Valencia CF

I´m late today with my blog, so rather than rehashing a bunch of old Arsenal news about why our team is injured and how we've had Lady Luck with us this season, I think I´ll have a little chat about the match I saw last night involving my second team, Valencia CF, and my former second team, Atletico Madrid.

I warn you in advance because if you don´t want to be here I don´t blame you, but I think we all know Arsenal have gotten effed over with injuries this year, and Chelsea without Drogba, Carvalho, Malouda, Cole, Zhirkov, Obi Mikel and Anelka for huge chunks of the season would not be the team, or in the same position.

BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?

So instead, I think I´ll talk about the world of football and attempt to demonstrate I´m not just a tunnel-visioned Arsenal lackey.

Valencia Atletico

This was by-and-large a very boring match.

Both teams are distinctly average, particularly Atletico who seem to be full of uninterested, overpaid players. There is a curse at that club, and they seem to be content with flirting with success without really ever getting there.

Valencia have a squad that could normally win the Spanish league, but their manager's tactical nous leaves a LOT to be desired and he over-thinks EVERY SINGLE GAME. Why he doesn´t play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 every game with his best 11 players, make substitutions when they're tired, and rotate when someone is injured is beyond me. But if you arrive at April and you don´t know who your best team is, then you haven´t got a fucking clue.

Throw in the towel Unai, you are spent.

That being said, Valencia had the better chances last night, although Forlan and Ujfalusi both could have ended the game in favour of Atletico as well.

Anyway, I´m not going to do a match report, because people don´t really care. I am going to rant about technology in football again because last night was an embarrassment.

Zigic went up for a header and was dragged to the ground by his coat-tails by the man marking him. His shirt was pulled so hard it RIPPED, right over his nipple in fact, which is a funny place for rippage to occur but that´s neither here nor there.

The important point is that neither referee saw the incident clearly but you could see the shock and embarrassment on their face when they didn´t award the penalty. Zigic showed off his newly tailored uniform and you could see the goal line official´s stomach turn in disgust at his poor judgment.

I mean that is just insane, EVERYONE can see the player has been tugged down by his shirt, EVERYONE knows had he not been it was a goal, but the referees are helpless because they cannot show weakness in light of evidence that occurs after the fact.

That is to say, they can´t change their call because of what they have seen on video or on the faces/clothing of the players, they just have to go with what they saw with their own eyes. (Although they certainly do rely on video evidence sometimes, I´m sure Zidane was sent off because of a sneaky peek at a video replay from the 4th official and NOT because the linesman saw it.)

Anyway, it´s a travesty that Valencia will most likely miss out of some money because of a terrible decision made by the referees and their inability to reverse or review this decision even with BLATANT evidence that proves they were wrong.

Sad times these are, living in the stone age.

We should ban plastic pinks too, because football has to be the same at all levels—right Mr. Blatter? Make everyone play with a pig´s bladder in their bare feet. PERFECT!

UptheArse

Over the years, Spanish La Liga has been one of the top three professional soccer leagues in Europe. It currently stands at a second spot in the UEFA League rankings this year, losing first place to Premier League for next year’s Champions League qualifications.

La Liga has also secured 12 Champions League titles, more than any other European league and 12 teams from La Liga have so far participated in the Champions League, higher number than any other European League.

In revenue La Liga stands at a combined second position with Bundesliga in annual turnover for 2007-2008 at eight percent annual growth. The decline in exchange rate of British pound and because of low tax rate of just 24 percent for temporary non-Spanish residents will help La Liga in luring foreign players.

The Big Two?

Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are definitively the “Big Two” of La Liga by a large distance from other clubs and will not be relinquishing that place anytime soon by the looks of it.

Barcelona

Barcelona has 19 La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues peaking UEFA Club ranking five times. The third richest soccer club for 2007-2008, that despite no income from shirt sponsorship fee, and, currently comes off a best season for any La Liga team.

A Sport+Markt study earlier this year has concluded that Barcelona is the most popular soccer club in Europe with 44.2 million fans on the continent and Real Madrid was second with 41 million fans.

Club has a fierce rivalry with Real Madrid and game between them is called El Clásico, perhaps the most anticipated and watched soccer game in the world. Already fans on both sides are looking forward to this contest after the arrival of megastars at Real Madrid and Barcelona’s triumphant last season.

