Valencia Move On
By: Cesar | October 2nd, 2008
Sorry for my prolonged absence and end of the Streak. A nasty illness did me in. But I’m back and getting better. The Streak will return at a later time!
So what did I miss?
For starters, Valencia played a cagey match today against Maritimo but finally advanced in the UEFA Cup with a 2-1 victory, goals by David Villa (who else?) and Asier Del Horno (he still plays? Wow …).
After winning 1-0 in Portugal last week, our Beloved were expected to win this match comfortably at home. But they were given a serious test in the Mestalla by their less experienced opponents.
Valencia controlled the first 20 minutes but Maritimo took the lead thanks to a wonderful chip from Marcinho just six minutes before the half time whistle was blown. Tough goal but deserved.
Coach Unai Emery got it right by resting starters such as Villa, Mata, Joaquin and Miguel but he was left with no choice but to bring in his stars in the second half.
It was little-used Asier Del Horno who put the Che in the lead for good, a sparkling header in the 77th minute that sealed the deal. Villa’s last gasp penalty was dodgy at best, but El Guaje was not to be denied and now we wait to see who we play in the group stages of the Cup.
I thought Maritimo were tougher than advertised. They came to play, that’s for sure.
Could it have been a case of Valencia under estimating their opponent? I hope not, but it certainly could have been. Fans might criticize Emery for resting so many starters, but it’s a long season and there’s no reason the reserves can’t play and succeed.
Nice to see captain Carlos Marchena back on the field. Now is Raul Albiol seriously hurt? Let’s hope not.
Surprisingly, Ivan Helguera played a decent match. But let’s not go crazy. This is just the UEFA Cup …
Also, Manuel Fernandes played an extremely good game, getting into all zones of play and looking confident for once.
Overall, a nice win against a decent opponent, coming on the heels of the impressive victory on the weekend against Deportivo.
Next? A league match against 11th-place Real Valladolid on Sunday.
We sweat some today. But we found a way to get through. Championship teams find a way to do that and this Valencia team is getting better and better as the weeks go by.
Now I’m off to take some medicine. I’ll be back for more tomorrow. New Streak? Not just yet!
But it’ll be back before you know it …
Category: Team News
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Comments
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Marchena has gastroenteritis and will not play against Valladolid. so Helguera will probably play which might be a problem.
Posted from
United States
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Cesar, oh yeah, I love pensiones – it’s the only way to get the authentic experience of spain, not to mention the fact that it’s a lot cheaper. My friend, on the other hand, is against it, so my hands are kinda tied – stupid, I know. But oh well. The Medium Conqueridor Hotel seems a like a really nice one, and the price is also right. I’m just wondering about the location, which I hope ya’ll will help me out with that.
Posted from
United States -
@ Timothy,
i checked out where it is on the net, its a perfect spot. Book it, cause its right at the center. Walk 5 minutes and your at central station where you can get the metro to Mestalla. I used to live just on the other side of Xativa (Main station), and it has connections to everywhere. Book it!Posted from
Switzerland -
Hey Tim,
Im hoping to be there for our last matches against Barca and Madrid(A few weeks apart).Ill hola at you and Xes for tickets when Im sure.
@Cesar
Do you know if soccer4less sells authentic Valencia Jersies?Which websites sell the authentic ones.
Also does anyone know where one can get Valencia Jersies in the UK?Somewhere close to Oxford.Posted from
United States -
G0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oL FEEEEERNAAAAAAANDEEEEES !!
1-0!
Posted from
Canada -
Long Live Manelele.. and Man you gotta keep this form or we all gonna Kill you! Now we know that Emery relies on youu in our Midfield and you know we’ve been loving more each day you show us some stuff,, but today.. you were amazing!
Vamos Manuel!
Posted from
United States -
Other then Fernandes playing an exellent game (as you all could see) i also like to mention Renan. He did a very good job as GK this match.
Posted from
Netherlands -
Manuel Fernandes… my friggin word.. wonder what dis guy’s been eating for breakfast this week? Ran like a demon possessed all over the pitch, was man of the match even before his stunning strike.
Overall I think the team were way too complacent after we scored, if Vallodolid had any quality up front they probably would have scored twice. Hopefully we work on this as the season progresses and continue to press forward after taking the lead… enough complaining, we’re LEAGUE LEADERS BABY!!
Posted from
United States -
They came at us hard.. Angulo was a ghost and did nothing during the match. Fernandes what can i say he keeps this up and we will make 40 million off him. What a player today. And Agreed Renan was on.. he played a very solid game.. that deflection of the shot near the post great reaction. The back 4 held tigh and Miguel was a beast in the back.. We played quite a solid match in the back.
But unfortunately i cant say we played overly well. We were on our heels most of the game and though they play well at home we clearly had more talent and should have controlled the game. Angulo? wtf. Morientes is a far better striker. he was simply invisible.
Posted from
Canada -
@ Javier: I think Morientes had gastroenteritis along with Marchena. Given Manuel Fernandes’ form of late, I think a support striker is becoming our most urgent priority. What the hell are we going to do when Villa gets injured? Or even worse, if both Villa and Morientes are out? Angulo and Zigic up top.. yeh that’ll put terror into the minds of opposing defenders.
Posted from
United States -
Poor guys. Ill send them some Pepto.. we need them healthy
Posted from
Canada -
man valencia must have been drugs when they loaned out ever banega he played very well against barca. imagine banega and fernandes combination. this combination will murder the opposition.
