Heard about him.. Apparently they're titling him "the new Messi". Before everyone was "the new Maradona", now they're all "the new Messis". Let's just hope the pressure doesn't get to him.
River will be the Argentinean team with most sparrings going to the World Cup. Of the 16 players called up by Sergio Batista, four of them play for River: Pezzella, Gonzalez Pires, Ramiro Funes Mori, and Galucci Otero. It'll be a great experience for all of them and hopefully it helps them grow somewhat as players. Interesting note: no Boca players form part of the squad.
Lanzini made an interesting debut the other day vs. Central Norte. Definitely want to see more of this kid. In other news, German Pezzella, Ramiro Funes Mori, Luis Vila, Santiago Gallucci Otero, Ivan Diaz, and Rodrigo Rey were called up to the U-20 NT to participate in a tournament in Paraguay.
Simeone's son seems to be a decent striker http://www.ole.com.ar/river-plate/Juego-gol-dientes_0_310768943.html best of luck to him and hope to see him in the senior team in a few years, as long as his dad doesn't come back to coach
LPM just posted Manuel Lanzini's story, pretty interesting: http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/...ini-que-tuvo-su-debut-oficial-ante-tigre.html Apparently Boca were after him before he joined River, but he refused the offer. The kid is a genuine millonario.
the reserve team beat tigre 2-1 today with Lamela getting on the score sheet. I hope to see Erik in the primera soon for more than 10 minutes... he deserves it IMO
Interesting read on the Ecuadorian River, which I mentioned a while back in this thread: http://www.clarin.com/deportes/futbol/River-manera-ecuatoriana_0_319168190.html Apparently some of our youngsters might join their side on loan in the future:
Here's a short highlight of the game btw: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY5zcnBUmXQ&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube- Reserva: River 2-1 Tigre 10.08.10[/ame]
Que pase de Cirigliano! Q tiro libre de Lamela! Espero q Lamela este en el banco contra independiente, merece su chance
Another great article about Lanzini: http://www.clarin.com/deportes/futbol/Lanzini-busca-Aimar_0_320968047.html I like the kid's style.
Felicitaciones a los pibes de la quinta por coronarse campeones otra vez! The team that won it all: Gaspar Serbio; Luis Monge Alavy, Leandro González Pirez, Esteban Espíndola, Diego Martínez; Gonzalo Olid Apaza, Nicolás Matarof, Juan Carlos Montero, Nicolás Gómez; Javier Franco Cortes, Luis Vila; DT: Claudio Viscovich. It is worth noting that a lot of key players from this team were missing, like Lamela, Villalva, Cirigliano, Espinoza, and Augusto Solari, yet the team still managed to win the trophy.
Interview with Luis Vila, a forward from River's youth divisions: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjmHudsMGp8[/ame]
"Dirigir a estos chicos es un verdadero placer" http://www.ole.com.ar/river-plate/Dirigir-chicos-verdadero-placer_0_323367694.html
Ramiro Funes Mori is now training with the first team and will even be on the bench vs. Argentinos Jrs. on Sunday. It's a good time for the Funes Mori twins.
Federico Andrada, a 16-year-old forward from River's youth divisions, just signed a 3 year contract with a 15 million euro termination clause. He has been a big promise for River for a while now, and has already accumulated 125 goals in our inferiores (6 of them against Boca). Definitely a player to watch, especially considering our lack of home-grown forwards since the Cavenaghi era.
I saw some highlights of him and he looks like a nice prospect for sure. Similar to Cavenaghi in his style. He's robust (not called El tanque for nothing) but he's capable technically speaking. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6soIgJmW_x4"]YouTube - Hu_090824Dep_ReportAndrada[/ame]
While i'm at there: The reserve match against Velez: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv0cUClNCd0&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Reserva: Velez 0-2 River 08.09.10[/ame] As you can see Pavone looks extremely rusty.
Nice videos, msi! Lamela has been looking amazing for the reserves, lets hope we see him atleast a bit in Primera today vs. Arsenal.
Lamela looks to be fulfilling his immense potential and promise. Great to see the Mori twins doing so well .Rogelio certainly has an unusual history and no doubt the USSF will be kicking themselves . msi2 Gaucho thanks for the videos. I like Andrada's composure and assured touch infront of goal. msi2, locox how do you think the likes of Apaza, Pezzella and Espindola can do and are they future seleccion material ?
Pezzela from what I've seen is very smart defender, he also has a good physical presence and good technique, I think he is a good prospect. Espindola from what I saw in the U-17 isn't a NT metarial in my opinion, he is too short and lack of physical power, he lacks also in his Positioning and vision. I think Leandro Gonzalez-Pirez is better than Espindola and also have good future, from what I saw in the U-17 he is the best prospect in the defence.
Pezzella is very promising. Luckily, we went out and investing in some quality centerbacks so he doesn't have to be rushed into playing like may have happened in the past. Given the success that Lamela and Lanzini people have forgot about Keko, who was great in the apertura 2009. i think it all came a bit to fast for him. When he is healthy, it will be fun to see him playing with Lamela once again. Hopefully we will be seeing this in the primera:
Also, does anyone know how the Cameroonian striker Many Essomba Alexandre is doing? I saw him play last year against Newell's and I was impressed but I haven't heard anything really since. Anyone know anything?