Ripped from the Sunday Sun........ CRISTIAN RIVEROS can still be a slow-burning success at Sunderland, according to Steve Bruce. The Paraguay World Cup star failed to make an impact in his first season in the Premier League, after joining the Black Cats on a Bosman free transfer last summer. But Bruce points to another Latin American signing he made while at Wigan â Honduran defender Maynor Figueroa â as proof that some players can go on to succeed in England after a difficult start. âI havenât given up on him, not at all,â said Bruce. âWe know he is a good player â we saw that at the World Cup when Paraguay got through to the quarter-finals. âBut I know from past experience that Latin American players take time to settle in when they move to England. Heâs been here a year and hopefully he will have come to terms with the different style of football by the time the season starts.â âIâve always said that you have to give Latin American players time to settle in. Maybe we are going to see more of him, this coming season?
I'd like to think so mate, he was a player who impressed me up to and including the World Cup, and i was excited about him, he signed off the season with a goal, which may give him an injection of confidence and belief.
He wasn't given a chance last season not sure why maybe Bruce didn't see enough in training to risk him. If he is staying then fine but play the lad and don't dick about with him. From what I saw at the WC he was probably one of the stand out players there and the majority of us thought he would be an excellent signing for us. Lets hope we see that player next season and not the waste of skin we saw last.
As soon as he can grasp a bit of English he will improve. Communication problems are one of the biggest stepping stones for unproven South Americans, who are more than likely to not speak even very basic broken English, and won't likely have encountered the language much back in their native countries.
Totally agree Talc, the lad clearly has quality on the ball, and if a centre midfielder is gonna adjust to a new league, he needs playing time. The lad was exceptional at times against quality opposition, and more physical oponents in the world cup, i see no reason he can't make it here.
I think confidence is the word, his last game he did not want the ball and seemed to expect a hard time. A few games, second year, new players and fresh start and who knows. For me it says a lot that he is still here and willing, no moans and groans so fingers crossed for the lad.
Don't see why everyone is excited, he won't even partake in pre-season training with the club...so will find it even harder to get in the team
really wish he does well. as we bought him hefore the wc i made sure i watched when he played and he looked good. could pass, tackle and was lively. still think he could do well for us if given a chance
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce insists Cristian Riveros still has a future at the Stadium of Light. The Paraguay international midfielder has struggled to force his way into the first-team picture on Wearside since signing from Cruz Azul last summer. There were high hopes that Riveros would make an impact in the North East after impressing during Paraguay's World Cupcampaign. But he made just five starts and seven further substitute appearances in the Premier League, leading to suggestions that he could be shipped out after just 12 months. But Bruce has vowed to give the 28-year-old more time to settle in English football and believes he could follow in the footsteps of Maynor Figueroa and Fabricio Coloccini in growing into the game in this country. Settle "I haven't given up on him, not at all," Bruce told the Sunday Sun. "We know he is a good player - we saw that at the World Cup when Paraguay got through to the quarter-finals. "But I know from past experience that Latin American players take time to settle in when they move to England. He's been here a year and hopefully he will have come to terms with the different style of football by the time the season starts. "I've always said that you have to give Latin American players time to settle in. "When I was at Wigan, I didn't play Figueroa for a year when he first arrived at the club. I just let him have that time to settle in and become accustomed to life in this country. At one stage it was touch-and-go with Figueroa but he proved he could adapt. "Newcastle had a similar situation with Fabricio Coloccini. He struggled when he first went to Newcastle, but last season he was one of their best players."
This lad is a tidy player and there is something not quite right about his progress, or lack of progress to date. He has had time to adapt now, chuck him in or move him on.
I was fortunate to get to see him play here in the World Cup last year, have to say seeing a player from inside a stadium as opposed to on television makes a difference. He looked the business for Paraguay along with De Silva. Now could he be a player who does well playing for his country than club? I hope he does adapt to the Premiership, but does Bruce play him to is usual midfield role he's accustomed to when playing for Paraguay?
have to agree here. something really isn't right. how can one of (i think) the playmakers of a side that got so far in the WC not make it in a decidedly mediocre prem team
