Club Background
Name:
Name:
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. (Villarreal CF)
Founded: March 10 1923
Chairman: Fernando Roig
Manager: Juan Carlos Garrido (You!)
Media Prediction: 7th
European Competition: Europa League
Fierce Rivals - Castellón
Other Rivals - Valencia, Hércules, Levante
Nicknames: El Submarino Amarillo, The Yellow Submarine
1) Why Villarreal?Founded: March 10 1923
Chairman: Fernando Roig
Manager: Juan Carlos Garrido (You!)
Media Prediction: 7th
European Competition: Europa League
Fierce Rivals - Castellón
Other Rivals - Valencia, Hércules, Levante
Nicknames: El Submarino Amarillo, The Yellow Submarine
Villarreal represent a great challenge of attempting to break the stranglehold of La Liga by Barcelona and Real Madrid. They possess a technically gifted attack full of creativity and flair. And in Nilmar and Rossi you have one of the most exciting strike force’s in the game. The city of Vila-Real is tiny in comparison to most high end teams, with a population of just over 50,000, their stadium holds half the population! Yet despite this, they have become one of the top Spanish teams, attracting a host of top players. Could prove to be a great long term save in trying to grow this small town team into a European juggernaut, on a relatively small budget.
2) Expectations
Transfer budget: £5m (Winner), £4.7m (Title Challenge), £4.4m (Continental qualification), £3.5m (Top half finish).
Wage budget: £700k (Winner), £675k (Title challenge), £675k (Continental qualification), £600k (Top half finish).
Current wage budget: £491,609.
Expectations are quite moderate, your squad is far more capable than a top half finish, I choose Continental Qualification for the extra cash.
3) Staff Analysis
The staff is mostly poor, and there are few coaches at the club, almost a complete re-shape will be needed.
Assistant manager: Raúl Garrido
Coach: N/A
Goalkeeping coaches: Enrique Basauri, Jesús Unanua.
Fitness Coach: N/A
Youth Coaches: Juan Vincente Peinado, Raúl Guzmán, Adolfo Abad.
Physio: Rubén Pons, Ramón Peris, Juan Albors.
Scout: Paquito
There’s very little quality in there; Basauri is worth keeping as a 4 star goalkeeping coach. Paquito is a top notch scout, but you’ll want a couple more. All of the physio’s are pretty poor and are taking up £4k+ wages each. Your *** Man lacks motivation, tactical knowledge, man management and player judgement skills to be a good number one. Bring your own in.
Recommended Ins and Outs:
In:
Nello Malizia – Quality GK coach, and available for free.
Alexandre Grasseli: - Good attacking/technical coach, low wages but you’ll need to pay £95k compensation.
Giambattista Venturati – Free and 4 star ratings for most things.
Tosh Farrell – Give him a coach contract, 3.5 star shooting coach.
Alexandre Irineu – Top defending coach, available for free.
John Murtough – Coaching contract, 4 star ball control
Dave Watson – Give him a coaching contract, 4.5 star tactics coach.
Tord Grip – Quality scout, ‘nuff said.
Giancula Nani – Another top notch scout
Andrea Pastorello – Yet another scout
You can sign up to 8 additional scouts, so it’s up to you if you want more.
4) Squad Analysis
Goalkeepers: Diego López, Juan Carlos, Xavier Olivia.
Analysis: Diego López is a quality ‘keeper and will see you through your number one spot for some time to come. Aged just 28, he has plenty of years left ahead of him. Part of the generation of numerous Spanish keepers coming through, he’s kept out of the Spanish team by Casillas and Valdes only. Juan Carlos and Olivia are both about as good as each other, Olivia is ageing and contract is up at the end of the season.
Recommended ins/outs: None.
Youth targets: None
Defenders:
Joan Capdevila
Carlos Marchena,
Angel
Joan Oriol
Gonzalo Rodriguez
Cicninho
José Manuel Catala
Gonzalo Rodriguez
Mateo Musacchio
José Manuel Velazquez
Ivan Marcano (Out on loan)
Mario (B team)
Analysis: Not much work needs to be done here, Marchena and Rogriguez form a solid partnership and Musacchio is one of the hottest prospects in the game. Capdevila is ageing though, and you need to be thinking about a replacement either this season or next. Cicninho is also just on loan, I’d think about a new right back too since a £6.25m and £65k p/w wages are a lot for what you get. Consider Mario from your B squad.
Suggested ins/outs: Taye Taiwo, Sebastién Corchia, Lucas Digne, Sime Vrsaljko.
