One step backwards.....

Last season, Levante were relegated after a dreadful season. The playing squad was thin, lacking goals and conceding far too many. It was so bad in fact that Gino Kinnear was moved to call the seasons performance one of his five worst on SMTV.

Now however, things are looking much brighter for the Spanish side. The results are still hit and miss, three games have seen a win, a defeat and a draw, but the performances have been much stronger, and the club have looked competitive in all three league games.



In part, three big signings for the first team squad have helped. Brazilian striker Leandro Damiao signed from German side Leverkusen, AC Milan allowed goalkeeper Jiminez Roberto to head home to Spain, and also saw Ikechi Anya join the club.

 Jordan Ayew came from Stuttgart in time for last nights match. The signing of Ayew came a bit out of the blue after bids for three other midfielders were lodged, and all were promptly ignored for between 6 and 9 days.

The move for the Ghanian happened rather quickly however. The player had signed within about 48hrs of the bid originally being lodged. Levante feel they have perhaps overpaid a touch for Ayew. The fee was £10m along with John Ruddy and young striker Angel Romero. On the other hand though,  a midfielder was wanted, and space was also needed within the squad, so the deal is one that we are comfortable with.

Marcello Trotta has also signed quietly over the weekend. The young Italian joins for a fee of £2m from Cesena. The player is another for the future, and is expected to feature in a few cup games to begin with whilst we look for him to realise some of that potential.

The club would still like to sign a defender, and have had a bid rejected this morning, but it is expected that from here on in, there will be more exits than entrances.

Meet the new boys

Jiminez Roberto - Goalkeeper

Jiminez joins from AC Milan for a fee of £3.5m, and also sees young Dutchman Bart Ramselaar head to Italy. The Spanish custodian was an ever present for Olympiacos in season one of Top 100, 38 appearences and netting 7 MOTM awards. He played 19 times in season two before heading toMilan and promptly being loaned to Espanyol. Whilst in Spain he made 9 appearences, and picked up another 2 MOTM awards. He has immidiately become first choice at Levante, and will be hoping for a longer stay thn he has had at his previous clubs.

Ikechi Anya - Midfield

Ikechi also joins from AC as a sweetner for allowing the talented Dutchman Ramselaar leave. The Scottish international never made a start, and only one appearence from the bench for Milan after his £2.5m move from Watford. He will also have to be patient at Levante, but will be given an opportunity to impress.

Jordan Ayew - Midfield

Ghanian wide man Ayew is now at his third different Top 100 club, and as with Jiminez Roberto, will be looking for something of a longer term stay. His previous clubs were Aston Villa, and then Stuttgart. He left the Midlands for Germany in a deal that saw Didier Drogba, Emiliano Insua and £5.4m going in the other direction. Jordan will be expected to create chances for the strikersw, and will be expected to get between 5 and 10 goals for himself also.

Leandro Damiao - Striker

Perhaps the most surprising move of all in the pre season was the talented Brazillian striker dropping down to the basement division. Levante have paid £11.7m and also allowed Guilermo Varella to head to Germany to secure the signing. Parfitt was delighted to get the signature, and two goals in three games already suggest that he could be the 15 / 20 goal man that the club have been missing. Leandro is also another player who has had his share of moves already in Top 100, having been on the books at Leverkusen, Santos, and Manchester City prior to heading to Spain.

After the incomings, along with a few youth players, Samuel Eto'o, Aiden McGeady and Adam Szalai are all expected to depart once their transfer bans are up. 

On the pitch, things are looking better. The opening day saw a strong performance, one that Parfitt considers the best one Levante have managed in Top 100 to date, saw them overcome Indipendiente 3 - 1 on the opening day. The next match saw a 1 - 0 defeat to PMW's Anderlecht in Belgium, and last nice a 1 - 1 draw with Santos was the end result. Last night's performance wasnt ideal, but last season it is the kind of game which would have been a two or three goal defeat, so to pull the goal back and take a point was very satisfying.

The youth side started off very well this weekend also. A trip to Russia is never easy, but the youngsters returned with all three points after a very professional 4 - 2 win. The big story was Isaac Success' brace, along with an assist saw him oted MOTM, and it surely cant be too long before the young Nigerian becomes a regular first team starter. There were also goals for Steve Mounie, and Matt Miazga. The young American was last seen in Levante colours recieving a red card towards the end of last season.

The season is long, and there is a lot of football to be played, but all in all Levante are very happy with the start they have made.