10 Things I Think I Think … Ok, More like 7 …

By: Cesar | March 10th, 2008

Life once again edged ahead of blogging, getting in the way of my literary regurgitations.
But I’m back and as I can read, I’ve been missed! Always a nice thing …

I missed Gol TV’s shout-out to Daniel and I during the Valencia match at Nevada Smith’s. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to watch the game. But maybe that’s a good thing as I’m sure I’d be nursing a hangover after yesterday’s blah 2-2 draw against Deportivo La Coruna.
Remember when this used to be a top-draw game? One of the fixtures of the week?

Now, it’s a sad reminder of what used to be … one, a perennial title contender struggling to stay in La Liga, the other a Deportivo squad languishing in the bottom half of the league.

Hey, at least Tintin and Bakero look nice. Those sure are stylish jackets, eh? I really wanna get me one …

In honor of Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, the great writer of the Monday Morning Quarterback, I present ‘Ten Things I Think I Think’ about Valencia CF.

1 – The Valencia defense is about as consistent as my writing in this blog. What happened to our air-tight backline? Is it that the midfield can’t control the ball, putting the defense on their heels? Or are we just that untalented in the back?
Really, what happened??

2 – I can’t keep writing the same crap every week … this team is so out of sorts. They can look spectacular one moment, woefully inadequate the next. One moment the midfield is cruising, Banega holding the midfield down and Sunny playing brilliant. The next? We give up a goal and lose all morale. In the process, we lose a chance to move up on the standings and gain ground on 4th-place Atletico …

I really believe the brunt of the responsibility falls at the hands of the coaching squad, led by Ronnie ‘Tintin’ Koeman. As Ivan ‘The Terrible’ Helguera said yesterday, ‘The problem isn’t our play, it’s our lack of concentration in certain moments.’

Of course the players are to blame for this, but doesn’t the coaching staff have to make sure the players are prepared to concentrate during matches? Uggh …

3 – Here are some highlights from the game:

4 – Since when did Arizmendi become such a good crosser of the ball?
First against Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey, his cross resulting in Villa’s goal. Then yesterday, 2 crosses (although the first one to Mata looked like a shot on goal gone wrong) that resulted in goals … the new Vicente? Ok, maybe not. But still, not bad from the ’striker’ …

5 – David Villa looked ok yesterday. Not spectacular, but ok. But David Silva, where have you gone?

6 – The midfield’s woeful. There’s still no creative presence, although I give huge props to Ever Banega, who looks like the real deal week after week. Sunny looked good as well … as goal.com’s player ratings said, Sunny ‘always worked hard off the ball and looked solid when on it as well. Was unfortunately substituted for the more attacking Edu when Valencia were left chasing the game.’ So there …

7 – Mata spoke. “I’ve scored a few goals recently, but the feeling now is one of disappointment because we haven’t been able to win,” the young Mata said.

His voiced squeaked as he added: “We looked to be in a position to win the game, but they caught us with two breakaway goals. They also closed down better than we did and left few spaces. It was a bit frustrating.” And how …

“In the league we’re not consistent and we don’t know why we can’t change as we continue to make life complicated for ourselves,” he stated. “We feel comfortable, but the results are not coming.”

8 – Tintin? “This match was a reflection of how we are,” he told the press after the game.

“We were in full control of the match, but our opponents, who didn’t really press much, were able to score against us with ease. They managed those two goals in eight minutes, and then we controlled the game; however, we were unable to create anything.”

He added, “We still have a chance to make the UEFA Cup.”

So that’s what we’re counting on? I guess that’s our best chance at Europe next season. Uggh …

9 – Thanks to everyone who wrote in with their answers to the questionnaire. Some enlightening and interesting perspectives on how we view the club, our allegiances and our memories of the team. It’s very eye-opening and very interesting! Thanks again …

10 – This wasn’t really ten things I think, eh? More like 7 … anyways, in reading the blog comments, reader Franky thinks it’d be a good idea to have a guest blogger every once in a while.

Since I can’t spew the same garbage day in, day out about my beloved, I’ll take him up on the challenge.

Franky, if you’re reading this, send me an article and I’ll post it here for everyone to read! It’s your stage now, my friend. So let’s hear how you want QQ Sanchez Flores back, how Marco Di Vaio should have never left and how enticing Arizmendi’s football is … of course, I’m joking about the Marco Di Vaio comment …

But seriously, I think it’s a good idea, considering how turbulent my writing schedule has been …

Franky!! I know you’re out there … get to writing!!!