You don't know how long I was set on Altafini for
I think I only changed my mind as our pick was coming up.Chain Draft (Main Thread)
- Thread starter Edgar Allan Pillow
- Start date
You don't know how long I was set on Altafini for
I think I only changed my mind as our pick was coming up.Do ALL your reinforcement chains have to be linked from the same starting spot?
For example, round 1 i link pick 13 and 14 from my 8th pick.
Next round can I link 15 and 16 from my 10th pick? Or does it need to be carried on from pick 14?
Has to be the former as otherwise the whole logic of using 8-12, then 10-14, then 12-16 wouldn't make any sense otherwise
Decided to do a few player profiles on some of the lesser known players. Don't expect Anto quality write ups, just a bit of backstory and info 
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Enrique Omar Sivori (1935-2005) River Plate, Juventus, Napoli/ Argentina, Italy
The Maradona of the Sixties
Early Years
Sívori was born in San Nicolas de los Arroyos, a town which falls within the Buenos Aires Province, in an Italian Argentine family. His paternal grandfather, Giulio Sivori, was an immigrant from Cavi di Lavagna, a hamlet in the Province of Genoa, while his mother Carolina was of Abruzzian descent. As a youngster Sívori became heavily interested in the game of football and by the time he reached his teens he was signed up to a side from his home province; River Plate. The teenage Sívori was given a chance to break through into a squad which included players like the famed forwards Angel Labruna and Felix Loustau, who established themselves in the era of La Maquina, one of the foremost formations in football history. He soon earned the nickname El Cabezón (bighead) from the fans, due to his playing style.
River was able to win the Argentine Primera Division in 1955, the title was confirmed when River beat local arch rival Boca Juniors 2–1 at La Bombonera, in Buenos Aires, with just one game remaining. The same season River won the Copa Río de La Plata by beating Nacional from Uruguay. The following season he had similar success when River won the Argentine league title on the final day of the season; beating Rosario Central 4–0, with Sívori scoring the final goal.Sívori would play his final game for River against the same team on 5 May 1957.
During the 1957-58 season, the 21-year-old Sívori was signed by Italian club Juventus after being spotted by Renato Cesarini. Juventus paid 10 million pesos (the equivalent of £91,000) for the transfer, which was a world-record transfer fee for the time. Sívori's move would prove bad for River's league fortunes, in the 18 years after 1957 they were unable to win the league in Argentina. However, they were able to complete their El Monumental stadium (previously nicknamed the horseshoe) by adding a fourth stand baring his name, with the money from the deal.
Move to Italy
Prior to the arrival of Sívori and Welshman John Charles, Juventus had been going through somewhat of a slump. However, the duo along with experienced Juventino Giampiero Boniperti, put together a formidable force and won Serie A during 1957–58. The good form continues and Sívori won two more scudetto titles (1959–60 and 1960–61) as well as two Coppa Italia's (1958–59 and 1959–60). Omar Sívori's hard work had paid off and he was named European Footballer of the Year (also known as Ballon d'or) in 1961.
The same year as his personal achievement however, "the Magical Trio" as they were known, had broken up with Boniperti's retirement and the following season John Charles moved back to Leeds United. Sívori stayed on with the Old Lady, notably scoring the only goal in a 1–0 victory against Real Madrid, making Juventus the first Italian side ever to win at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Sívori did not win anymore championships or trophies with Juventus, and left after the 1964–65 season, because of a disagreement with new coach Heriberto Herrera.
With Juventus, Sívori scored 167 goals in 253 appearances in all competitions, remaining Juventus' fifth highest goalscorer. He also holds the record for most Juventus goals in a single league game; during the 9–1 victory against Inter Milan on 10 June 1961 he scored six goals.
Over to Naples
Napoli
In 1965 he signed with Napoli helping them to a third place finish in the first season at the club, they also won the Coppa delle Alpi. During the 1967–68 season, Napoli's squad boasted talents along with Sívori such as Dino Zoff and Jose Altafini, the club took A.C. Milan all the way in the battle for the Serie A championship; Napoli eventually finished as second. Ironically, Sívori's last ever game was against Juventus, he was given a red card for kicking Erminio Favalli and was suspended for six matches.
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Enrique Omar Sivori (1935-2005) River Plate, Juventus, Napoli/ Argentina, Italy
The Maradona of the Sixties
Early Years
Sívori was born in San Nicolas de los Arroyos, a town which falls within the Buenos Aires Province, in an Italian Argentine family. His paternal grandfather, Giulio Sivori, was an immigrant from Cavi di Lavagna, a hamlet in the Province of Genoa, while his mother Carolina was of Abruzzian descent. As a youngster Sívori became heavily interested in the game of football and by the time he reached his teens he was signed up to a side from his home province; River Plate. The teenage Sívori was given a chance to break through into a squad which included players like the famed forwards Angel Labruna and Felix Loustau, who established themselves in the era of La Maquina, one of the foremost formations in football history. He soon earned the nickname El Cabezón (bighead) from the fans, due to his playing style.
River was able to win the Argentine Primera Division in 1955, the title was confirmed when River beat local arch rival Boca Juniors 2–1 at La Bombonera, in Buenos Aires, with just one game remaining. The same season River won the Copa Río de La Plata by beating Nacional from Uruguay. The following season he had similar success when River won the Argentine league title on the final day of the season; beating Rosario Central 4–0, with Sívori scoring the final goal.Sívori would play his final game for River against the same team on 5 May 1957.
