Rangers' quest for a third consecutive promotion took a massive hit tonight as they went down at home to Motherwell 3-1.
Three consecutive promotions is quiet a rare thing but it has happened once before in Scotland. Gretna are the only side to have gone from Scottish 3rd division to the Premier League in consecutive seasons. This was achieved during 2004 and 2007 but the rapid rise ended with relegation from the premier league and subsequent liquidation in 2008.
However Gretna don't have the British record of consecutive promotions. That honor belongs to Cornwall side Truro City who between 2005 and 2009 rose four divisions to the Southern League Division One South & West, which makes part of the English 8th tier. Truro are currently celebrating a promotion to the Conference South for next season which is part of the 6th tier in the English system.
The highest number of consecutive promotions that I can find is in Germany. Surely a world record and it belongs to SV Rodinghausen who between 2009 and 2014 rose an incredible five divisions. The run was halted only this season when they finished 8th in the Regionalliga West but at five consecutive promotions it will take some beating that record.
Consecutive relegations?
That was the upside but what about the other direction. What are the records for consecutive relegations. The high profile case of Portsmouth is worth mentions but wasn't consecutive but their fall was rapid none the less. From premier league in 2010 to League two (4th tier) in 2014 it is quiet a drop.
So the record, it stands at 4 from what I can gather and has happened twice, both in Germany (what is with that place and consecutive promotions and relegations). The unfortunate clubs are FC Kempten and SV Lohhof.
FC Kempten dropped 4 divisions between 2007-08 and 2010-11. They currently play at the league they dropped down to called the Kreisliga Schwaben Sud.
SV Lohhof fell 4 divisions between 1999-00 and 2002-03. The club can now be found in the 7th tier in the Bezirksliga Oberbayern-Nord.
Thursday 28 May 2015
Wednesday 27 May 2015
Romanian Liga 1
The league is not one Europe's mainstream leagues but it certainly is crazy in its own way. For one thing the league this season has six relegation places and more than half the clubs in the league can't compete in European competition due to financial issues. It all makes for a crazy league.
To add more craziness to the league, this season has seen an incredible 39 coaching changes since the season began back in July. Seventeen of the current eighteen clubs have changed coaches since the season started, the exception? step forward FC Botosani who have stuck by their coach Leontin Grozavu, and their reward has been Europa league qualification for the first time in their history.
At Steaua Bucuresti, the country leading club in terms of league titles won were involved in an unbelievable news story earlier in the season. The club was involved in a dispute with the army over the team name (Steaua historically have been known as the army club) and there was a threat of the club losing the name, colors and logo. Indeed since that news broke out the club have indeed changed their logo but it still was an extraordinary dispute that a team could lose its name and colors, let alone one of the countries most successful clubs.
Staying with Steaua, their owner is a controversial character by the name of George Becali, also known as Gigi Becali.
Becali is also a politician but in this blog I'll stick just to the football. His ownership of Steaua has seen him go through 21 different managers since 2003. In his time as owner of Steaua he has seen the club roll back the years with the incredible 2005-06 UEFA cup semi-final run to the 2008-09 season where they snuck into the Europa league qualifiers on head-to-head over Universitatea Craiova.
On the pitch, the league this season the title race reaches its climax this coming weekend with usual suspects Steaua in the running against ASA Targu Mures who have never won the league before in fact their best ever finish prior to this season was 9th in 2010-11. Steaua are two points clear and play CSMS Iasi while ASA Targu Mures are at home to relegated Otelul Galati. Defeat for Steaua coupled with victory for Targu Mures will see the underdogs win the title and no doubt see Steaua say goodbye to another coach.
The top scorer in the league? well that would be Grégory Tadé, yes that Tadé who was with the likes of Raith Rovers and Inverness CT as well as St Johnstone up until about two years ago.
On the top scorers list is Claudiu Keseru who is joint 4th on the list with a decent 12 goals, now you might say why is he being mentioned? well first of all he is no longer with Steaua and secondly half of those twelve goals were scored in one game. Yes one game he scored half his tally. That game was a 6-0 win for Steaua against Pandurii.
What is incredible as well is that you would think he is the only player to score six in one game ever in Romania but it has been done before, way back in 1993. Mr. Keseru is also the holder of the fastest hat-trick in the Europa league. It took him just 12 minutes and that was only a few weeks after his double hat-trick against Pandurri. Mind boggling stuff this Romania.
