Valencia 2-3 Chelsea

kas wrote:Just saw the highlights...Canizares

How is this guy ahead of Valdes in the Spain team? He's not been great this season, and tonight he was terrible. Flapped at every cross, was always wrong in coming off his line, terrible positioning, and ultimately made a big mistake which led to the Chelsea goal. Valencia better go shopping for a goalkeeper in the summer, unless Butelle is good enough.

I agree. Sad to say so though. I have admired Canizares for many years. I don't think Butelle can ever be up at the standards of Canizares in his prime so its a case of shopping around. They need to make sure they get in somebody with really European class. It is about time that people considered Valencia a top European club - and having a top 'kepper is an important part of that. What about looking at Abbondanzieri!? Getafe wouldn't want too much.

And is it just me or is anybody else getting fed up with people considering Valencia a small club? Surely they are no more of a smaller club than Chelsea yesterday!? Yet it is still a case of "will Villa move to a larger club like Chelsea". Very annoying. Perhaps the new stadium will be the dawn of a new era as one of Europe's elite?

I don't think Valencia are a small club, never have done. A lot of other Brits will do however, especially if the Sky punditry is anything to go by.

Valencia obviously have finances that most lower table EPL clubs could match, that's the difference I suppose, but whilst Valencia can produce/find good players on the cheap (relatively) this won't matter. I still think it's a shame Ayala is leaving (particularly the manner). I know Alexis will be coming, but Ayala is still class personified and could have taught the Valencia defenders a thing or two. Suffice to say keeping or losing Villa may effect their 'big club tag (or lack of it, depending on what happens) Sevilla are in much the same boat, though I think they have historically been a smaller club.

For anyone who didn't catch the game, here's the brief highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEy-1z0fEHw

Calidad wrote:I don't think Valencia are a small club, never have done. A lot of other Brits will do however, especially if the Sky punditry is anything to go by.

Valencia obviously have finances that most lower table EPL clubs could match, that's the difference I suppose, but whilst Valencia can produce/find good players on the cheap (relatively) this won't matter. I still think it's a shame Ayala is leaving (particularly the manner). I know Alexis will be coming, but Ayala is still class personified and could have taught the Valencia defenders a thing or two. Suffice to say keeping or losing Villa may effect their 'big club tag (or lack of it, depending on what happens) Sevilla are in much the same boat, though I think they have historically been a smaller club.

Still Alexis and Albiol could well become an excellent partnership!! And with Silva and Joaquín there for many years to come, combined with Marchena and Albelda in midfield they should be solid.

Oleguerisntthatgreat wrote:

Calidad wrote:I don't think Valencia are a small club, never have done. A lot of other Brits will do however, especially if the Sky punditry is anything to go by.

Valencia obviously have finances that most lower table EPL clubs could match, that's the difference I suppose, but whilst Valencia can produce/find good players on the cheap (relatively) this won't matter. I still think it's a shame Ayala is leaving (particularly the manner). I know Alexis will be coming, but Ayala is still class personified and could have taught the Valencia defenders a thing or two. Suffice to say keeping or losing Villa may effect their 'big club tag (or lack of it, depending on what happens) Sevilla are in much the same boat, though I think they have historically been a smaller club.

Still Alexis and Albiol could well become an excellent partnership!! And with Silva and Joaquín there for many years to come, combined with Marchena and Albelda in midfield they should be solid.

and their are getting raul garcia for next season its rumoured.
that would mean they have a line up with 10 spanish players that could very well win the league. anyone know when their new stadium will be done?

I agree, Valencia are doing a good job with signings and if they can sort out the personal problems between the management, they could really create a true big 3 in Spain and break the historical duopoly of Madrid and Barça. The increased revenue from the new stadium will also help, as will more deep CL runs like this season.

Get Oubina, he's better and going cheap

Yeh I agree that the future looks good with the new stadium and all. I don't know if the big two will ever be properly broken in Spain. I hope so.

I think the stadium is ready in a couple of years. 75,000 capacity, very high and they will struggle to fill it but I think with some good community schemes etc they could average over 50,000. Valencia is simply the best for signing good young and Spanish talent long may that continue.

but when will it be built and has it already begun?

I don't think it has but I am sure I can remember reading that it should be ready for the summer of 2009.

Same here, I remember seeing 2009 somewhere.

Will El Moro be back for the return leg?

Nope will not be back until the end of the month.

Likely team for 2nd leg:

---------------Cech--------------
Diarra-Carvalho-Terry-A Cole
---------------Mikel--------------
-------Essien-------Lampard----
-------------Ballack--------------
---------Drogba-Sheva----------

Regarding the Nou Mestalla heres the video. It looks quite stunning -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b60ahFyxKk&mode=related&search=

nCfC-CaDiZ wrote:Regarding the Nou Mestalla heres the video. It looks quite stunning -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b60ahFyxKk&mode=related&search=

Fantastic design. Let's hope the renovation to Camp Nou can make it look a bit more attractive.