During the 1957-58 season, the 21-year-old Sívori was signed by Italian club Juventus after being spotted by Renato Cesarini. Juventus paid 10 million pesos (the equivalent of £91,000) for the transfer, which was a world-record transfer fee for the time. Sívori's move would prove bad for River's league fortunes, in the 18 years after 1957 they were unable to win the league in Argentina. However, they were able to complete their El Monumental stadium (previously nicknamed the horseshoe) by adding a fourth stand baring his name, with the money from the deal.
Move to Italy
Prior to the arrival of Sívori and Welshman John Charles, Juventus had been going through somewhat of a slump. However, the duo along with experienced Juventino Giampiero Boniperti, put together a formidable force and won Serie A during 1957–58. The good form continues and Sívori won two more scudetto titles (1959–60 and 1960–61) as well as two Coppa Italia's (1958–59 and 1959–60). Omar Sívori's hard work had paid off and he was named European Footballer of the Year (also known as Ballon d'or) in 1961.
The same year as his personal achievement however, "the Magical Trio" as they were known, had broken up with Boniperti's retirement and the following season John Charles moved back to Leeds United. Sívori stayed on with the Old Lady, notably scoring the only goal in a 1–0 victory against Real Madrid, making Juventus the first Italian side ever to win at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Sívori did not win anymore championships or trophies with Juventus, and left after the 1964–65 season, because of a disagreement with new coach Heriberto Herrera.
With Juventus, Sívori scored 167 goals in 253 appearances in all competitions, remaining Juventus' fifth highest goalscorer. He also holds the record for most Juventus goals in a single league game; during the 9–1 victory against Inter Milan on 10 June 1961 he scored six goals.
Over to Naples
Napoli
In 1965 he signed with Napoli helping them to a third place finish in the first season at the club, they also won the Coppa delle Alpi. During the 1967–68 season, Napoli's squad boasted talents along with Sívori such as Dino Zoff and Jose Altafini, the club took A.C. Milan all the way in the battle for the Serie A championship; Napoli eventually finished as second. Ironically, Sívori's last ever game was against Juventus, he was given a red card for kicking Erminio Favalli and was suspended for six matches.
Luis Del Sol (1935- ) Betis, Real Madrid, Juventus, Roma / Spain
Siete Pulmones (seven lungs)
The great Alfredo di Stefano was a fan of Del Sol, proclaiming that he had the ability to run himself into the ground for the team. Del Sol was an intelligent player, and comfortable playing out wide left, or any position across the midfield. He always knew what he was going to do next, and his intelligence complemented his all action style. He would often drive the team forward from midfield.
He helped Madrid win the European Cup, as well as back to back La Liga titles, in his 2 seasons in Spain. He also added the 1960 Intercontinental Cup to his trophy haul, beating a Penarol side that someone here may be familiar with.
He was capable of getting on the scoresheet, scoring 17 in his first season with Madrid, but his role in our team will be to add work rate, and a strong presence in the middle of the field, freeing up other players to run the game. When he has the chance, he'll look to drive the ball forward with his strong runs and put those lungs to good use.
Siete Pulmones (seven lungs)
The great Alfredo di Stefano was a fan of Del Sol, proclaiming that he had the ability to run himself into the ground for the team. Del Sol was an intelligent player, and comfortable playing out wide left, or any position across the midfield. He always knew what he was going to do next, and his intelligence complemented his all action style. He would often drive the team forward from midfield.
He helped Madrid win the European Cup, as well as back to back La Liga titles, in his 2 seasons in Spain. He also added the 1960 Intercontinental Cup to his trophy haul, beating a Penarol side that someone here may be familiar with.
He was capable of getting on the scoresheet, scoring 17 in his first season with Madrid, but his role in our team will be to add work rate, and a strong presence in the middle of the field, freeing up other players to run the game. When he has the chance, he'll look to drive the ball forward with his strong runs and put those lungs to good use.
Jose Martinez Sanchez (1945 - ) Granada, Real Madrid, Puebla / Spain
Pirri
Regarded as one of the finest Spanish footballers to have played the game. Pirri played for Real Madrid for 15 years, starting as a central midfielder, then dropping back to a sweeper. He captained Madrid for 4 years, and was well known for his leadership skills and his ferocity. Like Del Sol, he possessed fantastic stamina and work rate, constantly contributing to the attacking and defensive phases of play relentlessly. A great passer of the ball, he also chipped in regularly with goals, scoring 123 in his 417 appearances for Madrid.
During his time in Madrid he won TEN La Liga titles, 4 Spanish Cups, and the European Cup.
A tough character with a never-say-die attitude, he played the 1971 final of the European Cup Winner’s Cup with his arm in a sling, and the 1975 Copa del Rey final with fever and a broken jaw.
The Yé-yé team
The Yé-yé team was the name given to the generation of all-Spanish Real Madrid players that dominated Spanish football in the 1960s. The team was captained by the veteran player Francisco Gento who won the European Cup 5 times with Alfredo di Stefano in the 1950s. He would lead a group of younger players that included Pirri. This group of younger players sometimes were considered to be hippies because they wore longer hair than the previous generation. The name "Yé-yé" came from the "Yeah, yeah, yeah" chorus in the Beatles' song "She loves you" after four members of the team posed for Marca dressed in Beatles wigs. "Yé-yé" was also how youngsters were called in Spain in the sixties when the Beatlemania was catching on around the world, as well as a musical style popular in Spain in that decade.
Pirri
Regarded as one of the finest Spanish footballers to have played the game. Pirri played for Real Madrid for 15 years, starting as a central midfielder, then dropping back to a sweeper. He captained Madrid for 4 years, and was well known for his leadership skills and his ferocity. Like Del Sol, he possessed fantastic stamina and work rate, constantly contributing to the attacking and defensive phases of play relentlessly. A great passer of the ball, he also chipped in regularly with goals, scoring 123 in his 417 appearances for Madrid.
