kept as to who'a paid up and who isn't... so how was this done?) to making sure that no other candidate registered before the election deadline - no other candidate, no need for an election.
In this pre-election season the courts in Argentina have ruled against Lopez from not allowing socios to vote. First it was that he couldn't limit them at all. Eduardo appealled that and it was overturned in favor of a ruling that stated that if a socio had paid for the three months leading up to the election they could vote. Lopez then made it nearly imposible for anyone to pay their dues. Anyone who showed up to do so was turned away. Due to this the second ruling has been overturned back to the initial ruling, everyone votes, dues paid or not.
But that has lead everyone's attention to be on Lopez's manuevers on who can and who can't vote. Could this just be a smoke screen to keep us from realizing that there is no other candidate? Has anyone else thrown their hat into the ring? Please, someone, anyone, tell me that there is a viable alternate candidate.
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