Champions League and More …
By: Cesar | August 30th, 2007
It’s weird to write about football today on the heels of the terrible events of the past few days. But I’ll try.
The big news today concerns the Champions League draw that took place in Monaco and ended a short while ago. After winning our qualification fixture against Sweden’s Elfsborg yesterday 2-1, here’s how our group looks:
Chelsea FC
Valencia CF
Schalke 04
Rosenborg
On first impressions, it’s not the easiset of groups.
First, we have Chelsea again. Vendetta, anyone?
Should be entertaining ties. But not really the team I wanted to play. I was hoping for Arsenal, Liverpool or AC Milan. Just to change things up.
The way our defense is playing, I think Chelsea could present us with some problems.
Then there’s Schalke 04, one of the most popular clubs in German football. They got pipped to the Bundesliga title at the end of the season by Timo Hildebrand’s Stuggart last year but are still a formidable opponent.
On to Scandinavia again, where we’ll meet Norway’s Rosenborg. They’re from the lovely town of Trondheim. With 20 league titles, Rosenborg is the most successful club in Norway. Rosenborg’s domestic title streak of 13 consecutive wins is second in the world only to the 14-year streak of Skonto Riga of Latvia, their runs both ending in 2005. Former Valencia star John Carew played there during the 1999-2000 season.
It’ll make for some interesting games, but I’m sure we’ll get through … I hope. We will, right? Oh jeez, we won’t …
Anyways, we won 2-1 yesterday against Elfsborg to qualify for today’s draw. A goal from old Madridista and new Valenciano Ivan Helguera effectively sealed the tie in the 5th minute. Substitute David Villa scored in the dying minutes for the victory.
Unfortunately, victory didn’t come without controversy. Elfsborg coach James Keene remarked on Valencia’s “antideportiva” (unsportsmanlike) attitude throughout the game.
“I’m surprised by all the time Valencia’s players spent thrown on the pitch. It’s dissapointing,” Keene said.
I’d have to concur. After the Villarreal game with the fake dives and theatrical injuries and now last night’s games, are we turning into a comedy troupe? A traveling circus? I expect a lot more from these world-class players. I hope someone (paging Mr. Flores? Mr. Soler?) can straighten the squad out.
Quick notes:
- Almeria away this weekend. Will the game be on TV? More on them later.
- Asier Del Horno is loaned out to his former club, Athletic Bilbao. I’m sorry to see him leave. I think we could have used his talent. Anyone figure out why he’s sunk so far so fast?
- Former Valencia starlet Gerald Lopez has signed for Recreativo. Good luck, brother.
That’s it for now. Complicated group draw in the Champions League but I think we should get through.
What do you all think?
Category: 
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments
-
As far as Del Horno goes, I remember reading somewhere that his attitude is as bad as Kuffour’s and thats the main reason for his failures at Chelsea and I suppose with us too… QQ fell out with him, and I’m assuming his attitude and work rate (or lack thereof) was a part of it.. Guess he’ll be well motivated back in Basque territory
Posted from
United States
-
Schalke would be a difficult opponent to conquer. Aside from the craziness of their fans at home, we have a terrible record against Germany teams. And with Ayala gone, I’m really worried about our defence.
Posted from
China -
with our defense… i think we might get through shalke but chelsea with mori. and his tactics. and our flores with his lack of imagination in the field. i think they will beat us and like i always say ” u never no”
Posted from
United Arab Emirates -
If we win Rosenborg 2 times and win other match to schalke,I think that we will can compete for the first position in the last match with Chelsea.I’m exciting for this match…
Posted from
Spain -
Ok so heres my thoughts. Personally i think that valencia in their current form will be trounced in this champions league pool. We may beat Rosenburg. However this new 1 striker formation we have been playing is simply not working we are only dangerous when Morientes and Villa are side by side up front to recieve the crosses. Thats what cause our comeback in last season and yet now we play with teh formation that lost us the league at the end of the season. Flores in my opinion is going to sink our club. These dives and bad attitudes on the pitch are absolutely his fault. It is up to the coach to make the squad and he is dismantling it.
As for why we got rid of Del Horno.. we got rid of him because he was a Carboni signing the only one left is Joaquin and even he didnt get to play till injuries forced Flores’s hand. Flores is petty and bitter and hated Carboni and everyone he signed. I say Valencia will be in 8th place by christmas.
Im sad to say it but take a look at our squad. Im not talking about the one liga game im talking about our signings 6 strikers? no midfield? and young defenders.? wtf. We already had greta strikers we had no problems scoring goals when Villa and Morientes were up front we had problems in the mid. Now we have spent over 30 million on strikers that will never touch the grass unless injuries come into play, when we could have had riquelme.. but Atletico gets him instead for peanuts. One of the best midfielders on the planet goes to Atletico.. just sick. Valencia is badly managed and governed.. we’ll always be el equipo casi.
Posted from
Canada -
Javier De Roque u are absoluyely right!!! we could have gotten Wesley if we payed more! his situation wasn’t like Van der Vart where his team didn’t want to lett him go,, Ajax wanted a better offer! and to tell u the truth i see that Wesley sniejder is the one we should have payed the money we payed for Zigic! why cant we get a good player? why does Flores keep on picking some left overs? have u seen Drenthe? why cant we get someone like him… And whats with buying all these players and benching them except for Sunny and TImo? Why not buy sm1 in Vicente’s wing since hes more fragile than a wine glass!!! i Dont no what Flores is thnking of but hes not worth couching Valencia! We need sm1 like morinho or Scolari! + we need a defender.
Real MAdrid….. Canavaro… Metzelder
BarCa… G. Milito..Ebidal..Thuram…Zambrotta… Puyol…I realy do not want to compare them to our defense… u know why!
Posted from
United Arab Emirates -
Sneider just score 2 more goals for madrid today against Villareal. So his tally is now 3 in 2 games. Great glad we got a whole bag of nothing this summer.
Posted from
Canada -
picture him in our team…. i hate Qique with his stupid choice of players!
Posted from
United Arab Emirates -
And why exactly was mata starting when we have just spent 20 million and a 30 ft tall striker. Sad when the defence is relied on to score the winning goals
Posted from
Canada -
oh, wesley…
my heart is bleeding… ok, we need a midfielder, we want wesley, we offer 20(?)m, they reject. so we buy striker for 25m. that makes me cry Posted from
United States
Comments are closed
Home 
