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 HOW ARE WE NOW, ONE YEAR LATER?
by Benn
Tuesday 15th July, 2008 --
In July 2007 I ended my editorial with the following: We’re not at the bottom yet of our problems, but the end is in sight. No important squad player will leave the club for free during the next years. Like a cycle, new and better times will arrive. Is the arrival of Guardado prove of it?“ How are we now, one year later?
Huge financial problems (salary payments were even delayed), players leaving for free (Capdevila, Duscher), cheap (Arizmendi, Arbeloa) or who really wanted to move on (Jorge Andrade) and two seasons under Caparrós in which the team lost its appeal to attractive football and the seats in Riazor become more empty every year. And no European football since being humiliated in Europe in the winter of 2004. The future didn’t look exactly bright in the summer of 2007.
I kept my optimism. Why? Because there was, and still is, an (although uncertain) base for a better future. We might say that this year we found a decent way to replace the departing players (although signings were minimal), because our displays and results were better than last year. Finishing on a shared 8th spot in the Liga, after our most-troubled season since 1992, is similar to 2005, 2006 and 2007. But this time we have achieved this cheered upon by an almost-full Riazor, with many youngsters on the pitch and a season full of good displays. And, of course, we saw Depor’s most important comeback during a season ever in its history.
But we came from the deep, as expected. Our problems weren’t over by that summer of 2007, to the contrary. This season the team was heading fast towards Segunda when 2008 went underway. And not many players represented any value when the season started. Zaragoza only offered a handful of millions for Coloccini while they didn’t count on Lafita. We only signed Filipe when we couldn’t find anyone else, and Guardado was still a question mark. Xisco had scored some goals in Segunda, but how about Primera? And when we only managed to sign Wilhelmsson during the winter, his contribution was uncertain too.
Now, one year later, almost all of these players are attached to the club and represent much more value than one year earlier. Clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United are back in the hunt for our players. Selling one or two of them might lessen our financial burden, and we can fill their positions up with some smart moves. This could include players coming from Deportivo B. Several youth players (Chapi, Laure, Adrian Lopez, Xisco) have shown they can easily fill up some spots in the squad, meaning that focus on new signings can be on quality instead of quantity. Adding an international player like Omar Bravo for free, and getting some money for selling players like Rubén, Taborda and Bodipo, might be an indication of a smart move.
There doesn’t seem to be a urge to sign everything we have to cope with the financial problems, to the contrary. There hardly have been news reports about it during the past season; the worst part might already be behind us. Another year in Primera, and we’ve been here since 1991, guarantees good incomes through sponsoring, tickets, TV-deals etc. Deportivo stay among the Spanish elite, and might even return to Europe by surviving two Intertoto-matches plus two UEFA pre-qualifying games this summer.
There’s renewed reason for optimism!
 A LESSON FROM LENDOIRO
by caabrego
Thursday 17th April, 2008 --
"It's easier to fire the coach than the twenty five players at the squad" a usual phrase used when things aren't working inside a football club. Thirteen changes of manager in the present season (Primera División), the major part of them haven't worked out, Deportivo was near to follow the same road, but president Lendoiro gave a big no and continued betting with Lotina. Was he right? The answer is evidently... yes.
President Augusto César Lendoiro is a veteran that has already fought 1,000 battles in Primera División, he knows all the tricks and common errors that menaces a club's president, therefore he knew really well the situation he was facing when the squad was penultimate in the table and with a five-point distance from safety (match day 20).
Everybody -even his main advisors- recommended that the first measure to be taken was to fire coach Miguel Angel Lotina, a trainer that already experienced this kind of troubles with Celta, Espanyol and most recently with Real Sociedad. All the papers were expecting for his dismissal on January 21st, just one day after a painful 0-1 defeat at Almería, even the same Lotina admitted that he was waiting for a call.
But the phone never rang. Lendoiro already had experience of been forced to throw out a coach at the middle of a season, this measures never worked and Depor's president learned the lesson: the coach can't be always blamed when things aren't working. Lendoiro maintained his position and waited with calmness for Sunday's game against Valladolid.
Lotina realised it was his last opportunity and immediately he started a change in Depor’s formation, a modification that brought a radical change in the results of the squad. Three months later, his Deportivo is the best team during the second round in la liga and has passed from fighting for survival to aspire for a European place (mainly trough Intertoto).
Meanwhile, other clubs in similar troubles were taking the usual medicine: to fire the coach. In this way, Quique Sánchez Flores was sent home while Ronald Koeman has been doing the impossible in order to break all the negative records at Valencia. Murcia did the same with Lucas Alcaraz, but Javier Clemente isn't giving the expected results.
Maybe the biggest proofs of disorder are the four coaches that Zaragoza has had in one single season: Víctor Fernández, Irureta, Garitano and Vilanova. Perhaps this is the main demonstration of today’s lesson: not all the problems affecting a football club should be the responsibility of the coach. The medicine might be worse than the disease.
Off course there are other examples in which a change on the bench can explain the improvement in the performance of a squad. Like the example of Recreativo, the Andalucian team was feeling down with Víctor Muñoz and the arrival of Manuel Zambrano has revitalised the team, at least for now.
But the big challenge is to know in which cases the change of the coach is the right solution for the difficulties. It's evident that Lendoiro knew that Depor's case was different, and time has proven him right. He knew it from the beginning, as Lendoiro spoke after the 3-1 win over Valladolid at the end of January "Today, we have seen a very complete team, one that has been pushed by an extraordinary public, Deportivo possess quality, it posses game and goal. The Deportivismo is united." A lesson from the president.
 WE AREN'T DEAD YET!
by caabrego
Wednesday 23th January, 2008 --
I know the situation is complicated and that a lot of people have begun to lose the hope. So many problems inside the squad and so less solutions offered by the club. But it ain't over till it's over and we must fight until the last game. Are we going to make it? I don't know, I just want to bring an statistic to illuminate you: We need twenty five points in order to save Deportivo, that means eight wins and one draw within the remaining eighteen games in liga.
Rumours of a mutiny, all kind of financial problems, an unpopular coach, no reinforcements in the horizon, three straight defeats in la liga and even punches between the players. The current news at Deportivo aren't hopeful and its current position in la liga is just a sign of all this situation. We, the fans, have already started to lose the hope and some journalists have put us on the list of condemn clubs. Frankly, I don't know if we are going to save ourselves, but I like to be optimistic, that's why I have checked the statistics in order to find a base for this optimism... and I found the proofs.
After the first twenty matches in la liga, Depor occupies the penultimate place in the table with seventeen points, but the safety is just five points away. If we take a look to the near past, we will realise that nothing can be considered as done at matchday twenty. In fact, within the last nine seasons, only the 43% (9 of 21) of the clubs that were occupying one of the three last spots at matchday twenty was relegated at the end of the season:
After looking this first table, the important thing to realise is that seven of the nine relegated teams had fifteen points or less at matchday twenty, while the other two had at least seventeen. This last scenario is the one that Deportivo is facing right now, and it should be encouraging to know that within the last nine years in la liga, only two clubs that lived a similar case than Depor suffered the relegation. And if we check the other side, the clubs that achieved the permanence after been in relegation at matchday twenty, we can also obtain positive conclusions:
As the table shows up, four of the teams that achieved the salvation had less points than the ones that Depor currently possess. Curiously, three of this four cases occurred within the last five years. And it's more impressive to realise that two of this four teams even ended in mid-table after been in a worse scenario than the one lived by Deportivo at this moment. Just look the case of Rayo Vallecano on the season 2001/2002, the Madrilenians were the last place in the table with 14 points after the first 20 matches in la liga, but they added 35 of the remaining 54 points and ended the campaign in the 11th place, just ten points under the UEFA zone. Why can't we repeat that?
WE AREN'T DEAD YET
Does all this means that Depor will achieve the permanence after all? unfortunately not. But at least means that we aren't dead yet, just the contrary to what several people outside of Depor is trying to make us think. Now the next question is: what do we need in order to repeat the cases we just saw?
If we take a new look to both tables, we will realise that the magic number is 42, only one team within the last nine years has survived with less points (Mallorca with 39 on the season 2004/2005), but that was just an specific case that not necessary will be repeated. In fact, Alavés went down to Segunda two years ago after ending the season with the same 39 points. Therefore the more secure thing is to mark 42 points as the target for the salvation.
So, now that we know what we need, the next question is how to achieve that? well, I can only tell you that all we have to do is to add 25 of the 54 points that still in dispute, that's the 46% of the points remaining in the schedule. And that means eight wins plus one draw during the last eighteen games on the season. Impossible? Surely not. Ladies and gentlemen, keep that idea in your mind: we only need 25 points. Are you ready to fight for it? or are you one of those who thinks that we are already dead?
 TARGETING THE PERMANENCE
by caabrego
Friday 30th November, 2007 --
It seems this is going to be a new transition year for Deportivo, the poor performance in la liga is inviting to think that the only objective for the season is to achieve the permanence. But how much points does Depor need? First to all, it's necessary to analyse the rest of the first round in la liga in order to start making conclusions.
There's a long way still to go until the end of the season, therefore the best thing for the moment is to calculate how Depor must end the first round. Deportivo's players already started to make the calculations and they seem to agree that for now, the word tranquility means to end the first round with 22 points. As Dudu Aouate appointed after the 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao: "We can't fail anymore because the thing would be tough. We have to achieve at least 22 points in the first round, that's our goal. For the moment, we made a serious game and we achieved a point."
But is the mark of 22 points in 19 matches a guarantee for the permanence in Primera División? and if this number isn't enough, how much is enough? Judging by the statistics, the answer to the first question should be no. Let us show you why. It's necessary to check what has happened in the previous seasons. Let's take a look to the teams that suffered the relegation during the last ten liga campaigns:
As the table shows up, eight of the thirty relegated teams within the last ten years had at least 22 points at the end of the first round, but they weren't able to achieve the permanence at the end of the season. The worst case is the one of Real Valladolid on the season 2003/2004, the Violet team had 25 points after the first 19 matches, but the squad coached at that time by Fernando Vázquez only clinched 16 points during the second round, and they ended two points away from the 17th place (RCD Espanyol).
