Disaster? Not !!!

If you have been reading the press reports and websites on Betis-related news, you would have thought that the club is heading for a disaster this season, if it is not already embroiled in one by now.

Nothing though could be further from the truth. I understand the nature of the beast that is the media – that journalists or hacks (as I like to call them) have a job to do to sell their papers and thus have a tendency to exaggerate what is happening but this time round, they are way out of line.

The “evidence” that Betis is a disaster zone is as follows: (1) Defeat – a 3-1 defeat by UD Almeria in a friendly one week before the season starts, (2) No new signings - the lack of new reinforcements due to finances, (3) Injuries - Edu is out for a month and now Jose Mari is also out for the next 3 weeks and (4) Uncertainty – it is still unclear whether Lopera has truly relinquished control of the club and how it is going to affect Betis in the coming months ahead.

Whew! That certainly seems like a doomsday scenario – but only if you are on the outside looking in. As in all matters, there are always two sides to every story so let’s see if this Betis fan can bring back some sense of objectivity and optimism.

Defeat

Some websites (Goal.com for example) treated this defeat as a sign that Betis is a shitty team and went on to talk about how they are going to struggle this season. That’s just pure sensationalism.

Let’s look at the match in greater details. While this was an abject performance by Betis, if you studied the line-up, you would realise that Chaparro left out his entire starting midfield and his best attacker for this match. Any team would miss the influence and quality of players like Aurelio, Emana and Gonzalez, not forgetting that Edu and Jose Mari will also be back soon. While it is true that Betis is still weak defensively especially on the flanks, friendlies are also the time to test partnerships and to work out the kinks.

Secondly performances in friendlies have no bearing on how teams will really perform come the official opening – just take a look at Tottenham Hotspurs in the EPL. Multiple victories on the trot in friendlies plus a 13-goal run by Darren Bent meant nothing. Their record? Played 2, lost 2.

If we want a better gauge of Betis’s form and prospects, we should look at their performances and friendlies as a whole. And based on my own observation and analysis, a full-strength Betis team will be a relatively strong side, organised and tactically astute that is going to be a threat especially at home. If they can solve their defensive problems, a UEFA Cup place is not out of the question.

No New Signings

This has been a real source of irritation for a lot of people, including Betis fans but I fail to understand their rationale. We have already brought in Auerlio and Emana, and they are beyond any doubt quality players. It appears that Nelson (from Benfica) is also coming in as is Mane (from Almeria) so that should strengthen the flanks as well.

I am a firm believer in working with what you have and getting the best out of them rather than to use change as an easy way out. So to me, keeping Mark Gonzalez and Edu would be of utmost priority. Rather than hanker over a new striker, my own personal choice would have been to work with Sobis and to reintegrate him into the team. He is still a quality player and now with something to prove as well – if his performances in the Olympics is anything to go by, there is still a role for him at Betis.

Injuries

It is unfortunate that Betis’s best player (Edu) and best striker – at least during the friendlies – (Jose Mari) are out injured. But the positive side of things is that they will only be missing for a month and during this time, it is an opportunity for the rest of the players to step up and make the position their own. If players like Xisco, Caffa, Pavone and Diego Segura cannot find it within themselves to grab this opportunity, then it reflects a character flaw that is more critical than a lack of quality in general.

Uncertainty

I have already talked at length about this issue in the past. There is no point worrying about what happens behind the scenes cos neither the coach, players nor fans can do anything about it. I mean is Betis’s situation worse than say Valencia, Levante (last season) or even Man City? To use this as a defence for poor performances and results is very lame. There are no excuses for a lack of belief and effort. Hard work, organisation and self-belief has got nothing to do with dollars and cents.

Unlike many others, I look forward to the new season with optimism and real belief that this year we have a much stronger Betis and that this Betis team will fight and battle to the very end. Now, I wonder who is with me on this?

Category: Real Betis Team News

Tags: Real Betis Team News

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