Older and Wiser

The Clasura kick-off is fast approaching, preceded by the usual transfer market mayhem. Whilst those of us who live in Old World are used to seeing the latest starlets arrive to ply their trade, the coming campaign in Argentina will boast 86 players aged 30 or over. Many of these aren't merely reserves or make weights looking for an easy end to their careers but key players and lynchpins: Martin Palermo 35 (Boca Juniors), Juan Veron 33 (Estudiantes), Rodolfo Arruabarrena 33 (Tigre), Marcelo Gallardo 33 (River Plate) and not forgetting Juan Roman Riquelme 30 (Boca Juniors).

From a positive perspective this phenomenon can be seen as a victory for modern sports medicine, training regimes and nutrition. It also demonstrates how a player who is dedicated and takes care of himself can still be at the top in his third decade; aswell as giving fans the chance to see these stars in the flesh. Less positive is the timeless truth that any capable Argentine footballer in his 20's will more often than not be tempted abroad, Riquelme's return to Boca was a rare exception. As a result ever younger and ever older players are required to fill the gaps.

I admire the attachment many of these players feel with clubs that nurtured them, Veron's return to Estudiantes, Ortega's with River Plate etc. Napoli's new signing Jesus Datolo is yet to kick a ball for them but he's already made public his desire to one day return to Boca Juniors.

Hasta luego!

Like father, like son. Estudiantes in the final.

In some circles the Copa Sudamericana is viewed with a certain amount of disdain when compared to it's more illustrious continental partner - the Copa Libertadores. Try telling the fans of Estudiantes de la Plata that their passage into this week's final against Internacional of Brazil is nothing more than a pre-Christmas irrelevance. Thirty thousand fervent Pinchas celebrated wildly at he end of tight, tetchy 1-0 semi-final 2nd leg victory against compatriots Argentinos Juniors. For me the victory was made even more impressive after the 5-0 humiliation suffered by Estudiantes at Argentinos in the Apertura only last Sunday.

For fans of English football there will be a familiar face in the final: Juan Sebastian Veron. The 33 year old midfielder returned to his spiritual home in 2006 and quickly helped his side take that year's Apertura. The classy midfielder will no doubt be forever tainted by his relative ineffectiveness when playing in England. According to many pundits in the UK his lack of success on these shores brands him a failure, full stop and we are subjected to the usual embarrassing array of cliches - 'it's too cold for him over here', 'he can't play in January', 'the Premier League is too physical, too fast'. I acknowledge that Veron never fulfilled his huge potential (and price tag) but lets not forget the long list of British stars who have tried and failed overseas; Paul Gascoigne and Ian Rush to name two.

Veron will be an integral part of Estudiantes first international final appearance since 1971. The defeat to Uruguay's Nacional in the Copa Libertadores marked the end of the most successful period in the club's history. The famous or infamous Los Pincharattas collected 3 Copa Libertadores during the preceding 3 seasons and were crowned Intercontinental Champions after beating Manchester United over two bad-tempered legs in 1968. The goalscorer in England: Veron, Juan Ramon Veron father of Sebastian.

The all important goal that has taken Estudiantes to the final:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=60zex21mI6E



Hasta luego!