A New Hope

By: Cesar | April 25th, 2008

In the never-ending saga that is Valencia CF, we now turn our attention back onto the field of play.

This weekend it’s Osasuna, that plucky little team from Pamplona that often causes us trouble.

I’ve long had a fondness for Los Rojillos (The little red ones). One of my good friends is a long time aficionado. I recently learned that reader Timothy has a soft spot for the Northerners as well.

Although I fancy the squad and wish them well, this weekend’s not one for sentimentality. With our beloved a mere 2 points above the drop zone, this game is the first of 5 Finals to close out the season … Simply put, we need this game.

So do Los Rojillos, who are a mere point above us, in 14th place in La Liga.
This is going to be a barn burner.

Unfortunately, it looks like new coach Voro won’t be using any of the Trio in Sunday’s game. Even though there’s an injury concern at the goalkeeper position, Santiago Cañizares’ inactivity means he’ll probably watch the match instead of start. Likewise for midfielder David Albelda and winger Miguel Ángel Angulo. They could feature on the bench though. At the very least, they’re back in the squad.

Today’s session (sans a keeper) showed a starting 11 of Miguel, Albiol, Alexis, Caneira, Baraja, Marchena, Joaquín, Silva, Mata and Villa. Save the keeper spot, which could be manned by youth team ‘keeper Vicente Guaita (who?), it looks like Voro will open with a 4-4-2. I say, ABOUT TIME.

This line-up gives us a strong chance. Former coach Ronald Koeman kept trying to implement his 4-3-3 system on a club much better suited to the 4-2-2. So I expect some pains in the beginning, but a more unified, more balanced side against the Osasuna Reds … let’s see what happens. Considering that the Mestalla will be fired up in what the local papers are billing as a must-win, 3 points would give us great confidence heading into next weekend’s clash with Barcelona.

Factor in the crowd, plus the return of the Trio, plus a new coach and a new playing style, I’m expecting a solid victory … but we’ll see. Nothing’s etched in stone here.

As for the Trio, they may not be playing this weekend but they could factor into Spain’s Euro 2008 team should they return and play well. According to coach Luis Aragones, they could be back … and why not?

“It all depends on how they play from now on,” Aragones told Marca.

“The players will pick themselves, it’s down to them, they have to be in good shape, tactically, physically and mentally. I just hope Valencia begins to do well as they have three great players in their team.”

Thanks, Luis.

By the way, make sure to check out the Spain Euro 2008 blog on The Offside. Yours truly is doing some work on it … when he has time!

Now that the dust has settled on the Koeman ‘TinTin’ era (or error if you will), a few players are coming out to say how ’strange’ the time was.

First Joaquin, who says, “It was not the worst period of my career, but a very uncertain period. I did not know what was happening to me. One week I played well, the other week I was dropped. The relationship with him was strange. He is definitely not the best trainer I’ve had. Not so much because I did not play, but more because he was not fair to me. Koeman now belongs to the past.”

Thankfully …

Next is Vicente, Valencia’s favorite son. The winger, who recently returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines, declared himself “happy” to see the back of the sacked Dutchman.

Speaking to local station Radio 9, he said that he felt ostracized by the former manager.

“In the end, I didn’t have the opportunity to be among the eighteen who played,” he rued.

On tactical matters, he was equally disappointed.

“We have always played better with 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, but Koeman came in and changed everything,” he added.

“It didn’t work, yet he persisted with it. We talked among ourselves in a thousand meetings, but always he stuck with it. But now I have my confidence and enthusiasm back, and I’m sure that in the coming years I can return to what I was.”

Let’s hope he does … and that it’s with Valencia. I so miss Vicente …

And isn’t it funny that we weren’t the only ones that didn’t like Koeman?
The players obviously were confused by the Dutchman … they played lost, they looked lost … now let’s pray Voro has the strength to guide this club into next season’s La Liga.

Speaking of which, should we be there next year, Marcelino is almost certain to be our coach. But someone else might be here too … Mallorca striker Dani Güiza.

The 27-year-old has netted 21 goals in 31 games and according to reports, is being wooed by us and Barcelona. That would be an amazing signing …

But someone might be leaving … no shock here: David Villa.

Today’s goal.com presents ‘10 Spanish Players Set For Summer Transfer Sagas’ … #1 on the list??

El Guaje himself … here’s what they have to say …

Yes, the Valencia forward is subject to one of the world’s most vast minimum release clauses - the kind of thing that causes an error when tapped into a pocket calculator - and he’s under contract. But it’s hard to see David Villa not leaving the Mestalla in summer.

For a club symbol like himself to publicly and unequivocally state that he’s considering a new challenge elsewhere is no small matter - compare and contrast this to the likes of, say, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, who time and again state their devotion to the cause. While Villa is no doubt a dedicated influence at Valencia, he is quite right to consider a move elsewhere: his team is stagnating and there’s a danger that he will, too, if he hangs around too much longer.

Villa has no doubt looked on wistfully as Fernando Torres - a few years his junior - made his mark on the Premier League in his first season in England, and continued his goalscoring exploits in Europe, too. He could learn from more than just that: Nando’s switch seems to have actually helped Atleti, too, by giving them huge sums of money and a feeling of being more than just a one-man team. Who’s to say that Los Che couldn’t be similarly reinvigorated?

Probability: High. It would have been ultra-high had Ronald Koeman remained as boss, but it remains a pretty safe proposition that Villa will end the summer elsewhere. As stated above, it could work out for all concerned. Arsenal, anyone? Chelsea?

The article makes a good point … the money made from a Villa sale would certainly help the club. Signing a guy like Güiza would soften the blow. Then getting a good defender, a playmaker in midfield and maybe a nice surprise signing like Huntelaar and we’re back in business.

I don’t want to see Villa leave. But if he does go, at least we can benefit. Then it’s win-win for everyone …

But first, let’s get the 3 points against Osasuna. And breathe a little easier for the week.