Post by QPR Report on Dec 7, 2008 20:45:49 GMT
Bruno Aguiar
+ Below: An interview with/profile of Aguiar
Hearts Official Site - Bruno Aguiar was today named the Clydesdale Bank Premier League Player of the Month for November.
The 26-year-old midfielder was outstanding for Hearts over the month, as the Tynecastle side secured five victories in six games.
"It is great news," said Bruno, "but this award is for all my team-mates who played well in the games.
"We win together and lose together, so it is important to recognise what they achieved in November."
Bruno received his award at Tynecastle this week ahead of yesterday's game against Motherwell.
BBC - Aguiar given monthly player award
Aguiar has been effective for Hearts since returning from injury
Hearts midfielder Bruno Aguiar has been named Clydesdale Bank Premier League Player of the Month for November.
The 26-year-old Portuguese scored twice as Hearts recorded five successive wins to move up to third place in the table.
The former Benfica player is also reported to have caught the eye of English club QPR in recent weeks.
"It's great news, but the award is for all my team-mates who played well in those games," Aguiar told Hearts' official website.
Aguiar is the first Tynecastle player to receive the award since Paul Hartley in April 2006.
The Portuguese had only returned to action at the end of October following six months out with foot and knee problems.
In November, he scored the winning goal against Inverness, as well as a wonderful free-kick against Falkirk. news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/7770325.stm
Scotland on Sunday
Paul Forsyth: Bitter Bruno reflects on his career
BEING NAILED by one of your opponents is bad enough. When the damage is done by a team-mate, the frustration is even worse.
Add to that a nagging suspicion that the assailant was motivated by anger, irritated that his place in the side had been taken, and you can see why the victim might be slow to forget. Bruno Aguiar still cannot understand the training-ground challADVERTISEMENTenge that cost him 18 months of his career.
A broken ankle, compounded by a foot tumour, complicated by damage to knee ligaments, gave the Hearts midfielder a year-and-a-half to stew over the tackle by Julien Brellier that threatened his future as a player. Brellier had been a popular figure at Tynecastle, a robust competitor admired for his protection of the defence, but when Aguiar arrived in January of 2006, casting doubt on the Frenchman's place in the starting line-up, emotions began to run high.
It was towards the end of the following season, with both competing for the same midfield berth, that the Portuguese player was injured. Although he denies the recent claim by another former team-mate, Jose Goncalves, that Brellier showed no remorse, Aguiar can hardly disguise his contempt. At Tynecastle the other day, he was still sore about the incident, even though his wounds have healed. "After he gave me the tackle, he came to the dressing room and apologised, but he cannot make it nothing," he said. "The problem is there. He must think before he makes this tackle. I know sometimes you don't play, and you are angry, but you must think, 'I am a partner for him. I play in the same team. I cannot do this'. I never speak badly about him, but sometimes I am angry."
According to Goncalves, the late tackle was "a little crazy", one that left the entire squad unhappy, but Aguiar stops short of describing it as deliberate. He doesn't know that, cannot know that. "In football, everyone wants to play, and when you don't play, and your partner plays in your position, you are angry, but I don't want to think he made a ... what do you call it, a reprisal? It's better I don't think this because that would be very bad."
Brellier is long gone, now at FC Sion, after a brief spell with Norwich City, and Aguiar is back in the Hearts team, showing the kind of form that only makes his absence all the more regrettable. It has been a long, hard road for the former Benfica player, punctuated by three different injuries, two operations and countless trips back and forth to Portugal, without so much as a first-team opportunity to make it all seem worthwhile. Last summer, his pre-season training lasted only two weeks, cut short by the knee injury.
His lowest point was when the doctor informed him of the need for a second operation, just when he thought he was over the worst. His wife helped him through it, as did Csaba Laszlo, the demonstrative Hearts manager who can be inventive when it comes to inspiration. "He told me he had had seven or eight operations. I thought, 'if you had eight, and I have two, I must have a chance of playing again'. When you are injured, it is good to listen to these things. You get down sometimes."
Aguiar appreciates a good manager. He has had enough of them after all, mostly at Hearts, where seven different men have offered him their advice since he pitched up at Tynecastle three years ago. At Benfica, his best spell was under Giovanni Trapattoni, who led them to their first league title in 11 years. Under Jose Mourinho, who had a brief stint there in 2001, he was sent out on loan. And in 2005, Ronald Koeman's arrival spelled the beginning of the end for a player who had been at the club since the age of nine.
