Either as a winger or an attacking midfielder. Around 2012 he started shifting in and out of the CF spot which tees up to when Rueda was at the helm of the NT, but it started at Emelec. The distinctions are nuanced with Plata IMO. Enner was more physical when he was younger than Plata is now. Enner was also decent with aerial duels, too. Enner made the transition when he was 3 years younger than Plata is now (22 vs 25), so the experimentation period was softer than it would be for Plata who is now entering his "prime" years. Flamengo keeps playing him on that wing, and it's been successful for them. I doubt they redraw the positions and play to get him into a new role. Entering the next NT phase playing weekly as a winger and then being pushed into CF makes me think we're going the way of Beccacece again...pushing someone into an unnatural position. I think the only way this transition can make sense is if there is a version of him as a false 9. Otherwise, he will need to continue being the feeder for La Rola, Jordy, or Arevalo (or Campana if he he can ever get healthy and put up good numbers).
Its funny how Ecuador has always been a team where players play one position in their club and another on the NT (ex. Walter Ayovi). But hey if Merino can make it as a makeshift forward I dont see why Plata cant if he just focuses on making the proper runs.
Belgium would be a good option for Páez. I don’t think the Championship would be good option for him.
I really think a team in Belgium or midtable Italian club would suit him well. Italy will teach him how to play against teams that like to park the bus. Also, there's a kid going off in Racing. 19 years old and he plays as a forward apparently. Alberto Campo.
Belgium would be a good fit. It’s been a good fit for a lot of Ecuadorian players in recent years. I’m not sure about the Italian league. It would depend on the club. The Italian league is still a very tactical and defensive league. It’s not exactly what Páez is known for. I heard about Campo a couple of months ago and saw some highlights. He plays as a winger if I’m not mistaken. Hopefully he makes the jump to top division ball soon.
I think over improvising is more of the formula that got us in some of this dilemma (eg. Alan Franco, Piero Hincapie, Pedro Vite, etc.). For now, we have to start working with what we got. By process of elimination all there is left are: Kevin Rodriguez, Arevalo, and Jordy Caicedo. I'm sorry but Leo Campana is absolute garbage. Pure marketing. Never ended up further developing into the player he could've potentially become. And that other kid Allen Obando is literally no different. Zero growth. Pure blah blah. Literally the last true talent as a striker with enormous potential that I saw this country produce was Jose El Tin Angulo who completely F-ed it up with those coke snorts. And Michael Estrada - who i can say lacked the discipline to flourish. Besides them the last realized potential that became great was Chucho Benitez and Felipe Caicedo. And honorable mention to Jaime Ayovi who continues to have a long career. Since then there has been Stiven Plaza who was unfortunately destroyed very early on by injuries. Ronnie Carrillo and Miguel Parrales who had their spark moment but didn't ignite a long successful career. And more of the same overhyped bs - Cuco Angulo, John Jairo Cifuentes, Byron Palacios...and idk if the list stops there but it should. One hit wonders. There's lots of them. We haven't produced anything NT worthy. I know there were moments where some of these last players I mentioned were being begged to be added to the NT roster and never made it. And at the time it was the "coaches fault"...but honestly time proved that none of them had what it took to have a long outstanding career. That being said we need to begin weeding out certain players, especially up front even if it leaves us with just one or two discrete options. For me Kevin Rodriguez stays. Jeremy Arevalo stays. and Jordy Caicedo should be making his exit - his characteristics aren't suitable for this NT. He's had AMPLE opportunities, probably more than he should have and has never cut it. I think the base to begin this new cycle is La Rola and Jeremy Arevalo up front. No improvising here. I think we've seen where that has brought us long term.
Source: https://www.futbolecuador.com/site/...la-eliminacion-de-la-tri-en-el-mundial/169526 Analista de Beccacece pone la primera excusa tras la eliminación de La Tri en el Mundial "Con México ya nos empezó a afectar todo: el cansancio, los viajes, la altura y el ruido. Antes del partido nos fueron a molestar al hotel” Ricardo García, analista de video de nacionalidad chileno y quien fue parte del cuerpo técnico de La Tri con Sebastián Beccacece, habló con diario La Tercera de su país, sobre lo que ocurrió con Ecuador en el Mundial 2026. El justificativo. “Contra Alemania hicimos el mejor partido del torneo. Con México ya nos empezó a afectar todo: el cansancio, los viajes, la altura y el ruido. Antes del partido nos fueron a molestar al hotel”. Finalmente, aclaró que su partida de La Tri no fue un despido. “Lo de Sebastián fue término de contrato, nada más. Todos teníamos contrato hasta que terminara la participación de Ecuador en el Mundial”. In short, there's no accountability yet for anything else except for the "usual suspect" excuses. If there was fatigue, Beccacece should have been rotating a few players to get fresh legs in as starters. Clearly, he didn't trust the bench that much. If it was the noise/serenata, neither him nor anyone else from the team came out to condemn it in real time. In the moment, it was shrugged off. The trips? Everyone's been flying the same amount. In some instances more. The flight delay- ok, I'll give him that, but nonetheless it's a weak excuse. How can our guys be that much more tied in contrast to every other squad? This is also on the FEF because the excuses offered by Ricardo Garcia to a Chilean news outlet demonstrates a clear lack of planning and mitigation to any possible risks that arise, and that ultimately falls on the coach who was evidently not a good hire.
