article: submarine in seclusion...
There was another article about Villarreal in yesterday's volume of Kicker:
Submarine in seclusion
A poor consolation: Villarreal CF can't drop any further. The last of the Primera División is still waiting for a win after seven matchdays and slowly but surely they're getting their nerves. The best examples are the usually so exemplary Gonzalo Rodríguez (25) and Robert Pirès.
The Argentine was sent off with a straight red after a rough foul shortly before the end of the 1-2 defeat against newly promoted Xerez, the Frenchman insulted referee Antonio Rubinos after the final whistle with the line "You're a son of a whore", according to the match report.
Both players were punished with a one-match suspension. However, the French midfielder contradicted the claim of the referee. He had merely said something in French ("putain"), which resembles the Spanish "puta" ("whore") but means something along the lines of "damn it".
Be that as it might, Villarreal finally need to get in gear if coach Ernesto Valverde, signed as the successor of success coach Manuel Pellegrini (to Real Madrid), wants to survive the next matches. This Thursday Italy's cup winner Lazio is waiting in the Europa League - and on Sunday, with Málaga, perhaps the last chance for 45-year-old Valverde.
The coach, previously Greek champion and cup winner with Olympiakos Piraeus, sees the cause in the psyche, especially in those of strikers Joseba Llorente, Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi. Of all three only the Italian has scored one league goal so far. Like Llorente, he is a mere shadow compared to last season. Star signing Nilmar also lacks connection.
Valverde did say that, "in Xerez we had chances to seal the deal. Concerning the possibilities to score that we created, it was okay." Yet, the flaws are obvious. Key players like Marcos Senna, injured at the beginning of the season, Capdevila or Santi Cazorla rarely reach their usual level. And thus it happens that one loses against previously victory-less Xerez. The weeks before, tuning problems in the defense often led to early goals against.
The result is the worst start into a season in eleven first league seasons. Only three draws after seven matchdays. The goal tally is five goals scored opposing ten goals against. Nine years have passed since the "Yellow Submarine" last had the red lantern. Now president Fernando Roig demands full concentration and effort. On Sunday, in the basement duel against Málaga, a turnabout has to be initiated with the 100th home victory in the Primera División.
Submarine in seclusion
A poor consolation: Villarreal CF can't drop any further. The last of the Primera División is still waiting for a win after seven matchdays and slowly but surely they're getting their nerves. The best examples are the usually so exemplary Gonzalo Rodríguez (25) and Robert Pirès.
The Argentine was sent off with a straight red after a rough foul shortly before the end of the 1-2 defeat against newly promoted Xerez, the Frenchman insulted referee Antonio Rubinos after the final whistle with the line "You're a son of a whore", according to the match report.
Both players were punished with a one-match suspension. However, the French midfielder contradicted the claim of the referee. He had merely said something in French ("putain"), which resembles the Spanish "puta" ("whore") but means something along the lines of "damn it".
Be that as it might, Villarreal finally need to get in gear if coach Ernesto Valverde, signed as the successor of success coach Manuel Pellegrini (to Real Madrid), wants to survive the next matches. This Thursday Italy's cup winner Lazio is waiting in the Europa League - and on Sunday, with Málaga, perhaps the last chance for 45-year-old Valverde.
The coach, previously Greek champion and cup winner with Olympiakos Piraeus, sees the cause in the psyche, especially in those of strikers Joseba Llorente, Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi. Of all three only the Italian has scored one league goal so far. Like Llorente, he is a mere shadow compared to last season. Star signing Nilmar also lacks connection.
Valverde did say that, "in Xerez we had chances to seal the deal. Concerning the possibilities to score that we created, it was okay." Yet, the flaws are obvious. Key players like Marcos Senna, injured at the beginning of the season, Capdevila or Santi Cazorla rarely reach their usual level. And thus it happens that one loses against previously victory-less Xerez. The weeks before, tuning problems in the defense often led to early goals against.
The result is the worst start into a season in eleven first league seasons. Only three draws after seven matchdays. The goal tally is five goals scored opposing ten goals against. Nine years have passed since the "Yellow Submarine" last had the red lantern. Now president Fernando Roig demands full concentration and effort. On Sunday, in the basement duel against Málaga, a turnabout has to be initiated with the 100th home victory in the Primera División.