v Elche CF - 25/07/25- Pre-Season friendly

[lraC]

We make our second trip in 4 days to the quaint Pinatar Arena on Friday, this time to face La Liga side Elche CF who should provide much sterner test than Qatar SC.

For those who went to the game on Tuesday, you will be aware of how welcome we were made by the staff and officials at the ground and we can expect the same again. There were a handful of Spanish fans at that game and some are coming again on Friday, as there is a keen interest in the English game and Rovers are still pretty well known and highly thought of by some fans.

I expect Rovers to start with a similar line up to Tuesday and make some changes, as the match progresses, as it is still very hot and drinks breaks will be a must. I expect there to be fewer goals in the too and will go for a 1-1 draw.

it is a short trip for Elche as their ground the Estadio Martinez Valero is around 35 Miles from the Pinatar arena. I don't know if they will bring many fans though, as the way support, for the smaller teams, is not really as popular as in the UK although in some ways we could class this as their  home fixture.

Elche has had their share of problems over the years, including a relegation from La Liga to Segundo division in 2015, despite finishing 13th. This was due to significant debt and delayed payments to players and staff. They were in fact then relegated to the third tier in 2017 but have since bounced back, finishing second to Levante last season in Segundo division, securing their promotion back to La Liga for the coming season. 

Hopefully it will be an enjoyable evening and I will see a few familiar faces again, as we did have a good turn out and it was nice to share a beer or two with some like minded fans. 

[RoversTilliDie]

3 minutes ago, lraC said:

We make our second trip in 4 days to the quaint Pinatar Arena on Friday, this time to face La Liga side Elche CF who should provide much sterner test than Qatar SC.

For those who went to the game on Tuesday, you will be aware of how welcome we were made by the staff and officials at the ground and we can expect the same again. There were a handful of Spanish fans at that game and some are coming again on Friday, as there is a keen interest in the English game and Rovers are still pretty well known and highly thought of by some fans.

I expect Rovers to start with a similar line up to Tuesday and make some changes, as the match progresses, as it is still very hot and drinks breaks will be a must. I expect there to be fewer goals in the too and will go for a 1-1 draw.

it is a short trip for Elche as their ground the Estadio Martinez Valero is around 35 Miles from the Pinatar arena. I don't know if they will bring many fans though, as the way support, for the smaller teams, is not really as popular as in the UK although in some ways we could class this as their  home fixture.

Elche has had their share of problems over the years, including a relegation from La Liga to Segundo division in 2015, despite finishing 13th. This was due to significant debt and delayed payments to players and staff. They were in fact then relegated to the third tier in 2017 but have since bounced back, finishing second to Levante last season in Segundo division, securing their promotion back to La Liga for the coming season. 

Hopefully it will be an enjoyable evening and I will see a few familiar faces again, as we did have a good turn out and it was nice to share a beer or two with some like minded fans. 

Can't beat stern tests, it sorts out your strengths and weaknesses.

[RoversTilliDie]

I would loved to have been in Spain, watching Rovers in one of the new away shirts. They played in the new gold shirts against Everton.

[lraC]

4 minutes ago, RoversTilliDie said:

I would loved to have been in Spain, watching Rovers in one of the new away shirts. They played in the new gold shirts against Everton.

They played in the home kit on Tuesday, but may change on Friday as Elche play in Green and White.

We will clash with either our home shirt or third kit, so it could be the Gold one, if Elche do choose their normal strip.

[chaddyrovers]

16 minutes ago, lraC said:

They played in the home kit on Tuesday, but may change on Friday as Elche play in Green and White.

We will clash with either our home shirt or third kit, so it could be the Gold one, if Elche do choose their normal strip.

Was Gestede or Adam Owen there on Tuesday? 

[lraC]

3 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Was Gestede or Adam Owen there on Tuesday? 

I didn't see either so not too sure. Pasha was there though and got a cold reception from the fans.

I am five minutes from the hotel they are stopping at and I believe they are playing a round of golf today, so if I get time, I might pop up and have a look. 

Edited yesterday at 08:47 by lraC

[chaddyrovers]

10 minutes ago, lraC said:

I didn't see either so not too sure. Pasha was there though and got a cold reception from the fans.

I am five minutes from the hotel they are stopping at and I believe they are playing a round of golf today, so if I get time, I might pop up and have a look. 

Currently training 

[RoversTilliDie]

32 minutes ago, lraC said:

They played in the home kit on Tuesday, but may change on Friday as Elche play in Green and White.

