Schalke play in Gelsinkirchen, for those who don't know. The 04 stands for the year of their foundation. Most famous player? Probably Fritz Walter, who loved playing in the rain. Allegedly rain on a game day in those parts is still called Fritz Walter weather.

As for this match, the equation is simple: Valencia must win or they are completely fucked. A draw does nothing. A loss does nothing. A win is the only thing that matters. Koeman sadly doesn't have enough time to try and figure the Jekyll and Hide beast that is this team. I don't understand how they can play well against Murcia and yet play like Quique still coached the team against Racing. In Racing's defense, Marcelino is a very good coach.

I think we are gonna screw it up.It happened before against Werder bremen in 04.I think we are the biggest chockers in La Liga.

Plus Canizares starting doesn't go down well with me.He is a legend,but his performance has been below par & Timo also knws a thing or two about Schalke & shld have started this.

Anyway,lets hope I am wrong & we win this & the next one against Chelski.

Lineup is in:

Canisaurus
Miguel
Marchena
Helguera
Caneira
Joaquín
Albelda
Edu
Vicente
Morientes
Villa


Silva is on the bench - a bit surprising. No Angulo, which is nice - Quique probably would have shit his pants if he didn't pencil Angulo into the starting 11 for a crucial match. A pretty veteran laden line-up, so I guess Koeman doesn't expect the kids to save the floundering SS Valencia on the rough european seas of the CL. All these vets can be good in some cases, Edu comes to mind, and bad in others, Canisaurus.

By the way, what type of midfielder is Edu anyway? kind of box-to-box I figure, I didn't really follow Arsenal much when he was there. He's been injured so much for Valencia that I barely know what he brings to the table.


Schalke will have both Altintop and Kuranyi up front. As for other players, Rakitic is supposed to be quite good, though young.

shame I can't watch the match - the chinese player doesn't seem to agree with my computer.

Well, well, everyone's favourite jackass deluxe gets himself sent off. Lovely. The nice thing is that Albelda automatically won't play against Chelsea. The bad thing is it may already be too late. Is there any way that UEFA can make the red card apply for the whole season regardless of competition? Can Valencia trade Albelda to Vigo for Obunia?

Caneira is injured, Albiol is on.

I think a 10 man Valencia has enough to squeak out a 1-0 win.

I'm not watching the game either, no way to do so, I'm stuck in an office. Anyway, is Albiol playing at left back? God, this sounds like a disaster. I presume we're playing 4-4-1? Atleast Fernandes and Edu who probably are our most two talanted midfielders are playing together.

I really hope this makes Koeman open his eyes about Albelda. Albelda is a horrible player and will never be a good player for Valencia again.

I hope we can steal a second half winner. Amunt

By the sounds of it, Albiol is playing as left back. It sounds like they are playing well at the moment.

listen to it here, if you can: http://www.canalgv.com/canalgv/app/play ... nguageId=1

Silva in for Vicente. By the sounds of it Vicente played well in the second half.

Fuck. Sounds like Valencia played really well in the second half. Best case scenario is that Valencia classifies for the UEFA and tries to make a run of it.

Would you believe that Soler figured in this year's budget that Valencia would make it to the quarter finals in the Champions League this season?

And Albelda. What a waste of space and salary. Marchena or Vicente are twice or even three times the Captain he is.

Well, no more CL. If Valencia beat Chelsea and schalke lose/draw with Rosenburg then we'll be able to qualify for the UEFA Cup. I just want to play in that competition because the opponents are weak and it'd be good for the team confidence. not only that but it's also a realistic target to win. Furthermore there is money in winning games in that comp, not close to playing in the CL but every bit helps when we're not in great financial shape. I hear that Soler budgeted to expect revenue of Valencia getting to the quarter finals again. Well that's not going to happen

Oh and Borja Oubiña, he'd be nice. Didn't he pick up a bad injury on loan at Birmingham though? We desperatly need a new DM. Hopefully we can buy Zapater or someone.

You read my mind!

I just posted a bit earlier then you did, that's all.

It's a strange feeling being out of the CL so soon. I think last year's lucky run - let's face it Valencia WAS lucky to beat Inter Milan - inflated expectations. I wasn't expecting the quarter finals, luck really helps in the elimination phase, but I at least expected Valencia to advance out of the group stage. But in a way, I finally feel, or at least hope, that the fucked up ghost of Quique Sanchez Flores has finally left the corridors and halls of the Mestalla.

Well, the early exit certainly helped Real Madrid last season. I hope that the off time can do the same for Koeman and Valencia.

AMUNT!