[Archived] Blackburn Sign Chilean Superstar Carlos Villanueva

[dr_awol]

And someone needs to provide those goals, you know.

MGP has 6 assists

roberts has 5, which im supprised at

dunn when fit and Diouf should provied plenty.

dont get me wrong, every game ive saw Villanueva, hes been one of the better players and if this where the start if the season i would start him. but its not and its to late to risk someone who is unproven in the prem, which is why i would give him sub apperances and then play him next season.

[USABlue]

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 liked him too, I just felt him and Bellers were not quite the right pairing, still I think he was worth the money being asked at the time.

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.

I do believe you are correct, he wanted to stay, Sparky said nah!

[BuckyRover]

Somebody who is quite slow yet can execute brilliant crosses.

Who is that also a description of?

Mr Bentley.

Step up Carlos and plant that ball on Santa's head (when he decides to get in the box)

[den]

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

He hasn't really done it in the Premier league though - otherwise he would been playing on a more regular basis. Also, it's not enough just to be able to "unlock defences" occassionally [even though he hasn't really done that when it matters]. In the top league you must have an all round game and be consistent.

[OscarRaven]

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

Because he also loses the ball and makes mistakes. Even my missus can see he is not on a par with the rest of the team in terms of retention and she knows nowt about the game - she said "he just needs to pass it a bit harder to stop the other team gettin it as much" - said it all really to me.

In a relegation battle you invariably find that you get punished for the slightest mistake. Villa in particular will captialise on the smallest chance and then lock the door. Points lost, still in bottom 3, one more game gone.

[Amo]

Sure you can say that, but on the other hand if you're relying on players who can't open defences (for example the Grella/Andrews partnership) you'll only invite pressure onto yourselves. Having someone with flair and an eye for a pass will always keep the opposition on their toes.

But I do appreciate what you're saying, and I know Carlos is far from the finished article, but anyone can see the midfield is lacking ideas whenever Dunn is missing or Tugay needs refuelling.

[Tom]

Because he also loses the ball and makes mistakes. Even my missus can see he is not on a par with the rest of the team in terms of retention and she knows nowt about the game - she said "he just needs to pass it a bit harder to stop the other team gettin it as much" - said it all really to me.

In a relegation battle you invariably find that you get punished for the slightest mistake. Villa in particular will captialise on the smallest chance and then lock the door. Points lost, still in bottom 3, one more game gone.

To be fair he only seemed to lose it when trying to take too many people on, I'd say the majority of his passes found their mark.

[rover6]

In the top league you must have an all round game and be consistent.

However, even if you have an all club-foot game and are consistently inept BUT you can win headers and run all day, you, yes YOU, MR Gamst, can play every game.

[thenodrog]

He hasn't really done it in the Premier league though - otherwise he would been playing on a more regular basis. Also, it's not enough just to be able to "unlock defences" occassionally [even though he hasn't really done that when it matters]. In the top league you must have an all round game and be consistent.

Basically and for that reason at the moment he can only be Dunny's deputy.

[tony gale's mic]

How much of a chance has Carlos really been given though? He's had sub appearances here and there but he's very rarely started. On Wednesday he started on the right and impressed, we should definitely keep him there next game if he's fit and not too tired - how many better options do we have there?

[Tom]

I think the fact he was being readied to come on against Bolton until the equaliser went in shows Sam has some hope in him at a Premiership level.

[American]

He hasn't really done it in the Premier league though - otherwise he would been playing on a more regular basis. Also, it's not enough just to be able to "unlock defences" occassionally [even though he hasn't really done that when it matters]. In the top league you must have an all round game and be consistent.

The thing is, he did do very well in the first half against Boro (some might argue they aren't Premier League at this point!).

Am happy that Sam was willing to give him a chance after he apparently proved something in practices, as he had been trying to offload him. I also do think that the position we are in doesn't allow us the luxury of starting him until we achieve safety.

[JAL]

How much of a chance has Carlos really been given though? He's had sub appearances here and there but he's very rarely started. On Wednesday he started on the right and impressed, we should definitely keep him there next game if he's fit and not too tired - how many better options do we have there?

The key reason which has been posted on here many a time is his lack of pace, can a manager afford to gamble with the situation Rovers currently find themselves in.

[tony gale's mic]

The key reason which has been posted on here many a time is his lack of pace, can a manager afford to gamble with the situation Rovers currently find themselves in.

I don't agree at all with this notion that he's a gamble. If we were playing him in defence then that'd be valid, but we're so uninspired down the right (although I forgot about Diouf when I'd made that post) I can't see it as being a gamble. If we've started quite a few games with the Axe and Andrews in midfield, how would giving Carlos a few games be any more of a gamble? If the worst came to the worst he'd be just as ineffectual as the rest of the people in that position....and we know he is capable of providing moments that the rest of the people in his position can't.

Plus much has been made of his lack of pace, granted it's true but as people have commented it doesn't mean you're going to be ineffective. Our last incumbent didn't have a great deal of pace.

[tonyoz]

Plus much has been made of his lack of pace, granted it's true but as people have commented it doesn't mean you're going to be ineffective. Our last incumbent didn't have a great deal of pace.