During his time in Madrid he won TEN La Liga titles, 4 Spanish Cups, and the European Cup.
A tough character with a never-say-die attitude, he played the 1971 final of the European Cup Winner’s Cup with his arm in a sling, and the 1975 Copa del Rey final with fever and a broken jaw.
The Yé-yé team
The Yé-yé team was the name given to the generation of all-Spanish Real Madrid players that dominated Spanish football in the 1960s. The team was captained by the veteran player Francisco Gento who won the European Cup 5 times with Alfredo di Stefano in the 1950s. He would lead a group of younger players that included Pirri. This group of younger players sometimes were considered to be hippies because they wore longer hair than the previous generation. The name "Yé-yé" came from the "Yeah, yeah, yeah" chorus in the Beatles' song "She loves you" after four members of the team posed for Marca dressed in Beatles wigs. "Yé-yé" was also how youngsters were called in Spain in the sixties when the Beatlemania was catching on around the world, as well as a musical style popular in Spain in that decade.
Can any neutrals shred some light as to what you think diarm is going to do with this squad of players?
2 out and out strikers in addition to 2 great number 10s, 2 right backs? I'm very confused...
Can any neutrals shred some light as to what you think diarm is going to do with this squad of players?
2 out and out strikers in addition to 2 great number 10s, 2 right backs? I'm very confused...
------------Klinsmann---------
--Baggio---Cantona--Boksic(Not sure about this one)
---------Scholes/Veron----
-------------Tardelli---------
Amoros-Campbell-Baresi-Neville
------------Tacconi-------
Amoros can play as left back as well.
I know its 12 players
I don't pretend to be an expert on his mentality but he always strikes me as a miserable, conservative fecker:
I don't pretend to be an expert on his mentality but he always strikes me as a miserable, conservative fecker:
Neville as a wing-back? Like that will ever happen.
I don't pretend to be an expert on his mentality but he always strikes me as a miserable, conservative fecker:
I thought you might go with something like this, might have to come up with an unorthodox formation to counter this.
First thing I said to Gio was that you were going to moan. I was actually close to redoing the draw which would have been mental. Not sure what you're so downbeat about anyway, you have a great team. You should have more faith in your players.
I don't pretend to be an expert on his mentality but he always strikes me as a miserable, conservative fecker:
Is Baggio doing a Cole?
Of course you shouldn't. I have faith in my players, I just wish I could have got the team I wanted first, that's all. The scenario wouldn't be too different in terms of household names anyway.
Not sure what you're so downbeat about anyway, you have a great team. You should have more faith in your players.
Who do I send my tactics to?
Is anyone online to start the Kazi Cutch match?
am here.
@Kazi @Cutch @Edgar Allan Pillow you can all send it to me if you want. Do I need the mods for poll?
Got Cutch's. Just waiting for you @Kazi
One of the most enjoyable things for Peñarol fans about that 60s period was how in 1961 Nacional (forever in our shadow) had successfully negotiated that the second placed team in the champions’ country should also get a spot. It must have been humiliating for them, more so when Peñarol knocked them out in the semifinals. Problem was, after those two wins we hadn’t won again so they needed to actually get in legitimately, which they finally did in 1964, but they lost the final to Independiente. By 1965 order was restored, and Peñarol had qualified as Uruguayan champions.
Out of the first six Libertadores, Peñarol participated in five and took part in four finals, winning two and losing the other two in the final decider. Had goal difference or away goals had any relevance, they would have won all four, but they only counted after ET of a third tie-break game. For some reason, they were strong at home, giants when playing away, and useless on neutral ground.
Sure, the 1963 third final against Santos probably shouldn’t count as Santos didn’t show up for the actual one (Pelé was injured) and it was literally played when they saw fit: a month later, with Pelé recovered and the Peñarol players on a mid-season break. The loss to Independiente in 1965 had been cruel though, 1-0 loss in Buenos Aires, 3-1 win in Montevideo and a 4-1 loss in Santiago. Many key players had been injured for that, the squad was aging and there was talk of the end of an era.
But Nacional couldn’t wait for it to end. Peñarol’s defeat, while winning the Uruguayan league, meant another year outside the premier competition. They wouldn’t have it, so they successfully argued the competition should include all second placed teams (humiliating? much?). This in turn led the Brazilians to pull out arguing it went against the principle of it all. The fact was they were desperate for an excuse to avoid those torrid away affairs and go on lucrative European tours instead.
So Peñarol entered the 7th Copa Libertadores with a point to prove re: the end of an era, and it couldn’t have started any worse: Nacional beat them 4-0 in the first game and were first in the group throughout (imagine the meltdown on blackandgoldcafe.net). Courtesy of Nacional we now had to travel to Bolivia and Ecuador not once, but twice. When the group deciding derby arrived Nacional were on 15 points and Peñarol right behind them on 14. 3-0 bitches!!!!
But it was just a statement, as the second placed also qualified to a second round of groups where we got Nacional, again, this time beating them twice 3-0 and 1-0. Who’s your daddy? Kids across the nation wanted to be Spencer, Joya or Tito, they didn’t want to be one of that bunch of losers. There’s also the 60s context for what was essentially a working class club founded by expats as the Central Uruguay Railway Cricket Club (in the suburban neighbourhood of Peñarol, the black being coal, the golden stripes symbolising the wealth the traintracks would bring) vs. a club founded by merchant banking and insurance expats and with its home in a posh central location. The equivalent of Penarol in Argentina is Boca (dockworkers) and the equivalent of Nacional is River Plate.
