Sunday, August 5, 2012

The New Real Murcia


Many changes for this seasons Real Murcia, most importantly we have a new coach at the helm, Argentinian Gustavo Siviero, who came in from Segunda B side Atletico Baleares. He has experience in the Spanish league as a player for Mallorca and Albacete. It is however a rather risky appointment for club owner Jesus Samper. Whilst I recognize the need to create some expectation for the upcoming season and to stimulate season ticket sales, to openly state that the "minimum requirement" for the season is a play-off place, this automatically placed unnecessary pressure on Siviero and the players. In my experience this have never worked in Murcia; those demanding fans will be doing their usual mocking, demanding heads to roll and generally not helping the side if we don't make a very good start. Judging by the way things are going in pre-season, the slowness to make signings, the irregular performances, I can't see much that inspires hope for a positive first few games.

As far as the squad is concerned, we have seen the return of Argentine midfield enforcer Jose Luis Acciari, the additions of Nafti (Tunisian international) from Valladolid and Matilla on loan from Betis, plus 2 more Argentines......Dos Santos (centre back from Banfield) and Nicolas Martinez who had been playing in the Chilean first division. Ivan Amaya has departed the club, Richi has retired but will be at the club with responsibility for the construction of the new training facilities so often promised but that never appear. There will be more comings and goings over the next couple of weeks.

Maybe it is a good idea not to have high expectations, despite Samper's claims. I can't see such a change in direction that will miraculously transform us from strugglers (look at the last 5 seasons) into promotion hopefuls.

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