talented football

Giovanni Moreno

2010-11-12T23:54:00.002Z

Name:Giovanni Moreno
Team: Racing (Argentina)
Birth date: 01.07.1986
Nationality: Colombia
EU Passport: No
End of Contract: 06.2015
Estimated Yearly Wage: 250.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 5.000.000 €

Position: Offensive Midfielder/Forward - Giovanni plays regularly as a linking player between the midfield and the forwards in a 4-3-1-2 system. He can also be used as a left midfielder in a flat 4-4-2, or as a forward.

Potential (0-10): 9 - Moreno is a tremendous talent, but a rare one too. To find a spot in a more competitive European league he needs to make some tactical adaptations. The biggest risk is the time, as Moreno was only 24 when he left Colombian football to play in Argentina.

Physical description: Much of his unusual profile comes from his physical attributes. He’s a thin and very tall player (1,93m). This is much more common in centre forwards than in creative players, but Moreno makes good use of his long legs to keep the ball away from opponents. His height can also be a useful resource to a more direct ball approach. He is not a very fast player.
Technical description: Left footed and extremely gifted player. It’s Very hard to take the ball away from him, as he combines his physical qualities with an unusual ball control. He’s also a threat for his shots, both from open play or free kicks.

Tactical description: Giovanni has good movement off the ball, both dropping to collect the ball and going forward to finishing positions. His decision making is also usually good and every time the ball reaches his feet, something can be expected from him. His main problem is that the position where he usually plays hardly exists in European football and if he’s to make a further step in his career, he needs to prove he can be useful also when the team does not have the ball.

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Miralem Pjanic

2010-07-05T16:46:00.000+01:00

Name:Miralem Pjanic
Team: Lyon (France)
Birth date: 02.04.1990
Nationality: Bosnia
EU Passport: Yes
End of Contract: 06.2013
Estimated Yearly Wage: 1.500.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 20.000.000 €

Position: Central Midfielder - Pjanic plays as a central midfielder in a 4-3-3 system at Lyon. He can play both in more defensive or offensive roles.

Potential (0-10): 10 - Pjanic´s level is already very high for his age and it´s very likely that Pjanic can develop to be one of the best midfielders of his generation.
Physical description: Physically, Pjanic is not an impressive player. He´s not very strong, nor very tall (180 cm), but has both good acceleration and enough strength to win a few physical challenges in the midfield.

Technical description: Probably his best known attribute is the accuracy of his right foot, particularly on direct and indirect free kicks. But Pjanic is much more than a terrific free kick taker. His passing is precise and creative and he is involvement in offensive play is always a menace to the opposition, being very hard to stop his quick and short movements when on the ball.

Tactical description: If technically Pjanic is remarkable player, his understanding of the game is also worth to mention. Defensively he has a good working capacity, both in attitude and positioning. Offensively, he shows good awareness on off the ball movements, especially on the flanks. With his age, he still has good margin of progress in all areas of his game, and being an intelligent and gifted player, is only to expect that Pjanic can develop also in his comprehension of the game.

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Nene

2010-07-05T16:12:00.000+01:00

Name:Nene
Team: Monaco (France)
Birth date: 19.07.1981
Nationality: Brazil
EU Passport: Yes
End of Contract: 06.2011
Estimated Yearly Wage: 1.500.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 4.000.000 €

Position: Left winger / midfielder - Nene plays as a left winger in Monaco. He can be used as an inside-left midfielder or as a forward.

Potential (0-10): 8 - At the age of 29, Nene is at the top of his game. He´s been the most influential player at Monaco and can be even more useful in a team with more global quality.
Physical description: Elegant player, 181cm, Nene uses some of his physical characteristics as a support to his more technical game. Has strength to hold defenders when in possession and speed to run away from challenges.

Technical description: His left foot is the most important part of his game. He uses it to at holding possession, creating passing solutions and delivering through balls and crosses. The ball in Nene´s left foot is always a safety for the team and a menace to the opposition.

Tactical description: Nene´s technical ability is only useful because he has good decision making. He has good off the ball movements and understands well his tactical job. Not known for his hard work, but also a player that has a good defensive attitude.

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Étienne Capoue

2010-05-01T13:16:00.000+01:00

Name:Étienne Capoue
Team: Toulouse (France)
Birth date: 11.07.1988
Nationality: France
EU Passport: Yes
End of Contract: 06.2014
Estimated Yearly Wage: 800.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 10.000.000 €

Position: Defensive Midfielder - Capoue plays as first man in front of 4 men defensive line. He plays a positional role, but his dynamic determines that he can be seen in very different places during a match.