With Pervis being linked to Aston Villa I really hope Vite goes there too. Villa sold Tielemans and need a CM to replace him.
There is some truth to your speculation (I hope it works out) . Fab Romano seems to be noting that Unai Emery is pushing to get that Estupiñan signature. This would be a fantastic move for him. As for Vite, we'll have to wait and see. Mexican clubs are notorious for very high transfer fee requests.
Vite's price tag may be difficult to toggle with. Players who go to Liga MX usually get trapped there which is why i always questioned why he went there when at one point he had offers from Portugal several years back when he won the championship with Vancouver. At this point its a gamble, but something tells me he'd get rocked in the PL. Physique and characteristics dont look like someone who would succeed in the PL. I think he's more suitable for La Liga, Portugese league, or Belgium. I honestly see Anthony Valencia or John Mercado making a big move before him. Not because of quality but because of the league Vite plays in. John Mercado, Joel Ordonez, and possibly even Kevin Rodriguez can be making moves this transfer window. I'd love to see La Rola in the PL or Bundlesliga. Would be perfect for his characteristics to see if he can step it up at the highest level. Loved see Oscar Zambrano move to Hull City, but i would've preferred another 6 months in Maribor to up his consistency and rhythm because he needs it. Also loved seeing Justin Lerma training now with Borussia Dortmund. Let's also hope Patrik Mercado can fully recover from that horrible injury. Lastly, i'm also interested in seeing if Juanse Rodriguez gets a solid offer from a European side because he did great in his time in Portugal as well. But i can't lie, i'd love to see this kid in LDU this season as well. Lots of moves. Lots new opportunities for some of these guys, especially Pervis who needs to re-establish himself after a poor season at AC Milan. Let's see what's coming.... If this last cycle had people saying this was the golden generation, i can already hear the chatter and high promo this next cycle of guys will get because there's a chunk of them that will be transferring to leagues and teams that are of the highest level of futbol. I hope the mistake of mislabeling, overhyping, and brainwash marketing doesn't happen yet again...because this cycle will be sadder to lose than the last because it truly will be a mix of young talent and experienced players both playing in la elite de europa. And it wont just be 4 players this time.
Using the utileros to bring tequila into the training camp, or booking extra hotel rooms for parties? The complaints are valid- especially in the wake of the Piso 17 issue and total breakdown of the Federation's ethics and morality cultural breakdowns, but he's also weaving a narrative to deflect from the poor coaching decisions, of which he's guilty for: Cruyff, FSB (who in retrospect delivered the same results as BKCC), and Beccacece + burying the controversy around Alfaro's exit. That deflection also gives him some breathing room for the conflicts of interest with sponsors, the undemocratic election process, and the bigger discussion up ahead which will only come out on financial statements by EOY...utilization of funds/proceeds from World Cup prize money and the licensing royalties. On paper, this is the FEF's best year for revenue, and people will be hunting.
RUMOR MILL: New names for the vacant DT position: -Paulo Bento -Mauricio Pellegrino -Gustavo Costas -Ruben Dario Insua
Un espectacular estreno goleador de Justin Lerma enciende toda la ilusión del Borussia Dortmund (VIDEO) https://www.futbolecuador.com/site/...-toda-la-ilusion-del-borussia-dortmund/169689 I hope this goal is a positive omen for what's to come. If he can have a good pre season and stick around the squad for the year, that constant competition and expectation to excel can have a great impact on his development if he rises to the occasion. Otherwise, a loan is already less than ideal, and he'll need to work 2x (or more) as hard to break back into BVB. Considering that Haaland joined the squad and 19 and Bellingham joined at 17, the age seems appropriate. There is a template. Much of that Bellingham/Haaland success early on is obviously the innate gifts of gifted youngsters, but it's combined with a ravenous hunger and a very high work rate. I wish Lerma well, and hope he pans out as we expect...or possibly exceeds it in spades.
El racismo que el Mundial 2026 no logra esconder -From El Comercio https://www.elcomercio.com/deportes/racismo-mundial-2026-ecuador-futbol/ This is definitely something we need to keep working to FULLY weed out of the football culture. Sub-13 kids having to deal with that stuff? Just heartbreaking. Back in 2011 when I spent time with the Sub-20 and the mayores before the Sub-20 WC and the Copa America, we were talking about this stuff with the players, coaches, federacion staff. At least now there are resources (albeit still very little) to help deal with these issues. Before, it was literally no man's land.