Roberto Soldado

Name: Roberto Soldado Rillo
Playing position: Striker
Playing style: Target Man
Character: Aggressive, Hot headed
Factoids: Yellow card magnet
Previous club: Getafe CF
Number: 9
Birthday: 27 May 1985 (age 27)
Nationality: Spanish
Height: 1.80m
Weight: 72kg
Contract ends: 30.06.2017



Previous clubs:
Real Madrid B, Spain 2002-2006
Real Madrid, Spain 2005-2008
>Osasuna, Spain 2006-2007 (loan)
Getafe, Spain 2008-2010

+ Strengths	- Weaknesses
Finishing Great	Headers Poor
Explosiveness Excellent	Composure Terrible
Off ball movement Good	Technique Poor
Work rate Excellent
Commitment Excellent

Awards best play	Number	Awards poorest play	Number
Man of the match	3	Worst man of the match	1
Best offense	4	Worst offense	1
Best defense	0	Worst defense	2
Best possession	0	Worst possession	0

Player Rating:



Player Market Value:

Roberto Soldado statistics:

2013/14 STATISTICS
TEAM	Competition	GS	SB	G	A	SH	SG	FC	FS	YC	RC
Spain	Int	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Spain	Conf	2	0	1	0	5	4	5	4	0	0
Season Totals		2	2	2	0	5	4	5	4	0	0

2012/13 STATISTICS
TEAM	Competition	GS	SB	G	A	SH	SG	FC	FS	YC	RC
Valencia	UCL	7	0	4	1	14	9	13	11	4	0
Spain	Int	1	3	3	1	9	7	1	3	0	0
Valencia	La Liga	33	2	24	4	100	46	35	52	10	0
Valencia	Esp Cup	1	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Spain	WCQ	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
Season Totals		43	8	34	6	124	63	49	66	15	0

2011/12 STATISTICS
TEAM	Competition	GS	SB	G	A	SH	SG	FC	FS	YC	RC
Valencia	Europa	5	2	2	2	14	9	6	7	3	0
Valencia	Esp Cup	5	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Valencia	La Liga	29	3	17	3	80	35	47	31	11	0
Valencia	UCL	6	0	5	1	18	7	6	6	1	0
Season Totals		45	6	27	6	112	51	59	44	16	0

2010/11 STATISTICS
TEAM	Competition	GS	SB	G	A	SH	SG	FC	FS	YC	RC
Valencia	UCL	4	3	6	0	18	11	6	6	0	0
Valencia	La Liga	26	8	18	3	80	42	35	40	8	0
Valencia	Esp Cup	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Season Totals		31	11	25	3	98	53	41	46	8	0

2009/10 STATISTICS
TEAM	Competition	GS	SB	G	A	SH	SG	FC	FS	YC	RC
Getafe	Esp Cup	5	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Getafe	La Liga	25	1	16	2	90	40	42	58	11	0
Season Totals		30	1	20	2	90	40	42	58	13	0

2008/09 STATISTICS
TEAM	Competition	GS	SB	G	A	SH	SG	FC	FS	YC	RC
Spain	ECQ	0	2	0	1	3	2	0	0	0	0
Getafe	La Liga	24	10	13	2	85	36	33	66	9	2
Season Totals		24	12	13	3	88	38	33	66	9	2

2007/08 STATISTICS
TEAM	Competition	GS	SB	G	A	SH	SG	FC	FS	YC	RC
Real Madrid	La Liga	1	4	0	0	3	0	2	4	0	0
Real Madrid	UCL	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Season Totals		1	6	0	0	3	0	2	4	0	0

2006/07 STATISTICS
TEAM	Competition	GS	SB	G	A	SH	SG	FC	FS	YC	RC
Osasuna	UCL	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Osasuna	Esp Cup	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Osasuna	UEFA	8	1	1	1	14	8	8	4	2	0
Osasuna	La Liga	21	8	11	3	48	16	38	0	7	1
Season Totals		32	9	12	4	62	24	46	4	10	1

2005/06 STATISTICS
TEAM	Competition	GS	SB	G	A	SH	SG	FC	FS	YC	RC
Real Madrid	La Liga	1	10	2	0	12	3	8	0	1	0
Real Madrid	UCL	1	1	1	0	4	2	1	0	0	0

GLOSSARY

GS: Games Started, SB: Used as Substitute, G: Goals, A: Assists, SH: Shots, SG: Shots on goal, YC: Yellow Cards, RC: Red Cards, FC: Fouls Committed, FS: Fouls Suffered, SV: Saves, OF: Offsides, W: Wins, D: Draws,L: Losses

Valencia government assumes control of Valencia CF

Valencia CF foundation failed to repay its debt of 86 million to the Bank Bankia, they also failed to pay the 4 million interest on the debt in order to basically extend the debt repayment by a quarter, and with the Valencia government being the loan guarantee they have now assumed control of the club.