Potential (0-10): 9 - Capoue already plays at very high level and would easily fit in most of top European teams. He’s got some tactical and decisional development to do and if he finds the right path it’s not hard to imagine him at a top club at some point in his career.

Physical description: He’s a tall player(1,89m), but his great physical attributes rely on the quickness of his movements and on the way he places his body well at every challenge. Of course, being a tall player helps him in areal challenges, also important in his role.

Technical description: Capoue maybe mostly a working player, but his technical level is very high as well. Very good at keeping and hiding the ball and also with good passing accuracy.

Tactical description: Capoue is a team player and understands well the importance of his role in the team’s balance. Defensively, the problems he feels come mostly from moments where the team finds itself too stretched in the field. In this area of the game, he would easily fit at wherever tactical model and would certainly benefit a lot with team improvements. Probably the area where he most needs to develop it’s his passing decisions. Not that he makes a lot of mistakes during a game, but he sometimes trusts too much his good passing quality and plays long too often. Here again, it’s likely that his improvement comes fast in this area as well, provided a better tactical model.

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Eden Hazard

2010-04-10T01:18:00.000+01:00

Name:Eden Hazard
Team: Lille (France)
Birth date: 07.01.1991
Nationality: Belgium
EU Passport: Yes
End of Contract: 06.2014
Estimated Yearly Wage: 800.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 17.000.000 €

Position: Winger - Hazard plays as a winger, being able to do it both on the right or on the left. Due to his age and potential it’s possible for him to develop in other more inside positions. This is unlikely though.

Potential (0-10): 10 - It is already a huge surprise to see a player of this age performing at such high level. It will depend on many factors, but it’s hard to find a player with this kind of potential in the world, so it’s not absurd thinking that Hazard can be one of the best of his time.

Physical description: Small (1,70m), quick player. Has very quick short movements and good acceleration, making it easier to get away from defenders. He’s still very young though, and if continues improving he can became a very hard player to stop.

Technical description: Excellent technical ability, being a good free kick taker, passer, dribler and finisher. To this he adds the ability to play well with both his feet.

Tactical description: Hazard is a natural, physical and technical talent, but what makes him so special is the playing culture he shows for his age. His decision making and movement are very good and exceptionally developed for his age. With playing experience, he can only become better in this area and it’s only a matter of waiting to see what happens to other areas of his game to find out if Hazard can become the star he seems to be destined to be.

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Luiz Suarez

2010-04-10T00:43:00.000+01:00

Name:Luiz Suarez
Team: Ajax (Holland)
Birth date: 24.01.1987
Nationality: Uruguay
EU Passport: No
End of Contract: 06.2013
Estimated Yearly Wage: 3.000.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 25.000.000 €

Position: Forward/Winger - Suarez can play either as central forward or as a winger, preferably in a 3 front men system. He can play as a more fixed striker but his profile advises to use him in a more mobile role. When playing as a winger, he’s stronger in the right.

Potential (0-10): 9 - Suarez is a mature player and at his level he can aspire to play in any team in the World. A move to a more competitive league would be an important test and also an important opportunity to keep developing as a player.

Physical description: His quality comes from his technical skills and playing intelligence, not from his physical attributes. Physically, he’s a regular player, with very good acceleration, strength and agility. 1,81m.

Technical description: He’s specially strong when executing with his right foot. The precision of his finishing and crossing, as well as the first touch are the great strengths of his game. He can also use the left foot.

Tactical description: Being a technically gifted player, Suarez’s level is only possible by the intelligence of his decision making and movement. Even not playing in central positions, Suarez is a highly regular goal scorer. This is not only due to his quality finishing but mostly to his good inside movements. When playing further away from finishing positions, Suarez distinguishes himself by the quickness of his thinking, making many 1 touch appearances in the game. Also to mention are his movements on the right, where he can be very dangerous hiding the ball from defenders and putting in very dangerous crosses.
In defensive moments, Suarez shows good attitude but he can work on his aggressiveness in pressing situations.

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Diego Biseswar

2010-02-14T09:25:00.000Z

Name:Diego Biseswar
Team: Feyenoord (Holland)
Birth date: 08.03.1988
Nationality: Holland
EU Passport: Yes
End of Contract: 06.2012
Estimated Yearly Wage: 800.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 5.000.000 €

Position: Winger - Biseswar can play either side, normally as a winger in 3 front men system. He has played in more free role in a 2 men front system and can also player as a wing midfielder.

