Three days, three big Villarreal games

   Hopefully all our American readers had a pleasant Thanksgiving and are ready to turn their thoughts back to the Yellow Submarine, and this weekend is a busy one in Vila-real! 

       At 6PM local time on Saturday (noon EST), Villarreal B takes on Numancia, needing to build on their excellent home result last time out to move away from the relegation places.  Numancia is a mid-table team but, frankly, one of the teams we should beat at home given the talent on our squad. 

     Some B-team news: Chiqui Guerrero wants to return home and play for a team in Ecuador.  He had looked good on occasion for the B-boys, but evidently he wants more playing time and sounds like he misses his family as well.

   And the squad for this match:

       Goalkeepers: Mariño and Jorge.
       Defenders: Kiko, Dervite, Toño, Mano, Carlos Tomás and Pere.
       Midfielders: Castellani, Lucas Porcar, Fofo, Marcos Gullón, Iriome, Toribio y Llorente.
       Forwards: Kike López, Airam y Joselu.

    Joselu is in this squad, Florian Lejeune will be called to the first team.

     On Sunday, the local derby--Villarreal (C) vs. Castellón-- takes place at the Sports City, also at noon.  I have no idea if this will be televised anywhere, but it might be the best chance for Submarine fans abroad to see the C team in action.  Our Tercera squad got off to a quick start but has floundered lately, while Castellón are challenging for the promotion places-- doing quite well considering the team was in danger of folding during the summer and was relegated from the Segunda B for financial issues.  Villarreal is expecting a good crowd for this one; it should outdraw the Numancia match comfortably.

    And Monday, it's the first-team squad in action, away to Málaga in a 3PM EST start.  It'll be a bittersweet reunion with Manuel Pellegrini and Santi Cazorla, though I'm reasonably optimistic if getting a result if we don't give the ball away like we did in Munich.  First-team news is that Catalá is out for 6 weeks (step forward, Joan Oriol) and Gonzalo may not be able to go here either.  Florian Lejeune may get to partner Musacchio in the center of defense.  Nilmar may be available soon, but with Joselu with the B team it sounds like another 4-5-1 from Garrido on Monday.

    Enjoy the remainder of the long weekend, and let's go for a clean sweep!! Endavant!