Funny thing is that the Valencian government called the generalitat or whatever you translate it from Spanish, is also broke. In fact all of Spain is broke, so the whole situation is as messy as it can be. How will the city repay the debt is unclear at this point in time.

Bankia is the next to take ownership of the club if the Valencian government doesn't pay the debt or 4 million interest and they could take over the club come February. Thing is they don't want to take over the club, but they also don't want the government running the club and want the Valencia CF foundation to continue running the club as they would have best chances of long term profitability of the club, which would allow Valencia CF to pay its debt slowly.

At this point I'm going to be that Bankia is going to take over the club though, as the Valencia government is facing huge uproar over taking over the club, when they are so debt ridden themselves, so I don't see the politicians doing political suicide and managing or owning the club, so I'm expecting Bankia to become the new owner of Valencia CF in December.

At this point I'm not even sure if Manuel Llorente is going to run for re-election and we may even see the bank putting someone in charge on an executive decision.

Valencia CF vs Real Madrid Match Preview

Valencia CF vs Real Madrid Match Preview

Stadium: Mestalla

Date: 20.01.2013; 21:00 CET

Semi Final, 2nd leg, Copa Del Rey

Coaches: Ernesto Valverde and Jose Mourinho

Valencia CF

Last match against Real Madrid was terrible for Valencia CF as the team lost 5-0 at home in the Mestalla. I was personally expecting a victory for Valencia CF and predicted a 2-1 win for Valencia CF, but the team went on to have one of its worst match in recent history and conceded 5 goals. Most goals came within 10 minutes though, but 5 goals are 5 goals and it was a terrible loss.

The match before that, the one in the cup ended with Real Madrid winning 2-0, although Valencia CF were the better team and deserved a win then, at the very least a draw. It wasn't to be though as Real Madrid's fast counter attacks really punished Valencia CF and through Higuain and Guardado's own goal they managed to beat Valencia CF.

Valencia CF also missed a chance to catch up to the champions league spots, as Real Betis and Malaga both stumbled over the weekend and lost points. Even with Valencia's loss though, the team is still pretty close to the champions league spots with only 5 points down to Real Betis, but expecting some difficult matches the next two weeks, with Deportivo La Coruna and then FC Barcelona to be faced.

Valencia CF coach Ernesto Valverde also has trouble in picking the team, with Robero Soldado being injured in the last match and out of the squad, Albelda still not recovering from injury, Parejo out for 3 weeks with injury as well. This could mean that Sergio Canales plays for the first time in a year now, or Valverde decides to play with more wingers, trying to overrun Real Madrid like that.

Valencia CF squad:
Goalkeepers: Diego Alves, Vicent Guaita.
Defenders: Cissokho, Rami, Víctor Ruiz, Ricardo Costa, Pereira, Barragán.

Midfielders: Guardado, Mario Arques, Éver, Tino Costa, Viera, Piatti, Canales, Bernat.

Forwards: Jonas and Valdez.

Technical Details Valencia CF (probable setups):

Formation: 4-3-3

Line-up: Guaita; Joao, Rami, R. Costa, Cissokho; Ruiz, Tino, Banega; Piatti, Valdez, Bernat.

Tactics: Medium defensive line, own half pressure, mixed passing, mixed attacks.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid on the other hand are coming to this match as a reformed team. Coming to the series of matches against Valencia CF they were a defeated team, but two matches in and they have found their stride and form again. Truth be told Real Madrid were outplayed in the first match, but what luck, what referring shenanigans, what silly mistakes by Valencia CF players and they managed to get themselves a nice 2-0 win over Valencia CF.

