Villarreal News and Rumors: Senna, Rossi, Nilmar, Altidore

>>As that EPM article says, in the absence of any significant transfers out, César (assuming Juan Carlos is either loaned out or sold with a buyback clause), Canella, and Camuñas, plus a center-back, are the priorities for Villarreal. <<

—I like this news generally. Seriously, if Rossi and Nilmar are still around, we are going to be in good shape there. We do have to have a 4th striker, but we could be ok, I think, with a 4th striker coming from the B team. Obviously, if Rossi gets sold, as we all knwo is likely, we have to bring someone in that is a sure thing – not a “maybe”. If we are going to compete in the CL, we have to have more production than we did this year.

>>Loans to Levante – this is probably a great situation generally with Villarreal. Levante are not going to challenge Villarreal for position int he table (I hope), but it is Primera experience, just down the road from Vila-real.

yes, if Rossi and Nilmar are our primary attack pair again next year I think we might see Hernán Pérez promoted to the first team. The only other B player I can see promoted would be Falqué, if he signs a permanent deal.

Last year the injuries in defense took their toll, obviously, though frankly Mario and Catala did far better as replacements than we had any right to expect.

     However, what has been overlooked but was equally important in our falling away from Valencia was the wearing down of our attack. We scored only 16 goals in our last 19 games (39 in the first 19!!). Maybe we relied too much on the main two.

Nilmar had the great game in Leverkusen when he came off the bench, especially. I don’t
remember him doing that much domestically in the second half. It seemed to me without his speed to deal with teams started to mark Rossi out of the game—he had to work really hard for the chances he got.
  It’s interesting also as far as Canella and a CB are concerned. Obviously the CB is to cover Gonzalo’s absence/recovery, but also gives Garrido the option to slide Marchena into midfield. Canella obviously would be Capdevila’s replacement and a great long-term signing. It does leave Joan Oriol out in the cold I believe, since if you take Mario, Catala and the obvious choices, plus Canella and a new CB, you have 9 defenders (counting Marchena).

then I think there’s even less reason for Oriol to be in Garrido’s plans. Canella is younger and more experienced at the same time.
   My recollection was Sr. Roig talked about expanding the budget modestly (~ € 7 mil) which is maybe a bit short of paying for Canella/César/Camuñas (and signing Falqué permanently), but not much. I think if Villarreal could bring in ~€ 3mil from player sales the budget would be essentially balanced.
   This suggests maybe players such as Montero are more likely to get loaned. I continue to feel the Altidore experiment is going to end and surely someone will take Marcano.
    I like the plan of action as put forward in EPM, but if there is any way to do it I would love to add a player like Bryan Ruiz, who could give us a very interesting fourth attacking option.

All of this of course is assuming Rossi stays. If he goes then the money equation and need for attack players changes.