Admin

Administrator







Posts: 29

Administrator Life After Gary Neville Quote Select Post

Select Post Deselect Post

Deselect Post Link to Post

Link to Post Member Give Gift

Member Back to Top Post by Admin on

I don't wish any ill towards Neville, but the upturn in performances and results since his departure and very, very clear to see.



Las Palmas was a disappointment and a poor performance overall, but we still took the lead in that game. Something we hadn't done in La Liga under Neville's reign.



Since then we've looked a completely different team. Defensively we've been more solid (still not Ota/Mustafi from last season solid) and I've high hopes for a Mustafi/Abdennour partnership in the future. Paco is back to scoring ways, and even with the disrupted first team starts due to injury/Neville trying to force Negredo into the team he's scored more goals this season that any before. He's turning into a pure penalty box striker, with excellent link up play.



Our midfield is still an area that needs to be worked on. We need to replace Fuego, and, regardless of his performance last night, Rodrigo still hasn't convinced me. I hope the Feghouli situation can be resolved and he comes back - he's an absolute asset and him with an improving Cancelo could keep our right wing (an area we've struggled with for years) locked up.



Next season there'll be no Europe, which puts us in a position of strength as it relates to the league, and we'll hopefully have a manager with a clear vision for the future. That appointment is the most important thing. The right man offsets the loss of champions league as it relates to keep players at the club how might otherwise want to leave (Andre Gomes comes to mind) and enticing other talent to come and play for us.



Everyone thought our run-in would cripple us further, and we'd be flirting with relegation, but the last three wins have really put us on form. The only remaining match in the next four that should give us pause for thought is the Real Madrid match. All others are very winnable with our form and performances.



8th in the league was previously unthinkable until recently, and Pako deserves enormous credit for addressing the total lack of confidence the players had. We all knew the squad had talent and ability, but the manager's role in bringing that together cannot be overestimated.



Things are looking up. Still not perfect, but it wouldn't be Valencia if it were.