Barnsley's new Argentinian signing Hugo Roberto Colace has been dismissed as a "poor passer" and "one of those utility midfielders who is not outstanding at anything"
Colace was signed from Newell's Old Boys on Friday for an undisclosed fee and one BBC website reader Miles McDermott posted the following question to BBC South American Football Reporter Tim Vickery:
Barnsley have just signed Argentine midfield player Hugo Roberto Colace from Newell's. Is it true he captained the Argentine Under-20 World Cup team that included Tevez and Mascherano and is it possible for you to give a little more background and opinion on the impact the player could make in the Championship next season?
And Vickery in reply, whilst confirming Colace captained an Argentina U20 side containing Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, he said Colace was nowhere near their league.
He wrote:
He did indeed captain Argentina at Under-20 level, with Tevez and Mascherano, back in 2003. When I look back at my notes from the time there are many references to his poor passing.
I thought of him as one of those utility midfielders who is not outstanding at anything - and nothing has happened to change my mind. He's now 24, and hasn't done anything for a while. Diego Simeone - who knows a thing or two about midfielders - didn't seen to want him at Estudiantes and then he moved to Brazil to join Flamengo and could hardly even get on the substitutes' bench.
His agent has been trying to get him to England for some time. Perhaps this is the move he needs to kick-start his career but in the normal way of things a transfer abroad is the consequence of success in South American club football, which is not the case of Colace.
The full blog can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7480977.stm
Meanwhile winger Martin Devaney is all set to move to Blackpool for £150,000.
The release clause has been activated in his contract and although Reds boss Simon Davey has stressed this does not mean the club has to sell the player, Devaney is likely to tell Davey he wants to move to Bloomfield Road where they will DOUBLE his wages.
Reds skipper Brian Howard is also likely to leave. If not this summer, then definitely in January