Midfielders:
Marcos Senna
Tiago Dutra
Bruno
Javier Matilla
Cani
Santiago Carzorla
Borja Valero (Loan - £3.7m buyout.)
Iago (B team, loan - £5m buyout.)
Analysis: There is a quality midfield, but it lacks depth on the wings. Cani and Carzorla are the only true wingers in the side, you’ll want to bring one or two backup’s. Senna is ageing, you may bring in a new player for him or develop Dutra to replace him. Valero is on loan from West Brom, and is a steal at his buy- out clause of £3.7m. The poor man’s Xavi, will sit in midfield and spray balls to the front four. Cazorla and Cani are the kings of your midfield. Get the ball to them, and let the magic happen!
Note that Valero can be a real pain, if you can get the best from him he’s brilliant and a bargain, but I opt to bring Kevin in. Can be the future of your midfield.
Senna is still has at least one more season at the top level. Solid defensively and can offer much going forwards, top player. Dutra is another youth prospect from South America, with the right training will turn into a good player. Bruno is a technically composed player, will form a solid midfield partnership with Senna.
You’re going to need depth on your wings, both Cazorla and Cani have low stamina, and they’ll struggle with multiple games a week. Mehdi Carcela is a superb young talent with high flair and technique, and plays across the whole midfield, is a complete bargain too. Get a tutor for him to iron out some of mental attributes and you have a top player.
Suggested ins/outs:
You’re going to need depth on your wings, both Cazorla and Cani have low stamina, and they’ll struggle with multiple games a week. Mehdi Carcela is a superb young talent with high flair and technique, and plays across the whole midfield, is a complete bargain too. Get a tutor for him to iron out some of mental attributes and you have a top player.
Youth targets:
Jack Rodwell, Kevin, Lucas (Sao Paolo, £3.6m release clause is a bargain.), James Rodriguez.
Strikers:
Nilmar
Giuseppe Rossi
Mauricio, Facundo Coria
Nicki Bille Nielsen
Marco Ruben
Jozy Altidore(Out on loan)
Analysis: Nilmar and Rossi lead the line perfectly, will score and assist for fun. You have adequate back-up for them in Ruben and Coria. Mauricio has potential, he’s transfer listed at the start and I’d keep hold of him to see how he develops. Be wary of his £325k release clause. When you get Altidore back from loan he can be perfect to bring on as a sub to try and disrupt defensive sides with his physicality.
Suggested ins/outs:
Nicki Bille Nielsen (Out.) I find him as deadwood, can easily find better players for his price.
Youth targets: Lucas (From above, provides good cover upfront as well.)
5) Transfer summary:
In:
Lucas
Mehdi Carcela
Sebastién Corchia
Lucas Digne
Kevin
Out:
Nicki Bille Nielsen
Star Players:
Giuseppe Rossi:
Nilmar:
Santiago Cazorla:
Marcos Senna:
Hot prospects:
Mateo Musacchio:
Mario:
Mauricio:
Iago:
5) Tactics:
I won’t go into much depth for this section, I feel that it’s most fun to create your own tactic to play your own style of football, but if that’s not your style there are a plethora of tactics available from this site that will suit.
A 4-4-2 is what suits Villarreal the best, much like real life. Senna/Bruno/Valero should all be sitting deep and playing the ball up to the front 4. Valero is the most creative of your midfield, but he lacks defensive quality. You’ll need a more defensive minded player next to him to make up for it.
For an idea, here’s how I would set the team out:
There are two brilliant articles on Villarreal tactics and on how to set up a modern 4-4-2, by iNickStuff and Mike respectively:
modern tactics: Villarreal C.F.
The Modern 4-4-2 (posted by Mike.)
6) Additional:
Youth: Villarreal isn’t a financial monster. You already have a strong amount of youth with some experience thrown into the mix. Concentrate on bringing players through and buying youth players with your excess money.
Play style: La Liga defences aren’t close to the standard of PL defences, and with the yellow submarine you have one of the strongest attacks in the league. Abuse the abundance of technique, flair and creativity you have at your disposal. Become the Arsenal of La Liga, but win something!
Giuseppe Rossi: He can quickly become tired of the club and seek bigger things. Your first job should be to tie him down to a long term deal, and then bring some quick success to keep him happy.
And that should be about that, enjoy trying to break the Barca/Real stranglehold with this wonderfully exciting and fun team!
And any feedback will be much appreciated. :wub:
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