“I have 22 players available and all of them always have the same chances to participate.” This phrase, which Emilio Cañedo, the Avilés coach, never tires of repeating in press conferences, has to hit five players from the blue and white squad like a dagger. It is true that the blue and white coach usually rotates in his eleven, especially from the midfield forward, but, although he has a long list of pieces, there are some of them that are hardly having a leading role. Álvaro Fernández, Prendes, Guram, Valcarce and Ortiz have not played a single minute since March, and two of them have not played since mid-January.
The case that most attracts attention is that of Valcarce. The Bierzo winger arrived in this winter market backed by his great experience, since he has a long career in the Second Division defending the colors of Numancia and Ponferradina. But his arrival in Avilés is being complicated. Although he had some chances, his time as a blue and white seems marked by a mistake he made against Arenteiro. Valvarce had the opportunity to score a goal that, in the end, could have meant the victory for the Avilesinos, but he ended up missing the shot despite being practically on the goal line. Since that ruling, Cañedo decided to bet on him as a starter in the next game against Vetusta, but at half-time he took him off the pitch. Since then he has not played again.
Álvaro Fernández and Ortiz are being victims of the demanding competition that exists in Avilés. Both arrived in the winter market with a mission that, at first, was going to make them have little prominence. The first came after the departure of Saldaña, and landed in Villa del Adelantado to rest Davo, one of the great pillars of Cañedo. Only a blow from Oviedo in the duel against Gimnástica de Torrelavega gave the Madrid goalkeeper minutes, but for the next duel one of the veterans of the Aviles squad was already back.
With Natalio’s change in position, Primo was left as the only striker, so Astu, the blue and white sports director, decided to take Ortiz on loan, to have more competition up front. The problem for the Andalusian is that the Cantabrian striker is signing the best numbers of his career and is in a state of plethoric form, which makes Cañedo not even consider leaving him on the bench. The tip started as a starter against Vetusta, since Primo was suspended, but since then he has not had any more opportunities.
Case apart are Prendes and Guram. Both players have been under the orders of the Oviedo coach since the beginning of the season, but their role is almost nil. The central defender from Aviles, who last season already defended the blue and white colors, has started five times this year, but since the arrival of Mayorga he has been one of Cañedo’s usual discards in his calls. Guram is by far the man who counts the least in Avilés’ stratagems. The Georgian has played 65 minutes, spread over six games in which everything came as a substitute.
Avilés is immersed in the key part of its season and Cañedo no longer has time for experiments. The Oviedo player has created a trustworthy group of 17 players with whom he rotates in his eleven, but he looks like everyone can no longer count on opportunities. The blue and whites risk chestnuts and each point is gold when it comes to fighting for promotion, so what works should not be changed.
