Pre-Xmas Eve Valencia Tidbits

By: Cesar | December 23rd, 2008

So what do you want under your Valencia Xmas tree this year?

A Top 4 finish?
A striker to play behind David Villa?
A creative midfielder?
That all-elusive central defender in the Roberto Ayala mold?

How about all of the above?

Ok, maybe I’m asking for too much.

As we approach the Big Retail Holiday otherwise known as Christmas here in the States, some tidbits to cool you over until Valencia play against Atletico Madrid in the New Year …

- Could former Arsenal and current oft-injured Valencia midfielder Edu be on his way out?

The Brazilian is apparently attracting interest from Portsmouth, according to statements made by Valencia today.

Portsmouth just sold Lassana Diarra to Real Madrid for £20 million, so they’ve money to burn.
Still, Edu’s always hurt … odd move, don’t you say? Edu joined Valencia from Arsenal in May 2005 on a free transfer. He’s made 50 appearances for the Spanish club, scoring 3 goals. He’s also been injured for about 878 games, scoring 0 goals. He’s won 18 caps for Brazil.

- Mestalla will be the host of the 2009 Copa Del Rey final, in honor of our 90th anniversary. How nice.

- Midfielder Pablo Hernandez has two 2009 resolutions: to help Valencia finish in the Top 4 and to actually like, play …

“We are happy, we are in the Champions League places and that is our goal,” he mused.

“My aim is to get in the team, to win a place in the eleven, and to win a title that we can dedicate to the fans.”

Pablo has been at Valencia since 2001 but despite the club loaning him out to Cadíz and Getafe, he has not found playing time easy to come by, and at the age of 23, rumors have surfaced that he could leave the Mestalla in the future.

I hope not. I think Pablo’s a true talent. He just needs to play more, just like he said today …

- Barcelona want David Villa …

So do Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, the New York Yankees, the Celtics and the Miami Dolphins … thing is, we have him and don’t want to sell …

According to Spanish filth MARCA, Club Catalunya had a €35 million offer rejected for him today.

Apparently, we won’t negotiate for anything below €40 million.

Yawn …

- Joaquin thinks that losing 4-0 to Barcelona at the Nou Camp and 1-0 to Madrid at the Bernabeu is progress. He said as much today …

The big-grinned Andalucian said, “After three matches against top teams to finish the first-half of the season, we are feeling good and positive.” I’m glad he feels this way …

“The team is in the top part of the table and we expect that we can improve that in the second-half of the season.”

As far as his personal progress, Pisha said, “I am doing very good, I am playing games, getting minutes, and little by little, I expect to be the Joaquin that the fans expect.”

Little by little? How about faster and faster? How about our next game, eh?

“This year the coach is giving me confidence, confidence that I’ve needed to play football as I’ve done and to reach that level, as I did at Betis.”

Remember when Joaquin was the guy coveted by the Madrids and Chelseas of the world? My, how times have changed …

- I’m sure there’s more to say but I need to spend some money on Xmas gifts … you want to check out some great Valencia gifts? Take a look at this gallery of old Valencia kits, this site where you can buy game-worn shirts and these awesome retro jerseys …

I’ll forward my address to anyone that wants to buy me these!! (just kidding … maybe …)