[Archived] Blackburn Sign Chilean Superstar Carlos Villanueva

[DingleBaiter]

Torso of Roque Santa Cruz...

Stephen Warnock too on some photos as well

Have had to temper my excitement and joy at what we witnessed last night, what a joy it was to watch Carlos Villaneuva, cant remember being so thrilled to have watched someone play in the blue and white jersey in a long long time.

Hes definitely an up front somewhere type of player but his creativity and invention was on a level we've never seen before, he definitely brings a new dimension to Rovers which can only be good, but yes den, the question is can he do it against the big boys that will be interesting but he didnt show any fear about getting bashed about by Grimsby.

Right, that's it - close down the operation, go home - nothing more to see here, folks.

A great, positive post from JAL who seems excited by things for a change. Enough, it's all downhill from here now!

Agree 110% with you though

[JAL]

Stephen Warnock too on some photos as well

Right, that's it - close down the operation, go home - nothing more to see here, folks.

A great, positive post from JAL who seems excited by things for a change. Enough, it's all downhill from here now!

Agree 110% with you though

Second half I just wanted whoever had the ball to pass it to Carlos he was that good, but we have to balance it out and remember it was Grimsby Town we were playing never the less an absolute joy watching that performance from the Chilean.

[Stuart]

C'mon guys/gals. Can't we just enjoy the performance last night without analysising it all? Once he warmed up, Carlos looked really good. He scored in the closed doors friendly, he scored on his full debut last night. He's yet to adjust to English life, let alone English football. For the first time in a long time we have a player who shows a bit of verve and style about this play. Surely we are allowed to be excited for a little while?? Save your realism for another time.

(To the tune of Cobacabana...)

His name is Carlos

Vil-la-nu-eva

_ he plays with skill and flair

and he scores from anywhere!

His name is Carlos

Vil-la-nu-eva

_ he's magic on the ball

and he's scored another goal!

[Claytons Left Boot]

Have had to temper my excitement and joy at what we witnessed last night, what a joy it was to watch Carlos Villaneuva, cant remember being so thrilled to have watched someone play in the blue and white jersey in a long long time.

Hes definitely an up front somewhere type of player but his creativity and invention was on a level we've never seen before, he definitely brings a new dimension to Rovers which can only be good, but yes den, the question is can he do it against the big boys that will be interesting but he didnt show any fear about getting bashed about by Grimsby.

Bl**dy Hell JAL!! A positive post. I knew you had it in you somewhere.

I agree entirely and, as many have said, whilst we don't want over the top reactions too soon, I have never felt as excited about a new Rover for many a year. Charlie Newhouse, you'll do for me.

[DingleBaiter]

Bl**dy Hell JAL!! A positive post. I knew you had it in you somewhere.

I agree entirely and, as many have said, whilst we don't want over the top reactions too soon, I have never felt as excited about a new Rover for many a year. Charlie Newhouse, you'll do for me.

Ok, if I can find one thing to criticise, it's the translation. Surely he's not called CasaNueva? Doesn't his name translate as New Village, if anything?

Anyways, nice to see Rovers now having an advertising presence the Latin American world - anyone else notice the Blue Cross Cement billboard in the BBE? Cemento Cruz Azul, Mexican company?

[Lathund]

In response to comments like "It was only Grimsby", I'd agree, but add two very important things;

1) You can only beat what's in front of you. Yesterday that was Grimsby, and CV did all we could ask from him. One shouldn't take that to mean he'll be a superstar from the start, but it's nonetheless a very positive thing

2) Some skills are the same whether the opposition is Real Madrid or Grimsby. He scored with a well-placed shot, he hit the bar with a free kick and had a couple of other very good shots. The goals are the same size in the Premiership, as are the footballs. If you can shoot in League 2, you can shoot in the premiership. Now will he get into as many good positions to take a shot in the Premiership? That remains to be seen. My point is that some of his strengths will carry over, regardless of the enviroment.

Maybe Gianfranco Zola would be a good player to compare him with? Small, and while he did have quick feet I don't seem to recall him being particularly pacey, at least not in his later seasons. There are many small and/or slow players who've made it even in this league. Yes, it's a disadvantage, but not one that enough skill can't make up for.

[speeeeeeedie]

Class song Jisty.

Den, I understand you wanting to keep your feet on the ground but you're getting a bit too melancholy by always looking for a negative. Has the summer weather been that bad? It sounded like an exhibition last night, and I agree that he probably won't be able to do that against West Ham but I'm sure he loved it last night, and the fringe players enjoyed a run out too. That will inspire confidence, which helps footballers out no end.

