Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The New Maradona XI

It seems that every other kid that makes a few fleeting performances for Boca or River, quickly zips off to Europe with the title of "The New Maradona" hanging across his chest emblazoned on a lovely blue and white striped sash.

But there are only a select few who were properly donned with this flattering but more often than not detrimental honour.


The "original" "New Maradona" was Diego Latorre, called so by the media when he burst onto the scene in 1987. With a goal on his debut at just 18 years of age, it wasn't long before he was picked up by a European club, Fiorentina swooping in and generously taking both Latorre and Batistuta off Boca's hands.
Whilst "Bati-Gol" flourished, Latorre made just two appearances for Fiorentina and played out his career as a journeyman striker, adding 12 more clubs to his C.V.
Others with the label include Ariel Ortega, Andres D'Alessandro, Pablo Aimar and Javier Saviola. Though they each had relative success in Europe, it usually resulted in dropping down to smaller
clubs or returning to Argentina.
















Strangely, former Middlesborough midfielder Carlos Marinelli is on this list. Despite only making two appearances for Boca Juniors, he was snapped up by the Teeside club for a cool £1.5 Million.
Here he was perhaps unfairly billed as "The New Maradona" and shockingly failed to live up to the hype, netting only four times in English football, twice against Derby, one at Fulham and the feather in his cap I'm sure... bagging a goal against Brentfod in the League Cup. Now Maradona never did that!

More recently, the "New Maradonas" have been successful. With Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero as some of the most deadly forwards around today, the tag of the "New Maradona" might not be such a curse... though I should point out now, that Franco Di Santo does appear on this list. Currently spending most of his time on the Blackburn Rovers bench, on loan from the Chelsea bench. With bench warming abilities like that, and the disinterested expression on his face whenever the Sky cameras focus in on him, it would appear he's emulating the current Maradona.

Finally, Mauro Zarate or "The Zarate Kid", who shone briefly at Birmingham and failed to keep them up is now plying his trade at Lazio... failing to keep them up. Though Zarate has time on his side and undoubtedly has the talent to progress beyond the lower echelons of Serie A, so as for his tag of "The New Maradona", the Jury's still out on that one.

Team Line-Up:

GK - Carlos Marinelli

LB - Andres D'Alessandro
CB - Carlos Tevez
CB - Pablo Aimar
RB - Diego Latorre

LM - Ariel Ortega
CM - Juan Roman Riquelme
RM - Mauro Zarate

FW - Lionel Messi
FW - Sergio Aguero
FW - Javier Saviola

Subs Bench - Franco Di Santo

With no proper keeper in place, Marinelli will be a liability in goal. Though going forward, "The New Maradona XI" posess an awesome attack. And should they ever struggle to find the back of the net, the dangerous Franco Di Santo is waiting in the wings... well on the bench actually, Ortega and Zarate are on the wings.

Season Preview

It's that time of the year again. The race for the Premiership is heating up, Barcelona and Real Madrid are going toe to toe with each other in La Liga, the Champions League has been whittled down to eight teams and... the Fantasy Football League kicks off next week!

Some people thought it would never get here, most never thought such a league existed. But they were wrong, keep clicking back here for match reports and see how the "Super 8" fair in this years competition.

Here's a look at the team listings:

- Championship Manager XI
- Hollywood XI
- Inmates XI
- Judas Move XI
- Junkies XI
- Player Manager XI
- Safe Hands XI
- The New Maradona XI


Which two teams will suffer relegation? Who will qualify for Europe and play in the now defunct but lucrative UEFA Cup Winners' Cup next season? Who will be crowned Fantasy Football League champions... with actual crowns!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Terrific New Football Blog For Boys *Great Free Gift!

Welcome to Last Man Back!

The very first post that's usually alot cheaper then any following ones. This post also comes with a "Great Free Gift!" to sucker you in and think that this football blog is somehow better than the already far too many football blogs out there in webland.


This is a blog that will not cover any of the footballing topics which Andy Gray speaks about on The Last Word at half past six on a Sunday evening. It will be more stories, volleys, trivia, links, pictures, collections, trophys, stickers, crests and those howitzer shots that clip the underside of the crossbar as they fly in... oh yes!