Memorial Day Blues

By: Cesar | May 25th, 2009

Today’s Memorial Day in the United States, a day which commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in military service.

It’s the unofficial kick-off of the summer season. Families get together, cook hot dogs and burgers on the barbecue grill and have a happy time together.

But I can’t shake the dejected feeling that fell over me after Valencia’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of state rivals Villarreal.

We all know the connotations of this loss: No Champions League, loss of cash revenue and the possible transfer of stars David Villa and David Silva.

I’m in no mood to go back over this match. Kyle did a great job of reviewing the match at his excellent Locos 4 Los Che.

I’m going to shoot straight from my gut here and tell you what I think about the current incantation of Our Beloved.

As much as we love the two Davids, what have we won with them?

The time’s right, folks.

We need to cash in on these valuable talents while the time is right.

Valencia CF needs a total re-evaluation of not only their administrative infrastructure (What role does Vicente Soriano play? What power does sporting director Fernando Gomez have? Who’s taking over the club?) but their sporting talent.

Of course, we’ve been wrestling with these issues since Juan Soler’s ouster last season.

Now, we’re at a cross roads. No Champions League next season. No injection of much needed cash. So what do we do?

Look, this team’s horribly inconsistent. They have a terrible defense, a weak midfield that struggles way too often and is over powered easily and a thin strike force.

Bottom line: We’re simply not good enough to be in next season’s Champions League. The results have seen that out. Now we have to come to the realization that things need to change – and fast – with our club.

Honestly, what’s better? Fixing the pressing issues of this squad or getting knocked out in the first round of the Champions League? I’m of the opinion that ’short-term pain/long-term gain’ is the way we should advance.

So what should we do?

For starters, keep Unai Emery.

There’s simply nothing more this guy could have done. Sure, we can question his tactics. We can ask why he didn’t play so-and-so one game and so-and-so another.

But at the bottom of it, he took essentially the same squad that was almost relegated last season and brought them within a whisker of getting into Spain’s Top 4. That’s not a bad record.

Remember, the squad wasn’t paid for nearly two months and Emery STILL managed to have a shot at the Champions League with two weeks left on the schedule.

Either La Liga is that bad or he did something right at some point in the season.

I say give the guy another year, at least. If things don’t pan out next season, do what you will. My question is, who takes over? And please don’t make me laugh with suggestions of Guus Hiddink returning or any other big name coach. As has so often been said here, ‘We have no money!’

After that? I think we cash in on David Villa and David Silva and start over.

We have precedence in this department.

Claudio Lopez left the club after the 2000 season and everyone thought the club was finished.

Gaizka Mendieta did the same in 2001. What did we do but win two league titles and the UEFA Cup?

What stars were on that team? Mista? Rufete? Vicente? Canizares?

That was a team built on quality guys. Players who were hungry, talented and eager to show their skills on a grand stage.

And remember, of the three seasons Rafa Benitez (then a 2nd division coach hired by Valencia after many big-name trainers avoided us) coached at Valencia, we were only in the Champions League once.

Another thing: Villa’s going to turn 28 in December. Not old, but the guy’s in the peak of his powers. How about we sell him and buy two or three guys that can step in immediately and help our porous defense or our so-so midfield?

How about we cash in on David Silva’s wonderful talent and get another striking prodigy and some relegated squad’s free transfers?

I know this is controversial thinking. Do you really think I want to see either of these guys leave?

But what have we won with them? What other assets do we have that can bring us a big return? Curro Torres? I doubt it.

I’d hate to see Villa in a Madrid kit or Silva wearing Barca’s strip. But what can we do?

Of course, we should get rid of the extra weight. Guys like Hugo Viana, Edu and Angulo have no place here. VCF legends like Albelda and Baraja need to finish their careers elsewhere. And guys like Joaquin need to resurrect their careers some where else.

Players like Mata need to play. Guys like Pablo Hernandez and Manuel Fernandes need to be the new face of Valencia CF. Because we need a boost of energy in that club house to ever escape these doldrums.

One era ends but we can rise again. If we’re smart with our decisions from here on out.

That’s where this next nugget of news could come in.

According to news reports and comments posted on the previous blog post (thanks Johnnie Walker):

Soriano is going to announce the name of the buyer of the old Mestalla-parcels plus the tower which will come next to the Nou Mestalla, plus this buyer will also buy the shares of Soler, Soriano and Silla so he will accuire a 51% share capital, leaving Soriano to continue as president of a Valencia totally renewed. This all will be told tomorrow to the council of Valencia so they can cancel the amplication of capital cause they dont need it anymore, since the buyer will pay 350 million euros for the parcels and the new tower.

Would that be good news? I’d say so …

So it’s wait and see.

Maybe we win this weekend and play UEFA Europa League action with Villa, Silva and the usual gang of cronies.

Or maybe we get the above mentioned buyer, keep the two stars and build a better squad around them.

Or maybe we sell the two stars, blow up the team and start over with Mata, Pablo and Manuel Fernandes the base of the team.

What do you guys think? I’m just one depressed Valencia CF fan shooting from the hip.