The busiest day of the Mexican offseason was Monday as 77 players switched clubs. The entire list is here but as far as the highlights:
- Bofo Bautista is now with Jaguares de Chiapas. He's been a big star with Chivas but Jaguares is his fifth club; he's played for Tecos, Morelia and Pachuca before joining Chivas in 2004.
- Pachuca super-sub Luis Angel Landin joined Morelia. Landin played in 20 games last season but started only eight of them. He scored five goals - two came in starts and three were off the bench. He's a player many feel should get a chance at the national team again. Lavolpe looked at him briefly in late 05 or early 06, I forget exactly when, but Landin has continued to develop in league. Maybe now that he'll start games regularly he may get more of an opportunity with El Tri. Incidentally, he's from Zamora, Michoacan, which is a city I know well. My parents are both from a town nearby and I've driven in Zamora many times and still manage to get lost there.
- Morelia also got ex-Chivas defender Diego Martinez, who along with Bofo took the brunt of the blame for Chivas' early playoff exit.
- Former Chivas USA coach Hans Westerhof got a couple of nice players: Jose Luis "Parejita" Lopez from Pumas and Hassan Viades from Toluca.
- Chivas was quiet and acquired only Omar Arellano from Pachuca but they've been linked with Andres Guardado and Giovani Dos Santos. Reportedly, they want to get Giovani Dos Santos on loan from Barcelona.
- Also, the Apertura 2007 season will start on Aug. 4.
7 comments:
Lots of good moves by many clubs, quite frankly the intelligent manuevers are very surprising.
Morelia is the big winner. They get Leandro Gracian, Horacio Cervantes, Diego Martinez, and Luis Angel Landin. That's 4 qualiy players.
I am so happy for Landin to get out of Pachuca, I actually think he was regressing there. One solid year in Morelia and then Europe. FYI- I have Michoacan roots and you can't forget how many studs that land produces: Rafa Marquez.
Morelia did do fairly well for themselves. I thought they looked pretty good at the start of last season but then for some reason fell apart.
Landin is a great pick up for them. I was surprised really because I figured he'd go to Chivas but I think he'll do well in Morelia.
Rafa Marquez is probably the best Michoacan native, at least at this moment.
I haven't watched Landin in Mexican league games, but I watched all of Pachuca's Sudamericana games last year and he sucked. Not only was he slow and always a step behind the play mentally, he blew so many gift wrapped chances set up by the other guys. Looked a lot like Nate Jaqua. Was he saving his best for league performances? L.B., tell me what i missed here...
L.B.,
This article says Osorno to KC. Is this just speculation, or is there something to it?
http://www.milenio.com/guadalajara/laaficion/nota.asp?id=514618
Nick. I am a big Landin fan. They key word is potential.
If he develops into a Hernan Crespo that would be amazing but I will settle for Martin Palermo or Borgetti.
The Nate Jaqua comparison is valid. However, under Pachuca's old coach he was a starter and scored lots of goals. When Enrique Meza took over he was relegated to the bench and although the team continued to rock, his game slipped, no question.
Still, I think he's faster than he looks, has size, strength, decent touch. Now he needs to get back in form and grow into his body, get quicker in tight spaces like you mentioned.
Landin can be a strong finisher but he just needs to continue developing. Anon said it well, he needs to grow into his frame.
Landin is now where Juan Carlos Cacho was a few years ago; lots of potential but just needed to be more consistent and continuing to develop.
Nick:
There's another story that says the same thing, about Osorno leaving for MLS. They're speculating here on this one about the "Kansas Wizards" but don't say for sure like the other story does.
As far as out, Osorno is out with Atlas for sure.
It wouldn't surprise me if he landed with the "Kansas Wizards" because, well, a guy like that is a good guy to have around; he's experienced, he's scored some big goals before, he still has some soccer left in him.
Plus there was that whole agreement or whatever between Atlas and KC so that's a natural connection.
http://www.informador.com.mx/informador/modules/xfsection/article.php?articleid=71383
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