An Analysis Of How Much We Suck

By: Al | November 9th, 2009

SOCCER-SPAIN/ The headline is as blunt as I can get about this post. All I need to show you is one statistic.

7 points from 10 matches played.

Catastrophic? Indeed. The team is doing so bad, that the inconsistent and unpredictable Atletico of last year is dearly missed. You could have at least expected some wins from last years version, despite them being able to lose to the likes of Osasuna and Valladolid at home. This year’s version however, is so bad that the diehard fans had no choice but to take their protesting right outside the training grounds. They are also wondering if or why Atletico’s best players would even bother sticking with the team after all of this.

It all seemed lovely when Atletico finally qualified for the Champions League last season. Win after win, Forlan netting goals like nothing, and a team spirit to feel proud made people believe that Atleti definitely had what it takes to consider themselves a Champions League team. For a team that hasn’t won anything in over a decade, it was almost dreamlike to watch Atletico become one of the best sides in Spain even after Barca had steamrolled over every team already. As I like to say often, “a true joy to watch”.

This season, those few flaws that we noticed all of last season are exactly what is bringing the team down. Everything from the crap defense, to the average performance of the midfield, and the bad luck of the attack.

On the Madrid derby…

All I’ll say is that you could definitely see a true difference in the quality of both sides. I say this more in a “passionate side against a not-as-passionate side” way, never will I agree that Real Madrid is a great club. Each one of Real’s goals was sublime, and each showed a flaw in our very own squad. Kaka’s first was scored after the ball was completely stolen from one of our players, and I’m talking about “F off this ball is mine” stolen. The second goal, Marcelo’s cracker, showed how crap our central defense is as Pablo (one of our best defenders, which is nothing to be proud of really) was outrun by Marcelo who later smashed the ball in from an improbably angle, when it could have been blocked. The third goal, if you saw it, was pretty much Higuain running a circle around Perea and slotting the ball in, reminiscent of those days when you play FIFA on easy to relieve stress and score 20 against MK Dons playing as Brazil. It looked that easy for him.

The team should have still be applauded for their hard work in the second half, as Atleti woke up when Sergio Ramos was sent off (did that even have to happen for Atleti to start trying?) and was able to slot in two goals. A comeback was in progress, reminiscent of last year’s most memorable matches, and after a frustrating dying minutes of the match where Aguero could have equalized and cemented another classic match, we lost again and the decade of no wins was complete. All this could have prevented, hate to say, with a better defense. So obvious but very true. None of those goals in the first half should have gone in.

I was actually laughing at Villarreal at the beginning of the season, as they were the other team that was doing worse than us and couldn’t even get one victory. This was around the time when Atletico defeated Zaragoza and seemed to have turned the corner. And now, watching them win all over again (especially that creaming of Lazio last week) is something that I’m actually envious of. I’m envious of the team with 9 points in the league. This crisis is no laughing matter, it’s been officially official for a few weeks already and it’s so bad that Quique Flores’ positive changes in the squad still haven’t been enough.

Speaking of Quique, it’s very unfortunate that his record so far is one draw and two losses in the past 3 matches (I’m not counting the match against Marbella). I hate to keep on bringing up the Chelsea match, but in that match you definitely saw what he brought to the team that Resino couldn’t. What I’m referring to was an increase in confidence in very important players (especially Reyes) and a system that was actually working. You have to give the man credit with what he’s working with here: a very small squad that can’t even field eleven players that are all each very good at what they do. Aka a shite defense and substitutes that are nowhere as effective as the starters. Quique is no messiah, but as long as his contribution has been positive, I’ll believe in him.

