Coach Vazquez takes training today.

Coach Vazquez takes training today. | J. Torres

Monro BrycePalma26/02/2016 00:00
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The Real Mallorca roadshow heads to the Alcoraz stadium in Huesca tomorrow evening where they play at 6pm. They’ve become a bit of a bogey team for us, winning here in the league plus knocking the islanders out of the Copa del Rey in the early stages. More importantly, they share 27 points with the Palma side, although with a slightly better goal difference, which makes it all the more important for Real Mallorca to beat Huesca and put some daylight between us. There’s now a six-point gap between Mallorca and sixteenth-placed Tenerife, so no slip ups, please.

Centre back David Costas (who is reckoned to be out for four to six weeks) and full back Joan Oriol have been receiving treatment for injuries picked up in last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Nastic, with the latter looking unlikely to start. Ready replacements should be Truyols and Campabadal. Definitely out for at least three games is new signing Oscar Diaz.

There’s been a lot written in the local press this past week about the psychological affect the players are going through as they struggle to improve their fifth from bottom league position. It was incredible last week when we were so poor in the first half, then when our backs were against the wall, and the opposition were reduced to ten men, we turned on the style, albeit only for the last 20 minutes. If we could play like that last quarter for 90 minutes tomorrow, then we would have turned the corner – but it’s a big ask. I’m convinced all we need are a couple of convincing performances and our position in next season’s La Segunda is assured.

There’s been much talk this week about the club’s 100th anniversary celebrations and I’ll be writing a pocket history of “Los Bermellones” in midweek. Next Saturday is the big dau when new owner Robert Sarver and two of his associates will be on the island to take in the celebrations and watch the home game against promotion-chasing Oviedo (Saturday at 6 pm). There are to be all kind of special celebrations spread over the coming few weeks and next Saturday’s game includes tickets for 1€. There’s also been a centenary hymn written which sounds more like a funeral dirge to me, it makes Leonard Cohen sound catchy.

But the hymn is most certainly not the tip of the iceberg. Social media has been ablaze about the so-called “naffness” of a new poster which has been designed for the centenary. One immigrant fan (expat in old speak) went so far as to say it should be up for a Turner Prize award.

The most poignant complaint comes from Bugsie Wray, a long-time season-ticket holder who sits in the Tribuna del Sol area of the Son Moix: “May I say through your column that as a regular supporter of Real Mallorca FC, how shocked and disappointed I was to see such a pathetic and pointless poster by the alleged artist Ramon Canet. It does not represent anything to do with Real Mallorca’s 100th anniversary. Surely any child over five years old could have done a better job and with a damn sight more imagination. Shame on you, Real Mallorca, for insulting your supporters in this fashion. What was wrong with the heart-shaped football being used at the moment in advertising? At least we could see it wasn’t cricket or baseball. As for the new anthem, I can’t criticise the words, but where is the joy of the great game in the music? Thank you. Visca Mallorca. Bugsie Wray, Binissalem.”