I have to say, Real play wonderful football with quick and neat passing. Salgado was very impressive.
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La Liga: Jornada 21
Forza Italia!Forza Milan!- Number of posts : 4759
Age : 45
Supports : Italia and Milan
Registration date : 2007-05-10
- Post n°91
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
I saw Real Madrid vs Villarreal and the Barca game.
I have to say, Real play wonderful football with quick and neat passing. Salgado was very impressive.
I have to say, Real play wonderful football with quick and neat passing. Salgado was very impressive.
Super Progress- Number of posts : 15429
Age : 35
Supports : Real Madrid + Mierda inchada en un palo
Favourite Player : Laudrup,Cassano,Totti, Zidane,Marcelo, Pepe!,Guti, PROGRESS
Registration date : 2006-08-07
- Post n°92
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
how can i make a sig? because i will likely not see that again this season or any season.Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:I saw Real Madrid vs Villarreal and the Barca game.
I have to say, Real play wonderful football with quick and neat passing. Salgado was very impressive.
Super Progress- Number of posts : 15429
Age : 35
Supports : Real Madrid + Mierda inchada en un palo
Favourite Player : Laudrup,Cassano,Totti, Zidane,Marcelo, Pepe!,Guti, PROGRESS
Registration date : 2006-08-07
- Post n°93
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
ok he got a goal. i werent impressed with him as such but that goal was very well put. still think he disappears too much but last night wasnt his foult as such though. i never said he was a bad attacker but i just think nihat is better.is rossi signed for villarreal or is he just on loan?L r d wrote:supermadrid wrote:he did ok when he came on. he had a good chance to blast a shot but chose to pass other then that he did well. hopefully this gives him some confidence because he will be playing next week unless ramos i moved to DM. now he just has to continue.Nummer 14 wrote:Sneijder saves the day who would have thought it.
Was Rossi's goal a penalty then?
The league looks over as far as the title is concerned
elbecko- Number of posts : 1129
Registration date : 2007-10-06
- Post n°94
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
We conceeded a goal from set piece just after he came on for Baptista. One may say that the substitution may have been to blame for the definsive error? (Well, we make defencive errors all the time )Nummer 14 wrote:Sneijder saves the day who would have thought it.
Sneijder did well to score afterwrds, but he may be like Owen was that he can be a super sub to come on to score when others' energy level is low. I'm not yet at all convinced...
elbecko- Number of posts : 1129
Registration date : 2007-10-06
- Post n°95
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
Barca has Dutch coach... And the revival of Barca came with a massive cul of Dutch contingent, did it not?Axeslammer wrote:Messiah wrote: Hope
Your own fault : Real Madrid has Dutch players....and you don't....
Besides, we only have one and half Dutch players effectively-- one regular player, one half player (playing minutes as well as the height), one bench warmer at best and one very expensive crystal toss pot.
fcb- Number of posts : 40471
Age : 113
Supports : FC Barcelona
Registration date : 2006-08-11
- Post n°96
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
Super Progress- Number of posts : 15429
Age : 35
Supports : Real Madrid + Mierda inchada en un palo
Favourite Player : Laudrup,Cassano,Totti, Zidane,Marcelo, Pepe!,Guti, PROGRESS
Registration date : 2006-08-07
- Post n°97
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
Come the end of the season, this could well be remembered as the weekend when Real Madrid landed the killer blow in the title race.
Barcelona failed to display Madrid's killer instinct, and crashed to a draw in Bilbao that almost certainly ends their title challenge, even if they might not admit it.
What was perhaps worse for La Liga was that top five sides Villarreal, Espanyol and Atletico Madrid all lost, the latter two to Real Betis and Real Mallorca respectively.
The weekend of upsets continued as Valencia were stunned yet again, this time by lowly Almeria.
Real Zaragoza were held by Racing, and all of this played into Sevilla's hands, who pipped Osasuna through a late and controversial penalty to move closer to the European places.
Elsewhere, Getafe sealed a 3-1 win against Recreativo, Deportivo defeated Valladolid by a similar scoreline, while rock bottom Levante picked up a surprise win in Murcia.
