[yankiboy]

Hello friends! I would like to ask my homeboy MetroChile and all of you other cats out there to help me get the 411, the real deal Holyfield info on Sebastian Rozenthal and Dante Poli.

The two are being brought to Puerto Rico as reinforcements for my beloved USLD1 (formerly the A-League, US 2nd division) Puerto Rico Islanders as our club attempts to make the playoffs.

I know about their resumes. They are impressive, no doubt. What I want to know is whether or not they have anything left in the tank that they can contribute besides football knowledge? Rumor has it that they both might be shot because of all of the injuries that they have suffered.

Don't get me wrong, I am happy that management is spending the ca$h to bring them. I just want to know if maybe managment and we the fans are a little too optimistic.

After you factor in all of the injuries are both of them at least at MLS quality level? I don't expect you guys to know about the quality of play in the USL but if you guys says that they are still MLS quality then that let's me know that we can realistically expect for them to be an upgrade. All of the football knowledge and experience in the world is great but if you can't perform on the field anymore than you would probably be much more useful just being a coach on the sidelines.

I also want any inside info that you guys can share about Sr. Jorge Alvial, our new Club Director. I know that he's connected, I understand his resume. It's obvious that he played a huge role in bringing Norkus, Rozental and Poli. This gentleman is pretty much guiding our club now, so if you guys can share anything on him it would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks a lot.

[Caturro]

Both Dante Poli and Rozenthal came from the same generation of players that got a 3rd place in a u-17 world cup around 10 years ago.

Both of them were great players. As far as I know, Dante Poli doesn't play anymore (he works now as a commentator for the Canal del Futbol that televises the chilean league) so the fact that he's being brought back to play in the MLS is somewhat surprising.

Rozenthal could've been a world class player but suffered an injury playing in Scotland that shortened his career. Up until this year he was still in U Catolica's plans, but just a few days ago he was dismissed from the team. He wasn't part of the plans for the second part of the year, apparently. There was a rumour running around that he might come up to MLS, but as far as I knew it wasn't for sure. He's still active and has plenty of experience... he can still play at a good level, so I don't think you should worry about him. Now, Dante Poli... I don't know.

[yankiboy]

Originally Posted by Caturro

As far as I know, Dante Poli doesn't play anymore (he works now as a commentator for the Canal del Futbol that televises the chilean league) so the fact that he's being brought back to play in the MLS is somewhat surprising.

Dante Poli was recently working as a TV commentator?!?! Are you freaking kidding me?!?!

It's not MLS, it's the division just below MLS, the 2nd Division. I only asked if he was still able to play at an MLS equivalent level because most people who have knowledge of MLS don't have any knowledge of the USL. It was more a point of reference than anything else.

Rozenthal could've been a world class player but suffered an injury playing in Scotland that shortened his career. Up until this year he was still in U Catolica's plans, but just a few days ago he was dismissed from the team. He wasn't part of the plans for the second part of the year, apparently. There was a rumour running around that he might come up to MLS, but as far as I knew it wasn't for sure. He's still active and has plenty of experience... he can still play at a good level, so I don't think you should worry about him. Now, Dante Poli... I don't know.

Thanks Hermano. That is the kind of info that I'm looking for. I know about their resumes I just need to get some more recent non-hype type of info. Some "real deal" type stuff.

The stuff that you shared is very, very consistent to the other info that I have received. It is very helpful.





Anybody got anything else?

[MetroChile]

Sorry I hadn't replied.
I hadn't kept up with Bigsoccer for a few days
Both of these players are good for an A-League team, no doubt.
There are players from the Chilean 3rd and 2nd divisions that succedeed with 1/3 the resumes of Rozy and Poli.
Rozental was probably just as promising as Salas in the 96/97 "era." I think Glasgow Rangers paid quite a hefty sum for his services. In fact, I would even venture to say it was more than what River paid for Salas (I could be wrong, can't remember exact figures). What happend with Rozy that eventually destroyed was not so much the injury he suffered, but rather the treatment (or rather lack thereof) that he received. I don't think he was ever taken care of properly (dunno if this was just bad decisions he made in terms of doctors, or maybe the doctors just downright sucked ass), and eventually our NT missed out on a great player. Once he had somewhat recovered (never to come back to the player he once was) he signed for Independiente in Argentina:basically they used him as left sided mid on a diamond midfield, which definitely didn't exploit his best qualities. He needs to be close to the opposition's goal in order to cause some danger. Rozy can play as a withdrawn forward, or a striker. Eventually, he came back to Chile and had spells with Union Espanola and Colo Colo. While with CC, he scored a goal against his original team (U. Catolica), and the fans never forgave him for that; and when he came back this year, every time he came on the field (very few times actually) his own fans booed him.
Poli was also a great player in his day, able to be used as wing back, full back, but preferrably as a stopper. I think he starred in a youth team (I want to say our glorious team in Japan '93, can't remember, though). His knee also got ********ed up somehow, and he decided to retire. He was a commentator till very recently (I think he commented on the finals) for our Canal del Futbol (our answer to GolTV to some extent). He started his career with Rozy at UC, and spent time with Union Espa~ola, as well. He also played in Argentina with Nueva Chicago, where Gorosito (who was the coach then) brought him over (they knew e/o from their time at UC).
I think that would pretty much cover any info you would need on either one of them.
I wish them the best, and yankiboy, keep us up to date on their performance.
Maybe I will convince Acosta to get them into the NT again?
Metro

[yankiboy]

Originally Posted by MetroChile

I think that would pretty much cover any info you would need on either one of them.

