Valencia CF (From WIKIPEDIA)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Ben%C3%ADtez
[edit] Champions of Spain
In 2001 Benítez was appointed coach of Valencia CF, replacing Hector Cuper. Despite the loss of both Gaizka Mendieta and Claudio López, he inherited from Cuper a team brimming with potential. Santiago Canizares, Roberto Ayala, Rubén Baraja, David Albelda and Pablo Aimar provided the backbone of an already formidable side.
Valencia CF fans were soon won over by Benítez when he introduced a more attacking style of play. He also made use of both Mista and Curro Torres. Mista was top scorer at Valencia CF with 19 goals in 2003/04 and Curro Torres became an established international. In 2002, these tactics saw Benítez lead Valencia CF to their first La Liga title in thirty one years, winning it by a seven point margin over second placed Deportivo de La Coruna. The club failed to follow up on their title success during the following season. In 2003 they finished only fifth in La Liga, eighteen points behind Real Madrid. The season saw Benítez make his debut in the UEFA Champions League. Valencia CF reached the quarter-finals, after emerging from a group that had included Liverpool.
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Originally Posted by rahl
This wasn't your argument. Your argument was we should have an attacking approach like Man U. Valencia and Pool play the same disciplined way. We do need more players who can score more but why would you want to bench a player (Pennant) who is coming into his own and do a Shevchenko or Ballack? As I said above, I would prefer to spend on the left, if Harry cannot maintain his fitness for 10 games.
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We are still like Valencia 2001. Wish we could be more like Valencia 2004. Wish we had a player like Mista who can score 19 goals in a season. I agree Pennant will be super solid by next season. But he does need another good right winger to cover for him when he gets tired or injured. We play 50 plus games per season. Or simply to push him to a higher level. Look at how Finnan reacted whenever Rafa tries to get another right back.
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Originally Posted by KLKOOL
Well.. Rafa is a shrewd spender (probably second to Wenger) who don't believe in spending megabucks. I watched the Sevilla vs Real Madrid match, Dani Alves looked brilliant.
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I wonder if he's shrewd or because our budget is not big. I agree Alves is brilliant. Will you pay megabucks for proven quality like him? I wish we will.
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Originally Posted by _AXL_
that was probably the only time i saw pennant score this season... but then, i missed too many games this season!!! i agree that joaquin is much more of a goal threat than pennant... hell, i even see him scoring 20 in his 1st season with pool, but i guess he is going to cost a lot more than the 15 mil pounds valencia paid for him.
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Hell, we must belong to the same hell. I see 10 goals from him at least, plus 10 assists per season. Joaquim (Wa-kim) was a very exciting player during the World Cup too. The way he runs at defenders is scary. Looks like a Figo in his prime.