Barcelona’s local derby is called El Derbi Barceloní played against underdogs Espanyol but this has mainly been a one-way event making its result significant largely to Espanyol.

In all their history, Barcelona has not sold their shirt rights to any sponsor when they could have made a large sum from shirt sponsorship fees. In 2006, Barcelona reached a five-year agreement with UNICEF to wear its logo on their shirt. That when even the smallest clubs sell shirt space to get the money to bolster their finances.

Camp Nou—Barcelona’s stadium—with its official capacity of 98,787, is biggest in Europe. Year 2007 saw the announcement of remodeling of the stadium at the cost of €250 million, set for beginning in 2008, with enhancement of 10,000 in seating capacity along with retractable roof.

Expected to be finished in 2013, this will make Camp Nou one of the biggest soccer stadiums in the world.

Façade of remodeled Camp Nou will be covered in translucent mosaic of polycarbonate and glass panels, using colors of team uniform and flag of Catalunya, hanging in cable mesh. A beautiful facade will make, with light transitions with day and nights events, a riveting experience.

Club was not to raise ticket prices to finance the construction but instead improved broadcast deal with Mediapro and uniform sponsorship with Nike will help fund the project. Barcelona said officially "the remodeled stadium is designed such that it can be built with minimal disruption to FCB normal football activity."

Barcelona also had plans for a MLS franchise for 2010 season to be based in Miami, because of its predominant Hispanic population, but was forced to cancel this US$20 million enterprise due to the current global economic situation considering it a financial risk.

Yet this was an evidence of club’s efforts to build up its brand overseas and it may renew its interest once economic conditions improve.

Increased revenue may soon see Barcelona overhaul Manchester United or even Real Madrid as the richest soccer club in the world.

Real Madrid

The club is most successful Spanish club with 31 La Liga and nine Champions Leagues titles, receiving FIFA Club of the Century award for its achievements. Real Madrid was also the first club to win UEFA Cup back to back in 1985 and 1986, one of only two clubs to achieve that. Real has topped UEFA Club ranking an unrivaled 14 times.

Real Madrid is one of only five European teams to have received the UEFA Badge of Honor, qualified to wear it permanently.

Real is the richest soccer club in the world for 2007-2008 and have doubled its revenue since 2002. This is notwithstanding underperformance in UEFA Champions League and loss of lucrative BenQ shirt sponsorship fee through firm’s bankruptcy which was replaced with somewhat less fee with Bwin.

While no club has ever defended Champions League title in its current form, Real Madrid won it five times in a row when it started in 1956-1960 and also has played semis a record 21 times. Team captain Raúl is the Champions League’s all-time top scorer.

New York based BBDO Consulting in late 2007 put brand value of Real Madrid at higher than any other soccer club with FC Barcelona second on the list. This clearly demonstrates marketing potential of both clubs when it comes to attracting sponsorship revenues.

According to Sport+Markt survey it has 490 million fans around the world, more than any soccer club.

Galactico I

During Florentino Pérez's first presidency (2000-2006) of the club, he sought to make Real Madrid financially the most successful club in Europe and instituted a policy of signing the best players to harness their marketing power, in turn raising the club’s brand value and advertising revenues.

However, this policy failed miserably in generating team’s on-field success. Arguably his biggest mistake was to sell Claude Makélélé in spite of his pivotal role in the squad which precipitated the demise of Galactico I.

The Galactico I was fueled by revenues coming from the sale of training facilities, La Ciudad Deportiva del Real Madrid, which also cleared debt of €270 million and enabled the club to begin construction of ultra-modern training facilities, La Ciudad del Real Madrid, in the city’s suburbs.

Galactico II

With Pérez back as president, there was again a sense of déjà vu that he will buy big stars and soon this proved very real with acquisitions of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, and Xabi Alonso in particular. Again, there are fears that this policy will fail leaving the club in dire straits.

However, he has not completely replicated his mistakes this time of only buying shirt-selling forwards and has signed Raúl Albiol and Álvaro Arbeloa to strengthen defense and Xabi Alonso to bring much-needed creativity to the squad.

Other Big Two?

So are there other clubs who could be big enough to be classified and included to form rest of the “Big Four” just like that of Premier League?

The answer is bit elusive as of now but there are strong candidates for the last two “vacant” spots of the so-called Big Four, amongst them Valencia, Atlético Madrid, Sevilla, and relative underdogs Villarreal.