To add more craziness to the league, this season has seen an incredible 39 coaching changes since the season began back in July. Seventeen of the current eighteen clubs have changed coaches since the season started, the exception? step forward FC Botosani who have stuck by their coach Leontin Grozavu, and their reward has been Europa league qualification for the first time in their history.
At Steaua Bucuresti, the country leading club in terms of league titles won were involved in an unbelievable news story earlier in the season. The club was involved in a dispute with the army over the team name (Steaua historically have been known as the army club) and there was a threat of the club losing the name, colors and logo. Indeed since that news broke out the club have indeed changed their logo but it still was an extraordinary dispute that a team could lose its name and colors, let alone one of the countries most successful clubs.
Staying with Steaua, their owner is a controversial character by the name of George Becali, also known as Gigi Becali.
Becali is also a politician but in this blog I'll stick just to the football. His ownership of Steaua has seen him go through 21 different managers since 2003. In his time as owner of Steaua he has seen the club roll back the years with the incredible 2005-06 UEFA cup semi-final run to the 2008-09 season where they snuck into the Europa league qualifiers on head-to-head over Universitatea Craiova.
On the pitch, the league this season the title race reaches its climax this coming weekend with usual suspects Steaua in the running against ASA Targu Mures who have never won the league before in fact their best ever finish prior to this season was 9th in 2010-11. Steaua are two points clear and play CSMS Iasi while ASA Targu Mures are at home to relegated Otelul Galati. Defeat for Steaua coupled with victory for Targu Mures will see the underdogs win the title and no doubt see Steaua say goodbye to another coach.
The top scorer in the league? well that would be Grégory Tadé, yes that Tadé who was with the likes of Raith Rovers and Inverness CT as well as St Johnstone up until about two years ago.
On the top scorers list is Claudiu Keseru who is joint 4th on the list with a decent 12 goals, now you might say why is he being mentioned? well first of all he is no longer with Steaua and secondly half of those twelve goals were scored in one game. Yes one game he scored half his tally. That game was a 6-0 win for Steaua against Pandurii.
What is incredible as well is that you would think he is the only player to score six in one game ever in Romania but it has been done before, way back in 1993. Mr. Keseru is also the holder of the fastest hat-trick in the Europa league. It took him just 12 minutes and that was only a few weeks after his double hat-trick against Pandurri. Mind boggling stuff this Romania.
Saturday 23 May 2015
Relegation battle reaches the climax
Today sees the final round of matches being played in La Liga. Going into today we have four teams looking to survive the big drop, Deportivo, Granada, Eibar and Almería. All will be looking to avoid joining Córdoba in the Segunda next season but the bottom club still have a say in who will be joining them.
So many permutations and outcomes involved. The fixtures today see Depor go to Barcelona, Granada host Atlético, Almería are at home to Valencia and Eibar have Córdoba to contend with at home.
Eibar
Of the four on paper at least Eibar have the best chance of securing their status. Córdoba haven't won a game since January and are badly out of form heading into this having not picked up a point in their last five games.
For Eibar only a win will give them a chance. They do need other results to go their way but the minimum is a victory today. However Eibar themselves have only registered one victory since January so it could be a tight game where probably one goal will be enough. Personally I would like Eibar to survive. They have been a breath of fresh air since their promotion last season and it really would be amazing for them to stay up when not many gave them a sniff back in August of staying up.
To survive:
Eibar win / Deportivo or Granada lose
Eibar win / Deportivo draw, Granada lose and Almería fail to win
Eibar win / Deportivo win, Granada draw and Almería fail to win
Almería
Almería have a potential three point deduction hanging over their heads but with a decision on that not due to next week all focus is purely on the pitch. They host champions league chasing Valencia in what is a difficult game for Almería. Like Eibar, only a victory will do for the Andalucíans and results elsewhere need to go their way.
They did give Valencia a run for their money in the return fixure in January where Valencia needed a late goal to secure a 3-2 win. Almería were threatening good form about a month and a bit ago but have hit bad form at the wrong time.
To survive:
Almería win / Deportivo and Eibar fail to win
Almería win / Deportivo or Granada draw
Almería win / Deportivo and Granada and Eibar lose
Deportivo
Newly promoted Depor have been here before in the last few years. They were here in 2012-13 when they fell through the trap door to the Segunda. On that occasion they were newly promoted, this season they are newly promoted and hoping the same fate doesn't meet them.
