Elche has reached the halfway point in the League with the goal achieved of being out of the relegation places, but the franjiverde team is not breathing, far from it, calm because it continues to flirt with the red zone of the classification. The stumbling blocks of their rivals have given rise to respite, because the people of Elche have 16 points, the same as Alavés, which is second to last and the team that marks the fine line that separates success from failure.
Everything indicates that, again, this season it will not be necessary to reach 40 points to achieve salvation. But Elche should not trust everything to an end as agonizing as that of last season.
With Levante (8 points) already evicted, two places remain to avoid hell. And in that battle there will be a fierce fight between Cádiz (14), Alavés (16), Elche (16), Getafe (18), Mallorca (20) and Osasuna (22), which are going from more to less in the League ; and the Granda (23).
In the second round, the franjiverdes, in addition to adding more points, must correct certain errors if they want to continue one more year in the First Division.
Defensive improvement
Receive fewer goals and avoid individual failures
One of the main purposes that Francisco and his players have for this new year 2022 is to improve defensively. Despite leaving a clean sheet last Sunday against Granada, the team from Elche has conceded 27 goals in the 19 matches in the first round. It is the fifth team that receives the most goals and many of them have been caused by individual errors and when defending bad actions from set pieces. Some of the goals received have occurred in the last minutes of the matches and have prevented them from adding several more points, which, now, would have a great value and would have allowed them to have more oxygen and be calmer in qualifying.
To these defensive errors we must add the arbitration rulings, which almost all, in case of doubt, have fallen on the opposite side. This aspect is an external element that cannot be fought against and, in this case, it is to be expected that during the second round the dubious and controversial actions will ally with the Elche side.
New coach
Francisco’s courage has borne little fruit so far
Unlike last season, club owner Christian Bragarnik has not been as patient this season when it comes to changing managers. On matchday 11 he made the unpopular decision to dismiss an idol of the fans, such as Fran Escribá. With the Valencian, without finishing the team entering the UCI, he did not have the vital signs that will predict a quick recovery, after adding 11 points out of 42 possible in the first 14 days. In addition, the dressing room had lost confidence in the coach and the game did not invite optimism.
The largest shareholder acted quickly and after the match against Osasuna, in which the technical secretary, Sergio Mantecón, led the team on an interim basis and scored a valuable point in El Sadar, Francisco arrived. after the failed attempt by Pablo Machín.
At first, there was certain reluctance among the fans with the Almeria coach. But, quickly, the doubts were dispelled. The premiere with victory against Cádiz helped a lot. In addition, the new coach has endowed the Elche team with a bolder and more courageous image when it comes to betting on the attack game. Francisco has added four points in four games and the improvement has not translated into results. However, the feelings that Elche transmits do invite optimism, although in football you never know.
Reinforcements that don’t give it
Benedetto and Pastore have not made the leap in quality
In summer, the arrival of “star” signings, such as those of Benedetto or Pastore triggered the illusion of the fans. However, so far, they have been more of a fiasco than anything else and they have not finished making the leap in quality to the squad. Even in this winter market that has just begun, the possibility of the Argentine forward leaving the Elche club and making his way back to Boca Juniors is being considered.
Of the new recruits this year, practically none have achieved a high grade in the middle of the competition. Roco alternated lights and shadows, Kiko Casilla did not give the expected security to the goal and Edgar Badia has won the position. Lucas Pérez started as a shot and has been diluted and Pedro Bigas injuries have not allowed him to have continuity. Mascarell has been the only one who has met expectations and Gumbau is going to more in the last days.
The old guard: Lucas Boyé, Mojica, Diego González or Fidel, are the ones who, mainly, are supporting the team. Now the winter market arrives, Elche intends to strengthen itself, but first it must give out. There is room for improvement, but the competition is progressing and no one is waiting.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.