How good are Valencia under new coach Unai Emery? That's the question being tackled in the blog today. Thanks for all your questions and comments and remember, if their is anything you want to discuss regarding Spanish football, the Premier league, or anything to do with football in general, then leave a comment here.

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Rob, one of our regular posters has made some excellent points and asked the following:

"Hi Guillem. What I'd like to ask you about is the current situation at Valencia, and how you believe their season will go. Me personally; I believe they can go on to finish in the top 4, and possibly top 2. I know they've not played any of the top sides yet, but they look so good. They have strength in depth, confidence and they really look determined. I certainly believe they're better than Atletico Madrid, and I would put them on a par with Sevilla and Villarreal. I know they may be looking good now after a string of good performances, but I believe this side will go on from strength to strength and return to the top 4."

You make some very good points there Rob and I think that, when it comes down to analysing their league position at the moment,  you have already identified the key point when you say that Valencia have not played any of the top sides in La Liga yet.

The fixture calendar has been very kind to them at the start of the season and we should not overlook the fact that their five wins from their opening six matches are a result of beating Valladolid, Deportivo, Malaga, Osasuna and Mallorca. That is not to say that any of those are easy games, especially away from home,  but it has granted them the breathing space to improve and recover some much needed confidence. 

I would really like to see how Valencia do against one of the much stronger sides in Spain because I have real concerns over their midfield: both in an attacking and defensive capacity.

One thing that has happened is that under Unai Emery - a coach who I really admire - Valencia have tightened up defensively. The new coach is obsessive about the detail and his preparation is meticulous, and that, coupled with some good centre halves like Albiol and Alexis - plus Marchena when he returns - means that Valencia are much tighter at the back and picking up points where they would have thrown it away last season.  Another improvement over last term is in goal, where the new keeper, Renan, is looking very comfortable as well. Now that Valencia aren't conceding as many goals - and with Villa, Mata and Silva you are guaranteed chances at the other end- Valencia are beating the teams that they should be, where as last season they weren't.

However, I have a real doubt that the Valencia midfield can control or dominate a game against one of the bigger sides. Its all very well not conceding against a side like Depor and relying on goals from David Villa, but when you are up against a side like Barcelona, I suspect that this will not be enough.

Without controlling the game, will Valencia have enough to cope with the Barcelona attack for an entire match, will they hold out against Real Madrid and will they cope with the more complete football of Sevilla?  I have real doubts as to whether they can.

You have asked where I think they will finish up in La Liga come the end of the season and you suggest that they are up their with Sevilla and Villarreal. I'm going to stick my neck out and predict that Valencia will not finish in the top three as they are a level below Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villarreal and that by next May we will see Valencia battling it out for fourth place alongside Sevilla and Atletico Madrid. 

Let me know what you think, and please leave any comments and future questions here.