Potential (0-10): 8 - Biseswar has some rare qualities that could make him a very good prospect for the future. For him ever to reach that level it would take some development in his tactical capacity.

Physical description: Small (1,73m), strong player. Biseswar has small quick legs that provide him fast acceleration movements, important to get away from defenders. Also to mention is his capacity to use his body to protect the ball from opposition.

Technical description: The most impressive aspect of Biseswar is his capacity to use his both feet with enormous quality. His shooting and crossing are a menace from almost anywhere and it is not easy to find another player with this capacity in the world. Apart from this, he’s also a very strong player at holding the ball in more inside positions, being a strong player in possession situations.

Tactical description: Biseswar likes to stay wide and if possible drop to the midfield, trying to get the ball to his feet and almost never in the space. This way of playing, and despite his qualities, limit the level of his game. Biseswar needs to improve his off the ball movements in order to become a less predictable player. If he does so, he can become a top player, if he doesn’t he will never get much better than the level he is now.
In defensive situations, Biseswar is not a very strong player but he is a useful one, maintaining a fair attitude towards defensive situations.

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Mounir El Hamdaoui

2010-02-14T07:58:00.001Z

Name:Mounir El Hamdaoui
Team: AZ (Holland)
Birth date: 14.07.1984
Nationality: Morocco
EU Passport: Yes
End of Contract: 06.2012
Estimated Yearly Wage: 1.000.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 8.000.000 €

Position: Forward - El Hamdaoui is a versatile forward. His technical ability allows him to play almost everywhere, the important being to give him enough freedom in order to get involved with the team’s play.

Potential (0-10): 8 - At AZ, El Hamdaoui is quite clearly the star player. His technique and ability make it possible for him at higher level. The possibility of him succeeding in one of the top teams in the world is, however, dependent of his development in some areas of his game.

Physical description: He’s a regular sized player (1,83m). He’s not particularly quick or strong and he’s well known for being a technical player and not a physical power. However, running away from defenders like he does is only possible with the good acceleration and balance that he has got.

Technical description: His right foot is the great strength of his game. El Hamdaoui is a very strong technical player, being particularly noticed for his capacity to hold and hide the ball from the opponent, dribbling, passing, crossing and accurate finishing. Despite scoring many goals in the box, he’s not a very good header of the ball.
Tactical description: Being a very technical player, El Hamdaoui feels the need to participate in most every building movement, dropping down to get involved. He’s quite strong at this, but he also exaggerates at holding the ball. This is the matter where he should develop more, finding more simple ways to get involved. This shouldn’t be hard for a player of his skills as he’s also been strong in many off the ball movements, manly at arriving in finishing positions, where he has scored many goals in recent years. If he can improve to balance his off the ball movements, he can play at almost any team.
Finally, it is also to mention, although not being this the main area of his game, that El Hamdoui’s working attitude should be improved, as he frequently lacks aggressiveness at pressing situations.

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Urby Emanuelson

2010-02-06T02:52:00.000Z

Name:Urby Emanuelson
Team: Ajax (Holland)
Birth date: 16.06.1986
Nationality: Holland
EU Passport: Yes
End of Contract: 06.2011
Estimated Yearly Wage: 1.500.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 8.500.000 €

Position: Left Defender/Left Midfielder/Winger - Emanuelson’s quality allows him to play in several positions with high quality.

Potential (0-10): 9 - This potential is referring to what he can reach if he decides to develop as a left back. In other more offensive roles he can be a useful player, but it’s not likely that he can reach a much higher level than where he is now.

Physical description: 1,75, light, quick player.

Technical description: His technical skills are no news as he’s been spotted as a talent since young age. Particularly his left foot is very good, controlling, passing and even finishing with high quality.

Tactical description: Offensively, Emanuelson as all it is needed to give good dynamic to the flank. Has good passing, decision on the ball and creativity. He can give a rare quality in this area as a left back. To be a top defender, though, he needs to work on some defensive aspects. Better aggressiveness and positioning will make him a good prospect for almost any team in the world, but he needs to start working on this particular position.

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Douglas

2010-02-05T17:56:00.001Z

Name:Douglas
Team: Twente (Holland)
Birth date: 12.01.1988
Nationality: Brazil
EU Passport: No
End of Contract: 06.2012
Estimated Yearly Wage: 600.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 5.500.000 €

Position: Central Defender - Plays a central defender, normally on the right side. Has also played as defensive midfielder, but that’s not where he’s at his best.