Anyhow, I digress, this is only an intro to what happened next…
Out of the first six Libertadores, Peñarol participated in five and took part in four finals, winning two and losing the other two in the final decider. Had goal difference or away goals had any relevance, they would have won all four, but they only counted after ET of a third tie-break game. For some reason, they were strong at home, giants when playing away, and useless on neutral ground.
Sure, the 1963 third final against Santos probably shouldn’t count as Santos didn’t show up for the actual one (Pelé was injured) and it was literally played when they saw fit: a month later, with Pelé recovered and the Peñarol players on a mid-season break. The loss to Independiente in 1965 had been cruel though, 1-0 loss in Buenos Aires, 3-1 win in Montevideo and a 4-1 loss in Santiago. Many key players had been injured for that, the squad was aging and there was talk of the end of an era.
But Nacional couldn’t wait for it to end. Peñarol’s defeat, while winning the Uruguayan league, meant another year outside the premier competition. They wouldn’t have it, so they successfully argued the competition should include all second placed teams (humiliating? much?). This in turn led the Brazilians to pull out arguing it went against the principle of it all. The fact was they were desperate for an excuse to avoid those torrid away affairs and go on lucrative European tours instead.
So Peñarol entered the 7th Copa Libertadores with a point to prove re: the end of an era, and it couldn’t have started any worse: Nacional beat them 4-0 in the first game and were first in the group throughout (imagine the meltdown on blackandgoldcafe.net). Courtesy of Nacional we now had to travel to Bolivia and Ecuador not once, but twice. When the group deciding derby arrived Nacional were on 15 points and Peñarol right behind them on 14. 3-0 bitches!!!!
But it was just a statement, as the second placed also qualified to a second round of groups where we got Nacional, again, this time beating them twice 3-0 and 1-0. Who’s your daddy? Kids across the nation wanted to be Spencer, Joya or Tito, they didn’t want to be one of that bunch of losers. There’s also the 60s context for what was essentially a working class club founded by expats as the Central Uruguay Railway Cricket Club (in the suburban neighbourhood of Peñarol, the black being coal, the golden stripes symbolising the wealth the traintracks would bring) vs. a club founded by merchant banking and insurance expats and with its home in a posh central location. The equivalent of Penarol in Argentina is Boca (dockworkers) and the equivalent of Nacional is River Plate.
Anyhow, I digress, this is only an intro to what happened next…
@antohan may I ask something? I was going through some bits and pieces of the Uruguayan football history after reading your stories and it seemed to me that Penarol and Nacional are fierce rivals like you underlined in your last post, and then I happened to stumble upon the fact that Jose Leandro Andrade played for both of them, joining Penarol from Nacional. Was the rivalry not as fierce back then or was there some exceptional circumstances for a player of that quality joining the rivals an year after he won the WC for the nation?
There have been plenty of examples of players playing for both (Cubilla is another notorious one, the less known Pinocho Vargas also won a Libertadores with both in the 80s), but they largely end up not being particularly liked or trusted by either set of fans.
In fairness to Andrade, that was before professionalism so there weren't even contracts as such (it was more a case of club benefactors "looking after players"). I've mentioned it before though, Nacional had released him and he was going blind on one eye after a collision with a post at the final vs. Argentina in 1928. He was actually without a club the three months prior to the World Cup, so if Peñarol offered to take him after that's fair enough really.
Also Roque Máspoli played for both Penarol and Nacional, also seemed to have managed both based on this article on Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/feb/25/guardianobituaries.football
Aye, there will be plenty of examples, although Máspoli was very much a Peñarol man whichever way you look at it. He was actually the manager in this 1966 campaign I'm writing about.
It's a small country stuck between Argentina and Brasil so, however strong our club rivalry, we have bigger fish to fry so won't get too tribal about it. We are one tribe, and it's light blue.
The 1966 finals with River
Peñarol’s rivals where far from being at the end of an era. River Plate had long been given the nickname “los Millonarios” for their immense financial muscle in attracting anyone they wanted. In fact, Peñarol supposedly being on their last legs was in no small part down to them: the moment Matosas emerged as a replacement for William Martínez in the heart of defence, they had signed him, as they did with Luis Cubilla. They had put together an exceptionally talented side that swept aside anyone before them, including the team winning the last two Libertadores: Independiente. They hadn’t just won but won in style, with the Onega brothers for once competing with each other: Ermindo had always been the better one, but Daniel was on a purple patch and scored 17 goals that season (the most in a single Libertadores to this day).
The old creaking bones put them in their place in the first leg of the final: Peñarol won in Montevideo 2-0 with a classic Lucho-style “want it more than anyone else” goal from Abbadie after an inviting low cross by Joya, and then Abbadie returned the favour playing the Peruvian through for the second (@Chesterlestreet smilie).
......................
The second leg in Buenos Aires is right up there with the most anomalous circumstances this team had ever played in, and these were players used to playing under a storm of glass bottles and broomsticks being thrown at them from the stands.
As usual, the River fans camped outside the team hotel, made a lot of noise so they couldn’t sleep, yadda yadda. What was a first was that the hosts always sent a complimentary bus to pick up the away side at their hotel. River said they would, but didn’t. With less than an hour to go before the game started, the players started making groups of four and jumping on taxis. Once they got to the stadium, they found there was an exclusion zone, one mile in radius from the stadium where no cars were allowed. Their protestations that they were the players coming for the game only attracted the attention of an angry mob of River Plate fans who started chucking stuff at them, screaming, spitting, pulling their clothes. It wasn’t a public lynching only because everyone was only too aware that Peñarol were ahead on the tie and the game needed playing, but anything they could do to unsettle them was fair cop.
