Musings after the Wedding

By: dan_c | April 30th, 2011

carsoccerball

Back to the action, after a tortuous week. Kate Middleton is forgotten, it was a nice wedding but I never understood the hype anyway. Go to a Greek wedding, then you’ll have some fun.

1 – That match.

4-0 down at half-time. Won the second half 3-2.
As feared, we were mauled in defence.
As expected, up front we weren’t bad, but only bore fruit in the last half hour.

Some Facts.

To concede 6 at home is shameful. Yes, they are Madrid. They are bankrolled by millions. Despite many being rested, that team was utter class. BUT we aren’t Ponferradina (bottom of Segunda) for fucks sakes! We aren’t even some average fly-weight second rate mid-table La Liga side. We are VALENCIA! Where was the passion, the motivation, the pride in the shirt? I was disgusted. We are the 3rd best team in Spain, the best after the Old Firm, but we played like my brother’s u12 E school football team. The result was shameful. What is more, we can defend. We do play well at home. Our last home game was drubbing the 4th best team in Spain 5-0. And we thrashed then. We have only lost 4 times at home this season. That must not happen. We need to be competitive to keep our players, who will otherwise come to believe that we have reached the ceiling of our potential, and will leave for a new challenge.
A perfect example is Ever Banega. Fantastic player, possibly our MVP for the season. We can’t afford to lose him. But we will if we can’t keep moving forward and foreign clubs (Liverpool have been linked) come calling. He has reinstated his commitment to the club in the press this week, but lot’s can change.

2 – The aftermath.

Emery and hierarchy had a heated meeting after the game.
To quote:

“President Manuel Llorente was furious with his side’s humiliating 6-3 loss, and the coach was alleged to have defended his selection by pointing out that the same set-up had devastated Villarreal 5-0 the week before.

Llorente was also alleged to have criticised the attitude of the players, arguing they lacked fight and spirit, to which Emery concurred.”

Emery has done very well, make no mistake. He has led us to an incredibly successful season. A great Champions League showing(although we could/should have put Schalke away after which we could have beaten Inter), a possibly record-breaking points tally for the club is still possible(I stand open to correction but I think our current season record is 77) and we have played good football along the way. He has been unlucky in being in the circumstances of trying to keep up with the Old Firm in such incredible form. I think he will stay. I’m not sure how much more can be done as a manager at Valencia right now.

3 – Soldado bagged his 8th in 4 games. Magnificent. Say what you want about Madrid, but they can also produce some great young talent (not quite Barcelona, but still impressive). We also have them to thank for one Juan Mata.

4 – Osasuna on May Day. Away from home we have actually been better than at the Mestalla, picking up 10 wins and 32 points on the road vs. 9 wins and 31 points at home. Osasuna are a poor side, we should win, but with them in 18th and scrapping for survival we could have a fight on our hands. I’m expecting a response after last week. Osasuna don’t score many (37 in 35) but don’t concede either (41). We won our last 2 away from home, scoring 4 at Getafe and 3 at Almeria, so I back us for a win, 3-1.

Time for a turnaround I reckon.
It had better be Osasuna calling for a “May Day” come Sunday, or furniture will fly.

Dan