Any team wanting to secure its participation in the next Primera's season should have at least 26 points at the end of the first round, nobody has been relegated to Segunda División after clinching that number of points within the first 19 games. At least it's what the statistics demonstrates. This should be the target of Deportivo, to have 26 points at the beginning of January.
But is this a realistic objective? After the match at Bilbao, Depor had only 13 points in 13 games, meaning the Galicians were needing to double their return during the following six matches. In other words, to add 13 of 18 possible points. A tough target taking in mind the rivals that still in the schedule: Osasuna, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Levante, Atlético Madrid and Villarreal.
Frankly, I don't see this happening, specially because Deportivo still has to face high rated rivals in the quest for Europe like Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Villarreal. But if this mark can't be reached, it doesn't means is the end of the world, just that Depor will have to make a bigger effort during the second round in la liga.
But I don't want to be negative either, some of you might be pessimistic after reading this, but there's always room for hope, and the statistics demonstrates that miracles might happen. The example I want to bring occurred during the season 2004/2005, Villarreal had a doubtful start on that particular campaign and they were only able to add 14 points within the first 13 matches, that's only one more point than Depor's present record.
But Pellegrini's team made an impressive comeback and won 15 of the last 25 matches, while they only suffered 4 defeats in that remarkable run of form. At the end, the Valencian team ended 3rd in la liga clinching a Champions League spot and its best season ever in Primera División. Off course, some of you might think that there's no comparison with Depor's case since the potential of that Villarreal was bigger. But who knows? miracles do exist in football.
 BABYDEPOR 2.0?
by caabrego
Thursday 5th September, 2007 --
The concept of Babydepor appeared during the past season as a way to describe the drastic change inside of Deportivo, the 'third way' of Lendoiro was based in the youngsters, but ex-coach Caparrós never found the way to carry on with the project, therefore the first version collapsed. Now Lotina is commanding this new adaptation of 'Lendoiro's novel' Babydepor 2.0? let's check it out, but I'm afraid that judging by the facts, the answer is no.
During Irureta's last years at Deportivo, the average age of the squad was near to the 30's, at that time the main characteristics of the group was the experience, but the 'third way' of Lendoiro eradicated this quality and the proportion was reduced in a stroke of pen. During the last season, the composition of Deportivo suffered a 'facelift' as the average age of the squad was reduced to 24.27 A number than meant the lowest one in Primera División, then the nickname of 'Babydepor' appeared in the papers and the fans hopes were rising to the stars.
This generation of 'golden boys' was leaded by young promises like Alvaro Arbeloa, Cristian Hidalgo, Joan Verdú, Iago Iglesias, Javier Arizmendi and specially by Adrián López, a 18-year old striker that was one of the younger players in la liga. But Joaquín Caparrós never found the way to solve this puzzle. Arbeloa went to Liverpool and only Cristian and Arizmendi found some stability in the starting squads. The project was in danger.
Caparrós's departure meant the end of the project's first version, and all appointed that Babydepor 2.0 was near to born when Lotina came in, and specially with the arrival of new and young promises like Andrés Guardado (20), Aythami Artiles (21), Jairo (21), Manú (21) and Lafita (23). This should leave us to ask: can we talk about a Babydepor 2.0? I investigated, and the answer seems to be... NO!
Despite the five incorporations for the new season are under the 23, the average age of Deportivo has been increased in one year. This average is now 25.95, and Deportivo is no longer the youngest squad in Primera División. There are other four clubs with a lower average: 1- Osasuna: 25.53; 2- Racing Santander: 25.70; 3- Almeria: 25.75; 4- Espanyol: 25.91; 5- Deportivo: 25.95; 6 Real Madrid: 26.00; 7- Betis: 26.10; 8- Athletic Bilbao: 26.29; 9- Atletico Madrid: 26.33; 10- Mallorca: 26.40; 11- Getafe: 26.42; 12- Valencia: 26.92; 13- Sevilla: 26.99; 14- Recreativo: 27.11; 15- Villarreal: 27.54; 16- Murcia: 27.55; 17- Zaragoza: 27.83; 18- Barcelona: 27.87; 19- Valladolid: 28.19; 20- Levante: 28.97
Let's analyse the facts. A curious thing is that other clubs seems to be betting more in youngsters than the same Deportivo. While the Galicians were inscribing goalkeeper Manu and midfielders Antonio Tomás and Jairo with Fabril, clubs like Racing Santander were promoting youngsters like Iván Bolado (18) and Jonathan Valle (19) to their first squad. In fact, the Cantabrians signed the Argentinean striker Jonathan Sarmiento (17- youngest player in Primera División) giving him a spot with the first team.
Meanwhile, Osasuna continued in silence with his project with the youngsters, they sold Raul García to Atlético Madrid, but as exchange, coach Ziganda promoted figures like midfielders Cesar Azpilcueta (18), Jon Erice (20) and striker Kike Sola (21). At the same time, Los Rojillos arranged the arrival of promises from the outside like Javi Garcia (20) and Mexican Carlos Vela (18). Now, Osasuna is the new 'baby' of la liga.
 Also, in order to achieve the permanence, recently promoted club UD Almería is trusting in young players like defender Carlos García (23) or the strikers Negredo (22) and Vidangossy (20). In fact, their only player above the 30's is Lopez Rekarte (32), an experienced defender that made his career at Real Sociedad. Finally, the newest project of RCD Espanyol is now based in 'kids' like defender Marc Torrejón (21), midfielder Ángel Martínez (21), striker Jonathan Soriano (21) and specially by Milan Smiljanic (20), a young Serbian international that was signed during the summer.
If we take a look to the average age of other clubs, we will see that Barcelona and Sevilla have an 'older' squad than Depor. But this fact only demonstrates that they are trusting in veterans like Lilian Thuram (35) and Palop (33) for their Champions League aspirations. But if we take a deeper look into their squads, we'll see that they are also betting in the youthness. Diego Capel (19) impressed during the U-20 World Cup with Spain, and now Juande Ramos is trusting in him for the present season, in fact he was a starter in the match Sevilla-Getafe. Meanwhile, Rijkaard could be worried trying to assembly his 'fantastic four' team, but he has three aces under the table: Messi (20), Giovani Dos Santos (18) and Bojan (17).
Even Real Madrid was joining this party, the ex-Galacticos were the club spending the biggest amount of money in the summer market (€116 million), it's true that they released promises like De La Red (23) or Granero (20), but they reserved a place for players like keeper Jordi Corina (25) and defender Miguel Torres (21), this last one was inscribed as member of Real Madrid Castilla, but we'll surely see a lot of him during this tournament. Besides, some of the signings made by Real Madrid are international promises like Drenthe (20) or Sneijder (23).
And Deportivo? that's the question we should ask ourselves. Judging by the first matches in la liga, only Guardado, Lafita, Verdu and Cristian will be enjoying of opportunities during this season. Adrián and Barragán are also counting, but I doubt they will accumulate more than 1,000 minutes in this campaign. Besides, nobody from Fabril seems to be clearing the way for a first team appearance, but maybe this is normal since Deportivo B is facing -with good results so far- the new challenge of Segunda B, they surely have enough with that.
My point with all of this is to demonstrate that Babydepor is just a myth. A distant figure that hasn't been accomplished. While other clubs like Osasuna and Racing are opening spaces for their own youngsters, Depor is transferring Iago to another club and is 'degrading' figures like Manu, Antonio Tomás or Jairo to a secondary role. It's surprising to find out that the last youngster promoted to the first squad was no other than Fran, almost ten years ago! who will be his successor? I'm afraid that for the moment this question doesn't have an answer. David Rochela? Maybe, but that day hasn't come yet.
But maybe I'm too hard judging the project. After all, Lendoiro said at the beginning that two things were needed: time and patience. For the moment, we must agree that the first round of this 'boxing fight' -'kid' Caparrós- has been lost. Now is time to wait and see if the newest version will finally take the project to a new dimension. Babydepor 2.0? no for the moment... Perhaps in some years. It depends on Lotina.
 WAS IT WORTH IT?
by Leon
Friday 13th July, 2007 --
It’s evident that at the start of the 21st century Depor’s financial position hasn’t been a very healthy one. A total debt of around €146 million has been mentioned many times. The fact that the club hasn’t made heavy summer investments since 2002 and that results have been going down rapidly since 2004 only confirms the troubles. Add to this the notorious shareholders meeting of 5 June 2007 and the picture is complete. But could this have been avoided? Was it worth it? And, more important, how to head into the future?
The background: Deportivo before 1991
The history of the club, and its fairytale since 1991, has been covered a lot. To summarize: In 1950 the club finished second in the Primera División and fourth in 1942. That was about it. The club was in the lower leagues between 1973-1991 and in its history (until Lendoiro’s arrival) never had won a major trophy nor qualified for European football. When Lendoiro took over in 1988, the club at that moment had a debt of about €4 million. Although this number nowadays looks ‘child’s play’, for Depor’s budget at that moment it was a huge problem.
Phase 1: maximum outcome with minimal means (1991-1996)
Deportivo survived it’s first year at the highest level under Lendoiro and in 1993 and 1994 finished second. Superdepor of those days was based on experienced players, mainly Spanish, who wanted to shine once more or wanted to prove the wrong of their previous clubs combined with some young spirits. An investment of about €11 million in the years 1992 and 1993 caused the arrival of more than a dozen players like Mauro Silva (24 at arrival), Bebeto (28), Aldana (26), Nando (25), Donato (30), Manjarín (23), Paco (23), Voro (29) and Alfredo (25). Men already at the club in 1992 were Djukic (26), Liaño (27), López-Rekarte (30), Ribera (27), Claudio (28) and Albístegui (27).
In 1994 free signings Julio Salinas (31) and Villarroya (28) were added while striker Kostadinov (27) came on loan. In 1995 a total of just €4 million was mainly spend on striker Radchenko (24). Others arriving for that amount were Beguiristain (31), Martín-Vázquez (29) and Milovanovic (22). That was about it for that period. More than half of these players were elder than 27 when they arrived. This, combined with in 1992 already present younger (cheap) players like Fran (23), Mariano Hoyas (21) and José Ramón (24), caused a perfect mix. In 1995 the Copa del Rey and Supercopa were won and three European campaigns were played.
