131 replies to this topic

[Carlos Marinelli]

Roig, whom has served them so well over the years fucked up monumentally. He tried to make them a mid-table team overnight because they couldn't afford to maintain the level. But as we all know that has to be a slow process. Just refusing to buy new players and using young ones from the academy to replace them is a huge risk. Then there was some bad luck like de Guzman not being able to replicate his Mallorca, form same story with Zapata etc. I think that there were one or two positives for them like Pérez looking promising and Senna rolling back the years with some strong performances. I think they should bounce straight back up, because I'm sure that good solid players like Gonzalo, Gasper etc will stick around. If Jefferson and Uche return from loan, too, they'll blow Segunda away.

Thing is, this has to spell the end for many players association with the club. Bruno, Valero, Diego López, Zapata, de Guzman, Nilmar and maybe Cani and Mussachio too. That's a lot of quality, that I can't see playing in Segunda. Who knows though, nobody expected Guardado to stay the entire season there The reason I don't include Rossi is because I don't think anyone will touch him whilst injured and some time in Segunda could do his rehabilitation wonders.

Bruno has been heavily linked with Valencia, will be interesting to see if anything becomes of it.

[Off topic, but it's amazing to think Zaragoza designed their second amazing escape in consecutive seasons. Hats off to Manolo, because they were (actually still are) in deep shit. Their squad isn't that bad, but the mentality of the club and the fans atm is dire. Who would've thought?]

[Linus]

Tbh, i'm happy they got relegated. But that's just because of one simple thing. Now we (Real Betis) have bigger chance to keep Jefferson Montero, who has been on loan from Villareal.
Besides that i think it's kinda sad that they got relegated. A team with players like Rossi, Bruno, Nilmar etc shouldn't be playing Segunda football.

Edited by Linus, 14 May 2012 - 09:00 PM.

[Resurrección]

You say Roig fucked up, I'd say what he's done is admirable. He is one of the few, if not the only, president in Spain who simply refused to go in debt. Even with the big crisis in Spain and in Spanish football he's done everything to prevent a negative turnover. That's why they didn't spend any money after cashing in on Cazorla and that's why they were prepared to let another star go this summer. He's actually done everything to set this up long term, because Villarreal's youth academy is one of the most productive in Spain right now and Villarreal B probably would've managed to stay up in the Liga Adelante for a third consecutive season.

I think the only thing you can blame Roig for is the mess he made with his managers. He placed the wrong men in front of the group, but I do think the strategy and player material were more than good enough to stay in La Liga.

[GamingX]

Quote

Villarreal's players asked Atletico Madrid to ease the pressure - report

The Yellow Submarine were desperate to avoid relegation to the second division and reportedly resorted to desperate actions to prevent losing the match

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Villarreal's players asked Atletico Madrid to ease off in Sunday's contest between the two clubs, Canal Plus reports.

A goal from Radamel Falcao in the dying stages of the match earned Atletico the three points and sent the Yellow Submarine to the Segunda Division for the 2012-13 season.

TV footage shows Villarreal midfielder Javi Camunas telling Atletico's players that winning the match would be pointless after Malaga had taken the lead against Sporting Gijon, a result that would see the Rojiblancos finish fifth in the league and outside the Champions League qualification places.

"Filipe Luis, Malaga have scored," he reportedly exclaimed. "There is nothing for you to do here!"

Desperate to see the club avoid the drop, Villarreal's players then reportedly made up a second goal by Malaga in a bid to persuade Atletico to lower the intensity.

"Diego, Malaga are up 2-0," Carlos Marchena said.

After the match, a heartbroken Marchena promised that Villarreal would have their revenge over Atleti.

"[Diego] Godin, Diego..., motherf***ers, this is not over! Diego, Filipe Luis, this is not over!!

[Carlos Marinelli]

Well, either way it's not they were relegated, so it didn't work. A quick transition like that is never an easy process. But I agree this squad is easily good enough to finish top 10 and they probably should have. Not playing in the top flight is even more damaging to the clubs finances, there's a reason that Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia are covered in copious amounts of debt, look at the all time La Liga table and you'll see who the top 3 is. Perhaps it's short sighted, but football requires money. Regardless I'm surprised Zapata and the like didn't show their true potential, what a nightmare.

You're right, there were some weird appointments. An inexperienced manager, and then a relegation specialist. We'll see them jump straight back I feel, but it depends whom they hold on to.

Re the Atleti thing: It's nothing new. Valencia tried to let Depor scrape a draw or narrow win last season, but they were fucking shite in that final game and missed sitters. Soldado scored goals at the end, but there was no way he could not score them. It may be unethical, and the vast majority hate Depor, but they're a big club, and having them (and Zaragoza actually) in this state is counter productive for Spanish football. Saying that, Atletico did absolutely nothing wrong and Marchena is prick, so what can we say?

[Saeta Rubia]

I don't blame Roig for selling Carzola, and he did invest 17 ME of it on Zapata, Camunas and De Guzaman. Sadly, none of them made any impact. But Roig made so many fucked up decisions this year. Villarreal was a well ran club under him, but was turned in to a circus this year. The fact that they'd only 3 coaches in 7 years, but ended up having three just this season says why they are in Segunda. Team wasn't performing well under Garrido but what was the point  in sacking him if they were going to replace him with a rookie like Molina? And he got sacked after couple of months and got relegation specialist like Molina who took Sociedad and Deportivo to Segunda lol. His pragmatic style cost them a lot. On many occasions, they just sat back to protect one goal lead and ended up conceding equalizer in the final minutes.

[Ximo]

Wait, I thought Villarreal were the best team in the region?

[II Capitano]

Manolo Preciado has passed away before being unveiled as Vilarreal manager. Rest in peace.

[Raúl]

Incredibly sad. Especially given he's lost his wife and son tragically as well. I hope there's a heaven and he's reunited with them there. Rest in Peace.

[Vikipedia]

Life can be so unfair. Preciado was one of the most endearing, honest and strong men Spanish football has had the pleasure of having. RIP Manolo, we will miss you.

[Carlos Marinelli]

I loved that guy, did a great job at Sporting for so many years. What a shame. A loss as a personality to Spanish football and as a manager. RIP.

[Resurrección]

This is incredible, what a strange 24 hours for Villarreal and what tragic news for all who know Preciado. As Raúl^ points out, and as Preciado said himself, life has really hit him hard. In 2002 he lost his wife, then later his son and last season he lost his father. You have to really feel for his other son.