But what is the next objective?
Well there are many, but depends who you ask is what the priority will be.
No matter their recent poor history, River is always a club that needs to win titles. They have a very rich history of winning trophies, and the supporters will be starting the season demanding that the club goes back quickly to what they are used to.
River fans are not well known for their patience or unconditional support, but quite the opposite. They follow the team in mass, but they are very vocal when things don’t go the way they expect them to.
They want big names to join the team and start adding cups and leagues to the ones they have already.
The Manager made it known that he wanted a few positions covered by experienced players.
He said he wanted a keeper, 2 defenders, a central midfielder and creative midfielder and a striker.
And on his wish list there were names like D’alessandro, Belluschi, Saviola, Aimar, Saja and more.
Some of the players thought that after achieving the return to Primera division, they deserved to stay at the club, with Chori Dominguez and Cavenaghi leading that claim.
The club president, Daniel Pasarella, however has other ideas.
True that they are not very popular ideas, but they are without a doubt the best ideas for the future of the club.
At the beginning of the Nacional B campaign, the plans for the club were comprised by a few steps:
1) immediate promotion to top division
2) Model the club on Velez Sarsfield in order to clear the debts and not be so dependant on AFA, financially.
3) Make sure that the younger players that show the ability to be sold internationally get a chance to show their talent week in-week out, in order to attract offers.
4) Those who have been identify as important assets must be signed to long term contracts and have a high release clause there, to avoid losing them for peanuts.
The idea is perfect. Ok it is not popular at this stage. The club is in huge debt, living with TV money that comes from AFA, which in turn means they are under pressure to support Julio Grondona (AFA’s president) or risk being in trouble again.
The only way to get out of debt and the AFA dependency is by giving the young ones minutes and exposure.
Without selling players, River will never solve their crisis.
If the club, goes after the players that the manager has asked for, it will increase the chances of short term success, but risk long term damage.
Those names may come on loan or at reduced fees, but with high salaries, sending the club deeper into debt.
At the same time, let’s say Saviola signs for River that will relegate someone like Ocampos, who is a player River want to have on show to profit from a possible future sale.
River must continue with the program they have started.
Get the financial situation sorted, have the youngsters ready, and only then, think about winning titles again.
Let’s not forget that in order to not have relegation Problems River will need to get 60 points out of 114 that will be available.
Not an easy task, not a popular way, no guarantees of success, but the only way to try to get the club to its former glory days.