So they pushed and shoved their way for an entire mile, got into the changing rooms with ten minutes to go before kickoff, put their clothes and boots on, and ran onto the pitch. No pitch recognition, no proper warmup, just the agitation of their boiling blood. What looked really weird was the >300 people camped around the pitch, what for? There were no more than 50 accredited pitch-side reporters and photographers.
The moment the game started they knew what that was for. They got shouted at, spat at, had coins thrown at them… all from the 250 people randomly allowed to be literally a metre away from the pitch. It was more akin to Sunday League football, but it was a Copa Libertadores final.
Remarkably, they started well and scored first. At least there was a large police contingent to protect them if it turned sour. Right? Not really, as they would find out when River equalised and a large chunk of the randomer contingent ran onto the pitch, followed by the police officers, two of which hugged and lifted Onega in the air. Ooops…
Spencer had been reserved for the second leg, he was indeed getting old and Peñarol had wanted him fresh to ensure they settled it there and didn’t have to once again play third game in Santiago. He even put us ahead with this peach:
But River equalised soon after and managed to score a third, forcing a decider. Did the environment and lack of warm up influence proceedings? None of the players blamed the loss on that: River were a good team, there was no doubt about that and all the other shit was gamesmanship which was part and parcel of a Libertadores campaign.
That doesn’t mean they weren’t pissed off. So much so that when the team bus (yes, there was a bus to get them back!) arrived at the hotel a couple of hundred River fans were waiting for them and started shaking the bus sideways and making threatening remarks… and the players just opened the doors and launched themselves into the crowd throwing punches. Thirty players and staff soon had 100+ running away like the cowards they were, probably with some help from fans arriving to support. I guess, I don’t know, but I’m told it was epic.
And then the players heard how their loyal fans had been placed in a lower tier below the hardcore River fans, who had pissed on them all game. Literally, not Jamie Redknapp literally, proper literally as in cocks out and taking a piss. When they had pressed themselves against the front fence to avoid it, they had started pissing in bags and cups and thrown them at them.
In the meantime, the club directors had been heatedly arguing with River and CSF (Conmebol) executives. The statutes established the final had to be played at least 72 hours later on neutral ground, River insisted on playing in 48hs (to take advantage of the age disparity, obviously) and the CSF was looking kindly at their proposal for some bullshit reason regarding releasing players for the upcoming World Cup.
One of the Directors returned to the hotel halfway through the negotiations and consulted with his captain: “Tito, these cheats are trying to arrange the game for Friday instead of Saturday! And the CSF are supporting them those corrupt sons of a bitch!". To which Tito, aka the Captain of Captains, replied: “Saturday? We want to play them tomorrow”
Peñarol’s rivals where far from being at the end of an era. River Plate had long been given the nickname “los Millonarios” for their immense financial muscle in attracting anyone they wanted. In fact, Peñarol supposedly being on their last legs was in no small part down to them: the moment Matosas emerged as a replacement for William Martínez in the heart of defence, they had signed him, as they did with Luis Cubilla. They had put together an exceptionally talented side that swept aside anyone before them, including the team winning the last two Libertadores: Independiente. They hadn’t just won but won in style, with the Onega brothers for once competing with each other: Ermindo had always been the better one, but Daniel was on a purple patch and scored 17 goals that season (the most in a single Libertadores to this day).
The old creaking bones put them in their place in the first leg of the final: Peñarol won in Montevideo 2-0 with a classic Lucho-style “want it more than anyone else” goal from Abbadie after an inviting low cross by Joya, and then Abbadie returned the favour playing the Peruvian through for the second (@Chesterlestreet smilie).
The second leg in Buenos Aires is right up there with the most anomalous circumstances this team had ever played in, and these were players used to playing under a storm of glass bottles and broomsticks being thrown at them from the stands.
As usual, the River fans camped outside the team hotel, made a lot of noise so they couldn’t sleep, yadda yadda. What was a first was that the hosts always sent a complimentary bus to pick up the away side at their hotel. River said they would, but didn’t. With less than an hour to go before the game started, the players started making groups of four and jumping on taxis. Once they got to the stadium, they found there was an exclusion zone, one mile in radius from the stadium where no cars were allowed. Their protestations that they were the players coming for the game only attracted the attention of an angry mob of River Plate fans who started chucking stuff at them, screaming, spitting, pulling their clothes. It wasn’t a public lynching only because everyone was only too aware that Peñarol were ahead on the tie and the game needed playing, but anything they could do to unsettle them was fair cop.
So they pushed and shoved their way for an entire mile, got into the changing rooms with ten minutes to go before kickoff, put their clothes and boots on, and ran onto the pitch. No pitch recognition, no proper warmup, just the agitation of their boiling blood. What looked really weird was the >300 people camped around the pitch, what for? There were no more than 50 accredited pitch-side reporters and photographers.
The moment the game started they knew what that was for. They got shouted at, spat at, had coins thrown at them… all from the 250 people randomly allowed to be literally a metre away from the pitch. It was more akin to Sunday League football, but it was a Copa Libertadores final.
Remarkably, they started well and scored first. At least there was a large police contingent to protect them if it turned sour. Right? Not really, as they would find out when River equalised and a large chunk of the randomer contingent ran onto the pitch, followed by the police officers, two of which hugged and lifted Onega in the air. Ooops…
Spencer had been reserved for the second leg, he was indeed getting old and Peñarol had wanted him fresh to ensure they settled it there and didn’t have to once again play third game in Santiago. He even put us ahead with this peach:
But River equalised soon after and managed to score a third, forcing a decider. Did the environment and lack of warm up influence proceedings? None of the players blamed the loss on that: River were a good team, there was no doubt about that and all the other shit was gamesmanship which was part and parcel of a Libertadores campaign.