Valencia

Valencia has been a third force in La Liga, with six La Liga titles and Champions League runners-up in 1999-2000, 2000-2001. Considerable success in Europe makes it one of the top ten soccer clubs.

But after 2003-2004 title and the departure of Rafael Benitez afterward, the club has suffered due to mismanagement and bad signings. Though it has failed to qualify for Champions League next season and tough times are far from over, it is only a matter of time before clubs begins to rise from recent lows.

Valencia also stands prominent in La Liga for having 50,000 season ticket holders and when 75,000-seater Nou Mestalla is completed there will be an addition of 25,000 more. Anticipated revenues from the new stadium are going to help a long way toward taking club one of the best in La Liga and Europe.

Atlético Madrid

Atlético Madrid has won nine La Liga titles, third on the overall list of league winners, last one coming in 1995-1996, and has spent most of its life under the shadow of city-rivals Real Madrid. When during '60s, '70s, and '80s Real Madrid overwhelmingly ruled La Liga, only Atlético were able to give them some competition in the league instead of Barcelona.

In their local derby with Real Madrid called “El Derbi Madrileño” Atlético has mostly been behind Real Madrid in terms of wins.

An important milestone was reached when mid-2007 saw Atlético signed an agreement for the City Council of Madrid to sell the land of their current stadium Vicente Calderón and move to Estadio La Peineta (Olympic Stadium, at present owned by the city).

The new stadium is to be upgraded and expanded to nearly 74,000-seater (and set to be completed in 2013) as part of giving boost to Madrid’s bid for 2016 Olympic Games by ensuring that stadium will be used after the Games depending on winning of the bid.

Atlético can play at Vicente Calderón till 2010 after that it will be demolished and turned into a riverside park to be called Athletic Park.

The club will pay expansion costs of maximum €195 million plus VAT and installation and removal of track and field runway if bid succeeds. Ownership of the new stadium will be transferred in 2016 (or 2020 or 2024 if current bid fails and city of Madrid retains the option of applying for future games).

Until then club will have “administrative assignment” over the stadium with full rights of use. Atlético are expected to earn up to €20 million from increased gate revenue after stadium is completed.

Atlético will get a modern and larger stadium that will be good for their image, enabling them to increase revenue to buy talented players and compete for top honors in the years to come. However, the move is controversial and fans are unhappy at the decision which will impose a lengthy travel upon them every weekend.

As of now, Atlético is seemingly well on its way forward in Europe after two consecutive Champions League qualifications.

Sevilla

Sevilla has also improved with two consecutive UEFA Cups in 2006 and 2007 under former head coach Juande Ramos, but has only one La Liga title in its history which came in a distant year of 1946.

Its performance in recent years has improved and more spectators are now becoming season ticket holders, making a much welcome increase in revenues.

Club has qualified for Champions League after one year gap, but next time will have to compete with a Valencia hungry for return to the top.

Villarreal

This small town club, under former coach Manuel Pellegrini, has scaled new heights both in La Liga and Champions League despite its small budget winning fans for its beautiful style of play. Having finished second in 2007-2008 season, best ever, it dropped to sixth position last season only managing to qualify for Europa League.

While it has bettered its La Liga profile under stewardship of Pellegrini but it seems inevitable that Villarreal will be slipping down the table, a slow process it might be given the talent in the squad, and won’t be able to emulate same success in the long run.

Who has the better chance?

There is nothing in sight to suggest that Real Madrid and Barcelona will be moving lower in the league so there are only two other places available to complete the Big Four.

Sevilla has improved and will be playing Champions League next season but a longer term berth is not assured. Villarreal also may not make the cut and will have to be content to fight for Europa League qualification for the foreseeable future.

Valencia and Atlético Madrid have better prospects for filling the last two of the “Big Four” in the longer run. Both have been the most successful after Barcelona and Real Madrid. They have rich history behind them and bright future in front of them.

While Valencia can expect to achieve that relatively early, the route of Atlético may be precarious and fraught with pitfalls.

Manchester United v Valencia, pre-season friendly, August 5, 2009

Manchester United 4/7; Draw 5/2; Valencia 4/1

If the Sunday tabloids were to be believed the sole purpose of this fixture was for Sir Alex Ferguson to politely enquire how much the Spanish side would be willing to sell David Silva and/or David Villa, depending which rag you trust.

