´óÏó´«Ã½

Fantastic blog Tim, probably my favourite on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ website.
Paraguay have always been a country that has interested me, however I thought they would struggle for a few years once their charasmatic goalkeeper Chilavert retired. But they have certainly showed themselves as a major force in South American football and I hope they go from strength to strength.

Agreed, your contributions are always insightful and provide a welcome view of football away from the greasily-slick Premiership. I'll wager you are one of those lucky people who love their job!

Btw I think your tagline at the top right should read 'endlessly fascinating' - sort it out editors.

Tim,

Always enjoy reading your articles. One thing though, a feature I really like, where has the readers question part gone?

They always tended to give me useful info on players.

Keep up the good work!

Great blog again Tim, but whats happened to the readers questions section? I always enjoyed reading your answers to those.

Tim, do you know anything about Liverpool's new signing Vitor Flora?

I agree the question part is a good end to the article and should come back.

Really interesting though, the only article on bbc sport i always read.

I know you get asked an awful lot of questions in this blog Tim but can I ask why Fabio Aurelio is constantly overlooked for a place in the Brazil squad? I know he's suffered many injuries but I can't imagine that Brazil have many full backs as good as him. He's still only 28 as well..

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Hi Tim,

I agree with other posters, the questions part should come back and was always a fitting end to your quality articles.

Thank you for your efforts and i for one look forward to your article more than any other, as im sure many others do. Id go as far as to say maybe 90% of my south american football knowledge comes from reading your articles, for that, many thanks.

Kash

Thanks for the great article on the "Albirroja." I totally agree with your comments regarding our players. Riveros would fit very well in the EPL, he is a Lampard/Gerrard type of midfielder. Others like Salvador Cabañas and Paulo Da Silva could well be playing in Europe.

Hi Tim

Suprised you haven't mentioned Cardozo, who has a great scoring record and has looked good at Benfica. Would be fascinated to know what you make of him - will he be ready for the Premiership in the near future at all?

Crane

Nice article, Tim. You covered Cabanas in the past but I think a mention of Oscar Cardozo is also needed with respect to Paraguay's excellent strikers. He was a star for Newells Old Boys and now for Benfica.

Also, Morel Rodrigues is beautiful player with some of the technique of passing and the style and looks of Deco.

This team has the talent to do very well if we have very warm weather in South Africa.

Unfortunately, Cardozo has not performed well for the team the few times he has been called upon to cover for one of the main stikers (Salvador, Roque and Haedo) and the fans are starting to heavily critizice him. I think he is the only big name player that has not found his place/game in this team.

Cheers from Asuncion!

So, in the context of this article, I think this is why Tim did not mention Cardozo.

Just wanted to add my voices to the others here and say that this is the best blog on the bbc sport website. I do enjoy the question section though so look forward to them being brought back.

haha, im gonna start a Tim Vickery fanclub!

One look at the other blogs shows them to be littered with abuse of the author, this is the only one where people actually comment on how good the article was...and i must concur!

I wonder, is the relative pressure free environemnt (as opposed to the circus surrounding brazil) a factor in paraguay's success?? As in, they arent weighed down with ludicrous expectations?

Tim,

Just a quick question regarding your blog on the central defensive problems of Argentina last week. What are your thoughts on Gonzalo Rodriguez of Villarreal as a solution? From what little I've seen he seems strong and quick whilst relatively good on the ball. he's had plenty of injury problems but seems to have come back from them. It will be interesting to take a closer look at him against man utd in the Champions league but surely he must be an option for the Argentine defence?

Nice and interesting blog Tim.

Enjoyed reading your deep insights. Thanks for putting up such fine stuff.




Dr. Cajetan Coelho

Great article Tim, finally some credit for Paraguay. To be honest, it´s the first time in my life i can remeber a Paraguay team more famous for it´s attacking power than it´s defensive prowess. The only problem we have at the moment is maybe a lack of strength in depth.

In my opinion, Enrique "Rambert" Vera is one of our most exciting players. His versatility helped LDU de Quito to win the Copa Libertadores and I´m surprised that didn´t earn him a move to Europe.

