As Molina entered the press room he looked like the tourist who buys a holiday apartment and turns up and sees that the place resembled nothing like the brochure. Molina was defeated, broken and lost. Where to now? A team that had played well only a week ago disappeared in front of his very eyes. If Villarreal were in trouble before the game, they are in crisis now. Most say that they will get out of it and the expression ‘Too big to go down’ is being passed around like no tomorrow but ask Newcastle, Deportivo, Real Betis and Leeds United fans if that expression is really true. But who is to blame or maybe who isn’t to blame?
Injuries have played a huge part in Villarreal’s season. Any team that loses its main striker will suffer, try losing all of them. Villarreal have really missed Rossi and they desperately need to sign someone to replace him. The responsibility has fallen on Nilmar, who himself has just come back from injury. Marco Ruben is their top scorer with 5, after him there is Valero with 2 and that pretty sums up Villarreal’s season. Dumped out of the Champions League from a very difficult group, knocked out of the Copa Del Rey by Mirandés, and now sitting in 19th with only Zaragoza below them and Granada in 17th, 3 points ahead. Their last win was in the middle of November and since then they have managed to pick up a grand total of 2 points. Add in the fact that their next match is against Sporting and a defeat could really put the writing on the wall. But to blame injuries is a little too easy. Diego Lopez and Cristián Zapata both made errors that had Atlético been fully awake they would have easily of scored. Borja Valero was nowhere to be seen and they had a grand total of zero shots on target in the Vicente Calderon. A team that against Atlético De Madrid, plays like Atlético De Madrid at the back, has problems and big ones. Injuries they have, but it seems some are using them to excuse their own poor performances.
Was Molina the right choice? A man that has never managed in La Primera was given the task of saving the ‘Yellow Subs’. Some will say that Levante did something similar, but they would be wrong to say that it is the same situation. Luis Garcia left Levante in a strong and stable state. Martínez had a full pre-season to work with the team and he has experience, albeit at low level teams. Molina previously with Villarreal C and B, has only been working as a Coach since 2009. His appointment smacked of desperation. Rumblings have started, that if in a few weeks things haven’t turned round, someone else can be appointed. It may be too late then. Yes, against Valencia they looked good, but they squandered a 2 goal lead. Against Atlético they failed to show up and the Coach struggled to explain how he felt in the post-game press conference. Is he the man to motivate a team, when they are at their lowest? He did it with the B team but that is a totally different kettle of fish! They may very well still get out of this funk, but some questions still remain to be answered. But who is to blame overall?
Garrido will get his fair share of the blame but could Fernando Roig be the guilty one? No way, one might say. The grandfather of La Liga, Mr. Nice Guy. But he is paying for it? Is he being naïve? He organized a meeting amongst teams and when they stabbed him in the back, he said his door was always open. He is much respected throughout not only La Liga but football. Both himself and Angel Torres of Getafe are noble men and believe in paying their debts. But in La Liga that isn’t noble, it’s stupid! Atlético still owe Villarreal money for Diego Forlán back in 2008. Roig doesn’t want to rock the boat though and sends a polite letter to Atlético. If their dealings with the Spanish Taxman are anything to go on, Roig shouldn’t hold his breath. Add in the fact that money is still owed for Godin, if Roig took the bull by the horns he may have the money to buy a replacement for Rossi.
Could it be here that Roig should take some of the blame? It’s all good to be a model club but does it mean anything when you are playing in the 2nd Division? A few years ago Arsenal fans would answer anyone’s jokes about failing to win silverware by pointing out that the club was in a great financial state. Now going on 7 years without a trophy they are screaming out for the club to splash the cash. What would happen to Roig if he was to overspend and get into debt? Nothing in Spain, as everyone is at it. New faces are needed, especially up front. Pride comes before a fall and maybe, just maybe, Roig might be one of the nicest men to learn that fate.
Other News
• Another set of Clasicos. At least it will be quick this time. Won’t it?
• Ole, ole, ole Cholo Simeone. He came and he delivered. Cue all the press blowing it out of proportion. Atleti fans are enjoying it though, no matter how short the ‘new project’ may last.
• Big result for Zaragoza as fans protest and beg the owner to leave. Getafe will be disappointed with the point but as long as they can keep getting results at home they will be ok. Luis Garcia tends to enjoy the ‘vuelta’ aka 2nd part of the season, so maybe we might see ‘Super Geta’ contending for the European places? Garcia is playing it down.
• Huge wins for Rayo, Real Sociedad, Sporting and Racing shows that one day you could be within a point of Europe, the next you are in the relegation zone.
Weekend Results:
Zaragoza 1-1 Getafe, Sevilla 0-0 Espanyol, Granada 1–2 Rayo Vallecano, Mallorca 1–2 Real Madrid, Valencia 0–1 Real Sociedad, Atlético 3–0 Villarreal, Osasuna 0–2 Racing, Athletic 3–0 Levante, Sporting 2-1 Malaga. Barcelona 4-2 Betis.
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