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Eurowatch: Valencia 3 Villareal 0 Match Report

Yokerbhoy has been keeping an eye on our next opponents in the europa League…and it makes for interesting reading.. 

Campeonato de La Liga Española January 26th

Valencia 3 Villareal 0

 

Por lo visto el conjunto valencianista ya ha empezado a jugar con criterio, y va cosechando los éxitos necesarios para aspirar a los puestos europeos.

Image result for valencia 3 villarreal 0

Last night’s encounter between two local rivals was an entertaining and action-packed affair with the home side producing what was arguably their best performance of the season so far. The Chés became rampant in that second half and it was only thanks to the Villareal goalie Sergio Asenjo, who pulled off quite a number of breathtaking acrobatic sabes, that the tally was somehow kept down to only three. I shit you not.

The Yellow Submarine’s nightmare season continues and their main problems lie with their misfiring forward line and their leaky defence. Their midfield, on the other hand, looks strong and competitive and is captained by that fine veteran pro and former-Spain international Santi Cazorla, whose footballing skills are a delight to watch. In fact, despite being on the end of a serious beating yesterday, the Castellón side enjoyed 55% of the possession. This defeat takes them down to 2nd bottom position with the clear threat of relegation staring them in the face. Worse than that, they couldn’t even beat the huns over two legs in the EL qualifying group a couple of months ago. 🙂

What struck me most about Valencia’s display last night was that for once they had continuity in their play and kept very high concentration levels from start to finish whereas, in the previous games which I have viewed recently, their quality only showed in patches and they tended to fade from the game during lengthy spells. Whether last night’s super show of clinical excellence was a one-off or another evident sign that they really have turned the corner after a very mediocre first half of the season remains to be seen. It’s not all that easy to guage this progress as they have chopped and changed their team a lot and utilise mostly squad players and young prospects in their mid-week cup games but there were some tell-tale signs of serious improvement in last weekends away match to Celta in which they came from behind to win in spectacular fashion.

Last night their first goal came from a wonderful free-kick delivery by nº10 Parejo into the box, which was head-flicked on by French midfielder Francis Coquelin into the path of massive fellow countyman Mouctar Diakhaby, who bulleted in an unstoppable header. The second came midway through the 2nd half due to a clamorous defensive error in which the ball was cheaply given away to set up the Russian Chéryshev, who had been denied in the first half by an unbelievable stop from Asenjo, to fire into the corner of the net. The third was the fruit of an exquisite diagonal cross ball into the box by highly-gifted youngster Ferran Torres, who had recently entered the field of play, onto the head of stiker Rodrigo Moreno, who made absolutely no mistake.

Conclusions and Observations:

Worryingly, the chés appear to be growing hugely in confidence and are starting to become much more clinical in front of goal. Although they have been without their most naturally talented player, Portuguese wide-left midfielder Gonçalo Guedes, who is likely to miss both legs against us, this team is now looking very solid and efficient throughout. I’ve already reported on some of the players so I’ll describe a few more. Brazilian keeper Neto is very competent and capable of pulling off wonder saves. I was surprised to see mainstay Brazilian central defender Paulista left out last night (maybe he’s carrying a knock) but his deputy, man mountain Diakhaby was very solid throughout and demonstrated what a huge aerial threat he represents with that spectacular headed goal. French midfielder Francis Coquelin chiefly plays in a defensive central midfield role and in previous games was guilty of drifting out of the game and being almost invisible but last night he was very much involved in a hotly disputed tussle against very good players to gain control in the middle of the park and displayed some exceptional moments of skill on the ball and precision passing. The Russian (wide left midfield) can be a bit hit or miss but never hides while right-sided midfielder Carlos Soler is highly experienced and quietly effective. The Valencia team also has a wealth of young talent in their squad and these young players usually get their chance in cup ties but I’m not sure if they’d be risked in European competition. Their two hottest prospects are 17 year old South Korean wide left midfielder Lee Kang-In who can do amazing tricks with the ball, can deal with the physical side of things but is still lacking in positional sense while 18 year-old right sided midfielder Ferran Torres is probably the most exciting prospect of all. A fine all-rounder, he is now providing serious competition to occupy the berth held by Soler.

Overall, based on what I witnessed last night, our men in green & white will really have to be on top form and pull something special out of the bag to live with these guys next month.