Potential (0-10): 8 - Douglas is a very young player that made a very good adaptation to Dutch football. He’s got some rare qualities but to reach a higher level he needs to play in a more demanding environment and progress in some areas.

Physical description: Tremendous physique. He’s Very tall (1,92m) and very strong. This makes him particularly strong on physical challenges and areal duels, where he shows a good timing to jump for the ball. His handicap is the agility, being a big guy he’s got natural problems on quick, turning movements.
Technical description: Apart from his physical attributes, Douglas is easily spotted for he’s comfort on the ball. He’s good technically and feels very comfortable to build up play.

Tactical description: Having good very physical and technical attributes, Douglas has some areas where he needs to develop. On the ball he sometimes takes too many risks, this being also a consequence of the teams playing mentality, very focused on possession. Defensively, the Dutch league doesn’t allow him to develop in a proper way. He has good anticipation, but needs to develop his positioning in some areas. With his age a talent it’s probable that he succeeds if he’s given the opportunity to do so.

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Bryan Ruiz

2010-02-05T17:31:00.001Z

Name:Bryan Ruiz
Team: Twente (Holland)
Birth date: 18.08.1985
Nationality: Costa Rica
EU Passport: No
End of Contract: 06.2013
Estimated Yearly Wage: 1.000.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 7.500.000 €

Position: Winger/Forward - Plays as a free winger in a 4-3-3 formation. This is his better role, but he can be used as a free forward in a 2 front men system or as a wing midfielder.

Potential (0-10): 8 - Ruiz has come a long way, coming from Costa Rica and adapting to European football. Today he’s a mature footballer that guarantees already a very high level. He’s got every condition to be successful in a more demanding challenge in his career.

Physical description: Tall (1,86m) and elegant player. He’s got very good agility and body control. He’s also quick player.
Technical description: His left foot is his best technical resource. Almost perfect first touches and good passing and crossing. Also, has a good finishing in the box. From long range he is not so comfortable and also doesn’t go for it very often.

Tactical description: Having very good physical and technical conditions, what brings Ruiz to a higher level is his game comprehension. On the ball, he’s got very quick thinking and good decision making. Very important to mention is his quality off the ball. Ruiz usually starts from the wing but he’s very good at finding spaces inside, both to support his team’s play and to show up in finishing situations. His working mentality is also very good, despite being an offensive player.

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Leroy Fer

2010-01-15T02:02:00.001Z

Name:Leroy Fer
Team: Feyenoord (Holland)
Birth date: 05.01.1990
Nationality: Holland
EU Passport: Yes
End of Contract: 06.2012
Estimated Yearly Wage: 300.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 7.500.000 €

Position: Central Midfielder - Feyenoord plays on a 4-3-3 system, with 3 mobile midfielders. Leroy Fer plays his part in this area of the field.

Potential (0-10): 9 - His potential is rare and quite obvious, combining physical and technical attributes that are not easy to find in players of his age. Leroy Fer has every condition to be capable of playing in any team in the world. This, of course, is still not the case and Fer still has to develop in some areas of his game to reach such high level.

Physical description: Tall (1,88m), slim player. He’s also fast and very agile, having all the requisites to become very strong in physical challenges. That is still not the case as he still needs to learn body placement needs to be improved.

Technical description: Prefers the right foot and has a very good technique. His control and passing are consistent and he’s also a very good dribbler, using this skill often in transition situations.

Tactical description: If physically and technically Fer has full potential to become a top player, he needs to improve his tactical game to really become one. He’s a very reactive player in transition moments of the game, both defensive and offensive, and gives good support and fair quality to possession in more organized play. Also to mention is his very good working attitude. Defensively, he needs to work on his positioning, anticipating more to run less. In this area, it’s also important that he becomes, physically, a more dominant player. To achieve this, he needs to learn how to use and place his body better, as he doesn’t lack nor agility or strength. Offensively, improving his off the ball movements and arriving better and more often in finishing positions can be a decisive point to bring his football to the next level. Also, a more mature decision making when on the ball is necessary.
These aspects mentioned that need to be improved are only normal given the youth of the player.

