Thats always been the issue with barcelona. We're still paying for mistakes made in the 2000s and early 2010s. For all the BS management have put the team through, we've always built decent teams but can never find a good coach (excluding Almada). Bustos had a decent run but he was horrible at adapting midgame. He would let the game get out of hand before making subs. Tbh I'm not even happy being in first place because I know this team isn't going to be sustainable. The cracks are already showing.
You're right, but... I believe a disconnect exists between fan expectations and the reality of where the club currently is 1) financially, 2) with infrastructure, and 3) with its governance. This case replicates similarly throughout Ecuador, so BSC is not the only victim. Liga, Emelec, and a few others face similar situations. The team is in transition having lost its talisman captain in a very unceremonious way as well as a transfer of one of the young stars (Obando), and players recruited/signed require a longer-term adaptation process that comes from stability at the helm- even if it means facing some streaks of bad luck along the way. Ultimately, that's one of the biggest issues facing the larger teams in Ecuador...fans turn quickly and misguided management possess misplaced delusions of grandeur. The short term gain of knee-jerk transitions brings a long term pain, and it's indicative of the fact that management has ZERO long term vision except "win now". This is the same situation Liga faces with Isaac Alvarez and his haphazard start at the front of the new project in Jan 2024, though they steadied the ship somewhat and brought 2 titles home last year...it's still problematic, but patience must prevail. That, I guess, is the inherent contradiction and self-inflicted pain brought on in Ecuadorian futbol. BSC is the biggest club in Ecuador by far according to fanbase size- that point is well established and clearly a solid foundation for any good management team to build on, BUT that's about as far as it goes. The club must get the house in order and #s 1-3 are where the team will always struggle to have expectations meet or surpass outcomes. Thus, I can't lay all the blame on Castillo. Performance is crippled by budgetary pressure, back pay (including FIFA/TAS rulings), transitions from transfers, and tactical assimilation. It all boils down to one fundamental truth for BSC, and to a lesser extent Liga, Emelec, and El Nacional...those jobs are cursed. We've always clamored for Ecuadorian coaches to get a fair shake when it comes to big local teams and/or national team, but Castillo cannot be blamed for the entirety of the situation if the cupboard is empty or the well is poisoned. I doubt any coach could extract as much value from the squad as he has. Even the way he came in was a mess but they still managed to qualify into the Libertadores group stage and the team is riding in first place with a game in-hand. Knocking out Corinthians was a massive feat and some might argue a highly unlikely outcome. Look at Group B- it's actually a VERY tricky matchup: River Plate - juggernaut club and currently sitting second in their local tourney group IDV - financially solvent club and currently sitting second in the local tourney Universitario - Arguably Peru's biggest club and currently first in the local tourney With 2 matchdays yet to play, anyone can still win the group and anyone can still be eliminated. That's wild.
News reports indicate that Gonzalo Plata will not be fit in time for our next 2 eliminatorias matches. The same for Ennergoat. We're down our lead scorer and arguably the most creative midfielder/winger (wherever he plays), so who are the likely stand-ins? I sincerely hope Yeboah is called back after the debacle in Chile and misinformation from the FEF...that was just amateurish. What about Sarmiento? He was riding a nice streak of good performances to end the season. Does Preciado make it back to the squad? LAST BUT NOT LEAST IN TRANSFER NEWS/RUMORMILLING Reports indicate that Joel Ordoñez has a verbal agreement with Arsenal at the moment, but there's no deal between clubs. Those tracking this news are also saying PSG might enter the fray and try to swoop in. INTERESTING...
And just on queue, with one more additional game to play in CL group stages all the Ecuadorian teams struggle. mushuc runa is killing it in sudamericana. tune into Chelsea v man unite tomorrow. Big game for caicedo
True...it was a bloodbath in the Libertadores. Clearly, our clubs are best suited for the Sudamericana. No shame in that truth, but the squads are just woefully underprepared for the biggest stage/tourney. Liga got absolutely manhandled in Rio by Flamengo and IDV laid an egg with that stoppage time red card right before the half. Amateurish. I hope Chelsea goes lights out tomorrow- Caicedo needs CL play!
Caicedo played a great game. Second highest rating on the squad, but the baaaarely beat United. One more match to secure that CL slot.
