Quick Hit-And-Run

By: Cesar | July 6th, 2007

This one’s a quickie, as we’re right in the middle of a major American holiday and I’m needing to drink some adult beverages and soak in some sun.

But that doesn’t mean the soap opera that is our beloved Valencia CF stops playing … it just keeps on churning!

The biggest news out of Mestalla involves the proposed 15 million Euro move for Argentinian international & current Porto captain Lucho Gonzalez.
The attacking midfielder is seen as a key component of the Porto attack and comes highly rated.

According to his UEFA.com bio, Lucho … ‘appears equally comfortable whether playing in front of the defence or in a more attacking role on the right of the midfield.

Schooled at CA Huracán, Lucho worked his way up through the club’s youth ranks until he made his senior debut in 1998. Outstanding in 2002, he caught the attention of CA River Plate and went on to star in the formidable team who won the Clausura in 2003 and 2004. In early 2003 he made his Argentina debut against Honduras – scoring in a 3-1 win – and in 2004 helped his nation reach the Copa América final and win Olympic gold.

Having played in more than 100 games and scored more than 20 goals for River, he decided it was time to move on and signed a five-year contract with FC Porto, who paid €3.6m for half of the player’s registration in April 2005. After scoring ten Liga goals in his first season to help Porto win the Portuguese double, he was called up to Argentina’s FIFA World Cup squad.

Ok, sounds like a fine lad. But question is, why didn’t they use this money to buy Wesley Sneijder, a lad rated just as high and at a cheaper price, 12 million euros?
Doesn’t make much sense to me, but then again, what does at Valencia? Looks like I’m not the only crazed one by the looks of the comments left on the blog … weird team we support, huh?

Still, looks like a good signing. It would also continue the lineage of Argentinian internationals on the squad. With Roberto Ayala’s departure, we’re short in that department. He’d continue the line started by ‘El Matador’ Mario Kempes and continued by players such as Claudio Lopez, Pablo Aimar and Kily Gonzalez.
He’s currently in Venezuela with Argentina’s Copa America squad.

In other news, ‘The Incredible Sulk’ Nikolas Anelka (below, annoyed at a photog) likes the idea of sulking the year away at Valencia.
“The interest from the Spaniards is really touching,” he told L’Equipe. (Touching?)

‘Valencia are a great club. Going over there to try to win La Liga and help the club qualify for the Champions League is very tempting.”

Great to hear. Even though he’s a nutcase, I’d love to see him on the team.

If these two guys sign, we’d be one man short of a complete team. Another defender would pretty much round out the squad.

Baraja, Edu, Lucho and Albelda in the midfield. Joaquin and Vicente on the wings. Villa and Silva as the strike force with Anelka ready to provide reinforcements.
Marchena doing the dirty work in the back with Albiol, Moretti, Alexis and Miguel in there to help. Canizares or Hildebrand as ball-stoppers.
And let’s not forget youngsters like Mata and Sunny.

I’d be happy with that squad.

10 days to pre-season training. I’m excited!