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As the end of the Premier League season comes into sight, so to does the start of what has been termed “silly season.” This is the time of year when the message boards are packed with all sorts of ridiculous proclamations–Henry and Villa to Liverpool for £50 million each, Sheva to Reading, and everybody to Newcastle. I’d like to ignore that sort of thing, and instead try to throw out some names of players that you might not be aware of yet. Today’s player is Independiente midfielder Gastón Machin.
This picture does not do Machin’s hair justice. Since this picture was taken, his hair has evolved into the most awe-inspiring mullet I have ever seen. If he does not drive a Camaro while listening to whatever the Argentine equivalent of Sister Christian is I would be shocked. But, as if the sheer comedic value of his hair is not reason enough to sign him, he can play a fair bit of football as well.
I recently caught the Independiente v. River game on FSC’s Argentina game of the week. Machin was everywhere. Each time Independiente needed somebody to make a play, there he was. He scored a goal off of a rebound, made an absolutely ridiculous move that made the defender look so silly that the announcer speculated that he may have dislocated his hip (and he was serious), and broke up his share of River attacks. He’s not a flying winger in the Joaquin/Simao mold, but he appeared to me to be a very effective right-sided midfielder. Some mid-table Premier League side would do well to pick him up. Of course, this won’t happen because these clubs generally like to fight for overhyped English players and Machin will probably end up in Spain somewhere. This is too bad because he looks to be a pretty physical player who I think would adapt well to the Premier League; plus, I love his hair.
Here is the only video I could find of him; it’s nothing too spectacular, but still a well taken goal.