They travel across northern Spain to Barcelona to face the newly crowned champions. The fact that Barca have nothing to play for gives Depor a bit of hope in this game. Last thing Barca want is to risk some first teamers to injury against a side fighting to stay up, while they have two cup finals to prepare for.
Depor haven't won at Camp nou since 2003 and a victory would guarantee survival regardless of other results. A draw and other results will need to go their way and a defeat certainly leaves Depor vulnerable.
To survive:
Deportivo win
Deportivo draw / Granada and Almeria fail to win
Deportivo lose / Almeria and Eibar fail to win
Granada
Certainly the form team of the four sides. Three wins from the last three games have pushed Granada out of the drop and like Depor another victory today and they will stay up. A draw runs the risk and a defeat certainly does. However facing Atlético won't be easy. Atlético are still looking to secure 3rd place so it makes for a highly competitive game today.
To survive:
Granada win
Granda draw / Almería do not win
Granada lose / Almería and Eibar fail to win
Verdict:
I can see Eibar securing the three points against Córdoba. Almería I just don't see them beating Valencia, Depor might nick a point and Granada will lose to Atlético. Which leaves us with this.
16. Deportivo (35 points) *Depor have the better head-to-head over Eibar
17. Eibar (35 points)
18. Granada (34 points)
19. Almería (33 points)
20. Córdoba (20 points)
Either way it's going to be changing hands regularly throughout the evening and promises to be a very interesting battle indeed.
So many permutations and outcomes involved. The fixtures today see Depor go to Barcelona, Granada host Atlético, Almería are at home to Valencia and Eibar have Córdoba to contend with at home.
Eibar
Of the four on paper at least Eibar have the best chance of securing their status. Córdoba haven't won a game since January and are badly out of form heading into this having not picked up a point in their last five games.
For Eibar only a win will give them a chance. They do need other results to go their way but the minimum is a victory today. However Eibar themselves have only registered one victory since January so it could be a tight game where probably one goal will be enough. Personally I would like Eibar to survive. They have been a breath of fresh air since their promotion last season and it really would be amazing for them to stay up when not many gave them a sniff back in August of staying up.
To survive:
Eibar win / Deportivo or Granada lose
Eibar win / Deportivo draw, Granada lose and Almería fail to win
Eibar win / Deportivo win, Granada draw and Almería fail to win
Almería
Almería have a potential three point deduction hanging over their heads but with a decision on that not due to next week all focus is purely on the pitch. They host champions league chasing Valencia in what is a difficult game for Almería. Like Eibar, only a victory will do for the Andalucíans and results elsewhere need to go their way.
They did give Valencia a run for their money in the return fixure in January where Valencia needed a late goal to secure a 3-2 win. Almería were threatening good form about a month and a bit ago but have hit bad form at the wrong time.
To survive:
Almería win / Deportivo and Eibar fail to win
Almería win / Deportivo or Granada draw
Almería win / Deportivo and Granada and Eibar lose
Deportivo
Newly promoted Depor have been here before in the last few years. They were here in 2012-13 when they fell through the trap door to the Segunda. On that occasion they were newly promoted, this season they are newly promoted and hoping the same fate doesn't meet them.
They travel across northern Spain to Barcelona to face the newly crowned champions. The fact that Barca have nothing to play for gives Depor a bit of hope in this game. Last thing Barca want is to risk some first teamers to injury against a side fighting to stay up, while they have two cup finals to prepare for.
Depor haven't won at Camp nou since 2003 and a victory would guarantee survival regardless of other results. A draw and other results will need to go their way and a defeat certainly leaves Depor vulnerable.
To survive:
Deportivo win
Deportivo draw / Granada and Almeria fail to win
Deportivo lose / Almeria and Eibar fail to win
Granada
Certainly the form team of the four sides. Three wins from the last three games have pushed Granada out of the drop and like Depor another victory today and they will stay up. A draw runs the risk and a defeat certainly does. However facing Atlético won't be easy. Atlético are still looking to secure 3rd place so it makes for a highly competitive game today.
To survive:
Granada win
Granda draw / Almería do not win
Granada lose / Almería and Eibar fail to win
Verdict:
I can see Eibar securing the three points against Córdoba. Almería I just don't see them beating Valencia, Depor might nick a point and Granada will lose to Atlético. Which leaves us with this.