Aguiar, though, has represented Portugal at every youth level, and his aim now is to offer those who have forgotten him a reminder of his talent. It perhaps explains the exuberance with which he has performed since his return in October. His first match back was against Hibs at Easter Road, when he celebrated his equaliser by jumping on the Hearts physio, an action that cost him a yellow card. There was another stunning strike, against Inverness, a goal against Falkirk, and last week's inspired contribution in the defeat of Rangers, when his free-kicks set up both of Hearts' goals. No wonder the 27-year-old has been named Clydesdale Bank Premier League player of the month for October. "When I played for the reserve team, and spoke with supporters, everybody said it was not too good for me because there were a lot of players in my position. And it's true. The team has a lot of midfield quality. Everyone wants to play. But I want to play as well. I must show the manager every day, every training session, every game how much I want to play."
Aguiar, formerly a deep-lying midfielder, is refreshed also by a positional change lately. While Laszlo could claim to have pulled a stroke of tactical genius, a dearth of strikers has been the mother of his invention. On Saturday, as Hearts flooded the game with midfielders, Aguiar was the foremost of them, occupying the hole behind Christian Nade with a repertoire of passes that reflected not only his natural ability, but the depth of his intelligence. "It has been very good for me," he says. "The No.10 position is maybe my best."
A medal winner in Hearts' 2006 Scottish Cup triumph, Aguiar is one of the few to have survived what has been a turbulent time under their eccentric owner, Vladimir Romanov, but the club continues to be plagued by uncertainty. He was reported to be one of several players who had agreed to defer a recent wage packet. If that is any guide to the club's financial condition, it will be no surprise should they try to sell him in January, rather than allow him to move for nothing when his contract expires in the summer.
As yet, he has heard nothing from the club about a new deal, although he insists he has not exercised his right to have discussions with any potential suitors. After everything he has been through, his priorities are on the pitch. "Maybe Hearts don't think it's the time now. But I'm OK with that. I don't think too much about it. I don't go in the newspaper saying, 'I want a new contract'. If they want me to stay, they can speak with me, but I tell you, I don't care about the future. I just want to play." And who can blame him?
scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/football/Paul-Forsyth-Bitter-Bruno-reflects.4769171.jp
+ Below: An interview with/profile of Aguiar
Hearts Official Site - Bruno Aguiar was today named the Clydesdale Bank Premier League Player of the Month for November.
The 26-year-old midfielder was outstanding for Hearts over the month, as the Tynecastle side secured five victories in six games.
"It is great news," said Bruno, "but this award is for all my team-mates who played well in the games.
"We win together and lose together, so it is important to recognise what they achieved in November."
Bruno received his award at Tynecastle this week ahead of yesterday's game against Motherwell.
BBC - Aguiar given monthly player award
Aguiar has been effective for Hearts since returning from injury
Hearts midfielder Bruno Aguiar has been named Clydesdale Bank Premier League Player of the Month for November.
The 26-year-old Portuguese scored twice as Hearts recorded five successive wins to move up to third place in the table.
The former Benfica player is also reported to have caught the eye of English club QPR in recent weeks.
"It's great news, but the award is for all my team-mates who played well in those games," Aguiar told Hearts' official website.
Aguiar is the first Tynecastle player to receive the award since Paul Hartley in April 2006.
The Portuguese had only returned to action at the end of October following six months out with foot and knee problems.
In November, he scored the winning goal against Inverness, as well as a wonderful free-kick against Falkirk. news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/7770325.stm
Scotland on Sunday
Paul Forsyth: Bitter Bruno reflects on his career
BEING NAILED by one of your opponents is bad enough. When the damage is done by a team-mate, the frustration is even worse.
Add to that a nagging suspicion that the assailant was motivated by anger, irritated that his place in the side had been taken, and you can see why the victim might be slow to forget. Bruno Aguiar still cannot understand the training-ground challADVERTISEMENTenge that cost him 18 months of his career.
A broken ankle, compounded by a foot tumour, complicated by damage to knee ligaments, gave the Hearts midfielder a year-and-a-half to stew over the tackle by Julien Brellier that threatened his future as a player. Brellier had been a popular figure at Tynecastle, a robust competitor admired for his protection of the defence, but when Aguiar arrived in January of 2006, casting doubt on the Frenchman's place in the starting line-up, emotions began to run high.
