vipnerd
31 Jan 2008, 02:15 AM
Well, you all know this kid. He has left for good to Europe to try out luck, the most probable place would be Spain's 2nd division. But he has a contract with River, and he is refusing to acknowledge it.
In a great interview from Spain with MArtin Liberman, Almenares claims that he had been sent to the Reserves, and that he wants to play. This in itself is not a good sign, neither for River nor for most clubs, who have youngsters as young as 14 (River's Erik Lamela for example) and that can try to pursue something similar to what Almenares is doing. Leaving and having the clubs carry the burden of lost transfers.
So far, with this info, the kid is wrong doing, as he should had been in pre-season training with River's reserves in MdP. But I was surprised to learn from the player himself today that with him was a case of "using" the player. Risking his health along.
You all remember my "critics" to DAP and his methods during the 2006 2nd semester. When after the WC, River lost in 4ters to Libertad in the 2nd leg. And you also recall, during the Apertura 2006, the constant crying of DAP of the "seriousness" of the tournament and his weekly questioning of refs. Well, after losing the Sudamericana and Apertura '06 that December, River could sign 4 players for the Clausura '07. No more enganche (Gallardo) ... the "new" system needed fresh players according to DAP.
Suddenly, towards the end of the tournament, once River had lost all chances to the Apertura '06, DAP placed a youngster, for the first time, as a sub in the game at home against Nueva Chicago (1-2) (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=10152111&postcount=319) ... of course Almenares was unused. And in the next game at Velez (1-1) (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=10203062&postcount=326) of course, not even on the bench.
Why is this significant? Because Almenares had a knee injury. After 4 months of training, in which he had intense pains in his knee, River's doctor Cerezo kept telling the kid he was fine. Almenares got tired of this, and went ahead to visit Boca's doctor Batista. Guess what ... he had his ACL (anterior cruxiate ligament) torn. Almenares went ahead to have surgery, after the Chicago game (he didn't play), with Batista. River never paid him the surgery, nor even called him to find out how he was. In January, the dirigentes did go to see him, to have him sign paperwork that would allow Marco Ruben be the "5th" signing allowed for the Clausura '07, using his spot as he had long term injury.
So what now? Well, DAP pressured for 7 new players, 2 of which would sit out the local tournie and be available only for the Libertadores '07. The 7 players were:Rosales, Ruben, Villagra, Ojeda, Ponzio, Rivas, and Galvan.
How much of Almenares' injury was hidden on him, to be later placed for 1 game on the bench (in order to qualify as an active player that allowed an extra "spot" in case of long term injury)?
Now Almenares won't go back to River. He claims he had to train 4 months with his ACL torn, under pain, risking a worst injury to his knee. A simple MRI would had shown his problem. Cerezo couldn't possibly not known his problem. Lets add that one can play with a torn ACL (my case), but there is pain involved when putting "pressure" when in high intensity training/games. And that also the lateral ligaments of the knee are more easily torn since there is no support from the main (torn) central ligament. A big risk of an even worst injury.
Poor kid ... I remember mentioning this case back then when I heavily criticized DAP. That it was "fishy" how the kid that was for one game on the bench would "free" River of a spot. Some might see this "move" as just fine, as it could serve in River's best interest. But to have a young player go thru all this, for 4 months, risking his future, is fuct. DAP has no "ethics" ... all along he needed/wanted more signings and used this kid. He was failing at River after 4 tournies ... his pressure to win things in order to have a chance of being President in the future, justified the means. Shameful.
But this should be a thread for Almenares. This was his case. Now his present can cause a precedent that other youngsters could follow. Not because they have been abused, but because youngsters could do something like this under the excuse that they aren't given playing time. Kinda like Boca's Trejo at Mallorca now.
.
In a great interview from Spain with MArtin Liberman, Almenares claims that he had been sent to the Reserves, and that he wants to play. This in itself is not a good sign, neither for River nor for most clubs, who have youngsters as young as 14 (River's Erik Lamela for example) and that can try to pursue something similar to what Almenares is doing. Leaving and having the clubs carry the burden of lost transfers.
So far, with this info, the kid is wrong doing, as he should had been in pre-season training with River's reserves in MdP. But I was surprised to learn from the player himself today that with him was a case of "using" the player. Risking his health along.
You all remember my "critics" to DAP and his methods during the 2006 2nd semester. When after the WC, River lost in 4ters to Libertad in the 2nd leg. And you also recall, during the Apertura 2006, the constant crying of DAP of the "seriousness" of the tournament and his weekly questioning of refs. Well, after losing the Sudamericana and Apertura '06 that December, River could sign 4 players for the Clausura '07. No more enganche (Gallardo) ... the "new" system needed fresh players according to DAP.
Suddenly, towards the end of the tournament, once River had lost all chances to the Apertura '06, DAP placed a youngster, for the first time, as a sub in the game at home against Nueva Chicago (1-2) (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=10152111&postcount=319) ... of course Almenares was unused. And in the next game at Velez (1-1) (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=10203062&postcount=326) of course, not even on the bench.
Why is this significant? Because Almenares had a knee injury. After 4 months of training, in which he had intense pains in his knee, River's doctor Cerezo kept telling the kid he was fine. Almenares got tired of this, and went ahead to visit Boca's doctor Batista. Guess what ... he had his ACL (anterior cruxiate ligament) torn. Almenares went ahead to have surgery, after the Chicago game (he didn't play), with Batista. River never paid him the surgery, nor even called him to find out how he was. In January, the dirigentes did go to see him, to have him sign paperwork that would allow Marco Ruben be the "5th" signing allowed for the Clausura '07, using his spot as he had long term injury.
So what now? Well, DAP pressured for 7 new players, 2 of which would sit out the local tournie and be available only for the Libertadores '07. The 7 players were:Rosales, Ruben, Villagra, Ojeda, Ponzio, Rivas, and Galvan.
How much of Almenares' injury was hidden on him, to be later placed for 1 game on the bench (in order to qualify as an active player that allowed an extra "spot" in case of long term injury)?
Now Almenares won't go back to River. He claims he had to train 4 months with his ACL torn, under pain, risking a worst injury to his knee. A simple MRI would had shown his problem. Cerezo couldn't possibly not known his problem. Lets add that one can play with a torn ACL (my case), but there is pain involved when putting "pressure" when in high intensity training/games. And that also the lateral ligaments of the knee are more easily torn since there is no support from the main (torn) central ligament. A big risk of an even worst injury.
Poor kid ... I remember mentioning this case back then when I heavily criticized DAP. That it was "fishy" how the kid that was for one game on the bench would "free" River of a spot. Some might see this "move" as just fine, as it could serve in River's best interest. But to have a young player go thru all this, for 4 months, risking his future, is fuct. DAP has no "ethics" ... all along he needed/wanted more signings and used this kid. He was failing at River after 4 tournies ... his pressure to win things in order to have a chance of being President in the future, justified the means. Shameful.
But this should be a thread for Almenares. This was his case. Now his present can cause a precedent that other youngsters could follow. Not because they have been abused, but because youngsters could do something like this under the excuse that they aren't given playing time. Kinda like Boca's Trejo at Mallorca now.
.