I’m back! But did I ever really leave?
I did. The shenanigans around the club bewitched, bothered and bewildered me to the point of becoming a simpering, whimpering child again.
Dalport, Vicente Soriano’s heel turn, Colombian drug lords/lingerie salesmen, Juan Soler the Hutt and David Villa’s impending transfer to one of either Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Liverpool, the New York Yankees or the Dallas Cowboys … it all did my head in.
But it’s the start of a new league campaign! The silly season is behind us. Manuel Llorente has steadied the ship and we’re ready to take off, Captain Unai Emery willing to guide the Orange cruiser through the murky waters known as La Liga.
Can we challenge the financial giants known as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona for Spanish football supremacy? Let’s find out …

*Let me state this right off the bat: When I said I was leaving, I meant it. So I haven’t watched the team during pre-season or really know much about our new acquisitions. So cut me some slack, ok? Fill in the blanks … help a brother out … *
Who’s In?
Miguel Angel Moya – Strong upgrade at ‘keeper. He can even play midfielder (ok, maybe not)! Doesn’t hurt VCF’s marketing that he looks like a super model.
Bruno Saltor – He’s bald and I hear he’s quite the defender. Barca was interested in him.
Angel Dealbert – CB from 2nd division side Castellon. He’s fit in nicely.
Jeremy Mathieu – He’s French, a LB … and that’s all I know. Sorry. (I told you this would be lame)
Nikola Zigic – He counts, as he was on loan at Racing Santander last year. He’s back and Zigicsaurus is scoring goals in the pre-season at an awesome clip. Doesn’t hurt that he’s 9 feet tall.
Ever Banega – Our favorite adult film star is back from Atletico. Hopefully he’s progressed. Seems like a lot of clubs want him, like Everton …
David Navarro – After beating up the entire Inter Milan team a few years back, Navarro is back to cause more damage to opposing clubs. Defender who is sort of good to have on the bench.
Jordi Alba – Here’s where I need help. I know he’s Catalan, from Nastic and a midfielder. What else?
Miku – Who? (Edit: I didn’t originally have him in here – Thanks, Lloyd!)
Who’s Out?
First, the guys no one cares about …
Vicente Guaita (Recreativo)
Bellvis (Tenerife)
Lombán (Salamanca)
Hugo Viana (Sporting de Braga)
Take care and thanks for playing …
Now, guys who are on loan and may come back one day …
Renan (Xerez) – Never fit in and injured much of last season.
Montoro (Real Unión)
Ximo Navarro (Elche)
Sunny (Betis) – Why isn’t he given more of a chance?
Carleto (Elche) – Too green. Needs to play more and hopefully the move to Elche gives him that opportunity.
Now, guys that will be missed …
Raúl Albiol (Real Madrid) – While his own goals won’t be missed, Albiol is a true Valencianista. It hurts to see our ex-captain in the Merengue whites …
Curro Torres (Nástic de Tarragona) – Manolo’s ex-head busboy was often injured and couldn’t live up to his 2004 title-winning season.
Fernando Morientes (Olympique Marseille) – It was time.
Edu (Corinthians) – Always injured. A class act, though and would have been a great fit if he was ever healthy.
Moretti (Genoa) – He grew on me last season but I’m sure what we have now is better.
Angulo – Not technically gone but one foot is out the door. I feel for him. He’s been with the team since 1974 or so and deserves more than being shuffled off like a bag of potatoes. The new man at Manolo’s, anyone?
The Squad
Coach Unai Emery starts his 2nd season at the helm with the help of one of our most important pieces during the 2002 and 2004 championship seasons: trainer Paco Ayestaran, who makes his way back from Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool.
Paco will whip the new recruits into shape. And boy, do we need to get in shape.
Goal
Here’s one area we’re very strong. Cesar comes back for another season. The 37-year old (38 in early September) is a wily veteran and a terrific stopper. Moya is also solid and a poised ‘keeper. We’re fine in this department, more so than at any time since Santiago Canizares was in his prime.
Defence
Nithin did an incredible job breaking down the defence a few weeks ago … let’s hope he comes back to finish what he started. I won’t be as in-depth as I haven’t seen the team play. But here’s what I think …
Defence was one area that needed to be addressed. Gone is ex-captain Albiol and the erratic Moretti. In are solid defenders like Bruno, Dealbert and Mathieu.
The main thing is: Can these guys gel?
Also …
- Is Miguel fit?
- Where does Marchena play? CB or defensive midfield?
- Has Alexis developed?
- Where do Marchena and Maduro fit in? CB’s? DM?
- How do Asier Del Horno and David Navarro fit in?
The answers to these questions will go a long way towards determining where VCF finish this season.
Midfield
Here’s one area the squad is particularly strong, especially in the middle and flanks. The back? Not so much.
Of interest is where Maduro and Marchena fit in. Both can play defence and defensive midfield but both are more suited for DM. So who plays there?
Also …
- Where does Ever Banega fit in?
- How much of Albelda and Baraja will we see? An over-reliance on their aging bodies would be suicide.
- Is Manuel Fernandes fit? If so, does he want to play here?
Up front, we’re a little more solid. Not many teams outside the Big Two can boast a lineup with players like Vicente, Joaquin, Mata, David Silva and Pablo Hernandez. Any combination of the five would be great.
- Can Vicente stay fit?
- Is Joaquin motivated to have a monster year ahead of the 2010 World Cup?
- Will we see progress out of both Juan Mata and Pablo?
We’re good up front, so-so in the middle. But this could be a great unit if they gel … I’m expecting monster seasons from Pablo and Joaquin, who both want to play in South Africa next year.
Forwards
We’re a tad thin here. But what we have is wonderful.
David Villa is the best striker in the world.
Nikola Zigic is 11 feet tall.

If we manage to stay healthy, watch out … But …
- Can Villa stay healthy?
- Can Zigic handle a season at VCF … and score goals?
- What happens if either of these two get hurt? Silva and Mata as strikers?
- What is the Miku factor? WHO is Miku? (Help, please …)
It’s an area we’re much better in than last season, thanks to Zigic, who we tried to rid ourselves of (why?) … but it’s an area we lack depth. Let’s hope we can stay healthy …
So … what does this all mean?
On paper, we’re better than last season. Never mind the back room soap opera and the transfer dilemmas. That’s all in the past now.
What matters now is how Emery and his staff deploy the troops on the pitch.
Certainly things will be tough for us. FC Barcelona won everything known to man last season. Real Madrid bought everyone known to man this season …
And that’s not saying anything yet about Sevilla, Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, who should all challenge for a coveted Champions League spot.
Tomorrow it’s the 2nd leg of a Europa League qualifier against Norway’s Stabaek, our minds clearly on this Sunday’s contest against Sevilla, which opens the campaign. We’re up 3-0 against the Norwegians. Expect the starters to rest and the likes of Banega, Zigic, Michel and Navarro on the Mestalla pitch tomorrow.
Best case scenario for 2009-10? A 3rd place finish and a long run in the Europa League.
If injuries take place, a player sulks or regresses and the Mestalla soap opera returns? A 7th place finish and out of Europe next season …
It could break either way …
I’d love to say that My Beloved is going to win La Liga. But we’re up against the two biggest and best clubs in the world in FCB and Real Madrid. 3rd is no joke.
It’s a new team. A new era. No more Dalport or Soriano. No more ‘As the Mestalla Turns’ … this season’s dedicated to football, the way it should be …
Villa stayed. Silva stayed. Manuel Llorente is in charge. It’s a whole new ball game …
Amunt! It’s nice to be back … Let’s hope for a glorious campaign …