Who is he? Where does he play?
He is a 23 year old Ecuadorian, smashing the common perception that the term "journeyman" should only apply to lower league vagrants who bounce from club to club until their late 30s. "More clubs than Tiger Woods"? Well nearly, Montero is on his seventh club despite only turning professional with Emelec six years ago.
Emelec, is that in Ecuador?
It sure is. Born in Los Rios, Montero began playing professionally for Emelec in the Ecuadorian Serie A. However, he had to drop down a division in order to make his name, joining Deportivo Independiente Jose Terran where he scored 19 goals in 37 appearances. Villarreal of Spain noted the young winger's progress and signed him as a replacement for Wigan-bound Luis Antonio Valencia. He spent the majority of his time in the reserves with the Yellow Submarine or out on loan, with spells at Levante and Real Betis. Despite appearing regularly for Betis, he failed to impress coach Pepe Mel enough and he returned west, this time to Mexico with Monarcas Morelia.
And now he's moving east again?
Well maybe. Montero is quite the globe trotter and could be set to clock up more air miles should Cardiff follow up their rumoured interest with a move for the 23 year old. It turns out Montero seems to have quite the following among the Premier League's middle-band, with Swansea, Everton and Hull all interested, but the player's agent Diego Herrera says his client is focused on a move to Cardiff.
What will the Blue/Red Birds get from Montero?
A pacy, agile winger who can stretch defenders and whip in crosses or even score goals. His work-rate his fantastic and Montero is full of energy and should boss Malky McKay get his way, he'll be doing with the right-wing job, or left-wing considering he is capable on both flanks, in the red shirt of Cardiff next season. Or is it blue? We forget. Confident and dynamic, Montero can use his pace intelligently, hugging the touchline to provide width, or drifting inside to trouble defenders. He can also score an array of goals, as this hat-trick for Morelia shows;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9GuhyVENvI
A very direct player then?
He is indeed, and it is quite easy to see why he appealed to the scouts of Sam Allardyce, who was prepared to meet the player's reported £3.5 million release clause after watching him impress in a game for Ecuador, for whom he has already registered 27 caps, against Argentina. That move fell through, as did Cardiff's pursuit of Tom Ince and Denis Cheryshev. Though they may find their electric winger in the form of the small (he stands at just 5 ft 7 inches), but determined Montero.
Showing posts with label West Ham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label West Ham. Show all posts
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
WILFRIED BONY
Who is he? Where does he play?
He is Vitesse Arnhem's 24 year old Ivorian striker who has been scoring goals for fun over in Holland. A strapping lad at 6ft and weighing 85kg, defenders in the Dutch league may be getting a reprieve as he is linked with a move away from the Gelredome as his scintillating form has forced clubs from around Europe to sit up and take notice of his availability.
24? That's a bit old for us isn't it?
Perhaps, but when you're scoring 31 goals in 28 games in your second full season in a new league, it is hard to ignore. Bony is powerful, able to throw defenders around with his robust physical strength which also makes him a force in the air. He is not particularly quick, but he is adept at finding space with good movement, or even by shrugging defenders off in order to link the play. The defending in the Dutch league affords him a lot of space from which to work his quality, allowing him to make chances for himself and find space in the box.
This is what his game is about
Ivorian, big, powerful, plentiful scorer of goals, there is no surprise in the fact he is often described as the "new Didier Drogba".
Would that bode well for the future?
It remains to be seen. Scoring goals in the EreDivisie is good, but Afonso Alves, Middlesbrough's Brazilian figure of mockery, was potent, as was Bas Dost and Luuk De Jong who have both moved on to Germany. Bony's sheer athleticism and powerful strength will stand him in good stead against continental defences, but he may struggle against improved markers who will reduce the space he is allowed to produce his quality.
The surprise at Bony's form is best summed up by this Dutch football blog, who indicated some may think he was on drugs if he was a cyclist. 70% conversion rate??? Test him for doping...
Will he move on in the summer?
Aston Villa had an £8 million bid rejected for him last summer before they moved for fellow striking powerhouse Christian Benteke, whilst Liverpool have also shown an interest. After signing from Sparta Prague for 4 million Euros, hitting 46 goals in 63 games and becoming a regular for the Ivory Coast with 18 caps, they should be prepared to make a substantial profit on the one they call "the African Hulk". He has also been linked with Chelsea and West Ham as the Premier League calls for another physically dominant force.
He is Vitesse Arnhem's 24 year old Ivorian striker who has been scoring goals for fun over in Holland. A strapping lad at 6ft and weighing 85kg, defenders in the Dutch league may be getting a reprieve as he is linked with a move away from the Gelredome as his scintillating form has forced clubs from around Europe to sit up and take notice of his availability.
24? That's a bit old for us isn't it?
Perhaps, but when you're scoring 31 goals in 28 games in your second full season in a new league, it is hard to ignore. Bony is powerful, able to throw defenders around with his robust physical strength which also makes him a force in the air. He is not particularly quick, but he is adept at finding space with good movement, or even by shrugging defenders off in order to link the play. The defending in the Dutch league affords him a lot of space from which to work his quality, allowing him to make chances for himself and find space in the box.