That doesn’t mean they weren’t pissed off. So much so that when the team bus (yes, there was a bus to get them back!) arrived at the hotel a couple of hundred River fans were waiting for them and started shaking the bus sideways and making threatening remarks… and the players just opened the doors and launched themselves into the crowd throwing punches. Thirty players and staff soon had 100+ running away like the cowards they were, probably with some help from fans arriving to support. I guess, I don’t know, but I’m told it was epic.
And then the players heard how their loyal fans had been placed in a lower tier below the hardcore River fans, who had pissed on them all game. Literally, not Jamie Redknapp literally, proper literally as in cocks out and taking a piss. When they had pressed themselves against the front fence to avoid it, they had started pissing in bags and cups and thrown them at them.
In the meantime, the club directors had been heatedly arguing with River and CSF (Conmebol) executives. The statutes established the final had to be played at least 72 hours later on neutral ground, River insisted on playing in 48hs (to take advantage of the age disparity, obviously) and the CSF was looking kindly at their proposal for some bullshit reason regarding releasing players for the upcoming World Cup.
One of the Directors returned to the hotel halfway through the negotiations and consulted with his captain: “Tito, these cheats are trying to arrange the game for Friday instead of Saturday! And the CSF are supporting them those corrupt sons of a bitch!". To which Tito, aka the Captain of Captains, replied: “Saturday? We want to play them tomorrow”
Yeah, I've been to Uruguay though it was not a joyful visit. But the rivalry between Nacional and Penarol is as historic as Westham vs Millwall in the sense each had a rivalry that overceded just the football aspect. It was as much cultural as anything.
Why not?
Indeed, it's cultural, it comes from the very roots of their history and foundation. It's not just working class vs. well off, it's also Italian immigrant heritage vs. Spanish patrician heritage, you could even argue the two traditional political parties are also closely associated with each (Colorados = Peñarol, Blancos = Nacional). There's a lot going on there, similar with River-Boca, which is why it was all the more relevant that it was both Nacional and River getting done that year.
But I repeat, that's all domestic stuff and banter, it all goes out the window when external factors are relevant. We are all Uruguay then.
It was mostly because of that stage being a transition phase of my life and I was twitching to get out of it.Why not?
Indeed, it's cultural, it comes from the very roots of their history and foundation. It's not just working class vs. well off, it's also Italian immigrant heritage vs. Spanish patrician heritage, you could even argue the two traditional political parties are also closely associated with each (Colorados = Peñarol, Blancos = Nacional). There's a lot going on there, similar with River-Boca, which is why it was all the more relevant that it was both Nacional and River getting done that year.
But I repeat, that's all domestic stuff and banter, it all goes out the window when external factors are relevant. We are all Uruguay then.
Yeah, read your post on the game against River Plate. Fascinating stuffs. Seems hell to play at South America. Of course, every players give their best for their country. Spain for example conquered world after getting the squad that were ready to leave their regional/club differences aside while playing for their country.
Very fine write-ups, enjoyed reading 'em.
Final on its way!
WINNING THE PEÑAROL WAY
That Friday, once the adrenalin was gone, Tito’s decision wasn’t looking all that wise. Peñarol started well, in fairness, but River looked fresher and by the end of the first half were 2-0 up. Another Libertadores was slipping away.
The reporter from El Gráfico (an Argie sports journal which feted River players like celebrities) wrote on his scrapbook:
One of the key problems for that Peñarol side was not having a central midfielder of Teófilo Cubillas’ class. Once they couldn’t counter but had to take the game to another team, their midfield setup was way too deep and defensively focused. Rocha was a #10, not an AM who would carry the ball in transition. They were all used to starting counters from the midfield line, but once the game got stretched there was a huge gaping hole in the middle as Tito was more a passer than a box-to-box ball carrier.
THE HALF-TIME CHANGES
At the time, you could only make subs before the start of the second half () so Peñarol took a defender off and brought on a right halfback to beef up the midfield and provide cover for Forlán Sr., who was a pretty average defender but tremendous crosser. With Forlán acting more as wingback than rightback, and well supported, Abbadie could be freed up from the wing and focus on ball-carrying through the middle. Máspoli was a wily old fox, he knew overconfidence when he saw it, just like he had seen it 16 years ago in the Maracanã. His half-time team talk was simple: “If we score one, they’ll fall apart”.
At the same time, in River’s changing rooms all they could talk about was their future games with Real Madrid. The first leg was usually in South America, so the Board had promised them a vacation in the South of France after the Intercontinental games. The right back was less bothered and complained of an injury: “I can play another 45, but could be out for a long time after. I don’t want to miss the World Cup”. Unaware of all the changes Peñarol were making, and unaware that prick wouldn’t get called up anyway, the River manager got caught up in the same fantasy world as his players and decided that, since he had the midfield won anyway, he could drop one of them into rightback and bring on another attacking midfielder.
The reporter from El Gráfico would later admit: "Cesarini [River manager] seemed right, the game was set for a high-scoring win. If at the end of the first 45 minutes anyone had suggested a change in the gameflow, a defeat by River, he would have been considered a comedian or a psychiatric case. River could already toast their first Libertadores Cup”
For the first twenty minutes of the second half, the changes didn’t seem to have made a difference. River were still attacking and Peñarol defending for their lives, so the tweaks to Peñarol’s midfield transition weren’t coming to the fore.
AND THEN CARRIZO feckED IT ALL UP
Amadeo Carrizo was the first South American sweeper keeper. Had Di Stéfano been available I sure would have looked at the ADS-Carrizo-Matosas path into Peñarol. He was a cracking keeper, but will always end up getting picked on in these drafts because there’s the odd game you can savage him. This is one of them.