This week's best line up in a 4-3-3.
Goalkeeper
Diego Lopez (Villarreal): It has usually been the Madrid number one making the headlines this season, but for once, he was overshadowed by his former number two. Some quality reflex saves to keep his team in the match until the end.
Defenders
Andoni Iraola (Athletic Bilbao): The versatile young Basque had Thierry Henry in his pocket for much of the game, and also made some telling forays forward to cause Sylvinho plenty of problems.
Ruben Pulido (Almeria): The Madrid born former Getafe defender was rock solid against David Villa, and ensured Los Che found no joy in front of goal.
Alberto Lopo (Deportivo): Has not done as well as last season, but then again, defending is a team art. When those around him play their part, he can lead the resistence effectively. Impressed against Valladolid's in form Llorente.
Fernando Navarro (Mallorca): The Barcelona discard was on the money, first against Reyes, and later Luis Garcia. Made some attacking forays too as ten men Ateltico were forced into playing narrow to make up the numbers in the middle.
Midfielders
Guillermo Pereyra (Mallorca): The 27-year old Argentine was the star of Mallorca's show as the islanders sent Atletico Madrid home with their tails between their legs. Bossed the midfield from start to finish.
Guti (Real Madrid): The blow-hot-blow-cold midfielder can produce the sublime and the ridiculous in short succession, something that has seen him never quite cement a place in the Madrid starting eleven. However, it was top quality stuff against Villarreal.
Felipe Melo (Almeria): The 23-year-old Brazilian midfielder has been consistent all season for the La Liga newcomers, and produced some of his best football to make Carlos Marchena look like a novice. A match-winner to show for his efforts.
Forwards
Jose Andres Guardado (Deportivo) The supremely talented Mexican attacking midfielder let glimpse his full potential as he teased and tormented the usually solid Valladolid defence into submission. A welcome win for the embattled Galicians.
Edu (Real Betis): Has had an up and down season just like his team, but worked well to hand top four hopefuls Espanyol a shock defeat. A goal, an assist, and a mobile all-round display makes him the striker of the week.
Robinho (Real Madrid): What can you say about him but that he has been La Liga's best player this season. Gone are the days when he would give the ball away ten times in every game, or just dribble himself out of possession. Schuster has imposed effectiveness on his talent, and the results are there to see.
Lopez
Iraola Pulido Lopo Navarro
Pereyra Melo Guti
Guardado Edu Robinho
Honourable Mentions
Sergio Ramos and Gago put in quality displays for Real Madrid, while Bojan Krkic and Andres Iniesta also did well for Barcelona, only to be denied the rewards.
Zaragoza's Peter Luccin and Diego Milito also put in impressive displays, but were also denied a win by some sloppy defending.
Elsewhere, some of the top clubs in Spain left us disappointed, giving some lesser known players a chance to shine.
Almeria's Alvaro Negredo, Betis midfielder Alberto Rivera, Deportivo striker Xisco, Racing's super-sub Mohamed Tchite, Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi, Getafe's Esteban Granero and Manu del Moral, and Levante's Mustapha Riga all deserve mention.
Abhishek Thakur
oh yeah and quote of the day comes from Cruyff: Valdes As Good As Casillas
Barcelona failed to display Madrid's killer instinct, and crashed to a draw in Bilbao that almost certainly ends their title challenge, even if they might not admit it.
What was perhaps worse for La Liga was that top five sides Villarreal, Espanyol and Atletico Madrid all lost, the latter two to Real Betis and Real Mallorca respectively.
The weekend of upsets continued as Valencia were stunned yet again, this time by lowly Almeria.
Real Zaragoza were held by Racing, and all of this played into Sevilla's hands, who pipped Osasuna through a late and controversial penalty to move closer to the European places.
Elsewhere, Getafe sealed a 3-1 win against Recreativo, Deportivo defeated Valladolid by a similar scoreline, while rock bottom Levante picked up a surprise win in Murcia.
This week's best line up in a 4-3-3.
Goalkeeper
Diego Lopez (Villarreal): It has usually been the Madrid number one making the headlines this season, but for once, he was overshadowed by his former number two. Some quality reflex saves to keep his team in the match until the end.
