As many of you know, John Ellinger is down in Argentina this week - at River Plate, specifically. He sent us the following a note this morning...continue reading.
My flight from Dallas on Sunday was delayed two hours, so I arrived at the hotel in Buenos Aires around 12:00 pm local time on Monday. River Plate had someone pick me up, and I went to lunch with Alfredo Wodke and Oscar Ojeda, two of the gentleman that met with Hitch in Frisco a couple of weeks ago.
After lunch, I went to River Plate's stadium - el Monumental - and was given a great tour of their complex. Some interesting things:
The club has a private school with about 1300 students inside the stadium...the first team stays in rooms inside the stadium from two nights before each match (home or away)...I got a tour of the home locker room, which has access to a complete medical facility, with doctors' offices, x-ray rooms, rehab, everything you can think of...about 100 youth players live in a separate dorm facility on the stadium grounds...the place also has has a large pool, which is currently being used by the Argentine Olympic swimming team....and, the complex also has practice and match facilities inside the stadium for River Plate's basketball, handball, and martial arts teams.
The tour lasted a little over three hours, and then I met with River Plate's Manager of Youth programs. I'll be seeing him again this morning at 8:30, and spend much of the day observing River's youth training session for players from ages 11-19. Tomorrow (Wednesday), I'll be at the first team training session, and then watch the match between River Plates 'B' team and Venezuela's U-20s.
I believe Schellas has stated the positions we're looking to strengthen. There are a few players we want to see more closely, and the setting will also allow us to perhaps see other players we may not yet know.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
24 comments:
Tell John to go to a restaurant in Buesnos Aires called "Siga La Vaca."
It is a traditional Argentine asado with all you can eat steak.
You know, FCD should have a contest where a lucky fan is able to go on these trips like this one. And then FCD should make it so that I win the contest....please!
Did you hear the latest about Toja?
http://www.los-toros.com/2008/07/22/fc-dallas-offers-750k-to-steaua-for-toja/
Oh, and it looks like this story's the talk of the town in Romania: they picked up on a column that Los-Toros wrote (the "Monday Morning Pescadito", which only sought to give JT some friendly advice about going to Romania) and wrote an article about it
Here’s their article:
http://www.gsp.ro/stire/suport...ransfere-in-romania-88485.html
We’ve already responded:
http://www.los-toros.com/2008/...2/kirkbhoy-is-a-romanian-star/
SteveToro - Help explain what is going on with Toja?
nothing's going on with toja.
he's going to stay at dallas forever & ever.
so is coop.
(wish!)
LOL, Mark Spenec!
Don't listen to him, Coach Ellinger. He just sent you to the Argentine equivalent of TGI Fridays!
I also recommend a favorite of mine, El Palacio de la Papa Frita, in Buenos Aires.
Vamos Argentina!
Latest on Toja situation over at los-toros.com... Here's the latest link -- from tomorrow's GSP.ro:
http://www.gsp.ro/stire/span-class-marcat-toja-span-vine-la-steaua-roma-88561.html
If it's to be believed, he's gone. He's going to the Steaua-Roma friendly, the ASG will be his final match, and he went for $750K. I'll get help translating and post it to los-toros.com.
Translation is up on Los-Toros:
http://www.gsp.ro/stire/span-class-marcat-toja-span-vine-la-steaua-roma-88561.html
Sorry, wrong link: http://www.los-toros.com/2008/07/22/gone-baby-gone/
Eva Peron,
FYI - TGI Fridays is in Puerto Madero...or he could go to Hard Rock. ( very close to where you are buried in Recoleta)
Every Argentine I talk to recommend Siga La Vaca. It's hard to pass up all you can eat steak.
here we go again another fading soccer player to add to our list of has beens..get a real midfielder not the ball huggers u have in midfield right now and we will be fine,,,,i smell another dennilson, shaka etc etc signing
I'd prefer us to sign another defender before we look at attacking mid fielders or strikers.
"get a real midfielder not the ball huggers u have in midfield right now"
It's easy to say don't sign that guy he is too old, drunk, slow, or whatever, but give us a name. If you don't think that Ortega is a good option, then let's here some ideas of a REALISTIC signing that you think would be better.
we all heard, ellinger's tour did last 3 hrs to see the facility, they have doms for juniors, the players must spend 2 days and 2 nights before every game home or away, translation? don't let players go drink and party before games. keep them focused and avoid distractions before each game. this is what is missing here in Dallas and MLS
River es El Mas Grande. Lejos.
Scatter shots.......
Is this further indication that we are throwing this season away and planning for the future ?
Does anyone really think we will ever get better with the present Front Office Management in place ?
If we lose Toja - have we really lost anything that is not easily replaced ? Sure our Midfield sux, but he is a part of that sucking - and Midfielders that suck are everywhere.
I don't think they are necessarily throwing the season away. If you look at how poor the western conference is right, if this team can get a good run of games you never know what could happen. By bringing in some fresh faces and changing up the team dynamic, it could be just the thing to get these guys back on track. I don't think it can hurt because obviously it's not working in it's current form.
Regarding the Front Office...I say no because they can not even let their fan base know the final word on Toja. Yes, we all know but have you heard them say anything about it...NOPE! What freaks we have working there.
I don't think Toja sucked at all and everyone needs to give him a break. Get off his back because if he sucked, Europe would not want him and would not offer what they did so I would say he was far from that.
There will be no spark in the mid on Sunday and everyone will miss Toja being there. He brought some thing outstanding to that field.
Toja is such a good player. He will really be missed by the team and by the fans because he is the favorite player of a lot of us. Wish him the best!
Dear Mr. Hitchcock,
As you can see speculation, rumors, hopes and/or fears abound concerning the future of Juan Toja. If FCD does, indeed, agree to terms to transfer him to Romania (or any other place), I will be happy for him. However, given the complete lack of any official information (I know these thing are "confidential," but you could at least say SOMETHING officially), I will lose all faith in this club because of the LACK of RESPECT this shows the fans. He is a still a fan favorite and was last season's MVP. Don't we deserve more info than a) one sentence on the Blog in an "oh, btw" statement, and b) a quote from you in an article in SPANISH in "Al Dia." (I read Spanish, but others don't)!
Sincerely,
MH
What's Ellinger doing scouting in Argentina? Doesn't he just sign players who were on his U-17 national team?
this team needs to concentrate on the young players they have on the rooster and stop old players .toja is not agood player for this team..he holds the ball too long and as u can see this season just like alvarez every one knows they can only go left .. and by the way romania is not a soccer power house.
Post a Comment