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Ibrahim Afellay

2010-01-04T16:30:00.004Z

Name:Ibrahim Afellay
Team: PSV (Holland)
Birth date: 02.04.1986
Nationality: Holland
EU Passport: Yes
End of Contract: 06.2011
Estimated Yearly Wage:2.000.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 12.000.000 €

Position: Central Midfielder - Afellay’s qualities make it possible to use him in almost any midfield position. His qualities, though, make him a specially strong player in central positions, bringing the best of his playmaking ability.

Potential (0-10): 10 - Afellay’s talent make it possible to think that he can become one of the best midfielders in the world. He needs to develop some areas of his game and it’s important that he gets the opportunity to play in a more competitive environment.

Physical description: An elegant player, 182 cm. Afellay’s game is not very physical but he knows how to use his body and it’s not an handicap to him in any aspect.

Technical description: Rare capacity on the ball, feeling comfortable under pressure and having an excellent passing capacity. He’s also very good with quick, short dribbling and has good finishing, both from short and long range. Also to mention is his ability on set plays, delivering the ball well from corners and indirect free kicks. Prefers the right foot.

Tactical description: When the team organizes play he likes to be a part of every action, picking up the ball from the defenders and offering his playmaking qualities to the game. He’s also strong in transition moments, quickly arriving in finishing positions. At PSV most of the games are not demanding but if Afellay moves to more competitive leagues, he’ll need to be more aggressive both defensively and offensively. He has every conditions to adapt easily to this approach as his attitude is very good.

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Diego Rivero

2009-12-24T01:50:00.001Z

Name:Diego Rivero
Team: San Lorenzo (Argentina)
Birth date: 11.08.1981
Nationality: Argentina
EU Passport: No
End of Contract: 06.2011
Estimated Yearly Wage:200.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 1.500.000 €

Position: Center /Right Midfielder - Used either wide on the right or as a central midfielder. Can play with quality in both positions but probably his potential will be higher playing inside as a transition midfielder.

Potential (0-10): 7 - Due to his age, there is not much more evolution to expect from Rivero and his potential is his current ability. He hasn’t had the opportunity to try his luck in Europe and he might never do it. It’s a shame because he has rare qualities that should make him a very useful player for many clubs in the top leagues.

Physical description: 165 cm. Small but very solid player. Despite playing as an inside midfielder he has very good pace and acceleration. Also to mention is his capacity to make quick turns, a consequence of his low center of gravity.

Technical description: Rivero is very good technically. Good ball control and passing and also a natural ability to dribble due to the combination of his technical and physical attributes. He also reveals a good capacity shooting from long range, having scored quite few great goals in his career.

Tactical description: The characteristics of Rivero make him a very good all round midfield player. Despite being more used in wider positions he can be much more useful inside, where he’s very good on possession play. Very strong creating passing solutions, controlling and making quick decisions. He can then complement this with an unusual ability to accelerate the game with the ball. Defensively he’s also very useful, pressing with great intensity and good aggressiveness. The only risk about Rivero might be his ability to respond to a different football.

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Jonathan Cristaldo

2009-12-24T01:04:00.001Z

Name:Jonathan Cristaldo
Team: Velez Sarsfield (Argentina)
Birth date: 05.03.1989
Nationality: Argentina
EU Passport: No
End of Contract: 06.2011
Estimated Yearly Wage:150.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 4.000.000 €

Position: Forward - Cristaldo plays as a forward in a 4-4-2 system in Velez. Given his profile, it’s recommended to use him in a 2 front men system.

Potential (0-10): 8 - His present level is already very good and, given his age, it’s very likely that Cristaldo reaches a very high level, enough to play for most teams in top European leagues. He still needs to develop some areas of his game, though, specially on becoming a more explosive player.

Physical description: 178 cm. Doesn’t have an impressive physique and his football needs to find other ways to get the best of the defenders. Despite not being a very big player, Cristaldo is also not a fragile one. He deals well with physical challenges and knows how to place his body to hold the ball from defenders. Also his acceleration is very good, easily getting away from the defenders in short spaces.

Technical description: If anything distinguishes Cristaldo is his technique. Very good control and capacity to hide de ball from the defenders and specially and an impressive finishing ability in the box. Cristaldo is a right footer but he seems to be equally happy to shoot with his left one. This is a big advantage for him and makes him a very effective finisher. Also to mention his quick dribbling near and inside the box.

Tactical description: Despite being very young, Cristaldo already shows very matured movements in the game. Likes to work outside the box, bringing the defenders out and combining with midfielders. He’s also strong on diagonal movements in the box and creating finishing situations. Another positive aspect about Cristaldo is his defensive attitude, being a working player and always very available to pressure or dropping back to help the midfield line.