Defenders
Andoni Iraola (Athletic Bilbao): The versatile young Basque had Thierry Henry in his pocket for much of the game, and also made some telling forays forward to cause Sylvinho plenty of problems.
Ruben Pulido (Almeria): The Madrid born former Getafe defender was rock solid against David Villa, and ensured Los Che found no joy in front of goal.
Alberto Lopo (Deportivo): Has not done as well as last season, but then again, defending is a team art. When those around him play their part, he can lead the resistence effectively. Impressed against Valladolid's in form Llorente.
Fernando Navarro (Mallorca): The Barcelona discard was on the money, first against Reyes, and later Luis Garcia. Made some attacking forays too as ten men Ateltico were forced into playing narrow to make up the numbers in the middle.
Midfielders
Guillermo Pereyra (Mallorca): The 27-year old Argentine was the star of Mallorca's show as the islanders sent Atletico Madrid home with their tails between their legs. Bossed the midfield from start to finish.
Guti (Real Madrid): The blow-hot-blow-cold midfielder can produce the sublime and the ridiculous in short succession, something that has seen him never quite cement a place in the Madrid starting eleven. However, it was top quality stuff against Villarreal.
Felipe Melo (Almeria): The 23-year-old Brazilian midfielder has been consistent all season for the La Liga newcomers, and produced some of his best football to make Carlos Marchena look like a novice. A match-winner to show for his efforts.
Forwards
Jose Andres Guardado (Deportivo) The supremely talented Mexican attacking midfielder let glimpse his full potential as he teased and tormented the usually solid Valladolid defence into submission. A welcome win for the embattled Galicians.
Edu (Real Betis): Has had an up and down season just like his team, but worked well to hand top four hopefuls Espanyol a shock defeat. A goal, an assist, and a mobile all-round display makes him the striker of the week.
Robinho (Real Madrid): What can you say about him but that he has been La Liga's best player this season. Gone are the days when he would give the ball away ten times in every game, or just dribble himself out of possession. Schuster has imposed effectiveness on his talent, and the results are there to see.
Lopez
Iraola Pulido Lopo Navarro
Pereyra Melo Guti
Guardado Edu Robinho
Honourable Mentions
Sergio Ramos and Gago put in quality displays for Real Madrid, while Bojan Krkic and Andres Iniesta also did well for Barcelona, only to be denied the rewards.
Zaragoza's Peter Luccin and Diego Milito also put in impressive displays, but were also denied a win by some sloppy defending.
Elsewhere, some of the top clubs in Spain left us disappointed, giving some lesser known players a chance to shine.
Almeria's Alvaro Negredo, Betis midfielder Alberto Rivera, Deportivo striker Xisco, Racing's super-sub Mohamed Tchite, Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi, Getafe's Esteban Granero and Manu del Moral, and Levante's Mustapha Riga all deserve mention.
Abhishek Thakur
oh yeah and quote of the day comes from Cruyff: Valdes As Good As Casillas
elbecko- Number of posts : 1129
Registration date : 2007-10-06
- Post n°98
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
Well, Valdes once was a libaility in Barca side, but has come a looog way last couple of seasons, and I have to say has become a very decent goalkeeper. He still isn't as good as Iker (not may in the world are) for consistency and as an overall package, but not that much to laugh about, IMO.supermadrid wrote:oh yeah and quote of the day comes from Cruyff: Valdes As Good As Casillas
EM Seleção e Selecção- Number of posts : 2495
Age : 37
Supports : Portugal Brasil Africa
Favourite Player : Ronaldo Zidane Dinho Figo CR Robinho Neymar Hazard
Registration date : 2007-11-22
- Post n°99
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
Diego Maradona Jr claims he has been contacted about the prospect of joining a club in La Liga.
The son of the Argentina idol currently plies his trade at Italian Serie D side Venafro and has never played top-flight football.
The 21-year old says he has been contacted by clubs in Spain's top two divisions and is waiting to see what develops.
He told Brazilian website globoesporte.com: "There have been contacts from Spain, both top flight and others from the second division. We will see what happens.
