[Archived] Blackburn Sign Chilean Superstar Carlos Villanueva

[daveoftherovers]

I really hope Carlos stays till the end of the season last night although i dont think he will get much opertunity because of our league position.

What i saw from him last night, though only in patches, was the ability to get passed players, find a killer pass & not afraid to shoot! playing in a confident team i am sure Carlos would have starred in the premier league this year!

His downfall, however, could be that he does give the ball away at times but it is something that can be worked on & he will learn alot under Sam!

And more significantly, the players around him dont see the pass he is trying to play. A few times last night he threaded a ball right onto the penalty spot only for the players around him to run the opposite direction! I would love to see him play more with Benni, another clever player who will jump on the chances he creates

I whole heartedly agree with you Bennis, however, Sam would have to be convinced that he would learn and that we can afford what has to be a luxury player, I think we all know we need one, however, it's up to Carlos to prove to himself, his team mates, the manager and then us, that he is the man.

At the moment it's purely survival and we will always need Value for Money.

[colbert]

http://www.goal.com/en/news/742/blackburn/...n-rovers-future

I really hope so, i think he is a great player. He just needs to bulk himself up a little to cope with the premiership. If he does this then he could well be the next Cantina (without the kung fu kicks

[chileandude]

I think it's not only a physical issue but a style of play as well. They have to give him the ball more...to the feet...no more of those long balls from the center backs. Doesn't matter if he's facing back to the opposing goal, he will find a way through 70% of the time either by combining to someone else or dribbling through himself. Some might say 'But he looses the other 30% too easily' well you have to risk a bit to score sometimes. He was also fouled and pushed a lot in Chile...we don't have a league of midgets!

[rover6]

According to an Audax Italiano fan, Audax got the best out of Villaneuva by having fast, willing runners on the wing. Thus, Carlos' lack of pace was compensated for as space was created by their movement and the wingers provided an option for an attacking pass. An ambling playmaker like Carlos needs his teammates to show good movement - something that is sadly lacking in our side.

The last time Rovers had a Villaneuva type was when Eyal Berkovic was at the club. On-song, that sort of player is a joy to watch; it'd be shame not to give it a real chance to work - but obviously, the threat of relegation is an impeding factor.

Here's one to get certain people (den!) waking up in the depth of night with a feverish sweat and a throbbing brain, who would you rather have on the bench, Keith Treacy, with his imaginary wingplay, or Carlos, with his penguin mobility?

[Neil Weaver]

who would you rather have on the bench, Keith Treacy, with his imaginary wingplay, or Carlos, with his penguin mobility?

Much though I think Treacy is very ordinary - went to Blyth incidentally and thought he was a waste of space there, certainly no better than Blyth, and don't understand why some folk thought he had a decent game - if the question is would I rather pay zilch and have Treacy on the bench or pay 5 million and have Charlie sat there (and lets assume wages are the same even though I'd doubt it), it's a no brainer.

If Charlie could be sat there for half a million, you've got a realistic question.

[Eddie]

How many times are we going to have to go over the fee?

The fee was thought to be in the region of 4.5 million, we have already paid his club 750k and then 750k have gone towards his wages/fees. What that means is we have to pay another 3 million to sign him outright. That is still a lot given what are budget is, but it isn't 5 million.

[Tris]

How many times are we going to have to go over the fee?

The fee was thought to be in the region of 4.5 million, we have already paid his club 750k and then 750k have gone towards his wages/fees. What that means is we have to pay another 3 million to sign him outright. That is still a lot given what are budget is, but it isn't 5 million.

Thank you so much for clearing that up. As you so eloquently put it, the fee was thought to be in the region of 4.5 million, but not 5 million. Are budget indeed. Stay behind the bar

[DanLad]

Much though I think Treacy is very ordinary - went to Blyth incidentally and thought he was a waste of space there, certainly no better than Blyth, and don't understand why some folk thought he had a decent game - if the question is would I rather pay zilch and have Treacy on the bench or pay 5 million and have Charlie sat there (and lets assume wages are the same even though I'd doubt it), it's a no brainer.

