La Liga 2013/14 Season Thread

messi did fuck all.

two inch perfect pass to set up a goal and draw a pk. scored the last pk under huge pressure, something people still accuse him of not being able to do.

not saying he was magnificent but did fuck all  

Di maria had a brilliant game, but that was primarly due to tata stupid tactics, to think alves alone could manage marcelo,di maria and ronaldo was beyond stupid.

it would have only worked if neymar was playing out of his skin and thus demanded marcelo and di maria to track back and mark him.

last the europeboard is the only place iniesta's foul is being debated as not being a penalty

http://abload.de/img/bugaopaiq.gif

not a penalty

Was about to respond that nobody said he did fuck all but that is exactly what fey wrote. Obvious I disagree with that but for much he was out of it. Was discussing how invisible Neymar was during the first half when a friend asked me about Messi who I could barely remember touching the ball. It is true that I don't see anybody else doubting the Iniesta penalty too much but the argument made here and the gifs suggest it was indeed very weak but nobody I was with it were saying that much although I gues part of it is also the commentator. Ours said the ref had an excellent game and I hadn't really seen too many replays so I was surprised by the reaction on here and he may well have botched it in retrospect.

How did everybody miss the Busquets stamp? I didn't notice anything at the time and nor did the tv producers. While it was a clear red I don't recall Pepe reacting to it at all in any way.

yeah I saw the busquets stomp in live action is looks like it wasn't done purposefully, but pics make it look other wise

either way its on pepe, So I really don't care. should have been worst.

only place? really?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/10717202/Real-Madrid-v-Barcelona-live.html

82 min It's only another penalty kick. To Barcelona. Iniesta wriggles between Alonso and Carvajal in the penalty area and hits the deck. He's looking for it, but it's more of a penalty than the previous two.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/mar/23/real-madrid-barcelona-el-clasico-live

83 min: Andres Iniesta goes down and Barcelona have another penalty! He was sandwiched by Carvajal and Alonso but Iniesta made the most of it. I'm not sure about that at all.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26690060

21:59:
Real Madrid 3-4 Barcelona
All three of the penalty decisions were questionable.

Dani Alves fouled Cristiano Ronaldo outside the box for the first. Sergio Ramos clipped Neymar for the second but there was minimal contact and it may very well not have been deliberate.

And Andres Iniesta didn't need a written invitation to go down for the decisive kick.

Only place? No 

what i also took from the game is that, fifa needs to change the rule on the pk and red card, which everyone has been asking for, for years.

A pk and a yellow is enough.

a red if the where the last man and it was outside the penalty area or something like that.

messiah wrote:what i also took from the game is that, fifa needs to change the rule on the pk and red card, which everyone has been asking for, for years.

A pk and a yellow is enough.

a red if the where the last man and it was outside the penalty area or something like that.

That would be a stupid idea, it would end up with a lot more defenders fouling players in the penalty box, safe in the knowledge that they can't be sent off

if they want to stupidly foul someone in the box and give away a pk then fine

Yeah I don't see this inflating the amount of penalties being committed that much. I think players generally try to avoid catching the penalty more than avoiding the red card but obviously the red card is a deterrent but overal I think we are better off without the so-called triple punishment.

Super Progress wrote:Yeah I don't see this inflating the amount of penalties being committed that much. I think players generally try to avoid catching the penalty more than avoiding the red card but obviously the red card is a deterrent but overal I think we are better off without the so-called triple punishment.

  

But just to add another spin. There are too many situations that are "open to interpretation" and it's a big decision to award a penalty and send a player off, knowing that effectively in 99% of situations it will decided the game. Fans on either end of these decisions (or lack of a decision) are incensed as they know what it means. You can see that ref's are even reluctant to give a 2nd yellow for a slightly late challenge to a player who is already on a yellow, so he "has a word" rather than producing the red. It would make it easier on the ref to make a decision and give a penalty and a yellow. You might get more penalties, but they'd be the correct decisions. Fans expectations would also be controlled, as they would then only be expecting a penalty and not a penalty and to play against a player less. Everyone wins, except whoever came up with the rule in the first place, if that was blatter or someone then I expect it will never be changed.

110% wrote:

Super Progress wrote:Yeah I don't see this inflating the amount of penalties being committed that much. I think players generally try to avoid catching the penalty more than avoiding the red card but obviously the red card is a deterrent but overal I think we are better off without the so-called triple punishment.

