Ivan Toney show is back up and running, New Valencia and more — Volume 2, Issue #18
Valencia, aren't half-bad nowadays
We’ve had comebacks, fightbacks, throwbacks and cutbacks this week in football.
The Ivan Toney show is back up and running
You've probably seen it; Ivan Toney is back. It has been headline news, in particular in the UK, for the last few weeks, and it's probably been on your social feeds. We've had interviews, promo videos, and article-worthy quotes. But as Toney has stressed throughout his suspension for betting, he likes to do the bulk of his talking on the pitch.
In fact, more answering than talking. Because there have been doubts.
Doubts on whether his future was even at Brentford? Doubts about whether he would be the same player? Doubts on why he demanded such a transfer commotion?
Some of those doubts may remain, but what won't is that Toney’s quality remains among the very best.
Saturday night was another reminder of that.
At the Gtech, in front of an adoring home crowd, against a fellow relegation-battler in Nottingham Forest, the stage was set for Toney.
And, as per, he obliged.
For someone who is such a hard-nosed, ruthless goal scorer, the touch often goes uncredited.
So, his well-placed free-kick to bring Brentford level put some notice on that point of his repertoire. As soon as the goal came, his whole game flowed, leading the line—something Thomas Frank’s side had visibly lacked throughout Toney’s absence.
There's no doubt he's a star attraction.
Toney's gaining that stardom hasn't been easy. From a fresh-faced teenager with his hometown club, Northampton Town, to self-proclaimed ‘second best striker in the country’ status, £100 million or not, Toney believes he’s worth the show.
New Valencia, Young Valencia
It's a different Mestalla nowadays. One that rocks, shakes, sings—and, more importantly, supports its team throughout the 90 minutes of a game—is something Spanish football has come to miss in the last few years. But in fairness, this is a different Valencia team as well.
Under much-aligned owner Peter Lim, whose tenure at the club is clocking up to a decade, Valencia have gone from European dark horses to spending a large part of last season embroiled in a relegation battle—only to escape on the final day.
It's been an ownership littered with strategic wrongdoing, but the detachment from any sort of defining identity and purpose has been the beating stick for Valencia fans.
Whether it is burning through managers or the selling of key players such as Carlos Soler and Ferran Torres, the recruitment has been led bare without conviction.
But football often works in cycles. And it seems Valencia has fallen into theirs.
That managerial situation? Now led by former player Rubén Baraja, who is beloved by the fans, unlike predecessors.
The sale of key players? Still happens. Valencia isn't one of Europe's most desirable clubs anymore. So, when Milan comes in for Yunus Musah, as they did in the summer, the club is hapless. However, with a youth drive now in place, a more coherent recruitment plan is there to combat such a sale. Pepelu, snatched by city rivals Levante, and Sergi Canos from Brentford also followed - 22 and 26, respectively. Breeding through a ghost of talent from the B team: Javi Guerra has settled so well into the first-team environment. Alberto Mari and Diego López—all products of the B side—are all earning their opportunities.
Baraja leads the league’s youngest team. “We have to ‘bet on’ the young players; I’m going to give them the chance to grow,” Baraja said a couple of months ago.
His betting, they're growing, and from the looks of the table, they're flying.
Transfers you may have missed
Hamed Traorè to Napoli — Loan
When at Sassuolo, Hamed Traorè was the talk of the league. Linked to Milan, Roma and Juventus. So, when Bournemouth secured his signature, there was some confusion and excitement about what he could do in the Premier League—so far, nothing to note. Traorè has the talent, but a mix of sickness, injury and tactical fit has meant that a home in Bournemouth has not been found. Napoli will look to provide that—at least in the short term.
Gift Orban to Lyon — €11M
Lyon have got another one. It was only a week ago that OL confirmed the singing of Malick Fofana from Gent. Well, he certainly won't be lonely as Gift Orban joins him. It's quite the two weeks of shopping from John Textor and co - €30 million outlay. The pair will add spark in their own right. In particular, Orban, whose goals earned links to Spurs in previous windows. At 21, Lyon has secured their post-Alexandre Lacazette plan early.
Attila Szalai to Freiburg — Loan
Only a loan, but there is every possibility that this will be made permanent from both sides. Szalai, a Hungarian international and established Bundesliga defender, has fallen out of the Hoffenheim rotation. Freiburg has seen and acted on a no-brainer deal. They're a feeble defence at times, and Szalai’s arrival will solve some of those situations.