La Liga Preview: Almería - Valencia

Unai Emery has promised he will celebrate a victory if Los Che make it two wins in two at Almeria, as the young coach returns to his old Mediterraneo haunt after guiding Valencia’s upcoming opponents to a fantastic 8th place finish last season.  

Emery recently talked up his attacking intentions, as well as revealing a staunch belief that football should be entertaining. He even said he preferred winning 5-4 to 1-0. While Che fans would respond in like spirit, Valencia could come unstuck if they throw too much caution to the wind in Almeria. The hosts are not here to make up the numbers this season, while the Mestalla men have suffered a severe body blow in the injury stakes.  

Silva Sorrow  

The news that Valencia will lose not only one of their very best players, but also their most consistently effective one, for two to three months is terrible news for the 2002 and 2004 La Liga champions.  

The club is no stranger to crippling injury lists and overworked, under-pressure medical staff, and David Silva’s ailment is the latest in a long line of problems that have cost the club dearly in recent seasons.

The creative brain of the team, Silva shouldered the burden of a somewhat one-dimensional central midfield, and inconsistent service from the wings at times. He is involved in every good attacking move Valencia make, and along with David Villa is one of two truly irreplaceable player in the team. Off the back of a great Euro 2008 and commencing a season where the graceful youngster was set to light up La Liga under observation of numerous admirers, this set-back could easily write off his season if there are any hiccups in the painstaking recovery process.

I have written in the past about the tactical questions facing Emery, and in theory this development could force his hand. Juan Mata, who played wide left against Mallorca and looked set to compete directly with Vicente for that berth this season, is the only player in the squad able to play a supporting role off Villa. While Emery cannot expect the former Real Madrid youth player to deliver the same quality and consistency immediately, if ever, this season, he could well prove the temporary missing link.

A switch to two forwards is possible, with old warhorse Fernando Morientes, veteran Miguel Angulo and the giant and, before now, seemingly unwanted Serb striker Nikola Zigic all options.

Mata recently spoke in glowing fashion about the world class Villa, and Valencia will be relying on the latter more than ever now, but both Mata and the dangerously injury prone Vicente (missing for the Almeria trip, which doesn't bode well) will be seeing plenty of action between now and Christmas. If there’s one thing Valencia must now pray for, it’s no more injuries.

Hildebrand’s  ‘Class’  

A new series of the club soap opera is back in full swing at the Mestalla, resuming in earnest just before the Mallorca victory. Last season’s first choice ‘keeper Timo Hildebrand was seething at his omission in favour of new Brazilian signing Renan Brito between the sticks, to the extent Emery stuck the former Stuttgart shot-stopper in the stands to cool off for the match itelf.  

The German, who failed to make the Nationalmannschaft squad for the recent international matches, paid the price for a poor showing in the Super Cup second leg debacle at Real Madrid, which in turn brought criticism from predecessor Santi Canizares.

The two have a frosty relationship to say the very least – Timo having usurped Santi in somewhat ignominious fashion in mid-season 07/08 - and the German has since responded that the peroxide blonde ex-Valencia custodian (who undoubtedly should have kept his mouth shut) has 'no class'.  

Still, Hildebrand's blind expectation of a place in the team hints at troublesome personalities that still remain at the Mestalla, though admittedly it is a fraction of that which helped bring the club to its knees in the dressing room, and board room, over the last two years.  

With Silva’s injury hitting the team hard, the coach cannot let off-field strops and disagreements add to the mounting hurdles for the season ahead. If Valencia needed to learn anything from last season, it’s that everyone has to be pulling in the same direction regardless of personal desires and expectations.

No Emery, No Problem  

The second season curse was always going to be looming overhead after newly promoted Almeria finished so high up the table last season, and the possibility would have heightened with the departure of Emery in the summer.  

However, if last weekend was anything to go by, they needn’t worry, as new coaching incumbent Gonzalo Arconada guided his charges to a deserved 3-1 win in Bilbao.

It’s not surprising, as Almeria is a very well-run club, and acquisitions in playing and coaching staff look to be particularly astute.

