Villarreal Gets Past Battling Sociedad
by siempre_riquelme on Jan 24, 2011 6:55 AM CET
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PrintGood win today. We're getting a bit spoiled, though, as a 2-1 victory almost doesn't seem like enough. Let's not turn into Barca or Madrid fans, shall we?
Match highlights from YouTube:
3 UP:
- Santi Cazorla. Nice to see Santi back in form. He's been a bit more up and down this season than we are accustomed to, but today he was brilliant. The pass on the first goal was inch-perfect, through a sliding defender's legs and in between two others. And the second goal he created was a thing of beauty. A great steal (at 1:15 of the video clip), then an even better instinctive through-ball. Even more important on a day when the rest of the midfield was not at its best.
- Giuseppe Rossi. A classy poacher's brace. Timely movement for the first goal, which he blasted past Bravo and then immediately turned back to midfield. Eyes on the prize. And though Santi deserves much of the credit, the Italian-American made a fine chip on the winner. Looks like he's taken lessons from his sidekick Nilmar.
- Carlos Marchena. Good for our hardman to get some minutes on his return from injury. We'll need him on Sunday at a hostile Cornellà-El Prat. But please don't play around with the ball so much near your own goal.
3 DOWN:
- Gonzalo Rodríguez. Our best defender on the evening, assertive in the air against his ex-teammate Joseba Llorente (whom we kept nice and quiet). Seems to be a trend, as Forlán generally keeps his goals in Madrid. But on the opener, Gonzalo was caught in no man's land. He neither marked Llorente nor Aranburu, and two headers led to a goal out of nothing and against the run of play.
- Jefferson Montero. Warming up and then not playing against Osasuna is one thing. Not making the squad when Ángel, Nilmar, and Senna are missing is another altogether. I'll have a post on Jeffrey later in the week, but this is bad news for the Ecuadorean international. And it's not like we have anyone to fill his role in the squad (Iago should get a chance once the B team is safe).
- Jozy Altidore. With 8 defenders in the squad, it was either him or Matilla as a change if we fell behind. Rossi's goals on either side of halftime may have forestalled a move, but Garrido kept a substitution in his pocket rather than bring on the American. After 90 minutes in the Copa, I figured that he would replace an ineffective Ruben, but it never came to be. Maybe the transfer rumors are accurate?
All eyes now on next Sunday's showdown against Espanyol. Rest up, boys.
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Two deserved off-days for a tired squad. Back to work on Wednesday morning ahead of Sunday evening’s Champions League encounter.
by sidarth on Jan 24, 2011 6:57 AM CET reply actions
I thought Bruno played very well yesterday too.
Mario did pretty well except for letting Llorente get on the wrong side of him for that first header.
by Allen on Jan 24, 2011 1:05 PM CET up reply actions
saw da match on reply last night, and it was a good hard fought win
but da defense still needs tuning
altitdore;
garrido didn’t have him even warming up, i guess garrido must not liked his perfermance v sevilla or he’s going on loan
does anyone know if their rumors of altidore not working hard in training?
he was accused of tat @ hull, xerez red bulls, etc
by jackson on Jan 24, 2011 6:36 PM CET reply actions
I have not heard that at Villarreal, though as we know we don’t get the same level of reporting as we do at Barca or Madrid. What little Garrido has said about him has been complimentary, at least.
I thought since we took the lead early in the second half and held it there really wasn’t a need for him. Ruben was not as his best offensively (if he’d been a bit quicker he could’ve scored on a rebound Bravo spilled) but he did track back well and create pressure on Sociedad players.
The subs Garrido made were really the ones I expected he would make given the circumstances. I think Jozy would have warmed up and/or gotten in if say we were 2-1 down with 20 minutes to go and Garrido wanted to change the formation. But as it was it made sense to replace attacking midfielders with more defensively-minded ones (and give Cicinho and Marchena some time) which is exactly what Garrido did.
by Allen on Jan 24, 2011 6:50 PM CET up reply actions
Still, without Montero on the bench, that is a situation where I would have expected to see Jozy come on for 5 or so minutes towards the end for Ruben, if Garrido was expecting to keep him around. I could see a loan spell for him coming, and, if it is to another club in the Primera, then I think it would be excellent for both Altidore and the club.
by maddi on Jan 24, 2011 8:53 PM CET up reply actions
Interesting viewpoint as always from Phil Ball, who caught the match on television in a San Sebastian bar on Sunday night:
What is interesting here is the extent to which the Spanish retain fixed beliefs about their teams, and how that comes to influence the way these teams develop, or otherwise. Walking towards the door on Sunday night as the barflies dispersed after the final whistle at Villarreal, an ageing but vocal Real supporter who had his team shirt rolled tightly over his alarming beer belly, addressed the bar with, ’’They’re alright Villarreal. But who the hell are they? In ten years’ time, they’ll be playing Alcorcon in Segunda B, and we’ll still be in the top flight.’’
