Real Mallorca's confidence took another nose-dive on Saturday night when a 90th minute equaliser by Girona (after our centre-back Aveldano had headed home the opener on the half-hour mark) saw the game finish 1-1. It was an ending of high drama with the visitors scoring through Kiko Olivas from what was virtually their only goal-scoring opportunity of the whole game. The chance was a Christmas gift – wrapped and ribboned by a static home defence. Again our main failing was not converting a number of chances created. We put together some promising build-ups with several of them sizzling past the goal frame. Our best first-half attempt however came from a Mountinho free kick which somehow Becerra in the Girona goal managed to keep out.
This game was interim coach Pepe Galvez's third in charge and he's won one, drawn one and lost one, four points from a possible nine. It's now up to our director of football, Miguel Angel Nadal, to decide whether he's staying on for the long term, but it seems he's be given the nod and will be in charge at Elche on 2 January. We've now thrown away five points from our last two games as Mallorca go into the new year languishing just outside the labyrinth of the bottom four in the Spanish second division on goal difference. This was a must-win game for Real Mallorca against a team on the same number of points, as Galvez tried to galvanise things a bit by introducing three second-half substitutions. Their introduction again caused a lot of head-scratching from supporters. Both Moutinho and Pereira were taken off when their contributions were probably more than anybody else's. But it's upfront where our troubles lie; we lack any significant cutting-edge. Young Brandon Thomas returned from injury but he had an absolute "'mare" of a game. He never got going and looked a shadow of the player he was before picking up an injury a month ago.
Long-haired Italian (with his Alice band) Rolando Bianchi went from hero to zero in this game. He got his customary yellow card, which means he's suspended for the first game in the new year. Bianchi, who contributed precious little in this game, or indeed any other, was substituted in the 76th minute and left the pitch to a cacophony of boos and whistles from spectators in the stand. Never was the need for a goal-scorer more blatantly obvious than on Saturday. The next striker coming in the transfer window has to be a proven goal-scorer who can help turn our season around. That's not going to be easy because trying to find one in the window is like looking for a needle in a haystack; plus the fact that just about every other club is looking for the exact same thing. Real Mallorca end 2015 with 19 defeats, 12 wins and 11 draws, 53 goals against, 40 in favour and are now on their fourth coach in 12 months. It's been another annus horribilus for all concerned with Real Mallorca – on the pitch, although thankfully we are in a healthy position with the club now on a firm financial footing off it.
SUMMING UP: Departing the Son Moix after the game was like leaving a funeral, with fans in a state of disbelief as to how on earth we hadn't managed to hold on for a win. After Girona nicked the equaliser they almost scored another as Mallorca looked out on their feet. We literally sat back after the hour mark and invited Girona to come and have a go.
The islanders missed a golden chance to seal up all three points near the end. Young James ran the length of the Girona half, tried to be too clever and walk the ball round the goalkeeper. He fluffed the chance, leaving a frustrated Fofo standing unmarked just a few feet away.
In his post match press conference, Galvez said "football's been cruel to us this evening", as he highlighted "a feeling of total injustice". Galvez went on to say his team were by far the better of the two sides on view and were superior in all facets of the game, only little details and not taking advantage of any clear chances that came our way saw us being pegged back at the end.
Saturday's draw and some of the decisions taken by the coach showed just how naive Galvez is as a novice professional coach. That's now two games running where he's taken off our best players and replaced them with struggling substitutes.
Mallorca now have two away fixtures at Elche and Cordoba then a 12 midday clash with Valladolid on Sunday, 17 January (they beat us 1-5 in the corresponding game last January). We finished 2014 in 16th place on 20 points, now we're 19th on 19 points as 2015 comes to an end. Time is running out and it's now common knowledge that Real Mallorca must start winning their away games and scoring goals if we want to have any change of fortunes in the new year. Miguel Angel Nadal must get signings spot-on because, if he doesn't, we'll struggle big time and at best could finish mid-table. Personally speaking, with a few good signings next month, Mallorca could and should be one of the best teams in their league.
May I take this opportunity to wish one and all Felices Fiestas.