It was towards the end of the following season, with both competing for the same midfield berth, that the Portuguese player was injured. Although he denies the recent claim by another former team-mate, Jose Goncalves, that Brellier showed no remorse, Aguiar can hardly disguise his contempt. At Tynecastle the other day, he was still sore about the incident, even though his wounds have healed. "After he gave me the tackle, he came to the dressing room and apologised, but he cannot make it nothing," he said. "The problem is there. He must think before he makes this tackle. I know sometimes you don't play, and you are angry, but you must think, 'I am a partner for him. I play in the same team. I cannot do this'. I never speak badly about him, but sometimes I am angry."
According to Goncalves, the late tackle was "a little crazy", one that left the entire squad unhappy, but Aguiar stops short of describing it as deliberate. He doesn't know that, cannot know that. "In football, everyone wants to play, and when you don't play, and your partner plays in your position, you are angry, but I don't want to think he made a ... what do you call it, a reprisal? It's better I don't think this because that would be very bad."
Brellier is long gone, now at FC Sion, after a brief spell with Norwich City, and Aguiar is back in the Hearts team, showing the kind of form that only makes his absence all the more regrettable. It has been a long, hard road for the former Benfica player, punctuated by three different injuries, two operations and countless trips back and forth to Portugal, without so much as a first-team opportunity to make it all seem worthwhile. Last summer, his pre-season training lasted only two weeks, cut short by the knee injury.
His lowest point was when the doctor informed him of the need for a second operation, just when he thought he was over the worst. His wife helped him through it, as did Csaba Laszlo, the demonstrative Hearts manager who can be inventive when it comes to inspiration. "He told me he had had seven or eight operations. I thought, 'if you had eight, and I have two, I must have a chance of playing again'. When you are injured, it is good to listen to these things. You get down sometimes."
Aguiar appreciates a good manager. He has had enough of them after all, mostly at Hearts, where seven different men have offered him their advice since he pitched up at Tynecastle three years ago. At Benfica, his best spell was under Giovanni Trapattoni, who led them to their first league title in 11 years. Under Jose Mourinho, who had a brief stint there in 2001, he was sent out on loan. And in 2005, Ronald Koeman's arrival spelled the beginning of the end for a player who had been at the club since the age of nine.
Aguiar, though, has represented Portugal at every youth level, and his aim now is to offer those who have forgotten him a reminder of his talent. It perhaps explains the exuberance with which he has performed since his return in October. His first match back was against Hibs at Easter Road, when he celebrated his equaliser by jumping on the Hearts physio, an action that cost him a yellow card. There was another stunning strike, against Inverness, a goal against Falkirk, and last week's inspired contribution in the defeat of Rangers, when his free-kicks set up both of Hearts' goals. No wonder the 27-year-old has been named Clydesdale Bank Premier League player of the month for October. "When I played for the reserve team, and spoke with supporters, everybody said it was not too good for me because there were a lot of players in my position. And it's true. The team has a lot of midfield quality. Everyone wants to play. But I want to play as well. I must show the manager every day, every training session, every game how much I want to play."
Aguiar, formerly a deep-lying midfielder, is refreshed also by a positional change lately. While Laszlo could claim to have pulled a stroke of tactical genius, a dearth of strikers has been the mother of his invention. On Saturday, as Hearts flooded the game with midfielders, Aguiar was the foremost of them, occupying the hole behind Christian Nade with a repertoire of passes that reflected not only his natural ability, but the depth of his intelligence. "It has been very good for me," he says. "The No.10 position is maybe my best."
A medal winner in Hearts' 2006 Scottish Cup triumph, Aguiar is one of the few to have survived what has been a turbulent time under their eccentric owner, Vladimir Romanov, but the club continues to be plagued by uncertainty. He was reported to be one of several players who had agreed to defer a recent wage packet. If that is any guide to the club's financial condition, it will be no surprise should they try to sell him in January, rather than allow him to move for nothing when his contract expires in the summer.
As yet, he has heard nothing from the club about a new deal, although he insists he has not exercised his right to have discussions with any potential suitors. After everything he has been through, his priorities are on the pitch. "Maybe Hearts don't think it's the time now. But I'm OK with that. I don't think too much about it. I don't go in the newspaper saying, 'I want a new contract'. If they want me to stay, they can speak with me, but I tell you, I don't care about the future. I just want to play." And who can blame him?
scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/football/Paul-Forsyth-Bitter-Bruno-reflects.4769171.jp
