todavia El Pibe, siempre El Pibe (R)

[northern fan]

Still The Kid, always The Kid. That's about all the Spanish I can do, sorry. I just want to pay tribute to my favorite player, who just logged two assists including the gamewinner on the eve of his 41st birthday, clinching a playoff berth for his club. He's far from perfect, but he is an inspiration to me. Carlos Valderrama, Andres Galarraga, interesting parallels, both very inspiring to me. Both 41, both make concessions to their age, both stay match fit, both can still get it done at an age when most have been retired for several years. Long May You Run, or Jog :-), El Pibe, and El Gato Grande!

[NACIONAL]

thanks... its kind your tribute... i really liket... ohh and beside... welcome to the sudamerica forum!!!!

[sidspaceman]

Nice to see that there is at least one American fan that appreciates Valderrama.

[northern fan]

It's good to find this forum! I'm glad to see so many fans discussing Colombian soccer, probably my favorite international side. The Colombian players in MLS have brought a huge burst of creativity and energy. I will work on Spanish so I can keep up with some of this. I encourage Colombian fans to keep an eye out for the Colorado Rapids playoff run in a couple of weeks--could be Carlos' swan song. But he's got three good strikers and a couple of tricky middlefielders playing with him, so it could become memborable. The team's defense is awful, though.

[NACIONAL]

you are not gonna believe me, but I'm following the MLS cup in a regular basis (well i cant see games, but i follow the damn league...), and I'm really in terested in this year matches..... i will put more interest in the rapids... :D

[sidspaceman]

Oh Nacional you are selling out your Columbus Crew.

[NACIONAL]

hehehehehe... don't think that way... I'm not selling it... I'm just saying that i will give more attention to the rapids...

even because I'm angry... the rapids next year will wear blue instead of GREEN

[JRedknapp11]

I saw very quickly on Al Jezera (middle east tv) some sort of tribute to Carlos...since I have no clue on how to understand arabic , I was wondering if Carlos was in the news recently for anything special ?


Also I agree with the posters above....there is no better pure passer then El Pibe.... rumour has it that when he finally hangs them up he is going to become a doctor and perform operations with his right foot.

Cheers to El Pibe and for giving the US soccer fan so many ohh's and ahh's. Pure class.

[NACIONAL]

Originally posted by JRedknapp11
.... rumour has it that when he finally hangs them up he is going to become a doctor and perform operations with his right foot.

y yo pense que los paisas éramos exagerados....

[efernandez9]

great words for a great player!

norten fan - if you ever interesated on a topic, just post 'TRANSLATE" and one of us will do the honors.

redkapp - the only news as of late about Carlos is the farewell party his natal city is working on it, with a 3 meter statue an all

see the other thread on calos valdeRRAMA.

[sidspaceman]

3 meter I thought it was 10 meters.

[Frank Cunha]

MLS just listen and sign El Pibe, to a new two year contract, he his a fan favorite.
Go Valderrama.

[northern fan]

Originally posted by sidspaceman
Nice to see that there is at least one American fan that appreciates Valderrama.

Yeah, I have followed Carlos from team to team in MLS (Mutiny to Fusion to Mutiny to Rapids) and it seems like the core supporters of each team bash him pretty hard. Like check out some of the threads on the current Rapids board, they're really lighting into him. The complaints are usually the same--he doesn't run, so he's a huge defensive liability, and he squawks too much.

I just love him cuz I love beautiful futbol. All the complaints are valid, I suppose, but I don't understand why these fans often overlook his accomplishments--second in the league in assists, for example. Two assists and the gamewinner the other night (both beautiful plays) to put the club into the playoffs. But there's almost NO reference to this in all of the threads about that game. I don't really get it. Yeah, he does squawk, but he's also been a big influence on some great players. Steve Ralston, leading the league in assists, would I think be the first to say that he learned a lot from Pibe.

There were some bad spitting/punching incidents near the end with the Mutiny, and I don't excuse him for those, and some other incidents throughout his MLS career. But I think lots of fans would call most such players "fiery", but they condemn Pibe for it.

So there is a lot of U.S. resistance to him, and I don't totally get it (maybe something left over from WC '94? don't know), but there are also a few of us who love him. There are always a few yellow wigs at any game he plays. Whenever his tribute game comes, I will try to make it, if I can afford it. Few players have given me as much joy as he has.

[sidspaceman]

I think most MLS fans dislike him because they see it as an embarrassment that a 41 year old can still play in their league.

[NACIONAL]

its a 10 METER STATUE

just clearing the subject...

[sidspaceman]

Are you sure I read it was a 7 meter statue.

[NACIONAL]

I'm sure is between 7 and 10 meters tall

[sidspaceman]

I think it is 7 meters.

[NACIONAL]

mmm whatever.... its going to be the biggest statue for a sport-man in the world..

[sidspaceman]

I did not know that.