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Eduardo Salvio

2009-12-18T17:02:00.001Z

Name:Eduardo Salvio
Team: Lánus (Argentina)
Birth date: 13.07.1990
Nationality: Argentina
EU Passport: No
End of Contract: 06.2011
Estimated Yearly Wage:150.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 8.500.000 €

Position: Winger/Forward - In Lanus has been playing mostly as a free forward on a 4-4-2. Many times, thought he’s also used as a right winger. Both positions are very similar because his movements as a forward happen mostly on the right flank. The important thing is that he plays with freedom to stay wide and show up in finishing situations.

Potential (0-10): 10 - Is a clear case of enormous potential. He’s not a mature player and has to improve on many aspects to get to the top, but his age and talent indicate that he can become a real star in the future.

Physical description: 169 cm. Small player but with good balance and capacity to face more physical challenges. It’s a quick player, with good acceleration and can change direction easily. These attributes are important for his 1x1 situations.

Technical description: Right footer, he can also play with his left foot but needs to get more habit to use that solution, specially when playing on the wings. He’s a naturally strong player on 1x1 situations, being very explosive, combining his physical qualities with his technical ones. Good control and dribbling. Also a good finisher in the box, here feeling more comfortable to use his left foot.

Tactical description: His movements vary from playing wide and trying 1x1 situations or coming in to finishing positions. One of his positive aspects is that at such young age he can play both wide and inside as a forward. Has to improve on his decisions and on his capacity to combine more with teammates and to be less focused on individual solutions. His working attitude is very good, being an aggressive player in defensive moments of the game.

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Sebastian Blanco

2009-12-14T23:33:00.002Z

Name: Sebastian Blanco
Team: Lánus (Argentina)
Birth date: 15.03.1988
Nationality: Argentina
EU Passport: No
End of Contract: 06.2011
Estimated Yearly Wage: 145.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 5.000.000 €

Position: Left or Right Midfielder - Usually plays on the left flank on a 4-4-2 system. But he can also play on the right or in a more offensive role, as a winger.With his creativity might also be possible to use him in a central role, but that hasn’t been the case in Lanus.

Potential (0-10): 9 - His technical quality and vision makes him an outstanding prospect. He still has to improve but shows already a very consistent level.

Physical description: 166 cm. Small, light player, like many other “pibes” that emerged from argentine football. The physical contact can be a problem to Blanco but his physical attributes also allow him to be quick on acceleration and changing directions.

Technical description: He usually plays on the left, but he prefers the right foot, being also comfortable to use his left one, specially when crossing. Is good on 1x1 situations, with quick dribbles but doesn’t base his game around those situations. Is passing is very good, with his technique being a good support to his vision of the game. Also to mention is his finishing ability, being a player so many times playing close to the penalty box. His shots have good accuracy and precision, which makes him a dangerous player when coming into these areas.

Tactical description: Unlike many technical young players, Blanco doesn’t have the problem of hanging to much to the ball and constantly searching for 1x1 situations. His playing decisions and vision are very good in spite of his age. Playing from wide positions, he likes to have some freedom, arriving in other areas. On transitional plays, and with more space, he becomes specially dangerous, coming inside and picking up very well the right man to continue the play. With more tight defences, he stays wide, trying to create good crossing situations. Being a creative player, he’s not a particularly strong player on defensive situations, but he does his teamwork job well, understanding the importance of it.

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Dario Gandin

2009-12-11T16:50:00.003Z

Name: Darío Gandín
Team: Independiente (Argentina)
Birth date: 07.12.1983
Nationality: Argentina
EU Passport: No
End of Contract: 06.2011
Estimated Yearly Wage: 70.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 1.500.000 €

Position: Forward/Winger - Can play in a 2 front men system as forward or as inside winger (preferably right) in a 3 front men system. Has played as a more fixed striker but is much more effective playing in a wider role.

Potential (0-10): 7 - His career has had ups and downs that reveal that Gandin can be a very useful player but only if placed in the right position. If so Gandin can be a very good prospect for most teams in any league in the world.

Physical description: 179cm. His physical attributes are crucial to his game. Tremendously strong at holding the ball and has good acceleration getting away from defenders. Not a very tall player but a strong one.

Technical description: Very technical player. Good control and strong in short dribbles, hiding the ball from defenders or escaping challenges. Plays with his right foot but can cross also well with the left foot, which gives him more solutions when playing on the right flank. Good finisher, both with feet and head.

