Alejandro Gomez another Argentinean talent

It seems like I’m getting some source of payment to talk about the Pampas youth talent, but the truth is simpler: they just keep on making new and excitant players. Alejandro Gomez is a recent addition to the San Lorenzo squad and was formed on Arsenal de Sarandí. Another amazing dribbler from Argentina, this 21 year old is another man to keep an eye on. Like a lot of his countrymen’s, he’s quick and light making it difficult to steal him the ball. Typically he likes to play on the offensive midfield and to appear on the box from the lines. He’s quick and talented when in possession, and pretty sleek on movements off-ball.
Brought in the beginning of the year to San Lorenzo for +/- 2 millions it will be difficult to European clubs to buy him this off-season. But, when you look to the money you’ll need to spend to buy names like Palacio or Buonanotte, you’ll get pretty happy with the quality/price ratio Alejandro Gomez as to offer. Besides his obvious talent, he’s still very young, which will give him a lot of chances to evolve as a player if he comes to Europe and became a regular choice in the National squad.

Tip: Not fit (yet) to be a regular in a high profile club, Gomez’s talent should award him with a presence in a mid-class European club, a mid-table from the Premier or an emergent force from the east (Ukraine or Russia). My guess is you’ll need to spend 5/7 millions to count with him in your team.

Who will catch Buonanotte?

After an amazing campaign in Beijing 08, Diego Bounanotte as made a high impact in European clubs, but he still remains at River Plate. This 21 year old, is a ‘Messi like’ player, with an awesome ability to dribble in the middle of opposition defense and an increased appetence to score goals. Obviously, with River’s poor international career and without being a National A regular, this young Argentinean as come to my attention in the Toulon Youth Festival that is going won.
He has grown up as a player and seems now ready to come to Europe. Last year we’ve read rumors about Villarreal, Aston Villa and Porto. This year, the Portuguese side seems to be the only referred in the newspapers, but we firmly believe some more teams will appear to try and snatch this Los Millonarios raw diamond. Short and light (1.60m/56kgs), Buonanotte uses his left foot in dazzling fashion, being able to crack any defense, although he’s got a slightly more ‘large’ touch then Messi, it’s also almost impossible to deprive him of the ball without conceding a foul. Besides that, he also adds a good direct free-kick form, especially in short range kicks.

Tip: Tactically he’s like a wonderer on the field, he still needs to learn when to help his teammates on defensive moves and the right time to pass the ball. Bottom-line, a new awesome product from Las Pampas that we can watch on display through this year’s Toulon tournament. Rumors tell will be blessed with his presence in European football in the upcoming season. Who will snatch Buonanotte? Nobody knows, but you can count on him to produce some impressive offensive moves.

Rodrigo Palacio coming to Europe?

Probably the next in line to gain a one way ticket to Europe, Rodrigo Palacio’s ability to play in the offensive box should gain him a harm place in the heart of his next fans. Year after year, his pointed to a big European club (Man.Utd, Liverpool, Barcelona and AC Milan are some examples) but he always seems to fail on leaving Boca Juniores. Now 27 years old, the high profile striker is getting in a turning point: or he leaves now the South America competitions or he’ll be there forever.
He’s not a typical, which gives him the ability to play on other positions of Boca’s offensive start-up. Usually he plays as a second striker alongside Martin Palermo in a 4-4-2 formation. But not being keen of a physical style of play, Palacio’s technique and speed allows him to come outside the box and be a set-up player – usually from the sides. But, while in the box his know to find space where nobody else can see it. He doesn’t have the heart of most his countryman’s, we won’t see him trying to recover a lost ball all the way back to the defense, but he’s still a team player, besides being a goal scorer his know for an impressive number of assists to his teammates.
As a professional player, his played for Argentineans’ sides Hurácan, Arroyos, Banfield and is in Boca since 2005 – here he as own all the major titles in South America competitions, such as the Copa Libertadores – the local CL. And has became an irregular called player to the national squad (well, is not easy when you need to compete with Messi, Aguero, Tevez, Crespo, Lisandro…).

