VL Deltel
Only a small handful of seasons in Elche’s history show a comparable drop in form to what the team is experiencing in the current first portion of the season. When Martínez reached his Valero office after the break, the club faced a troubling set of negative indicators that left Elche at the bottom of the Primera División standings and clearly in need of a decisive rally. The numbers gathered early in the campaign point to a crisis in attack and a struggle to translate chances into goals, a problem that could spell trouble as the league resumes.
The most alarming figure is the lack of goals. With ten goals scored in fourteen league matches, Elche is averaging far less than what is needed to climb out of danger. This scoring drought risks becoming a defining feature of the campaign, especially given the broader context of regional challenges affecting the squad. The goal tally already sits among the worst in the club’s history in the top tier, underscoring the urgency for a spark up front and a renewed sense of finishing efficiency.
Historically, only two teams from Elche’s peak decades managed to post even worse numbers in similar early-season windows. In those mid-eighties campaigns, the club logged a handful of wins and a modest points total, yet boasted a notably sturdier defense that helped keep them competitive despite the shortcomings in attack. The contrast underscores how fragile a run of goals can be for a side that otherwise showed strong defensive structure in a different era. The current form suggests a different equation at play, one where the balance between attack and defense must be recalibrated to halt the slide.
ELCHE FORWARDS STATS 22/23
Pere Milla: 13 games, 8 starts, 806 minutes and 3 goals
Ezequiel Ponce: 13 games, 4 starts, 505 minutes and 2 goals
Lucas Boyé: 12 matches, 9 starts, 736 minutes and 1 goal
Roger Martí: 8 matches, 5 starts, 430 minutes and 0 goals
Five years later, during the troubled 1988/89 season, Elche managed 9 goals in the first fourteen games. That year began with promise, yielding a high points total and an early offensive surge before the momentum faded. The present moment echoes that pattern in some ways, but the current squad lacks the same early-season momentum and is facing a harsher reality in the standings. The coaching staff is under pressure to reverse the trend and restore confidence in a group that must find its rhythm quickly once the fixtures resume.
Machín is looking to salvage a striking unit that has shown moments of potential but has not yet delivered consistent finishing. The squad’s core attack sees Lucas Boyé, despite injury concerns, as a central figure who could be part of a sustained solution. A recent period of transfer talk and contract discussions has added a layer of drama to the season, yet the focus remains on stabilizing performance and getting the most out of the forward line. Ponce has also attracted attention for his contribution, with the club weighing financial considerations alongside on-field impact. The season’s narrative has already included a mix of optimism and disappointment as the team navigates a challenging stretch.
Pere Milla: “We disgraced ourselves in the first 14 days”
JA Galvanized
The simple truth is that after fourteen games, Elche’s total stands at six goals. The team has veered off its intended course, and Machín is racing against the clock to guide them back toward the path of growth and stability. The early-season setback has exposed vulnerabilities in the lineup and highlighted areas where improvement is required to restore balance across the pitch.
Boyé and Roger Martí are now among the most scrutinized cases. Their pre-season promises and the broader project’s early momentum created expectations that have not yet materialized. Boyé had scored four goals in the previous season, while Roger Martí faces a drought that stretches over several campaigns. The ongoing dip in scoring adds extra pressure to the team’s strategic decisions and heightens the need for a productive plan to unlock the attack and sustain competitiveness through the rest of the campaign.
In the context of Elche’s season, the focus shifts from individual milestones to collective improvement. The coaching staff must optimize personnel choices, refine tactical patterns, and foster a mindset that translates effort into results. The club’s supporters and stakeholders are watching closely as the squad attempts to reestablish confidence and rebuild momentum in the league’s second phase.