River Plate 2006: Results & comments

[riverplate]

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/2003/logos/CLUBS/55x55/55x55_riverplate.gif

Upcoming games:
Sun., Jan. 8: River Plate v San Lorenzo at Mar del Plata
Wed., Jan. 11: River Plate v Independiente at Mar del Plata
Sat., Jan. 14: Boca v River Plate at Mar del Plata
Tues., Jan. 17: River Plate v Boca at Salta (Copa Desafío)
Fri., Jan. 20: Racing v River Plate at Salta
Thurs., Jan. 26: River Plate v Oriente Petrolero (Copa Libertadores)
Thurs., Feb. 2: Oriente Petrolero v River Plate (Copa Libertadores)
__________

Sunday, January 8
Torneo de Verano
River Plate v San Lorenzo
at Mar del Plata

Fox Soccer Channel - 8 PM ET / 7 PM CT / 5 PM PT live
Fox Sports en Español - 1 AM ET / 12 AM CT / 10 PM PT tape

Probable starters
Germán Lux;
Cristian Alvarez - Danilo Gerlo - Gabriel Loeschbor - Lucas Mareque;
Diego Barrado - Andrés San Martín - Oscar Ahumada;
Daniel Montenegro - Darío Conca - Gustavo Oberman

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/2003/photos2006/0104/f_River_ht.jpg

[Leon12]

It doesn't matter who is in the River team, they still aren't going to finish above Boca. :)

[ElMuneco]

It doesn't matter who is in the River team, they still aren't going to finish above Boca. :)


And you base this on what now? I think it all depends on which club reinforces there squad better. Just like when there was the break between the Clausura/Apetura last year. Boca reinforced there club bettter, simple as that. If River is somehow able to bring in Ortega, Belluschi, Figueroa, and Dominguez, I think you'd have to tip them as favorites for the Clausura since Boca hasn't done didly squat.

[megamac20817]

Was anyone else dissapointed with this game? Not only did Merlo not bring Falcao, he didn't put on Toja, Conca or Ferrari. The only good part was Carizzo, who was simply solid in goal.

[riverplate]

Torneo de Verano

River Plate 0 - 0 San Lorenzo

Starters
Juan Carrizo;
Cristian Alvarez - Gabriel Loeschbor - Danilo Gerlo - Lucas Mareque;
Jairo Patiño - Andrés San Martín - Oscar Ahumada - Rubens Sambueza;
Daniel Montenegro - Gustavo Oberman
Substitutions
Gonzalo Higuaín for Oberman 72'
Jesus Méndez for Sambueza 79'
Nicolás Domingo for Ahumada 85'
Unused
Lux, Rojas, Barrado
Yellow cards
San Martín, Gerlo

Carrizo was damn good. He was extremely quick and well-positioned. Unfortunately, the hope of seeing some more fresh, new blood running around out there tonight wasn't to be fulfilled. However, with so many games coming up in less than two weeks, there should be ample opportunity for everybody to get their shot.

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/2003/photos2006/0108/f_riversanlo_vt.jpg

[Leon12]

ElMuneco,

Just a bit of harmless banter no offence was meant.

Boca will still finish higher than River though. :) (joke, joke).

[SaturnX20]

well seems like Merlo quit...

[riverplate]

From ESPN Deportes:

Reinaldo Merlo presentó su renuncia indeclinable como director técnico de River Plate.

El anuncio tuvo lugar después del empate sin goles frente a San Lorenzo de Almagro, en la segunda fecha del Pentagonal de verano, tras un partido en que los dos equipos presentaron muchos suplentes y protagonizaron un espectáculo de muy pobre nivel.

Aunque todavía no hubo aclaraciones públicas, los primeros trascendidos indican que las bases de la decisión tomada por Merlo a 17 días del primer partido con Oriente Petrolero por la Copa Libertadores de América giran sobre dos razones fundamentales: la mala relación con algunos de sus dirigidos, principalmente el referente Marcelo Gallardo, y las dificultades para la incorporación de Fernando Belluschi y Ariel Ortega, dos futbolistas solicitados por él.

Una sorpresa "Millonaria": Luego del pobrísimo empate ante San Lorenzo, Reinaldo Merlo presentó su renuncia indeclinable como técnico de River Plate (http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/story?id=396957)

[riverplate]

From ESPN Deportes:

Daniel Passarella quedó a un paso del regreso a la dirección técnica de River Plate luego de una reunión que mantuvo este mediodía con tres dirigentes del club.

Delegados por el presidente del club, José María Aguilar, los directivos se encontraron con Passarella en la confitería Jonathan, sobre la calle Lidoro Quinteros, a pocos metros del estadio Monumental desde las 11.30 y según las fuentes hay un principio de acuerdo.

No obstante, el anuncio no se llevará a cabo hasta que Aguilar regrese desde Brasil, donde pasaba las vacaciones y, según se dijo, ya ha emprendido el viaje hacia Buenos Aires.

El nuevo director técnico llegaría acompañado como ayudante de campo por Guillermo Rivarola, quien fue jugador a sus órdenes durante su etapa anterior y que hace muy poco dejó de ser entrenador de Racing.

Un regreso que muchos esperaban: Daniel Passarella quedó a un paso del regreso a la dirección técnica de River Plate luego de una reunión con tres dirigentes (http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/story?id=396979)

[megamac20817]

I would much rather Ramon back, but Pasarella will bring the discipline that we need.

[ElMuneco]

I would much rather Ramon back, but Pasarella will bring the discipline that we need.