Now, the analysis begins:

Goalkeeper: Sergio Asenjo was a wise signing during the summer, as he was fairly inexpensive and was a very promising keeper that was an option for the long-run. However, I don’t feel very convinced in his qualities. I saw it when Frank Lampard shot that free kick during the match at Stamford Bridge, and Asenjo blocked the shot but still pushed it in and fell to the ground in pain. Keepers aren’t usually at fault if the defense is bad, but I don’t know, Leo Franco and even Gregory Coupet actually made me feel safe when they were in between the posts. Asenjo has been saved often this season by his best friend, the crossbars, and I actually preferred 18-year-old De Gea’s terrific performances. He played as if it were dream-like to make the first team (which it was, he’s from the youth team). Asenjo is good, but not the “next Casillas” that we expected to have. Nor is he Leo Franco.

Defense: Ugly. U-G-L-Y you aint’ got no alibi. Everything from the poor clearances, to the terrible pacing, to the abysmal aerial defense, is so hurtful to the team that it could possibly be considered the thing that is holding us back this season. So far into the league season, we are the team that has conceded the most goals at 22. I swear, you could probably get the Atletico B team defenders to replace ours and they’ll be just as talented or even better. Our defense is quite experienced at an average age of 29, but are probably playing at half of their potential at the moment. Luis Perea two years ago wouldn’t have been outrun by Gonzalo Higuain, and the Pablo Ibanez that was at World Cup 2006 would have blocked Marcelo’s bullet into the goal. As it stands, Quique will have to do with these players until the winter transfer window ( in which he BETTER sign some new players, or magically make these guys good by then) but for now there’s nothing that can be done except hope that they turn a new leaf.

Midfield: Not too bad. Paulo Assuncao could be a little less clumsy by getting less yellow cards (that’s probably like 6 or 7 this season so far) and Cleber Santana has definitely been trying. Simao isn’t having too great of a season, considering that he’s one of those players that would the difference in the match, and a former member of our fantastic 4. The right wing is kind of a mixed bag. Maxi has been doing good, and thanks to him we drew against Valencia. Reyes, however, is very skilled but not until recently has he begun to catch rhythm. Quique definitely confides in him and we’ll be seeing more of Reyes. Raul Garcia is a solid center midfielder as well, and he’s beginning to get more appearances after his injury. One player that I want to see more of is Nacho Camacho. So much potential and he’s finally available after his hip surgery. Some team somewhere is going to snatch him up if he doesn’t get playing time here, and he’ll become a superstar.

Attack: I can’t really complain here. Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero are beasts, as you all may already know, but what’s bugging me is Florent Sinama-Pongolle. Last season, he was the most solid of substitutes and had a terrific header that scored many important goals for us. This season, he’s definitely getting the minutes (largely in part to Aguero’s inability to play the full 90) but I’m guessing that Resino putting him in the right midfield did him no good in terms of being a solid striker once again. Jose Jurado is quite good, but as you saw in the Madrid derby, he has nothing on the likes of Aguero, despite them playing in the same position during that match. Simply put, we have two world-class strikers and substitutes that can’t even touch them in terms of quality. Even if Forlan and Aguero are world class, they still couldn’t score against 9 man Mallorca, so maybe in the present they are in better form but they still suffer from too many crossbars and wasted chances. However, Aguero has scored very excellent goals this season so far, and I’m actually expecting big things from him soon. Last year was the year of the Forlan, this year is the year of the Aguero.

Many of you may be saying “you forgot to talk about the director’s board”. Yes, they are shite to the point where it’ll be legendary how badly the club is run. They have gone through many coaches, and have made stupid sales/signings, but I don’t even have time to talk about how bad they are. Maybe in a later post, but what’s important to me is the performance of the team, not the idiots behind the club.

If Atletico keep on losing, I won’t even bother reviewing matches any more. I wouldn’t even say anything that people don’t already know (”man our defense sucks” “typical Atletico!”) so why even bother. However, as blogger for my favorite club, I’m kinda obliged to lead you all through this catastrophe and when I need to, I shall. Those Atletico followers reading this, all I have to say is to stick behind the team and not start following someone else only because of the bad results. If you “feel” Atletico, then you are, so when better times come and you aren’t there, you’ll regret having left. I won’t leave.