Paletta

[The Hitman]

In the 1960s Liverpool manager Bill Shankly sent the press on a voyage round giant centre-half Ron Yeats.

Perhaps in a few months' time current Reds boss Rafael Benitez will do the same trick with Gabriel Paletta.

 

The young Argentine defender is built like an ox, and the journalists would take a while to circumnavigate him. But I wonder if it might be a journey taking place too soon.

 

Paletta enjoyed a spectacular 2005. As the year started he had never played in the first team at Banfield, a traditional but relatively small club in greater Buenos Aires.

 

He was not even included in the club's 25-strong squad for the group phase of their first ever Copa Libertadores campaign, and was overlooked by Argentina for the South American Under-20 tournament.

 

Given his chance in the local championship, he made an instant impression.

 

A strong, rugged, no-nonsense centre back, he caught the eye in both penalty areas, stopping goals at one end, scoring them at the other with his bulky presence and aerial threat.

 

When Banfield reached the knock out stages of the Libertadores he was brought into the squad, and played two excellent games against Independiente Medellin of Colombia.

 

But even though his club won the tie and qualified for the quarter finals he played no further part in the competition because he was called up for the World Youth Cup in Holland.

 

Argentina won the trophy and Paletta was first choice throughout, and though he occasionally tried the referees' patience, he was a key part of a defensive unit that conceded just five goals in seven games.

 

By the time he was back in club action Banfield had sold their star players, and a difficult time was widely predicted.

 

Instead they finished fifth in the last championship, despite winning only five of their 19 games. But they were beaten just once, and Paletta was the rock on which the defence was founded.

 

He would clearly be on the move before long. The question was where. And he clearly looked the kind of centre-back who one day will do well in Europe. The question is when.

 

Paletta is one of those complicated South American cases of a player whose registration is not wholly owned by a club. There are other investors involved, who typically prefer short-term profit to long term career development.

 

He seemed certain to join local giants River Plate, who even reserved the number six shirt for him.

 

In purely football terms, joining River is the obvious step to take. He would learn about the pressures of being with a big club. He would have to cope with the fact that River's expansive style of play can leave their defenders exposed.

 

And he could do all of this in his home environment, while preparing himself for the move to Europe.

 

 

Paletta's arrival will boost Liverpool's defensive options

 

Instead he has skipped a stage. Finance has won over football. With just a year behind him Paletta has opted to move to a country with a different culture, language and football.

 

It all seems very similar to the case of Luciano Figueroa, the Argentine centre-forward who was briefly with Birmingham City.

 

Figueroa joined the Blues straight from a handful of games with Rosario Central, who got not a penny from the deal, having already sold him to a group of investors.

 

The move took him several bridges too far. He is now back in Argentina trying to regain his momentum with River Plate.

 

Rather than being Anfield bound, perhaps at this point it would be better for Paletta to be Figueroa's team-mate.

 

Instead, they were direct adversaries last Sunday in the Argentine championship. Figueroa got the better of his marker and River won 3-1.

 

Paletta gave the impression of a highly-promising defender who might need some more mileage before making the move across the Atlantic.

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Built like an ox and gets a few goals himself!

Sounds just what we need,but obviously he'll need time.Rafa sure does love his centre-backs!!

[matty]

Suffering from insomnia at 5am this morning I switched on Channel 5 (the poor man's cure for insomnia) to find the River Plate v Banfield match.

 

Plate took the Banfield defence apart for the last 20 minutes, although I couldn't tell from the commentator's appalling accent and delivery whether Paletta was on the pitch.

 

Hope this helps.

[floyd]

Tim Vickery is very clued up on South American footy.

[Jonesy]

Suffering from insomnia at 5am this morning I switched on Channel 5 (the poor man's cure for insomnia) to find the River Plate v Banfield match.

 

Plate took the Banfield defence apart for the last 20 minutes, although I couldn't tell from the commentator's appalling accent and delivery whether Paletta was on the pitch.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

SACK MATTY!

[Coyler]

Ah crap. So Paletta's s*** then? Feck it.

[matty]

SACK MATTY!

 

People often do.

[floyd]

He is - but her he has always been loathe to see players leave and has often said (despite evidence) that South American players don't work in the premiership.

 

Many Argentinian, Urauguayan and other kids no older than Paletta have come to Europe and shone - so it's not really a valid concern. For every Figeroa there's an Aimar, a Forlan, a Gonzalez etc. There is no simple rule of thumb - it's down to the individual, the team and manager he goes too and many other factors.

 

Has he, didn't realise that.

He was very complimentry, in writing and on radio, about Gonzalez . Saying we have got a really good player that will adapt. Hope he's right

[Rushian]

He is - but her he has always been loathe to see players leave and has often said (despite evidence) that South American players don't work in the premiership.

 

Many Argentinian, Urauguayan and other kids no older than Paletta have come to Europe and shone - so it's not really a valid concern. For every Figeroa there's an Aimar, a Forlan, a Gonzalez etc. There is no simple rule of thumb - it's down to the individual, the team and manager he goes too and many other factors.

 

His main argument though has been about the lack of pastoral care offered to S. American players by many of the British clubs as they undergo such a big cultural change, in contrast to the more professional attitude shown in Italy, Germany and Spain.