Middlesbrough FC - BORO PRIDE!

[.DJ]

I try to be as always FCB.

[.DJ]

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Player Focus




Name: Julio Andres Arca
Date of Birth: January 31st 1981
Place of Birth: Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Age: 27
Height: 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight: 121 lbs (10st)
Playing Postion: Left Back/Attacking Midfielder
Kit Number: 20
Past Clubs: Argentinos Juniors and Sunderland


The skillful Argentine became a Premier League target first by rivals Sunderland. He was spotted by Peter Reid at Craven Cottage in an Under-21 match against England. Manager Reid brought him in for a record fee of £3.5M for the Black Cats in 2000. 'Hoolio' as he nicknamed made an immedaite impact by scoring in his debut game against West Ham. Arca played at left-back for his club and national team. However, Reid shifted him to the left hand side of midfield.

Arca only netted three times that season in the Premiership. The following year was rough for him. He had series of minor injuries and his form was nothing close to the previous season. Eventually his season ended in /february of the 2002/2003 campaign.

The latter season Julio made it clear that he will strive to get back to his best and regain his fitness and form. He then made it back to the starting eleven after Sunderland was relegated and was without a doubt the most valuable player in their return to the Premiership under Manager Mick McCarthy. They won the Football League Championship in 2004/2005.

However with the team coming back on a high to the premiership they unfortunately went back down within a year. This disappointment saw Arca return to the top flight with North-East rivals Middlesbrough. as a replacement for Franck Quedrue who joined Fulham.

Gareth Southgate's first senior player signing was Arca himself. He penned a five year deal of £1.75M. He He scored the fore-going season against Boro with a sublime free-kick which gave his former club their first win of that season.

He made his debut for the club against Reading away in the opening game of the 2006/2007 season. His first game was awful after he broke his toe in the early minutes of the game. Nevertheless, Boro lost the game 3-2. Andrew Taylor then filled the left-back role superbly in his absence. Julio was out for about 2 months until he played for the M'Boro reserves on October 2nd where he was on the pitch for more than an hour.

An inspired to central midfield by the manager helped the Argentine to find his form again and this proved to be a revelation. His attacking minded style, dribbling and hard work was just what the team needed in the middle. He opended his scoring account for the club against Charlton in December 2006. The knowledge he gained from playing for the Black Cats on the left-wing enabled him to hook up well with Stewart Downing.

Therefore Arca has established himself as an attacking midfielder. Some excellent performances by the ex-Sunderland player has led to specualtion of him breaking into Argentina's senior squad.

Although he joined Boro, he is still liked by most of the Sunderland fans. He was injured after scoring versus Sunderland in the Tees-Wear derby in 2007 at the Riverside and the Sunderland fans cheered him while he was departing. This injury almost had him out for three months.

In January 2008, Southgate gave Arca the captain's armband to lead the club throughout the rest of the season. Inspite of his performances, Pogatetz was named the new captain after Arca only a few games.

Arca is surely looking to make this year his best and injury free.

Player Statistics

Years | Club | Appearances | Goals

1998 - 2000 | Argentinos Juniors | 36 | 0

2000 - 2006 | Sunderland | 157 | 17

2006 - | Middlesbrough | 51 | 4

[xRonaldinhox10x]

Great player focus, hopefully he doesn't get injured for you like he has been throughout his career. He could be an impact player in your team this season Again, awesome update!!

[Valo]

Awesome work mate, great, underrated thread here

[xRonaldinhox10x]

I agree with Valo! This is an awesome thread.

[.DJ]

Originally Posted by xRonaldinhox10x

Great player focus, hopefully he doesn't get injured for you like he has been throughout his career. He could be an impact player in your team this season Again, awesome update!!

Thanks dinho I will definitely be looking for someone else to rotate with him.

Originally Posted by Valo

Awesome work mate, great, underrated thread here

Thank ya! I try

[.DJ]

Originally Posted by xRonaldinhox10x

I agree with Valo! This is an awesome thread.

Thanks! Appreciate it mate!

[Valo]

*Rates 5 stars*

[.DJ]

Thanks valo! Really Appreciate it

[Valo]

You're welcome

[.DJ]

More transfer rumours tomorrow and then i will be playing the pre-season matches

[Valo]

Isn't that the tour of France?

[.DJ]

yep it is

[Valo]

Cool, remember to conquer them!

[.DJ]

lol yep i will. U changed ur username from Weako right?

[Valo]

I did indeed, but not many people seem to like Valo compared to Weako

[.DJ]

So u going leave at it that?

[xRonaldinhox10x]

Valo just sounds kind of weird since I am used to seeing Weako..

[Valo]

What do you mean?

[Valo]

Originally Posted by xRonaldinhox10x

Valo just sounds kind of weird since I am used to seeing Weako..