"I think my style is similar to Carlos Tevez. I am a player who likes attacking, but also competes in midfield and always at speed."
Maradona Jr also wants to follow in his father's footsteps by playing for the Argentina national team despite being born in Italy.
He said: "I have Argentinian relatives in my family and the national team would be a dream, as well as playing at Napoli."
The son of the Argentina idol currently plies his trade at Italian Serie D side Venafro and has never played top-flight football.
The 21-year old says he has been contacted by clubs in Spain's top two divisions and is waiting to see what develops.
He told Brazilian website globoesporte.com: "There have been contacts from Spain, both top flight and others from the second division. We will see what happens.
"I think my style is similar to Carlos Tevez. I am a player who likes attacking, but also competes in midfield and always at speed."
Maradona Jr also wants to follow in his father's footsteps by playing for the Argentina national team despite being born in Italy.
He said: "I have Argentinian relatives in my family and the national team would be a dream, as well as playing at Napoli."
Super Progress- Number of posts : 15429
Age : 35
Supports : Real Madrid + Mierda inchada en un palo
Favourite Player : Laudrup,Cassano,Totti, Zidane,Marcelo, Pepe!,Guti, PROGRESS
Registration date : 2006-08-07
- Post n°100
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
i dont think valdes is a bad keeper at all in fact he is underated but to say that he is equal is wrong and im not surprised that cruyff said this.elbecko wrote:Well, Valdes once was a libaility in Barca side, but has come a looog way last couple of seasons, and I have to say has become a very decent goalkeeper. He still isn't as good as Iker (not may in the world are) for consistency and as an overall package, but not that much to laugh about, IMO.supermadrid wrote:oh yeah and quote of the day comes from Cruyff: Valdes As Good As Casillas
EM Seleção e Selecção- Number of posts : 2495
Age : 37
Supports : Portugal Brasil Africa
Favourite Player : Ronaldo Zidane Dinho Figo CR Robinho Neymar Hazard
Registration date : 2007-11-22
- Post n°101
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
Why isn't he a international yet?supermadrid wrote:i dont think valdes is a bad keeper at all in fact he is underated but to say that he is equal is wrong and im not surprised that cruyff said this.elbecko wrote:Well, Valdes once was a libaility in Barca side, but has come a looog way last couple of seasons, and I have to say has become a very decent goalkeeper. He still isn't as good as Iker (not may in the world are) for consistency and as an overall package, but not that much to laugh about, IMO.supermadrid wrote:oh yeah and quote of the day comes from Cruyff: Valdes As Good As Casillas
Super Progress- Number of posts : 15429
Age : 35
Supports : Real Madrid + Mierda inchada en un palo
Favourite Player : Laudrup,Cassano,Totti, Zidane,Marcelo, Pepe!,Guti, PROGRESS
Registration date : 2006-08-07
- Post n°102
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
Well valdes is behind casillas/reina allthough imo he is about equal to reina this season. but reina has been more consistent for the last couple of years.EMPortuguese wrote:Why isn't he a international yet?supermadrid wrote:i dont think valdes is a bad keeper at all in fact he is underated but to say that he is equal is wrong and im not surprised that cruyff said this.elbecko wrote:Well, Valdes once was a libaility in Barca side, but has come a looog way last couple of seasons, and I have to say has become a very decent goalkeeper. He still isn't as good as Iker (not may in the world are) for consistency and as an overall package, but not that much to laugh about, IMO.supermadrid wrote:oh yeah and quote of the day comes from Cruyff: Valdes As Good As Casillas
EMP- Number of posts : 7384
Age : 61
Supports : Valencia, and in Africa Al-Ahly
Favourite Player : The Legendary David Albelda, Mohammed Aboutreika, Charles Gyamfi, Baba Yara, Kalusha Bwalya, Godfrey Chitalu, Segun Odegbami,
Registration date : 2007-03-24
- Post n°103
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
Soler and Koeman are beyond scum!
