Review of Getafe FC’s backline – Spanish La Liga special
Getafe FC ended last season on a dismal 16th position and they do not want a repeat performance. Seven new players have arrived at Coliseum Alfonso Perez to date and more are to follow. Luiz Garcia Plaza has been active in transfer market as eight
players have left Getafe to continue their footballing journey on turfs elsewhere.
31-year-old Spanish centre back, Alberto Lopo, has joined Getafe from relegated Deportivo la Coruna. The former Spanish U21 player was at Espanyol for sixteen years where he received his academy badges. Lopo has a physical approach to the game, thanks to
which he is usually one of the most booked players in La Liga. Aerially strong, Lopo also possesses a fierce shot. Owing to the aforementioned abilities, the Spaniard is a goal threat from set pieces and has managed to score 7 goals in 151 appearances.
Lopo is a welcome addition in the less popular Madrid club, and boosts the number of players in defence to seven. He will pair in the central defence with Rafael Lopez Gomez. The Penafiel-born defender has established himself as an integral part of the rearguard
since his move from Valladolid in 2008. Getafe faithful will be hoping that Lopo and Gomez forge a strong partnership at the back and make sure El Geta do not concede 60 goals, again.
Youth academy graduates, Alex and Pedro Alcala, will back up Lopo and Gomez. Both players have had good debut seasons with Getafe B outfit and will be looking to make their mark in the first team. Alex is versatile at the back, while Alcala is predominantly
a centre-half.
Mane will take control of the left side of the field. The 29-year old played 100 games for Almeria, scoring 3 goals in the process, before coming to Getafe. He has been an undisputed starter for the Azulones since his arrival, making the left back position
his own for the better part of last two seasons.
Complementing Mane on the right side is Daniel Diaz. The 12-time capped http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Boca-Juniors-c38658 in 2007. He has been a mainstay in the squad through thick and thin, appearing in 129 league games for the Madrid-based club.
Always ready to help in the attack, he brings an extra flavour to Getafe squad on counters.
Mane and Diaz have an able deputy in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Real-c30728 Madrid in 2009, he has deputized well for his teammates. 25-year-old Torres has made 58 appearances for Getafe in
his two years and is likely to start as the right back this season.
Last year, Getafe managed to ship in 60 goals and barely avoided the relegation blushes thanks to a deadline day draw against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alberto-Lopo-c4328 has been brought in, while there is definitely room for improvement. The Spaniard
is a quality individual and was like a wall in Deportivo http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Defence-c38904.
However, Getafe’s backline is not complete; they still require another quality backup to first choice pairing of Lopo and Gomez. Another versatile full back should be acquired to provide competition to established players. Seven players have been added and
only one of them is a defensive addition.
Villarreal showed in the recently completed La Liga edition that defence is more important than attack, and Getafe would do well to learn from them.
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