Let's get started, where are we strong and where do we need more additions? I think we need another CB, our midfield is good, and our forward line is fantastic.
UEFA Europa League 2009/2010 The draw for the play-off round of the 2009/2010 Europa League was made today, in which Valencia were drawn against Norweigen outfit Stabæk IF. The first leg will be played on August 20th and the second leg will be played on August 27th. Valencia will be the away team in the first leg. Full Draw: http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=870211.html
Why was Dealbert in La Segunda all this time, the guy is a monster! There are some good young CB's in Italy who the big teams have passed up. Criscito/Bochetti would be great additions. Criscito would be better since he can also play LB. I'm not convinced by Mathieu tbh. Everyone is talking up Barca and Real but a strong push for the title isn't out of the question. Great attack, loaded midfield and a good defense (could be better, should have gotten Asenjo). People forget that last season - bar the spell where the player's performances suffered as a result of not getting paid - some of the best football came from Valencia. The last part of the season I put down to complacency and Fernandes' injury. AMUNT!
We need a central defender. The only part of our team that needs to be strengthen is defence imo. Our midfield is good. We could buy a defensive midfielder but only if he is a good one.
UEFA Europa League 2009/2010 Group Stage Draw Group B Valencia CF (ESP) LOSC Lille Métropole (FRA) SK Slavia Praha (CZE) Genoa CFC (ITA) http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=878144.html
Not good but at least we didn't sell our stars(except Raul Albiol). Europa League is a chance for Valencia to gain some money so the solution is to win it and to qualify for the next season's Champions League, then our financial situation would become much better, I reckon.
I actually think our squad looks pretty solid surprisingly - we have two good players in each position. I'm looking forward to this season.
I think we will definitely get in the Champions League spots this year, if injuries respect our players. But I disagree with you guys saying we have a good midfield. I think it's our weakest part by far. We have Banega, who seems to be good, but let's see if he can keep his current form. Fernandes is an unknown quantity after his injury, Albelda is no good anymore, and Baraja is only apt to play around 45 minutes a game. The fact that we have to use Marchena as our defensive midfielder really speaks a lot about how ********ed our midfield is (even though he played decently against Sevilla, it's not his natural position). I don't rate Maduro as a midfielder, because it seems emery will keep using him as CB. Let's see if with Fernandes return, he and Banega can solve this.
What about him? As I said I don't rate him as a midfielder because Emery seems intent on playing him as a CB.
Wow what a win . The players from the NT stepping up. Unexpected success in the beginning of the season.
By what about him I mean, we have another good cover in the CB position. So if we have Marchena as the DM, we have Albelda as his cover, and for the CM we have Banega with Ruben for his cover, and we have Fernandes anyways. We do have some decent depth. We just need to rotate our players. Get Zigic some playing time as well.
So 2009 comes to an end and we're in CL's spots and 1 point away from Sevilla, and we qualified from Europa League's group, so far so good I would say. It's a little disapointing that Madrid and Barsa are so far away, but with their unlimited resources I guess it can't be helped.
for those that have seen more of the matches, what would be your half season remarks about Valencia so far?
I'm very pleased with Valencia, we are only 3 points away from Real Madrid, who spent 300 million this summer! The only negatives I see are that the players tend to relax in the 2nd half when we are winning comofortably, and this has cost us on more than one ocasion (against Deportivo in Copa del Rey, Sparta Prague in Europa League, Sporting, Atletico Madrid, Mallorca in La Liga).
Our passing is choppy as hell. It's promising but looks like they're about to lose the ball at any given point. Or perhaps I've been watching too much Barca.