In the course of a rather innocuous Peñarol attack, finished with a weak lobbed header by Joya, Carrizo changed the course of the game. He didn’t save it, he chested it upwards, then grabbed it with his hands. Eccentric as he was, he probably didn’t even mean it, just wanted to show some tekkers… but the roar from the Chilean crowd said it all. It was cheeky, it was disrespectful and had Peñarol raising its head like a fighting cock.
The Clarín reporter wrote: “it was a minor thing, but so crudely offensive for his rivals, so patronizing, that for the Peñarol players and fans it was like skewering them with burning flags, wetting their ear (SAM expression), referring to their mothers sex lives, and giving them a kick up the backside, all in one”.
Spencer, Tito and Abbadie went up to Carrizo and made their feelings known. “He didn’t answer. That was a good symptom”, Spencer remembered. Tito continued with the intimidation screaming out loud from midfield to make sure he heard him: “Pepper the box with crosses! Let’s put it up there and when he comes out we all challenge him for the ball. Alberto, Juan, Pedro… you hear me?”. Lito Silva, a sub, scurried onto the pitch and camped behind the goal for the rest of the half letting Carrizo know “Si no ganamos este partido te cago a patadas” (if we don’t win I’ll kick your arse).
In fairness to Carrizo, he was River’s best player for the remainder of the game, but the incident had a huge effect on the morale of both camps. It wasn’t just the Peñarol players being up for it and the crowd behind them, but the younger River players suddenly realising they were walking among giants of the game. They disappeared from the pitch, at times it seemed only Carrizo was trying to win it. River fans go as far as saying Matosas and Cubilla stopped playing because they felt personally insulted.
River’s President had a different take after the game: “I thought we would lose the game when I saw the subs, that’s on the manager. But what this fella has done is inexplicable. When one goes on a windup he must be a man to face the consequences. It’s easy to goad when it’s all going great, but you have to know how to stand alone in adversity. He is responsible for the reaction of those negros (sic) and getting the crowd rooting for them. When he chested that ball he changed the game. A serious professional can’t do those silly things. Gatti has a bad game and we bench him, yet he has been here at River for twenty years and what has he won?”.
THE COMEBACK
Five minutes later Tito gets his chance, a free kick about 40 yards from goal:
Picture is blurred so another for Spencer's finish:
And then Rocha is on the ball, Rocha to Spencer, Spencer to Joya, Joya to Rocha who doesn’t enter the box but backheels it out. Looks like Arsenal this FFS… Abbadieeeeeeeee, gool, goool, goooooooooool. A fierce drive that deflected off Matosas, leaving Carrizo flat-footed.
Abbadie equalises
For the remainder of the second half Spencer was on the prowl, nicking balls the moment a River defender let it bounce, Rocha launched tremendous rockets, Tito marshaled the troops, Forlán pivoted with Abbadie on the overlap and peppered the box with crosses for “the two negros” to terrify the River defenders. Lito Silva carried on cussing Carrizo behind the goal.
Then Gonçalves again fools a River in disarray, screaming instructions and finger-pointing at Spencer and Joya before a free kick... only to pass it sideways for Forlán to run freely down the flank and cross. Three of the River back four had scampered back into the box and jumped in unison, but between them rose the splendid, imperious, feline agility of Alberto Spencer who just twatted the ball towards Carrizo’s far post. 3-2.
Peñarol's third, Spencer's second. Bizarrely, only @Brwned ever drafted him.
River was broken. Then a ball is recovered, gets passed around to Cortés, then Tito, Spencer makes a run, Joya makes his, the defenders follow them… so all Tito has to do is find the man everyone seemed to have forgotten to keep an eye on: Pedro Virgilio Rocha.
Rocha puts an end to it after Tito's cross.
4-2, and it could have been more as there was still time for Carrizo to foul Spencer running through on goal not once but twice without getting sent off or punished.
So Peñarol won their third Libertadores and second Intercontinental Cup later that year. As for River and their French Riviera dreams, a week later the Banfield supporters presented them with a hen with a red stripe. Nacional were already called “gallinas” in Uruguay, it was about time the nickname crossed the River Plate.
That Friday, once the adrenalin was gone, Tito’s decision wasn’t looking all that wise. Peñarol started well, in fairness, but River looked fresher and by the end of the first half were 2-0 up. Another Libertadores was slipping away.
The reporter from El Gráfico (an Argie sports journal which feted River players like celebrities) wrote on his scrapbook:
Osvaldo Ardizzone said:
One of the key problems for that Peñarol side was not having a central midfielder of Teófilo Cubillas’ class. Once they couldn’t counter but had to take the game to another team, their midfield setup was way too deep and defensively focused. Rocha was a #10, not an AM who would carry the ball in transition. They were all used to starting counters from the midfield line, but once the game got stretched there was a huge gaping hole in the middle as Tito was more a passer than a box-to-box ball carrier.
THE HALF-TIME CHANGES
At the time, you could only make subs before the start of the second half (
) so Peñarol took a defender off and brought on a right halfback to beef up the midfield and provide cover for Forlán Sr., who was a pretty average defender but tremendous crosser. With Forlán acting more as wingback than rightback, and well supported, Abbadie could be freed up from the wing and focus on ball-carrying through the middle. Máspoli was a wily old fox, he knew overconfidence when he saw it, just like he had seen it 16 years ago in the Maracanã. His half-time team talk was simple: “If we score one, they’ll fall apart”.At the same time, in River’s changing rooms all they could talk about was their future games with Real Madrid. The first leg was usually in South America, so the Board had promised them a vacation in the South of France after the Intercontinental games. The right back was less bothered and complained of an injury: “I can play another 45, but could be out for a long time after. I don’t want to miss the World Cup”. Unaware of all the changes Peñarol were making, and unaware that prick wouldn’t get called up anyway, the River manager got caught up in the same fantasy world as his players and decided that, since he had the midfield won anyway, he could drop one of them into rightback and bring on another attacking midfielder.
