Valencia Mestalla

By: Tom B | August 2nd, 2009

First of all thanks for the kind words, and if detail is what you’d like, then details is what you’ll get.

My next match was against Valencia Mastalla (Valencia’s 2nd team), who are top of the league, have players earning 14 grand a week (my highest paid players get 150 euros), and their parent team are currently 3rd in La Liga. I was outgunned. I knew I was outgunned. I dropped my mentalities and hoped for the best.

I set up again with a defensive 5-3-1-1, Valdes playmaker, the perenially disappointing Alfonso up front. With Garcia Martinez out injured, David Gonzalez slotted into left wing back, switching Borja Vila out of position at right wing back. As Gonzalez is more naturally attacking than Vila, I switched their instructions so that Gonzalez would attack with some consideration, and Vila would be more of a stopper.

It ended up a 4-1 loss, but I was not disgraced.

I learnt from this game that I am vulnerable to crosses (I kind of knew that from my last couple of games, but this is where, away from the tight confines of Municipal, I thought I should make a change). Their first goal came from a corner where Vasquez Garcia (little champ that he is) lost his man, who powered home from 5 yards, their second from general play, another cross swung in from the left, with Merino, their left back overlapping in about 100 hectares on his own, whose cross evaded Manuel (I) and Juan Pablo headed home again. So I was 2-0 down after 40 minutes. To make things worse, rather than put his hand up, Manuel (I) whinged to the ref that the goal was offside (see screenshot below), which it wasn’t. This screenshot also gives you an idea how much time Merino “The Ram” had to pick his cross.

I was controlling posession, so at 1/2 time I revved my charges up, and switched to a more attacking, wider 3-4-1-2. I also brought on Lozano again, trying to build up some match fitness, playing him in the defensive, Nieto role. This never really worked, and he never had an impact. I also brought on the bean pole Adolfo to allow me to play 2 up top.

This was silly as in the 50th minute, sheer numbers overwhelmed my defensive back 3, and so I was 3-0 down and staring down the barrel of an absolute towelling, with my away fans who “must be wishing they stayed home”. Then in the 54th minute I suffered the indignation of going 4-0 down as Daniel nipped in front of Antonio, controlled the ball and smashed it home from 5 yards. Things were looking bleak, and I was facing the longest 37 minutes of my managerial career.

I thus switched to a shut up shop 4-3-1-2 formation, which paid dividends straight away. Their goal kick was won by Manuel (I), who nodded it down to Valdez, who found target man Adolfo with his back to goal in some space. Adolfo squared for Alfonso, who released Valdez with a through ball who hammered home from 15 yards.

This is how it stayed, and I liked this 4-3-1-2 shut up shop formation. However key lessons from this game:
1) Wide pitches do not suit my narrow formation, this has to change.
2) My defense is vulnerable to crosses, I have to cut off the supply.
3) Lozano (My New Star Signing) should really be released in an attacking role, with hard tackling, to win the ball further up the pitch.
4) I need a new formation away from home.
5) Low tempo = possession, this is a good, good thing.

Player Profile: Daniel Vazquez Garcia (CM)
I think it’s time to revisit my squad a little, and we’ll start with unsung midfield hero Vazquez Garcia. He’s one who hits a lot of passes (column 1 below) which find their man (column 2), wins and makes most of his challenges (column 4 and 5), and makes lots of runs and a few interceptions to boot (column 14 and 13). He’s a solid, conservative, reliable player, and at only 26, enjoying his time at the club, he’ll be here for a while.