 Phase 2: investments and causing debts (1996-2002)
The season 1995/1996 was a ‘transition’ season with mid-table football. But still the Semi-Finals of the Cup Winners Cup were played against Paris-Saint Germain. Phase 1 now was accomplished: Deportivo had increased its status in the world of football by getting results and playing good football. Out of Spain, only insiders might ever had heard of Deportivo La Coruña before 1991. In 1996, Depor was a well-known club world-wide. But the expiration date of its old squad was reached. The average age of the fifteen most used players during the 1995/1996 campaign was almost 30.
At that time, Lendoiro could take advantage of Depor’s increased status. Loan deals were arranged, TV-agreements reached and players of another caliber were interested in playing at Deportivo. As a consequence, almost €250 million Euro was invested between 1996-2002 in about sixty new players including in new ‘categories’. For example: young and talented foreign figures like Rivaldo (24), Bonnissel (23), Wiltord (22), Flávio Conceição (22), Luizão (21), Lionel Scaloni (19), Makaay (24), Duscher (21), Pandiani (24) and Jorge Andrade (24) now could be signed.
But also more experienced foreign players, with their wage demands, like Martins (27), Hélder (25), Djalminha (26), Ziani (26), Pauleta (25), ’Turu’ Flores (27), Jokanovic (31), Emerson (28), César Sampaio (32) and 'Toro' Acuña (30). Most important, probably, was the category of young Spanish players which contained Manuel Pablo (22), César Martín (22), Víctor Sánchez (23), Capdevila (22), Valerón (25), Tristán (24), Sergio (24) and Albert Luque (24). Combined with Romero (27) and Molina (30), the Spanish group remained the base of Depor’s success. On average, these men had an age of almost 25. Most of these players never would have arrived at Deportivo of pre-1991.
The results of these years are well-known. Domestically, Depor finished at the highest spots, became champions in 2000, qualified for European football for years in a row, added another Copa del Rey in 2002 and also two Supercopas (2000, 2002). Internationally, the team reached the final four in the Champions League once (2004) and twice were among the final eight (2001, 2002). In the meantime, the Riazor stadium was improved and the club had started to build its own training facilities at Abegondo. From then one, more and more attention was being paid to the youth teams.
 Phase 3: trying to keep the level (2002-now)
Deportivo had increased its budget every year and in 2002 was an established name in Spanish football. A young Spanish international player like Albert Luque, participating in the World Cup 2002, considered Depor as an excellent destination. Sergio was highly-rated in 2001 and didn’t doubt about leaving Espanyol for Deportivo. Jorge Andrade considered Deportivo as a better place to play compared to his club FC Porto. These players were signed despite Depor having a clear salary ceiling of about €1,8 million per player per season. To compare: At the same time, the stars of Madrid had salaries reaching €10 million per season.
Lendoiro now had met several targets: the club had won trophies, increased its status, had a valuable squad with a reasonable average age and some long-term contracts running. But it’s a common saying that it’s easier to reach the top than to stay at it. Reaching the top with a club like Deportivo La Coruña was a remarkable achievement at itself. So, staying at the top would be an even greater challenge.
Somewhere at this moment the cycle halted. Nowadays critics of Lendoiro say that he overestimated what the increased status of Deportivo would deliver the club. The city of La Coruña is small, was said, and not capable of supporting a club playing for the highest spots in Spain. It’s evident that Deportivo weren’t given many helping hands to keep their level and in the meantime paying back the investments made in the previous years. Those investments simply were the price Deportivo had to pay for its successes.
No club in the world could have done that without these investments. In fact, most Spanish clubs have debts all the time. It’s nothing unusual that Deportivo have one, although the actual state of these debts remains a mystery even after 7 June 2007, the date of the notorious shareholders meeting. In 2006 newspaper El Ideal Gallego published the number of €2,1 billion Euro of combined debts of all clubs in the Primera División. On average that is about €100 million per club. So, Depor’s situation is not unique, but still very difficult. FC Barcelona had a debt of about €180 million in 2003 and Real Madrid even one of €300 million some years ago.
But again, what was reasonable of Lendoiro to expect? La Coruña is among the twenty biggest cities in Spain and the city is the richest in Galicia. Deportivo are the club with the highest status in all of Northern-Spain. Galicia has about 3 million inhabitants, meaning 6% of the Spanish population. A company like Inditex (including Zara) is one of the world largest fashion groups employing 60,000 people. Fadesa is one of the main real estate and construction groups of Spain. Another important company is Transportes Azkar. Important banks are Caixa Galicia, Banco Pastor and Banco Gallego. Well-known rich Deportivo supporters are Amancio Ortega (Inditex; 8th richest man in the world), Manuel Jove Capellán (Fadesa), Rosalía Mera (business-woman; ex-wife of Ortega; on the Forbes list), Luis Fernández Somoza (Transportes Azkar), Angel Jove Capellán (Irco, S.A.), Juan Carlos Cebrián (ex-Inditex, Caixa Galicia) and José María Castellano (Inditex)
So, there’s a base in La Coruña to support a club playing in the Primera División at a high level. But the club needs help and needs support. Of course, a football club shouldn’t be based on donations by the city council, companies or millionaries. But Deportivo have had 30,000 socios for years in a row and themselves arranged lucrative TV-deals etc. Still, that external support is lacking Deportivo. Did Lendoiro underestimate the support he would get? Or is Lendoiro himself the ‘cause’ of his absence? We’re not in the position to know what happens behind the scenes. But it’s well-known that Lendoiro isn’t the easiest man to work with. He’s a very tough negotiatior and has (or had) political ambitions too. Remember that politics are very important and sensitive in a country like Spain.
Fact is that support has been lacking. The relationship between Deportivo (Lendoiro) and the city council has been a terrible one. Francisco Vázquez Vázquez was mayor of the city from 1983 until February 2006, and he can be considered as a personal enemy of Lendoiro. Again, we don’t know what happened behind the scenes. But Lendoiro is right when he points to the almost lack of support from the city itself. No, the city council shouldn’t financially support a football club. But it should facilitate other things and help when needed. How did ex-president Florentino Pérez of Real Madrid solve the 300 million debt of his club at the start of the century? He sold the training centre of the club, situated in the middle of Madrid, to the city for €500 million. The local population of Madrid still are paying for that today by the city taxes. Media exposure also hasn’t been very positive. For years, influential newspaper La Voz de Galicia has been actively working against Lendoiro’s management. That’s a scandal and certainly not journalistic impartiality. Compare that to how Marca and AS treat Real Madrid or Sport and El Mundo Deportivo behave towards FC Barcelona. It might have influenced Depor’s campaign, started in 2004, to sell shares in the value of €60 million. Until now, only €3 million has been raised.
 Phase 4: restarting the cycle
With the lack of higher level of incomes and support as wished for, Lendoiro and his board had to change their direction. The money has to come from somewhere to pay the debts the club has for its investments of previous years. Taking away the rule that one identity or person may only possess 1% of the total amount of shares was established. This makes way for an investor to step in. This could be one of the parties mentioned earlier, with the advantage that they would take more control of the club. Now the possibility arises that the ‘new owner’ can implement a new president.
The debts were foreseen and remain the same. The plan was to keep the squad at a high level and, with the higher incomes, to repay the debts. The alternative for the moment is to lower the monthly burdens like salaries. This is not out of free choice, because the troubles surrounding salary payments this year are known. At the same time, the sale of Arbeloa was more than welcomed to generate some cash. But lower salaries also means giving in on quality. The lack of investments in players during the past years has been covered. At the same time a long list of influential players left the club during the same years: Donato, Makaay, Naybet, Djalminha, Djorovic, Luque, Pandiani, Fran, Mauro Silva, 'Toro' Acuña, César Martín, Molina, Munitis, Romero, Scaloni, Tristán and Víctor Sánchez. Some of them were even paid to leave to get rid of their high salaries. These years we can’t afford the renewal of players like Capdevila and Duscher. Besides, a top player like Jorge Andrade preferred to play at a high level again and was sold to Juventus.
The arrival of young (but inexperienced) players or players without much status obviously causes the salary budget to go down. Having a midfield of Fran, Mauro Silva, Djalminha and Víctor Sánchez costs a few million more per season compared to Cristián, De Guzmán, Juan Rodríguez and Pablo Álvarez. As a consequence, it’s logical that the results also have been going down. During 2004/2005 the squad still was playing Champions League football and the same team had eliminated Milan in that historic encounter. But neither those qualities guaranteed results that season. So, it’s even more difficult nowadays to get results with decreased qualities in the squad.
It looks as things start over again as in 1992. But this time not with experienced veterans, but with many young and talented players. There’s (again) no much money to invest in players and the salary budget is low. Hopefully there will be new investors while a new TV-deal already has been struck. It’s up to Lotina to do as best as possible with a talented squad. In 2007 there is another departure moment with Jorge Andrade, Capdevila, Duscher, Sergio (probably) and Arizmendi leaving. Five international players. It’s difficult to replace these players with the same qualities right now because Deportivo lack funds. However, it’s still possible if we look at Lopo and Coloccini. Both players are good enough to bring Deportivo back to the top again and were signed by smart moves. The financial cycle of previous phases obviously is over.
The category of Free Transfers has enough to offer to Deportivo. But most stress will lay on the younger players in the squad. Within some years (most of the) players like Mackay, Fabricio, Rochela, Piscú, Rodri, Alcántara, Barragán, Cristián, Verdú, Iago, De Guzmán, Iván Carril, Pita, Antonio Tomás, Momo, Riki, Adrián and Xisco will form part of Depor’s squad. Their improvement will mainly decide the quality of Deportivo in the next years. A sign of a better youth system is the promotion of Deportivo B to Segunda B, just two levels below Deportivo. We as supporters can do our share by not demanding qualification for European football during the next years. The board of Deportivo can do their part by more realistically keeping an eye on costs and by creating a quiet environment for the players.
Was it worth it?
That depends on each individual. Were those years worth it if Deportivo goes bankrupt and disappears? The answer would be negative. But it has been worth it if Depor gets out of the current situation. I’m confident that we’ll get out of the financial difficulties and that mentioned players are good enough to guarantee successful Primera football during the next years.