However, on a local level, there are several young players who are starting to attarct attention. Nico Martinez, Rodrigo Rojas and a couple of other young players are coming through the ranks at Olimpia (i wish they could replicate the national team´s form), while Roberto "Gatito" Fernandez is starting to show signs of becoming a good keeper. Libertad also tend to find lots of good young players.

Obviously, the lure of European cash is starting to have an effect, with a handful of young players trying to make the grade over there. Jose Montiel went to Udinses when he was very young, Roanld Huth is at Liverpool, Carlos Acuña is at Cadiz in Spain, Marcelo Estigarribia is now in France and Luis Baez I think is still in Portugal. Hopefully they will all learn the game better over there and make the step up to the national team.

But my favourite player, other than Oscar "Tacuara" Cardozo, has to be Cristian Venacio Bogado, who I think is now playing in Argentina. He´s a very direct young forward who likes to run at people.

In my opinion the future is bright for our team. With a bit of luck we might even win a tournament in my lifetime!

Aye, great comments on Paraguay, they are playing some good football this campaign, but lets not overlook Chile, we hammered Colombia 4-0 and with 4 different scorers, we are looking good at this stage. We also have one of the best young players in the world right now in Alexis Sanchez.
BRING ON PARAGUAY!!!
Cheers

Firstly, great to see all the praise as this is the best article on bbc sport every week.

Secondly, i was wondering what's happened to Mark Gonzalez? When he moved to liverpool he was highly rated and there were rumours of interest from Real and Barca, now he's at Betis and seems to have fallen off the radar.

How has M.Gonzalez been doing for Betis and Chile? Still not living up to his potential?

scottiechileno... we already beat you in Santiago... what more do you want???

All these players are partly owned by insurance firms and local councils. Tevez? our teams won't go near them. Forlan had credentials too. Garbage article.

What a load of crap. - Oh wait, i might get banned for saying a word that 4 year olds know!

P.s i always write garbage article or awful article. They're not really

A lot of the young players still playing in Paraguay don´t even have agents yet and are paid measly sums by their clubs. It´s only when someone shows interest that they are asked to sign contracts, usually with club directors or their families....

great column but i miss the readers questions bit as well and i always thought there wasnt enough of them. you used to answer 2 questions there should be a minimum of 5 questions.

come on bbc give us what we want.

Of the 10 countries in Conmebol, you mean, Tim. The three Guyanas are also "on the continent." Let's hear it for the little guys - after all, Surinam does produce half of the Dutch team most years!

Tim,

Agreed, i've always enjoyed your insights... Carrying on the Paraguay theme, I was a young football fan who subscribed to World Soccer from about 1985 onwards and keenly followed the Olimpia team of the early nineties. Here's a trivia question - i seem to recall they reached the latter stages of the Cope Libertadores (i think they won it as well) during this period and had a young paraguayan attacking midfielder (a left footer i think) who was getting a lot of rave reviews. Can anyone help me out with his name? I could have a search on google but can anyone suggest who it was

theBollard, could it be Luis Alberto Monzon? He´s the only young player i can think of that fits the profile...

WHAT AN AWFUL AND BORING BLOG

Nice and interesting article as always Mr Vickery.

redhotbed - I think you should review some of the idiotic comments you've made over the past few months before commenting on anyone else's writing ability.

Have a look at his semi-literate negativity by clicking on his name.

I dislike you Tim.

Good article as always Tim,
your blog remains by far the most informative on the beeb.

I support ealier posts in requesting the return of the questions section to your blog.


BombtheDom - Tim probably doesn't care too much but thanks for lettign us know.

Who cares about Paraguay !

You scraping the bottom of the barrel !!!

' Tim very nice but very dim'

Enuf said on this subject .... Tatty bye

Tim, excelent article as usual.

theBollard...could you be talking about Rafael Bobadilla? I reckon Rafa"Gol" and Claudio Borghi were two of the most talented souht american players after Maradona. It's a shame Rafa"GOL" did not take his career seriously and ended up almost as a anonimous player in the early 90s...Borghi enjoyed a little bit of fame but overshadowed by Diego Maradona, the greatest ever - what a great goal the "hand of god" was...Shilton "The Pirate" still having nightmares haha

Tim,

Am i correct in saying that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ pay you to stay in beautiful, sun-soaked Rio to watch the most entertaining football around at the minute?

ugh, a degree in property development, what was i thinking...