Yes, it's a tricky decision. I only saw about 10 minutes of highlights (Sunderland) but in that time, he had some sort of role in the Axe goal and set up about 4 or 5 very decent chances from deadball situations. That is some statistic. That's about equal to Gamst's contribution for the season so far!

I would like to see him brought on at some stage - especially if we are suffering from the usual lack of creativity.

[thenodrog]

I would like to see him brought on at some stage - especially if we are suffering from the usual lack of creativity.

Thats why he will be a perrenial sub option.

[tonyoz]

Thats why he will be a perrenial sub option.

Yes, it's hard to weigh up the liability against the creativity.

[tony gale's mic]

But unless he's given a run of games where he starts he'll never achieve his potential. It's hard having just bought Diouf now to leave him out but I'd still be tempted to put him in the team for today, the lad's just had a good game against Premier League opposition so why not stick with him, unless he's tired?

[den]

But unless he's given a run of games where he starts he'll never achieve his potential. It's hard having just bought Diouf now to leave him out but I'd still be tempted to put him in the team for today, the lad's just had a good game against Premier League opposition so why not stick with him, unless he's tired?

He's just had a game against a much weakened Sunderland - and although he had his moments, I wouldn't say he was that good.

You're also suggesting that he hasn't had a fair crack yet, - but I think all the fans and the coaches have seen enough to make a reasonable judgement of his abilities. I'll say it again, when he has made appearances in the Prem, he's been lacking. If he had performed well in those games, rovers wouldn't have told him to find another club.

[rover6]

. I'll say it again, when he has made appearances in the Prem, he's been lacking. If he had performed well in those games, rovers wouldn't have told him to find another club.

Yes, Villaneuva has considerable physical shortcomings which makes his insistence on running with the ball so often something of a flaw in his game. However, a comparison of worth may be made with Robert Pires. There was a slow guy (who runs as if he has the runs) who did a fine job as a left midfielder in the Premier League. He made it because he had fantastic vision - and didn't try to run with the ball too often.

[tony gale's mic]

He's just had a game against a much weakened Sunderland - and although he had his moments, I wouldn't say he was that good.

You're also suggesting that he hasn't had a fair crack yet, - but I think all the fans and the coaches have seen enough to make a reasonable judgement of his abilities. I'll say it again, when he has made appearances in the Prem, he's been lacking. If he had performed well in those games, rovers wouldn't have told him to find another club.

True but he's only had 5 starts, a lot of those have been when the whole team have been lacking. He's been no worse than Pedersen in those games and yet we continue with one and don't give the other a proper chance. He was always going to take time to adjust but a game here and there is never the way for a Chilean to be introduced into the League. Like I said, I don't buy the whole "risk" thing at all given the other players we'd been playing in his positions this season. For it to be a risk you'd have to run the risk of actually losing something, but we've been so inept creatively that we wouldn't be losing much even if he had a poor few games.

[thenodrog]

True but he's only had 5 starts, a lot of those have been when the whole team have been lacking. He's been no worse than Pedersen in those games and yet we continue with one and don't give the other a proper chance.

In creativety terms you have a point but Pederson tracks back and defends, he is a good header of the ball and he is faster and stronger. Carlos possesses none of those qualities.

[Fife Rover]

People keep citing his lack of pace as a reason for not giving him a fair chance in the PL games. How much pace has Tugay got (or indeed ever had)?

There have over the years been many examples of players that were very successful over a long career that had loads of technical ability but a complete abscence of pace; many of these were also long standing internationals. Also people seem to forget that Rovers themselves had a player that was and is still considered a legend, but who at the same time was regularly criticised by a minority of our supporters for being "lazy". I am of course referring to Eddie Quigley who was always overweight and could not raise a gallop but his skill in reading the game and his accuracy in passing a ball over any distance was unsurpassed any where (40 yds? ..no problem, he did it every match). He also was a prolific scorerer with a left foot like a cannon, and pin-point accuracy with free kicks etc. Not for nothing was he once British football's record transfer fee, but he never could and never did show any signs of pace.

[den]

People keep citing his lack of pace as a reason for not giving him a fair chance in the PL games. How much pace has Tugay got (or indeed ever had)?

There have over the years been many examples of players that were very successful over a long career that had loads of technical ability but a complete abscence of pace; many of these were also long standing internationals. Also people seem to forget that Rovers themselves had a player that was and is still considered a legend, but who at the same time was regularly criticised by a minority of our supporters for being "lazy". I am of course referring to Eddie Quigley who was always overweight and could not raise a gallop but his skill in reading the game and his accuracy in passing a ball over any distance (40 yds? ..no problem, he did it every match). He also was a prolific scorerer with a left foot like a cannon, and pin-point accuracy with free kicks etc. Not for nothing was he once British football's record transfer fee, but he never could and never did show any signs of pace.

I can only see one post Fife, where someone is saying his only disadvantage is a lack of pace.

When and if, he eventually has a real influence on a Premier league game, then there will be a case for his regular inclusion. In the games he has played, he's fallen short. Not all to do with pace.

[Iceman]

Villanueva has been much better than Treacy, and surely Carlos should be ahead of Keith Treacy. Diouf can always play down the left, to allow Villanueva down the right or vice versa.