”The Lad Hoofs, He’s Rubbish!” – The Definitive Sebastián Coates

Right, so, what do you already know about the lad? From the very little you might have seen of him at the Copa América you’d think he’s – A. Pretty tall. B. Pretty good – Neither being wrong. Standing at a towering 6’6”, his head ploughed through others in full flight. His performances earning him the accolade of being voted the continent’s Best Young Player (bugger down, Neymar).

But, what else do you really know about him? How do you know that 4 odd games wasn’t just a purple patch? Does he have it in him to not be another in the long line of imports that struggles coming right in from South America?  Want to know? Well, pipe down the i-Tune then, and have a read.

Bad hair days

No trampolines required

Aged 13, 5’10”, and Club Nacional de Football already had their hands rubbing in glee, another talent full of promise. Nacional are no strangers to prodigies in the ranks, having nurtured the likes of Diego Godin, Diego Lugano,  Álvaro Recoba, Nicolás Lodeiro, and our very own, Luis Alberto Suárez. Aged 17, rammed the door down, made his debut for Nacional, a regular ever since. Head and shoulder above his peers (bet you saw that coming, didn’t you?), was a force, as Nacional went onto win the 2008-2009 Premiera Division, in his debut season.

But, it wasn’t till the 2009 South American Youth Championships did the rest of the continent stand up and take notice. Not that they really had to, his hazel mop stood out. Not in the Taribo West kind of way, mind. It certainly wasn’t a dearth of talent, but, experience that saw him left out the 2010 World cup squad, that included Godin, Lugano, Andres Scotti, Martin Caceres and Mauricio Victorino.

But, the full international cap couldn’t elude him for much longer. Thrown at the deep end, at the Copa America, with the squad down to bare bones, he floated, he swam, and did some leisurely backstrokes while he was at it. And, the next thing  you know, he’s complaining about fruit juice gone bad, on flight 209 from MVD to LHR.

Paradox in play

Sebastian Coates is all about contradictions. This lad from Montevideo who stuffs his playlist with Bob Marley numbers, but, as confessed since, has very little grasp of the language – The paradox just begins there.

Clown shoes? (Mobility)

Starting off with the most obvious – he’s 6’6”, and weighs 90kgs. Being just 20, he still has a bit to grow. You’d be forgiven to think he’d be a wee cumbersome, slow to react to situations, and criminally slow. You’d be certainly be excused, but, you’d still be wrong!

For someone that big, he’s anything but lumbering. He’s alert, always on his toes, agile, and  has surprisingly good balance. And, those long strides covers good ground. He is quicker than your standard center-back, and it’s the quickness of thought that, more often than not, gives him the extra yard over his opponent. His reading of the game, and positional play far belies his tender years, and that, along with his uncharacteristic mobility should pleasantly surprise quite a few.

He hoofs, but.. (Technique)

Cultured, unerring and unnerving on the ball, his composure compliments his ability with grace. Likes to play quick, short passes that sets the tempo from the back. Isn’t hesitant on playing the ball out of defense, but, will not dwell on it, and applies a ‘safety-first’ approach’, when the team is under the cosh, to relieve pressure. And, will play a long ball out of defense often under circumstances – and more often than not, will find a team mate – not  to be mistaken with the practice of  mindlessly pinging the ball out.

Leaving marks (Physicality)

Economical, conservative and effective in tackles. You will not see him lunging into challenges in full flight to stop and maim, unless absolutely necessary. Uncompromising in the air, as you’d already be aware; but, unlike his mentor Diego Lugano, he isn’t as much of a nuisance as he could potentially be, owing to slightly sheepish and mistimed leaps in attack. Also, being a physical specimen, he still has a way to go before he can make best use of his frame, as is nowhere near as overbearing.

For the time being however, his tactical astuteness, positional awareness, his height and tackling does more than enough to suffice for that.

Old head (Mentality)

Maturity. That’s one thing you are going to get with Sebastian Coates. He’s a calming, assuring influence in the backline, backed by his ability, and is, as any goal-keeper would vouch, something that’s on premium these days. Will consequently benefit having a vocal keeper, in Reina, being Spanish. A leader by example, captained Nacional at every junior level, as well as the Uruguayan under-20′s. Has the temperament for the bigger occasions. Thrives, and doesn’t let it get the better of him.

So?

Coates would reasonably need some time bedding in, coming straight out of Uruguay with no prior experience of the European/English game. Too much pressure, and scrutiny too soon can lengthen the process, or ultimately can prove to be his undoing, like so many in the past. But, as evidence to his fledgling career so far, has the resilience to cope.

He will have time and patience aplenty on his side – being brought in to provide cover and competition, in equal measure to an aging, but, staunch Jamie Carragher – should see him on the bench initially, would ultimately help him imbibe, and learn till he’s ready. Coates has sufficient quality to address the present needs, and the potential in abundance to be an asset for Liverpool Football Club in the not-too-distant future.

Patience, from now though, better be a virtue. What d’ya say, Lucas?

Coates poses with the 'Outstanding Young Player' trophy from Copa América 2011. Lucas Leiva with the Placar Bola de Ouro, 2007.

Laurels:

2011 Copa America winner

2011 Copa America Young Player of the Tournament

2010/11, 2008/09 Uruguayan Championship winner

2010/11 Uruguayan Championship Player of the Season

2010/11, 2009/10 Uruguayan Championship Defender of the Season

2008/09 Uruguayan Championship Revelation of the Season

2009 U20 World Cup Second Round.

2009/2010 Libertadores Cup Semi-Finalist.

He led Nacional to the Semi-Finals of the Libertadores Cup (South America’s equivalent of Champions League). Lost to Estudiantes de La Plata (the eventual Champions). The video link shows three legs of that run in the Libertadores Cup.

The game where he arrived.

Srijandeep Das.

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