Torrente- Number of posts : 5489
Age : 39
Registration date : 2006-08-16
- Post n°104
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
supermadrid wrote:Well valdes is behind casillas/reina allthough imo he is about equal to reina this season. but reina has been more consistent for the last couple of years.EMPortuguese wrote:Why isn't he a international yet?supermadrid wrote:i dont think valdes is a bad keeper at all in fact he is underated but to say that he is equal is wrong and im not surprised that cruyff said this.elbecko wrote:Well, Valdes once was a libaility in Barca side, but has come a looog way last couple of seasons, and I have to say has become a very decent goalkeeper. He still isn't as good as Iker (not may in the world are) for consistency and as an overall package, but not that much to laugh about, IMO.supermadrid wrote:oh yeah and quote of the day comes from Cruyff: Valdes As Good As Casillas
Butterfingers Valdes hasn't done anything stupid in a few months but you know it's only a matter of time. Overall, the guy is a decent goalie but that's it. I don't see the point of calling him to the Spanish team when we have Casillas, Reina, and Palop. I'd even take Canizares ahead of him despite the latter's drop in form this season and not having a team at the moment.
fcb- Number of posts : 40471
Age : 113
Supports : FC Barcelona
Registration date : 2006-08-11
- Post n°105
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
Bias is one thing...choosing Canizares (who has most definitely made much more mistakes than Valdes in the past 2-3 seasons) over Valdes is quite another.
Jaime- Number of posts : 32027
Age : 46
Supports : Real Madrid CF
Favourite Player : Butragueño, Redondo, Raúl, Guti, Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Isco, Carvajal
Registration date : 2006-08-08
- Post n°106
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
From Monday's La Liga Loca:
*********************
Monday's Good Day, Bad Day - Round 21
For the Spanish Thing's ruminations on Sevilla, click here for full satisfaction.
And for those wanting to see La Liga Loca in beautiful surround sound, HD 3D, tune into Extra Time (22.05 UK time) on Real Madrid TV - a show repeated throughout the week.
Bad Day
Valencia
Ok. Hands up in surrender. This isn't funny anymore. La Liga Loca is very, very sorry. The pins have been removed from the Juan Soler doll. No more evil thoughts will be heading in Valencia's direction.
Not really. This is hilarious. Without a victory in nine. Two goals scored in ten. Six points from thirty. And losing at home to Almería.
"If someone wants to destroy a team in two months, ask Koeman. He has the instruction manual," advises El Pais on a Valencia side that now has a record worse than Levante's over the past ten rounds of action.
"The club is in crisis," admitted the Dutch destroyer on Sunday evening, "but I'm not running away after two months." He may not have a choice, as 40,000 very angry Mestallans are the brink of chasing Koeman and his crazy ways right out of town.
Espanyol
Oh dear. Ronald Koeman is not the only man who needs that frown turning upside down. Paul from Barcelona is in the same boat of despondency too, having seen his side lose three in a row in the league.
"Short but sweet today folks. Too depressed to put any effort in. Cr@p defending and seemingly half-fit team threw away 3 points. Betis were not very good but won't go down.
First goal looked offside to me and we missed at least 8 good chances. One sitter from Coro 5 mins from time was...can't think of a suitable word. "Crap" maybe? Sooner we get a new striker the better.
Good away fan turn out as always. Going to listen to Leonard Cohen to cheer myself up."
Paul, Barcelona
Barcelona
Having only caught the briefest of snatches of this match during, before and after a trip to the Bernabeu on Sunday night, La Liga Loca is about the least qualified person in Spain to say what happened. Not that this stops most of those writing in Marca and AS day in, day out.
The press seems to be agreed that Barcelona should have won the game by scoring a second, but didn't. And that Athletic Bilbao suddenly produced the kind of gonad-grasping grit that has been absent from their play for much of the season.
"A draw that's a defeat," was the opinion of the newly signed up Andrés Iniesta, after the game.
The gap from Real Madrid is now nine points. It's not a chasm, but its big enough to make you think twice about jumping it. "Real Madrid do not seem to be disposed to dropping their guard," writes a thoroughly depressed and defeatist sounding Josep Maria Casanovas, writing in Sport.
One most hope Casanovas' pessimistic appraisal is wrong, as this season could be turning very very dull, very very soon, if Barcelona don't get their act together.
