Rayados search for respectability

The "talk" around the Rayados camp this week is about re-dedicating to the task at hand and breaking the slide that has seen the once hopeful club turn into one of the worst in La Primera División and sitting sixteenth in the overall table. They are winless in the last seven matches and showing no signs in improved play much less urgency, passion and of-course, pride. As far as cliche-riddled press-conferences, they mean absolutely nothing and as difficult as it to say, Ricardo Lavolpe must gain control of the club that he has clearly lost and deal with the situation and return pride in being a Rayados.

Monterrey has Jesús Arellano and Carlos Ochoa back for Saturday evening's match against Group 1 leader Atlante. José Guadalupe Cruz's club is showing few weaknesses with twenty-three points and yet to lose at home whereas Monterey has one victory for eight away appearances. Severo Meza ,José María Basanta and Felipe Baloy must be at their best against Atlante's attackers, most notably Gabriel Pereyra, Luis Gabriel Rey and Ismael Valadéz. The Rayados need to provide improved service to Carlos Ochoa and Humberto Suazo if they are to succeed and it will also need to be more than constant long-ball efforts as has been seen through the balance of the season.

I will report on the match once it concludes.