Season Preview 14-15

Here we are again folks. It’s the start of another season

Here we are again folks. It’s the start of another season. Our second full one as shareholders and fans of Real Oviedo. After the disappointment of last season, the excitement of the World cup, what can we expect from our boys in blue this time round. I can recommend one thing:  Fasten your seatbelts; it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Its certainly going to be a challenge and one I expect us to rise to. A new manager, several new faces, one old one and some encouraging comments off the pitch from the owners.

Despite the fiasco with the Real Murcia/Mirandes situation which lets be honest should have been sorted in May or June rather than left till now, we will do our best to predict what may or may not happen in the coming months. Many are predicting Murcia should they be in our division will walk away with the league as they were not only in the Segunda last season, but they actually finished 4^th only being denied promotion to La liga by losing to eventual play off winners Cordoba so the pedigree is obviously there. The main questions for me though is how they will cope with the long distance travelling they will have to do for every single away game. You also think how their mindset will be with all the off field issues and not knowing what division they will be in. Another key factor is they lost their leading scorer Kike in the summer after he decided to swap the sun of southern Spain for the rather cooler climate of Middlesbrough.

Mirandes who were relegated the normal way of finishing in the relegation zone also have the dilemma hanging over them of not knowing which division they will be in so you just don’t know how this will affect them mentally.

I think whichever of these clubs we are lumbered with will be up there at the end of the season but the prospect of either is not as frightening as it may appear to be.

The other ones to watch out for are Racing Ferrol. Ferrol surprised a few people last season making the top 4 after coming up from the Tercera division and have strengthened with the addition of 30 goal hitman Joselu from Compostela.

Real Aviles also had a great season last year making the play offs so they would expect to be in the mix. Other than these teams and possibly Guijuelo I really don’t see anyone else to possibly challenge us.

My prediction for the top 4 in this order is: 1 – Real Oviedo, 2 – Racing Ferrol, 3 – Murcia/Mirandes, 4 – Real Aviles.

Down the other end of the table the race to avoid the drop could be just as exciting. Celta B have somehow managed to get themselves back in the Segunda B after going down last season. They will be strong favourites for the drop again along with the newly promoted boys Lealtad, Langreo, Somozas, Vallodolid B and Atletico Astorga.

It seems crazy how 5 promoted teams have ended up in our group as well as Celta B so technically 6 despite only 4 getting relegated. This is mainly down to regional reasons for teams being placed into groups to suit their geographic location but also partly due to the murky waters of the financial situation in Spanish football which resulted in the sad demise of CD Ourense.

What to expect from Real Oviedo this season: Well no one is quite sure of that just yet. We have inherited an experienced manager in Argentian Sergio Egea who has vast football coaching experience in Spain, Mexico and also international football as he was the national team assistant coach of Mexico for 2 years.

We also seem to have bought in a number of players who have experience of playing at a higher level as follows:

Esteban – The legend has returned to the club where he first made a name for himself. Since leaving Oviedo he has played La liga football for the best part of 12 years including all 38 league games for Almeria last season.

Miguel Linares – He scored 10 goals for Recreativo last season in 38 appearances in the Segunda division.

David Generalo – A midfielder who has played regularly in Spains 2^nd tier with Elche & Mallorca.

Hector Font – Another vastly experienced midfielder who was with Hercules in the Segunda last season. Has also played at the highest level club wise when with Villareal. He was a part of their team that reached the semi-finals of the champions league.

Jonathan Vila – Vila has been with Celta Vigo for all of his career where he made 124 appearances for their 1^st team. Many of which were in la liga. He also played in the UEFA cup. Was loaned to Beitar Jerusalem in the Israeli premier league for a short spell last season.

Dani Bautista – Yet another experienced player who has played for many clubs including Recreativo, Hercules, Girona & lastly Murcia.

Other new faces include goalkeeper Gorka Magunazelaia who will be back up to Esteban. Nacho Lopez comes from Real Aviles. Sergio Sanchez has swapped Segunda b groups as he comes in from Lorca. Franck Omgba arrives from Elche and possibly the most intriguing signing of the summer is striker Borja Valle who joins us from Ourense. Not prolific by any means last year but he showed bags of potential and is only 22 years of age.

Add these new faces to the ones we have kept on from last season and there are many options. We have kept Nestor Susaeta who of course finished last season so well. Diego Cervero remains with the club and despite the fact he probably wont play too many full 90 minutes remains an important member of the squad.

Eneko ( remember him ) is also still here refreshed after his lay off last season. He could well prove to be like a new signing. Sergio Garcia & Jon Erice who both showed promise last season & will look to push on this time round. We have also kept Josep Sene & David Fernandez.

There is also the youth players who will look to make the breakthrough this year. They include goalkeeper Marcus & young forwards Lucas, Capelete & Juan Steven.

All in all the squad looks so much stronger than last year with a lot more strength in depth. The only area where we do look slightly down on numbers is defence. There could be a problem should we get injuries or suspensions. There is still time in transfer window to possible add a new face or two.

Here we go then. Hold onto your hats, get behind your team & let’s cheer them onto promotion.