[Archived] Blackburn Sign Chilean Superstar Carlos Villanueva

[gumboots]

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.

I did read an interview in French from him where he explained that part of the reason he didn't score many was that the team was set up for Bellamy and it was his job to give Bellamy the chances. It went along the lines of I have to sacrifice my own play for the main striker. That said he did miss a few!

[LeChuck]

One thing that might work in Carlos' favour is that set-pieces play a huge part in Allardyce's tactics, and wasn't Emerton in charge of those pre-injury.

If he's the only fit player we have who can take set pieces then he might find he has a starting place by default, the only other person I can think of who can take a decent one is Dunn.

[joey_big_nose]

How do we fit him in though? All of our strikers are good at playing the space between midfield and attack (Roberts, McCarthy, Cruz, Diouf), he is not a wide player, he cetainly cannot play a holding role in defence or a target man up front. He is the sort of guy you need to build your team around or not facilitate at all....

Only way I can see him getting a regular game is if he manages to wrest the left sided spot off Pedersen. Best chance of that is 4231 imo, and he could benefit form the larger amount of width we get from Diouf. It is such a shame because his set pieces are superb and he can tackle and hassle, it is just he gets left behind pace and we already have a lot of contenders for his role.

A potential team for Carlos to have a part of?

-----------------McCarthy

---Carlos---------Cruz-----Diouf

------------Grella------Dunn

Warnock---Nelsen---Samba---Ooijer

-----------------Robinson

I like the shape of it but then again Dunn would be shackled into a deeper position, and we would lose the irrepressible Roberts who has been excellent recently. Also with Diouf and Carlos out wide we might get congested in the centre of the park and be vulnerable down the wings when the opposition have the ball....

We have a very bizarrely shaped squad at the moment- a shedload of "second strikers", no proper right winger, no proper right back, loads of centerbacks, one injury prone and one average box to box midfielder. We have a lot of quality but it is concentrated in certain areas. The problem for Carlos is that he is looking fo a spot in one of out most well provisioned positions. I hope we find a place for him (and also a way of effectively using at least three of our four very good strikers) as it will greatly aid our survival. But we cannot lose our shape entirely.

[chileandude]

...and a good football brain can sometimes take you further than a rocket up your arse (see Rommedahl, Gronkjaer et al).

See another appropriate Chilean example: Mark Gonzalez.

(Although he is doing quite well for Betis back in Spain. Scored last weekend actually)

[thenodrog]

Pongolle was total garbage at Ewood

I disagree. I quite liked the look of him.

Problem with him imo, as with so many was that his salary requirements and possibly his attitude were overblown after his time at a 'big club'.

[onlyoneDuff]

Ife he can replicate his Sunderland form on his free and corner kicks on a semi-regularly basis he surely must be worth six points over the course of the season...he set up at my count six excellent scoring chances against Sunderland...class

[American]

I disagree. I quite liked the look of him.

Problem with him imo, as with so many was that his salary requirements and possibly his attitude were overblown after his time at a 'big club'.

I don't remember that at all. I remember him saying how much he enjoyed his time here and that he hoped Hughes made a permanent move for him, but Hughes declined, and at a pretty low price, too.

[herbergeehh]

Pongolle did okay, we had some real pace up front at that time. But he never showed the quality then, that we can see now. Then again, neither did David Bentley, and we did sign him.

[Montfort]

Let me make it clear, I really love watching Carlos and want him to suceed. Saying that I hope I am realistic.

ITV ( I think ) gave him a 7 - the joint top mark - for the last Sunderland game. Ergo he was fully worth his place in the team on the night to say the least.

I dont see where he fits into the starting line up but would have thought he has earned himself a regular place on the bench to bring on if we need him. Against Bolton we ended up playing Benni, Roberts and Santa Cruz at the same time. Bringing Carlos on as a sub is no more unreasonable than this

[philipl]

I don't think we will see Carlos tomorrow because of the pace Villa have but I wouldn't be surprised to see him at Old Trafford where the well-delivered set piece could be our only realistic chance of scoring.

[T4E]

(see Rommedahl, Gronkjaer et al).

..............and Lovenkrands.

Isn't it strange how many Danish wingers there are like that?

[Bobby G]

Did he play on the left or right against Sunderland?

[T4E]

Right. Treacy "played" on the left.

[Bobby G]

Interesting that he possibly puts his best performance for us on that side.

[ElTwis]

He was constantly cutting inside though at times we could have done with a bit of width.

There is no way he can make the right hand side his as he has no right foot, on several occasions he had chances to shoot with his right but chose to turn and use his left meaning the chance was effectively over. I'd be interested to see him on the left hand side though....

[BuckyRover]

Somebody who is quite slow yet can execute brilliant crosses.

Who is that also a description of?

[Majiball]

Somebody who is quite slow yet can execute brilliant crosses.

Who is that also a description of?

A deep thinking noughts and crosses player?????

[T4E]

Somebody who is quite slow yet can execute brilliant crosses.

Who is that also a description of?

David Beckham?

[Tony Diamond Inc]

For someone who hasn't had a consistent run of games, I thought he outshone every other Rovers player on Wednesday (amongst them some very good performances).

He could well be a viable alternative to a stuttering, spluttering Pederson.

I would chose him over Treacy everytime.

Well done Charlie!

[OscarRaven]

Ife he can replicate his Sunderland form on his free and corner kicks on a semi-regularly basis he surely must be worth six points over the course of the season...he set up at my count six excellent scoring chances against Sunderland...class

Look up some stats on how often he gave the ball away or lost possession. He was terrible with most of his passes and absolutley another class with some of them.

He is an obvious playmaker, will create many oppertunities but needs to be in the centre of midfield pulling the strings to be effective. He is too lightweight for a premier league midfield without an enforcer or two more next to him.

Personally I would play Carlos tomorrow, in a 4-5-1. Althougth, I'd be tempted to try either Samba or Zurab in the midfield to add some defensive steel and neithe of those two is averse to the odd charge forward and can both tackle.

[Tony Diamond Inc]

He is an obvious playmaker, will create many oppertunities but needs to be in the centre of midfield pulling the strings to be effective. He is too lightweight for a premier league midfield without an enforcer or two more next to him.

I agree, but that would be a symptom of not playing regularly. We see it time and again with players after coming back from a lengthy lay off!

This guy will blossom.

[dr_awol]

He is an obvious playmaker, will create many oppertunities but needs to be in the centre of midfield pulling the strings to be effective. He is too lightweight for a premier league midfield without an enforcer or two more next to him.

I agree, but that would be a symptom of not playing regularly. We see it time and again with players after coming back from a lengthy lay off!

This guy will blossom.

Villanueva is the dream, the type of player we can ill afford to use in a relegation battle. but still there’s something about the wee man, he got qualities that no one else in our team has, once we get out of the trouble where in, i would love to see him play just behind benni in a 4-4-1-1 formation.

[Amo]

Villanueva is the dream, the type of player we can ill afford to use in a relegation battle.

I still find this peculiar. Someone who could unlock defences and win us points shouldn't be used in a relegation battle?

[dr_awol]

I still find this peculiar. Someone who could unlock defences and win us points shouldn't be used in a relegation battle?

atm i would use RSC and benni, as they are the mosy likey to get us the required goals in a relegation battle. hence theres no starting place for Villanueva, i would keep him for next season and sub apperances.

[Amo]

atm i would use RSC and benni, as they are the mosy likey to get us the required goals in a relegation battle.

And someone needs to provide those goals, you know.