Murcia
A disastrous defeat at the hands of lowly Levante on Sunday, for Murcia. And it was a defeat that caused a number of home fans to call for the head of manager, Lucas Alcaraz, according to AS.
The bottom of the table is still a bit of a squeeze, so there is plenty of time for Murcia to dig themselves out of trouble. But only if Baiano picks up a shovel, some time soon.
José Antonio Reyes
People of the Primera! Culé's and Ché's. Perico's and..er..those who come from Valladolid. It's time to focus on what unites us, not divides us. It's time to focus on what makes us strong, not makes us weak. (La Liga Loca is very much into American Primary season). It's time to unite behind the belief that José Antonio Reyes is a bit of a tit.
After a season where the winger has done nothing but complain off the pitch and ponce about on it, Reyes had the chance to put all this behind him and lead his side to victory against Mallorca. Instead, he saw red in a match Marca advised was his last chance to prove himself to Javier Aguirre.
"He's a fascinating but irritating study in human behavoir," observed AS on Reyes' two yellow cards for dissent and a dirty foul that was the highlight of their 1-0 defeat to Mallorca.
Cuco Ziganda
La Liga Loca first got an inkling that all was not right in the Osasuna manager's head at a post match press conference at the Calderón against Atlético Madrid - a match which saw four sent off for the visitors. "The referee had a great game," dead-panned Ziganda with ill-disguised sarcasm.
On Saturday night against Sevilla, Cuco went into complete footballing meltdown when a dubious penalty decision was awarded against his team, in injury time. "You should all be dead, like Puerta," was what Sevilla radio worker, Jesus Alvarado, claims Ziganda yelled at the Sevilla players - something that the Osasuna coach strongly denies.
With the penalty converted and the game lost, Cuco stormed onto the pitch, attempted to fight everyone there and then preceded to rant against refereeing slights that have bedeviled his side, all season.
All in all it was brilliant stuff.
Recreativo
With uncanny and rare predictive brilliance, La Liga Loca wrote that Recreativo would be next to slip into the relegation ejector seat. And so it came to be with a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Getafe for Muñoz' minions.
Recreativo have managed to increase their goal tally over recent weeks, but are still without a win in six.
Good Day
Real Madrid
La Liga Loca loves Villarreal. With the defensive stylings of Pascal Cygan at the back at the rampaging Rossi up front, they always bring a smile to your face when they turn up for a game of football.
La Liga Loca is also growing fond of Robinho. Another cracking display from no longer young Brazilan put three more points in Real Madrid's title chasing bag - three more points that is starting to make the blog believe that maybe, just maybe Bernd Schuster's men aren't lucky so and so's playing Cr@p teams.
This match was possibly the last big test for Real Madrid, this season - although the blog thinks next week's trip to Almeria could be an upset. Not that AS' Tomas Roncero would agree,
"This Madrid can't be stopped by the Yellow Submarine, nor an aircraft carrier, nor the Seventh Fleet." They probably could be. Especially, if they fly over it in La Saeta.
Real Betis
Betis seem to have one tactical move these days - lob the ball from the left for Edu to head home. But by thunder, it's effective. A very, very, very handy away win for a side, who, let's not forget are still quite rubbish.
Getafe
A second win in a row for free scoring Getafe and a second match with three goals scored.
Levante
An away win! Three goals! These are, indeed, the End of Days.
Juan Carlos Valerón
A fantastic sight on the pitch in Riazor, on Sunday - not words you use often, these days. That was the sight of Valéron back playing football after a two year league absence and after a brush with retirement. The midfielder snapped his ligaments in January 2006, before coming back in a friendly, in July, when the same thing happened.
The following January, Valerón suffered another set back in January of 2007. A year later, he ran onto the pitch in their 3-1 win over Valladolid to give his side the teeniest sliver of hope for the future.
Almería
The best performance from a Primera debutant in sixteen years, thanks to run of three 1-0 wins a row. You still wouldn't want to watch them, though.
*********************
Monday's Good Day, Bad Day - Round 21
For the Spanish Thing's ruminations on Sevilla, click here for full satisfaction.
