Yuletide Musings

By: Cesar | December 27th, 2007

The holiday season inspires one to be kind and gentle with his fellow man.
We here at the Valencia Offside (well, just me …) beg to differ. Why? Because we’re Valencia supporters, that’s why!

Lots of news since I last wrote, so fly your Valencian flag (it’s on the left) and let’s get to it.

- Good comeback against Real Zaragoza to tie, 2-2. After being two goals down at halftime, nice to see the club rebound and come out in the second half with some fire and passion. Nicola Zigic played an especially inspiring match. What’s this talk of him going to Real Sociedad? I don’t buy it for a second … just rubbish transfer window chatter, that’s all. Zigic was going to be transferred, but I don’t see how Valencia can do that now. He’s played well the past week and is working hard in practice, from what I’ve read.

- David Albelda and Santiago Canizares just want to get outta town. Hopefully, the club will grant them a fast exit. No need to drag this one out. Looks like Santi may end up at Chelsea and Albelda looks set to join Atletico Madrid. Good. I’ll miss these guys. Still angry at how they were pushed aside. So wrong, so strange, so … rude.

- Who are we bringing in? The rumor mill and the hotstove league say we might be bringing in Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta from Everton in a ‘trade’ for Manuel Fernandes. And of course, we’re still after Porto’s Lucho Gonzalez.
The Arteta signing would be wonderful. Arteta’s long said he’d like to play in Spain. He’s the creative influence we’ve long been seeking. Everton were nipped in their pursuit of Fernandes by us this past summer, so here’s their opportunity to snatch him up. Win/win in my opinion.

As for Lucho, I can’t see Porto giving him up in the winter when they’re still in pursuit of the Champions League. Lucho’s been the engine of that club this year. Why not just wait until the summer to cash in on him?

- Coach Ronald Koeman is reportedly handing in his transfer ‘wish list’ to Juan Soler and Miguel Angel Ruiz tomorrow. Let’s see what goodies sneak out from there.

- Remember the name Vicente Soriano. Who is he? He’s the 2nd-largest Valencia shareholder and he’s none to pleased with what’s happening at his favorite club. “If I were president of Valencia, I’d totally reverse the situation,” he blasted.
“Koeman would last ten seconds; Bakero, eleven. I wouldn’t even count for Miguel Angel Ruiz. Ruiz is the man who wasted fifty million euros, while Koeman, to me, seems to be unconscious.” WOW!
But wait … there’s more …

Soriano plans to officially submit his new plan in January – one that will be “away from the lies, the barbarities and the smokescreens that have characterized the three and a half years prior.” Presidential race anyone?? Steel cage match on pay-per-view??

“I’d never raised the head of opposition but, given the circumstances, I understand that something must be done to change this situation.”

His aim is “to recover the dignity of some players, the image of the team, and to stabilize economic decisions that currently will lead the club to disaster.”

“Organization? I know of no company that has more than one general manager. How do you want to deal with five if three months down the line you dismiss two?” Huh? I think he’s talking about Carboni, Flores, etc …

Stay tuned. This could get fun.

- Finally today, an article posted on the wonderful Xtratime.org football forum, my favorite Valencia forum in English. Check them out if you have time.
I’m trying to steer clear of posting entire articles on the blog, just because they’re so big. But I couldn’t find this one online, so here goes. It’s a debate about what we should do in the immediate future: rebuild with transfers or build from the inside. Take a gander. It’s a decent one. AMUNT!

Spanish Debate: How Do Valencia Rebuild?

Goal.com asks who – if anyone – Valencia should sign to compensate for the recent axings and questionable start to the season…
Ronald Koeman is, if nothing else, a man of action.

For no sooner is he in the door at the Mestalla than, with one defeat too many playing out in front of him, he’s decided to make some of the most radical changes that the Che faithful have seen in years.

With Santiago Canizares, David Albelda and Miguel Angel Angulo all leaving, it’s clear that he’s wasted no time in making squad alterations that can hardly be described as cosmetic.

Of course, coach Koeman is not quite the master of his own destiny. Transfer dealings in Spain are seldom down only to a first team coach: at Valencia, this seems to be very rarely the case.

Powerful personalities abound at the Mestalla, with president Juan Soler having a significant say in squad matters. Indeed, onlookers in Spain have detected the outspoken honcho’s hand in the spate of axings.

He’s joined in the backroom by director of sports Miguel Angel Ruiz, who was responsible for many of the club’s big-name summer signings (although not, by his own admission, the treatment of the exiled trio.)

Of course, these arrived with mixed records and have subsequently enjoyed – or endured – mixed successes.

But far from telling any of the newcomers that their presence is unwanted at the Mestalla, Koeman instead axed three veterans. Perhaps there are more to come.

But the question now is, who, if anyone should replace them? And it’s not only the absent three who must be considered: is there room for some of the under performing flops in a lineup unable to maintain a European place after Christmas?

Goalkeepers

Santiago Canizares is on the way out, and his footballing career is quite possibly over. That leaves Timo Hildebrand as the undisputed number one for the time being.

The German has had a difficult start to his Mestalla career since signing on this summer, with injury striking alongside rumours of discontent within the squad.

He and Santi were not exactly on speaking terms; perhaps, then, the departure of the veteran Spaniard will give the German international a new lease on life in Valencia.

However, Juan Luis Mora, the reserve stopper, is getting on in years. At 34, and with mere minutes of Liga action behind him since signing on from Levante two years ago, perhaps the time is ripe for another goalkeeper to offer real squad competition – without the drama of Canizares?