In truth, this match is a landmark game for a number of reasons for fans of the Red Devils. With Tevez and Ronaldo long gone, Michael Owen looks likely to make his non-competitive home debut as United’s new number seven. Regulars at Old Trafford will also be eager to see how Luis Antonio Velencia gets on, as well as taking note on which pairing will start up-front.

Intriguingly, after all the hype following his surprise move, Michael Owen has not yet played in tandem with Wayne Rooney throughout the pre-season. The former Liverpool striker has scored four goals in five pre-season appearances and now there is talk of a recall to the England squad.

Fabio Capello, who is expected to either be in attendance on Wednesday night in person or alternatively been represented by an assistant, is reportedly interested in the apparent revival of Michael Owen and could call him up to the England squad for the match against Holland later this month.

Alongside Owen, the major change to the Premier League champions this summer is likely to be a more rigid tactical approach that has been alluded to by Sir Alex Ferguson. Much will depend on the form of Dimitar Berbatov, who Fergie has admitted had a "strange" season in 2008-09.

Valencia travel to Old Trafford with a 100% pre-season record so far. The Spanish side saw off Werder Bremen on penalties in their opening game last week after a 2-2 draw and then beat Cardiff City 2-0 on Saturday.

Los Che’s summer transfer plans have been dictated by the futures of Davids Silva and Villa. Barcelona’s bid to secure Villa was blocked and the Catalan giants turned to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Silva was thought to be close to a move to Real Madrid but now either players most likely destination will surely be Old Trafford or Anfield.

On the incomings, Valencia’s major signing so far this summer has been French left back Jeremy Mathieu, who, if he plays, should provide stiff opposition to United's likely right winger Luis Antonio Valencia.

As we have seen in many of these pre-season games, fitness is all important and United have the clear edge for this one. Sunday’s Community Shield may take up greater importance but the United players will be keen to impress on their first outing at Old Trafford this season.

101gg predicts: Manchester United 3 - Valencia 1 (11/1)

Full match odds here.

It was not long ago that Valencia were reportedly on the verge of bankruptcy. Severe financial problems forced the construction of its ultra-modern and high-seating-capacity Nou Mestalla to be halted, and payment of wages to players and club staff had to be delayed.

But, things seem to be improving for the troubled Spanish giants.

Only one month following the resignation of Vicente Soriano, it is becoming increasingly apparent that he will in fact return to Mestalla as its savior, as the front man of investment firm Inversiones Dalport SA.

Reports are emerging that they will soon complete the purchase of a 51 percent shareholding, securing a majority, and paving way for Soraino to become president again.

According to press, Inversiones Dalport SA are wiling to pay €500 million to buy the site of old Mestalla, wiping the club’s debts in the process. If this materializes, then Valencia can move forward to complete building the Nou Mestalla—with the added certainty of a five–star status from FIFA—meaning it might even host the 2011 Champions League final.

The 73,000 seating capacity that the Nou Mestalla provides is crucial to a bright future for the club. It will generate revenue that could attract top quality players, and pay high wages required to sign them. This would provide a platform for Valencia to truly become a top club, fight for the La Liga title, and improve its performance in European competitions.

Vicente said to AS: “I do not want to go into the details of the operation in respect to how much I had to pay for the shares, but it is an agreement that I had with Soler back in September.”

“My idea is to regain the presidency and the control of the club and what is clear is that one of my companies now has 51 percent of the shares.”

In the end, this will be good for the club because it will not have to sell its prized players to alleviate financial woes. Instead, it will be in a strong position to keep them for next season’s title charge, or at least, to claw their way back into a money-spinning Champions League spot.

A man who willingly lets himself become a victim of circumstance is invariably a man who never achieves his ultimate ambitions.

David Villa is keen that he does not become a victim of circumstance.

Over the past year, the Valencia striker’s name has been linked with almost every top club in Europe but, despite a concerted recent effort from those around him, a move has yet to materialise.

At 27 years of age, the prolific hitman knows that he needs to move soon if he is to achieve everything the game has to offer, at least at a domestic level.

Valencia will be competing in the newly-formed Europa League next season but, like all world-class footballers, Villa craves a shot at the Champions League and the opportunity to win league titles.

With Valencia’s well documented financial troubles, it is unlikely the Mestalla-based outfit will be able to reach that stage in the immediate future.

And it is not as if the striker isn’t coveted by clubs that can offer him such opportunities. With his reputation buoyed—along with the rest of the Spain squad—as his country won 2008’s European Championship, Villa took his spectacular form into the 2008-09 season, scoring a stunning 49 goals in 57 starts across international and club games.

