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Tenerife Today
Tenerife Today is the interactive news page for Oasis Fm, with all local news and cultural information supplied by the Canarian Weekly newspaper, SPET, and Tenerife Cabildo. |
Tenerife’s torrid start - 03.09.2010 |
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 Girona 4 CD Tenerife 2
I'VE just had to read the results at the top of this page three times. It still doesn’t seem real.
Wednesday’s defeat against Elche in the Spanish Cup is not worth a row of beans.
Both teams played the reserves and the Cup is pointless this season for Tenerife. For the record, Nino got our goal and Luna got sent off. Again.
But the defeat, and another four goals shipped, four days previously … well that's another story.
I can be as one-eyed as any football fan. There you go chaps, I've admitted it. It hurts to tell the truth at times. But when it comes to writing or broadcasting, I’ve always played to a Geoffrey style. That's straight bat to you non-cricket types.
The dirty, stinking bookies had chalked up Tenerife as 6-4 pokes to beat Girona, and I thought it was the bet of the year. Sure the hosts are okay at home, but Tenerife are different gravy.
I explained to a mate of mine that this was like Newcastle playing at Scunthorpe. The problem is, Newcastle have never won a league match at Scunthorpe! D’oh!
Sure enough the new-look Tenerife team played like the old Tenerife. They dominated possession, passed the ball like Brazil, but finished like Alan Brazil. On a bad day.
The first home goal was a dodgy penalty which Jandro, on his debut, stroked past the hapless Luis Garcia after just nine minutes.
Tenerife dusted themselves down and missed chance after chance before Nino finally found the net. Well, sort of. His 25-yard shot took a deflection off Natalio and wrong-footed Dani Mallo.
Nino claimed it, as did Natalio. It was streaky, but deserved. Just when it seemed that Tenerife would sneak a half-time lead, the hosts nicked another.
Poor marking has long been a Tenerife trademark, and new boss Arconada has not ironed out this flaw.
This time, Jandro had the freedom of Spain as he side-footed home from inside the box after a poor Angel cross. It was kids’ defending.
Half-time saw a change of formation and emphasis. Omar was replaced by Julio Alvarez and Tenerife looked a different team. They tore forward and needed just two minutes to equalise from a wicked Serra deflection.
This was the starting pistol for one-way traffic as Tenerife destroyed Girona. Chance after chance went begging, and keeper Mallo was having the game of his life.
No matter what Tenerife did, the ball would just not go in. And seasoned fans knew what was coming.
A regulation corner saw trademark Tenerife defending, and Kiko powered home a free header. Straight from the kick-off, the ball was played back to Melli, who misread the pace on the ball.
His weak back-pass was pounced on by Peragon, who knocked it past Garcia. There are lies, damn lies and statistics. Girona had six shots on goal and Tenerife 24.
The defeat was hard to take, and not just because the night’s beer money was in some bookmaker’s satchel. All the pre-season promise had evaporated on one scorching afternoon.
Arconada’s honeymoon was over after one game, and all the old faults were still there for all to see.
However, there are always positives and that is what makes football fans such strange beasts. There are still 41 games to go, and the first home game of the season must always bring a ray of sunshine.
So it’s with misty-eyed optimism that we look forward to the visit of Salamanca this Sunday (kick-off 7pm) and the settling of some old scores.
The first visitors to the Heliodoro this season are familiar foes, and a juicy, goal-laden battle is guaranteed. Salamanca don’t do boring, goalless draws.
They have the old Kevin Keegan ideas about the beautiful game. If they had concentrated on defence last season, they may well have finished in the top half.
New coach Oscar Cano is perfect for the club because he has refused to address the problems at the back. His main signings have all been attacking players!
Former Las Palmas striker Marcos Marquez was his major addition, and we know all about him. He was bizarrely released by the Gran Canarians in the summer, and there was talk that he would end up in Santa Cruz.
But he pitches up along with fellow “Custard Coward” Miguel Garcia this weekend.
Marquez has bags of experience and joins Salamanca legend Quique Martin in attack. Martin is like a Spanish Teddy Sheringham. He is nearly 38 but is no fool.
He notched twice at the Heliodoro two seasons back in a 3-2 win, and produced one of the displays of the season. His legs are still there and he ruled out retirement to give promotion one more shot.
Brian Sarimiento is the third striker, and he joined from La Liga’s Racing, along with centre-back Moraton.
Throw in wily old central-midfielder Mario Rosas, back for a second spell, and ex-Ipswich defender Sito, and it’s not hard to see why they fall into the “dark horses” category this season.
As I’ve mentioned, they love to fly forward ,and this should be their Achilles heel on Sunday. Tenerife are made for the counter-attack and, as in a decent boxing contest, the styles should blend.
It’s far from an ideal match for a side who have shipped eight goals in two games, but the fans should enjoy this one.
We will know much more about the way the season will unfold for Tenerife come 9pm on Sunday.
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