Marked for Daniel Moreno
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad4 Oct 2027
Roberto Savarino damages knee ligaments — 30 days out
The words a physio says slowly. 30 days is what the club will announce and everybody who has heard this diagnosis before knows the number is the least of it: the knee comes back before the player does.
Market4 Oct 2027
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Llaneros can pretend not to have heard.
Squad4 Oct 2027
David Gonzalez falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad27 Sep 2027
A knee injury of the worst kind for Roberto Savarino
38 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. Llaneros lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.
Squad27 Sep 2027
Words at Llaneros training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. David Gonzalez is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Squad27 Sep 2027
Daniel Moreno was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad6 Sep 2027
A knee injury of the worst kind for Roberto Savarino
59 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. Llaneros lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.
Market6 Sep 2027
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Llaneros can pretend not to have heard.
Squad6 Sep 2027
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Llaneros this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad9 Aug 2027
A knee injury of the worst kind for Roberto Savarino
89 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. Llaneros lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.
Market9 Aug 2027
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Llaneros, and it is not being withdrawn.
Player ratings9 Aug 2027
Successful dribbles: 29. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
Match7 Aug 2027
Whatever happens, Llaneros do not lose
9 games unbeaten now. Some were earned and some were survived, but a habit is forming — and habits are the hardest thing in football to play against.
Squad9 Aug 2027
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Llaneros this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad9 Aug 2027
Words at Llaneros training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Carlos Gonzalez is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The terraces9 Aug 2027
At 22 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.
Player ratings9 Aug 2027
Some games turn on a moment; this one turned on a man. 7.35 on the card, and the Llaneros support went home talking about one name.
Squad9 Aug 2027
No place for Jonny Milla on the big day
He found out with everybody else, an hour before kick-off, from a sheet of paper on a wall. Nobody at Llaneros pretended it was anything other than a decision about him.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Player ratings12 Jul 2027
Successful dribbles: 34. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Squad12 Jul 2027
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Llaneros this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad12 Jul 2027
David Gonzalez falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Market5 Jul 2027
The bid was some way short and Llaneros did not need long over it. Nobody in the game reads a first refusal as the end of anything.
Player ratings5 Jul 2027
One scored and one made, which is a different afternoon from scoring twice and an easier one to overlook. Marked 7.97, and involved in 2 of his side's goals.
Squad5 Jul 2027
Sergio Soteldo was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad5 Jul 2027
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Fredy Guerrero and Llaneros agree another 4 years.
Squad5 Jul 2027
Words at Llaneros training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. David Gonzalez is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The terraces5 Jul 2027
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 22-year-old it feels ownership of. Luis Murillo has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
Player ratings5 Jul 2027
Daniel Moreno was on a different afternoon to everybody else
8.06. There are performances a supporter describes to somebody who was not there and cannot quite convey; this was one, and the number does not help either.
Boardroom5 Jul 2027
Intake day at the Llaneros academy
5 arrivals, an average age nobody would call a squad, and a set of parents being shown around a building their sons will spend more time in than at home. The scouting has already happened; today is only the paperwork.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Player ratings28 Jun 2027
Successful dribbles: 33. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Squad28 Jun 2027
Words at Llaneros training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Carlos Gonzalez is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Match26 Jun 2027
Metropolitanos made Llaneros work for it, but the scoreboard read 2‑1 at the end and the table does not ask how.
Squad28 Jun 2027
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Llaneros this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
The terraces28 Jun 2027
At 22 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.
Player ratings28 Jun 2027
Marked 8.06 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
Squad28 Jun 2027
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Roberto Arango, and the manager let it.
Squad28 Jun 2027
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
Market28 Jun 2027
Aragua are about to pick up the phone
A conversation is coming this week. Llaneros will put a number on him, and from there it stops being football and becomes arithmetic.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market21 Jun 2027
Llaneros say no — this time
The offer from Estudiantes de Merida for Roberto Savarino was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Market21 Jun 2027
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Market21 Jun 2027
The phone has started ringing about Fernando Herrera again, and this time the name on the line is Club Brugge. Llaneros are listening politely and promising nothing.
Squad21 Jun 2027
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Llaneros this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad21 Jun 2027
Words at Llaneros training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. David Gonzalez is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Squad21 Jun 2027
A season average of 7.23 with 12 goals behind it. Opponents have started planning around him, which is the sincerest compliment football pays.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Player ratings17 May 2027
Successful dribbles: 48. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Match15 May 2027
4‑1, and Fernando Herrera took the headlines on an afternoon when everything Llaneros tried came off. Days like this are retold all winter.
Player ratings17 May 2027
A brace, and Roberto Savarino takes the afternoon — 9.37
There is a particular kind of quiet from an away end watching one man score twice. Roberto Savarino provided it, and the 9.37 beside his name is if anything generous to everybody else.
Player ratings17 May 2027
2 goals, and the second was the one that settled it. Marked 8.42, and he could have had a third with better luck at the near post.
Market17 May 2027
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Llaneros can pretend not to have heard.
Squad17 May 2027
“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Llaneros may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.
Squad17 May 2027
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Llaneros this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad17 May 2027
12 goals and a season average of 7.26. Form like that gets noticed well beyond this town.
The terraces17 May 2027
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 21-year-old it feels ownership of. Luis Murillo has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Player ratings19 Apr 2027
A brace, and Fernando Herrera takes the afternoon — 8.47
There is a particular kind of quiet from an away end watching one man score twice. Fernando Herrera provided it, and the 8.47 beside his name is if anything generous to everybody else.
Market19 Apr 2027
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Llaneros, and it is not being withdrawn.
Player ratings19 Apr 2027
No sign of nerves from Luis Murillo at 21 — 7.70
The hardest thing about being 21 in a senior side is that nobody makes allowances. Luis Murillo did not need any: 7.70, and he looked the most comfortable man on the pitch.
Squad19 Apr 2027
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Llaneros this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Match17 Apr 2027
Three points for Llaneros, 3‑1 the final word against Deportivo Lara in a contest settled by the finer margins.
Squad19 Apr 2027
Words at Llaneros training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. David Gonzalez is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Player ratings19 Apr 2027
Successful dribbles: 19. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
Player ratings19 Apr 2027
A performance of 8.51 does not come along often, and when it does the rest of the team becomes scenery. He was magnificent.
Squad19 Apr 2027
Sergio Martinez has become a man the manager trusts
Nobody at Llaneros will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market8 Mar 2027
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Llaneros, and it is not being withdrawn.
Squad8 Mar 2027
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Llaneros this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad8 Mar 2027
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Roberto Otero commits to Llaneros for another 3 years.
Squad8 Mar 2027
Words at Llaneros training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. David Gonzalez is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The terraces8 Mar 2027
At 22 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.
Match6 Mar 2027
Trujillanos made Llaneros work for it, but the scoreboard read 1‑0 at the end and the table does not ask how.
Squad8 Mar 2027
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Player ratings8 Mar 2027
Marked 7.95. Ask anyone leaving the ground what settled it and you will get one name, which is the only award that has ever really counted.
Player ratings8 Mar 2027
Successful dribbles: 13. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad4 Jan 2027
A knee injury of the worst kind for Carlos Gonzalez
56 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. Llaneros lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.
Market4 Jan 2027
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Market4 Jan 2027
The deal that would have taken Igor Peixoto to Aragua has collapsed at the last stage, and he reports back to Llaneros with a summer to forget and a season still to play. Nobody is saying which side walked away.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Squad24 Aug 2026
David Gonzalez was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad24 Aug 2026
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Squad24 Aug 2026
Words at Llaneros training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Daniel Moreno is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.