And for those wanting to see La Liga Loca in beautiful surround sound, HD 3D, tune into Extra Time (22.05 UK time) on Real Madrid TV - a show repeated throughout the week.
Bad Day
Valencia
Ok. Hands up in surrender. This isn't funny anymore. La Liga Loca is very, very sorry. The pins have been removed from the Juan Soler doll. No more evil thoughts will be heading in Valencia's direction.
Not really. This is hilarious. Without a victory in nine. Two goals scored in ten. Six points from thirty. And losing at home to Almería.
"If someone wants to destroy a team in two months, ask Koeman. He has the instruction manual," advises El Pais on a Valencia side that now has a record worse than Levante's over the past ten rounds of action.
"The club is in crisis," admitted the Dutch destroyer on Sunday evening, "but I'm not running away after two months." He may not have a choice, as 40,000 very angry Mestallans are the brink of chasing Koeman and his crazy ways right out of town.
Espanyol
Oh dear. Ronald Koeman is not the only man who needs that frown turning upside down. Paul from Barcelona is in the same boat of despondency too, having seen his side lose three in a row in the league.
"Short but sweet today folks. Too depressed to put any effort in. Cr@p defending and seemingly half-fit team threw away 3 points. Betis were not very good but won't go down.
First goal looked offside to me and we missed at least 8 good chances. One sitter from Coro 5 mins from time was...can't think of a suitable word. "Crap" maybe? Sooner we get a new striker the better.
Good away fan turn out as always. Going to listen to Leonard Cohen to cheer myself up."
Paul, Barcelona
Barcelona
Having only caught the briefest of snatches of this match during, before and after a trip to the Bernabeu on Sunday night, La Liga Loca is about the least qualified person in Spain to say what happened. Not that this stops most of those writing in Marca and AS day in, day out.
The press seems to be agreed that Barcelona should have won the game by scoring a second, but didn't. And that Athletic Bilbao suddenly produced the kind of gonad-grasping grit that has been absent from their play for much of the season.
"A draw that's a defeat," was the opinion of the newly signed up Andrés Iniesta, after the game.
The gap from Real Madrid is now nine points. It's not a chasm, but its big enough to make you think twice about jumping it. "Real Madrid do not seem to be disposed to dropping their guard," writes a thoroughly depressed and defeatist sounding Josep Maria Casanovas, writing in Sport.
One most hope Casanovas' pessimistic appraisal is wrong, as this season could be turning very very dull, very very soon, if Barcelona don't get their act together.
Murcia
A disastrous defeat at the hands of lowly Levante on Sunday, for Murcia. And it was a defeat that caused a number of home fans to call for the head of manager, Lucas Alcaraz, according to AS.
The bottom of the table is still a bit of a squeeze, so there is plenty of time for Murcia to dig themselves out of trouble. But only if Baiano picks up a shovel, some time soon.
José Antonio Reyes
People of the Primera! Culé's and Ché's. Perico's and..er..those who come from Valladolid. It's time to focus on what unites us, not divides us. It's time to focus on what makes us strong, not makes us weak. (La Liga Loca is very much into American Primary season). It's time to unite behind the belief that José Antonio Reyes is a bit of a tit.
After a season where the winger has done nothing but complain off the pitch and ponce about on it, Reyes had the chance to put all this behind him and lead his side to victory against Mallorca. Instead, he saw red in a match Marca advised was his last chance to prove himself to Javier Aguirre.
"He's a fascinating but irritating study in human behavoir," observed AS on Reyes' two yellow cards for dissent and a dirty foul that was the highlight of their 1-0 defeat to Mallorca.
Cuco Ziganda
La Liga Loca first got an inkling that all was not right in the Osasuna manager's head at a post match press conference at the Calderón against Atlético Madrid - a match which saw four sent off for the visitors. "The referee had a great game," dead-panned Ziganda with ill-disguised sarcasm.
On Saturday night against Sevilla, Cuco went into complete footballing meltdown when a dubious penalty decision was awarded against his team, in injury time. "You should all be dead, like Puerta," was what Sevilla radio worker, Jesus Alvarado, claims Ziganda yelled at the Sevilla players - something that the Osasuna coach strongly denies.