Without the arrival of Lendoiro and the investments, Deportivo would have been like Málaga CF, Athlétic de Bilbao, Real Mallorca, Celta de Vigo, Sporting de Gijón or Murcia CF during the past 15 years. That is: occasional success but noting impressive or lasting. These clubs have made debts too, but didn’t manage to achieve something important with it. Deportivo would be no different to players compared to these other clubs. Deportivo wouldn’t have won domestic trophies nor have impressed internationally. The fanbase would be much smaller and probably this website wouldn’t even exist.
Right now the cabinet contains trophies (how many trophies have Celta won?) and the supporters have great memories of matches at the Bernabéu, Bayern’s Olympic Stadium, Manchester United or Delle Alpi. The club remains attractive to players like Arizmendi, Arbeloa, Barragán, Coloccini etc., has excellent training facilities and an improved youth system. We have to make a step back right now to make two steps forward again. The city and region is large enough, the people at the club capable enough, the supporters are fantastic and Deportivo as a club have enough reputation to achieve this. We’re not at the bottom yet of our problems, but the end is in sight. No important squad player will leave the club for free during the next years. Like a cycle, new and better times will arrive. Is the arrival of Guardado prove of it?
 WHAT ARE YOU DOING CAPARROS?
by caabrego
Saturday 21th April, 2007 --
Coach Joaquín Caparrós is living his worst moment since he arrived to Deportivo. The Utrera-born trainer made an awful planning for the copa game against Sevilla, without doubt the most important compromise for the present season. To make things worse, he made unfortunate declarations to a Sevillan paper, a fact that increased his unpopularity between the fans.
I was listening radio Voz during the copa game with Sevilla, and I still hearing what the commentator was saying at minute 15th: "Thank God that a major part of this player won't be in Depor for the next season!" He was in pain, almost crying. It sounds exaggerated, but it was the painful reality. Deportivo was showing a very poor image and the eliminatory was reching the end after just fifteen minutes in the clock. This was supposed to be the most important game on this season. So, what happened?
I will not talk about the accusations against Caparrós regarding letting his former club, Sevilla, win intentionally. Any person is innocent until the opposite is proven. For me, what happened is that the coach committed a series of big and incredible mistakes that led us to disaster.
Firstly, he should keep his mouth shut every time a journalist asks him about his former team, Sevilla. Everybody knows that he keeps the Andalucian squad in his heart, but the last thing that the fans need is to hear about this 'love story' two days before a crucial duel against Sevilla. This kind of comments just raises his unpopularity between the fans and distracts the players. Definitely, this attitude isn't good for the club.
Secondly, Caparrós committed a chain of mistakes when he planned the match. Nobody understood the reasoning behind the composition of his list of called players. However, I believe that it was a smart move. If the team has been living without scoring goals and if the defensive line has been the strength of the team during this season, why not base the strategy against Sevilla on this sector?
The idea of putting a lock to the game was a masterpiece that only a man who understands football really well is capable to create. But what can't be understood is the way in which Caparrós tried to implement this strategy. If you choose to base your plan of action on the defensive sector, why don't you put your best defenders on the pitch?
Because nobody understood how Julian de Guzman, Albert Lopo or Dudu Aouate ended on the bench, having been replaced by Juan Rodriguez, Juanma and Munúa, respectively (not to mention that Juanma and Munua hadn't played an official game since February). I don't want to blame these three men for the defeat, but the decision of putting them on the pitch since the first minute was nothing less than risky.
Another example of the incredible mistakes that Caparrós committed when he planned the copa game was the coverage that he ordered in the left side of Depor's defence. Everybody knew that it was a sector to be followed with magnifying glasses... everybody except Caparrós. This side of the field is a dangerous place to live when Daniel Alvés and Jesús Navas are running over there. Incredibly, Caparrós left Capdevila alone covering that part of the pitch.
Instead, he ordered a double coverage... but on the opposite side! Barragán was playing like a wingback and was supporting the work of Coloccini on the right, but shouldn't this be done on the left side also? No, not in Caparrós's mind. And Depor paid the price. At minute 14th, Cristian took a corner on the left, Sevilla stole the ball and the show of Daniel Alvés began, running all over Depor's left side taking advantage of the fact that Capdevila was taking a coffee with the referee. As a result, the central defenders were disoriented and Jesús Navas just capitalised from an exact pass from the Brazilian. Bum! Fifteen minutes on the clock, two goals allowed and game over. Good bye copa del rey and good bye centenario season.
In my country it is normal to hear the phrase: "Everybody is a general after a battle is lost", but the truth is that Depor's general, Joaquín Caparrós, was wishing to win a battle against tanks while armed with just bayonets. A surprising reality, taking into account that this man coached Sevilla during five years. Caparrós enjoyed the sympathy of the fans since his arrival to Coruna, but his credit is getting to an end. Does he have to leave the club during the summer? I'm afraid that we all know the answer.
Thanks also to George Mitsou for his contribution to this article.
 HOW THINGS CAN CHANGE
by Leon
Monday 26th February, 2007 --
Seriously, I wrote most of this editorial at the end of December but never finished it. Fortunately, the events since then confirmed by writings. Deportivo have been unbeaten in 2007 by not losing in 8 consecutive Liga matches (the string is 11 matches if the Copa is included). It's just another confirmation of 'how things can change' at a club like Deportivo. History has shown many examples.
Let's turn back to the final days of December 2006, if you like it or not… Depor's troubled Liga position was much discussed those weeks. The euphoria of September turned into some sort of Winter Depression; to the desperation of many supporters. The good thing though is that Depor always have been able to turn things around.
On 27 December 2006, the team was situated 15th with 17 points out of 16 matches. Deportivo had taken barely 3 points out of the last 9 matches and scored just 2 goals in them, both by midfielder Juan Rodríguez. Only Real Sociedad had scored less goals than Depor's 11 while the Galician defence has leaked 23 goals; almost double compared to Atlético, Getafe and Barcelona.
Last year (2005/2006) the team had 29 points after 17 matches and were situated 5th. And these numbers were more or less 'normal' when compared to the Irureta-years (except his difficult final season). These numbers were respectively 22 points (2004/2005), 33 points (2003/2004), 29 points (2002/2003), 30 points (2001/2002), 31 points (2000/2001), 36 points (1999/2000) and 24 points (1998/1999). But not even Irureta set the record for points taken after 17 matches; it was John Toshack who reached 37 points with Rivaldo's Depor in the season 1996/1997. In the first season when a win was rewarded with three points (1995/1996), Toshack's men had 24 points after 17 matches.
But what's the use to hear about the 'glorious past'? To hear that we even did worse than this year and to take closer look at it! In the season 1997/1998 the club had acquired Djalminha (26) and had an incredible midfield with players like Flávio Conceição, Mauro Silva, Fran, Donato and a fantastic goalkeeper with Jacques Songo' o. This team would win the Liga 2,5 year later and were the skeleton of even more success. But in December 1997 these same players made Depor occupy place 17 out of 20; a place that was shared with Compostela who only on goal difference had to occupy place eighteen (meaning a place facing relegation).
The point of it all is that even during all the years of glory there was 'negative drama'. It's a fact of life and part of football. The football during the 1997/1998 was awful and the results were horrible. Still the same players were tremendous important during the success of later years. They together survived a difficult time and in the end could turn things around.
 What about the latest series of negative results? In early 2003 the team was 'only' fifth at nine points of Liga leaders Real Sociedad. But a fantastic series of 11 wins in 14 matches situated Depor at the top spot with just 5 matches remaining. At the start of the season 1996/1997 the team lost just once in 20 matches. But a series of 8 matches without a win led to Toshack's departure. Another series later that season was one with just 1 defeat in 16 matches. But of the final 6 matches just one was won.
In the season 1995/1996, Toshack's first, Deportivo lost 7 out of the first 16 matches after having started the season as title favourites. But during this season, there was a series of 22 matches with just 3 defeats, although 3 out of the final 4 matches were lost. In the disastrous 1997/1998 season there were just 2(!) wins in the first 18 matches. But after it, the team were undefeated in 7 matches.
In Irureta's first season (1998/1999) the team won just 4 matches out of the final 11, but managed to qualify for UEFA Cup football. During 1999/2000 the team set a series of 7 wins in a row. But after it, the squad won just 2 out of 8 matches and lost 5 times. After just 2 defeats in the final 9 matches, Depor were crowned champions.
In the season 2000/2001 the team lost just 4 matches out of the first 24 matches. But it also had a series of 10 matches with 4 defeats and 2 draws. In the season 2001/2002 there was just 1 defeat in the first 9 matches. But after it, the team lost 6 matches out of 11 matches. The season ended positively with just 2 defeats in the final 15 matches.
The start of the season 2002/2003 already has been mentioned: the numbers were 5 draws and 3 defeats in the first 13 matches. In 2003/2004 the team conquered Spain with 7 wins in the first 8 matches. But in the next 8 matches Deportivo won just twice. The Galicians then lost just once in 9 matches, before losing 3 out of 4 and losing just once in the final 10 matches.
In Irureta' s final year (2004/2005) there was a Winter series of 7 matches without a win while of the final 8 matches just 1 was won. But even that miserable season saw a series of just 4 losses in 21 matches. Last season Caparrós was much criticised because Deportivo had a series of 6 matches without a win early in the season. But after it, there were 7 wins in 10 matches and the critics remained silent. At the end of that season there was just 1 win in 7 matches.
After all these series of matches the pictures should be clear that this is Depor: all or nothing. It's all about 'rachas' (series of matches) and winning-mood (or losing-mood). Deportivo sometimes did awfully during glory years and surprised positively during bad seasons.
Now let's take a look back at the start of this season. The young team lost just once during the seven first matches, and won the first four home matches in a row. Just two matches were lost out of the first ten and in those ten matches, Depor's defence kept five clean sheets. Compare this to the fourteen goals leaked against Osasuna, Valencia, Bilbao and Sevilla and including nine-men-Racing (without strikers Munitis and Zigic).