[Majiball]

Don't get too carried away by Carlos. He has a certain talent on the ball, but is very lightweight and very slow.

I suspected a while ago that he wouldn't fit in a centre mid position - and he wont. So, he's either a left winger that wouldn't dislodge Ped yet, or he's a second front man. However, his lack of pace will always be a problem. The best chance of getting him into a team, would be to play with 5 in midfield, but that causes other problems.

A good start from him though. Strikes a ball well and turns well with it. We'll have to see him against the John Terry's and Rio Ferdinands of this world to properly judge.

Fair play, Den. Rovers employ or at least did employ SAQ intrnational, who have a proven track record in boosting players acceleration, pace, agility with and without the ball along with other aspects, so this may improve a bit now he's over here. Provided they get them in again.

Reminds me of a coach at Southampton who said Shearer couldn't trap a bag of cement

God damm if someone passed a bag of cement at me I wouldn't trap it either. Some coaches have unrealistic expectations of players, training with cement bags no wonder they went down.

I guess you're the type of guy who'd win a Lamborghini for nowt then complain about the colour?

If it was pink so would you me thinks

Well done Carlos good start, now lets see how you do againast WH. PS is dunny out or will he be fit??

[cruz]

Indeed. Premier League clubs have been crap in the Champion's League over the last few years, haven't they?

Yes the top 4 have Mr Sarcypants but outside those 4 theres a real dirth of quality as managers value speed and stamina over skill. We saw that at ewood on Saturday

[Claytons Left Boot]

Ok, if I can find one thing to criticise, it's the translation. Surely he's not called CasaNueva? Doesn't his name translate as New Village, if anything?

You're quite correct - never did Spanish at school but according to online translations it means, 'new town.'

Charlie Newtown it is then! Or is it? The adaptation/evolution of that must be Charlie Newton.

Charlie Newton, superstar!

[broadsword]

I said "slow".

Incey boy said he wasn't fit yet, and has only just recovered from chicken pox.

Beckham couldn't header the ball, had no turn of pace, no left peg to speak of, couldn't tackle and he married a fembot.

He still did OK though, eh?

[DingleBaiter]

You're quite correct - never did Spanish at school but according to online translations it means, 'new town.'

Charlie Newtown it is then! Or is it? The adaptation/evolution of that must be Charlie Newton.

Charlie Newton, superstar!

Pueblo?

Who knows, anyway - let's just settle for Charlie Sheethotsignin'

[OscarRaven]

Have to agree with Den on this one, although most of the posts have been realistic. I did suspect that people would have been getting carried away on that performance.

On one game:-

Positives: Creative, energetic, quick feet, wicked shot, good cross & versatile

Negatives: Poor Control, lacks pace, doesn't look up once he starts running, easily dispossessed, play-acts (poorly) & clumsy in the challenge.

Can he hold down a place in a two man midfield - No.

Can he play as second striker/in the hole - Yes.

Winger - probably.

[3rdpillar]

Last night proved one thing in relation to a player like Carlos. To be effective the rest of the team need to on their toes and make runs and space. He showed last night he will pick the easy option when it is available, and given an opening will attack the space.

Only good things can come of Carlos at BRFC if the rest of the team make it possible.

[Andy3809]

Have to agree with Den on this one, although most of the posts have been realistic. I did suspect that people would have been getting carried away on that performance.

On one game:-

Positives: Creative, energetic, quick feet, wicked shot, good cross & versatile

Negatives: Poor Control, lacks pace, doesn't look up once he starts running, easily dispossessed, play-acts (poorly) & clumsy in the challenge.

Can he hold down a place in a two man midfield - No.

Can he play as second striker/in the hole - Yes.

Winger - probably.

A good assesment. I get the impression that he'll be starting from the bench and brought on when were chasing games. Great little player but lacks pace and isn't strong enough. IMO will be eaten for breakfast by most in the prem.

[imy9]

I think it is a case of wait and see but judging him on the one game, we have a special talent on our hands.

Zola was tiny and had little pace but was Chelsea's greatest player.

Remember that Carlos is not yet match fit and has had chicken pox, I think it will take him til the new year before we see Carlos starting regularly for Rovers.

[RevidgeBlue]

A good assesment. I get the impression that he'll be starting from the bench and brought on when were chasing games. Great little player but lacks pace and isn't strong enough. IMO will be eaten for breakfast by most in the prem.

I'm astounded. God knows what the reaction would have been had he not had a stormer.

[den]

Have to agree with Den on this one, although most of the posts have been realistic. I did suspect that people would have been getting carried away on that performance.