Plata, Franco, and Enner will be out due to injury. Who replaces them? Plata - Yeboah or Mercado Franco - Vite, Mendez, Gruezo Enner - Campana, Estrada, Parrales, Palacios, Elian Caicedo, Daniel Valencia, Anderson Julio
Well these injuries will sure keep things interesting. Forced to try new strikers, we have replacements for Franco and Plata but who will it be. Let’s hope their replacement are made based on merit. Another thing to keep in mind is that Ecuador needs to pick up positive results. With 4 WCQ games left and probably 4-6 friendlies before the WC, now is the time to move up the fifa rankings. I believe we are just 1 spot off of being in POT 2. Being in POT 3 has a high chance of placing us in a group of death. On a random note, shout-out to the women’s U17 team, who are showing the men’s youth teams what it means to represent the nation. Currently sitting 3rd, missing out on first by 2 goals, on track to qualify for the women’s u17 WC and ultimately at shot at placing 1st.
Hugely critical - I agree 100% on this assessment (and the kudos to those female U17 team members showing up and repping well). Those last 4 games should deliver points for the standings (ideally wins vs. Brazil and Argentina because the rankings are sky high for both countries which bodes well for Ecuador's ascent into that Pot 2 status) while the others should definitely be competitive but accessible matches if our boys focus. Beccacece will be tested like never before with key starters missing important matches, and if he plays it wisely, the merit-based call-ups will bring calm to the hawkish press and give him lots of credibility in front of the fans. It bodes well that he came out and basically said the call-up of Guagua was a mistake (though he will still participate in "sparrings").
Anyone watch BSC vs Emelec yesterday? Has to be one of the worst officiated matches I’ve ever seen. There’s a lot of things holding Ecuadorean football back but bad officiating is one of them. It’s not an isolated incident for Aragon either. He has to be one of the worst refs Ecuador has ever seen.
I did not watch the match, but I am not surprised that refereeing once again is a front-and-center issue surrounding LigaPro. Quite unfortunate in what is arguably Ecuador's biggest fixture. Did you catch the Brighton-Liverpool match? Pervis had an outstanding game...except for a few poorly calculated shots, his defensive display gives me hope that he's getting back into form at the right time before qualifiers kick off next month.
Even Felix Torres is coming in good form after having a rough couple months. The only question mark we have right now is RB and who should start there.
And what about up front? Word has it that Campana might get a call-up. I don't know how I feel about that.
I read that he’s recovering from an injury back in Ecuador. They still have ruled Enner out. There’s several players that can get a look - Parrales, Daniel Valencia, Elian Caicedo.
This would be my list for the upcoming qualifiers: GK - Galindez, Dominguez, Cabeza CB - Ordońez, Pacho, Hincapie, Torres, Realpe RB - Preciado LB - Estupińan, C. Ramírez CM - M. Caicedo, Franco, Mendez, Vite, P. Mercado RW - Plata, Yeboah, J. Mercado LW - Minda, Sarmiento, N. Angulo FW - Enner, Rodriguez, Parrales, A. Julio
Estupiñan did not play in yesterday's Brighton win over Spurs, but some are reporting its due to an unreported injury while others are indicating it's due to an imminent transfer. Drop in form cannot be the case b/c his last outing saw him ranked the 2nd or 3rd best player on the pitch. It's a bit of a black box at the moment and I tend to side on the transfer since that narrative has been spinning for a few weeks- usually injuries offer status and more substance which yesterday was just lacking. Maybe he did pick up a knock (he has been known to get sidelined), but the injury reporting came AFTER the match which seems a bit too convenient. Who knows...
Fire Castillo after this horrible showing Best of luck to Independiente in the Sudamericana, would be great for an Ecuadorian team to win it again
I'm all for giving Ecuadorian coaches an opportunity but they have to deliver results. It'll be interesting to see if he stays on.
Patrik Mercado deserves an opportunity with the NT. He's been IDV's best player this season in my opinion. Alcivar has also been solid. I'm not sure if he'll be called up to the NT tho. The NT already has Moises, Franco, and Mendez.
Janner Corozo's drop in form should be studied. His drop off after playing for the NT has been insane. I can't remember a player playing bad after playing for the NT. He doesn't merit an opportunity with the NT at this time.
Caicedo playing the conference league final. Losing to Betis right now. Chelsea just has horrid defending, my god.
Chelsea woke up 2nd half and lit them up. Caicedo sealed a HIS best season abroad yet. Ended with a golazo that sealed Betis fate