Results of the past are no guarantee for the future. But the situation the team faced in December was not new. Back then I wrote: "One win can turn things around. Attacking talent could flourish while Depor's solid defence will return during the next weeks. History have shown it. Let's keep faith".
Fortunately things did turn around. The weeks since have been reviewed many times before. It's just another chapter in Depor's history.
 HOW MUCH WOULD DEPORTIVO COST?
by caabrego
Wednesday 5th February, 2007 --
In the past issue we analysed the aspects that are obligating to sell the club, it seems to be the best alternative in order to solve the financial crisis in Deportivo. Today we will try to calculate the value that the new owner will have to pay, not only to posses the club, but also to sustain it. Caabrego, a collaborator with experience in the financial world, analyses the case for us.
The financial crisis inside of Deportivo is a thing already known by everybody. What we also know is that there are only two possible solutions: to sell the club or to put it under a special figure named ley concursal. This last option isn't as bad as many of you could think. The problem is that it's the most traumatic solution. It means that the club will be forced to cover the debts with its assets. And that will only take us to the departure of all the 'stars' (Andrade, Sergio, Coloccini...) and also of some of the most promising youngsters. A fact that already started with the exit of Arbeloa to Liverpool.
For me (and also for Lendoiro) it's the wrong solution, because it will mean the death of Babydepor. The club would have to sell promising players like Verdú, Cristian or De Guzmán and Caparrós will have to start from zero once again. So, the most interesting choice is to find a new investor ready to put some money into the club.
And the next question that we should ask is: how much money is required in order to buy Deportivo? To be honest, it's impossible to establish a certain amount, because the prize is something that can only be settled by the market, in other words by the famous law of 'supply and demand'. Besides, the operation searching for an increase in the club's capital can also alter this number. However, we can try to calculate this amount. At least the shares aren't traded in the stock exchange market. A fact that makes our analysis easier.
Let's start with the possession of the club. Right now Deportivo is owned by a large list of shareholders (more than 20,000 according to the club). These persons and institutions don't possess more than 1% of the shares. Translated into euros, we are talking about €9 million in shares. But there's more, the club is still under an operation searching for an increase of the capital (a process that ends in December of 2007). The operation valued at €60 million should put the total amount of the club's capital at €65.5 million. Until this point, the club has only recollected €3.5 million in this operation.
This last fact complicates our analysis. In a normal situation, an investor wishing to control the club would only need to buy the 51% of the present capital (€9 million). In other words, the new owner will only need to invest €4.6 million (€9 million X 51%). But the increase of the capital raises the bet. As we said previously, the investor needs to possess at least the 51% of the club in order to manage it without restrictions, and the increase in the capital could put the final amount in €65.5 million. Meaning that the new investor would need, in this case, to buy €33.4 million in shares (€65.5 million X 51%).
Of course, this amount can be inferior since it isn't probable that somebody will subscribe the capital that is still to be inscribed (€56.5 of the €60 million of the initial operation). But we must have a clear idea: if the new investor wants to control the club without any negative surprise, it will be neccessary to put on the desk at least €33.4 million.
But the history doesn't end here. The €33.4 million only guarantees the possesion over the club, but not its functionality. We must remember that the club is facing a lot of troubles with the short-term debt. These problems can even cause a demand against the assets of the club. The only way to avoid further difficulties is to solve the origin of it: the debt that hasn't been paid.
The total debt of Deportivo was established at €146.2 millions during the past shareholders meeting. But of this amount, only €35.8 millions have to be paid in the short term (one year). How much of this amount hasn't been paid? we don't know, but let's be pessimistic and lets say that the 90% of it: €35.8 millions X 90% = €32.22 millions. This should be a calculation of what the club needs in order to be functional during the next twelve months.
So, we can add the amount of money that the investor needs in order to have the majority in the club (€33.4 million), and the one needed in order to maintain its functionality (€32.22 millions). The total amount would be in this case: €65.62 millions. That's my calculation of the amount of money that an investor will need in order to disembark in La Coruña. We can make a more deep analysis and include a budget that will be needed in order to buy new players, new installations or even to construct a new stadium. But we will leave the discussion at this point.
 THE FUTURE OF DEPORTIVO
by caabrego
Friday 25th January, 2007 --
The last weeks have been confusing. Rumours about the delay in the payment of the player's salaries, the problems with the transfer of Bodipo from Alavés, and the conflictive board meeting in December, have generated uncertainty in Depor's environment. At the end, all invites to think that Depor will have a new owner soon, who will be?
Depor is in the middle of a financial crisis. That's a thing without discussion. But what has been argued lately is the real size of the crisis. Newspaper La Voz de Galicia has been trying to increase the size of the problems, while Lendoiro and Depor Sport are going in the opposite way. So, it's impossible for us to give an exact description of the situation.
All started with the tumultuous board meeting that took place at the end of December, the financial numbers of the club were approved by the shareholders, but for the first time in years, Lendoiro was whistled and even insulted in the meeting.
An opposite group was born inside the club (leaded by one socio: Manuel Pardo Mosquera). This group has been trying to join the 5% of the shares, a condition that's necessary in order to call for an extraordinary meeting of the shareholders. Their goal is to arrange an internal auditory in order to know the real state of Deportivo. But so far this group has only put together the 2% of the shares, and they have been talking more in the papers, than working on the street.
Later it was know that the club didn't pay the January's salaries to its players. In exchange they received a legal paper (pagaré). This document could be negotiated with the banks in order to obtain the cash. So far, almost the entire squad has decided to give a chance to the club's officials and they are just waiting to see what will happen.
After this problem appeared a new one arrived: Piterman. The president of Alavés denounced Deportivo because he didn't receive the second payment in the transfer of Bodipo (€480,000). For this reason, la liga has blocked the transfers of Deportivo and the Galician club is unable to sign new players until the debt with the Basque club is canceled.
All this facts invites to think that the financial crisis is worst than everybody thought. Newspaper La Voz de Galicia continued with its personal war against Lendoiro when they started to speculate that the club could be put under a special law: Ley concursal, a figure created in Spain in order to protect the funds of the creditors. This legal figure could be an exit in order to correct the problems, in fact, it helped Las Palmas to erase their debts, but president Lendoiro reacted quickly and denied this scenario: "This possibility isn't passing through our minds." A clear statement that appeared in canaldeportivo.tv, the most recent media resource of the club.
One of the problems with the ley concursal is that the club will be forced to sell its assets in order to fulfill the debts, and we know that the phrase 'sell its assets' only means to say good-bye to the majority of the players, a disastrous move in the recently created Babydepor squad. For that reason, the arrival of a new investor or 'the messiah' if you want to call it in that way, will be the perfect medicine for the club. But the question is: does anybody wants to buy Deportivo?
Maybe the most important fact in the whole situation is that for the first time, Lendoiro is openly talking about the possibility of selling the club. He has admitted that the only way to save Deportivo is to lift the restriction avoiding the possession of more than 1% of the club's shares. With that objective in mind, the board of directors is planning an extraordinary meeting of shareholders on February 26th or 27th. On that crucial day it would be decided if the shareholders approves the entrance of a 'big fish' to the club.
That seems to be the only solution left: the appearance of a group of investors, or even the entrance of a single person, the 'Abramovich of Deportivo'. But it should be strange to see Lendoiro opening the door to this investor, specially after all this years he fought in order to avoid this situation. For this reason some papers suspects that he already have a secret agreement with this mysterious investor.
A Galician sportpaper, Deporte Campeón, wrote some days ago that Lendoiro was negotiating with an important group from Mexico (some says that's Pegasso, the one that tried to buy Racing Santander on the past year), and also with a powerful investment fund from Saudi Arabia. It won't be strange to figure it out that Lendoiro already negotiated his presence in this 'new' Deportivo -maybe even as a president!
As I already said it, it's impossible to know the real extension of the present crisis, but what's possible is to predict what will happen now: the arrival of new owner that could change the scene. Who will be? nobody knows yet, we just know that February 26th will be the decisive day for it, a day that should be marked in the calendar.
 IN MY DARKEST HOUR
by caabrego
Tuesday 12th December, 2006 --
Deportivo is living one of its worst moments, that isn't a secret. For Deportivo during the last decade, seven consecutive matches without a victory are a fact that has been only repeated in four occasions. A lot of explanations can be found for this situation, but the important thing is that the club needs to feel our support in this complicated moment, the darkest hour.
Frankly, I am not too worried about our current situation, I was expecting for something like this at the beginning of the season. A lot has been said about the qualities of this 'Babydepor', and we already knew the risks of taking a project like this one. To rebuild a team isn't an easy task, especially if you are competing in a high level league like the Spanish one. But to achieve a negative period of seven matches without victories is something that no body can tolerate. After all, it has only happened to Depor in four occasions during the last decade.
So, it's normal to see that people are desperate when things aren't working out. But how far can Depor fall? The project will be worthless if we end up in Segunda, but it will be totally useful if we are able to solidify our position. In this sense, the main question is: How long should we tolerate this situation? Until the results start to appear? or until Depor gets into the relegation zone? This is a tough question to answer, and I don't want to be in Lendoiro's shoes trying to search for the solution.
There are a lot of explanations to what is happening: the financial situation of Depor, the injuries of key men like Valerón and Andrade, the presence of a 'youngsters' coach like Caparrós, the composition of the current squad -a very young one, the absence of a leader in the team. I even read in the forum that our problems are caused by the exit of Romero and Tristán!
In my opinion, it's a combination of factors. Starting with some unexplained decisions by Caparrós: Why change the partnership Arbeloa-Lopo when it's the only thing working in the team? Why does Sergio appear always as a starter? When will we see a real winger occupying that position? And what about Duscher? Andrade? What the hell is Barragán doing as a winger? Where is the strong character that we saw during the first matches?
 Other things are escaping from the hands of the Sevillan coach, like the injury of Valerón. A symbol in this team and the only man capable to direct this 'disjointed orchestra'. Other thing that is still upsetting the coach is the absence of a real striker, a 'killer' capable of erasing Makaay from our memory. Caparrós has asked for it since his arrival, but Lendoiro has only responded with Taborda, the injury man of this squad. Others like Adrián and Riki have been forced to play in that position, although it isn't their normal function.