Almeria have the look of a club with long term ambitions of a steady future in Spain's top footballing stable, and they are capable if what we have seen to date continues. On the field this weekend, there is no danger of Arconada's side being underestimated with Emery knowing his old club and most of the squad inside out.

It makes for a match not to be missed on Sunday evening.    

FORM GUIDE

Almeria

WON 3-1 (A) Athletic Bilbao (31 Aug - La Liga)
WON 2-1 (A) Lorca (24 Aug - Friendly)
WON 3-1 (H) Real Betis (23 Aug - Friendly)
WON 2-1 (A) Roda JC (17 Aug - Friendly)
WON 1-0 (A) FC Twente (16 Aug - Friendly)

Valencia

WON 2-0 (H) Mallorca (30 Aug – La Liga)
LOST 4-2 (A) Real Madrid (Aug 24 - Spanish Super Cup)
WON 3-2 (H) Real Madrid (Aug 17 - Spanish Super Cup)
WON 3-1 (H) Vitesse Arnhem (Aug 11 - Friendly)
LOST 2-1 (A) Newcastle United (Aug 9 - Friendly)


TEAM NEWS

Almeria

Defender Acasiete and wide midfielder Nieto missed out the opener with illness, while left back Guillherme, midfielder Iriney and Captain Jose Ortiz watched from the stands. All could figure this weekend in some form or other.  

Arconada has numerous options in wide and central midfield positions if he goes with four across the middle. Up front, we’ll have to wait and see if he’s bold enough to play Negredo and new striker Esteban Solari together. The former got the second goal in Bilbao, and could get the nod in a solo role.  

Another new Argentine signing, starlet Pablo Piatti, should figure in a supporting role just behind, or on the left as one of two wingers with a three man central midfield behind.

Possible Starting XI: Diego Alves – Bruno, Pellerano, Carlos Garcia/Acasiete, Guilherme – Uche/Corona, Mosquera, Juan Ortiz – Nieto/Jose Ortiz, Negredo, Piatti    

Valencia

Silva adds to an injury list including Carlos Marchena, still not recovered sufficiently from an ankle injury, Baraja who went off crocked against Racing, and Vicente who is somewhat mysteriously left out.. It means Fernandes should get a chance to shine in midfield, while Mata will probably stay on the left given a lack of other options in that position.

Angulo is an option across the midfield, or could play off Villa, while Zigic is altogether different option. Joaquin, who sat out the Mallorca victory amid rumours of an eleventh hour move (which he and his agent apparently concocted out of thin air), will be eyeing at least some involvement after Pablo got the right wing shirt in the opener. Renan should keep the gloves for now.  


Possible Starting XI: Renan – Miguel, Albiol, Alexis, Moretti – Joaquin/Pablo, Fernandes, Albelda, Mata - Angulo – Villa


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Almeria: While Negredo is going to be key for goals, the performance and speed of adaptation of one Pablo Piatti could bear direct correlation to the striker’s final tally, ditto new signing Esteban Solari. Our ‘Messi on the left’ - as Piatti has been described - had a whole bunch of big clubs interested, but Almeria got their man. Seems a real star in the making, and could caus a still questionable Che defence a host of problems.  

Valencia: If Emery wants to maintain the same system without Silva (which is just about the best tactical set-up given the players Valencia have) – it will depend significantly on Juan Mata coming to the fore. Villa was simply awesome against Mallorca but he still needs a foil. Even if the former Real youth keeps his left wing slot against Almeria (likely given Vicente's absence) he is still set to be fast-racked even further forward in pecking order of importance to the team.

PREDICTION

This could be a hell of a game, and Almeria will need little encouragement to go at Valencia if they sense the slightest weakness. This could be their undoing as, despite what Emery might say, Valencia as always will rely on counter-attack on the road.  

With some firing strikers and creativity on the field, there should be goals. Almeria are in hot form and you'd fancy the hosts to take something from this match, what with Valencia reeling from the loss of Silva. Nevertheless, it could go either way, and I'm teetering atop the fence.

Almeria 2 – 2 Valencia


John Rowlands, Goal.com