  

But just to add another spin. There are too many situations that are "open to interpretation" and it's a big decision to award a penalty and send a player off, knowing that effectively in 99% of situations it will decided the game. Fans on either end of these decisions (or lack of a decision) are incensed as they know what it means. You can see that ref's are even reluctant to give a 2nd yellow for a slightly late challenge to a player who is already on a yellow, so he "has a word" rather than producing the red. It would make it easier on the ref to make a decision and give a penalty and a yellow. You might get more penalties, but they'd be the correct decisions. Fans expectations would also be controlled, as they would then only be expecting a penalty and not a penalty and to play against a player less. Everyone wins, except whoever came up with the rule in the first place, if that was blatter or someone then I expect it will never be changed.

The Guardian posted an article about how the rule was invented and the problem it solved. Refs, as you say, have done the fair thing(imo) at times and simply given a yellow but this violates the rules and lately it seems it is being enforced strictly. Considering that Bayern Munich came out against this triple punishment after the Arsenal game, and they seemed genuine then I think we are starting to see momentum for a rule change. Considering that football can be quite conservative I expect there to be some lag time. The outrageous goal Tottenham scored at Old Traford set off a big debate that has only now resulted in changing the rules so we can microchip the ball. Thankfully this rule change won't need technology so I'm hopeful that it will be faster but we will probably need another decision or two in the next year as well.

Barcelona up 1-0 against Celta but Valdes has been stretchered off. Looks like his knee. Doesn't look good. Pinto on.

Ah. Same injury for Valdes as Jese. Torn cruciate ligament. Out for 6 months.

Don't wish injuries on anyone so I hope he can recover.

In the long run I think it is good for Spain though because it will force Del Bosque to take De Gea or one of the other younger keepers to the WC which will be good because Del Bosque wasn't going to drop any of Casillas, Valdes or Reina on his own.

So that was valdes last ever game for barcelona?

who would take him while he is injured, no-one knows if he'll come back to be the average keeper he was before

Real Lose again!!! Bale who???

Great night of results.
at least it's in our own hands now. for now...
Like Atletico...

Valdes out for some time, big blow. Pinto been quite reliable but he's no Valdes.
It would be interesting to see who will sign him whilst he is injured...

Didnt watch full match, but it looks like an another excellent performance by Rakitic (or maybe it;s only becase of highlights). His first touch and assist for 2nd Bacca goal were just amazing. I guess he will be high on top teams wish lists this summer.

Only problem I see for him is his versatility - he will be always used as a player who is moved all over the pitch (pivot, trequartista, wide midfielder), which will stop him from delivering 100% in this stage of his career.

Too bad about Valdes, he rally didn't deserve such a finish to his Barcelona career   

stinger wrote:Didnt watch full match, but it looks like an another excellent performance by Rakitic (or maybe it;s only becase of highlights). His first touch and assist for 2nd Bacca goal were just amazing. I guess he will be high on top teams wish lists this summer.

Only problem I see for him is his versatility - he will be always used as a player who is moved all over the pitch (pivot, trequartista, wide midfielder), which will stop him from delivering 100% in this stage of his career.

Too bad about Valdes, he rally didn't deserve such a finish to his Barcelona career   

His own choice at the end of the day, it wouldn't be the end of his barca career if he wasn't so intent on "finding a new challenge" (or "running down his contract for a big pay day" as I see it, with those rumours of the big signing on fee from monaco). None of the top EPL teams need him (maybe arsenal?), bayern don't need him, Italian teams can't afford him, so it is france or a team like galatassary maybe (who can offer him CL football). Why he'd consider the french league as an interesting challenge, after playing at barca, I can't understand.

110% wrote:

stinger wrote:Didnt watch full match, but it looks like an another excellent performance by Rakitic (or maybe it;s only becase of highlights). His first touch and assist for 2nd Bacca goal were just amazing. I guess he will be high on top teams wish lists this summer.

Only problem I see for him is his versatility - he will be always used as a player who is moved all over the pitch (pivot, trequartista, wide midfielder), which will stop him from delivering 100% in this stage of his career.

Too bad about Valdes, he rally didn't deserve such a finish to his Barcelona career   

His own choice at the end of the day, it wouldn't be the end of his barca career if he wasn't so intent on "finding a new challenge" (or "running down his contract for a big pay day" as I see it, with those rumours of the big signing on fee from monaco). None of the top EPL teams need him (maybe arsenal?), bayern don't need him, Italian teams can't afford him, so it is france or a team like galatassary maybe (who can offer him CL football). Why he'd consider the french league as an interesting challenge, after playing at barca, I can't understand.

quite agree there with you, it may also put off other players from running down their contracts in the knowledge that a big injury could see them without a contract altogether. Not sure is he's going to be back and fit now before the new season and who's going to sign him as an injured player...

So I guess: Lewandowski > Valdes.

Or Bayern > Whatever team was interested in Valdes

valdez has made over 50m euros in his time at barca, say where going to offer him 7.5m the same as xavi and iniesta to think he did it purely for money is a no no.

