The rise of Valencia

[papaguy51 912]

On Friday night, I could have constructed a long list of things that I didn't expect to see on Monday morning but, if I had then erased anything sordid or relating to my personal life, Valencia sitting pretty in La Liga's number one spot would have featured very near the top.

The facts have been touched upon in this blog a couple of times in the past but in the summer Valencia sold their best two players from recent seasons, David Villa and David Silva.

They can't sell their own Mestalla stadium thanks to the Spanish economic crisis and work on the Nou Mestalla has not progressed in the last 18 months owing to the club's huge debts.

For the last two seasons, players' wages have been routinely paid late, often several months in arrears, and estimates of how much in the red the club really is suggests that a figure of around 450m euros may be not too far off the mark.

Under normal circumstances, you might have expected all the fight to have gone from the players - and for last year's third-placed team in La Liga to gently slip towards the lower reaches of the division.

However, the reverse has happened and they are again shining in adversity.

Much of the credit, in no small part, has to go to their coach Unai Emery, who could easily have walked into a job at another good - and more financially stable - club, but he valiantly decided to stay for another season.

Emery is now being widely talked about as a possible replacement for Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque if, as expected, he stands down after Euro 2012.

Admittedly, we are only three games into the season here in Spain and Valencia have yet to face any of the big guns like Barcelona, Real Madrid or even local rivals Villarreal.

Nevertheless, away trips to Malaga and Alicante, where Hercules are based, could have been fraught with problems for a club on the slide but, instead, Valencia put them both to the sword.

The win over Hercules was especially impressive as the home side was still basking in the glory of the shock result of the last couple of seasons, beating Barcelona 2-0 in the Camp Nou a week ago.

Valencia's Spain internationals Juan Mata and Pablo Hernandez are gelling well up front and only a couple of questionable refereeing decisions stopped them from defeating Hercules by an even bigger margin.

The Valencia defence was regularly pulled out of position, which could cost them dearly against other opponents, and they gave former French international David Trezeguet, once one of Europe's top strikers and still a potent force at 32, far too much room but they had Cesar Sanchez to mop up after their mistakes.

Despite turning 39 earlier this month, and clearly in the autumn of his career, Cesar Sanchez has rarely been playing better.

It makes you wonder what they could be capable of if everything off-the-field was a little rosier.

By Phil Minshull

A good read on one of our CL opponents

[Orangeclement 556]

They still have fantastic players , Mata , Pablo , soldado , arduiz, banega and sanchez etc although i would want us to at least have a go at them because as good as they are up front i suspect that they are a little bit suspect at the back especially down the flanks IMO

[H72 265]

They're a fantastic side. I really fear if Juan Manuel Mata is given the space at Ibrox, he'll give us hell. Shouldn't be too much trouble though, the game at Old Trafford showed we need not panic over the superstars of other teams - especially when we have Kirk Broadfoot pushing up the park with stepover-galore!

[*Manticore* 1,893]

Not a team that should ever be underestimated, Valencia are two of the best European sides I have seen at Ibrox, '79 and '99.

[papaguy51 912]

Too many people keep giving it the old 'Valencia are skint line' without actually looking at the players they have left in the squad.

They have an outstanding team.

[H72 265]

Too many people keep giving it the old 'Valencia are skint line' without actually looking at the players they have left in the squad.

They have an outstanding team.

You would think given our recent financial scare, fans wouldn't be so quick to pass on the same treatment we were given despite showing our ability on the park in the face of adversity - just as the article points out.

[garycassidy1802 37]

They had a great side in 1999 when I seen them at Ibrox, and while the past few seasons they've been rather inconsistent, even with Villa and Silva, can't help but think that even without them they will push us for everything we have.

I'd like to think we'll have a bit of a go at them at Ibrox and maybe just shut up shop at their gaff as we did v Man United

[wearethemighty 186]

I really believe that this Valencia team will top our section. Man U will find it tough against them and although I hope im wrong, I dont see us getting more than a point against them over the two games.

[papaguy51 912]

I really believe that this Valencia team will top our section. Man U will find it tough against them and although I hope im wrong, I dont see us getting more than a point against them over the two games.

I think exactly the same thing.