This combination of factors means that the solutions to be taken aren't simple ones. It isn't only a matter of throwing Caparrós to the street. After all, he is the architect of this project. We can make a long list of things that the club must do: to do a better research of young promises, to analyse with more precision why we suffer so much with the injuries, to be more responsible with the financial situation, to ask Caparrós to avoid the mistakes committed in the lineups...
And the fans? that's for me one of the most important parts. I am seeing with concern a big disappointment in everybody's faces (who will not feel it when Depor loses 0-4 in Mestalla?). It's OK to criticise the things that we don't like, but this is the time in which we have to be more united. We can't allow seeing this young team fall apart. Patience is the key word . And that's the main reason for this article. To ask for patience and support. It's true that some things must be changed, but the unchanged thing should be our love for this club. Our little giant called Deportivo.
Any curious reader can think about the title of this article, I must admit that the song of Megadeth, "In my darkest hour", was the first thing that came to mind when I thought about the necessity of this article. I just leave you with some of the sentences that composes this song, just think for a second that Babydepor's player might be singing it the next time that he sees an empty Riazor:
"In my hour of need
Ha [no] you're not there
And though I reached out for you
Wouldn't lend a hand."
"Through the darkest hour
Grace did not shine on me
It feels so cold, very cold
No one cares for me."
"Did you ever think I get lonely
Did you ever think that I needed love
Did you ever think to stop thinking
You're the only one that I'm thinking of."
"You never know how hard I tried
To find my space and satisfy you too."
"Things will be better when I'm dead and gone
Don't try to understand, knowing you, I'm probably wrong."
 BABYDEPOR IS BORN
by caabrego and Lebn8r
Friday 18th August, 2006 --
Deportivo has started a radical change in its squad. This change has been dubbed as “Babydepor” by the Spanish media. The transformation phenomenon is coincidently occurring during the year of the Centenario. A couple of years ago it was mentioned that the squad for Depor's 100th birth year would comprise of the squad that famously defeated AC Milan in the Champions League's Quarter Final 2004/2005, but the times have changed and Lendoiro decided that new blood should arrive, and BABYDEPOR was born!
Who's that boy in the picture? This is a recurrent question that our readers have requested throughout the last weeks. And it isn't a joke, Depor has signed fourteen new players for the new season, we have seen thirteen exits from the squad... and we are waiting for more. This is probably the biggest change in Deportivo since the club returned to the Primera División in 1991. The change has two key objectives: the improvement in the results seen during the past two seasons and to fulfill a financial necessity.
The past two campaigns have been disappointing, two consecutive eighth places are far from the desired objective, these results aren't providing a driving force for positive thinking. A change was needed, but there are no resources for the arrivals of well known figures and star player. Distant are the times in which the club was ready to pay €12 million for one single player (Jorge Andrade), now the economic situation has forced the club into a new project. Lendoiro knows that with a debt of €155.5 million in the bankroll, every saved penny (and for the matter every penny attained) is worthy. This situation explains the foremost notion in Lendoiro's new project: if we can not capture the signatures of star players, we will have to make them.
The primary key in this new project presented the necessity of a coach that values the contribution of youngsters in the team atmosphere, one that will not think twice about the participation in the lineup of a 19-year old promise instead of a veteran at his 30's. The first candidate to be named which such qualified distinctiveness was Joaquín Caparrós, and Lendoiro didn't face too many troubles to hire him... in fact he is facing more difficulties to retain him... but that's another story.
 The season 2005/2006 was one of transition, the squad didn't face too many changes, but in the winter transfer window, the new project started with the arrival of Arizmendi. Eight months later the plan has continued with the arrival of fourteen new players. Most of them, without experience in Primera. This project also required the exits of players who are severely damaging the budget and finances of the club with their high salaries, that’s why men like Tristán, Munitis or Acuña are being rushed to leave the club.
The gamble that Lendoiro has taken in the project has “high risk” earmarked, replacing veterans with young promises represents a feared problem: the inexperience. The lack of experience can be demonstrated when we delve into the profiles of the new arrivals. Only six of the fifteen new incorporations in the squad (including Arizmendi) have a solid experience in Primera. Dudu Aouate and Rodolfo Bodipo are the 'veterans' (both are 28-years-old). Bodipo has played 90 Liga matches in three seasons (Racing and Alavés), meanwhile Aouate has participated in 74 Liga games during three seasons with Racing, it must be acknowledged that the Israeli keeper has also played with the two biggest clubs in his country and has also participated in Champions League. Aouate is also the first goalkeeper of Israel.
There is also a cluster of interesting players: Albert Lopo (26), Juan Rodríguez (24), Riki (26), and Fabián Estoyanoff (23). These players are young, but they have an important experience in their curriculum. The most impressive case is Lopo; the Catalan has played 178 games in Primera accumulating a respectful number of more than 15,000 minutes on the pitch. In the meantime, Rodríguez accumulates 58 games in Primera División while Riki has 61. Estoyanoff has a less number: 29 matches in Primera, but it must be remembered that he previously played for Nacional Montevideo and possesses a promising record of 24 caps with Uruguay's national squad.
But the real revolution comes with the golden boys. Nine promises that came with abundance of optimism and prospect, but without experience. Antonio Barragán is probably the most interesting case, the 19-year-old defender has already conquered a European championship with Spain and has already played a Champions League match, but he hasn't played a single minute in First division, that's why he decided to sign for Deportivo La Coruña from Liverpool.
 Alvaro Arbeloa lives a similar situation, he has been part of every possible team in Spain's national youth system (U-15, U-16, U-17, U-19 and U-23), but he was only able to play twice with Real Madrid's first squad. This story can be told once again with Cristian Hidalgo, Joan Verdú and Rodri. They reached the sky with Barcelona B playing in Segunda B, but the transition to the fist squad is impossible and they decided to change the avenue of their destiny. Carlos Alcántara also belongs to this babyboom phenomena. He played a few games with Villarreal, but he signed with Depor as soon as he had the chance to do it.
Javier Arizmendi and Antonio Tomás have similar career profiles, they were ingnored by their former clubs and didn't think twice when the possibility of a change arrived. Pablo Alvarez is a special case, with 26-years marked in his calendar, the Galician winger possesses a valuable record in Segunda (97 games played and 19 goals scored), but he also belongs to this group of players because he is still to debut in Primera.
The revolution doesn't ends here, the review doesn't include the players coming from Deportivo B. Iago is the only Fabril player that has won a place in the first squad, but other youngsters like Mackay, Fabricio, Iván Carril, Xisco, Pita, Rivadulla, Iván Pérez, Nacho Matador or Rúben Rivera are waiting for a chance. Probably the list of new incorporations will continue to grow, names like Gónzalo Castro (21) or Roberto Canella (19) have been related with Depor, and so the revolution hasn't ended yet. We are still searching for soldiers.
THE COST OF REVOLUTION
As it was explained before, Lendoiro wanted a radical change without making a big financial effort. That's why he has only spent €10.94 million in 15 new signings: Riki (€4.64 million), Arizmendi (€2 million), Bodipo (€2 million), Arbeloa (€1.3 million) and Barragán (€1 million). The final amount that Lendoiro has contributed to the “Babydepor” project is still to be determined. It must be remembered that Lendoiro negotiated complicated buyout and re-buyout options, terms that will probably modify the final amount of invested money. For example, the arrival of Estoyanoff will not cost a dime to Lendoiro, but if he wants to retain the player, he will have to pay €4 million in the year 2008.
Is this revolution worthy? We don't think that anyone could answer this question. Maybe the only way to judge the situation will be the performances during the following three campaigns. It's a pounding reflection between hope and inexperience, a fight involving the past and the future. It's time to see if this Babydepor is mature enough to create and impose an impact of colossal proportions in Spain... And AC Milan was the first vicitim to suffer pranks from the kids.
 DEPOR IN THE WORLD CUP
by caabrego
Friday 07th July, 2006 --
It has been one of the most silent World Cups for Deportivo since the club returned to the Primera division in 1991. Only three of Depor's players had the privilege to represent their country in the biggest football tournament in the world: Fabricio Coloccini, 'Toro' Acuña and Lionel Scaloni.
Since Deportivo returned to the elite division in 1991, the participation of its players in the World Cup have been a regular thing. Everybody remembers Bebeto and his celebration in USA 1994 or the presence of Mauro Silva in the same squad that conquered the title, but it seems that the presence of Deportivo has been erased from the map lately. Maybe it's a new symptom of the poor performance that the club has shown in the last two liga seasons.
In Japan-Korea 2002 Deportivo had five of their players participating in the tournament: Sebastián Abreu who participated with Uruguay, whilst Enrique Romero, Diego Tristán, Valerón and Sergio all played for Spain. Of this list, only Valerón performed well. The Canarian scored one goal and played 373 minutes while the others had a regular participation. The worst case was Tristán, there were big hopes for him, but his muscular problems destroyed his possibilities and the injury still affects the marksman's career.
For Germany 2006, only three players had the privilege of been called up: Fabricio Coloccini (Argentina), 'Toro' Acuña (Paraguay) and Lionel Scaloni (Argentina). The best one was without doubt Coloccini. He wasn't considered as a starter in the squad, but the Argentinean was used as right back in two important games; the match against Holland and the quarterfinal confrontation against Germany. He gave a good performance and together with Gabriel Milito, are candidates to be the pillars that will search for revenge in the next World Cup.
Scaloni also performed as a right back, but he only had the chance to do it in the match against Mexico. He made a very solid defensive contribution, although his participation was limited in the offensive efforts of his team. With the tough competition for places in his national side, the ex-Depor captain will probably not enjoy a second opportunity, meaning that his international career has more than likely come to an end.
'Toro' Acuña was probably the most weird case; ignored in La Coruña, he played more in this World Cup than in the whole of the liga season with Deportivo. Paraguay were one of the dissapointments of the tournament, but at least Acuña was one of their most regular players on the pitch. A sad goodbye to this veteran of two World Cups; he announced his retirement from the national team. This all means that Acuña occupies the second place in Paraguay's history with 96 caps.