Defenders

No stoppers have yet been given the chop by Koeman, but it’s still abundantly clear that all is not well at the back. Los Che have shipped 28 goals in the Liga so far – more than any other top half side except Zaragoza, and fewer only than Levante! In Europe, things were better – six goals conceded in six group stage matches – but still insufficient to keep the team in continental competition past Christmas.

Injuries have played their part, of course. Alexis, the promising ex-Getafe centre-back, is out long term, while the likes of Miguel, Moretti and Caneira have each suffered spells on the sidelines this season.

But even a regular-looking back four has disgraced itself at times. Consider the Miguel-Marchena-Albiol-Moretti lineup that conceded three against Villarreal at home on the opening day of the campaign, another three against Athletic earlier in the month, or the slightly-rotated side that let in five against an admittedly on-fire Real Madrid outfit.

Ivan Helguera, acquired this summer, has tried hard but is patently not yet ready – if he ever will be – to fill the boots of the departed Roberto Ayala.

And with all due respect to Marco Caneira, brought back from Sporting Lisbon, he seems to be a jack of all trades but a master of none, at least judging by his showings out on the left during Moretti’s absence.

Perhaps, then, greater attention should have been paid to the back line in the summer. Is it too late to fix it?

Midfielders

Valencia have a massive midfield squad – two smaller given last week’s events, but massive nonetheless – but precious little to show for it this time around. If you started counting, you could run out of fingers: Joaquin, Fernandez, Baraja, Montoro, Edu, Sunny, Marchena, Silva, Vicente, Gavilan, Albelda, Angulo.

Now that was luxury!

Yet, there has been little continuity. Defensively, the team has had to shuffle things around due to poor form and injury. Marchena, Albelda, Sunny, Fernandes, Edu – all of these names have played various roles – but only rarely has there been anything memorable to show for it.

One name in particular stands out there: Fernandes. Manuel was brought to the Mestalla at a huge expense in the summer, but has since struggled to make an impact. A bust-up with Koeman while the pair were at Benfica could hardly have helped, but even so, the former Everton man must justify his expense. Sunny, who joined at a fraction of the cost, arguably looks more promising already.

Some of these players are more attack-minded than others, but also of note is the fact that there isn’t too much invention down the middle in some games. Valencia’s style involves getting the ball out wide and then cutting inside quickly to overwhelm the defense. Baraja’s injury hasn’t helped, but still, the point remains. As such, skillful wide players – more apt to cut inside and beat two men than one before launching a deep cross – are a must.

Thankfully, Valencia specialise in these to some extent. Joaquin started the season in some style, and although he’s hit the rocks lately, one need only watch him for a few minutes to appreciate his capabilities. Silva, meanwhile, has been for over a season now a fine influence out on the left.

But “left” and “Valencia” used to mean just one thing: Vicente. Arguably one of the Liga’s most naturally gifted players, the 26-year-old has been, so far this season, a shadow of his former self.

Injury and low morale have clearly taken their toll on the international winger, with a rant against the club’s allegedly ineffectual medical staff earning him a serious piece of the club’s mind earlier in the season.

Since returning to the pitch, he’s seemed less than happy. Perhaps, then, it’s not only a case of who should be brought in, but who should seek a fresh start?

Forwards

David Villa is, in the eyes of many, Spain’s best striker. Along with Fernando Torres, the Asturian is the first name that comes to mind when it comes to current Spanish international forwards, and with good reason – he may have only scored four in an injury-hit season so far, but his class is there for all to see.

But as for who partners him, that’s tougher.

Fernando Morientes is a battle-hardened campaigner in the Liga, and right up until the end of last season he was showing most weeks that he still had what it takes. This time around, though, it’s been harder for him.

Silva, meanwhile, has looked good at times in an out-and-out striking role, but perhaps he’s better suited to the wing for the time being.

Mata, of course, has the same basic versatility, but the former Real Madrid Castilla man has yet to get a real look-in.

That leaves two other names: Nikola Zigic and Javier Arizmendi.

Zigic, a dramatically imposing Serb forward, shot to prominence last season as his ‘little and large’ double act with Pedro Munitis won him plaudits far beyond his club Racing’s heartland of Cantabria. Indeed, after 13 goals in his debut season in Spain, it was off to the Mestalla for a sum well into the eight-figure range.

But away from Racing’s strict 4-4-2, inswinging crosses and support from Munitis, Nikola all too often cuts a Gulliver-esque figure, giant yet helpless.

A fine strike against Zaragoza at the weekend served as his first goal in his few Liga appearances this season, and while all Che fans hope that the floodgates will open, it remains to be seen if the ex-Crvena Zvezda man can adapt his style to truly suit his new club, or vice versa.

Arizmendi himself arrived amidst muted fanfare after having spent a season at Deportivo La Coruna last year. Five goals in 32 games isn’t likely to catch the headlines, but the Spanish footballing fraternity seemingly prizes Javier for his build-up play: at least, presumably they do so, as he’s been rated highly enough to receive a Spain cap and a big-money transfer by the age of just 23.

But, again, he’s just not yet turned it on for his new side. With eight starts and no goals, again, he isn’t immediately thought of as a key player, but then again, plenty of forwards – Zigic’s own ex-partner Munitis, for example – don’t take goals, but make them instead. Few Valencia fans, though, would say that Arizmendi has yet proved to be an indispensable missing link in that sense.

For all their striking talent – and, again, this is taking into account Villa’s injury – Valencia have hit just 22 Liga goals so far, which is not as many as a team that spent this much would have hoped for.

And that about sums it up: potential isn’t being met at the Mestalla. What is the solution? More signings? Continuing to blood new youngsters like Montoro and Lomban? Whipping those remaining old guard players into shape?

Tell us what you think.

Steve Michaels, Goal.com