NEW SIGNING Ricky Alvarez insists he is prepared to be thrown straight into the unforgiving surroundings of the Premier League in this weekend’s visit of Spurs. On-loan Inter Milan attacking midfielder Alvarez (right) began training with his Sunderland team-mates today (article from tuesday) after he was away with the Argentine national squad when his move to the Stadium of Light was completed on deadline day. Alvarez’s outing as a late substitute in Argentina’s 4-2 win over World Champions Germany was his first appearance of the season, with former club Inter only beginning their Serie A campaign 24 hours before the 26-year-old’s loan switch to Sunderland was rubber-stamped. But Alvarez claims he is ready to play a part against Tottenham on Saturday, as the Black Cats look to register their first Premier League win of the season. Alvarez said: “I’m going to be training this week with the side and getting to know them. “And if the manager decides, then yes, I’m ready. “I’m very keen to get underway. It’s a new challenge for me. I’m very happy and very hopeful.” He added: “The Premier League really is the best league in the world, so the idea of coming over here was one I really liked. “Now I’ve got the opportunity to do it, I look forward to working hard and doing things in the right way. “I’m an attacking player who tries to create opportunities and create problems for the opposition. “I’m also a player who tries to help defensively when the team hasn’t got the ball. “Nowadays it’s important that players are able to do both of these things.” There was one familiar face for Alvarez on the training ground today after he renewed acquaintances with fellow Argentine Santiago Vergini, who he played alongside in their formative years at Velez Sarsfield. “I’ve known Santi for a long time and he’s a great guy. I’m sure he’ll help me to get to know the club and my new team-mates,” said Alvarez on the club website. “He’s very comfortable here and very happy. “In the coming days, I’m sure he’ll tell me all about the club and the people here.”
Nice read, hopefully being pals with Santi helps him settle quickly. Hope he gets on at weekend, we've not been dripping in flair players recently...
Might we see him on the right in front of Vergini I wonder, would help communication wise id imagine.
You'd hope so, maybe put AJ back on the left. Either way, we haven't had a flair player since Sess, so to have him, Giacc & AJ in the same team is very exciting. Rodwell & Catts backing them up looks excellent as well. All good things! Can't wait for the match this week.
What about down the middle, Gus has made no secret of wanting creativity down the middle, and the lad has only played wide once in 12 months. Seems as his career has evolved he's been played more central, a lack of pace could be contributed to this. I'd play him next to Rodwell at home and winnable away games.
No, I doubt he'll start, I doubt he's ready to start. Serie A is 2 weeks behind us, and there's been an international break too, I'd expect we'll see him around the hour mark.
Sunderland's new signing Ricky Alvarez was something of a shock. The Argentine player arrived at Sunderland on loan during the summer transfer window. He'd been continually linked with a Premier League move, usually to Arsenal, for what seemed like years but nothing ever materialised. For Sunderland it did and if everything works out then they've got themselves something of a coup from Inter Milan. For Alvarez the move to the Premier League has been welcomed, it's a chance for the player to show what he can do on what he'll think is a bigger stage. At Inter Alvarez often flattered to deceive, he'd look really good at some things but it could often be confusing to work out what his purpose was. Aside from looking good and having skills, what was his actual role within the team? If Sunderland work that out then they're certainly on to a winner but it will be a short lived one if his previous boss is to be taken at word value. Inter Milan chairman Erick Thohir loves the sound of his own voice and on Thursday he's been quoted by TMW as saying that Alvarez is still very much an Inter Milan player and important to the club "The departure of Alvarez? Did not want a glut of players in the squad and so we decided to send Ricardo on loan. He is our player and is at Sunderland only for a detour. He still remains an important player for Inter." Thohir could be posturing to try and get any future transfer fee as high as his possibly can, and he'd need good Alvarez performances to get that from Sunderland. Well I'm now confused.ok not hard you might say but.i was lead to believe we were somewhat going to be obliged to buy this player when his loan ran out ?........???.......????????
Have to say - when you can pick from Johnson, Alvarez, Buckley, Giaccherini and Gomez for the attacking midfield berth you could comfortably put any of them in any position in that 3 and not be unhappy. This gives the team a new dimension IMO with 3 of those 5 behind Wickham up top we could see some exciting times - and we'd also have quality to come off the bench as well
Spurs will think Bale(Alvarez) has come back to haunt them ! he will start instead of Giacc who played for Italy midweek, cannot wait to see Alvarez though. To come on for Di maria last week says a lot. I would go 3-5-2 next week at Burnley and what a midfield of Johnson, Giacc, Alvarez, Larson, Rodwell.
Apart from the Bale part this is a good post Monty... A 3-5-2 all out attack v Burnley would be great to see, although I doubt it'd happen. Burnley couldn't live with all 5 of those in one game, especially with 2 up top. I worry about the pace at the back to cover a back 3 though, the wingers would be covering some distance!
that's where i stopped reading. dreadful way to open a post. Bale can walk faster from what I've learnt. I think having players like Giacc and Alvarez sets up up nicely for a 352, only problem is, if we do that, it puts 5 of our 6 defenders on the pitch, which in my opinion is too risky. We know its Gus' preferred formation and I'm convinced he wanted to implement it this season. But the defender situation makes it impossible until January. I think not getting 7 defenders in the squad is Poyet's main gripe with the window, I think it's scuppered his plans.
We could work with the wingers re tracking back and use 3 of the 6, Wes played a lot of games RB for United, so JOS cente and PVA left, could work. Alvarez clearly tracks back and tackles naturally, AJ ain't gonna do it so move him centrally and put Buckley or Giacc out there, that was also balance us against 2 left sided wingers. ------------Wes---JOS---PVA--------------- -------------Catts--- Rodwell--------------- Giacc/Buckley------AJ--------------Alvarez Could work, AJ has the feet and the calmness in restricted space to work as a CAM, he also has a cracking strike on him when he's not hungover....
That's the only way to accomodate AJ, he doesn't have the engine or the defensive work rate to play out wide. Would Giacc and Alvarez have the pace to take a flank each to themselves? I'm not sure but not put off, I think PVA is the man for the left hand side like, Buckley would do the right hand ok. We could go Mannone Vergini----JoS----Brown Catts Buckley----------------------------------Aanholt Giacc-----Rodwell Alvarez Wickham Possibly Coates for Vergini, I need a look at the lad first. I think Fletch could also actually contribute from that system too. Having someone creative playing close to him would work. Alvarez used in the role he was used most last season