On one game:-

Positives: Creative, energetic, quick feet, wicked shot, good cross & versatile

Negatives: Poor Control, lacks pace, doesn't look up once he starts running, easily dispossessed, play-acts (poorly) & clumsy in the challenge.

Can he hold down a place in a two man midfield - No.

Can he play as second striker/in the hole - Yes.

Winger - probably.

Thank you Oscar.

Trouble is, we come on here to try to give a personal opinion of Villanueva, after having seen him once. Trying to give some kind of impression of him to people who haven't seen him. It's an OPINION, that's all. It might be wrong, it might be right.

Because we point out a couple of things about his game that might affect his chances of playing in the prem on a regular basis, we get slagged off terribly, by people who I assume, don't want to hear anything negative at all.

Carlos played well. It was a game where everyone played well, because like it or not, Grimsby's standard of football is pretty poor. I even heard people last night backing Gally for a first team start after a cameo second half appearance against the Mariners.

Carlos might be a great signing, it's too early to tell yet.

One last point: Do I take it, that all the people basing their judgement of Villanueva playing very well against Grimbsy, have no objection to the second division player of the year signing for us?

[RevidgeBlue]

Class song Jisty.

Den, I understand you wanting to keep your feet on the ground but you're getting a bit too melancholy by always looking for a negative. Has the summer weather been that bad? It sounded like an exhibition last night, and I agree that he probably won't be able to do that against West Ham but I'm sure he loved it last night, and the fringe players enjoyed a run out too. That will inspire confidence, which helps footballers out no end.

When you've planted your feet in the anti-Ince camp as firmly as den and thenodrog appear to have done, it's a bit awkward when something goes right - you're then left with trying to take negatives out of something positive - like CV's performance last night, or tnr trying to find a negative aspect of RSC signing a new contract.

[Andy3809]

I'm astounded. God knows what the reaction would have been had he not had a stormer.

It would have been the same. I belive we've a skillfull player on our hands but I don't think he'll cut it apart from coming off the bench due to the reasons given. And if you think that 19 other managers in the prem don't think the same and it's a lucky find by us then your mad. He's been seen by all and available to all. Exciting to watch and a potential match winner he is. A first 11 starter? Not so sure..

[den]

When you've planted your feet in the anti-Ince camp as firmly as den and thenodrog appear to have done, it's a bit awkward when something goes right - you're then left with trying to take negatives out of something positive - like CV's performance last night, or tnr trying to find a negative aspect of RSC signing a new contract.

Simon, you would be better trying to actually read what I've said about Ince and Villanueva, because it's nothing like what you're trying to portray.You would also be better advised, rather than acclaiming the new messiah now, to judge him after he's played against better opposition, not a team that finished one place higher than Accrington Stanley and five places lower than Morecambe.

[RevidgeBlue]

Simon, you would be better trying to actually read what I've said about Ince and Villanueva, because it's nothing like what you're trying to portray.

OK den don't want to fall out about it, but just by way of example, you extracted a fairly innocuous set of comments from Ince about RSC only a day or two ago and presented it in such a way that no-one down at Ewood had a clue what was going on or was in charge.

[den]

OK den don't want to fall out about it, but just by way of example, you extracted a fairly innocuous set of comments from Ince about RSC only a day or two ago and presented it in such a way that no-one down at Ewood had a clue what was going on or was in charge.

I'm not falling out Rev - not at all. The comments I made were the comments about Ince not knowing whether RSC was leaving or not, after he told everyone that no-one was leaving? How else could they be interpreted? He should have known what was happening because it was his decision.

Anyway, - you're round.

[RevidgeBlue]

It would have been the same. I belive we've a skillfull player on our hands but I don't think he'll cut it apart from coming off the bench due to the reasons given. And if you think that 19 other managers in the prem don't think the same and it's a lucky find by us then your mad. He's been seen by all and available to all. Exciting to watch and a potential match winner he is. A first 11 starter? Not so sure..

I like the way just in case CV does turn out to be a gem, his capture is described as "lucky" and not an inspired find by the manager.

Everyone who has posted on here knows it is a huge leap from last night to the Prem, however I saw nothing at all last night to indicate he can't do it at the top level as long as he can hack it physically. Which we'll only find out by giving him games.

In the interim he looks an awesome option to have on the bench with half an hour to go.

[Scotty]

When you've planted your feet in the anti-Ince camp as firmly as den and thenodrog appear to have done, it's a bit awkward when something goes right - you're then left with trying to take negatives out of something positive - like CV's performance last night, or tnr trying to find a negative aspect of RSC signing a new contract.

To be fair, you've planted your feet just as firmly in the pro-Ince camp.