Segunda division thread - Liga BBVA

@ nCfC

I assume u watch la segunda division, do u know how Carlos vela(selmanca) is doing?

This was in World Soccer magazine a few months ago. It is availbale online too.

Spanish newspaper Marca recently labelled Carlos Vela “the new Hugo Sanchez”, and certainly there are similarities between the Mexicans: the teenager is a forward currently playing in Spain, with Salamanca – just as his compatriot used to at Real Madrid – he has black curly hair, wears the No 9 shirt and has the happy knack of imposing himself on games. But in playing style, Vela is actually much closer to Barcelona's Argentinian starlet Lionel Messi.

The youngster, who will be 18 on March 1, made a name for himself last year at the Under-17 World Championship, where his Golden Boot-winning tally of five goals went a long way to bringing the team the trophy, Mexico's first world title at any age level.

Not surprisingly, Vela's amazing pace, finishing ability and versatility attracted the attention of several top European sides. But it was Arsenal who showed most conviction, snapping him up from leading Mexican club Guadalajara – for whom Vela never made a first-team appearance – on a five-year contract.

Although FIFA regulations prevent the inter-continental transfers of under-18s, Guadalajara insist Arsenal paid a substantial sum for Vela. “Arsenal have already paid the full transfer fee,” said president Jorge Vergara. “I don't have the exact figure, but it is close to $3million [£1.5m]. He was a player we were looking to be a big part of our future and there was no way we were going to let him go for free.

“We expected him to stay for two or three years and then leave as the big star he was going to be, but in the end it was his decision and there was nothing we could do about it. I hope he won't regret leaving the club at such an early age.”

However, the Gunners found it impossible to obtain a work permit for the youngster, so he was shipped out to Celta Vigo on a two-year loan. Vela did play with the Galician team during pre-season last summer but was deemed too young for the first team and was packed off again, this time to second division Salamanca.

The Celta coaching staff may well be regretting that decision. Vela has flourished since arriving in Castile, with his darting forward runs and amazing dribbling ability making him an instant hit at the Estadio Helmantico. Not only that but Vela is Salamanca's top scorer despite playing in an unusual left midfield position. Celta, meanwhile, had only a mediocre autumn campaign and would surely have benefited from having the teen sensation on board.

Vela loves his new surroundings but is aware that his future lies elsewhere. “I'd love to win promotion for the fans,” he says.

“That would be my legacy here as I don't know what will happen at the end of the season.”

The likely scenario is a return to Celta to complete his loan period then finally off to Arsenal full time.

The Gunners have monitored Vela's progress and chief scout Steve Rowley believes he has the quality to develop into a top-class player.

“Carlos is a great talent,” he says. “He's not a typical striker. He's a wonderful poacher. He's fast, a great dribbler and instinctive in the box.”

Vela, who is learning English, hopes to be playing in the Premiership within two years.

“I want to play there alongside Thierry Henry. It would be a dream,” he says.

For now, though, his goal must be simply to carry on driving defences crazy as he tries to help steer Salamanca to what would be a dramatic return to the Spanish top flight.

I know that he has been playing mate, but that is about it. Have seen him on the score sheet a few times. Due to their mid table standing I haven't watched Salamanca too much.

Ah well there we go. I am a subscriber to World Soccer but can;t remember that! They won't get promotion now and it has been off for some time. I would have thought the article is from before Christmas?

Thanks cesc for posting that

So it looks like we've a got a real gem in our hands, u reckon Arsene will bring him back at the end of the season?

nCfC-CaDiZ wrote:I know that he has been playing mate, but that is about it. Have seen him on the score sheet a few times. Due to their mid table standing I haven't watched Salamanca too much.

but is he not talked about in the spanish press?

Yes, they try and build him up as they do with all young up and coming players it seems. Fairly predictable though. I haven't read anything over how he is actually playing for Salamanca though - I have seen him on the score sheet a few times.

Ok, Cheers!

Agooner wrote:Thanks cesc for posting that

So it looks like we've a got a real gem in our hands, u reckon Arsene will bring him back at the end of the season?

Certainly. He is only just turned 18 and the games will do him a world of good. If he stays in Spain for two years I think he can get Spanish (European) citizenship which players like Marquez, Ronaldinho etc all have now.

Table after this weekends results.....

1. Valladolid 71
2. Almeria 61
3. Murcia 60
4. Ciudad 48
5. Xerez 47
6. Salamanca 47

As you can see the three new primera teams are decided. Of the three teams I think Valladolid can survive - even with their current team. There manager is Jose Luis Mendilibar, a young and up and coming who also managed Athletic last season until he was ridiculously sacked. For the other two it could be a harder job. Expect lots of effort and fighting spirit to be put in - but with their current squads a season similar to that of Nastic at the moment could be in store. But we will see.

Also take a look at the Cadiz goal from the weekend.

http://www.rojadirecta.com/foros/viewtopic.php?t=16438&sid=f3b24a4daea65686f0ed5ef0d3f2b8c6

Another example of the increasing talent that is Pablo Hernandez. Valencia have a gem on their hands but we have the best of him for the next two seasons. He will be a crucial part of getting promotion next season. The goal is about 3/4 through th video.

It is surprising the way the second division has unfolded this year, usually it seems like there are 5-6 teams that have possibilities of winning promotion at this stage of the season but you are right, the three who will be in Primera next season is decided.

