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Bicentenario 2010 Preview: Group Three Filled With Uncertainty
Given the recent roller coaster seasons of its clubs, Group Three could be just as strong from top to bottom as Group Two, or could be as lousy as Group One, says Goal.com's Luis Bueno.
Jan 14, 2010 4:15:52 PM
If Group One is the worst group and Group Two is the toughest, Group Three then should slide right in the middle. But it's not quite as straightforward as that. While this group features a lot of talentend and quality rosters, the up-and-down nature of several clubs here suggests that this group could either be as tough top-to-bottom as Group Two or as unreliable and weak as Group One.
After all, Cruz Azul went from worst-to-second while Pumas went from first-to-penultimate in one season's time. Estudiantes and Atlante could be tough, as could Santos and Tigres, or they could all be mired at the bottom of the overall table.
What's certain is this: there is no such thing as a lock from Group Three. Not even la Maquina.
CRUZ AZUL
Apertura 2009: 11-6-0; second in overall table, lost in final to Monterrey.
Key newcomers: Israel Lopez, Maxi Biancucchi, Christian Gimenez
Key losses: Ramon Nuñez, Edgar Andrade
Update: Cruz Azul came so close yet again as la Maquina reached - and lost - their third league final in the last four seasons. The team did more than a minor facelift in the offseason to try and snap at least part of the skid. Christian Gimenez teamed up with Enrique Meza for several titles with Pachuca and the two are hoping to recapture the magic with la Maquina.
Outlook: Club officials are banking on Gimenez being the last piece of the puzzle, and hope that he and Meza can lead Cruz Azul to their first title since 1997. Odds are against la Maquina reaching their fourth final in the last five seasons, if nothing else because no team has ever reached four out of five finals since the short seasons began in 1996.
ESTUDIANTES
Apertura 2009: 5-7-5, 12th in overall table
Key newcomers: Roberto Carlos Gutierrez, Alberto Ramirez.
Key losses: Bruno Marioni, Carlos Morales, Emmanuel Gaytan.
Update: Estudiantes had a rough-and-tumble Apertura '09 season. After making the Clausura 09 Liguilla, Estudiantes took a step or two backwards and failed to compete for a playoff spot once more. The team did not do well to replace longtime 'keeper Jose de Jesus Corona and never found their rhythm. However, a successful InterLiga campaign bodes well for the club's chances in the Bicentenario season.
Outlook: Estudiantes showed quite a bit of grit and tenacity in reaching the InterLiga finals and beating Puebla to advance to a Libertadores playoff. If the club can reach Copa Libertadores, it will be a challenge to balance both league and cup obligations, and the team's campaign could suffer if manager Miguel Herrera does not handle the challenges both tournaments pose.
ATLANTE
Apertura 2009: 7-8-2, ninth in overall table, did not qualify for Liguilla.
Key newcomers: Johan Fano.
Key losses: Gabriel Pereyra, Diego Cervantes.
Update: Atlante had an interesting and busy offseason. In December, los Potros went to the Middle East for the FIFA Club World Cup, and had the chance to play against Barcelona in a meaningful match. Then, Atlante had the opportunity to qualify for yet another international tournament but failed to do much damage in InterLiga.
Outlook: While their winter wasn't exactly productive, Atlante enter the season without much of the same problems with rhythm as their counterparts. Atlante should be able to step into the new season in midseason form. If that translates to some early victories, Atlante could set the pace in Group 3.
TIGRES
Apertura 2009: 5-5-7, 10th in overall table.
Key newcomers: Sergio Amaury Ponce, Everton Cardoso.
Key losses: Javier Saavedra, Mario Ruiz.
Update: Tigres have had a rough time with manager Daniel Guzman. While Guzman's energy has not subsided, the club's transition from a tumultuous Clausura '09 season to this new regime did not go smoothly. Further red flags were raised during InterLiga as Tigres were blown out by Puebla and blew leads to Monterrey and Jaguares.
Outlook: Tigres need to start off the season with a win or two in order to calm some nerves in Monterrey. Things could easily spiral out of control and relegation could rear its ugly head, which could lead to another managerial change.
PUMAS
Apertura 2009: 4-8-5, 17th in overall table, did not qualify for Liguilla.
Key newcomers: None.
Key losses: None.
Update: If it ain't broke, why fix it? Pumas' philosophy was such, after the club won the Clausura '09 season. But something happened at the start of their title defense campaign. Pumas broke down and quite often, winning just once in their first 10 games. For the reigning league champion to finish in second-to-last place in the overall table is simply unacceptable.
Outlook: What was clearly a broken team last season was not fixed as the club enters the Bicententario season with the same faces as before. Which club shows up? The team that won the Clausura season or the team that played miserable football in the Apertura?
SANTOS
Apertura 2009: 7-4-6, sixth in overall table, lost to Morelia in quarterfinals
Key newcomers: Felipe Baloy, Carlos Morales, Oribe Peralta.
Key losses: Johnny Garcia, Juan Carlos Mosqueda, Jorge Barrera.
Update: Santos had a bit of a strange campaign last season. The club reached the playoffs and appeared to have gained some stability. By moving into their new stadium, the colossal Territorio Santos Modelo, los Guerreros appeared poised to settle down after a rough stretch that saw the sacking of Daniel Guzman. Instead, the club fired manager Sergio Bueno after he led the team to the Liguilla, and opted for Ruben Omar Romano. Santos, though, failed in his first exam as the club whimpered quietly out of InterLiga.
Outlook: Romano has had success in Mexico but the firing of Bueno is unsettling. Guzman was unjustly ran out of town and the front office appeared to have cleared room for Bueno, but now he is gone after just one full season at the helm. Do Santos officials have unrealistic expectations for their club or is this simply the best move for their club? Santos have the talent to compete but their potential instable situation is troublesome.
Luis Bueno is Mexico editor of Goal.com.
For more coverage of the Bicentenario 2010 season visit Goal.com's Mexico page.
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