I knew that MetroChile, my Main Chileno would NOT let me down. Thanks for the info, Bro.

By the way, the two of them may very well make their Islanders debut tomorrow night when we host the Charleston Battery. That is if the work permits have been processed in time.

Believe it or not but there is already a very vocal significant number of supporters who don't want them on the team because they have been told by a bunch of Chileans that the two are both "past it" and they worry that it will negatively affect team chemistry. There has never been a more controversial signing in the short USL history of the club.

[MetroChile]

If those fans against the signings want to create controversy, based on Poli's career they can. I mean the guy had basically retired, but Rozy had an offer from an MLS team this year (and at least once about 3 years ago).
In other words, Rozy def. has something left in tank no doubt, Poli is definitely more of a question mark, bro.
And no problem, anything you need in regards to info I got you!

[Caturro]

Poli was definitely in that 1993 team that got the third spot in the u-17 WC. I remember him, Rozenthal, Neira, Frank Lobos, Galaz and a few others.

[MetroChile]

Yea yea, I just wasn't a 100% sure. I just remembered that both had been prodigies at youth NT levels basically. I just wasn't certain with which NT and on which year.

[yankiboy]

I'M TELLING YOU NOW: YOU CATS ARE NOT GONNA F*ING BELIEVE THIS. IT IS F*ING HILARIOUS.

I posted the statement below on a couple of our supporters sites and people lost their damn minds. I tried to keep it diplomatic but some of my homies went over to the Islanders Official Foro and they were NOT so diplomatic.

Originally Posted by Caturro

Both of them were great players. As far as I know, Dante Poli doesn't play anymore (he works now as a commentator for the Canal del Futbol that televises the chilean league) so the fact that he's being brought back to play in the MLS is somewhat surprising.

Now, Dante Poli... I don't know.

The controversy that CATURRO helped to ignite actually made it to what is arguably the Island's MOST RESPECTED NEWSPAPER. A REPORTER ACTUALLY ASKED POLI AND ROZENTAL TO COMMENT ON THE CONTROVERSY OVER THEIR SIGNINGS! CHECK OUT THIS EXCERPT FROM EL NUEVO DIA (www.endi.com):

"Ambas contrataciones, sin embargo, han recibido duras críticas de un sector de la fanaticada a través del foro electrónico de los Islanders. Los detractores alegan que Rozental ya vio pasar sus mejores días y que es propenso a lesiones. De Poli, quien jugó hasta hace unos meses en su país con Unión Española, se comenta que está fuera de condición porque desde entonces sólo se ha dedicado a ejercer como comentarista de televisión.

“Hace seis años que no tengo una lesión. Esa gente que piensa así no sabe o no está muy informada, pero uno como jugador está expuesto a todas esas cosas... estoy muy tranquilo y contento de haber venido acá. Ojalá y el equipo ande de buena forma y funcione bien”, declaró Rozental.

Mientras, Poli subrayó que “el hecho de no haber estado jugando, igual significa haber seguido con mi preparación física... y seguir jugando de forma permanente (en ligas recreativas), a lo mejor no a nivel competitivo, pero que sirve para mantenerte de alguna manera. Lo importante es demostrarlo en la cancha, más allá de lo que uno pueda decir o lo que la gente pueda decir. Ya verán que podemos hacer un gran aporte”.



El Nuevo Día, 5 de agosto de 2005

De acuerdo con el Título 17 U. S. C. Sección 107, este material se distribuye
sin ganancias a aquellos que han expresado un previo interés en recibir la
información incluida para investigación y propósitos educativos.

IS THAT F*ING HILARIOUS OR WHAT?!? CATURRO'S COMMENTS MADE NATIONAL NEWS AFTER I PASSED THEM ON! The negative comments about Rozie, I didn't get them from Caturro. I got those from some other Chilenos that I know from work and stuff that some Chilenos told us on the internet. It was really my man, M-12 (aka Pr'rican) that burried Rozie. Honestly, we just repeated what we heard or were told and the whole thing picked up it's own momentum. On the Islanders website, I went OUT OF MY WAY to be diplomatic because I never want look 'two faced' or piss off the club's management or some of the players who have been kind enough to give me an unsual amount of access behind the scenes of the club. I always try to avoid looking like an ungrateful backstabber, so sometimes I gotta go lite so that I don't F up my special status.

I posted the more critical comments on another unofficial supporters websites and these dudes just lost it. THEY went back over and posted the stuff on the ISLANDERS FORO. So, it will take a few days to see if some of the Directivos get pissed with me. My wife thinks that they might and that I may have burned some bridges. I hope not. I didn't tell anyone to go over to the official site and post my findings or to do it in such an inflamatory way. They did that on their own. My wife can't believe that ENDI actually pursued the matter with the two Chilenos.

By the way--"unos meses". Looks like the reporter misconstrued the facts (a bit more of my diplomacy at work). That implies two or three. Some other Chilenos claimed that it Poli stopped playing back in December. That's not two or three months.

Anyways, WAY TA GO CATURRO. YOU SPARKED A NATIONAL CONTROVERSY AND YOUR PAISANO DANIEL POLI IS NOT TOO HAPPY WITH US.

[yankiboy]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Caturro again.