Timbers Add Colombian Defender Hanyer Mosquera
by William Conwell on Jan 17, 2012 10:45 AM PST
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PrintAhead of the Supplemental Draft this morning, the Timbers announced the signing of Colombian defender Hanyer Mosquera. The signing has long been rumored and is likely one of the "significant (international) defensive signings" that Merritt Paulson hinted at before the SuperDraft.
A central defender, Mosquera's highlight reel (check it out here) shows a player who is good at breaking up plays in the air or on the ground and one who is able to get forward and contribute a goal on occasion. The additions of Mosquera and new SuperDraft pick Andrew Jean-Baptiste will bring a new look to the Timbers back line in 2012. Going from a position of questionable depth to having to potential to be one of the league's best central defensive units is not too bad.
Find the Timbers full press release after the jump.
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced the signing of Colombian defender Hanyer Mosquera. Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson made the announcement. Per league and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Mosquera, 24, joins the Timbers after playing the past six seasons in Colombia, including the last two with first-division side Club Deportivo La Equidad Seguros. Last season, he helped lead La Equidad to the finals of the Liga Postobón’s Apertura campaign and competed in the 2011 Copa Sudamericana.
"Hanyer is a player we’ve had our eye on for 18 months," said Wilkinson. "He has all the attributes needed to become one of the top defenders in MLS."
Mosquera will be added to the Timbers roster following the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P1 Visa.
A native of Istmina, Colombia, Mosquera played in 34 matches, scored two goals and aided in 10 shutouts in league play for La Equidad in 2011. He anchored La Equidad’s backline during the Apertura campaign, starting 22 games, including six playoff matches, and scored in the second leg of the quarterfinals against Envigado to guide the club to the finals against Atlético Nacional.
In the 2011 Copa Sudamericana, Mosquera made four starts for La Equidad during the tournament and scored the game-winning goal in an opening-round match against Peruvian side Juan Aurich.
He started his professional career at the age of 19 in 2006, signing with Colombian second-division club Corporación Deportiva Centauros Villavicencio. He played the last four seasons in Colombia’s top flight, the Liga Postobón, with Corporación Deportes Quindío (2008-10) and La Equidad (2010-11). In total, Mosquera appeared in 127 matches and scored six goals during his career in the Liga Postobón.
Mosquera joined La Equidad from Quindío midway through the 2010 season, and then helped La Equidad qualify for the Clausura playoffs as well as the 2011 Copa Sudamericana and advance to the semifinals of the 2010 Copa Colombia tournament.
During his first two professional seasons with Centauros, Mosquera contributed to postseason appearances made by the club in both 2006 and 2007. He was part of Centauros top-ranked defense in 2006, in which the backline finished the Torneo Postobón’s Clausura campaign tied for the fewest goals allowed, conceding just 17 goals in 18 games.
Hanyer Mosquera
Full Name: Hanyer Luis Mosquera Cordoba
Pronunciation: AHN-yer moss-KEH-rah
Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175
Born: Jan. 15, 1987, in Istmina, Colombia
Hometown: Istmina, Colombia
Last Club: Club Deportivo La Equidad Seguros
College: n/a
Citizenship: Colombia
Ed: Props to Kejsare and Smorris for being on top of this and posting it in the fanposts/fanshots
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Great!
Good to see a defender added to the mix. I’m excited to see El Mosco play. Who will he combo with? El Mosco/Brunner or El Mosco/Futty? I’m comfortable with the thought of either combination but it will be interesting to see that play out.
Stop SOPA
by yepyou'reright on Jan 17, 2012 10:52 AM PST reply actions
With my extrensive scouting in Columbia
nahh, I’m just kidding. I hope this guy works out for us, but my faith has to lie with the scouts.
Do we have any clue as to where he fits in our salary scale? I noticed the distinct lack of “DP” in the release.
He was out of contract, so he was a free transfer.
And since no DP status was announced he probably is not making $400k+,
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
by Kejsare on Jan 17, 2012 12:09 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Nice pickup
Though I also lack Columbian scouting expertise. Still, it will be interesting to see the unit work together next year. The best part will be how good they can be in 2013, since central midfield is one of those positions that rely on chemistry and time together.
Oklahoma State will beat LSU in the National Title game by more than 7 points.
Columbian scounting
Heading to Longview, The Dalles, or the Tri-Cities? ;)
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
It sort of puts the skids on my excitement, a little
When the Blazers make a trade or a signing, I almost always have some knowledge of the guy coming in and what he can do.
What are the chances I’ve heard of the could-be DP striker? limited. I’m still excited, but it’s tempered a little bit.
volatilelyle.com
by almost awesome on Jan 17, 2012 2:39 PM PST up reply actions
Know what you mean, but that's US soccer right now
If you’ve heard of a soccer player before then chances are he is already playing in Europe and is just too expensive for MLS right now or he will be staying in Europe for awhile… or he’s already in MLS and with the single entity structure being what it is he’s not easy to get.
Stop SOPA
by yepyou'reright on Jan 17, 2012 4:30 PM PST up reply actions
GW apparently has been trying to land him for a long time...
FWIW, from what I read in the Colombian chatter, there were a lot of disappointed Millonarios fans, who were hoping he was signing with them this year as a starting CB. I take their disappointment to be a good sign. Right up until the announcement they were still clinging to the possibility that they would pick him up as a starting CB.
West Side, West Side, sing us a song!
Quick p.s.
I would bet the next international signing is not a striker. While we’ll probably pick up another striker at some point, between Zizzo returning from injury and our relative vulnerability/lack of depth at some spots, striker is probably less of an immediate concern than other positions. I’m with the folks who assume it’s some kind of D/MF guy who could potentially play either RB or MF on the wing.
West Side, West Side, sing us a song!
I agree
and it the signing will not be a DP.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
More defensive signings?
“Merritt Paulson @MerrittPaulson 9 Jan
@kipkesgard @Finn_aka_Jeremy @shebainpdx just cause am in twitter mood today..fair to expect couple of significant int’l defensive signings"
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Jan 17, 2012 9:31 PM PST up reply actions
The point being "couple"
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Jan 17, 2012 9:33 PM PST up reply actions
or....
they’re saying, “so we need more depth on the wings and at fullback …. I got it! Let’s sign another striker.”
When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy
by Andrew Wheeler on Jan 17, 2012 9:39 PM PST up reply actions
Interesting
From the video, my take aways were (beyond the obvious):
Fairly composed on the ball, but totally reliant on the right foot.
Has a real leg, as evidenced by his free kick goal.
Decent distribution, but quicker to just hoof it than I’d prefer. But that may just be the Colombian league style.
As a side note, I much prefer Futty to Brunner. Futty rated very highly in the Castrol index, and though Brunner is an excellent leader his distribution is terrible.
Lets not forget that Brunner wins majority of header battles.
He’s got value in defending well against balls in the air.
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
I'm partial to Futty myself
Although I will say that Brunner seems to be a better vocal leader of the backline and considering the likely language barrier with Mosquera we’ll need our other CB to play that role.
I'd imagine it will be a relatively even rotation during the season.
It’s nice depth to have, especially given the physical nature of the position.
Oklahoma State will beat LSU in the National Title game by more than 7 points.
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