Relections On What Has Past

By now anyone who might be reading this surely knows that Maximiliano Urruti scored late in Newell's Old Boys match against Godoy Cruz to earn a valuable point on the road. Some will argue that Newell's should have won, and certainly they could well have.

Nicolas Olmedo put Godoy Cruz down a man when he was red carded in the 53rd minute with his team leading 1-0. After that Newell's pressed for the equalizer, which they finally did achieve, but far too late to find a second goal to take all three points. While it is nice to point out that the team is playing well and winning, that we sit in third place after nine matches, there is still the matter that, other than Urruti, there is still a lack of good finishing.

I still feel that Mauricio Sperduti could be scoring more, but when he has done so it has been from the right side of midfield, a position now occupied by Pablo Perez, who is playing far to well to be left out or moved - he is the only other player to have scored more than one goal... with two.

I have to wonder, Sperduti has been playing as a forward... could he take on the role of a central attacking midfielder? And would playing in such a position allow him to find his goal scoring form?

Other than that, there is not much to complain about. The midfield is solid and hard working. The defense, while not perfect (who is?), have only allowed six goals, tied with Arsenal and All Boys for the fewest goals allowed in the Apertura so far.

Prior to the current championship the team had gone through a year and a half where they did not seem to get along. No one seemed to be talking to anyone else, everyone trying to do everything themselves. Now they are playing as a unit, everyone doing their part towards achieving a common goal. Winning.

When the championship is over, a top five finish in the Apertura will make me more than happy. Every point earned will help next year when, despite how well they are doing now, Newell's could still be facing a relegation battle.

If they can keep playing as hard as they have, and find a way to score a few more goals, it will not be a battle, but a cake walk.