16. Deportivo (35 points) *Depor have the better head-to-head over Eibar
17. Eibar (35 points)
18. Granada (34 points)
19. Almería (33 points)
20. Córdoba (20 points)
Either way it's going to be changing hands regularly throughout the evening and promises to be a very interesting battle indeed.
Wednesday 20 May 2015
Casually playing FIFA when this question was asked
Casually playing FIFA with a friend, the teams are Real Sociedad v Granada (we tend to play real life fixtures), Xabi Prieto is on the ball and then a statement, "he scored a hat-trick at Real Madrid and still lost".
This leads on to the question "who has scored a hat-trick against Real Madrid". I gave it a bit of a thought and said Lionel Messi last season which was true but before Prieto's hat-trick had me at a blank. I decided to go back as far as the 1990-91 season and this is what I found.
Hat-tricks against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 23-03-14
Xabi Prieto (Real Sociedad) 06-01-13
This leads on to the question "who has scored a hat-trick against Real Madrid". I gave it a bit of a thought and said Lionel Messi last season which was true but before Prieto's hat-trick had me at a blank. I decided to go back as far as the 1990-91 season and this is what I found.
Hat-tricks against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 23-03-14
Xabi Prieto (Real Sociedad) 06-01-13
Walter Pandiani (Espanyol) 12-05-07
Jan Urban (Osasuna) 30-12-90
Amazingly for both Xabi Prieto and Walter Pandiani they scored hat-tricks but still ended up losing the game, both 4-3. Lionel Messi was on the right side of a 4-3 scoreline. However Jan Urban's hat-trick helped Osasuna to an amazing 4-0 win!
Friday 15 May 2015
Dnipro make it against the odds
Ukraine's Dnipro edged out Napoli in their Europa League semi-final last night to set up a final meeting in Warsaw with Sevilla.
In doing so Dnipro are the first Ukrainian side to reach the final since Shakhtar Donetsk in 2009, in which they emerged victorious.
It's been a terrific season for Dnipro. Up until last weekend's defeat by Zorya Luhansk they were in the running to break the duopoly-come-monopoly of Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian Premier league. Although still mathematically possible with three games left including a game with the leaders Dynamo it seems improbable that Dnipro will break the dominance of the Ukrainian Big two. To be competing with them is an achievement in itself but its Europe where Dnipro have absolutely excelled this season.
Its a journey that has seen Dnipro go far and wide to reach their first European final. Italy twice, France, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Greece, Holland and Belgium. Few would've ever thought they would reach the final. They did so in determined gritty style. They squeezed through their group with a narrow 1-0 win over Saint Étienne, they narrowly got through Ajax in the last 16, edged Club Brugge out in the quarter-finals 1-0 over two legs and finally last night got past Napoli 2-1 on aggregate but it must be said that Napoli had a fair amount of chances to send Dnipro packing.
The team itself doesn't have any star players. Their top scorer is former Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic who came on in the 2nd half last night. Yevhen Konoplyanka has been linked with some richer western clubs, Bruno Gama was part of the Deportivo side in 2013 that were relegated from La Liga, former Ukraine international Ruslan Rotan is still playing and midfield enforcer Jan Kankava has had a modest career to date with stint at fellow Ukrainian side Kryvbas. Even the goalscoring hero from last night, Yevhen Seleznyov, was allowed to leave Shakhtar Donetsk in 2011.
So not a team built with star names but built with an incredible wit of determination and team spirit. They were complete outsiders of the final four with few giving them a chance against a Napoli side that could count on the likes of Higuaín, Callejón, Hamsík and Inler.
Sevilla will certainly be the favourites in the final but that won't phase Dnipro, they have been used to being the underdog in this competition.
For the final itself I can see Dnipro being very hard to get through and Sevilla do have a habit of squandering big chances (you look at the league defeat at Real Madrid). Sevilla have the players to hurt Dnipro but although I still think Sevilla will emerge victorious, I can see it being decided by possibly the one goal or one goal margin. I'll be going with a 2-1 extra-time win for Sevilla but hopefully we get a terrific contest and who knows maybe Dnipro have one more shock result in them to land their first ever European trophy.
In doing so Dnipro are the first Ukrainian side to reach the final since Shakhtar Donetsk in 2009, in which they emerged victorious.
