Spanish Comment: Valencia's Season Finally Shaping Up

Valencia supporters are an insatiable lot. They have a reputation of moaning and groaning even in the best of times.

They were complaining when Hector Cuper was leading them to two successive finals of the UEFA Champions League at the start of this century. They were grumbling when Rafael Benitez was winning the league and the UEFA Cup in 2004.

After a while Valencians became distraught with Quique Sanchez Flores' football and turned on him with daggers at his throat. And last season, when Ronald Koeman was in charge, it was a surprise to many, including a player or two, that they didn't burn down the Mestalla in rage and disappointment.

But this season the complaints have stopped. There are no boos and the whistles have been shelved into the attic. For Valencia supporters not to be displeased is something like wresters not to do the thrash talk before the fights.

Happiness Everywhere

So why are the Valencia fans suddenly (and seemingly) so happy?

Because last season's sick Valencia are healthy once again. Because after the Koeman circus disaster during which at one point Valencia came within just two points of playing Segunda Division football, they have so remarkably recovered under new coach Unai Emery. Because this season Valencia are playing like they should and might just end up where they should: in the top four.

Happy times are back at the Mestalla and the 2007-2008 season seems far, far away. At the moment they are fourth in the table with 34 points from 19 matches, a massive 16-point off the pace but four points behind second placed Real Madrid.

Last season they endured their worst home season but so far this time around they have taken 22 points out of a possible 30 at the Mestalla.

The Revival Factors

One of the vital factors in Los Che's revival this season has been their regain of stability off the pitch. Juan Soler left- thankfully!- the presidential office in the summer after just under four years in which he had employed seven coaches and his replacement Vicente Soriano was quick to repair some damage.

He appointed last season's best coach in the division, Unai Emery, who had worked fairytale wonders at Almeria leading them to a eight place finish in their first ever season in La Liga, cajoled David Albelda to carry on at Valencia and perhaps more importantly convinced the club's two biggest stars, David Villa and David Silva, to stay on at the Mestalla.

A fair degree of stability in the boardroom has translated into good performances on the pitch, although they are still wrapped up in debt. Valencia started the season with a perfect 3-0 win over Real Mallorca at home and although they did show some cageyness in their second match against Almeria at Estadio Mediterraneo, they have since recovered.

The Turnaround

So much so that Los Che went top of the table in Week 5, in spite of missing top player David Silva. That they couldn't hold onto the pole position is another story that owes much to FC Barcelona's death defying form but that after all the self-destructive drama that had transpired to kill the club last season for good, a top four finish is almost like finding the Holy Grail.

This season under Emery Valencia have played with renewed purpose and integrity. No, their football has not been especially great and has have had more steel than silk at times but they have been pretty much enjoyable overall.

After a nervy start to his career at the Mestalla, goalkeeper Renan looks sharper and reliable, the defence looks solid again, David Albelda is back to doing what he does best, playing role of a player whom you do not notice until he is not there, Juan Mata, that Real Madrid reject, is one of the best 20-year olds in Spain and has been terribly brilliant on the left.

Joaquin is not the headless chicken anymore and although suspicions lingers on that he shall never be the same player he was at Real Betis, he has looked quite impressive this season. David Villa might have scored only two goals from open play in two months, he had 15 league goals in his bag so far and is Spain's best striker.

Vicente has stopped competing for the medics' table, has regained fitness this season and although he has started only two of the 12 league matches he has featured in, has scored four goals.

Ruben Baraja, that Spanish international midfielder who hasn't played an international match for Spain for over two years, scored a goallast weekend against Villarrealand even though he is past his prime, remains an important figure in the Valencia dressing room.

And now David Silva is back, lending Valencia an extra dimension and creativity. Unai Emery's football isn't exactly romantic as he likes to focus more on quick passes and gives equal importance to defence and attack, more on pragmatism than the Barcelona-esque flair and aestheticism.

But since Silva's return to the side, Valencia's football has been more enjoyable to watch and certainly more entertaining that it was in the earlier months.

A Top Four Finish?

Valencia's record against the big boys in Spain this season is not really bad. They drew 0-0 away at Sevilla, took an obligatory 4-0 humbling at Camp Nou by Barcelona, performed extremely well lost 1-0 to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, then hammered Atletico Madrid 3-1 at home and were so agonizingly pecked back by Villarreal at the Mestalla this weekend, the match ending in a 3-3 draw.

Things are certainly looking on the up for Valencia and Unai Emery but resting on the laurels would be a mistake: this Sunday they lost 3-2 away at Basque side Athletic Bilbao. Valencia cannnot attempt to win the league titlenow even if Barcelona decide to lose it, which frankly is as much possible as Angelina Jolie breaking up with Brad Pitt and then dialing your number, but a top four finish is a huge probability.

At the moment, Sevilla, althoughstill somewhat limping with coach Manolo Jimenez under massive pressure to win matches and win them with style, have started winning again; Atletico Madrid's nature to start the season in sensational fashion and then spiral down is still there and Villarreal are yet to arrest an unprecedented slide, having won onlytwo of their last 12 competitive matches.

Which leaves Real Madrid, resurgent under Juande Ramos, Valencia's most competitive rival at the moment. Having said that, it is hardly impossible that Sevilla shall not resurrect themselves, that the Yellow Submarine shall not resurface, that Atletico shall not recover.

All of which leaves Valencia to continue their good run and not afford any slip-ups. Like they did at San Mames on Sunday.

Subhankar Mondal