Tip: With 1.76m/68kg is a lightweight striker with greater technique which allows him to pair up in a very effective way with a more physical striker. Last year Boca refused a 25 million euro offer from Barcelona. The real question is: will any major European club dispose more than this for a 27 year old? By the way things are going; I’m starting to think he’ll be number 14 in Boca the rest of his professional career – but I’d love to see him in Europe.

Have you asked for Sessegnon?

Stéphane Sessegnon is one of the biggest attractions of France’s top clubs, the 24 years old from Benin is making quite an impact in domestic and European football – PSG as endure until the UEFA Cup quarter-finals – and with the approach of the summer talks of transfer is in order. The blues from Stamford Bridge are – according to French media – in the pole position to bring the man from Parque des Princes to the Premier League. Brought in the late summer from Le Mans to PSG for about 8 millions pound, it is expected PSG’s board reluctance to let him go for less than 15 millions. Money at Chelsea is not a problem; the real question is to understand if the man formed in Benin’s Requins de l’Atlantique is worth the money.
Until today, I’ve seen less than ten games of Sessegnon but most say I’m very impressed with his ability to dribble the ball and to get always cool and innovative moves with the ball – if you haven´t seen him play do a quick search on Youtube. Born in 1984, his still young and has a perfect physical balance, 172cm for 72kg, he’s very quick and usually evolves like a typical right winger – going to the end line and cross or do a move to the middle and try to score, he can also play in the middle and on the other side, but his most impressive moves came from the sideline. Being a small forward his not apt to play with the head, but he’s still very combative and able to chase the ball in the team’s defensive moves – although sometimes he just stops in middle line.
Know in PSG has the new Jay-jay Okocha, he is a truly creative player that spear the opponent defenses with the sin of shame. With 30 games and five goals (until today, La Ligue is still running) in his first season, he’s a fans favorite and one of Africa most promising players. You will need a lot of money to buy this man that in five professional seasons has played for four clubs – Requins l’Atlantique (Benin) and in France for Créteil, Le Mans and PSG.

Tip: He’s one of the most effective dribblers on the European football, if you have the money and a well balanced structure to help him get more consistent in his top exhibitions then you should buy him. Chelsea, AC Milan but also Arsenal and Newcastle seem to be on the dispute.

Bring van Gaal to the Premier

The championship winning form of Az Alkmaar as turned my attention to Louis van Gaal. Obviously, the players are the real heroes behind the second Eredivisie title of this (the first was in 1980/81) – at the moment - small club. But, without a doubt van Gaal – once one of the most prominent coaches in Europe, has a central role in this epic achievement. Without star-players in the field, the biggest name in Az Alkmaar is the coach, a man that knows the club inside-out and, according to my vision, should say goodbye once again. (Lois van Gaal has played for Az and coached the team for a couple of months in 1986, then he went to Ajax to assist Leo Bennhakker).
Premier League is the place for this coach, is profile seems apt to a long term commitment and a mid-table team would benefit from his experience. In his resume he got Ajax, Barcelona (twice), National Squad and – of course – Az Alkmaar and, besides a poor performance with the National team, he got championship titles everywhere. Methodic, always looking angry and never smiling, this 57 years old man has come to a new life, forgotten in Europe, this title puts him back in the mainstream soccer. But, like all the clubs he coached, needs time – usually a couple of years – to put team’s playing as he wants (he sack anyone who doesn’t play by his saying’s). Typically he changes his team’s from a 4-4-2 to a very flexible 3-5-2/3-4-3, wants the team to own the ball and attack in a short pass way, always in progression and constant midfield rotation. He chooses quick wingers, so they can pass the ball to two permanent strikers – and get goals.
Looking to the table has it is and to their actual coaches, I believe Newcastle Utd, Blackburn or Bolton would be ideal for him. The first has the money, the second a truly good squad unfulfilled and the third the time to bear with any coach. Most important, in second half of the table, this teams are the only ones with money for such a high profile manager.

Tip: If somehow you have doubts about Louis’s van Gaal being Premier material, just remember – he is one of Mourinho’s (alongside with Sir Bobby Robson) biggest influences. So bring him.