5 things Gary Neville must do to turn things around at Valencia

It's not gonna take a genius to realise that Gary Neville's tactics aren't going as planned. 
But.... there's hope. 

Gary Neville's Valencia fell into another defeat on Sunday as they lost 1-0 to Real Betis.

This means that Valencia are now NINE La Liga games without a win under the ex-Manchester United hero, and 12 league matches without a victory including the end of Nuno Espirito Santo's reign. 

After the humiliating loss against Barcelona in Copa del Rey, Neville acknowledged the fact that it's 'completely unacceptable' to not taste victory since being incharge. 

So what is it that Gary Neville must do to turn things around at Mestalla and begin Valencia's rise towards the top of the table ? 

1. TAKE A LEAD 

Winning a game is OBVIOUSLY the ultimate aim and without doing that, Neville will be gone before long, but it's shocking that his side has not yet lead in a single La Liga game. 

Valencia concede against Eibar 

They have conceded first in each of those nine, which has meant a low-on-confidence side chasing a game and leaving themselves open time after time.

It's not sustainable and it's not conductive to success. 

2. FIND YOUR BEST XI

There's no doubt that injuries and cluttered fixture list have affected Neville's ability to keep a consistent XI. 

But the mind boggling variety of combinations we've seen makes it look the coaching staff still have no clear idea of what their strongest team looks like. 

As someone who wasn't responsible for the summer's purchases, there should be no fear of dropping expensive players who are underperforming. 

And here's one of those....

3. DITCH AYMEN ABDENNOUR/ KEEP A CLEAN SHEET 

Aymen Abdennour has cost his side a lot of goals 

The Tunisian was in demand last summer - as most Jorge Mendes clients tend to be - but ended up at Valencia as the replacement of Nicolas Otamendi.

While Otamendi hasn't shined on a consistent basis in the Premier League yet, the Argentine International was outstanding last year during Valencia's march to the Champions League, and Abdennour's performances have been a significant downgrade. 

Abdennour has struggled with distribution 

While his performances at Toulouse and Monaco have proven him to be a good defender, Gary Neville's philosophy ( which we've observed early on ) is to play the ball out from the back.

Abdennour has repeatedly put his team in trouble and cost them goals due to his sloppy distribution and mistakes in possession. 

When the side is this jittery, you have to take him out of the firing line, and it's remarkable that a side managed by a former defender has not kept a single clean sheet in NINE league games. 

4. DROP ALVARO NEGREDO UNTIL HE IS MATCH-SHARP

If you aren't keeping clean sheets then you need to score more goals, and that's something Valencia aren't doing either. 

Frustration, as Negredo misses again and again

Negredo, given a lifeline by Neville having been completely frozen out by Nuno, has scored some goals for his boss. Indeed, of the five points this team has earned under their new manager, three have been earned by Negredo goals. 

But this is misleading, with his profligacy costing them far more points. 

That miss in the dying seconds against Real Madrid, the raft of spurned opportunities against Sporting and a simple chance with no keeper to beat against Betis all stand out. 

The former Manchester City man looks sluggish. Granted, three months without playing before Neville arrived means he won't be in top shape but until he is, he shouldn't be playing as he's costing his team victories. 

5. GET SOME LUCK

Sometimes you just need one to go in off someone's backside. 

Gary Neville, right now, is on the top of the list of managers that simply need one thing to go their way.

A Darren Bent beachball moment. One thing. Anything. 

There's still hope for the former Manchester United defender 

Facts about the FIFA Headquarters, Zurich that are meant to blow your mind

We're all familiar with the existence of one of the most phenomenal complexes in Zurich, Switzerland. But not many of us are familiar with the reason for the its worldwide prosperity. 

The FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland

The FIFA HQ is a distinctive complex in Zurich. The complex has served as the official hub for activities by FIFA since its completion in 2006. It is located on the Zurichberg, a wooded hill in District 7. 

As well as offices, the complex includes a fitness centre, a meditation room, geographically themed parks and a full-size international football pitch.

More than what meets the eye

The main building has only two upper levels, but five underground levels, resulting in two thirds of the headquarters lying underground.

As quoted by the former FIFA President, Sepp Blatter

" Places where people make decisions should only contain indirect light, because the light should come from the people themselves who are assembled there."

Underground Skyscraper serves as FIFA's unique headquarters 

The simple exterior design conceals a rich interior where form is well attuned to function. 

The unusual new headquarters for the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) now stands in one of Zurich's most exclusive neighbourhoods. For around €145 Million, FIFA's 208 member countries chipped in to develop a "skyscraper" that is largely underground. Building was completed 3 years ago, well in time for the FIFA WORLD CUP 2010, in June. 

The unique building unfolds along 134 metres (440 feet) in a series of sleek, glassy partitions. But not everyone occupying its offices has made peace with the design by Swiss  architect Tilla Theus, in which understatement trumps grandeur, at least on the surface. 

The grand entrance

The former FIFA President said about the design, 

"The house we were in before was much prettier, of course. There, I had a view of the lake, but on the other hand, we're not out to look impressive but efficient" 

More than meets the eye 

Once inside the building, visitors can see that it's comprised of multiple storeys. Two-thirds of the HQ lies underground include space for archives, parking, meetings, technology and a prayer room. 

The segment above ground houses offices for 300 employees, the reception area and a conference room.

A glimpse inside the massive HQ

Although the building's simple exterior blends in with the woody landscape, the interior is marked by rich material luxury. Its design features costly works from glass, Brazilian shale and American walnut wood. 

The Aluminium walls in the Headquarters were hammered from a specially constructed machine and are adorned with chrome steel hand railings that artfully reflect the light streaming inside. 

Modesty was clearly not at the fore in constructing FIFA's interior - a fact which reflects the success of the organisation as a whole under Blatter's firm leadership. During his tenure, FIFA has grown from a shaky venture to an International Organisation with a global scope. 

Decisions Underground 

In contrast to many parliamentary buildings, where glassy transparent exteriors suggest the ability of the outside world to keep an eye on its elected officials, FIFA's underground design closes it off to the public. 

The third of its five underground stories contains the executive committee's meeting chamber. Inside, Aluminium walls and a cool, Lapis Lazuli floor lend the chamber an enclosed feel. 

Here in FIFA's hidden centre, a small circle of leaders reach decisions on new reforms, rules, sanctions, legal issues and the conferral of World Championships. The results of their meetings sometimes produces an impact on Soccer Worldwide. 

The FIFA boardroom. Dreamy, right ? 

The importance of certain questions they discuss explains why the FIFA Headquarters is constructed the way it is, said Joseph Blatter. 

" It's more important to me that the employees of FIFA have direct access to sunlight rather than the executive committee members, who are only occasionally here in the office. Also, the room is closed off so that the result of a vote cannot be known until we leave the chamber."

A Street Of its own 

FIFA's prayer room is also among the most unusual points of its design. The Onyx Room opens upward toward an indirect light and glitters like an oversized diamond. 

Visitors can enter from one of the two sides, and green arrows in the passageways point towards Mecca as a service to Islamic FIFA members. Otherwise, though, the room is bare and cold. 

"People of each religion agreed not to include specific religious ornaments in order to create a neutral space for everyone" said Theus. 

The HQ lies on FIFA Street, which was approved by the city specifically for the new structure. 

All the staff members feel insanely proud to be a part of the 'Home of FIFA' in Zurich. And after a glimpse inside, its quite easy to understand why. 

Here's a small glimpse of the beautiful structure, through the eyes of fan.