A Scouting Report for Tomás Chancalay
We spoke to Argentine journalist Ariel Ludueña to learn more about the 24-year-old winger.
The New England Revolution are reportedly looking to add left-winger Tomás Chancalay, according to Argentine journalist Faby Codevilla.
Ariel Ludueña of D-Sports Radio 103.1 FM and Doble Amarilla later added that the 24-year-old would come to the Revs on a one-year loan deal that has an option to buy.
The Blazing Musket spoke to Ludueña to learn more about Chancalay.
The Blazing Musket (TBM): To begin, can you tell us who you are and where we can find your work?
Ariel Ludueña (AL): My name is Ariel Ludueña. I work at D-Sports Radio 103.1 FM and also on a web page called Doble Amarilla.
TBM: The Revs appear to be interested in Tomás Chancalay. Can you give us a brief summary of his biography?
AL: Tomás Chancalay is one of the youth promises from the basic divisions of Colón de Santa Fe. He had played several times in the Argentine youth team.
That’s why it was not surprising that the Racing Club's Head Coach at that time (Juan Antonio Pizzi) recommended his hiring.
He came to Racing on loan for a year and had a quite acceptable season in his presentation.
TBM: What are Chancalay's strengths?
AL: Tomás is a generally vertical player who stands out for his speed, for being a footballer who attacks the goal from the front, and also because he has a powerful shot—both medium distance and free kick. And because of those conditions and for having scored several goals in his first season in Racing, he had earned very good consideration, both with the coaching staff and from the people.
Chancalay's second year was not so good, with Fernando Gago as the club's Head Coach. That is why, by mutual agreement in the middle of 2022, it was decided that he should go on loan to the Middle East in order to have more opportunities and to be able to show something more of his game.
The bet went well for him because at Al Wasl he showed a very good version of himself and also with an important goalscoring facet.
This allowed him to have several offers from abroad including that of the New England Revolution.
TBM: What are the areas that Chancalay can improve on?
AL: Tomás is a player who is used to reaching the area but was missing a goal. From that, in the Middle East he improved a lot in scoring goals and I think it is a facet that he still has to improve a lot.
Perhaps that is the great challenge for him in his arrival in Major League Soccer. I think that it is the great facet that has to work on.
TBM: It looks like Chancalay typically plays as a left winger. How would you describe his style of play?
AL: Tomás is a direct, dueling player. To go player against player, hand in hand. He tends to overflow due to his speed and when he has space to finish off from a medium distance he usually gets good results from a fairly important punch. He has good aim and good finishing power. That makes him a very upright footballer.
TBM: The Revs have played in a variety of formations this year, including a 4-4-2, 4-3-3, and 4-5-1. Does Chanclay have a preferred formation? Can he play in multiple formations?
AL: At Racing with Fernando Gago, although its initial formation is 4-3-3, it is a team that usually changes strategy during the match.
That is why they have played with a line of four in the defensive line and they have defended with a line of five. They have also had a formation with five midfielders, with a single attack reference, or with three attackers, or with two.
And Chancalay has shown to have a good adaptation for each of these different formations, both playing as a winger, playing as an offensive midfielder, or having to be a "false 9".
TBM: Why is it a good decision for Chancalay to come to MLS?
AL: I think that Major League Soccer, for a matter of being a competition where physicality and verticality stand out, seems to me a league in which Tomás can stand out with good presence.
I think he is a footballer who has the conditions to perform well due to the characteristics of the league because it is also an environment with less suffocating pressure than, for example, the Argentine league. And that can make Chancalay get the best of his game.
And if he gets the best of his game, I think both the New England Revolution crowd and the Major League Soccer crowd, in general, can come to enjoy his conditions.
We want to thank Ariel Ludueña for taking the time to answer our questions! You can follow his work on Twitter (@Hachita) and Instagram (@hachitagram).
Very cool interview. Great to see this perspective.