Yeh. Last season Recre and Nastic had it quite easy but third place was open for ages and the year before that all the four places went down to the last day, so very close. That controversy surrounding Eibar stands out. And obviously personally the great win in the Chapin for Cadiz.

A shame about this season then but I think it will be open next season. There has been a marked improvement in quality this season and if clubs such as Sociedad and Celta go down the league can only improve further.

Agooner wrote:@ nCfC

I assume u watch la segunda division, do u know how Carlos vela(selmanca) is doing?

Carlos Vela scored on the weekend.

Alavés 0 - 2 Salamanca
28' Braulio
75' Vela

8 goals in 23 games so far this season for Vela.

Todays results....

Xerez 1-2 Tenerife
Poli Ejido 0-2 Murcia
Albacete 2-2 Alaves
Las Palmas 0-3 Cadiz

A bit meaningless but this result puts us fourth, with Ciudad and Numancia playing tomorrow.

ncfc Santander just equalised...game might be worth watching again.

See my post in the Jornada thread mate.

Todays results....

CIUDAD M. 0-1 ALMERÍA
VALLADOLID 3-0 VECINDARIO
SALAMANCA 0-1 ELCHE
PONFERRADINA 1-2 MÁLAGA.....Puta Malaga, a segunda B por favor!.
LORCA 0-0 R. M. CASTILLA
SPORTING 1-1 CASTELLÓN
NUMANCIA 1-2 HÉRCULES

So all of that means that we take fourth place! Doesn't make me quite so happy when I see the lead Murcia have over us. 15 points! It is still all over.

http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/2a_division/xerez/es/desarrollo/964241.html

Pepe Murcia dismissed as Xerez coach. Surprised but their boards seems to view any season where they are not promoted as a failiure these days. They should have had promotion in the bag last season and were early leaders this - I have a feeling they will never go up.

16 Las Palmas 41
17 Alavés 41
18 Málaga 40
19 R. M. Castilla 38
20 Ponferradina 35
21 Lorca 31
22 Vecindario 22

The relegation scrap will be very interesting. Vecindario are gone - but the other three slots are still open. This weekend saw Castilla drop in - no surprises there. They simply cannot hold down a good team. Lorca have improved of late after looking a down a few weeks back whilst Ponferradina are capable of beating good teams on their day. I'm hoping Malaga go down of course - but would think that they just about have enough after two good results in the last two games.

A win for Valladolid in Tenerife this weekend will see them promoted to the Primera with eight games to play. Great for them and I fully expect them to give things ago - even possibly emulating Recre. But we will see. Watch out for Llorente next season. I predict it could be the season that he turns into a major La Liga striker.

Some crucial games for the relegation fight....

Castilla vs Ponferradina
Malaga vs Elche
Lorca vs Vecindario

Is Stephen Sunday (Sunny) from Polideportivo Ejido as good as people say he is ? I have never really seen him have a good match. I mean there has to be something about him if teams like RM, Celta, Depor, Valencia, Betis & even Liverpool are after him ?

Poli have been some what the surprise package of this season and I think Sunny has been influential in that - or at least, bringing flair to the side. From the couple of times I have seen them play this season he looks to have potential but still has a lot to work on. Another season in the segunda next season would do him no harm.

Batman wrote:

Agooner wrote:@ nCfC

I assume u watch la segunda division, do u know how Carlos vela(selmanca) is doing?

Carlos Vela scored on the weekend.

Alavés 0 - 2 Salamanca
28' Braulio
75' Vela

8 goals in 23 games so far this season for Vela.

brilliant! hope he's given work permit to play for us next season.

We need him in Spain next season. After next year he may be able to get Spanish citizenship as a second nationality.

He is only 18 and needs all the games he can get, I think it would be a good move to let him stay over in Salamanca next year as well.

Cesc wrote:We need him in Spain next season. After next year he may be able to get Spanish citizenship as a second nationality.

He is only 18 and needs all the games he can get, I think it would be a good move to let him stay over in Salamanca next year as well.

yeah that's true. Another year in spain will help him develop more than spending most times on the bench with us.

www.telemadrid.com for Cadiz vs Ciudad Murcia. Click on the link to watch La otra.

GOOOOL de Pavoni. 1-0 Cadiz. Fantastic volley.

The game ended 2-1 Ciudad Murcia, and this was not good enough. We never built on the positive start and Pablo looked our only threat all day! Lobos looks to have lost it and Sesma did nothing when he came on! Not that we should get rid of them, we need to make sure we maintain them despite interest of Primera clubs, but there are players that were out there today that are deadwood.

Velazquez stands out for me - he was awful - and it was his foul in the last seconds that gave away the free kick for the second Ciudad goal. I think we need a new centre foward. We have been linked with Diego Tristan this week, but simply anyone will be better than Medina, De Paula or Pavoni who started today (despite a fantastic goal to put us ahead)

Aye aye aye, there is much work to do, or next season will be the same as this.

Sunny was sent off today against Almeria in the derby! Ended 3-1 to the second placed side. Now just a couple more wins away from securing promotion to the primera for the first time.

Important victory for el Castilla, especially defeating a direct rival. Hopefully it is a big step toward maintaining status in Segunda.