It has been a largely disappointing, underwhelming season
for Villarreal following last season’s terrific 5th place finish.
The Yellow Submarine are desperately struggling this season to collect any
victories following a pre-season of optimism and belief that this could be
their year to gate crash the Champions League places. However, their situation
right now is a major concern as they lie 19th in the La Liga table, 3
points adrift of safety and that simply isn’t good enough for a club like Villarreal
with the excellent footballers and brilliant fans the club. Their form is
abysmal with the club winless in their last 7 La Liga matches, and they have
sunk down the table with two different managers this season.
A season that could off brought plenty of promise has turned
into a disaster and things must improve fast if they are indeed to escape the
relegation battle. After just 3 league wins in 15 matches and 15 months in
charge, the club sacked their former B side manager Javi Calleja who had ignited
their previous season after Fran Escriba’s ill fated spell in charge. Calleja brought
excitement and flare which has been non-existent this season. Calleja just couldn’t
get them going and so far, his replacement Luis Garcia Plaza isn’t getting much
of a tune either. Garcia Plaza is winless in his 5 league games drawing 4 and
losing just once and that was at home against Getafe. Villarreal have won just
twice at home this season and that is a major concern for a stadium that was
once a fortress and very difficult for teams to play. However, the Ceramica has
lost its rigid, strong presence and teams are finding easy ways to walk away
with points and its no surprise the Villarreal faithful are restless. But we
have seen Villarreal can perform and when on their game they can prove
unstoppable and certainly their thunderous away win at Ath Bilbao back in
September emphasises that. But Villarreal’s players just cannot find their consistency
and confidence to go out and win football matches. Their overall form in recent
months is woeful with just 1 league win in 13 matches and things are not
working at the club on the pitch.
Possible factors in their demise this season is certainly to
do with a lack of goals as Villarreal just cannot score on a consistent basis
despite having the likes of Gerard Moreno, Karl Toko-Ekambi and Carlos Bacca in
their forward line. The trio between them have scored just 11 league goals
between them and that simply isn’t good enough for three quality strikers. While
their midfielders have struggled for goals with only Santi Cazorla and Pablo Fornals
notching goals in the league thus far and certainly their midfield has lacked a
spark all campaign despite the return and best efforts of Villarreal hero Santi
Cazorla. Cazorla has really attempted to galvanise his teammates but they just
cannot find the confidence to go out on the pitch and secure a win. Confidence
and form are at rock bottom and this is certainly another major problem for them
this season. Their transfer business has also been largely disappointing this
season except for Santi Cazorla. Gerard Moreno returned to the club for a hefty
£20Million in the summer but has struggled for goals, chances, form and confidence
while fellow big money striker Karl Toko-Ekambi has struggled further having
moved for almost £18Million. While defensive signings Ramiro Funes Mori and Miguel
Layun have also flattered to deceive. However, despite their poor recruitment
this season, their academy has shined this season with youngsters making the
step up. These include the likes of Alfonso Pedraza, but it is winger Samuel
Chukwueze that has certainly caught the eye with the pacey, creative, talented
young winger has certainly made an impression in the side this season and does
have plenty of admirers across Europe. The 19-year-old brings raw pace and
talent to a side lacking in pace and creativity on their flanks and across his
18 appearances in all competitions this season, Chukwueze has scored 5 goals
and assisted just the one but has created plenty of chances for his teammates.
The winger has been a bright spark in season where the light has very much been
off for Villarreal and while he cannot do everything, he is certainly someone
the fans can look up to and be the inspiration to gain that illusive win to
ignite their season.
Luis Garcia Plaza knows improvement is needed and fast with
all of Villarreal’s squad underperforming this season. The regulars Sergio
Asenjo, Mario Gaspar, Juame Costa, Manu Trigueros, Pablo Formals and many more
have been short of confidence and despite spirited efforts from some players to
galvanise the team, Villarreal are desperately short on all the elements of
winning a football match. A winless run that stretches back to the end of November,
a Copa del Ray exit to Getafe and a narrow pass into the knockout stages of the
Europa League has not pleased the Villarreal fans and while Garcia Plaza is new
in the role having only been in charge of the Villarreal B side over a decade ago,
he will be fully aware of the task ahead and Villarreal must at least survive relegation
and the old cliché in football ‘Your never to big to be relegated’ rings loud
and true across the Ceramica and no doubt the fans are majorly concerned with
their teams precarious position in the table. However, due to the unpredictability
and tightness of La Liga, back to back wins could have Villarreal on the cusp
of the top half. But wins are proving very allusive for the Yellow Submarine.
As January ends and February begins, Villarreal have some huge
matches coming their way including their next league game which is the derby
with south coast rivals Valencia at the Mestalla. A must win for Villarreal and
a derby victory could be exactly what they need to ignite their season and
steer away from danger. Following the derby, they have fixtures against fellow
strugglers Espanyol and Valladolid which again is must win before they enter a
difficult period with two Europa League games against Sporting Lisbon
sandwiched in between games against Sevilla and Atletico Madrid. A crucial
month dawns on Villarreal and they must find a win sooner rather than later otherwise
the possibility of playing their football in the Segunda Division next season
is increasing and big club like Villarreal should be pushing the top 4 not fighting
relegation but that is where they find themselves and the Yellow Submarine must
stem the tide before they are swept out of La Liga.
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