Appealing to a sense of history, and unable to view Villarreal as anything but newcomers to the scene (when he was young they would have been unheard of), he tossed out the comment to the floor, as compensation for the defeat. There were some murmurs of assent, but it was an interesting thing to hear. Villarreal are a popular side in Spain, and their political neutrality (they do not hail from any strongly identifiable urban scene), their pretty colours, their low-key support and their attractive football make them difficult to dislike. The present young generation in Spain accept them as one of the major clubs – which historically they are not, of course. But they are an example of an institution that is not particularly established in the national psyche. Others are not so lucky.
by maddi on Jan 24, 2011 10:33 PM CET reply actions
Great article, as always. As I said on the Forza Futbol podcast, next year will be the real challenge. Fingers crossed for our continued viability as the third option of Spanish football.
by sidarth on Jan 25, 2011 2:02 AM CET up reply actions
This Villarreal side, after 20 rounds, is the best third-placed team in La Liga history. Too bad this year’s Valencia is the best fourth-placed side ever.
by sidarth on Jan 25, 2011 1:32 AM CET reply actions
Valenica can thank bunch of last minute offside goals for that
by Acqua on Jan 25, 2011 5:47 AM CET up reply actions
Strange (interesting?) MLS rumors:
Senna might take a look this summer. And Capdevila may come state-side after his contract expires.
by sidarth on Jan 25, 2011 1:40 AM CET reply actions
I thought the Phil Ball article was great…..and before we get too upset about the “they’ll be in the Segunda B playing alcorcon” comment, there’s precedent, quite close to San Sebastian.
May 2001 UEFA Cup Final: Liverpool 5 Deportivo Alaves 4
One of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen, and voted one of the 20 best by the Telegraph(London) in 2007.
10 years later Alaves are in the Segunda B. Currently leading their section of it, actually, although they lost to Real Sociedad’ s B team at the weekend!
by Allen on Jan 25, 2011 3:16 AM CET reply actions
It’s really disheartening what is happening to Montero.
It seems that a late return from an international fixture has gotten him in the hot seat with Garrido, and we are slowly pissing off the player that was to rid us of Cani once for all…
Btw, great point on garrido being very psychology-oriented. They even made a piece @ mediterraneo about him bringing on a therapist.
by Chris on Jan 25, 2011 6:14 AM CET reply actions
I agree to some extent. Look for a post on Montero later in the week.
However, Cani has been one of our top players this season. He has answered my early doubts and is full value for his contract extension. Let’s hope his play continues to impress.
by sidarth on Jan 25, 2011 6:42 AM CET up reply actions
MY 2 Cents on Montero
I didn’t watch very much of Villarreal B last season, but heard everyone here talk good about Montero.
I had seen highlights of the mactches. but youtube highlights don’t tell the full story of a match.
When I saw Montero on Liga in early part of Season when Cani was doing so-so and Montero was getting chances.
I noticed 3 things about Montero
1) He hogs the ball and takes on too many defender
when a siple pass to open player
2) harly tracks back
3) Comes out gang ho, but if things don’t go his way. he disappears.
So not really suprised he is not working out , especially w/garrido no nonese ways
Hey Montero = Went to doghouse
Gonzalo = Came out of the Doghouse to captain the team
Bottom Line:
Montero IMO is having hard time listening to Garrido ways (Passing, tracking back, pressueing) and his costing him playing time.
by Acqua on Jan 25, 2011 9:28 AM CET up reply actions
Cani
My2 cents.
He is doing well after a so-so start
by Acqua on Jan 25, 2011 9:31 AM CET reply actions
News just in that Giuseppe Rossi has reached agreement on a new contract with Villarreal, until 2016:
Great news. On the injury front, Nilmar will train with the team Wednesday for the first time though how soon he will return is not clear (probably still for Levante) and Senna will return “mid to late February” is what we’re now being told.
by Allen on Jan 25, 2011 1:04 PM CET reply actions
2 bits of news across the twitter feed this morning:
(1) Ander Herrera reportedly more interested in moving to Villarreal from Zaragoza than Athletic Bilbao. “better sporting aspirations” is the reason given. Not sure how far along any negotiations might be with him though.
(2) Bad news for Joseba Llorente: he apparently has developed a slipped disc and will miss the rest of the season. A big blow for Real Sociedad.
by Allen on Jan 25, 2011 2:56 PM CET reply actions
The word today from the Vila-Real end is that the club are no longer pursuing their interest in Herrera due to what is considered to be the exorbitant fee demanded by Zaragoza. I get the impression that the club is still looking to reinforce the midfield but that they are finding it difficult to find the right quality player at a price they are willing to pay.
http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/negueroles-objetivo-mejorar-tenemos/20110125dasdaiftb_12/Tes
by Kenez on Jan 25, 2011 4:52 PM CET up reply actions
Very good news with Rossi extending his contract:-))
Have we given up on Castro in Mallorca??
by jens the dane. on Jan 25, 2011 5:24 PM CET reply actions
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