5 things that could be a problem for Gary Neville at Valencia

Gary Neville was unveiled as the manager of Valencia on ThursdayWhen Gary Neville was announced as manager of Valencia earlier this week, it’s fair to say that it was a complete shock to just about everyone. No leaks in the media tells us that his appointment must’ve been completed at breathtaking speed. There’s a good reason for the same which will become clear in the following slides.Its certainly an interesting hire from the club for so many reasons. Let’s take a look at five things that could hamper his progress…

#1 Jorge Mendes

‘Super agent’ Mendes has a good relationship with Valencia owner Peter Lim

Jorge Mendes has his finger in most pies, but he’s in up to his elbows at Valencia. The super agent enjoys a good friendship with owner Peter Lim and his business dealings with the Singaporean have proved fruitful.

Outgoing manager Nuno Santo’s appointment with Los Che was one of Mendes’ first success stories.

This was followed up with what appeared to be an unending supply of young talent. Issues began to arise when it was suggested that Mendes was insistent that his charges played – apparently with the full backing of Lim.

Further, before Neville was unveiled, Mendes had already slipped the cv’s of Rijkaard, Laudrup and Bielsa under Lim’s door.

Chairwoman Layhoon Chan is deeply opposed to Mendes and it’d be no surprise to find that she would’ve been at the coal face of negotiations, ensuring she got her man.

But Mendes still looms largest in the background.

#2 Expectation

Neville will have to contend with the huge expectations of the passionate Valencia fans

Once upon a time, Valencia could call upon the services of some of the best players in the world. Players such as David Villa, David Silva, Juan Mata and Jordi Alba. Those days are long gone now, but the expectation of success from the terraces is still there.

Last season, Nuno took the club back to the promised land of the Champion’s League, but the wheels have spectacularly fallen off in this campaign.

Neville’s first game in charge is a must win tie in Europe’s premier football competition against Lyon. Should Valencia prevail and Zenit beat Gent in the other group game, the manager will have at least guided the club into the knockout stages.

However, the bread and butter of La Liga will be most concerning for the locale.

In ninth position at the time of writing, Valencia are only 5 points off of the Champions League placings. But their interplay and team ethic is extremely poor at present.

Less a team, more a collection of underperforming individuals.

Neville has work to do.

#3 Alvaro Negredo

Negredo looks a shadow of the player he was Sevilla and Manchester City

Alvaro Negredo has been the biggest of millstones around Valencia’s neck.

Originally signed on loan from Manchester City with the promise of a permanent transfer at the end of the loan period, by the time that the payment was due to be made, the player was no longer wanted.

Hawking him back to Premier League clubs during the summer didn’t work and the striker hasn’t played a single minute since October 4th. A player who cost in the region of €25m hasn’t even made the bench on some occasions!

Perhaps Neville will wipe the slate clean and give the target man the courtesy that he will afford to everyone else. Do the business in training and there’s every chance of a starting berth.

Should he not see the sort of application required from the Spaniard, then Neville has a big decision to make in January.

#4 Transfer budget or not?

It will be interesting to see if owner Peter Lim will trust Neville with transfer funds in January

During his opening press conference, although Neville spoke about having to treat this as a long-term appointment, the feeling is it will just be for the contracted six months. Which arguably leaves him in a bit of a predicament as far as transfers are concerned.

Neville will have seen enough by January to know whether reinforcements will be required or not. Their form this season suggests that reinforcements will be very much needed.

But if you’re Peter Lim, are you really going to go out on a limb and back your manager to the hilt knowing that he won’t be around in six months time.

It wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility to find out that Neville has only taken the job with a guarantee of funds if needed.

He is an articulate football thinker and brings a high level of understanding to the managerial role despite his inexperience.

But Gary Neville isn’t a miracle worker.

#5 Dressing room disharmony

Neville will have to quickly win over the dressing room to have any kind of positive impact at the club

Neville always looks back on his Manchester United days with fondness and how Sir Alex Ferguson would galvanise the dressing room. It’s an area that Neville needs to get to grips with quickly because all of the noises out of the club recently suggest that the atmosphere is toxic.

Perhaps as much to do with the Lim/Mendes influence as anything else, quite clearly there are an unhappy group of players in situ. A strong and forceful personality is required and Neville has often shown the same with his masterful punditry work, often going against the grain and popular opinion.

The man appears to take pride in every aspect of his work and woe betide anyone who tries to derail the team spirit that Neville will want to engender quickly.

An interesting appointment and time will show us if its to be a successful one.