Turning Point?

There is one reason I stopped betting on games years ago and todays game reminded me of why. For a team that has been utter crap for most of the year, to come out today and thrash one of the top sides in Valencia is unexplainable. Valencia was undermanned and like us played in the Copa midweek, but they still should beat us like their Champions League rivals managed to do. Howevr, after their goalie fumbled the ball early in the game allowing Jurados initial goal, it was not their day.

While I like Spanish and Italian football for different reasons because of their different styles, one thing I love about being a Mallorca fan for so long is that the team always seems to be faster and more entertaining to watch them ost clubs even when they are losing. This year it has not been the case and I have had very little to say as I try to understand what management is doing trying to reshape the club on a budget after profiting from last years success.

Today reminded me of years past, especially last year, where no matter who we played, we were faster and that attractive style of Mallorca football was on full display. Jurado, who unfortunately is only on loan to us, is the one player who seems to be able to remind us of the players weve lost and that we can still play attractive football. He was man of the match today and his talent and enthusiasm clearly rubbed off on the team. I even saw Arango smile.

Despite being anti big club because of my lifes history leading me to be fans of underdog smaller clubs, I have always liked Valencia. Unlike a team like Barca who I just absolutely hate, they are like that gorgeous, but not overdone strippered out girl you admire from afar. You want them to do well and their players and style remind me of what Mallorca would be if we had just a little more cash. Today they just didnt have it.

Unlike this whole year, when we scored first and gave it back or fell behind and were never in the game, we saw what we expected, atleast on some level, to see this whole year while we stabilized the club after losing its foundation in the offseason. We took it to them from the beginning, got a goal, and continued to pour it on leading to a comfortable win. No last minute luck or bad decisions costing us points. Just a solid win which we should see more of, especially at home.

While Valencia leaves scratching their head wondering how they can improve their backline, while also having to deal properly with a massive bid for stud David Villa, all while maintaining a Champions League position, we wonder if this is the game that can give the players confidence to turn the season around and survive relegation.

The good thing about being a fan of a relegation team is that even if your team plays like crap for many weeks, there are other clubs with similar problems and a sudden shift in performance or confidence can lead to a streak that can noticeably change your fortunes and lead to survival.

Whether its the reality that a long streak of years in La Liga is in serious jepoardy or the fact the talent that has always been there jelled, albeit just for ninety minutes, we got a huge three points against a great team that we dont see again this year unless its in the Copa. While some of the other bottom clubs have played well of late causing the entire bottom half of the standings to solidify, we are only three points behind Numancia and an up and down Betis is still close. Its too early to think we will be relegated and if the players take each week seriously like they did this week, we will finish mid table.

Now that the big wave of games has passed, the team has to play well for consecutive weeks against opponents who all should be beatable over the next ten weeks. It starts with a road game against a fighting, but still in last place Osasuna, a team we gave points up early this year. We need to beat them even if it is on the road next round.

A victory like today, which no analysis can logically explain, can turn around a season and it was just great to see the red and black move with a pace that makes me proud to be a fan. Lets hope Manzano can finally bring some consistency to this team, a team whose talent still has not fully shown itself on any consistent level this year. If this week was just an abberation, then we are still in trouble, but there is a feeling amongst fans and with the players in the dressing room that this might have been the game that saved our season.

Category: Mallorca Team News

Tags: Mallorca Team News

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