If Charlie could be sat there for half a million, you've got a realistic question.

Re Treacy - Some people just listen to what commentators say and they were bigging him up a bit. I didn't see anything special.

Re Carlos - Could he replace Tugay? Tugs is hardly all pace and power. Carlos has got vision and technique.

[joey_big_nose]

Re Treacy - Some people just listen to what commentators say and they were bigging him up a bit. I didn't see anything special.

Re Carlos - Could he replace Tugay? Tugs is hardly all pace and power. Carlos has got vision and technique.

Carlos hasn't got the first touch of Tugay which is frankly sensational - vital for the role Toogs plays in front of the defence retaining the ball. Plus Carlos wants to play a good thirty yards further up the pitch.

If Carlos had a skillful first touch he would be a much better player imo, but as it is the ball bounces off him quite a lot and therefore he finds it hard to work in tight spaces initially (although once he starts dribbling he turns well and is unpredictable), and therefore gets caught in possession. However it is the sort of thing that can be worked on I imagine.

[CAPT KAYOS]

An ambling playmaker like Carlos needs his teammates to show good movement - something that is sadly lacking in our side.

The last time Rovers had a Villaneuva type was when Eyal Berkovic was at the club. On-song, that sort of player is a joy to watch; it'd be shame not to give it a real chance to work - but obviously, the threat of relegation is an impeding factor.

Something I actually agree on - he needs people to be on the same wavelength , a bit like Pedersen when he first arrived ( when he was atually quite creative) and in some degree when Tugay first arrived and a winger with some pace.

As you say - its something that seems to be sadly lacking in our team and dare I repeat myself from many moons ago - what do we do in training .

Considering the mismatch last 12 months we have had - to me the guy needs persevering with if we can get cheaper then great if not then maybe a stab at Benayoun (Theno) for our creative master.

[chileandude]

Hi guys it's been a while. Anyway more news on the Chilean front...

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From: http://www.prensafutbol.cl/

Destiny Calcio: Villanueva would arrive at Fiorentina

Martes, 20 de Enero de 2009 15:27

Before the event that Blackburn Rovers has not made effective their buying option for the 'Pinapple' and the scarce minutes he has had in the Premier League, from Italy a window is opened for the number '10'. The violets and Napoli appear as options.

A great change could await Carlos Villanueva. The former Audax Italiano player has not had the expected regularity at Blackburn Rovers, his new destiny would be in Italy, where Fiorentina and Napoli have him as a card for the winter market.

The former team of Gabriel Batistuta would be willing to pay the 5 million euros from the contracts rescission(sp?) rights that the Chilean has with his actual team, that marches in the 17th position of the Premier League.

The reality of Fiorentina is very different to that of Blackburn. The 'viola' team is placed 6th in the Calcio table, fighting elbow to elbow with Napoli and Genoa to reach one of the places for the UEFA Cup.

The site www.firenzeviola.it, that closely follows the italian team, gave this news declaring 'the last name, in chronological order, that has awoken curiosity in the 'viola' house is Carlos Villanueva'.

According to the same media the Sports Director of Fiorentina, Pantaleo Corvino, who is in charge of following, evaluating and confirming reinforcements, has the ex italic on sight, who he has been following to make a final decision.

But that would not be the only offer from the Calcio. The former team of Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli, has also placed their eyes on the Serenense (Villanueva's place of birth is 'La Serena' hence the term, 'Serenense') so that he may use shirt number '10' that the 'Pelusa' popularized.

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Hmmm...interesting options for Villanueva. There are quite a few Chileans playing in Serie A now, I think it would suit his game a bit better. He needs to play a bit more to get some more attention, hope he gets some more play time against Sunderland and cracks another goal!

[T4E]

I would be disappointed if Sam didn't atleast try to get something out of Carlos. He definitely looks like he's going to be a player once he settles in somewhere. We've made this mistake too many times before.

[tonyoz]

I would be disappointed if Sam didn't atleast try to get something out of Carlos. He definitely looks like he's going to be a player once he settles in somewhere. We've made this mistake too many times before.

