Spanish Debate: Sevilla's Improving Stars

As recently as this decade, Sevilla were considered the poor relations of Andalucia's biggest city. Until 2003, Real Betis had a larger average attendance than the rojiblancos, and in 2005 the verdiblancos finished two places above their city rivals in fourth.

Since then, though, Sevilla have eclipsed not only the Beticos, but even the likes of Valencia. By finishing above Los Che last season and reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League, they've certainly begun to look the part.

But we've seen short bursts of success before. Deportivo La Coruna, for example, were league champions in 2000, top-three finishers for the next four seasons, and regular knockout stage contenders in the Champions League. Now, they're flirting with relegation.

On the other hand, we've seen relatively unfashionable clubs establish themselves, if not as genuine challengers, then certainly top half fixtures. Villarreal, who are by most estimates a smaller club than Sevilla, have shown what prudent organisation and ambition can create as they rose from obscurity to Europe.

So which of these two paths are Sevilla more likely to take?

There is cause for thinking that it is the former. One glance at the Liga table suggests that all is not well. Eight defeats and 23 goals conceded in 18 games is hardly an enviable total for a side that lost only nine in total last season; at this stage in the 2006-07 campaign, indeed, Sevilla were top with two points to spare.

Now, they're mid-table, 18 points clear of the summit. The tragic death of Antonio Puerta, injury troubles and a managerial change - Manolo Jimenez in for Spurs-bound Juande Ramos - of course contributed to this total, but nonetheless it remains a disappointment.

Indeed, for all Sevilla's fine performances in Europe so far this season, they will do well to reach the Champions League spots, of which they are currently eight points short, before the season's end.

As such, there are worries about Nervion at the moment. However, there are, in my view, more reasons to be optimistic than there are problems.

For starters, things are actually getting better in the Liga. Sevilla have now gone five games unbeaten and have netted seven goals in their last two games, signalling a renaissance of sorts. A return from injury for most of the defensive line has helped in that regard, but so too, surely, did the confidence boost afforded by recent European successes.

The rojiblancos finished top of their Champions League group after defeating Arsenal, and now much be considered as not just UEFA Cup material but worthy guests at Europe's top table. A glance at the squad list would have suggested that anyway, but the proof is in the pudding, and Sevilla's players - after a 3-0 thrashing in their opening game - have shown their worth. Indeed, so much have they impressed that the IFFHS have once again - dubiously, say some - named Sevilla as Club of the Year for 2007.

Taking a longer view of the squad's prospects, it seems as if Sevilla have the kind of youth coming through that will help them adjust not only this season, but in years to come. The likes of Crespo and Fazio are just now breaking through to join the last big hit from the cantera, Jesus Navas, in the first eleven. These youngsters, combined with big-name veterans, are beginning to impress already, and as such there is a modest production line that will keep the side in talented players even if Sevilla can be outmatched in the transfer market by larger clubs.

On the subject of the transfer market, Sevilla actually have it quite good. Not all of the summer signings have worked out - Khalid Boulahrouz has been poor, Arouna Kone isn't quite operating at full potential and Tom De Mul has found little action - but there remain positive aspects to Sevilla's transfer activity.

Strangely, it relates to what they didn't do, rather than what they did. To wit, they refused to capitulate and sell star asset Daniel Alves.



Chelsea wanted Alves, and Alves wanted Chelsea, but despite a big-money bid from the Londoners, Sevilla told the player in no uncertain terms that he was going nowhere. Had a larger offer come in, he would probably have gone, but none was forthcoming, and the rojiblancos held their nerve.

Alves was visibly angry, and this showed in a series of less-than-perfect early season performances - and perhaps even in his deteriorating disciplinary record - but the old professional in him has resurfaced, culminating in a tremendous showing alongside Jesus Navas on the right flank against Betis in the Seville derby. He may have had his problems, but on his day he's one of the top right-sided players in the world, and this was abundantly clear on Sunday night.

Sevilla, for their part, can be proud at having managed to hold onto him. Combine his presence with that of the likes of Kanoute, and it's clear that the nucleus of an excellent side remains at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. They came through the summer relatively unscathed in that regard, with Ivica Dragutinovic turning down a lucrative move to Newcastle - "some things are more important than money" - and for this reason they must be taken seriously as a footballing force, rather than a selling club.

But as the cliche goes - well, almost - spend now, repent at leisure. Assembling such a side cannot have been cheap, and while Sevilla doubtless do not spend as much as Real Madrid, Barcelona, or perhaps even Atletico Madrid, their income is not as high, either. Deportivo are learning to their cost what even a few years of fiscal mismanagement can do to a club - bring it to the brink of relegation and ignominy - and the more pessimistic Sevillista may think that the same could happen to them.

In simple terms of fanbase, too, Sevilla have an advantage. Even during their Segunda seasons, they were frequently drawing 30,000 - more than title-winning Depor, and the likes of Real Zaragoza and Real Sociedad - and now average well over 40,000. Should they keep this level of support going, and work on their worldwide appeal, they can count on some loyal income in coming years.

The omens, then, are mostly good. Are they really the world's best team of 2007? Hardly. But they're certainly one of the better ones, and that doesn't look like changing anytime soon.