I only joined a month ago

[.DJ]

Weako sounded better

[Bayern]

nice article mate great amount of detail!
love the player focus idea great job

looking forward to more updates lad

[.DJ]

Originally Posted by FcBayernMunich

nice article mate great amount of detail!
love the player focus idea great job

looking forward to more updates lad

Gracias FCB! Hope the rest will be as good

[.DJ]

June Week 5 and July Week 1 08 Gossip Column

Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been linked with Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli. (The Sun)

Real Madrid star Robinho is the shock new name at the top of new Chelsea boss Phil Scolari's shopping list. (Daily Mail)

Real Madrid plan to outflank Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United by lodging a world-record £75m bid directly to the Glazer family in their latest attempt to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. (Daily Record)

Barcelona have agreed to sell Italy winger Gianluca Zambrotta to AC Milan. (Various)

Newcastle have moved for Zenit St Petersburg's Russia striker Andrei Arshavin, who is available at £11m. (News of the World)

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has sought interest in Tottenham keeper Paul Robinson. (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso's expected move to Juventus is likely to go ahead now a fee of £14m has been settled. (The Observer)

Wigan boss Steve Bruce is ready to use Antoine Sibierski to try and land Olivier Kapo from Birmingham (Daily Express).

Wolves are to make a new offer to land Derby midfielder Dave Jones overa £1million move. (Daily Telegraph)

John Arne Riise's agent has rejected reports that Roma are tracking the left-sided wing-back. (The People)

John Arne Riise's agent has rejected reports that Roma are tracking the left-sided wing-back. (The Times)

Former Hearts striker Andrius Velicka will hold signing talks with Rangers this weekend as he aims to seal a £1m move from Viking Stravanger. (Various)

Ronaldinho would love to sign for Chelsea and be reunited with Scolari, the coach who made him a World Cup winner six years ago (The Independent)

Rafa Benitez could persuade David Villa to sign for Liverpool, according to the striker's Spanish team-mate Carlos Marchena. (Daily Mirror)

Bordeaux and Roma are chasing Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre. (Daily Record)

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes hopes to sign Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra for £8m. (Daily Star)

Roy Keane is on the verge of offering £10m for Celtic's Aiden McGeady, with Anthony Stokes heading from Sunderland to Glasgow as part of the deal. (The Times)

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has issued a hands-off warning to Liverpool over Stewart Downing, saying the England winger is "not for sale". (The Sun)

Barcelona are preparing a £25m bid for Tottenham's striker Dimitar Berbatov, who wants to leave White Hart Lane this summer. (The Times)

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley faces a fight with Fulham and Bolton to capture Reading's £3m-rated midfielder James Harper. (Daily Mirror)

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is ready to break the club's transfer record to bring in Celtic winger Aiden McGeady. (The Independent)

Unsettled Celtic midfielder Thomas Gravesen will be offered £1m to quit the club. (The Guardian)

Aston Villa are on the verge of agreeing a £4.5m deal for Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell. (Daily Mail)

Middlesbrough are close to signing Croatia striker Ivan Klasnic on a free transfer from Werder Bremen. (Daily Star)

Arsenal want Spain and Valencia's Raul Albiol, who can play at centre-back or in defensive midfield. (Daily Record)

Portsmouth will make an opening bid of £10m for Liverpool striker Peter Crouch this week. (The Observer)

Sunderland are monitoring striker Carlton Cole's position at Premier League rivals West Ham. (The Sun)

West Brom will bid £4m for Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi after his talks with Stoke stalled. (Daily Express)

Middlesbrough and Newcastle want to sign Fulham striker Steven Davis, who would prefer to make his loan period at Rangers permanent. (Various)

Newcastle have told Liverpool and Aston Villa they want £9m for winger James Milner. (News of the World)

Everton are targeting Blackburn winger David Bentley as a replacement for Mikel Arteta if he leaves for Atletico Madrid. (Daily Record)

Dutch midfielder Orlando Engelaar is also a £6m target for Everton boss David Moyes. (Daily Mail)

Roma are ready to take Louis Saha on loan with a view to signing the Manchester United striker on a permanent deal. (Daily Telegraph)

The Fratton Park club are interested in signing Argentine striker Mauro Zarate who spent the end of last season on-loan at Birmingham. (Various)

Borussia Dortmund centre-back Neven Subotic is looking to make England his next football home and Middlesbrough are currentlly waiting for his signature.(Various)

Hull are planning a £2m swoop for Fenerbahce striker Colin Kazim-Richards. (Various)

Mehmet Topal is currently a target for several clubs in the Premier League. (Various)

Emre's move from Newcastle to Fenerbahce could be in doubt as he faces a call-up to the Turkish army (The Sun).

Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati will stay and fight for his place next season, according to agent Alessandro D'Amico. (Various)

Sheffield Wednesday hope to secure Alan Shearer as their new manager once a £50m take over has been completed. (Various)

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti says Chelsea's Frank Lampard is his club's "number one" priority this summer. (Corriere dello Sport)

Unsettled Celtic midfielder Thomas Gravesen will be offered £1m to quit the club. (Various)

Tottenham could be getting new owners, with a Middle East syndicate ready to offer upwards of £250m for the north London club. (Daily Mirror)

Middlesbrough star Mido, who tipped the scales at 15st 2lb last season, has apologised to the club's fans and says he has lost two stone for the new campaign (The Sun).

Michael Owen says there should be an announcement "in the next month or two" over his contract talks at Newcastle (Various).

Thierry Henry has vowed not to quit international football despite France's failure at Euro 2008 (Daily Mail).

[chiboygeorge]

at Mido.