I myself was very surprized when I read about this, this morning. Personally I don't give a shite who the DT is, as long as we win. I can't believe that Merlo didn't want to bring Ortega back though. The guy may be in his early 30's but I believe he still has some gas left in the tank. Hell, look what he did for Newell's in 2004. I think with a player like Ortega right now, you can't play him in every game, but rotate him in and out so he doesn't get injured or tired. Obviuosly he's not the same player he was when he wore "La Banda" before, but there still might be some fight in him.

[locoxriver]

Was anyone else dissapointed with this game? Not only did Merlo not bring Falcao, he didn't put on Toja, Conca or Ferrari. The only good part was Carizzo, who was simply solid in goal.
No surprise.. Being a River fan since I was born, I do not find this one bit unusual for. 99% of the time they put subs in the Torneo de Verano games to find new players. This time atleast players like San Martin, Oberman, Montenegro, Sambueza, etc. played.. For these game you usually see 1 or 2 players that have played a while in primera.

[locoxriver]

I would much rather Ramon back, but Pasarella will bring the discipline that we need.
It is nearly impossible for Ramon Diaz to come back with Aguilar as president. They don't get along very well..

[locoxriver]

“Le dije que estaba desconforme con su manera de trabajar. Esas fueron las palabras exactas que le dije”, arrancó Gallardo. Cuando se supo la decisión de Merlo de dejar el club que lo recibió como al gran salvador, muchos se preguntaron que era de los dirigentes Millonarios, si estaban al tanto de la situación, si iban a tomar cartas en el asunto. Y Gallardo se encargó de despejar esas dudas. “Yo también le hice saber mi postura a Mario Israel (presidente del Consejo de Fútbol)”, aclaró.

“Lo mas honesto y frontal era decírselo cara a cara y no ser hipócrita como normalmente sucede en el ambiente”, afirmó, y siguió explicando cómo fue que se sucedieron las cosas: “Me pidió un par de horas para poder digerir lo que le había comentado y le dije que no tenía problemas”.

“Me preguntó si mi pensamiento era generalizado y le dije que no quería involucrar a nadie. Le dije que más allá de que era personal, si él quería saber, la mayoría del plantel pensaba lo mismo”, tiró.

Parece que Mostaza ni se tomó tiempo para digerirlo y decidió dar un paso al costado. “Nos sorprendió”, comentó el Muñeco. “Mi idea era plantearle sólo que estaba desconforme con respecto a su manera de hacer las cosas”, agregó.

[locoxriver]

Not only did Merlo not bring Falcao, he didn't put on Conca.
A pesar de haber entrenado toda la semana y de estar anunciado como titular para el partido de ayer, Darío Conca no seguirá vistiendo la camiseta de River.

A Núñez ya entró un fax proveniente de Brasil (no se aclaró de qué club pero sería Fluminense) y el pase se cerraría hoy.

[locoxriver]

Anyone else find Merlo's departure wierd? Think about it.. Merlo left today in the morning, and after a few hours Passarella became River's coach. It seems like they were talking to el Kaiser before, because it usually takes a while for a new coach to arrive.. I dont know, maybe it's just me, but this whole thing sounds a little strange.

[megamac20817]

It does look odd, and more than anything, sad. Very dissapointing treatment of a coach that basically saved our 2005 for us as best he could.
And about Conca, now I'm pissed. Why do we export our best young players so soon? And to Brazil? We better have his replacement soon.

[locoxriver]

I think they are bringing transfers in the wrong way.

So far they brought:
- Caceres
- Toja (I have a lot of faith in this guy.. Hopefully he doesn't end up like Patino.)
- Ferrari

They are almost done with putting the final touches to the loan of Pusineri.. That way, we only have one transfer left (maximum 5). Do you really think that with those players that we brought we will be able to fight for the Copa Libertadores? I am not saying they are bad players, but I truly don't think they will make much changes to our Apertura line-up. They aren't incorporations that will make a huge impact on the team.. Hopefully I'm wrong..

[megamac20817]

I think that 5th transfer will be spent on a forward, who I think, will end up partnering Falcao. I have no problem with Lucho, but I'd rather someone else, who wouldn't force River to break the bank. I don't get why players ask for ridicoulous wages when they have things like a call up to the NT at stake :(:mad:

[ElMuneco]

I think they are bringing transfers in the wrong way.

So far they brought:
- Caceres
- Toja (I have a lot of faith in this guy.. Hopefully he doesn't end up like Patino.)
- Ferrari

They are almost done with putting the final touches to the loan of Pusineri.. That way, we only have one transfer left (maximum 5). Do you really think that with those players that we brought we will be able to fight for the Copa Libertadores? I am not saying they are bad players, but I truly don't think they will make much changes to our Apertura line-up. They aren't incorporations that will make a huge impact on the team.. Hopefully I'm wrong..


I gotta disagree with you regarding the transfers Loco. I'm not saying they're great transfers, but then again, I don't think they are all crap. IMHO, Ferrari has been one of the most underated right backs in the league. He just might be able to solidify that right side for us. I didn't have any problems with Alvarez, but maybe they figured he couldn't cut it. Toja is an interesting signing. I myself don't know a damn thing about him, but the one positive about him, is his age. He's only 20 and I've heard nothing bad about him from all of the Colombianos that surf our forum. As for Caceres, I posted my thoughts about bringing him in on one of theses pages. The guy is young for one, he's what 25 or 26 years old. He's already won the Copa Libertadores with Olimpia, and he's a current International for Paraguay. What more could you ask for? I do think Ameli should've been give another chance though. I think once Tuzzio was sent packing to Mallorca, Ameli, Gallardo, and the rest of the team should've had a sit down to discuss his situation. Unfortunatley it doesn't look like he'll ever get to weart "La Banda" again.