Valencia will tonk them in the Mestalla.

[Orangeclement 556]

1 GK César Sánchez (3rd captain)

2 DF Bruno Saltor

3 DF Hedwiges Maduro

4 DF David Navarro (vice captain)

5 MF Mehmet Topal

6 MF David Albelda

7 MF Joaquín Sánchez (4th captain)

8 MF Chori Domínguez

9 FW Roberto Soldado

10 MF Juan Manuel Mata

11 FW Aritz Aduriz

12 MF Sofiane Feghouli

13 GK Vicente Guaita

No. Position Player

14 MF Vicente Rodríguez (captain)

15 DF Ángel Dealbert

17 DF Marius Stankevičius (on loan from Sampdoria)

18 MF Manuel Fernandes

19 MF Pablo Hernández

20 DF Ricardo Costa

21 MF Éver Banega

22 DF Jérémy Mathieu

23 DF Miguel Monteiro

24 MF Tino Costa

25 GK Miguel Ángel Moyà

28 MF Jordi Alba

Some right good players but still think they are weak at the back

[papaguy51 912]

Jordi Alba probably won't even start against us in either match, but he's a fantastic player.

[gandhisflip 5]

They might be a good team but surely 4th captain is a bit gay??

[Orangeclement 556]

he may play at left back , im sure he played there a few times last season

[garycassidy1802 37]

I just hope the last result was cause Burza are shite and not Valencia being unstoppable.

A few flare players we need to watch but we have big Boughie to stop them

[HooliGoon 1]

Valencia and Man U will have hard fought games against each other. I'm hoping fer them te underestimate us. If we can hold them te 2 draws and Man U te another draw we will only have te beat the Turks twice,which wont be as easy as it seems. Just speculation though. I don't want te look past the Turks. We have te show them up fer us te have any chance te go through.

[Ryan_1 1,132]

Was going to post something on Valencia a few days ago, but never got round to it.

I have been keeping a close eye on them seen we have been drawn against them in the CL. To say they are flying would be an understatement. The players they have brought in have been brilliant so far, and the likes of Silva and Villa really haven't been missed.

Tino Costa looks some player. Seen him a couple of times now and what a left foot this boy has got. Fantastic little player. You've got the likes of Ever Banega, Chori Dominguez, Juan Mata, Joaquin, Vicente, Soldado, Arduiz, Jordi Alba and Pablo Hernandez. I really do fear Valencia at the moment.

[gsa 3,906]

Ever Banega is one of the best c.m around in my opinion. His touch and passing are unreal and he is very tenacious. I worry that edu will lack the sharpness and aggression to compete with him and mcculloch will lack the mobility to get close to him.

[tangledupinblue 0]

Valencia and Man U will have hard fought games against each other. I'm hoping fer them te underestimate us. If we can hold them te 2 draws and Man U te another draw we will only have te beat the Turks twice,which wont be as easy as it seems. Just speculation though. I don't want te look past the Turks. We have te show them up fer us te have any chance te go through.

If we hold them to two draws, draw with man u and beat the turks twice we'll be unbeaten on 10 points!

thats got to be a bit optimistic.

If we can beat Bursapor in the next game, 4pts from 2 games, we give ourselves half a chance.

[TravelingWilBEARy 4,319]

The Aberdeen of Spain.

[outlaw69uk 123]

Too many people keep giving it the old 'Valencia are skint line' without actually looking at the players they have left in the squad.

They have an outstanding team.

Rangers are "skint" too mate. You are right though, Valencia are just doing (in a rather Spanish way) what we have been doing under Smith. Less or no superstars, but, what does that give you? a TEAM! And, Footy is a team game. Shouldnt really be a surprise, having these overpaid superstars, can push other lesser paid players a bit nose out of joint.

I hate us playing Spanish teams, especially when we need a result, because, historically, we dont get them!

[Misteral 2,909]

I just want 3 points next week.

[WilliamFyfe 1,438]

If we beat them

[Ozblue 4,331]

They might be skint but that doesn't stop that squad knowing how to play football...

AND they are fucking good at it.

[J_RFC87 705]

They are no match for anti-football. They should be fearing us

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

I note all the credit under adversity is going to the manager !!

Copycats!!