I know little of the plans for the Camp Nou Kas - have you got any links?

nCfC-CaDiZ wrote:I know little of the plans for the Camp Nou Kas - have you got any links?

Right now there are no concrete plans. Basically what has happened so far is Laporta and the board have decided for a renovation/modernisation (and small expansion) of the stadium and the surrounding neighbourhood.

The idea is to demolish the Miniestadie (since the new Ciutat Esportiva is now open), and integrate Camp Nou better into the Les Corts area around it, with better transport links that are closer to the stadium (currently it's a few minutes walk from the nearest Metro station). From what I know La Masia and the Palau Blaugrana (basketball) will not be affected, as will anything inside the Camp Nou gates (Official club shop, Museum, Ice rink, etc.)

So the club has started an open tender process. Any architect/group of architects/company from around the world can submit a tender with their ideas, and the board will decide the best option, and work will then begin on that. You can read more at this link below, it's quite interesting. I even downloaded the pdf files and browsed through them - it has detailed topological maps of the area, the original stadium plan from 1957, and various other information. Probably only a civil engineer or architect (Tweedle does this stuff I think) would understand it completely

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/club/temporada06-07/01/n070325100296.html

Will be interesting to see what suggestions are made. So you think an increased capacity is on?!

nCfC-CaDiZ wrote:Will be interesting to see what suggestions are made. So you think an increased capacity is on?!

Yes, I think it'll happen. But it won't be anything drastic, probably just some gains in seating space by modernising the existing stands. Also the project outline describes the requirements for any new stands - must be 2/3rds covered, etc. so I think the overall gain will not be more than 10-15,000, which I guess is still quite a lot.

The main benefit of this IMO is the improvement of the area around the stadium, especially behind the Miniestadie. A bit of barren land there, around some university, if I remember correctly.

Really looking forward to this, Didn't get to see the first leg but this tie is nicely poised, I think Chelsea are in for a very big challenge, I want Valencia to win because I don't think I could bare another semi with Chelsea but at the same time I don't fear either, both would be very hard to beat but once you beat Barca you have ultimate confidence

Difference is you lost to Barca, we didn't

Nah in all honesty, it will be tough, but then you don't expect any easy games at this level.

Anyway, latest injury news: Morientes has been passed fit for Valencia, Essien completed a full training session today and looks almost certain to be involved in the Valencia game.

Back 5 as usual; midfield diamond (to begin with) with Mikel holding, Essien and Frank in the middle (supporting the full backs in defence) and Ballack at the top of the midfield. Front 2 as normal.

If it's tight, I expect Jose to bring on Joe Cole and maybe Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Prediction: Valencia 1-2 Chelsea

You know what's going to happen don't you? Valencia will win and Morientes will score the winner against Liverpool..

Morientes won't score, neither will Villa.

It's gonna be Silva

@ spaniards, what do you think Valencia are more likely to do? Sit back and hope for 0-0? (in which we'll just take long efforts on goal) or go for the win (in which case they run a risk of being counter attacked to death).

I think they got it spot on at the Bridge. Got an early(ish) goal, then sat back and made it difficult for us. Will they go the same way, knowing that (for once) we may come out with 'all guns blazing'?

valencia always play the same way. the ballwinners in centre that dont hold on to the ball and its very direct. it will be holding on the ball sometimes but mostly trying to sit back and let chelsea try to break them down.

Chelsea just have to do it like Werder Bremen, the last club that managed to beat Valencia at home in a European competition (CL season 2004/2005).

S4P2 wrote:@ spaniards, what do you think Valencia are more likely to do? Sit back and hope for 0-0? (in which we'll just take long efforts on goal) or go for the win (in which case they run a risk of being counter attacked to death).

I think they got it spot on at the Bridge. Got an early(ish) goal, then sat back and made it difficult for us. Will they go the same way, knowing that (for once) we may come out with 'all guns blazing'?

I don't think it will be as clearcut as "they will attack" or "they will sit back". Valencia play a very clever tactical game, and I think we'll see Joaquin and Silva on the wings with Villa up front (Morientes won't start, but I'd be worried if I was Chelsea). Like supermadrid said, Albelda will be destructive in midfield and won't be afraid to get physical with Ballack, Lampard, Essien, or whoever comes up against him.

It's tough to say, really, because Chelsea aren't a team that keep possession. So I think Valencia will look to keep the ball as much as possible, but not get too silly with their attacking - ie. not commit too many forward. That way they'll stay solid without letting Chelsea dominate. And if the game is 0-0 late on, I'd still expect Morientes to come on for one of the wingers rather than defensive substitutions to close down the game.

Definitely the most interesting tie of this round IMO.

blutgraetsche wrote:Chelsea just have to do it like Werder Bremen, the last club that managed to beat Valencia at home in a European competition (CL season 2004/2005).

And how did they do it? Rely on one striker to do all the work?

kas wrote:

It's tough to say, really, because Chelsea aren't a team that keep possession.

Arsenal aside, we probably keep the ball better than anyone else in the Prem.