Tactical description: When playing outside the box he’s a very smart player. Holds the ball very well and is easy to combine with. Also very important are is finishing movements, arriving very well in the box and having a good tempo attacking the ball, which explains his goal scoring numbers when playing in a less fixed role. His main problem it’s his somewhat passive attitude in the game, specially on defensive moments where he doesn’t show much intensity.

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Franco Jara

2009-12-11T16:23:00.002Z

Name: Franco Jara
Team: Arsenal Sarandi (Argentina)
Birth date: 15.07.1988
Nationality: Argentina
EU Passport: No
End of Contract: 06.2011
Estimated Yearly Wage: 50.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 3.000.000 €

Position: Forward - Plays as a forward in a 4-4-2 system. This is what is right for his profile, as he likes to move a lot, both wide and inside.

Potential (0-10): 7 - His attitude and talent would make him already a good prospect for most European teams. He still needs to develop some areas of his game and he if does so he can get to be an important player for relevant teams is best European leagues.

Physical description: 182 cm. He is quick and tremendously aggressive. Feels very comfortable both escaping from defenders. and assuming a more physical game. His physical condition is tremendous and allows him to play constantly at very high intensity.

Technical description: As good all round technique. Good control, good dribbling and passing and also knows very well how to place his body. He’s also a good finisher but this is an aspect of his game where he has to improve to become a more effective forward. One of his problems is his dependency of his right foot, not being very comfortable with the left one. Fair heading ability.

Tactical description: Jara likes to be a constant part of the game. He works a lot during a match, finding spaces and solutions to the offensive play. This is a positive aspect of his game as he becomes useful both when there’s more space to play and when defences are more closed. He’s not strong in movements closer to opponents’ goal, either breaking last defensive line or in box situations. To become a more regular goal scorer he needs to work on this. Defensively he’s a very useful player and a menace to opponent’s possession due to his constant aggressive pressing attitude.

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Diego Buonanotte

2009-12-11T13:57:00.003Z

Name: Diego Buonanotte
Team: River Plate (Argentina)
Birth date: 19.04.1988
Nationality: Argentina
EU Passport: Yes (Italy)
End of Contract: 06.2010
Estimated Yearly Wage: 200.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 3.500.000 €

Position: Winger/Forward - Is playing literally everywhere in attack. Has played as winger, as an inside midfielder and also as a forward. Needs to find exactly where he suits best and it seems that would be as a free winger or a free offensive midfielder.

Potential (0-10): 9 - Buonanotte hasn’t yet achieved a top level and he might never get there if he doesn’t find the right place to develop his football. But he has enough talent and very rare qualities, which makes him a player with tremendous potential.

Physical description: 160 cm, typical argentine “pibe”, or even smaller. Buonanotte is very fast and has in his capacity to change directions a very powerful weapon to complement his technique. This capacity is also important because he’s a very light player, having obvious trouble when physically challenged.

Technical description: His quick movement is only a threat because of the quality of his left foot. Very good technique, specially running with the ball always very close to his feet. Buonanotte is obviously strong on 1x1 situations but is a bigger threat when he comes inside and gets the opportunity to make quick passing combinations. He has very good passing, crossing and accurate finishing. This makes him a good goalscorer as well, but he’s only particularly dangerous finishing inside the box, as his long range shooting often lacks power.

Tactical description: Is very strong playing between defensive lines, creating various passing solutions to the player that carries the ball. When playing wide, can be a menace coming inside from the right flank, getting angle for his left foot finish. But he needs to become a more consistent player, finding the right position for him and then adjusting his movements and decisions to it. Right now he’s playing in too many positions and with too much tactical anarchy which is preventing his football to develop as it could.

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Nicolas Gaitan

2009-12-11T12:51:00.003Z

Name: Nicolas Gaitan
Team: Boca Juniors (Argentina)
Birth date: 23.02.1988
Nationality: Argentina
EU Passport: No
End of Contract: 06.2011
Estimated Yearly Wage: 180.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 3.000.000 €

Position: Winger - Usually plays as a free front man, coming wide, both at left or right. His natural position is as winger, either side and would adapt more easily to a 4-3-3 system because it’s defensively less demanding. With his age and potential he can easily become a useful player in other systems too.

Potential (0-10): 8 - His talent is very easy to spot. If he can learn more about the tactical side of the game, both in decision making and positional play, he can easily get to a very high level.

