Photo credit Mexsport

Chivas has a new manager…kinda. Jose Luis Real will be the manager for the Clausura 2009. It was announced on the official website, and his official presentation as manager will take place on Tuesday.

He’s also expected to be at the helm for the Copa Libertadores in 2010 where Chivas will enter in at the round of 16. If you remember, they were withdrawn from the tournament due to concerns of the H1N1 fear, especially concerning playing in venues in Mexico.

Real was manager of the team in the Apertura 2009 with a 1-1-1 record. Previous to that he managed the youth teams.

Good luck Real. You’ve entered into a crazy atmosphere. Hopefully, you don’t become another manager tagged under staff- I’ve used that tag too many times for countless managers.

He’s been fired with three games to go in the Apertura 2009. Arias is the second manager fired this tournament. Chivas won three games, lost three and drew one.

The administration hasn’t said anything yet.

Jose Luis Real is rumored to be the interim manager for the last games.

Keep watching as the drama unfolds.

Yes, Chivas won. Yes, Chivas got the three points. Yes, Chivas kept a clean sheet.

But I’m still disappointed.

Guadalajara
1 Luis Michel
17 Sergio Amaury Ponce
3 Aarón Galindo
2 Mario de Luna
19 Jonny Magallón
7 Gonzalo Pineda
18 Xavier Báez
16 Édgar Solís (Édgar Mejía 69′)
11 Ramón Morales
99 Omar Bravo
14 Javier Hernández (Omar Arellano 46′)
DT Raúl Arias

Jaguares de Chiapas
11 Oscar Pérez
7 Oscar Razo (Am 40′)
5 Omar Flores
4 Marcelo Gandolfi (Hugo Sánchez 48′)
27 Ezequiel Orozco (Josiel da Rocha 56′)
20 Alejandro Argüello
26 Christian Valdez
21 Christian Álvarez
19 Neri Cardozo (AM 34′) (EXP 61′)
10 Danilo Verón
24 Oribe Peralta
DT Luis Fernando Tena

The quick highlights:

Raul Arias made his debut…and was sent off near the end of the first half for trying to get the stupid ref to let the medics on the field.

Sergio Amaury Ponce scored the lone goal on a wicked volley.

Johnny Magallon seems to be doing better up front than in the back.

Chivas kept a clean sheet.

So first…Chicharo collided with Gandolfi halfway through the first half. He seemed to feel the after effects of the clash and collapsed in the midfield. The Jaguares players were near him and quickly urged for medical help, but the referee refused the OPPOSITION team’s claims as well as those by new manager Arias and the players on the bench. Arias was sent off for trying to get help.

According to medical reports released by the club, Chicharo should be well and is recovering. He’s being kept under close observation at a hospital. Head injuries are of course taken very seriously especially since Carlos Sanchez from America had a brain hemorrhage after a similar clash in a game.

Alright so onto the game…You could definitely tell that there was a new style in the air. I didn’t like it. It was too boring. Lots of trying to counterattack and trying to defend. Although to be honest, the defending wasn’t going too well.

We knew that essentially that was Arias’ style, but really? That is not at all how Chivas is supposed to play.

And the defending…although a clean sheet was kept it was out of pure luck. Again, the defense was caught several times and the post saved Chivas too many times. That’s not good. Where’s the defense that’s supposed to be a part of the NATIONAL team? Where is that level? The back is all going through a though period. Everyone back there. Magallon, Galindo, Reynoso, Michel. Everyone.

Next up is Chivas USA in the midweek. Why Chivas are playing these idiotic friendlies is beyond me(although money is always the answer). What Chivas really need to to do is focus on the Mexican league and doing better there, not promoting the brand abroad.

Luis Diaz and Marco Fabian are the new shepherds of the flock. Both of them were Ramirez’s assistants and are more familiar with lower division football. But, two heads are better than one so it’ll be interesting to see how that turns out.

If the name Marco Fabian sounds familiar, it’s because it is. No, it’s not the Marco Fabian that is on the field sometimes. Nope. It’s his dear old papa.

It’s a little deja vu because Chivas have already gone through something quite similar.

Remember? Omar Arellano Sr.(Jr’s papa) was already at the helm, although his tenure only lasted two games. After those two he was replaced by Francisco Ramirez.

Now, this take over is only supposed to last through the game against America midweek in Kansas City, but maybe they’ll stay a little longer?