With the penalty converted and the game lost, Cuco stormed onto the pitch, attempted to fight everyone there and then preceded to rant against refereeing slights that have bedeviled his side, all season.
All in all it was brilliant stuff.
Recreativo
With uncanny and rare predictive brilliance, La Liga Loca wrote that Recreativo would be next to slip into the relegation ejector seat. And so it came to be with a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Getafe for Muñoz' minions.
Recreativo have managed to increase their goal tally over recent weeks, but are still without a win in six.
Good Day
Real Madrid
La Liga Loca loves Villarreal. With the defensive stylings of Pascal Cygan at the back at the rampaging Rossi up front, they always bring a smile to your face when they turn up for a game of football.
La Liga Loca is also growing fond of Robinho. Another cracking display from no longer young Brazilan put three more points in Real Madrid's title chasing bag - three more points that is starting to make the blog believe that maybe, just maybe Bernd Schuster's men aren't lucky so and so's playing Cr@p teams.
This match was possibly the last big test for Real Madrid, this season - although the blog thinks next week's trip to Almeria could be an upset. Not that AS' Tomas Roncero would agree,
"This Madrid can't be stopped by the Yellow Submarine, nor an aircraft carrier, nor the Seventh Fleet." They probably could be. Especially, if they fly over it in La Saeta.
Real Betis
Betis seem to have one tactical move these days - lob the ball from the left for Edu to head home. But by thunder, it's effective. A very, very, very handy away win for a side, who, let's not forget are still quite rubbish.
Getafe
A second win in a row for free scoring Getafe and a second match with three goals scored.
Levante
An away win! Three goals! These are, indeed, the End of Days.
Juan Carlos Valerón
A fantastic sight on the pitch in Riazor, on Sunday - not words you use often, these days. That was the sight of Valéron back playing football after a two year league absence and after a brush with retirement. The midfielder snapped his ligaments in January 2006, before coming back in a friendly, in July, when the same thing happened.
The following January, Valerón suffered another set back in January of 2007. A year later, he ran onto the pitch in their 3-1 win over Valladolid to give his side the teeniest sliver of hope for the future.
Almería
The best performance from a Primera debutant in sixteen years, thanks to run of three 1-0 wins a row. You still wouldn't want to watch them, though.
fcb- Number of posts : 40471
Age : 113
Supports : FC Barcelona
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- Post n°107
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
Article from Phill Ball too:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=502961&root=europe&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1&cc=4716
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=502961&root=europe&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1&cc=4716
Machiavel- Number of posts : 21355
Age : 36
Supports : AFC Ajax & Manchester United FC
Favourite Player : Paul Scholes & Wesley Sneijder
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- Post n°108
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
@ Spanish Friends
What does: "Un momento dado" mean? and does it make any sense?
What does: "Un momento dado" mean? and does it make any sense?
DeLux- Number of posts : 4399
Age : 38
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- Post n°109
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
In a given moment.Nummer 14 wrote:@ Spanish Friends
What does: "Un momento dado" mean? and does it make any sense?
Machiavel- Number of posts : 21355
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Registration date : 2006-08-06
- Post n°110
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
El Tiki Taka wrote:In a given moment.Nummer 14 wrote:@ Spanish Friends
What does: "Un momento dado" mean? and does it make any sense?
Ah thanks, so what would “at any given moment” be translated into?
DeLux- Number of posts : 4399
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- Post n°111
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
En cualquier momento (dado).
Machiavel- Number of posts : 21355
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- Post n°112
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
Found it amazing that the "expression" 'un momento dado' was accidentally coined by Johan Cruyff, or was this "expression" used before.
DeLux- Number of posts : 4399
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- Post n°113
Re: La Liga: Jornada 21
I thought that you were thinking about that.
It's actually a misnomer "en un momento dado" is a phrase that has always been used. What Cruyff actually said was "en un momento cualquier" (at any moment)
It's actually a misnomer "en un momento dado" is a phrase that has always been used. What Cruyff actually said was "en un momento cualquier" (at any moment)
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