In the process, he cemented his position among the very best strikers in the game today.

Less than a week ago, Valencia were openly shopping around their crown jewel to anyone who might feasibly stump up the asking price, believed to be €53m.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Chelsea (among others) were believed to be queuing up to speak to the player affectionately known as “El Guaje” (The Kid).

Now, however, it is a slightly different matter.

"Villa is not for sale," Valencia’s president, Manuel Llorente stated this week. "But if there is an offer that is scandalously scandalous we will consider it."

No one knows the reason behind the u-turn. But having spent the past week actively approaching clubs to encourage talks, David Villa’s agent, Jose Luis Tamargo, certainly isn’t happy about it.

"We have no choice but to back out of the market with our tails between our legs," Tamargo said. "I'm annoyed that they are toying with us like this. It would have been easier to say that he was not for sale in the first place, not say yes before and no now. I don't like this at all.”

Disappointed but respectful of Valencia’s wishes, it appears all Villa can do now is try to persuade a club to make the “scandalous” offer his employers now require. And with some head-turning performances at the Confederations Cup over the past weeks, he has gone a long way to doing just that.

In Spain’s final group game on Saturday against a determined South Africa, Villa gave a timely exhibition of his ability to change a game at the highest level. With the game scoreless after 50 minutes, things looked bleak for Villa, when he saw his penalty saved well by South African keeper Itumeleng Khune.

But within a minute of that save, the 27-year-old responded to the disappointment with the sort of mental fortitude and goalscoring nous that few in the world game currently possess, chesting down and volleying an Albert Riera cross in one smooth movement that left Khune with no chance.

It was a goal that would have grabbed attention in boardrooms from Madrid to Manchester.The problem for Villa, however, is that attracting attention alone might not be enough. The asking price set by his club, even before they all but removed him from the market, was obviously deemed slightly prohibitive to interested parties.

No one can be sure what Llorente deems a “scandalously scandalous” offer to be, but it is safe to assume it is at least the original €53m quoted.

Chelsea and Liverpool, both believed to be fervent admirers of the striker (indeed, Rafa Benitez might be the most keen of all managers to sign him), have obviously been put off by the transfer fee—mainly due to the poor exchange rate.

Valencia’s asking price translates to £45m in the current market, but would have only been about £30m this time last year when the pound was still riding high.

At that price, at least one of the clubs would likely have fancied a bid.

Now however, the price is not a financially viable one.

Manchester United, having lost both Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in the past two weeks, are also evidently in the market for a striker.

With £80m (over four years) to budget with as a result of Ronaldo’s sale, they could afford a move for Villa—especially considering the Spaniard’s talents are of the sort that would enhance the team and, significantly, appear to compliment Wayne Rooney’s versatility, rather than exploit it.

But the recent admission that they would not sign players over the age of 26 (Villa is 27) due to the perceived lack of re-sale value such players would have, indicates both the enforced prudence of the Glazer regime, and the unfavourable economic conditions that English clubs face in the European market.

Villa’s challenge, then, is to encourage United, or his suitors on the continent, that the various obstacles they face are worth overcoming in order to acquire his services.

In that pursuit, Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid look the most likely to be persuaded. The exchange rate is not a barrier for either club, and the price demanded (assuming it still remains around the same figure) is one that they will be willing to start negotiations from.

But for Real Madrid, with upwards of €150m already invested in attackers, president Florentino Perez might not believe that Villa’s signing will create a profitable marketing frenzy in the same way his other blockbuster signings are set to.

Perez might feel it wiser to invest remaining funds in defensive reinforcements—and see which of his unwanted attackers (Robben, Van Nistelrooy, Huntelaar) have departed—before returning to Villa later in the summer.

That leaves Barcelona in the driving seat. But with a settled and successful squad, do they need to make any changes? The potential transfer of Samuel Eto’o (rumoured to be on the verge of an exit) might prove the pivotal factor, but it is almost certain the club will make no firm moves until the Cameroon international's future is decided.

As much as he hates it then, Villa’s only off-the-field option might be to wait and see.

"Last week was not easy at all. I admit that it's been bad for me,” Villa said after the South Africa game. “I wouldn't wish all this on anybody but, with the advice of my family, I've erased it all from my mind.”