Yesterday’s team: 4-4-2

Neto

Piccini Diakhaby Garay Gayà

Soler Coquelin Parejo Chéryshev

Moreno Mina

Subs used: Waas on for Chéryshev, Lee Kang-In for Mina and Torres for Soler

 
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Uralius
5 years ago

Good stuff Yorker! Are the back 2 rapid? Do either of the wide men cut in?

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

Cheers Uralius. Veteran Argentinian centre half Garay looks more in the traditional mode, i.e. not particularly fast but physical, no-nonsense and a real rock for their defence, who don’t tend to concede many goals. Brazilian Paulista, on the other hand, is generally quicker, more of a ball player and likes to carry the ball forward. Out of the two wide midfielders who normally feature (Chéryshev and Soler), it’s the battling Russian who tends to cut in more. Soler tends to keep his position and likes to deliver a lot of cross balls (both from the bye line and diagonally). If Diakhaby ends up being chosen against us, he’s more in the Bobo Balde mould, a very strong physical player but has been known to be a bombscare with odd lapses in concentration.

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago

Cheers Uralius. My reply has gone somewhere for a bevvy but I’m sure will pop up later.

Mike
5 years ago

BBBBRRilliiaant commentary once again Yoker, you have captured the most salient points of an exciting game. They seem to be gelling and improving week on week, which you rightly say is bad news for us. A 67% run of good form and goal threats from all over the park, so they are not just reliant on their forwards. Take the Copa del Ray result against Getafe out of the equation and they have won their last three league games. Villarreal on the other hand haven’t won their last seven games. They seem happy to play 4-4-2 which is an older form of tactics it must be to give their best players a game, be solid at the back and have a goal scoring obvious threat. The three yellows for Villarreal tells its own story and the score line was emphatic. So we have an opposition team improving weekly and one who will place geat score in the Europa results. They have spent big money compared to us, so this will be a big test for us. Dani Pajero is a big player for them and Piccinni was also lost to them at right back. Yoker this is great information and illustrates what we face in our crucial next game. We have some great players also, but it would have been a hell of a lot better if we had spent some of the money we have to improve the team. Well done Yoker, you have done us all proud…

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago

Thanks Mike, glad you enjoyed it. The mere fact that they are playing against seriously good teams week in week out (and their bigger spending budget of course) makes them favourites to go through but they still make quite a few mistakes and are beatable. I guess their technical level and overall quality would be quite similar to that of Red Bull Salzburg’s at the moment.

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Mikey, as it goes most top flight Spanish sides go with a flexible 4-4-2 as they seem to find the width and stability that it gives them beneficial. Exceptions are Barca and R Madrid, who usually go with an attacking 4-3-3.

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Yoker, I suppose its horses for courses, flexibility and quality players are key, playing two upfront has its advantages. It will be very interesting to see how Brendan sets Celtic up to play them and vice versa. I am certain that they would have scouted us recently and our scouts them. We must take a win to Valencia if we have to have any chance of progression. They seem to be a threat from set pieces as well as open play. So a hard task to progress but as you say they are not invincible, a packed Celtic park, our enthusiastic support pushing us on, especially if we take our chances. Thanks Yoker for providing us with such great information, it adds so much to the enjoyment of the game.

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Many thanks to you sir. Great insight and totally agree with your entire post. I’m a bit spoilt these days with all this top-notch Spanish footie on my telly! Have a nice evening Mikey.

charlie
5 years ago

hail hail yoker a lot better than yon snide link ye telt me aboot ha ha ha ha …..am no wan fur biting ma nals noo yoov got me chewing ma knuckles he he

SteveNaive
5 years ago

Excellent Yoker, thanks. Maybe we could nick it here but could struggle over there. They have Getafe, Barcelona and Sociedad before and in between us so hopefully a heavy doing at the Camp Nou may shake them a bit.

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  SteveNaive

Cheers Steve. The beauty of the beautiful game is that absolutely anything can happen and although Valencia currently look a bit stronger than us all round, the difference isn’t all that big and who knows, their form may take a dip again.

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago

Hi Charlie, my mistake sorry bout that mate. For the next time I think it’s cricfree tv (no cric tv). Come on you Livingstone, gie thae huns a doin’. 🙂

No guarantees the Spaniards will krep up this high level btw so dinnae worry.

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

cheers mate

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago

Many thanks to Ralph for publishing my wee story as a separate piece.

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

Excellente, YBhpy.

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago

Gracias amigo mío!!

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