Clausura 2008: Season Review

Pumas have got to be disappointed with the season, after beginning with so much optimism based on being runners-up in Apertura 2007, and the youngsters performing with credit in the Interliga. Mario Trejo, re-elected as president of the club, summed it up by saying that everyone was unhappy and that it was a bad tournament.

It is undeniable that Pumas were unable to get the results they needed, and it is clearly seen as a failure not to qualify for the play-offs, but curiously the team performed in a similar manner to the Apertura where they so nearly won. There were a number of games which the team were on top but were unable to close out the win - the game against Atlas after being 2-0 up and dominating after an hour springs to mind. Despite creating sufficient goal-scoring opportunities too many went astray...

The season started with a tough game at Chivas and it was no surprise that it was a struggle in the Jalisco, with all the emotion surrounding Chava Reyes and the celebration of past Chivas teams. But three defeats in the first three games, the next two against América and Atlante who were to go on to have very poor tournaments, made things difficult right from the start. From games 4 to 11 there was a good run with only one defeat (a baffling home reverse against Necaxa), but the run-in was always going to be more of a problem, with some tough fixtures. The moment it looked as though classification for the play-offs had slipped away was in the 2-0 defeat to a poor Tigres team in game 12. Despite controlling possession Pumas lacked cutting edge, for certainly not the only time this season, and they would only win one more game for the rest of the season, a 4-2 win at relegated Veracruz.

Pumas played reasonably well against tough opposition in the last few games but went down narrowly to Cruz Azul and San Luis while only managing a draw against Toluca and Pachuca. If a team is to realistically challenge for the championship then they have to be able to defeat off-colour giants such as América, Pachuca and Toluca. Pumas only got wins against two of the top 12 teams (Jaguares and Monterrey).

Curiously, after forming a sound partnership with Hector Moreno before Christmas, and doing a sound job in the Interliga, Carlos Humberto González could not strike up such a good relationship with Dario Véron and this contributed to the poor early season form. In the end Pikolín Palacios took over and the centre of defence took on a more solid look. The two youngsters involved with the disastrous Mexican Under-20 campaign, Velarde and Barrera also started the season badly and looked jaded and confused. Neither truly recovered their best form throughout the whole tournament.

Velarde's absence also caused Ferretti to experiment with Castro back at right back, and Gerardo Espinoza in the middle, but this was never convincing and it seemed to unsettle Castro and his relationship with Leandro in the heart of the midfield. Palencia slowly came back from injury and added some directness up front, but again Tuca saw it as a sign to ditch Scocco rather than the profligate Solari whose style is too similar to Palencia's. Meanwhile it took Sambueza half a season to get into flow, while Iñiguez was brilliant in one game (usually off the bench) and dreadful in the next (when he had gained a starting spot).

The plusses have to be the return to some sort of form of Palacios, the continued solidity of the ageless Bernal in goal, and Sambueza's excellent form late in the season. Other players seemed to be a little off their best, the normally reliable Verón, Castro and Leandro having too many off games between them.

So what of the future? Mario Trejo stated that his goal was for Pumas to rely ever more on players from the Cantera (youth set up), with eventually all players coming from them, and there being no foreign players (ie all players would be Mexican). Following on from Esteban Solari's reservations about this idea, I find the idea abhorrent that a player should be excluded from playing for a side based on where they were born. It seems the worst kind of prejudice, and a slap in the face to players like Leandro and Verón who have committed their careers to the club, as well as players in the past such as Cabinho and "El Tuca". Developing young players is an admirable goal for a club - let us hope that it is not done in a one-eyed nationalistic spirit, and that young foreign players such as Scocco can also find a niche in CU.

Meanwhile there has been speculation about the future of Israel Castro and Ignacio Scocco, with Greek clubs supposedly interested in both (Olympiakos for Castro and AEK Athens for Scocco). The club is no further forward in sorting out the situation of Sambueza with River Plate, while Chiapas may miss the beginning of the season after hernia trouble. There will need to be some rebuilding, but it is unlikely there will be much spending on new players given the club's pronouncements. This may well be the time that the young players who showed well in the Interliga will have to step up.

Moment of the Season
Iñiguez's 88th minute winner against Monterrey on 10th February. Scocco skipping round a defender and sliding it coolly to Iñiguez who drove home for Pumas first win of the season to revive hope after a dreadful start. Pumas fans could also delight in América's 4-0 thrashing by Veracruz.

Goal of the Season
Well the best goal in a Pumas game was the stunner by Braulio Luna for San Luis against Pumas in CU. But the best by a Puma was probably Sambueza's effort against Veracruz. Picking up the ball out left he surged past one then played a neat one-two with Solari before muscling in front of another defender to stab it confidently past the keeper.

Team Performance of the Season
Admittedly Veracruz were the weakest side in the league, but they were battling for survival and Pumas played an open and dynamic game, with Solari, Sambueza and Scocco showing the movement that was lacking during much of the season. It also gave Pumas a chance to qualify for repechaje had they managed to sneak a goal past Pachuca on the last day.

Individual Performance of the Season
A difficult one, but I go for Sambueza against Necaxa (albeit in a losing cause) as he stood head and shoulders above the other players that day.

Worst Player
Although Pablo Barrera was a big disappointment, sadly the worst player award has to go once again to Gerardo Espinoza. This is not due to lack of effort, but in the position he plays (midfield ball-winner) he is not sufficiently comfortable in possession and was repeatedly muscled off the ball. He was a poor signing.

Best Young Player
Efrain Velarde turned round a dreadful first half to the season to come back firing. None of the other Pumas youngsters really moved forward, with Chiapas getting little game time, and Morales, Bonells et al getting even less. So Velarde it is.

Player of the Season
Rubens Sambueza has clearly been the most exciting player, and if the award were to be given on the second half of the season he would run away with it. But consistency and reliability are important to a team and the Pumas captain has epitomised this through a difficult season. Sergio Bernal wins player of the season. Here are the scores (of players playing 5 or more games):

Bernal 6.50
Sambueza 6.35
Palacios 6.20
Leandro 6.13
Verón 6.12
Castro 6.00
Palencia 5.90
Scocco 5.89
Iñiguez 5.88
Velarde 5.83
Solari 5.65
Chiapas 5.64
C.H. González 5.63
F. Espinoza 5.41
Barrera 5.30
G. Espinoza 5.00

It is perhaps indicative of a poor season that no player really got close to averaging 7 per game.

Elsewhere in Mexico
Sven Goran Eriksson, now confirmed as Mexico manager, must feel he has his work cut out after watching the "Tri" come apart at the seams against a dynamic Argentina in San Diego on Wednesday. The game was dominated by youngsters Lionel Messi and "El Kun" Agüero and the Mexicans were 3-0 down at half time to goals by Burdisso, Messi and Maxi Rodríguez. A strange goal by Sinha which floated into the corner past an incompetent Abbondanzieri lunge pulled one back, but Agüero finished a nice flowing move to restore the three goal cushion to show how far Mexico have to go to be competitive at the World Cup. Carlos Salcido in particular looked well short of his best, while the midfield needs a rethink after being comprehensively outplayed.

América finally bowed out of the Libertadores on Tuesday. Needing a win or a high scoring draw in Quito against LDUQ they were dominated in a dull game by the Equatorians and offered little in a 0-0 draw that sends LDUQ through to play Fluminense, who beat Boca Juniors 5-3 on aggregate, in the final.

Next Up
Pumas have started medical tests and pre-season training, but there is still a way to go before competitive football starts again. Mexico, however, have a chance for redemption as they play Peru in the US on Sunday.