Can Koeman Rennovate The Valencia Circus?

The suspicion then is whether Koeman can actually present the Mestalla with what it so eagerly wants and anticipates; and this is a difficult currency to define. Prior to the Sanchez Flores era, Valencia had enjoyed the best spell of their entire history, yet dissatisfaction was riff. Hector Cuper might have led the Los Che to two successive European Cup finals in 2000 and 2001 but the club supporters were not without their unhealthy dose of displeasure. They were still complaining when Rafael Benitez led Valencia to an excellent League and UEFA Cup double in 2004 and compared to Cuper and Benitez, Sanchez Flores was a mere kid tugging at his father's knee.

For Valencia, the problem factors stretch far beyond the supporters' insatiability and into the heart of the Boardroom circus. Rafa's departure from the Mestalla at the end of the 2003-2004 season was propelled by Boardroom dispute over strategic matters and ever since the middle of last season, the civil strife between Sanchez Flores and Carboni had been hitting the headlines, escalating speculation that the club is fast crumbling in an ever tightening downward spiral. That, capped by an eccentric President who believes he knows better than anyone and tries to be over-assertive all the time, has been the central component in disabling Valencia from breaking into the Top Two of Spain's top flight.

Another reason for Valencia's problems is the lack of shrewdness in altering the squad at the right time. True, a wholesome change to an efficiently performing side is understandable but it's always a wide idea to feed the reserves. Till last season, the spine of this talented Valencia side was a visible hangover of the early 2000s: Santiago Canizares was still the custodian, Roberto Fabian Ayala and Carlos Marchena maintained their places in central defence and Ruben Baraja and David Albelda were still pulling the strings from the midfield. One would of course find it difficult to doubt the aforementioned players' class and quality but one is invariably led to ask why President Juan Soler appeared so reluctant to wring the changes when Valencia most needed them.

Now of course, Timo Hildebrand is in goal, Raul Albiol is the main thread at the back, Joaquin is swiftly getting into his old Real Betis garments that made him a €25 million asset, David Silva is expected to run the show from the left side of midfield and the front pairing of David Villa and Fernando Morientes has picked up the thread from where it left off last season.

Yet the want of a playmaker is biting. In the absence of Pablo Aimar, whom they let go to Real Zaragoza at the start of last season for a paltry €11 million, Valencia lack a creative playmaker proper and the clichéd 4-4-2 formation often appears without the cutting edge. It's not that Aimar has been missed all these months but his departure has certainly left a void in the team that needs shoring up.

Another fracture in the Valencia unit that is in desperate need of surgery is the mentality, both of the fans and the Board. Anyone who has ever taken up the brush and attempted to paint on the easel must have realized that it takes time and patience to reach critical acclaim. Valencia have the colours and the brush alright, but those connected with the club ought to comprehend that the painter (read Ronald Koeman) has to be allowed a certain time period to weave his magic.

Whining and pining for instant success won't necessarily fulfill the objective. In fact, that would actually do more harm than good to the club. It's very early in the season and although Valencia's fate in Europe hangs perilously on the whims of circumstances and is out of their hands now, the Los Che are as strong as ever in La Liga. After this weekend's round of matches, Valencia lie fourth in the table and more importantly, just 4 points behind League leaders Real Madrid. Valencia have all the elements in place to become a Spanish superpower; what the club needs is intelligent planning and faith.