It's been a terrific season for Dnipro. Up until last weekend's defeat by Zorya Luhansk they were in the running to break the duopoly-come-monopoly of Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian Premier league. Although still mathematically possible with three games left including a game with the leaders Dynamo it seems improbable that Dnipro will break the dominance of the Ukrainian Big two. To be competing with them is an achievement in itself but its Europe where Dnipro have absolutely excelled this season.
Its a journey that has seen Dnipro go far and wide to reach their first European final. Italy twice, France, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Greece, Holland and Belgium. Few would've ever thought they would reach the final. They did so in determined gritty style. They squeezed through their group with a narrow 1-0 win over Saint Étienne, they narrowly got through Ajax in the last 16, edged Club Brugge out in the quarter-finals 1-0 over two legs and finally last night got past Napoli 2-1 on aggregate but it must be said that Napoli had a fair amount of chances to send Dnipro packing.
The team itself doesn't have any star players. Their top scorer is former Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic who came on in the 2nd half last night. Yevhen Konoplyanka has been linked with some richer western clubs, Bruno Gama was part of the Deportivo side in 2013 that were relegated from La Liga, former Ukraine international Ruslan Rotan is still playing and midfield enforcer Jan Kankava has had a modest career to date with stint at fellow Ukrainian side Kryvbas. Even the goalscoring hero from last night, Yevhen Seleznyov, was allowed to leave Shakhtar Donetsk in 2011.
So not a team built with star names but built with an incredible wit of determination and team spirit. They were complete outsiders of the final four with few giving them a chance against a Napoli side that could count on the likes of Higuaín, Callejón, Hamsík and Inler.
Sevilla will certainly be the favourites in the final but that won't phase Dnipro, they have been used to being the underdog in this competition.
For the final itself I can see Dnipro being very hard to get through and Sevilla do have a habit of squandering big chances (you look at the league defeat at Real Madrid). Sevilla have the players to hurt Dnipro but although I still think Sevilla will emerge victorious, I can see it being decided by possibly the one goal or one goal margin. I'll be going with a 2-1 extra-time win for Sevilla but hopefully we get a terrific contest and who knows maybe Dnipro have one more shock result in them to land their first ever European trophy.
Wednesday 6 May 2015
"It's easier to score in La Liga than the Premier League"
Usually this argument is heard when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are posting insane figures for goalscoring but is usually followed by accepting the two are the best players to ever play the game.
My argument is if it was easy to score in La Liga then way aren't other players getting 30+ goals in the league every season? In fact its only Messi and Ronaldo who have scored 30+ goals in the league since a certain Diego Forlán for Atlético in 08-09. That was six seasons ago. You have to go back to 96-97 to find another player who registered 30+ goals in the league (Ronaldo for Barcelona if you were wondering). The fact remains and the evidence is there that you have to be a fairly good player to post 30 or more league goals.
Messi and Ronaldo are the best certainly in the last 7-8 years and their records are insane. They are scoring for fun in the champions league too, which is supposed to be the best competition in the world.
Let's have a look at other players. Sergio Aguero? He was a pretty decent striker at Atlético, signed as a teenager for a what was a massive €23 million at the time. He spent five seasons with Atlético his best season in 2010-11 (in terms of goals) he got 20. He left for Manchester City that summer and in his first season in the Premier league he got 23. This season with three games left he could beat that record as he currently has 22 for the league season.
Diego Costa had a phenomenal season in 2013-14 for Atlético, scoring 27. It was however his only season in which he post more than 10 goals in the Primera División. He's been injured on and off since the tail-end of last season but still managed 19 goals so far in his debut season for Chelsea in the Premier League playing significantly less minutes than last season.
Alexis Sánchez is one of the stars of the Premier League currently has 16 in his debut season with four games to play. He had his best ever La Liga scoring season last year and got 19, before that he the highest he scored was 11 in his debut season.
Staying with Arsenal, Santi Cazorla in his nine seasons in La Liga never got any higher than 9 goals. In his first Premier League season he got 12, he currently is on 7 goals with four games to play.
Fernando Torres the best he managed in Spain was the 20 he scored in 2003-04. He moved to Liverpool in 2007 and in his first season he got 24, injuries in the followed two seasons limited his tally to 14 and 18.
Oh but it's only players at the big clubs your looking at so far? Well Leicester in the relegation battle have Leonardo Ulloa who currently has 10 goals so far, he was with Almería in 2010-11 and got 7 goals.
Michu, remember him? He was Swansea' top scorer in 2012-13 with 18 goals. With Rayo the previous season, playing 200 more minutes he scored 15.