Sensibly, Villa seems to have realized that all he can do is remind football’s heavy hitters of exactly what he can contribute during games.

“When I go out on the pitch I try to show what I can do. On the pitch is where I feel better, and I'm proud to be part of this national team.”

Scoring the goals that take his country towards Confederations Cup success might not be enough to secure himself a move, but at least Villa can be consoled in the fact that there is nothing more he can do.

If Villa is to be a victim of circumstance, at least he will not be so willingly.

Again, a disappointing season is over for Valencia but question that troubles the minds of the faithful is that is the club bouncing back or will it be going down again. After qualifying for the Europa League through league position, which is an improvement on last year, are things looking up or looking down for Valencia?

Bad administration over the last couple of years has contributed to and accelerated their fall. Lack of consistency against smaller teams cost them dearly this year and they lost the fourth spot for CL qualification which was well within their reach.

With imminent loss of star players like David Villa, David Silva, Juan Mata, Raul Albiol, and maybe Carlos Marchena seemingly in sight, next season will be a tough one for the club in terms of rising up the ladder of La Liga to quality for the much sought-after money-spinning Champions League spot.

Sales of players may reduce the burden of debt but the loss of talent will be higher still.

Another difficult catch-22 issue would be to continue construction of Nou Mestalla or stop it until things improve financially. Money isn’t there to continue construction of Nou Mestalla but if completed the 75,000 seater would bring more revenue which could be used to retire the debt and in the long run will ensure financial health of the club.

On the flip side, it will put severe strain on the near-non-existent resources of the club which wasn’t able to make timely payment to the construction company and of player’s wages for part of season. Supposed sale of old Mestalla also didn’t materialize so it is apparent that construction of new stadium will not be resuming anytime soon.

This task is tough but a measured and steady approach would see them through. The club will have to live on meager resources for sometime to come so it could wiggle its way out of financial problems that strained season that has just ended.

The job of coach Unai Emery will be to make do with what he can afford in the transfer market and gradually improve towards Champions League qualification in the next season or two.

For Valencia, the answers seem difficult, dilemmas serious, and path perilous.

Yesterday I wrote an article asking "Do Arsenal still need Emmanuel Adebayor in 2009-10?" Many people said Adebayor should be swapped for hugely talented Valencia striker David Villa.

David Villa is an amazing player with one of the best eyes for goal. He is blessed with quick feet, balance, strength, and experience. On the eve of the 2008-09 campaign the future of the Spanish star was unclear. Tottenham were very keen to add the striker to their squad and were prepared to offer around twenty million pounds, while the likes of Arsenal and other giants were also after his name.

Villa stayed with Valencia and has so far been influential in their wins but come the end of the season his future at Valencia may still have clouds over it. Villa has expressed interest in joining the Gunners, saying he loves the style of football they play. So should Arsenal sell Emmanuel Adebayor in order to capture David Villa?

As I wrote previously it has not been Adebayor's season—which has been halted by injury and poor finishing. The Togolese forward's future is also uncertain, it is still undecided if he will be with the Gunners for 2009-10.

Most big clubs would happily pay fifteen to twenty million pounds for the tall, imposing striker which should be enough to lure David Villa away from Valencia, but do Arsenal need another striker?

I believe David Villa would be fantastic next to Dutchmen Robin van Persie plus with the likes of Samir Nasri and Andrei Asharvin playing just behind them the Gunners would be especially dominant. Villa is also close with club captain Cesc Fabregas.

So should Arsenal sell Adebayor for Villa?

La Liga returned this weekend after a winter break, and it was marked by the return of two of Spain's key players. Andres Iniesta made his comeback for Barcelona, arriving as a substitute to rescue his side against Real Mallorca scoring the goal that took them into the lead. While David Silva, missing for most of this season, made a sparkling return, scoring twice as Valencia grabbed an important victory over Atletico by three goals to one.

The return of these two is important news for the Spanish national team. These two are players who were key components of Spain's successful Euro 2008 side and that these two returned so successfully after such long lay off is testament to their own abilities as players.

Andres Iniesta is perhaps one of the most underrated players in Europe, his name was strangely absent among contenders for the Ballon d'or, yet he was a crucial part of Spain's team and a shining light in a disappointing campaign for Barcelona last year.

He is one of those players whose quiet nature and modesty prevents him from gaining true recognition and attention for his underrated qualities. He simply lets his actions on the pitch do the talking for him.

