No More Excuses

I think it is time for this time to evaluate where it wants to be this year as we are probably at a Crossroads where we must decide if we are going to be a team that might contend for something or if we are going to battle for a relegation spot because of all the changes and sudden drop off in talent after last years great performance.

We have now lost two games in a row to the bottom team in La Liga. First it was the flat performance at home against Sporting and now this past weekend an asswhipping on the road to Betis. The 3-0 defeat was almost too easy to predict considering Betis need to get back on track and move up the table when combined with a break after a previously bad performance. Instead of getting six points from two winnable games against teams down on their luck, putting us into solid european positions, we get instead get zero points and are now basically mid table where these continued performances will put us in the relegation zone quickly.

La Liga as usual is establishing its top 5 teams with a six team who is below the top five sliding in to that final European place. With the improved play of Valencia and the disappointment of Athletico, who could easily turn it around, it may be another year where the parity of the league is from 7th to 18th with a decent team being relegated. While it does not seem to matter if you finish 10th or 17th, that often makes it hard to focus and motivate to perform until you wake up one day and realize you might be relegated ie Zaragoza.

We are now in this situation. We gave away two games and got nothing. While it was tough to give up a goal in the first minute against Betis, and to be without Aduriz and have a tired Arango only play a half, there is still a bunch of uncertainty with Manzano as to who should be playing. We are not seeing enough of Trejo, Ramis, and even Callejon. While players like Jurado are talented, they are too inconsistent at this stage so Manzano must figure something out before its too late. We need to score some goals so an attacking formation needs to be sent out.

This week sees us at home against Espanyol, whose aspirations and talent level seem to match ours. We need to put an end to this losing streak and the team knows it. This explains the tension in the dressing room and the players trying to find solutions to the complaints of Manzano who is becoming more vocal in his displeasure.

With games against stronger teams coming up, we cannot rely on our ability to get up for big games and pull off surprising results as the talent is not there as it has been in previous years. If we continue to lose to bottom level clubs, we will find ourselves to be a welcoming game for other teams who need points. As the standings start to round into shape, while it is not panic time yet because of our position in the league, we are seeing that the points we do have came from games where the teams are bad and with the losses being also from bad teams, the tough part of the schedule is going to punish us. After this weekends debacle at Betis, Manzano better have some answers quick before the wheels fall off.

A loss at home this weekend to Espanyol could bring some grumblings of some change. This is the pattern I was hoping to avoid but it seems inevitable at this rate. Lets hope the players respond. I am on the fence right now as to which way this season will go after the two recent losses. The ups and downs of being a Mallorca fan shouldnt be surprise, but there is something scary about this year that has me worried.

Category: Mallorca Team News

Tags: Mallorca Team News

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