We will clash with either our home shirt or third kit, so it could be the Gold one, if Elche do choose their normal strip.

I'll be getting one of the gold shirts in the near future, they look classy.

[London blue]

I'm very jealous of anyone out there. Looks a lovely few days and IraC's comments on the stadium make it sound like a proper jaunt.

Enjoy yourselves.

[philipl]

Looked up Elche on Transfermarkt seeing as I know nothing about them and found their squad is valued at 5m less than Rovers!

Only an Austrian central defender, Affengrauber, valued above 3m being at 5m.

For keeper they select between a 21 year old Spaniard and a 38 year old Uruguayan. 

[roversfan99]

Transfermarkt values are just totally made up figures to be fair.

Gueye and Pickering are worth £3m, Buckley £2.2m, Pears twice the value of Toth, McLoughlin worth 3x the fee he went for a few days ago etc.

[lraC]

49 minutes ago, philipl said:

Looked up Elche on Transfermarkt seeing as I know nothing about them and found their squad is valued at 5m less than Rovers!

Only an Austrian central defender, Affengrauber, valued above 3m being at 5m.

For keeper they select between a 21 year old Spaniard and a 38 year old Uruguayan. 

They did have some outstanding tax issues and had a repayment schedule set up to repay that over a number of years, but this has recently been settled in full.

Hopefully their financial issues are behind them and they can become a stable La Liga side.

The set up and Stadium they have, is very impressive. I have been to a couple of their games in the past and it is a nice place to watch a match.

As others have mentioned, I would not give too much stock to the value of the team.

[Mattyblue]

Looked a cracking turnout the other day (my dad’s there… not jealous at all). 

[Blue Greyhound]

Boarding the plane at Gatwick now, il be at the match tomorrow pissed out of my underpants.

 

Coyb!!!

[Blue Greyhound]

5 hours ago, RoversTilliDie said:

I would loved to have been in Spain, watching Rovers in one of the new away shirts. They played in the new gold shirts against Everton.

I want them in blue and white. For me this is revenge for England v spain, I am a local to elche, so this game means so much more!

[Tomphil2]

Never heard of this club nor city if i'm being honest and it seems they've had an interesting time over the last decade.

A ground a bit bigger than Ewood, a city with 100k more people and a similar crowd trajectory to us, wonder if they get the same stick !

[lraC]

1 hour ago, Tomphil2 said:

Never heard of this club nor city if i'm being honest and it seems they've had an interesting time over the last decade.

A ground a bit bigger than Ewood, a city with 100k more people and a similar crowd trajectory to us, wonder if they get the same stick !

No

[chaddyrovers]

Anyone out in Spain watch training today? Jackson said that Gestede and Pasha went over and spoke to these fans. Right thing to do given the fans commitments for going out there and showing their commitment to their club. Wish I was out there personally 

[Exiled_Rover]

36 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Anyone out in Spain watch training today? Jackson said that Gestede and Pasha went over and spoke to these fans. Right thing to do given the fans commitments for going out there and showing their commitment to their club. Wish I was out there personally 

That seems an unwise thing for them to do. 

[simongarnerisgod]

41 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Anyone out in Spain watch training today? Jackson said that Gestede and Pasha went over and spoke to these fans. Right thing to do given the fans commitments for going out there and showing their commitment to their club. Wish I was out there personally 

i find it hard to believe that pasha actually interacted with fans😲because the club  granted jackson access to the team they no doubt told him to write pasha in a positive light

[chaddyrovers]

55 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

That seems an unwise thing for them to do. 

personally I think that engaged with supporters who have travelled to Spain to watch Rovers is the right approach from them

[Tomphil2]

A guy whose hidden away for a decade and is now under the cosh from fans is suddenly strolling up to chat to people full of Sangria under the hot sun ?

Hmmm.

[B16Rover]

5 hours ago, Blue Greyhound said:

Boarding the plane at Gatwick now, il be at the match tomorrow pissed out of my underpants.

 

Coyb!!!

 

5 hours ago, Blue Greyhound said:

I want them in blue and white. For me this is revenge for England v spain, I am a local to elche, so this game means so much more!

 

 

You and me have different understandings of local if you're flying from Gatwick!

[alexanders]

To those who went to the first match. Is the parking close to the ground? 

[bluebruce]

10 hours ago, lraC said:

I didn't see either so not too sure. Pasha was there though and got a cold reception from the fans.

I hope by cold we mean got dog's abuse shouted at him.