Last match Real Madrid came in packing though and just destroyed Valencia CF in the first half. Cristiano Ronaldo was able to exploit Ricardo Costa on the right at will and with Gago being a non factor in midfield, simple opportunities became 100% goal scoring chances. Xabi Alonso was also more like his old self in the midfield and was able to really spread the ball nicely, feeding the wingers with passes. 

The second half was different as Valencia CF improved and Real Madrid were content to sit back and defend for most of the match as they had a big 5-0 lead and didn't need to waste too much energy.

With the last 5-0 win over Valencia CF, Real Madrid have climbed the ladder to 40 points, though they are still far off from FC Barcelona, who sit on 55 points, even though they lost their first match of the season this past weekend.

Jose Mourinho is not likely to make much changes to the squad, the biggest change I think we are going to see is probably Adan being on goal, with possibly Khedira getting a rest and Essien starting. Other than that Benzema is also likely to start this time, possibly even Modric over Ozil as well.

Real Madrid squad:
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Adán, and Tomás Mejías.
Defenders: Varane, Coentrão, Carvalho, Arbeloa, Albiol, and Nacho.
Midfielders: Khedira, Özil, Alonso, Essien, Modric, Callejón, and Di María.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuaín, and Morata.

Technical Details Real Madrid (probable setups):

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Line-up: Casillas; Arbeloa, Varane, Albiol, Coentrao; Xabi, Essien; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema.

Tactics: Low defensive line, own half pressure, mostly wide wing attacks, long balls from the middle.

Result Prediction:

Valencia CF 1-1 Real Madrid

Well I'm lowering my expectations after the last two matches. Yes Valencia CF have Joao returning again to the squad and likely Cissokho starting as left back, so the defense will be more solid, but I just can't see the team winning over Real Madrid at this point. As you may remember in the first match preview I wrote that I expected RM to turn their season around in the second half of the season and just hoped it won't be against Valencia CF, but it seems that's exactly against whom they turned their season around.

So I expect Valencia CF to finally score, but also concede one goal from a counter attack. Probably Valdez scoring with a header, from a corner kick.

Fernando Gago to leave Valencia CF

Fernando Gago is most likely going to leave Valencia CF this winter transfer window. I've learned that Fernando Gago is most likely going to leave by the end of January and the decision to leave Fernando Gago out of the squad to face Real Madrid is due to the fact he will leave and not a technical decision as has been reported.

In fact this coincides with the report in Spanish media that Valencia CF are looking to bring Javi Fuego to Valencia CF this transfer window. As I've reported Valencia CF has reached a personal agreement with the player, but the club will now push to buy him right now and not wait until the summer to get him free.

Reportedly Valencia CF is willing to pay as much as 1.5 million euros for Javi Fuego to bring him right now. Of course Gago's transfer is being negotiated right now and if everything works out fine, he should be sold in few days.

Guaita not affected by FC Barcelona interest

Valencia CF Vicente Guaita

Vicente Guaita's agent Vicente Fores said that FC Barcelona is interested in his client and wants to bring him at Camp Nou, but that Vicente Guaita is only focused on Valencia CF.

He said that Vicente Guaita isn't as pleased with his situation at Valencia CF as he could be, as he hasn't been starting regularly, but said that Guaita is focused solely on Valencia CF right now. That said he confirmed that one of the goalkeepers is very likely going to leave in the summer and said it could be either Guaita or Diego.

We knew this before of course, its been obvious two very quality goalkeepers can't feature so irregularly and one of them will have to go in the summer. As I've written about it, Manuel Llorente would like Guaita to stay because he is Valencianista and he has pressure from the fans to have more Spanish players at the club.

Ultimately it will depend on how each of the goalkeepers perform, Valverde's input and which one gets the higher offer. I believe Guaita has stronger chances of staying, but if there is a big offer for him and Diego has been performing better, Guaita could leave.

Its said that FC Barcelona are willing to spend about 15 million on a new goalkeeper, Guaita's release clause is at 20 million euros, so he is fairly safe from a buy-out, but only has two years left on his contract.

Roberto Soldado injured

Roberto Soldado is injured and won't be in the squad to face Real Madrid in the cup. He got his injury in the last match against Real Madrid and has a bruise and muscle tear, not very serious, but he will be rested just as a precaution. He should be available for the next La Liga match though against Deportive La Coruna.

Another bad news is that David Albelda won't be in the squad to face Real Madrid either, as he still hasn't fully recovered from his injury and would need one more week of recovery.