After the Crew were eliminated from the playoffs by eventual MLS Champions for the second year in a row, both times in the first-round (RSL in 2009, Rapids in 2010); it was reported that Crew Technical Director Brian Bliss headed back to South America on multiple scouting trips to unearth new, younger talent. Bliss headed to South America days after the Crew were eliminated as he knew what was upcoming.. As days later the exodus of fan-favorite veterans such as Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Frankie Hejduk, Gino Padula, and Duncan Oughton were dropped from the club. Head coach Robert Warzycha stated the old guard (all 35 or older- or in the case of Padula close to it) needed to be replaced by younger (faster) talent; as what achieved the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield in 2008 wasn't cutting it in 2010. By mid-December 2010, Bliss told The Columbus Dispatch that the Crew were close to signing a South American striker and defender to hopefully fill those holes.
Before the new year, the Crew confirmed the signing of Chilean First Division right back Sebastian Miranda, who was the Captain of Union Espana (of Chile) for the previous three seasons. This made it clear that Bliss did a good chunk of his scouting in the 2010-2011 offseason in Chile, especially at Copa Liberatdores participants Union Espanola. Nonsurprisingly, it appears that the "South American striker" stated by Bliss to be acquired with a new South American defender, also is from Chile and played on the same team as Sebastian Miranda.
That player appears to be Eduardo Rubio.
The 27 year old Rubio had his best years with top Chilean club Universidad Catolica (also the current club of former Crew defender Marcos Gonzalez) from 2002-2006- where Rubio made 115 appearances scoring 25 goals. Rubio's success in Chile lifted him to bigger clubs, such as Cruz Azul in Mexico and FC Basel in Switzerland, but Rubio couldn't consistently keep his spot and was in a soccer wilderness from 2006-2009. In 2010, Rubio returned to Chile and joined up with Sebastian Miranda's Union Espanola, starting in nearly half of their overall games. Now it appears Rubio (13 caps and 4 goals with Chile's NT team), along with possibly his younger brother, are headed stateside.
Rubio scores a good goal here at 1:46 (especially check out the close replay at 1:56):
That is according to many sources in South America- such as Terra and La Cuarta, as well as Blog de MLS, and MLS-Rumors. And, since Bliss stated he was working on signing a South American attack-minded player along with Miranda, there's a good chance that Bliss wants to bring in Eduardo Rubio as well or at least passed Rubio and his brother on to other MLS scouts (as good possibilities for MLS).
What makes Rubio another possibility is that another Chilean website TodoFutbol.CL placed Rubio as gone with Miranda to Columbus:
GONE: Luis Marin (O'Higgins), Mario Aravena (U. La Calera), Jorge Ampuero (U. La Calera), Raúl Estévez, Miguel Aceval (a U.de Conce), Gustavo Canales (to "U"), Francisco Nájera (Once Caldas), Nicolás Núñez, Roberto Orders, Eduardo Rubio and Sebastian Miranda (the U.S. Columbus Crew)
Crewture's Take: If Rubio is joining Miranda, I would think it would help with Miranda's transition to Columbus. Also, at 27, you got to like the experience of Rubio. It would also be nice to bring Rubio's younger brother in with him as well. Would be a nice group of creative acquisitions and I like how the Chilean's play, both in the World Cup in 2008 and what I saw out of Gonzalez here in Columbus back in 2006.
Chileans seem to be a stronger, tougher group of South Americans which makes for an easier transition into MLS.
0 comments:
Post a Comment