Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Europhiles Notebook - Meet Malaga

Malaga and Paris St. Germain are the latest additions to the Jetset, clubs which are owned by either billionaires and or billionaires posing as consortiums, and expected to compete.  This is in marked contrast to clubs like Aston Villa, Blackburn and Roma, who although owned by rich foreigners are not as financially powerful or not expected to compete. And in the case of Rovers, are neither.

So, like with two kindergarten kids kicking up a stormy tantrum, we pause to look further in depth at the two aforementioned clubs, newly rich and full of newsworthy signings ... and Ruud Van Nistelrooy; to see what the hype is all about. Who are on their squads, what are the managers like, can they actually make good on their pre-season ambition ? Arjblog runs the eye over them, starting with the Spanish side.

Malaga CF:


Background:
The club used to once be the reserve team of similarly named Malaga CD. Once the latter folded in 1992, the current club changed its name from CA Malagueno, expanded into the fanbase and acquired the traditions that existed for its one time senior club. A bit like Barnet or Arsenal Reserves taking over Arsenal's premiership credentials. But wait, Arsenal has premiership credentials ? Oh. Malaga CF is now the official successor to Malaga CD and even has a crest that is very similar to that of its former senior team, replete with brown leather ball.






Basically, Malaga did very little of note till they got promoted in the early 2000s. Even then, they only gently scratched the surface of the mainstream football consciousness in Spain, which was already overbooked by the eternal contest between Real Madrid and Barcelona. An average side with the odd decent player (Kiki Musampa, Julio Dely Valdes, Paolo Wanchope, Fernando Baiano and Dario Silva), they won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2002, reached the UEFA cup quarterfinals the same season and once hammered Barcelona 5-1, under eventual Sevilla and one time Spurs manager Juande Ramos - remember him?Averaging a lower midtable finish, they even had a spell in the Segunda A for a couple of seasons till they got promoted back in 2008.



They were bought, like the World Cup from FIFA (too soon?), by Qatari Royal Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Al-Thani for 36 million euros in the summer of 2010. Playing just off the coast in the southern Spanish province of Andalusia, they uniquely possess a rather strong British expatriate following, composed from the vacationers and long term residents in the area.

Ownership Mentality and Manager:
While initially cautious, preferring a gentle approach to moving up the table; a near relegation last season, only averted by a run of wins at the end, Al-Thani seems to have become more adventurous this season. The summer was a hectic period as several big names were brought in. With Pellegrini starting to show the shrewdness that allowed him to make Villarreal a massive force, 11 players have been released and several new ones purchased. The Chilean manager is very experienced and well respected with successful spells at River Plate in Argentina and Villarreal. He has a knack of being able to blend youth while creating a free flowing style of play.


Manuel Pellegrini
Transfers:
Among the new arrivals are old Dutch warhorse Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who has been extremely prolific in pre-season, French and ex-Lyon defensive presence Jeremy Toulalan, winger Joaquin, along with young attacker Franc(Isco) Ramon, both from Valencia, as well as Dutch World Cup finalist defender Joris Mathijsen, who arrived from Hamburg. Local experience was also added with Sevilla right back, Sergio Sanchez and Osasuna left back, Nacho Monreal, both being bought for a combined 9 million euros. The pair are both 25 and have over a 100 La Liga appearances each.


Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Key Player:
The jewel in the crown though has to be Santi Cazorla, the former Villarreal and Spanish playmaking winger who has been reunited with Pellegrini after their days with the Yellow Submarine. European Cup winning Cazorla is the glue that holds the current team together and will be instrumental in their rise or fall down the table. He is the best Spanish midfielder outside the big two and were it not for the presence of so much talent on the national team, would be a guaranteed starter as well. His set piece delivery is potent, his passing astute and his versatility on either wing much admired.


Santiago Cazorla
Squad analysis:


Goalkeepers:
Due to the retirement of long serving Francesc Arnau and the loan return of Sergio Asenjo, Malaga will revert to the pair of goalkeepers who arrived in successive transfer windows last season. Argentine Willy Caballero will serve as understudy to Spanish Ruben Martinez, the starter.


Ruben Martinez
Defence:
Malaga's defence is experienced but lacking in depth somewhat. Ideally, Mathijsen will probably lineup in the middle alongside experienced Brazilian stopper Weligton with captain Jesus Gamez on the right and Monreal on the left. Argentine Martin Demichelis, who arrived in the 2010-11 winter, from Bayern, provides backup all along the back four, along with Danish defender Kris Stadgaard and Argentine Javier Malagueno.


Joris Mathijsen
Midfield:
The area that has been strengthened the most and is now Malaga's greatest weapon. Long time central midfielder Apono is given free rein in the middle with Toulalan mopping up beside him. Throw in Joaquin and Cazorla on the wings and you have a very tasty looking midfield. Depending on formation, especially away from home, veteran Enzo Maresca, Isco, youth starlet Recio and Uruguayan Sebastian Fernandez will all feature.


Apono
21 year old Ignacio Camacho is the long term replacement for Toulalan as the shield in front of the back four and will prove critical as the squad rotates through the season. Portuguese wingers Duda and speed merchant Eliseu are also options as Malaga possess a pair of wingers on either flank that can create plenty of chances. Toulalan can also play in defence.


Jeremy Toulalan
Attack:
Julio Baptista, who was a revelation at the fag of last season, will be expected to lead the line along with Dutch veteran Van Nistelrooy. Venezuelan striker Salomon Rondon and another Argentine Diego Buonanotte are the nominal backup pair but with Isco and Fernandez also options, Pellegrini has several versatile attackers he can use in the final third. Youth team product Juanmi Jimenez has been retained and will be expected to chip in at key moments this season.


Nacho Monreal
Potential Starting XI (4-2-3-1):




If Pellegrini opts for a 4-3-3 he may start Camacho in place of Joaquin and move Cazorla to the front three:






Verdict:
It's a handy side, which might not be able to crack the Champions' League places but should make the top six.


Captain Jesus Gamez







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