The reporter from El Gráfico would later admit: "Cesarini [River manager] seemed right, the game was set for a high-scoring win. If at the end of the first 45 minutes anyone had suggested a change in the gameflow, a defeat by River, he would have been considered a comedian or a psychiatric case. River could already toast their first Libertadores Cup”
For the first twenty minutes of the second half, the changes didn’t seem to have made a difference. River were still attacking and Peñarol defending for their lives, so the tweaks to Peñarol’s midfield transition weren’t coming to the fore.
AND THEN CARRIZO feckED IT ALL UP
Amadeo Carrizo was the first South American sweeper keeper. Had Di Stéfano been available I sure would have looked at the ADS-Carrizo-Matosas path into Peñarol. He was a cracking keeper, but will always end up getting picked on in these drafts because there’s the odd game you can savage him. This is one of them.
In the course of a rather innocuous Peñarol attack, finished with a weak lobbed header by Joya, Carrizo changed the course of the game. He didn’t save it, he chested it upwards, then grabbed it with his hands. Eccentric as he was, he probably didn’t even mean it, just wanted to show some tekkers… but the roar from the Chilean crowd said it all. It was cheeky, it was disrespectful and had Peñarol raising its head like a fighting cock.
The Clarín reporter wrote: “it was a minor thing, but so crudely offensive for his rivals, so patronizing, that for the Peñarol players and fans it was like skewering them with burning flags, wetting their ear (SAM expression), referring to their mothers sex lives, and giving them a kick up the backside, all in one”.
Spencer, Tito and Abbadie went up to Carrizo and made their feelings known. “He didn’t answer. That was a good symptom”, Spencer remembered. Tito continued with the intimidation screaming out loud from midfield to make sure he heard him: “Pepper the box with crosses! Let’s put it up there and when he comes out we all challenge him for the ball. Alberto, Juan, Pedro… you hear me?”. Lito Silva, a sub, scurried onto the pitch and camped behind the goal for the rest of the half letting Carrizo know “Si no ganamos este partido te cago a patadas” (if we don’t win I’ll kick your arse).
In fairness to Carrizo, he was River’s best player for the remainder of the game, but the incident had a huge effect on the morale of both camps. It wasn’t just the Peñarol players being up for it and the crowd behind them, but the younger River players suddenly realising they were walking among giants of the game. They disappeared from the pitch, at times it seemed only Carrizo was trying to win it. River fans go as far as saying Matosas and Cubilla stopped playing because they felt personally insulted.
River’s President had a different take after the game: “I thought we would lose the game when I saw the subs, that’s on the manager. But what this fella has done is inexplicable. When one goes on a windup he must be a man to face the consequences. It’s easy to goad when it’s all going great, but you have to know how to stand alone in adversity. He is responsible for the reaction of those negros (sic) and getting the crowd rooting for them. When he chested that ball he changed the game. A serious professional can’t do those silly things. Gatti has a bad game and we bench him, yet he has been here at River for twenty years and what has he won?”.
THE COMEBACK
Five minutes later Tito gets his chance, a free kick about 40 yards from goal:
Tito Gonçalves said:
Osvaldo Ardizzone from El Gráfico said:
And then Rocha is on the ball, Rocha to Spencer, Spencer to Joya, Joya to Rocha who doesn’t enter the box but backheels it out. Looks like Arsenal this FFS… Abbadieeeeeeeee, gool, goool, goooooooooool. A fierce drive that deflected off Matosas, leaving Carrizo flat-footed.
Abbadie equalises
For the remainder of the second half Spencer was on the prowl, nicking balls the moment a River defender let it bounce, Rocha launched tremendous rockets, Tito marshaled the troops, Forlán pivoted with Abbadie on the overlap and peppered the box with crosses for “the two negros” to terrify the River defenders. Lito Silva carried on cussing Carrizo behind the goal.
Ardizzone said:
Then Gonçalves again fools a River in disarray, screaming instructions and finger-pointing at Spencer and Joya before a free kick... only to pass it sideways for Forlán to run freely down the flank and cross. Three of the River back four had scampered back into the box and jumped in unison, but between them rose the splendid, imperious, feline agility of Alberto Spencer who just twatted the ball towards Carrizo’s far post. 3-2.
Peñarol's third, Spencer's second. Bizarrely, only @Brwned ever drafted him.
River was broken. Then a ball is recovered, gets passed around to Cortés, then Tito, Spencer makes a run, Joya makes his, the defenders follow them… so all Tito has to do is find the man everyone seemed to have forgotten to keep an eye on: Pedro Virgilio Rocha.
Rocha puts an end to it after Tito's cross.
4-2, and it could have been more as there was still time for Carrizo to foul Spencer running through on goal not once but twice without getting sent off or punished.
So Peñarol won their third Libertadores and second Intercontinental Cup later that year. As for River and their French Riviera dreams, a week later the Banfield supporters presented them with a hen with a red stripe. Nacional were already called “gallinas” in Uruguay, it was about time the nickname crossed the River Plate.
^^
Great stuff.
Great stuff.
@Edgar Allan Pillow Who should I send my stuff to for todays game?
Perfect. I'll send it on now.
I've already sent it to EAP, will forward to you.
Will be up in a few