Deadly Stretch

By: Cesar | November 21st, 2008

So here we are, the beginning of our deadly stretch of matches against the big boys of La Liga.

First up? The Sevillistas of Andalucia: Sevilla FC.

This promises to be a good game. Sevilla are tied with us in points at 23 and are a well-oiled machine, with deadly strikers Luis Fabiano and Frederic Kanoute up front and Adriano and Jesus Navas running up the wings.

We’re in a bit of a slump. The defense is lagging, coach Unai Emery is searching for answers as players drop like flies and we’ve dropped matches to clubs we should have beaten.

Still, we’re in a much better position than at this time last year. There’s reason for optimism.

Now, we need to step onto the pitch and show Spain and ourselves what we’re capable of.

This is our first big test of the season. After stuffing our faces with the cream puffs of Spain, we’re now facing the cream of the league. It’s now or never, lads …

One thing that needs to get better is our defense.

We’ve conceded 7 goals in the last 2 home games … against Sporting Gijon and Racing Santander, no less.

This is a game we can ill afford to play passive defense. Sevilla will kill us if we play defense like we did against Gijon and Santander.

Luis Fabiano is coming off one of his most prolific weeks ever, scoring 7 goals in the last 7 days! The guy’s on fire. His partner in crime Kanoute is always a threat as well.

With Asier Del Horno out injured (which means Emiliano Moretti will play … UGGH!), we need everyone to play their part and step up … there’s little room for error against a club like Sevilla.

Still, defender Raul Albiol doesn’t think the defense is that bad …

“It’s clear that if we’ve conceded seven goals at home we’re not doing well, but to go crazy and say we’re a defensive disaster – it’s neither one thing nor the other,” he mused to AS.

“I believe that we have a good defense. Even in the Spanish team we were told that the defense was a disaster and then went to the European Championships and won!”

Judging the defense on two games does seem a little harsh, but after the season we lived through last year, aren’t we allowed to be a little jumpy? Anyways, there’s little doubt that Albiol was at fault against Sporting Gijón when he was out-jumped by Diego Castró on their last goal.

The Spaniard did not deny it though, and said that he takes “full responsibility,” and is “the first to acknowledge when (he) makes a mistake.”

So like … can you do better, please??

I rate Albiol. I think he’s a stand-up guy who generally does a good job on defense. Let’s hope he plays with some grit and intensity these next few weeks.

“A lot of high-intensity games are coming up and I believe we have to be prepared,” said Albiol.

“We have been poor at home, and now we will go to Sevilla intending to make up for what we lost at the Mestalla, and to play a good game in a difficult place. I believe that it will be a good and even match.”

Let’s hope so …

One guy who won’t play against Sevilla is Vicente.

He’s injured. Surprise, eh?

According to AS the Spanish winger had to pull out of training today because of an injury to his leg and he is now a doubt for the Saturday night match with Sevilla.

You knew this was going to happen sooner or later …

Too bad. He’s looked pretty good the last few weeks, especially as a super sub against Getafe a few weeks ago …

Meanwhile, David Silva is continuing to look promising in recovery and today he completed his first circuit with a ball, which is apparently a good step on his path to fitness.

Come back, Davey boy … come back to us soon!!

The Spanish internationals who played against Chile a few days ago, Juan Mata, David Villa, Carlos Marchena and Raúl Albiol, only worked lightly today to prevent injury before the key game this weekend.

Meanwhile, Sevilla president José María Del Nido has today called on Sevilla fans to see the team past Valencia when they meet at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán this Saturday evening …

José María Del Nido is never short of a word or two, and in the build-up to arguably his team’s biggest game of the season so far, the Sevilla president was speaking to Radio Sevilla about the need for support from the stands.

“I assure you that our players are different with the fans behind them rather than shouting at them,” he declared.

“I ask the fans to cheer for the players. These games will allow us to fight for the high positions in the league. Only with the support of the fans will we pass these mountains.”

Del Nido spoke in inspirational tones as he then said that one needs to forget about how the team have been playing, and instead to focus on how they are doing in the league.

“We have to forget how the team have played. Sevilla play as they play. When they play well they win and also when they play badly,” he mused.

“We are five points away from the best Barcelona in the league. The first thing we ask is to win, the second thing, to win, and the final thing, to win.”

Ok …

Bottom line: We can’t afford to go to Sevilla and play like we did against Gijon and Santander.
We need to go in there and show Spain, Europe and all of Valencia’s fans that we’re back and ready to challenge for the championship …

This is just the beginning … let’s start it off with a good game …

p.s. Where’s the new website???