Posted from
United States -
I agree – I have not watched Banega this season but I feel it was a bad move to loan him out. He is definitely better than Baraja(based on his form over past 2 seasons) and an unfit Edu.
So happy to see Valencia still at the top and hopefully we can improve even more when it comes to the crunch games against top teams.
Posted from
United States -
Based on the season so far, the other title contenders are Villareal, Sevilla and the mighty duo Barca-Real. Hopefully at least the 3 of them playing CL, will progress far enough to be distracted from the league. Villareal clearly dont have enough depth in their squad to do well in both competitions…;)
Posted from
United States -
Manuel Fernandes was great seems to be improving b leaps and bounds, Emery seems to be good at getting players to play the way he wants even Helguera has been uncharacteristically solid. Its too soon to talk about where Valencia will be at the end of the season but they’ve shown a lot of character and Emery’s system seems to be working well.
Banega was loaned out because he has discipline issues last season he partied too much and played too little his loan contract has a clause where Atletico can cancel the loan if Banega’s partying becomes excessive.
Angulo played well and set up two of Valencia’s few and far between scoring opportunities in this match. Mata can play Villa’s position and score goals as he did last season Valencia do not have a shortage of strikers.Posted from
United States -
Hi, we may not be short of strikers but we are short of accurate ones. If Villa gets a goal in the match you will also see 2 or 3 easy ones he missed also none of them are clever enough to work round the defence and rely on a good pass when they are in the right spot. Bear in mind that although the results are good, we have been playing middle of the road teams.Barca scored 6 against Sporting then Madrid scored 7 against Sporting,then Barca scored 6 against Atletico. Have we got anything like this fire-power, NO ! every game is a cliff-hanger. Amongst the last 5 games before Christmas we meet Seville,Barca,Español,Real Madrid. Thats when the chickens come home to roost,providing they are not “Headless ones” We need to sign a crack goalscorer in the winter slot to end up in the last 4 if not we will struggle to make a Uefa slot. As for the last game, I thought Renan became more useful, Villa and Mata were ineffective and going for Vincente made things worse.However as against Maritimo, Fernandes showed what a crack he is. He hoodwinks players with his tricky footwork, we have no one playing like this at the moment, his goal was a cracker. I think he should be played as a forward, because if he receives a pass in the goal area when he has some defence players round him, he has the talent to get round them, result..GOAL
Posted from
Spain -
only if eto came to us in summer transfer season! ur right almendrass, im with u on this one, we lack accurate strikers! we need some one sharp like eto!
Posted from
United Arab Emirates -
Good one 4 valencia yesterday, that’s champion’s stuff. Grinding out points even when we’re not playing well. Remember valladolid has never lost an home game this season, thanks to man of the match fernandes, they now have. El guaje was man marked thus frustrated. Thank god he was not sent off nor injured
Posted from
Germany -
we must regenerate our midfield… time to say goodbye to albelda baraja and angulo. welcome to banega viana and maduro, and sunny of course.
Posted from
Indonesia -
Yes, we indeed have a shortage of striking firepower. We managed however to win titles before without much depth in this position. However it is always good to have good cover. An upcoming, hungry striker could do the trick. Mata is some cover but he also covers for Silva/Vicente depending on the (injury) situation. So Villa needs competent backup. Morientes is a good sub and so is Angulo but so far not good enough to be starters really.
Posted from
Barbados -
Hi, I forgot to mention that Emery resurrected Baraja for the last 10 mins.Fernandes in the past was used as a sub for Baraja when he wasnt feeling too well.Please Emery let Baraja retire gracefully, we need players of youth with fight and drive and the will to win…Adios
Posted from
Spain -
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I personally think your all being rather dramatic. No acuracy from our strikers.. yeah thats why Villa leads the league in goals.. no acuracy. We arent very good team clearly.. thast why we are leading. I think people are rather stupid.. it doesnt matter if we win 1-0 or 6-0 Blowing out a team then tieing the next one is not better than beating them both 1-0. Its about points not goals.. And the way i see Valencia right now i think this is the best start ive seen in years. yes we havent played Barca yet. but they havent played Madrid yet. They blew out weak teams… they struggle against tougher teams.. I dont see Madrid and barca blowing us out.. can they win.. sure but remember We have already beat Madrid once this year.. then they beat us. On gameday it can go either way. Do you really think bacelona is 6-1 better than Atletico.. i dont .. i think they just had their mojo that day.
I also think baraja and albelda are very solid midfielders that we should hold on to till they decide to retire..t hey are solid vets that teach good gameplay.. Watch albelda when he plays.. he is pointing out plays as they happen.. he is a comanding force int he midfeild even age has slowed him down he is invaluable. Angulo i think should be relegated top the bench for now and we cetrainly should move Zigic off he doesnt fit in the fold. Guiza would have been a fine addition.Our defence is vastly improved but alexis makes such risky moves he needs to learn.. and fast.. when marchena replaces him and Albiol is healy we are very solid. Weak sot is left back.. Moretti is alright and so is del horno but neither run forward with effective crosses like miguel.
Anways for now lets just cheer and relish on our great form. And We are still Undefeated and Top of teh league !
AMUNT VALENCIA !
Posted from
Canada -
well said.i often cant beleive some of the stuff i read on here.were these people alive when koeman was in charge ?
we are top,ill take that over fighting against relegationPosted from
Spain -
Someone should send Unai Emery a cookie
Posted from
United States
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