David Silva on the other hand is a player recognised across Europe as one of the finest attacking players on the continent. A young player whose game has been developing year on year, after a fantastic long-range goal against Chelsea he finally gained the recognition in England he deserved.

As his summer performances for Spain proved, in terms of speed, creativity and skill, there are few players to match him, and it was little surprise that he was a target for the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona over the summer.

Perhaps what these two players embody more than anything is the more intelligent and skillful aspect to football and that footballers can succeed by using brain over brawn.

Both Iniesta and Silva are hardly the largest of players, in terms of build they are tiny, with both Iniesta and Silvas standing 1.70 metres tall (around five foot five inches). Yet these two prove that in football, size really isn't everything.

Football has hardly been the domain of the athletic and muscular down the years. Often some of the best players down the years have been the more vertically challenged. Think Johan Cruyff, Ferenc Puskas, Maradona, Romario, Youri Djorkaeff, Gerd Muller, or even modern day players such as Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi, Robinho, or even Arjen Robben.

These players weren't giants of men, but they were giants of football. They all proved that football is as much a game of intelligence and creativity as physical strength and might. None of them were the biggest men, but  that did not matter when it came to footballing talent-it shone through.

Even the best footballers come in all shapes and sizes. You don't have to be six feet tall in order to be successful. Often the most diminutive of players are the greatest, a lower centre of gravity often makes them harder to shrug off the ball, harder to challenge and as quick as a flash-until Usain Bolt came along many felt that the smaller the man, the quicker the sprinter.

One of the major developments in football over the past decade has been the emergence of a more athletic and physical side to the game. The likes of Patrick Vieira and George Weah were pioneers because they showed that in some cases, physical supremacy coupled with footballing skill could be an utterly effective weapon.

As a result we have seen that football has become pre-occupied with building athletes rather than footballers. Time spent in the gym was perhaps as important as time spent on the football pitch and strength and stamina as opposed to skill and technique became the main qualities of a modern footballer.

But what the likes of Iniesta and Silva are proving is that in these days of physical domination, the age old footballing traditions of skill, touch and creativity are what is important in football, no matter what shape and size package it comes in.

Just look across world football now, the Spanish team of the summer were hardly built of giants (Fabregas, Xavi, Villa etc), but that team was built on something else. For what they lacked in size, they more than made up for in ability, and it was ability that won. Also the Argentina team who triumphed at the Olympics, with Messi, Di Maria, and Gago—not without due cause are Argentina accused of building a team of dwarfs. 

But as Iniesta and Silva are proving, even though football has become the domain of the athlete, the age-old footballing qualities of skill and intelligence are as important now as they have always been-regardless of what shape and size they come in.  And these two are proving that in football, bigger isn't always better.

Joaquin Sanchez Rodriguez is a Spanish footballer currently playing for Valencia CF. The 28-year old right winger is known for his lightning pace and slick dribbling.

Joaquin joined Real Betis in 1994 and broke into the first team in 2000, aged 19. Real Betis were in the Spanish Segunda that season.

Real Betis were promoted into the La Liga in the following season. Joaquin's ability to tear defenders apart from the right flank and set up goals for his teammates attracted a host of big clubs.

He scored a total of 33 goals in over 200 appearances for Real Betis before moving to Valencia in August 2006 for around €25 million, making him Valencia's most expensive signing. Joaquin made over 50 assists during his five La Liga seasons with Real Betis.

Joaquin has scored 18 goals in 121 appearances for Valencia in all competition so far.

Joaquin has represented Spain over 50 times, scoring six in the process. He was part of the Spanish squad in FIFA World Cup 2002. His penalty miss led to Spain's elimination in the quarter-finals. He was selected again for the two following major tournaments, EURO 2004 and FIFA World Cup 2006.

However, he was surprisingly excluded from the Spanish EURO 2008 squad, which Spain eventually won. It was a shocking decision as Spain went into the tournament without a proper right midfielder, as David Silva and Andres Iniesta exchanged flanks to fill the void throughout the tournament.

He was also excluded from the latest Spanish squad in the friendly against Chile.

In the bid to win their first World Cup, should Spain give Joaquin a recall?

If Joaquin finds his way back into the Spanish squad, he would definitely be a good addition to the solid Spanish midfield with the likes of Xavi, Marcos Senna, Cesc Fabregas, David Silva, Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta, and Santi Cazorla already in the team.