I think Mir has done well to score the goals he has, in a team which hardly has any attacking play. His attributes are a strong, target man who can lead the line. He isnt a Gamiero or Yedder. I think he is worthy of a squad place.
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The biggest issue with Rafa Mir is that he messed up a lot of simple pass and dribble, doesn’t make use of his height advantage to win aerial duel, not to mention he just doesn’t know link-up-play (even worse than YEN).
And that’s not ok for Sampaoli.
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He needs a self-less team, a team willing to play towards him. He will have enough clubs eyeing him. Real Sociedad will work for example.
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Our upwards trend continues! We’ve gotten points from each game that Sampaoli has managed for us and currently sit at 14th on 10 points. (This could change depending on today’s results though.)
The first big challenge for Sampaoli comes this weekend when we travel north to take on the league leaders, Real Madrid. Getting points from this match would be absolutely massive.
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Even with the impact Sampaoli already managed to make within these few days he’s at the club, we probably will have to wait until January for the team to get somewhat adjusted to his style instead of Lope’s. With our current form and injured players, not many players will probably get called up by the national team, giving the perfect opportunity for Sampaoli to mold the team to his wishes during the World Cup.
That’s strategy wise. Then we’ll most likely have to wait for next summer for Monchi to acquire the personnel that actually fit in that strategy and get rid of those who don’t.
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So I just took a look at the road so far this season:
| Round | Opponent | Home/Away | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osasuna | Away | 0 | |
| 2 | Valladolid | Home | 1 | |
| 3 | Almeria | Away | 0 | |
| 4 | Barca | Home | 0 | |
| 5 | Espanyol | Away | 3 | |
| 6 | Villareal | Away | 1 | |
| 7 | Atletico | Home | 0 | |
| 8 | Athletic | Home | 1 | Sampaoli takes over |
| 9 | Mallorca | Away | 3 | |
| 10 | Valencia | Home | 1 | |
| 11 | Real Madrid | Away | 0 | |
| TOTAL | - | - | 10 |
Ignoring the football-style and how we got the points, isn’t it just the first three games that will give us a headache when we look back at this season? If we had won those three we would be in European places. With all due respect, but teams like Osasuna, Valladolid and Almeria are definitely the kind of teams Sevilla FC should get 3 points from. Noone expects 3 points from the games against Barca and Real, so that leaves us with the games against Villareal, Athletic and Valencia. If we want to play in Europe, we need 3 ponits from these games, especially considering we were playing at home against two of them.
But all in all I think the arrow is pointing in the right direction and it is not as hopeless as it once seemed. After all there are still 81 points left to play for 
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And the game against Rayo next weekend will be one of those ‘we-should-have-gotten-3-points-in-that-game’ when we look back. So let’s just do it…!
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There are rumours of Sampaoli wanting to leave already… you decide what you make of it but it’s not unthinkable if the stuff behind the scene is not of his liking.
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Lopetegui finally agreed to join Wolves so that’s one worry less but I don’t believe the rumours about Sampi. He’s accepted we just need to make the most of what we’ve got until the transfer market opens up.
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I really hope these rumours aren’t true. The last thing we need now is another manager departure and more instability.
Something seems very wrong at this club right now on and off the field.
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Monchi has spoken. He admits he stuffed up bigstyle and has been working on the upcoming transfer market for the last 3 weeks. He’s determined to make everything turn round and believes we’ll put on a good show in the Derby.
(Brimming with self belief or delusion depending on your point of view.)
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I hate to say but this sevilla board has turned rotten. I fear for us massively. I don’t blame Sampaoli for thinking like this but he probably shouldn’t have taken it.
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Massive delusion if you ask me. Betispiss should win if they don’t choke. We need a lot of help from them and other rivals to climb the table.
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Good for lope. I hope he does well!
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We’ve hit a plateau over the last few weeks but were able to salvage a point in El Gran Derbi. There’s still a lot of room for improvement.
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Perhaps the gods wanted to bolster my argument that we shouldn’t expect to be in a relegation battle, but with a single point this weekend, we successfully moved from 19th to 17th and out of the relegation zone. Far from the comfort zone, but at least we’re inching upwards… fingers crossed, as always.
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We are very much in a relegation battle! Lol
We need a very good January transfer window if we want to try pull away otherwise will be down there all season. If we keep these current players and add nothing we in serious trouble.
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Agreed Mark. We will be fighting relegation all season without any action in January. I think we’ve all seen enough to see that things aren’t going to get much better with the current lot. The hope was Sampaoli would improve results but they’re barely better and that’s not on him. The players just aren’t good enough.
I’d keep Lamela, Isco and Oliver and Tecatito when he’s back from injury and everyone else can go in terms of midfield/forward line. Gudelj defo deserves to stay as CDM/CB after his performances this season. Probably our best player.
Goalkeeper wise we’re fine and have two excellent options. Defence is okay if we get Nianzou and Marcao fit and Montiel, Acuna/Telles will do for now. You’d probably want more centre back cover but midfield and forward line is the priority.
Players I’d keep.
Bono/Dimi
Montiel Marcao Nianzou Acuna Telles Carmona Salas (both for the future) Gudelj
Oliver Isco Tecatito
Lamela
The rest can be made up of new midfielders and forwards.
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I agree mate. I’d keep the same players as well as we seen promise, quality leadership from them.
Yeah Gudelj has been vital as he been a great utility player and he’s a great leader too. He really has been the reason we are just about keeping our heads above water.
I have been impressed with Isco and lamela. Both guys have shown quality at times and have made things happen. We are missing Tecatito who I think would add a lot more creativity and he works hard as well. Yeah Oliver deserves to stay as well.
I’m not happy with Jordan or Rakitic and feel them 2 playing together is doing us no good in central midfield. As for the 3 strikers well we all know they are poor and need replacing.
Our defence has never been settled and we need players back fit but to be honest the jury is out and maybe we need to look for another centre back at the level of Kounde or Carlos. It will be hard to find but feel we need it.
I’m also not sold on montiel and feel he’s performed poor at times and much as I love navas he’s coming to the end now.
Yeah we need big changes but it won’t all be possible in January. However, 1 or 2 big signings could help transform us a bit and drag us a way from relegation battle. Time will tell.
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Great post mate.
Agree re Jordan and Rakitic. They don’t work as a pairing in midfield. As much as I love Ivan he’s past it now I’m afraid.
I do agree re Montiel as well. Defensively he’s not the best and he’s shown himself to be a liability at times. Just look at last night with the sending off. I’ve kept him in the squad as I think there are more pressing things for us to target in January. Share your sentiments about needing another world class centre back in the mould of Kounde/Carlos, easier said than done of course.
Defence is far from perfect I agree but says a lot when that’s probably now the strongest area of the team other than the keepers. We were all worried at the start of the season about losing Kounde and Carlos and not replacing them but it seems like we now have bigger problems in midfield and forward line.
Navas (I love him but he’s past it now I’m afraid), Rakitic, Jordan, Mir, Dolberg, YEN, Suso and Januzaj would be all out straight away if I was manager.
Like you say, not everything can be done in January but I really do hope two or three big signings can be made in midfield and the forward positions that can help drag us away from any relegation trouble and that has to be the priority now. I really hope the board act (I have my doubts) as I fear the worst if they don’t.
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