Another Week, Another Win …

By: Cesar | October 20th, 2008

I’m loving this way too much, I really am …

Valencia’s 4-0 victory over Numancia at the Mestalla yesterday opened up a two-point gap at the top of the Spanish La Liga.

The unambitious David Villa added two goals to increase his league-leading tally to eight. Vicente and Mata added the other two.

We’re gliding right now. Coasting. Enjoying our stay at the top of the Spanish table. And rightfully so.

Numancia came into the game without a win in five but they started positively by winning a corner inside the opening minute and created the game’s first chance.

However, that was as good as it got for the visitors because within four minutes our Beloved were ahead and cruising.

Villa, fresh from scoring a last-gasp midweek winner for Spain in Belgium, tried his luck with a ferocious shot from distance.

The ball ricocheted off a defender and into the face of Fernando Morientes, rolling kindly back into Villa’s path and he effortlessly slotted home from 12 yards. Goal #1.

For Valencia, it was a lucky break that allowed them to relax and enjoy their football as they spent the remainder of the first half creating numerous half-chances without ever really getting out of second gear.

It should have been 2-0 midway through the half when Villa sprung the offside trap and fired home following some neat build-up play from Joaquin and Mata but the linesman raised his flag, much to the annoyance of the striker who it seemed had timed his run to perfection.

For half-an-hour either side of the break, the visitors gave goalie Renan plenty to do in the Los Che goal but the Brazilian keeper was never really called upon to make anything other than routine saves.

If nerves were beginning to creep into Valencia’s game while the teams were still only separated by one goal, that ended at the 72nd minute when Mata prodded home a gift from Cesar Palacios.

A slide-rule pass from Villa seemed harmless enough but the defender’s desperate lunge merely directed the ball into the Mata’s path and he made no mistake with an instant finish beyond the despairing Juan Pablo.

The visitors lost all of their resolve from that moment and they were soon made to pay as Vicente smashed home a third at the back post on 83 minutes.

Villa then completed the scoring in the dying moments by hooking home a through ball from Manuel Fernandes with Juan Pablo stranded off his line.

So another week, another win.

Of course, we need to take all of this in stride. Not let our heads get too big. We should enjoy this. Of that there’s no doubt. But remember, what goes up can come down. And in our case, we have a rough stretch of matches coming up in about a month’s time.

Until then .. we’re in first place. Isn’t it lovely??

As Villa said after the game, ‘We are where we are in the table because of our own merits. To be at the top after seven rounds has made us think that if we can maintain this form, we will be in a good position towards the end of the season,’ he concluded.

How true …

Some tidbits:

- Coach Unai Emery has amassed more points in seven games than Ronnie ‘TinTin’ Koeman did in 22 games. Wow … He’s also equaled Rafa Benitez’s start with Valencia back in 2003-04, when the current Liverpool boss also won six games and drew just one against Valladolid.

Impressive, eh?

- Revealing interview with Vicente before yesterday’s game. He’s had a hard time the last few years with injury and such, but when he’s on, he’s simply one of the best in the game. Let’s hope he stays healthy …

Here’s a revealing excerpt from the interview about Koeman …

“If Koeman had stayed I would of had to leave Valencia as he did not believe in me. With him I didn’t play a lot and I felt left out, I do not know why, but something saved me eventually.”

“I do not believe that Koeman is going to manage important teams, he does not have the quality for it. We had very good coaches [at Valencia] that worked with us a lot tactically, with Koeman we did nothing. His talks did not last even five minutes and all he did was wish us luck and tell us to play well,” said the winger.

Luckily, we have a real coach now. And look where we are these days … amazing what motivation can do for you …

- So now Juan Villalonga wants to be the next president of Real Madrid?

Where did all that love for Valencia CF go?

Maybe Vicente Soriano was right. Maybe this guy was talking out of the side of his mouth.
Just last month, rumors were swirling that he wanted to buy Getafe. This after his flirtation with us.
Now, he wants in with Madrid.

I don’t know what to make of it … wish him good luck? Say thanks for trying to buy us?

How about this? Who cares …

These are great days to be a Valencia fan. Why worry about what the other guys are doing, right?