But maybe the most sad story happened with Spain. With Valerón injured and with coach Aragonés ignoring Capdevila and Munitis, the participation of Depor in the national team has been reduced to the ghosts from the past. Far and away are the times in which five Depor's players were at the same time in the squad. Spain impressed with their performance in the first round, but they were impotent to stop the ascending run of France. As the urban legend says: “Spain played as never before... but they lost as always.”
The curiosity in this World Cup was the presence of Jorge Andrade in Portugal. The defender was one of the pillars in the qualifiers, but serious injury blocked his participation in Germany. Despite this fact, the Portuguese defender was invited to Germany by the coach Scolari. He was the No. 24 player in the squad and enjoyed the good results of his country, sharing in the celebrations with his compatriots as Portugal equalled their greatest success in World Cup history, a place in the semi-finals after 40 years.
 LA LIGA FINAL ROUND UP
BY caabrego
Friday 02nd June, 2006 --
380 matches, this is the number of games that the fans enjoyed on this liga season. Hapiness, frustation and sorrow. Feelings that will always be present in a competition like this one. It's time to make a final balance about the performance of the 19 rivals that Depor faced during the past campaign.
Barcelona: The Catalans dominated the tournament and achieved a deserved second title in a row. But there were some doubts at the beginning, Rikjaard's squad started in slow motion when they were only able to conquer two victories in the first seven matches, but after the 3-3 draw at the Riazor, Barcelona started to ascend with 14 consecutive wins including an impressive 3-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeú. Once again they dominated every department in la liga: best offensive line (80 goals scored), less number of defeats in la liga (6), more points achieved at home (48) more points gained away (34). A wonderful season complemented with the Champions League title. It was also the consecration of Ronaldinho, without doubt the best player in la liga... and maybe in the world.
Best scorer: Samuel Eto'o (26)
Player with more assistances: Ronaldinho (11)
Player with more minutes: Víctor Váldes (3,150)
Most booked player: Edmilson (11)
Real Madrid: A new frustration for a team once called Los Galácticos, the crisis generated by the poor results even caused the existence of three presidents in one single season, a sign of the instability lived in the club. The general opinion is that the pillars of the team (Zidane, Raúl, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos) aren't solid anymore, besides the newest incorporations (Robinho, Baptista and Cassano) never yielded the investment made by the club's officials. Once again the winds of change are whispering in the environment... at least the team achieved a new qualification to the Champions League, although it isn't enough reward for some fans used to biggest achievements. The best news is the appearance of Sergio Ramos, the new leader of the defensive zone.
Best scorer: Ronaldo (14)
Player with more assistances: Beckham (10)
Player with more minutes: Iker Casillas (3,321)
Most booked player: Guti (13)
Valencia: Another squad that started in slow motion, Quique Flores' team achieved only two wins in the first six matches, a situation that started the speculations about his possible exit, but the results arrived soon and the Valencians enjoyed of a positive run of 16 matches without defeats. David Villa exploded and demonstrated why he is the best Spanish striker of the moment. It wasn't enough demonstration to give serious worries to Barcelona, but the Valencians assured a Champions League spot in the preliminary round without too many troubles.
Best scorer: David Villa (25)
Player with more assistances: Angulo (5)
Player with more minutes: Cañizares (3,240)
Most booked player: Albelda (16)
Osasuna: Without doubt is the most pleasant surprise of the season. The Basques are more used to count the points they need in order to avoid the relegation, and now they are planing the club's first appearance in a Champions League tournament. A big step that has been made thanks to the patience of coach Javier Aguirre. The secret for Osasuna's success is the solid combination between important youngsters like the Flaño twins or Raúl García with experienced men like Puñal, Milosevic, Moha or Delporte. Intelligent incorporations like the keeper Ricardo or the striker Romeo also were helpful factors. A demonstration that sometimes the money isn't too important (the budget of the club is 1/4 of Depor's one). Statistically the key was the home performance, Reyno de Navarra was one of the toughest stadiums since Osasuna achieved 12 wins in 19 games played there.
Best scorer: Milosevic (11)
Player with more assistances: Delporte (7)
Player with more minutes: Puñal (2,781)
Most booked player: Puñal (13)
 Sevilla: Once again the club from Nervión demonstrated to have a solid team, but not stronger enough to reach the Champions League. For the second time in a row, they missed the biggest tournament in Europe by inches (they ended tied with Osasuna, but the particular series was won by the Basques). The problem was in the away games since Sevilla suffered eight of their ten defeats away from the Sánchez Pizjuán (including a traumatic 0-5 against Espanyol). The departures of Baptista and Sergio Ramos didn't affect the squad's performance. The arrival of Saviola ended the debate about the lack of power upfront. The Sevillans were criticised since they missed the maximum number of penalties in la liga (4). But everything was forgiven and forgotten after the club conquered the UEFA cup, their first European title... a new reason to make fun of Betis.
Best scorer: Saviola (9)
Player with more assistances: Daniel Alves (7)
Player with more minutes: Palop (3,240)
Most booked player: Daniel Alves (12)
Celta: A sweet campaign for the Galicians, one that included victories in Riazor and Santiago Bernabeú. Celta returns to European competitions after been in Segunda on the previous year, an achievement rarely seen on this days, the best news is that the group is very young and has the possibility to keep growing. The secret for the success was a solid defensive line that only allowed 33 goals (the best record in la liga), Celta achieved six clean sheets in the last nine matches, this was the main reason why they conquered the desired qualification to the UEFA cup. Curiously Celta was the team that achieved less draws in la liga (only 3).
Best scorer: Baiano (13)
Player with more assistances: Nuñez, Jorge and David Silva (3)
Player with more minutes: Angel (3,324)
Most booked player: Contreras and Sergio (10)
Villarreal: Manuel Pellegrini's team made a wonderful campaign in the Champions League, they reached the semi-finals in their first participation, but the effort affected the performance in la liga since the Valencians ended far from the first places. At least they conquered at the end a spot in the Intertoto cup. Home defeats against Betis (1-2) and Real Sociedad (0-2) were crucial. The arrival of Kromkamp was the disappointment of the season, also Forlán, the last pichichi, he lived a black year since he only scored 10 goals. Lucho Figueroa also was ineffective and the Mexican Guillermo Franco had to come during the winter market in order to help in the job. Riquelme once again was the guidance in midfield and this time the Argentinean had to score the goals that the strikers couldn't.
Best scorer: Riquelme (12)
Player with more assistances: Riquelme (6)
Player with more minutes: Arruabarrena (2,805)
Most booked player: Arruabarrena (12)
Getafe: Another sensational year for the Madrid home-based club, they surpassed the objectives and their place in Primera was never in danger. In fact, Schuster's squad was in the first places during the first weeks of the tournament, but they get out of fuel at the end of the first round. Once again a couple of young players were the stars of the season, Guiza and Riki impressed with their skills and goals, but it was a veteran, Mariano Pernía, the one that took all the eulogies, he's the only member of the squad that will play the World Cup.
Best scorer: Paunovic and Pernía (10)
Player with more assistances: Gavilán (8)
Player with more minutes: Pernía (3,208)
Most booked player: Diego Rivas (15)
Atlético Madrid: Once again the club expended a lot money in players like Kezman, Petrov or Maxi Rodríguez, and once again the squad failed to achieve a place in European competitions. It seems complicated to explain the reasons for this continuos failures, but the answer could be very simple: the absence of a wining personality in the team, a fact that Coach Bianchi wasn't able to create and that explains the inconsistency in la liga. Coach Murcia arrived in the second round and the team seemed to react, but it was too late. Now rumours of more changes arrives... maybe on the next season.
Best scorer: Fernando Torres (13)
Player with more assistances: Petrov (8)
Player with more minutes: Fernando Torres (3,192)
Most booked player: Luccin (16)
Zaragoza: It should be a disappointing result for a promising team like this one. The squad started with a lot of doubts after five draws in their six first games (in fact they achieved 16 in all the tournament, the biggest number in la liga), but later the offensive couple of Diego Milito and Ewerton exploded, they were the second best duo in Spain with a combination of 27 goals scored (only the couple Ronaldinho-Eto'o has a better number: 42). At the end the team missed some consistency and finished in mid-table, away from Europe. The worst thing is that they lost the final in copa del rey. For that reason Víctor Muñoz didn't sign a renewal and now Víctor Fernández arrives in order to build a better future.
Best scorer: Diego Milito (15)
Player with more assistances: Cani (7)
Player with more minutes: Ponzio (3,090)
Most booked player: Alvaro and Ponzio (13)
 Mallorca: During the pre-season Héctor Cúper built a team according to his particular view, but the squad never gave a sensation of consistency. For that reason Gregorio Manzano arrived in order to save the club, and he did with only three defeats in the 14 matches that the squad was under his command. Once again the team’s leader was Arango, the winter's arrival of Basinas and Pisculichi gave more strength to the their offensive efforts.
Best scorer: Arango (11)
Player with more assistances: Arango (5)
Player with more minutes: Arango (3,220)
Most booked player: Fernando Navarro (12)
Athletic Bilbao: The Basques suffered one of the worst seasons in their long history. Athletic was eliminated in the first round of the Intertoto cup, a premonition of what will come later on the campaign. The squad was only able to achieve one win during the first twelve matches, then Javier Clemente arrived to save the club and everything changed. He gave to this team the main thing they were missing: courage. Athletic only suffered two defeats in the last eleven matches and saved the situation in a miraculous comeback at the Riazor.
Best scorer: Aduriz (6)
Player with more assistances: Yeste (12)
Player with more minutes: Orbaiz (3,228)
Most booked player: Orbaiz (12)
Betis: A new victim that suffered the curse of the Champions League, the Sevillan club lived the first round mostly in the relegation zone, the injuries during the campaign of key men like Edú, Luis Fernández, Capi, Joaquín and Oliveira were decisive factors for this situation, at the end Lopera's club saved the situation thanks to a good performance during the second round of the tournament (25 points achieved), the arrival of Robert De Pinho was one of the keys for this situation. The main problem was the matches as visitor since they only conquered two victories away for the Luis de Lopera stadium (Osasuna and Villarreal).
Best scorer: Robert De Pinho (7)
Player with more assistances: Joaquín and Edú (4)
Player with more minutes: Juanito (3,060)
Most booked player: Melli (10).