Physical description: 173 cm, very easy to say his best physical attribute is the speed. Can accelerate very quickly and has good agility and balance. He’s not a physically strong player but is also not too fragile in physical challenges.

Technical description: His left foot is his weapon. Very good technically, both in first touch, passing, crossing and shooting. His main attribute, though, is the dribbling. Very fast receiving, turning and getting away from defenders, being very difficult to stop when running with the ball.

Tactical description: His talent makes it very easy to find offensive movements where he can be strong. In transition and more space, it becomes more obvious, but also with more organized defences he can be a weapon, with fast 1-2 combinations. The problem with Gaitan is that this is the only thing that has been asked from him. He needs to start playing in a more demanding tactical environment, where he can learn to make better decisions and to position himself in the defensive moments of the game. This is what separates Gaitan from a promising player from a top class one.

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Gabriel Hauche

2009-11-27T17:13:00.003Z

Name: Gabriel Hauche
Team: Argentinos Juniors (Argentina)
Birth date: 27.11.1986
Nationality: Argentina
EU Passport: No
End of Contract: 06.2010
Estimated Yearly Wage: 150.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 3.000.000 €

Position: Forward - Argentinos play in a 3-4-1-2 formation. Hauche plays as one of the 2 front men, with a lot of freedom of movements, specially going wide. It’s possible to adapt to a 3 front men system, playing wide, but always with freedom to come inside.

Potential (0-10): 8 - At the moment he’s an underrated player, victim of playing in a modest team for so long. Already has the quality to play in most teams in top European leagues and the character that he shows leaves the idea that he’ll rise quickly once he has a first opportunity.

Physical description: Around 1,68 cm, he’s very much a Michael Owen type of player and also in his physique. One relevant aspect of his condition, besides the obvious pace is the surprising capacity he reveals on physical challenges, leaving the idea that he’s far stronger than he looks.

Technical description: Right footed, but uses his left foot with very good quality, both on finishing and crossing. His technique is obviously good, even if he doesn’t performe many tricks. The aspect that makes him special is the quality that he has when he’s running with ball. Once he gets the advantage from the defender is very hard to stop him, as he has perfect balance and ball control and also uses his body very well when the challenge comes. Other than this, he executes very well with both his feet, finishing or crossing. It’s rare seeing him miss the goal on a finishing situation. His weakness is when he has to play in the air.

Tactical description: He has 2 very strong movements. First, breaking the offside trap, with quick diagonals. Second, going wide and beating the full backs. When the spaces close down he gets a bit more trouble. Although he has good technique to come inside and bring defenders with him, he doesn’t do it too much and this the aspect of his game that has more to be developed. Also important to mention is his defensive attitude, being very reactive when the team loses possession and very aggressive as well, making him a very useful player for pressing.

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Jonathan Gómez

2009-11-27T00:06:00.004Z

Name: Jonathan Gomez
Team: Rosario Central (Argentina)
Birth date: 21.12.1989
Nationality: Argentina
EU Passport: No
End of Contract: 06.2011
Estimated Yearly Wage: 40.000 €
Estimated Market Value: 2.000.000 €

Position: Right Midfielder - Currently plays in a 4-4-2 system. His characteristics make it possible to adapt into almost every offensive position, provided that he's given enough freedom to play his game.

Potential (0-10): 7 - His talent is not up for discussion. At the moment, though, he has some areas of his game that need to be improved to make his performances more regular. This is normal for a player of his youth and should easily be solved with time. You can easily see him playing for most teams in top European leagues in 1 or 2 years, depending on his development. He’s still quite unknown, but that shouldn’t last for a long time…

Physical description: Around 1,70 cm, very quick feet and great balance. He's also very aggressive which makes him tough to beat in physical challenges.

Technical description: Right footed, his trademark it's his capacity to run with the ball. Always giving great energy to the game and with the ball very close to his feet. Can dribble in wide or inside positions and is also very strong in crossing and long range shooting. He's still a bit irregular in some aspects, but that is mostly due to his youth (decision making).

Tactical description: With ball, loves to have freedom of movement, starting from wide positions but showing up on central positions as the game goes on. Knows about his skill and sometimes gets a bit carried away, holding to the ball for too long. This is an area that he needs to develop on his game – decision making – to become the solid player he can be. Important to mention the character he shows at such young age, trying to get involved and leading the team in many moments. Also important is his tremendous working attitude and aggressive display in defensive moments of the game.

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