Is Rodrigo Polacio really as good as the few games i've seen him play suggest? The man looks like a genius!

It's annoying how we have to put up with Setanta showing leagues such as Ligue 1 Orange, just because the French are next to us on the map - they could probably get the South American rights for less!! and then we wouldn't see as travesties like the mighty Franco Costanzo plying his trade in Switzerland!

Hey Tim,
Great blog. This is the only one i read on the site, as its the only one that doesn't seem like a PA press release.

Just a question, of the Latino Heat that joined the premiership last season, who are the ones you believe will make a lasting impression now after settling down. Lucas (liv), Gilberto (spurs) or ekano (city)?

theBollard, you are probably talking about Gustavo Neffa, left footed attacking midfielder who was picked up by Juventus and loaned to Cremonese in 1989. He had so much talent that people were regarding him as the "next Maradona" but failed to even become a decent player after his stint with Cremonese. He later played in Union and Boca Juniors and then back to Olimpia.
What a waste!

~39 Melbourne1873

SportXchange is a free UK satellite channel showing 2 Brazilian games (Sat and Sun). The also have the highlights package on the same channel.

Commentary is in English by the very funny duo of John Cotteril and Birra Brazil. Which brings me to ask Tim V whether he has ever met these 2 chaps?

The big shame is that Channel Five have pulled the plug on Argentine league football which had been running for many years. I miss Carlos Monaterio's (duck voice) commentary big time.

Tim,

Brilliant blog, and insightful as well. You couldn't have a word with Chick Young and tell him to get his finger out, as his blog is as rubbish as yours is great.

What has happened to Kerlon, the Cruziero wonder kid?

Kerloon went to Chievo Verona in Italy but he hasn't played a game this season.

Are us mere mortals allowed to say "twatted"?

I have a theory on why Paraguay always do well in their own continent.
They play a very physical and direct game which other South American sides are not able to cope with physically.
However, when the play European sides who are physically bigger and stronger, Paraguay do not have the same success as Europeans can easily negate their style.

Paraguay are a team I have always enjoyed watching - probably just as, from what I've read, it seems a bit of a mad place.

This (very good) article got me thinking about how we see certain teams, though. Paraguay to me have always been the organised, disciplined, warrior team who qualify for world cups and never give up, despite not being obviously of the same calibre as their South American cohorts - the Everton or Allardyce-era Bolton Wanderers of the continent.

This has always been in contrast to Brazil or Argentina, of whom we tend to emphasise their soaring talent and skills over their steel (especially Brazil).

Yet Paraguay are playing fantastic football and Brazil are relying on fortune and guile. Just leads me to thinking, is there anything in our preconceptions of "national characteristics" of football?

Just to give a mention to Paulo Da Silva.
A solid, consistent centre back - one of the many Paraguyans playing in Mexico.
Da Silva is captain and permanent fixture at Toluca.
To be honest he should be playing in Europe, but I'm not complaining as long as Toluca can keep him!

I think the main problem with Paraguayan players playing in Europe is the physical side of things. Very few players here develop physically, and in order to do that they need to leave for Europe earlier. I think that is partly our hope for Jose Montiel. It worked for Roque Santa Cruz at Bayern and has helped Edgar Barreto.

The only big players we have are naturally big, and tend to lack the necessary skill for the premiership. For example Da Silva is not a ball playing defender in the ilk of Carlos Gamarra, he´s more of an old fashioned English centre-half.

We do have a lot of players at lower levels in Europe but a lot of them don´t really get a mention here because they don´t feature heavily for their first teams, or are constantly loaned out to lower league clubs. Dante Lopez was one example. he had a cracking season here at Olimpia, then left for a Serie B or C side. He was only brought back into the national side when he came back to Libertad.