Espanyol: Cardiac. The best word to describe what the Catalan club lived during the present season. Lotina's team will always remember this campaign since they conquered the title in copa del rey, but they will also try to forgive the suffering they went trough in order to save themselves. Maybe the best phrase to describe their suffering is that Espanyol had to wait until the last second (Corominas scored the salvation goal at minute 91th). The main problems for the Catalans were in the away games, they only conquered three wins and scored only ten goals (the worst number in la liga)
Best scorer: Luís García and Tamudo (10)
Player with more assistances: De La Peña (6)
Player with more minutes: Jarque (3,010)
Most booked player: Costa and Lopo (9)
Real Sociedad: Another team that suffered during the complete season. The Basques were the squad that allowed the second biggest number of goals in la liga (65). A number that explains the reasons for their misery. However, their offensive capacity helped them to avoid the relegation, Real Sociedad scored 48 goals, a number that improves the marks of Deportivo, Celta, Sevilla and even Osasuna. This strange combination dictated the course during the competition. The biggest problem occurred in the away games where the squad was only able to conquer three draws (Racing, Real Madrid and Cádiz) and three victories (Zaragoza, Deportivo and Villarreal).
Best scorer: Xabi Prieto (9)
Player with more assistances: Nihat (4)
Player with more minutes: Mikel Alonso (2,954)
Most booked player: Alvaro Novo, Garitano and Garrido (8)
Racing: In Santander everyone was dreaming with the UEFA cup thanks to the signings of promising players like the Dalmat brothers, Damiá or Vitolo. But soon the fans 'returned to earth' when the performance of the team showed the reality of the club. A strange fact is that the Cantabrian squad accumulated more points in the away games than in the home ones (22 against 18 points), Deportivo and Racing were the only two teams in la liga that presented this erratic behaviour. Once again the key for the salvation was the arrival of coach Nando Yosu, he conquered two wins in the last four matches and helped to save the situation.
Best scorer: Antoñito (9)
Player with more assistances: Felipe Melo (4)
Player with more minutes: Aouate (3,330)
Most booked player: Oriol (14)
 Alavés: Once again Piterman failed in his dream of directing a club in Primera. He signed interesting players like Nené, Jandro or Bodipo, but his obsession with total control was the doom for his team. The problem was that the squad started really slow the competition, Alavés achieved its first win of the tournament until matchday 12 and the situation seemed to be lost with Chuchi Cos at the command. Later the arrival of Juan Carlos Oliva gave more confidence to the players, the squad even reached the 15th position in the table under his advice. But Piterman decided to replace Oliva for an internal dispute, Mario Luna arrived to the rescue, but the mess inside the team was done and nobody could save Alavés.
Best scorer: Aloisi (10)
Player with more assistances: Nené (4)
Player with more minutes: Nené (3,275)
Most booked player: Gaspar (10)
Cádiz: The Andalucian club presented an ambitious long-term project in its return to Primera, but the tournament only last ten months and Cádiz wasn't able to maintain the spot in Primera. Two reasons can explain their disgrace: a poor striking zone and the negative performance at home. Cádiz only scored 36 goals (the worst mark in la liga tied with Málaga, Racing and Espanyol). Also, The squad only achieved 17 points at home, the local draws against direct rivals (Racing 1-1, Alavés 0-0, Betis 1-1 and Real Sociedad 2-2) plus the home defeat against Mallorca (1-2) means 11 vital points that the squad missed at the end of the season. The best thing was the appearance of Lucas Lobos, without doubt one of the most promising players for the future.
Best scorer: Jonathan Sesma and Lobos (7)
Player with more assistances: Jonathan Sesma (5)
Player with more minutes: Varela (3,059)
Most booked player: Fleurquín (11)
Málaga: Disastrous. That's the only adjective that can be used to judge the campaign made by the Andalucian club. The team presented several statistics that explains their disgrace: less number of points achieved at home (14), less number of points achieved away (10), less number of victories (9), worst defensive line (68 goals allowed), worst offensive line (36 goals scored)... During the last season Antonio Tapia demonstrated that he has a special touch to save a team experiencing a traumatic situation, but this time the club's officials sacked him from the bench. As result Manolo Hierro arrived to the rescue, but the medicine was worse than the disease, the Andalucian coach only achieved 7 of 51 points, an interesting explanation that demonstrates that sometimes, the changes aren't for good.
Best scorer: Salva (6)
Player with more assistances: Gerardo and Hidalgo (4)
Player with more minutes: Arnaú (3,191)
Most booked player: Juan Rodríguez (11)
 LENDOIRO'S THIRD WAY
Friday 19th May, 2006 --
By Djalminha
In a day where every one was thinking of the Champions League final, something else and more important for Deportivo la Coruña happened in the world of football. After going trough two very successful periods afterwards named as “Superdepor” and “Eurodepor” Lendoiro stated that a new era totally different from the others were to come. The era of a Deportivo created from the youth teams.
In the years of “Superdepor” and “Eurodepor” only two unknown players performed on the Spanish youth 21 team. Marcos Vales and Mariano Hoyas were at Depor at the beginning of the 90's, both were called to the U-21 squad, but they never reached the major team and failed to maintain a starting roll in the first squad. The lack of Deportivo players on the youth squads was due to the simple fact that the youth squad was non-existing at Deportivo, and that the club relied on buying players above the age of 21.
So why is the day of the Champions League final an important day for the new era?
At the 17 of May 2006, the first two 'new era players' of Deportivo played on the Spanish U-21 team: Arizmendi already played some matches from his time as Atlético Madrid member, but it was the very first game of the player that more and more is becoming into the symbol of this new era: Iago Iglesias.
The Spanish youth team lined up in a 4-2-3-1 with Arizmendi as front attacker. The Danish team was totally superior in the first half, specially because of a very bad Spanish defence. As for Arizmendi he did a decent job with some nice moves and he had the only big chance for Spain during the first half, but it was saved by the goalkeeper. Together with the Spanish right wing, they were the best Spanish players during the first 45 minutes in a team that generally played really bad.
At the start of the second half the moment of truth arrived. The Spanish coach made several substitutions including the Galician boy Iago who entered as playmaker. So how would the symbol of Deportivo and Galician football do?
Already in the first minute Iago dribbled past two Danish players making a good pass. Two minutes later he conquered the ball and again the Galician boy made a good pass. The minute later he created a great chance for the Spaniards with a great assistance for the left wing. As the minutes went by, it was clear that he was by far the best Spanish player on the field. Throughout the second half he conquered the ball in several occasions, time after time dribbling past defenders and playing good passes. After a half an hour he made a great shoot at goal but unfortunately for him the shot was blocked. In several occasions he even played at the role of pivote and that function was also fulfilled satisfactorily. The only error from Iago was a tackle against the Danish defender Agger after he dribbled throug five Spanish players which fairly resulted in an yellow card.
Off course one could state, as my fellow spectator did, that it was easy to shine in a team that played really bad, but never the less, he did shine and he was by far the best Spanish player on the field an the sole Spanish player creating trouble against the Danish squad every time he had the ball.
So if Iago is a symbol for the development of the new era, then Deportivo already came a long way creating a new era.
 GET WELL SOON BOYS!
Thursday 9th March, 2006 --
By deportivo-la-coruna.com
The injuries of Andrade and Valerón are big obstacles affecting the run of Deportivo in the current season; however, these aren't the first cases at the club. In fact, Depor has been characterised by the injuries to some of their key men since the squad returned to Primera for the season 1991/92.
It's obvious that a football team is always affected when a key figure gets a serious injury, the case is that destiny always seems to have special tasks for Deportivo. Important players in complicated moments have passed through long-term injuries and painful recovery process' during recent times.
Since the last promotion to the Primera during the season 1991/92, several players have passed through this hard test. Ramón inaugurated this unfortunate list after he tore a muscle in his right knee when he was playing his last game for Sevilla. He had a precontract with Depor and Ramón had to expend a full year without playing. Aldana's knee also suffered a serious injury and he was out of the squad for the complete 1993/94 campaign.
Martín Vázquez only needed one minute during an August friendly game to enter this infamous list. He missed out the complete 1995/96 campaign. Manjarín also suffered a rupture in a ligament and he spent a year and a half off the pitch. It was a miracle when Mauro Silva recovered to his previous level after he injured a muscle in his ankle. The Brazilian missed out the 1994/95 season for this reason and his last year was also littered with injuries as he suffered several contractures and muscular problems.
The injuries of Ramis, Manuel Pablo and the first one of Valerón were all horrific. These three men all broke bones during different Depor matches and spent several months out of action. Curiously the Canarian player shared a space with Andrade on the list of casualties at that time, a situation that has been repeated right now. The Portuguese defender broke a toe during his debut in la liga against Betis. Another central defender that suffered through this tough situation was Donato on February of 2003, he broke his right knee just when he was in negotiations to extend his contract.
Martins, 'Manteca' Martínez, Hadji, Djorovic, César and more recently Diego Tristán are other players that suffered through similar cases. The Sevillan striker is still facing complications from the ankle injury he picked up during the 2002 World Cup; a problem that continues to affect his performance on the pitch.
 Right now two important players are suffering the consequences of their continous effort. Valerón broke a muscle in his knee when he was playing at the Riazor against Mallorca while Andrade has torn the patellar tendon in his left knee during the last confrontation against Barcelona. Both men will be out of action until the next season.
But maybe the most complicated issue to deal with is the emotional aspect. Both men were having a good season, Valerón was even happy with his scoring record and Andrade was a regular starter at Deportivo and with Scolari's national squad. The biggest disappointment for them should be their plans for the summer. Andrade and Valerón had strong expectations of attending the next World Cup in Germany, but now their dreams have turned to dust.
Perhaps there's a reason why the doctors always recommend the patient should face the recovery process in a friendly environment, and what better place to give love to their idols than the city of La Coruña? deportivo-la-coruna.com and all their readers want to wish a quick and especially complete recuperation to Jorge Andrade and Juan Carlos Valerón. We always love you and count on with our prayers for good. GET WELL SOON BOYS!
All editorials are written by JULEN unless otherwise specified.
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