Valencia Squad Analysis (Emirates Cup)

Last season Valencia challenged Real Madrid for the La Liga title and were one of the four who had a chance to snatch the championship with 4 weeks to go. However an unfortunate run of games meant they missed out and finished 4th behind the Madrid, runners up Barcelona and Sevilla. People say Valencia bottled it when it most counted and some just say they weren’t good enough. In Quique Flores Valencia has a young, bright up coming manager who gets his team to play good football. Many people believed they had a serious chance mid way through the season and it did seem like they failed when it most mattered. They reached the Champion’s League quarter-final, losing a goal in the last minute of the second leg versus Chelsea that meant they did not progress further. They beat Emirates Cup opponents Inter Milan along the way, beating a team many fancied to be Champions of Europe. The interesting thing will be if there is hostility between the teams as there will be hard feelings between them after the mass brawl during their last 16 encounter. Their squad itself is talented and has some depth to it, perhaps not at the levels of the top two.

Starting from the front; in David Villa they have one of Europe most sought after talents. The guy scores goals, 41 in 71 appearances for Valencia is a brilliant return. His play doesn’t stop here though; he is very much a team player who looks to create as much as he scores. Villa and Fernando Morientes compliment each other so well. It is a classic case of the “big man - small man” combination. Morientes is there to win balls for Villa and feed of anything Villa creates. The partnership flourished last season was one major reason that Valencia were in the position they were. As another oprion they have Miguel Angulo, the man who very nearly signed for Arsenal a while back but pulled out last minute. He can also play midfield and will get a goal if needed and always does everything to help the team, a selfless performer.

They are also well stocked on the wings. Joaquin has dazzled throughout his career, at Real Betis and Valencia. He has pace, skill and good finishing ability. For Spain he has impressed too, once bamboozling Ashley Cole against England. Cole was regarded as the world’s best full back at the time so this was no small feat. On the other side they have David Silva, who, like David Villa, was a target for many European clubs. Liverpool publicly said hey were interested and Chelsea’s name came up as potential suitors. However Silva came through Valencia’s ranks and is not ready to think about a move yet. He possesses all the things Joaquin does and he has age on his side at the tender age of 21. English fans may remember him for an amazing goal away at Stamford Bridge in this season’s Champions League. Vicente is also part of their squad but his career has been blighted by injuries, such a waste of talent but it seems he may be on the mend.

In the centre they have the two old heads of Spanish football in Ruben Baraja and David Albelda, both whom have rolled back the years to put in some great performances. Albelda has a no nonsense attitude to tackling and defensive midfield play and Baraja has a great array of passing and brilliant vision. They have two younger midfielders, Sunny and Jamie Gavilán who can come in a do well if needed. Both very much raw talents they will add youth to midfield when the two members of the old rear guard are unavailable or in need of a rest.

At the back they lost the ever reliable Roberto Ayala but brought in someone with just as much experience in Real Madrid’s Ivan Helguera. He is a champions League winner and will guide the young defence while they develop. Like Albelda, Marchena is another hard tackler who has been part of Valencia’s back 4 for a while now. Him and Raul Albiol will probably be the favoured centre back pairing for Flores. Albiol is similar to Silva with the way his career has developed. He came through the same ranks and they are of similar age. They have Chelsea flop Asier Del Horno in their defence. In England he struggled but he is certainly more at home back in Spain. Miguel is an energetic, exciting attacking full back and will be someone to watch out for in the Emirates Cup.

In goal they have the experienced Santiago Cañizares. The old keeper still has brilliant reflexes and is so reliable. However as competition they acquired talented German goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand from Stuttgart. He will push Cañizares for the no.1 jersey and that will bring the best out in them both.

Although Arsenal do not play Valencia they have a real chance of winning the Cup, many fancy them against PSG and if they can win against Inter they will have taken maximum points and in David Villa they have someone to get them the crucial goals that make such a difference in this cup format. Certainly watch out for David Villa as said, David Silva and Miguel.