So is it a good idea? Where will Vergara’s mood swings take Chivas now?

Stay tuned for the Chivas telenovela…continuing almost every day.

Now, Alberto Medina has been sent to the second division team as a punishment. So far he’s been the only player to be officially sanctioned in public, but more are sure to follow.

It’s been rumoured that Aaron Galindo has been relegated to the bench for the game against Pachuca over the weekend. Oh, and he was just called up for the national team.

Poor Venado.

While I’m all for trying to improve the team, I don’t really like this solution. Remember what happened to Carlos Ochoa last year? Exactly, it’s hard to remember because he stayed in the obscurity. I like Venado, but it is obvious that he hasn’t been going through a very good time. During the summer it was noticeable with the national team.

And although I’m not a fan of Bravo returning the team, I think that if they get some form of that partnership back together, Chivas could have a kick ass duo again. Add in a little Chicharito and SHAZAM. Amazing. Chicharo can’t do it all by himself.

Under Arellano’s care Chivas won 1 match, and drew 2.

Jorge Vergara has however asked Ramirez to keep some of the staff on the technical team and has suggested Arellano as assistant manager, his previous position.

Ramirez was suspended by FIFA for 2 games for giving USA player Frankie Hedjuk, a love tap.

Since taking over in 2002, Jorge Vergara has gone through 8 managers.

It seems like Vergara finally had enough of the cycle that Chivas is going through. Omar Arellano Sr. will take over things for now but names such as Salvador Reyes Jr.(ex Necaxa Manager), Javier Aguirre(Ex. Atleti Man), and Frank Rijkaard(Ex. Barca Man) have been thrown around. All the remaining technical staff will continue.

He’ll remain at the club and will go back to his old job as Director of the Youth Forces for Chivas, Chivas USA, and Saprissa of Costa Rica(all part of Vergara’s Omnilife group).

It was nice to have you as a manager Efrain, all 18 months.

In other news Francisco Mendoza, the kid from Chivas USA is here to stay. He was presented today as part of the team. Aaron Galindo officially joined the team in Guadalajara after taking a few days out to sort out a few things with his old team Eintracht Frankfurt such as his living situation over there, etc.

Those are all the transfers for Chivas because the window is now closed for Mexican football.

Out
Sergio Santana
Antonio Olvera

In
Carlos Ochoa
Sergio Amaury Ponce
Francisco Mendoza
Aaron Galindo
Jared Borgetti
Technical Team: Omar Arellano Sr.

So what do you think of the business we’ve done?

First, on Tuesday it was announced the Carlos Ochoa would be joining Chivas on loan from Monterrey for the InterLiga, Clausura 2009, and Apertura 2009. For Ochoa this would be the 8th shirt he wear in Mexican futbol. We’ll see how it goes and at the end of the year we have the option to buy him.

Guess what?! Arellano is joining the team. We already have him, you say? That’s crazy. Well, you’re right. I’m talking about Omar Arellano Nuño, the current players’ daddy. He’s spent some time in Spain with Atleti and Javier Aguirre and now he’s come back to join the technical team. Mini-Arellano said that the relationship on the team would not be of father and son, but of two professionals. He also said he is happy to have his father there because they have never been able to work together. This will be an interesting relationship to watch develop.Hopefully, Mini’s goals will increase thanks to help by Dad. Besides, two Omar Arellano’s can always be better than one, right?

On December 22 there will be a charity match for the young kids of Iraq in Milan, Italy organized by La Organización Mundial por la Paz. Omar Arellano and Guillermo Ochoa of America were both invited to play in the match and Arellano was guaranteed 10 mins of playing time. The reason for inviting these two was to show that the football rivalry can transcend and help those in need and they were both chosen as the Mexican representatives. Efrain, told him no. The reasoning? Chivas are in preseason training and allowing Arellano to go would ruin some of the work planned and both agree the team comes first. Some of the world’s greatest stars will be at the match and an oldies game played by the stars of the 90’s will be played beforehand and will feature Jorge Campos. Some of the current stars set to play?
Carles Puyol, David Beckham, Iván Córdoba, Alessandro Nesta, Roberto Abondanzieri, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Alessandro del Piero, Drogba, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Raúl González, Steven Gerrard, Carlos Tévez, Francesco Totti, Javier Zanetti, Álvaro Recoba, Paolo Maldini.
Too bad, it would have been a great opportunity.