Football Season Guide

Las Palmas came up via the play-offs in 2015 but they defied the sceptics in the Primera Division last season and comfortably avoided relegation. They did so by playing stylish football under Quique Setien, who replaced Paco Herrera early on in the campaign and oversaw a change in what were originally misfortunes. Surprisingly enough, they didn’t rely solely on solid home form but took their considered possession football on the road with them, eventually finishing 11th as a testament to their consistency. Improving on that position will be very difficult but Setien has gone the right way about it this summer. He has resisted wholesale changes and the team looks very similar to the one which surprised most of us last term. There have been a couple of departures. Juan Carlos Valeron has finally retired after a glittering career and Mubarak Wakaso, Wilian Jose and Nauzet Aleman are among the attacking players to leave who figured regularly last term. The Canary Islanders have brought in Marko Livaja and Mateo Garcia as replacements, as well as boosting the defence with the signings of Helder Lopes and Michel Macedo. The marquee signing of the summer was Kevin Prince Boateng, formerly of AC Milan, who arrives with a reputation for providing moments of genius as well as causing his managers some consternation with his off the field disciplinary discrepancies. If he can keep his head down and cement a regular place in Quique Setien’s team with hard work, he could be a force at the Estadio de Gran Canaria. In order to improve on last season’s showing, the islanders would have to be looking up at the top half of the classification. The problem with that is that they must guard against excessive confidence and it’s ugly sister, complacency. The first priority, as it always is with three quarters of the clubs in La Liga, is to secure their top flight status as soon as possible. When the hard work is done, then they can look above them and consider their options. Sergio Araujo was the start of their promotion campaign but struggled for goals last term as Wilian Jose emerged as the main striker. He will need to find his shooting boots if he wants to star for this team again. If not, Las Palmas may end up relying too heavily on the technically superb Jonathan Viera. So far they have done well to keep last year’s revelation, Mauricio Lemos and midfield stalwart Roque Mesa, who represent a solid spine in the team which Setien couldn’t do without. They begin the campaign with a tough fixture away to Valencia. Who knows, maybe they could surprise us again and push onwards and upwards.