I can't think of too many T4E. Who did you have in mind?

[BuckyRover]

Florent Sinama Pongolle, Joe Garner etc. etc.

[T4E]

Beattie and Given were the first two that sprung to mind. Patrick Andersson too. John Carew maybe, but perhaps that was outside of our control. Witschge went on to do pretty well too.

[tonyoz]

Hmm............Pongolle was totally unconvincing during his time at Ewood in my opinion - and he had an "on-fire" Bellamy beside him on many occasions. Joe Garner is second class isn't he? Similarly, Beattie has found his level I think but Given is true quality. I always liked him and it became a situation where he was too good to sit on the bench for us. The lad needed to play and so it was him or Flowers.

I would like to see Carlos given some further chances but, realistically, I don't think he is going to be here much longer. It's sad when you remember all the excitement he caused when we first captured him.

Moral : Beware of Youtube excellence.

[T4E]

Beattie moved to Everton for what, circa £7m? There's no doubt we made an error letting him go so cheaply, even if only for business reasons.

[tonyoz]

Oops.............forgot Andersson - he was a strange one wasn't he? Obviously a quality player but I can't remember him having one good game for us. Witschge only had a few games too from what I remember but again.......nothing to set the pulse racing. At least Carlos has shown some flashes of quality but, like Nicko said, he doesn't seem to be a Sam type player. He can't even get on the bench at the moment!

[tonyoz]

Beattie moved to Everton for what, circa £7m? There's no doubt we made an error letting him go so cheaply, even if only for business reasons.

I know.........but he was a dud there. Difficult to see that he was going to have one good season at Southampton I think. When you think about the other side of the coin........we have picked up undervalued assets more readily:

Le Saux, Sherwood, Friedel, Tugay, Bentley, Santa Cruz, McCarthy......................even Hendry and

Shearer became much more valuable once they arrived at Ewood.

[Tom]

Florent Sinama Pongolle, Joe Garner etc. etc.

To be honest Joe Garner has a long long long way to go before we can consider letting him go a mistake. Pongolle I would have liked to keep.

[cruz]

Pongolle was total garbage at Ewood

[Eddie]

No he wasn't. He and Bellamy looked like a good combination and seeing as we knew losing Bellamy was a risk it was really not very smart to let a fast and skilled striker who we could have bought leave.

[Montfort]

Pongolle was total garbage at Ewood

He wasnt total garbage but he did get a significant number of games ( 11? ) and scored very few goals ( 1) . I could understand it when we did not retain a striker who did not score. He was pretty quick and lively though.

[DeadlyDirk]

I thought I'd bump up the Carlos topic instead of filling the Sunderland thread with my thoughts.

Carlos played pretty well against Sunderland I thought, sure he may lack some pace but we knew that from the start. He's still only been here less than 6 months, for players from South America, especially those of slighter build it can take a while to adapt. For me he is showing signs of adapting and becoming stronger overtime. Sure he is still comparitively weak compared to other premiership players but if he can continue to improve his stamina and strength then he could very well be a useful option over the last 10-15 games, especially late on in matches.

I'm sure when BFS took over he said Villanueva could move on if he found a club as he didn't feature in his plans for now, Carlos has obviously done something right and changed the managers opinion as we've seen him playing under Allardyce as well as being on the bench for some important league games.

Carlos's delivery from set pieces is fantastic and something we lack when he is off the field, Pedersen's set pieces seem to have been in decline.

He genuinely is an exciting player to watch and can give us some much needed flair at times, if he can improve physically then he may just well offer us something in the long run, who knows it may even come down to a King Carlos freekick keeping us in the division on the final day.

I understand it was too much of a gamble to buy him in January especially when we are unsure of what division we are in next year but 'd certainly like to see him stay at the right price, he could still have a great future here and is still showing some good potential.

[Amo]

I think pace is grossly exaggerated by pundits and has rubbed off onto fans. It's not like Carlos travels at a snail's pace, and a good football brain can sometimes take you further than a rocket up your arse (see Rommedahl, Gronkjaer et al).