Out of all our players, I think Oscar Cardozo, Enrique Vera, Salvador Cabañas, Nelson Haedo Valdez, Cristian Riveros, Jonatan Santana and Edgar Barreto could all cut it in the premiership.

More importantly, I think it would help their development. But we saw what happened when Diego gavilan went to Newcastle.... Sometimes it just doesn´t work...

Would just like to say thank you Tim for your ever-informative blog. I'm a big fan of most of the content from the ´óÏó´«Ã½ journalists but can honestly say that your work is the most consistently incisive and thoughtful, and free from hyperbole and sensationalism. A hugely illuminating and non-condescending way to expand my football knowledge in an area I am all too ignorant of!

Many, many thanks.

Tim (No 34)

Thanks for the comment - seems there were a few candidates but slahaye got it right (from my memory's perspective anyway...). I remember reading about Luis Monzon in the pre-internet days in World Soccer and he seemed like a superstar - what ever happended to him?

By the way, Gabriel Gonzalez would probably fit into my local sunday league from what you comment suggests (although he'd have to lose the skill.....)

hi tim
i was wondering if you could give me some info on eder, the brazilian footballer who played in the 82 world cup. He was the most spectacular player i've ever seen, but i don't know what happened to him after that tournament.

thanks

Tim, I think you got it wrong on the Terry red card. Mr. Halsey was correct in his decision to send JT off for serious foul play for the studs up challenge directed at Jo's ankles (can you say Eduardo) a split second prior to the holding back foul (yellow). Watch it again!

Thanks for your insightful reporting from Latin America. I really follow your blogs with compassion and you are doing great service to soccer fans around world. By the way you can act as a scout for EPL clubs.

Paraguay have some great young players but they use the long ball way too much. They do well in qualifying due to most of there players give everything and still play in the Americas. The Braziians and Argentinians are in Europe and there club side becomes more important until the World Cup Finals.
But that said for such a small population they could be considered the best footballing nation in the world (if you average success and population per capita) when you consider they have 6.5 million people compared to Brazil's 179 million and they can compete with them an win.
Its alot about tactics and diry play though, which is the only way they could top Brazil.

I agree, the blog is just awesome.

Personally, as a Brazilian, I am delighted with Paraguay. They fight all adversities to build up such a consistent team! On the other hand, pathetic episodes like Robinho forcing the sending-off of a Bolivian player - last week, Brazil 0 x 0 Bolivia - makes me very disappointed with my fellow country footballers... I really can't believe Man City has spent so much money on this guy.

As a Millwall fan Tim, I was overwhelmingly shocked to see Juan (Maldonado Jaimez Junior) come off the bench for Brazil last week. He was once on loan at the Den from the Arsenal and at the time a few people compared him to Sylvinho. I recently wondered where the kid went to and then I saw him play for A Seleção. How good is he? Did Millwall miss out on a quality player once again?

It's just a shame that when they have qualified for past World Cups they tend to adopt the following (negative) tactics: Play for 0-0 in their first 2 group games then hope to scrape a win in the last group game.

grooverJesicar is right... we´ve only ever been to the qwolrd cup to defend. But luckily Tata Martino is a much more concerned with attacking than his predecessors, especially one Maño Ruiz... awful negative tactics.

Hopefully we´ll start playing more of a passing game and start showing the world we really can play, not just score a goal and defend...

It´s also great to see that there´s so much interest in this topic. When i lived in the UK hardly anyone knew anything about Paraguay.

hi Tim, I'm an ex-pat who has spent the last ten years investigating the Bolivian League (1977- until present) I have all the goalscorers of which most are argentine. Thanks for your blog, it really puts things in perspective. timuka@gmail.com

hi Tim,

I just want to say your blog is possibly the best thing on the internet. The only problem i have is, that it is not daily.

I wanted to ask you about your thoughs on Rodrigo Possebon. I actually wanted to ask you when Utd bought him for £240,000, but I think it is more relevant now since he almost had his leg amputated by Pogatetz.

From what i have seen, he looks like an excellent prospect. Calm on the ball, good touch, quick feet and doesnt lose possesion.What are your thoughts, and how is he regarded in Brazil?