Former Valencia vice-president Jaime Molina laments the lack of resources being committed to scouting by the current board.
Molina is particularly disappointed with the absence of Argentine talent in the current squad. He worked at Valencia during one of the club's most successful periods, helping build a team that would win the LaLiga twice and the UEFA Cup.
It was during that time, VCF fans saw the likes of Kily Gonzalez, Pablo Aimar and Roberto Ayala all grace the Mestalla to great success. This era of Argentine talent following on from club greats like Dario Felman and Mario Kempes.
However, today Valencia lack such names and quality from the current World Cup winners and Molina tells Tribalfootball.com: "Felman and Ayala were two great footballers from Argentina and also honourable players who sweated blood for the shirt of Valencia CF.
"These days, you can't sign Argentine players that are already formed…you have to be following their progress as teenagers when they are in 'juveniles'. If a player is already established in Argentina they are already expensive to sign… and Valencia CF just cannot afford those sort of up and coming, 'rising star' players at the moment…given the current state that the club is in."
Molina admits he was among the driving forces inside the club to maintain the traditions of Argentine talent. Indeed, he was at the cutting edge as Valencia stunned Europe with their swoop for Pablo Aimar in 2001.
He continued: "The 'Argentina' influence for Valencia CF is that I have a business in Argentina so I travel to Argentina a lot and I know Argentine football very well too. In my own way, I was able to transmit this first-hand experience of Argentine football to the club.
"Yes, it was competitive. On one of my business trips to Argentina, I went with Paco Roig and we got Pablo Aimar to sign for Valencia CF in Argentina via contacts I already had with River Plate.
"Yes, Pablo Aimar was a great signing. As a player, he was great for Valencia CF in an historic time for Valencia CF. He was the best and biggest and most expensive signing for Valencia CF at that time. Since then, there have been more expensive signings for Valencia but they have not justified their price tag with results.
"In contrast, Pablo Aimar more than justified his fee ('sobradamente') for all that he achieved with Valencia CF… in terms of winning Ligas and the UEFA Cup and getting really far in the Champions League too. (Valencia CF reached the final of the Champions League in Aimar's first season in 2001)."
Aimar is now an accomplished coach. The former midfielder moving from Argentina's U17 and U20 teams to being an assistant to Lionel Scaloni for this season's World Cup triumph. But when asked if he could see his former signing return to the Mestalla dugout as head coach, Molina isn't so sure.
He added, "Aimar is a really good person and was a really great player and that is a perfect combination in terms of his potential for working with people. However, I'm not sure I would see him as a manager in La Liga or any league for that matter, more as an assistant coach perhaps…"
