South American players and Neil Warnock

LeeMiller

LeeMiller

Well-known member
Will there be a culture clash or language barrier? I can’t imagine these are the players who were top of Neil’s wish list at the start of the summer.

However, Warnock’s ability to build team spirit is legendary so perhaps he will be able to help any imports over come the considerable difference’s these players are bound to experience when swapping S America for Teesside.

also could this be a cunning revenue stream for the club. Bringing in top talent into Europe relatively cheaply?

Whatever happens I can’t wait to be back in the ground and having a few new stars to watch

UTB
 
Wasn’t NW manager at Cardiff when they signed Emiliano Sala (Argentina) in a club record deal, so he’s not averse to signing South American players?
 
Seems strange to me that we have never mentioned a South American player in all the time he has been here. Maybe the timing is right or more likely this is Gibbo looking at life after Neil.
 
I do take the point: NW is the most archetypal English manager that is still alive, isnt he?
Cultured south american passing and ball control doesn't match the MO
 
El Guapo said:
Wasn’t NW manager at Cardiff when they signed Emiliano Sala (Argentina) in a club record deal, so he’s not averse to signing South American players?
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Although Sala was 28 and had been playing in France since he was 20 so more European than S. American from a football perspective.
Very sad.
 
I think this is more the club looking at making a different transfer model as they see how we need to become more of a shop window for players
 
It is something that certainly doesn't line up with the previous way forward in the last few years. It is slightly worrying that it is yet another change in approach, and something that although NW seems to be happy with and going along with, I am sure that he will be first to rant about when they don't come off or do not settle (see Akpom rants from last season).

In reality it probably is a bit of a compromise. Yes I (NW) will take these South Americans as long as we get some of the players I want too (e.g. Ikpeazu, Crookes, etc).

In many ways its classic Gibson. As soon as the finances free up a bit he comes "bearing gifts" to managers (Juninho - 3rd time, Alves, Downing, Rhodes). There was a similar period in the summer of 2013 when the club were looking at signing Eduardo Vargas and a number of foreign players when Mowbray was in charge but it came to nothing.

It was the quote from NW that cracked me up about Gibson, saying that he, "always wants to gamble with the Argentinians and the Brazilians." Totally hit the nail right smack bang on the head with that one Neil.
 
Looks like signings for the future, when Neil Warnock has got us into the Premier League and retires, or moves up to Director of Football!
 
erimus86 said:
In reality it probably is a bit of a compromise. Yes I (NW) will take these South Americans as long as we get some of the players I want too (e.g. Ikpeazu, Crookes, etc).

In many ways its classic Gibson. As soon as the finances free up a bit he comes "bearing gifts" to managers (Juninho - 3rd time, Alves, Downing, Rhodes).
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Yeah, spot on. Probably the way most clubs operate to be honest and we've done this for at least the last 15 years.

It's like there's three or four Directors of Football at once - Gibson bringing gifts, Warnock buying tall meat & potatoes Championship veterans, the Gary Gill magic spreadsheet lower league gambles and the out of nowhere international players who probably come via agents or a different scout.

Was exactly the same in the Karanka & Orta days. Back then you could very clearly see which person had signed which player, there was no way the same person was signing off Jelle Vossen, Adam Clayton, Victor Valdes and Jordan Rhodes!

Tbf I bet most clubs do this. Rare are the clubs where the manager gets full Wenger-style control of every in and out, even someone like Klopp seems to have the odd project like Minamino thrown at him.
 
I'm not bothered about where players come from, but we should be casting the net as wide as possible, so pleased to see the interest in South American players.

It's all very well Warnock wanting England only based players. And I completely get the logic, they know the league, culture etc. But they also come at a premium and as we've seen all signings are a gamble wherever they come from. Hard to imagine any signing from South America being as big a disaster as Britt or Gestede.

I know it's just Warnock being Warnock, but the way he goes on you'd think every signing he's ever made has been a success as long as he, Kevin or Ronnie have seen them in the flesh. This is a man who claimed we shouldn't be signing players based just on video footage (Akpom) but can also apparently tell just from 2 mins of video footage, if a player can defend or not. I take a lot of what he says with a pinch of salt.

Of course players from abroad are probably a bit more of a risk and doing your due diligence is a bit harder. But we obviously have contacts, it's not just Gary Gill on his laptop reading World Soccer magazine and watching YouTube. Players from abroad are also more likely to be cheaper (which goes some way towards mitigating the risk of them not settling).

If you limit yourself to mid table or lower championship players, that's where you're likely to end up. The only way to compete if you don't have finances is to try something different.

We've got a good core of championship hardened players now. We're struggling to find that creativity we need though, so looking further afield makes perfect sense, whether that's South America, Europe, Africa or wherever.
 
asredastheycome said:
Seems strange to me that we have never mentioned a South American player in all the time he has been here. Maybe the timing is right or more likely this is Gibbo looking at life after Neil.
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Could be to do with finances. Maybe British players are still demanding pre-covid era wages whereas the South Americans are a cheaper option? South Americans will also see clubs like Boro as a stepping stone into the larger European leagues if they do well, so they could be easier to persuade to come.
 
festa5 said:
I know it's just Warnock being Warnock, but the way he goes on you'd think every signing he's ever made has been a success as long as he, Kevin or Ronnie have seen them in the flesh. This is a man who claimed we shouldn't be signing players based just on video footage (Akpom) but can also apparently tell just from 2 mins of video footage, if a player can defend or not. I take a lot of what he says with a pinch of salt.
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He says whatever he thinks people want to hear, much like "good old Boris", and he's happy to contradict himself week by week. Still it makes a change from blaming and shouting at referees, and will be lapped up by the fans, despite his very average record for us.

Hopefully we'll see the end of him this season, and any talk of a Director of Football role for him is just talk.
 
It's a mistake to think all South America football is about flair, technique and silky skill.

They have, and always have had, their share of bruisers, roughhouses and cynical cheats.

We're surely past having expectations of a player based on their nationality?
 
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Alejandro Faurlin was at the heart of his QPR promotion team And I presume he sees Payero playing a similar role.
 
Frozen Horse said:
It's a mistake to think all South America football is about flair, technique and silky skill.

They have, and always have had, their share of bruisers, roughhouses and cynical cheats.

We're surely past having expectations of a player based on their nationality?
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I wouldn't be suprised if we see a bit of theatrics from one or more. I imagine it will take a few months to get 'used' to the champo.

That's not a slight on the players. It's maybe just a different way of doing things over here. They may come with going down with minimal contact. You will definitely get a bit of rough and ready contact in the champo.

Then again these South Americans are often really tough and from poor up bringings. They've had it hard and show it on the pitch👍
 
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