This is what his game is about
Ivorian, big, powerful, plentiful scorer of goals, there is no surprise in the fact he is often described as the "new Didier Drogba".
Would that bode well for the future?
It remains to be seen. Scoring goals in the EreDivisie is good, but Afonso Alves, Middlesbrough's Brazilian figure of mockery, was potent, as was Bas Dost and Luuk De Jong who have both moved on to Germany. Bony's sheer athleticism and powerful strength will stand him in good stead against continental defences, but he may struggle against improved markers who will reduce the space he is allowed to produce his quality.
The surprise at Bony's form is best summed up by this Dutch football blog, who indicated some may think he was on drugs if he was a cyclist. 70% conversion rate??? Test him for doping...
Will he move on in the summer?
Aston Villa had an £8 million bid rejected for him last summer before they moved for fellow striking powerhouse Christian Benteke, whilst Liverpool have also shown an interest. After signing from Sparta Prague for 4 million Euros, hitting 46 goals in 63 games and becoming a regular for the Ivory Coast with 18 caps, they should be prepared to make a substantial profit on the one they call "the African Hulk". He has also been linked with Chelsea and West Ham as the Premier League calls for another physically dominant force.
Friday, 2 November 2012
ANDREJ KRAMARIC
Who is he? Where does he play?
Kramaric is a 21 year old Croatian striker playing for Dinamo Zagreb. Well, he's on the books at Zagreb, but currently out on loan at Kylie Minogue's favourite Croatian club, Lokomotiva.
Not fancied by Zagreb then?
You may think so, but after breaking into the Zagreb first team in 2009, a goal return of 15 goals in 30 games hasn't been too shabby. Kramaric has won two Croatian first team titles (and a Croatian cup) in that time and as Zagreb fight for success in the Champions League, it could be a case of too much too soon for the youngster, so he's been given a shot across the capital at Lokomotiva, where he has a decent record of 9 goals in seven games.
Another Croatian prospect?
The Vatreni have yielded a good crop in recent years with the likes of Josip Radosevic, Mateo Kovacic and Marko Livaja all breaking into the senior national squad before their 20th birthday and Kramaric looks set to follow them as the new Igor Stimac era burns bight after the departure of Slaven Bilic. It is only a matter of time before the striker dons that luscious red and white squared number as he has been capped at every level under senior, hitting 20 goals in the process.
Likes a goal then does he?
He doesn't exactly require a map to find his way to goal if that's what you're implying. He's Dinamo Zagreb's most potent youth striker in the club's history as he hit over 450 goals. Yes, 450 goals in a football-upbringing similar to Lionel Messi's where he joined the club aged 6 and had every other child screaming "that's not fair" as Kramaric waltzed his way to the net whenever he fancied another goal.
Anybody after him?
Yes, West Ham, we think, as Sam Allardyce's scouts have seemingly been sent east with the remit of landing yet another striker. Likes a good striker does Allardyce with Madibo Maiga, Andy Carroll, Carlton Cole, Ricardo Vaz Te and (somewhere in the basement) Frederic Piquionne lurking on the books. Big Sam just can't get enough and a link has formed for Kramaric with Hammers scouts impressed by his potential.
Player Value: £500,000 - £100,000
Kramaric is a 21 year old Croatian striker playing for Dinamo Zagreb. Well, he's on the books at Zagreb, but currently out on loan at Kylie Minogue's favourite Croatian club, Lokomotiva.
Not fancied by Zagreb then?
You may think so, but after breaking into the Zagreb first team in 2009, a goal return of 15 goals in 30 games hasn't been too shabby. Kramaric has won two Croatian first team titles (and a Croatian cup) in that time and as Zagreb fight for success in the Champions League, it could be a case of too much too soon for the youngster, so he's been given a shot across the capital at Lokomotiva, where he has a decent record of 9 goals in seven games.
Another Croatian prospect?
The Vatreni have yielded a good crop in recent years with the likes of Josip Radosevic, Mateo Kovacic and Marko Livaja all breaking into the senior national squad before their 20th birthday and Kramaric looks set to follow them as the new Igor Stimac era burns bight after the departure of Slaven Bilic. It is only a matter of time before the striker dons that luscious red and white squared number as he has been capped at every level under senior, hitting 20 goals in the process.
Likes a goal then does he?
He doesn't exactly require a map to find his way to goal if that's what you're implying. He's Dinamo Zagreb's most potent youth striker in the club's history as he hit over 450 goals. Yes, 450 goals in a football-upbringing similar to Lionel Messi's where he joined the club aged 6 and had every other child screaming "that's not fair" as Kramaric waltzed his way to the net whenever he fancied another goal.
Anybody after him?
Yes, West Ham, we think, as Sam Allardyce's scouts have seemingly been sent east with the remit of landing yet another striker. Likes a good striker does Allardyce with Madibo Maiga, Andy Carroll, Carlton Cole, Ricardo Vaz Te and (somewhere in the basement) Frederic Piquionne lurking on the books. Big Sam just can't get enough and a link has formed for Kramaric with Hammers scouts impressed by his potential.
Player Value: £500,000 - £100,000
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