The other way, we have Gareth Bale. He carried Tottenham on his shoulders in the 2012-13 season scoring some absolute belters. He posted 21 that season. He moved to Real Madrid and playing for one of the best teams he got 15 goals. This season with three games left he has 13 goals, unlikely to beat the 21 he scored in his final Premier league season.
Luis Suárez almost fired Liverpool to a first ever Premier League title last season, he fired in 31 goals on the way (which remarkably wasn't his best goalscoring season, that was the 35 he got in 09-10 for Ajax). He missed the first two months of the current La Liga season and has 16 goals, which is still behind the 23 he got in 2012-13.
Other former La Liga players who have better scoring records in England are Rafael Van der Vaart, David Silva, Yaya Touré and Martin Petrov. They could be joined by Ander Herrera, Philipe Coutinho and Eduardo Vargas if those players score one more goal in the remaining three games this season.
I'll leave you with my favorite one. It involves Aston Villa signing Antonio Luna in 2013. In seven seasons Luna played in la Liga he scored 1 goal. It took him 85 minutes of his debut Premier League campaign to equal that tally, and he is a left back.
So for every Roberto Soldado you have a Sergio Aguero. For Arouna Koné you have Leonardo Ulloa and of course for Fábregas you can just Van Der Vaart or even Yaya Touré.
To summarize, no it's not easier to score in La Liga. If anything its easier to score in England.
Tuesday 5 May 2015
Relegated with a trashing
Saturday afternoon in La Liga saw Córdoba finally relegated back to the segunda. Victims of an 8-0 trashing at home to Barcelona was a pretty sorry way to have their fate sealed. As it turns out it wasn't really a shock relegation as Córdoba have been bottom and winless since January. They are onto their third coach of the season and called upon so many players this season. In fact only a handful have played more than 25 games this season, they are goalkeeper Juan Carlos, winger Fede Cartabia, midfielder Borja García and top scorer Nabil Ghilas.
Córdoba were always going to face a tough season. They barely made the play-offs after finishing 7th and when they did win the play-offs in dramatic circumstances it was June 22nd, only two months before the Primera división was back. Such a short time to get a squad together capable of staying in the division was going to be tough. Manager Albert Ferrer had bought in Mike Havenaar, Patrick Ekeng, Deivid and Inigo López and signed many on loan including Fede Cartabia, Nabil Ghilas and Fede Vico.
A tough start with a trip to the Bernabéu ended in defeat. It would be matchday 14 when they would pick up their first victory, by which time Albert Ferrer was gone and replaced by former Valencia and Valladolid boss Miroslav Djukic. Djukic did manage to get Córdoba off the bottom and out of the bottom three with victories over Granada and Rayo Vallecano. However that victory over Rayo was to be the last time they were victorious as a slump in form saw them return to the bottom of the table and they haven't moved since. More players were signed on loan with Bébé, René Krhin, Edimar and Bruno Zuculini.
José Antonio Romero took over after Djukic was sacked and in his first game Córdoba took the lead, slumped to defeat and had three sent-off against Real Sociedad. However the real killer in their hopes to stay up was the concession of a late equiliser at Riazór against a frustrated Deportivo side. Córdoba had taken the lead through Romanian Florian Andone and were 1-0 up until the final three minutes when Andone put through his own net and two precious points plus a moral boosting win slipped away. A win would've been massive in that game especially since Depor themselves were battling to stay up. Also they faced another relegation battler in Elche three days later so the potential to go on a run of form was there.
However that late goal knocked the stuffing out of the team. They went on to start impressively against Elche but clinical finishing from their opponents ended in a 2-0 defeat and an angry Nuevo Arcángel stadium. A surprise 0-0 draw away to Villarreal followed thanks to goalkeeper Juan Carlos, who was the subject of many boos from Córdoba fans in that Elche defeat. It was a point that made little difference and the Andalucian's then lost three on the bounce with the third being the 8-0 thumping that sealed their fate.
Where Córdoba go from here? well they have three more games this season in which they could use to bring some cantera players in. With the majority of the squad on loan there will be many, many new faces at the club next season. Even some of the players contracted to the club might be looking for a way out. Plus you have the managerial situation, will Romero be given the reins next season? and if not who?. It's difficult to see Córdoba bouncing straight back up given the competitive mature of the 2nd tier in the past few seasons and the expected overhaul of the squad.
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