Ones to Watch: To be Success-ful this season, Granada will have to depend on Isaac

First off, I’d like to apologise for that god-awful pun but I couldn’t resist. There isn’t a great deal to cheer about at the moment for Granada fans and the pressure is already getting to under fire coach Jose Ramon Sandoval as he seems unable to find a winning side. They got off to a horrible start, losing 5 of their opening 6 games and only managed to get on the scoresheet 3 times. Their lone victory came against an also under par Getafe side.

Last season Granada played with a very open 4-4-2 and it meant they ended up shipping goals left, right and centre. Sandoval was appointed with just 4 games to go with the general consensus being that they’ll get relegated but Sandoval would be the ideal man to get them promoted. He went one better than and guided them to 3 victories and a very respectable draw away at Atletico Madrid to maintain their place in La Liga based on a better head-to-head record against Eibar [although Elche would later be relegated instead due to financial irregularities].

Perhaps as surprising as earning 10 points from those games was that it coincided with Isaac Success being dropped from the side. The young forward had impressed, albeit not in the goalscoring department, and many expected it would be the older El Arabi to make way. Whatever the reason was behind the decision – Sandoval got it right. El Arabi scored 4 in 4, was the hero of the city and Granada could look forward to another year in La Liga when it all seemed so bleak.

Sandoval doesn’t see Success as a centre forward, or not yet at least, and has opted to use him as a winger behind El Arabi. It was a curious decision but one that is showing signs of working. It helps to lower the expectations surrounding Success as he wasn’t showing enough composure in front of goal despite getting himself into good positions.

Isaac Success has already tripled his goal and assists return from last season (3 goals, 3 assists) and if Granada’s defence could hold onto the advantage their attacking players had given them, they’d be in a much higher position in the table. They conceded a late goal against Espanyol and two against Sporting that left them with only 2 points instead of 6. At the bottom, more than most positions, those 4 dropped points could come back to haunt them.

Success’ story is a curious one as he was actually signed by Udinese originally, the other club owned by Granada supremo Giampaolo Pozzo. He had impressed their scouts while playing for local Nigerian side BJ Foundation Academy and later for Nigeria U17s in the FIFA World Cup, although he only made 2 appearances in the tournament before he was injured.

His stock was high at the time and he revealed he chose Udinese because he felt it was the best option for him to get the necessary first team football to aid his development. “I must confess [to you] that I had bigger clubs in Europe looking at me. The likes of Manchester United, AC Milan, Inter, Monaco and Chelsea all made enquires about me,” he told a Nigerian newspaper. “But my manager and I went for Udinese because there I believe I can gradually grow in the game and also have the chance of breaking into the first team more easily compared to the other big clubs.” In an ironic twist he never appeared for Udinese as his work permit didn’t come through until March of 2014 and he was immediately moved to Granada’s reserve side on a permanent deal.

Success was awarded his debut with the senior side away to Elche in the second game of the season, providing an assist for Fran Rico. He was in and out of the side until Christmas and only managed one goal, coming off the bench to nab the equaliser against Valencia. After the turn of the year he spent more time with the ‘B’ side than the senior one, scoring 6 in 11 appearances to see out the campaign. He was rewarded with a bumper contract extension in the summer tying him down until 2019 with the Andalucian club.

Granada have begun to see what a talent they have on their hands this season but it’s worth remembering he’s still only 19 and isn’t perfect. He was punished after refusing to join up with the team for the match against Rayo, complaining he felt discomfort despite the club doctor giving him the all clear. The refusal hurt Sandoval who has given the youngster the chance to perform and that he would have to do without one of his star players for a key match.

It wasn’t the first time the Nigerian had fallen foul of the rules at Granada and he was forced to make a grovelling apology after the incident. “I apologise to my teammates, the coaching staff and the board.” He publicly named the president and Sandoval as people he felt he had disappointed the most. “[Those] people have helped me so much since I arrived at the club and have welcomed and treated me as if I were family. I apologise for my attitude and behaviour.” He did later state that the issue was a sporting one, not personal.

He responded in the perfect way by scoring one and assisting another in the side’s impressive victory over high-flying Athletic Club. That’s the side the fans want to see from their promising youngster. He might only be 19 but how Granada do this year will largely depend on what they can get out of Success.

The striker is still rough around the edges and the move out to the wing will certainly aid his development, much like what has happened with Iñaki Williams at Athletic. His natural raw power means he’s a tough man to mark, even more so when you consider he’s a more than able dribbler with a quick turn of pace. There is a likeness to Drogba in his style of play but he will need to improve his finishing to truly move onto the next level. It’s clearly a confidence issue as he generally strikes the ball quite well – see his goal against Athletic for proof of that.

It’s too soon to say how good Isaac Success could be. He has all the tools to be one of the best strikers in Europe but needs to tap into his potential and avoid ugly off the field disciplinary issues. What’s the main objective for him this season? Fire in the goals to keep Granada in La Liga, and then it might be time for him to reconsider his options in the summer – both in Spain and abroad.