I think he just wanted a change, and not a challenge like he said. just a simple change.

rumors are that he is going to city, he is far better than hart, who has eyes to see let them see that, who doesn't won't

he could go to arsenal as well

and those are the rumors. Monaco/arsenal/city

he has a precontract with monaco, but their is a clause that he can sign for another team if he chooses or stay at barca, which i wouldn't mind.

before his injury earlier this season, all i spain, called him the best keeper in the league, he was back to his best after last seasons dip.

he was finding his feet again and not this.

messiah wrote:valdez has made over 50m euros in his time at barca, say where going to offer him 7.5m the same as xavi and iniesta to think he did it purely for money is a no no.

I think he just wanted a change, and not a challenge like he said. just a simple change.

rumors are that he is going to city, he is far better than hart, who has eyes to see let them see that, who doesn't won't

he could go to arsenal as well

and those are the rumors. Monaco/arsenal/city

he has a precontract with monaco, but their is a clause that he can sign for another team if he chooses or stay at barca, which i wouldn't mind.

before his injury earlier this season, all i spain, called him the best keeper in the league, he was back to his best after last seasons dip.

he was finding his feet again and not this.

Rumour was a big "tax free" SIGNING ON fee from monaco. You should know all about signing on fees and the difference between tax free and not tax free, after the neymar fiasco   

There is also the question of pressure at barca, which maybe he wants to escape. So thinking about getting a signing on fee, getting paid more and having less pressure. All good reasons for leaving , much better than challenge/change, which is what people say in interviews to make a good impression. I have said it in every interview I ever had for a job, but in reality I was applying for a job that paid me more for doing less. Change is good, but he is a goal keeper, whether he stands in front of a goal in spain or france, his job hasn't changed, just where he is doing it.

stinger wrote:So I guess: Lewandowski > Valdes.

Or Bayern > Whatever team was interested in Valdes

In this case you need to use "=" for both statements

In lewandowski's favour at least he didn't try to run down his contract completely so dortmund could have got some money for him if they had agreed to sell.

Anyway I don't say a thing about monaco, and bayern, well they do what every club does. I am sure dortmund negotiated unofficially with other clubs players before.

I only say that valdes is in complete control of his own destiny. If he hadn't run down his contract, he would be back in the team after injury. If he had agreed to be to sold, then he could have been honoured in his last game before leaving. It's because he decided to run down his contract that he is in the situation he is in.

BTW I read that during his contract negotiations in 2007, which were apparently quite protracted, valdes got a "signing on fee", even though he was already at the club. He doesn't care about money   

110% wrote:BTW I read that during his contract negotiations in 2007, which were apparently quite protracted, valdes got a "signing on fee", even though he was already at the club. He doesn't care about money   

Every player gets signing on fee when signing a new one, a few days ago I read about it in article regarding Sagna and his negotiatons with Arsenal.

But to Sagna credit, at least he (or his representatives) has a decency to tell more like it is - he expects Arsenal to reward him for being loyal when other leaving players were leaving club every summer.

110% wrote:

messiah wrote:valdez has made over 50m euros in his time at barca, say where going to offer him 7.5m the same as xavi and iniesta to think he did it purely for money is a no no.

I think he just wanted a change, and not a challenge like he said. just a simple change.

rumors are that he is going to city, he is far better than hart, who has eyes to see let them see that, who doesn't won't

he could go to arsenal as well

and those are the rumors. Monaco/arsenal/city

he has a precontract with monaco, but their is a clause that he can sign for another team if he chooses or stay at barca, which i wouldn't mind.

before his injury earlier this season, all i spain, called him the best keeper in the league, he was back to his best after last seasons dip.

he was finding his feet again and not this.

Rumour was a big "tax free" SIGNING ON fee from monaco. You should know all about signing on fees and the difference between tax free and not tax free, after the neymar fiasco    

There is also the question of pressure at barca, which maybe he wants to escape. So thinking about getting a signing on fee, getting paid more and having less pressure. All good reasons for leaving , much better than challenge/change, which is what people say in interviews to make a good impression. I have said it in every interview I ever had for a job, but in reality I was applying for a job that paid me more for doing less. Change is good, but he is a goal keeper, whether he stands in front of a goal in spain or france, his job hasn't changed, just where he is doing it.

To be fair - unless Valdes would sign for Bayern (which is of course impossible) he would be doing more and not less comparing to Barcelona. I have no idea who is a Monaco goalkeeper, but watching their games he or Sirigu from PSG have significantly more to do comparing to Valdes in Barcelona and their 99% possession. I can see also practices being easier in Barca.

Plus, there was a high probability that he will be playing for a team much less suited to his strentghs than Barca, sounds like a challenge for me.

110% wrote:So that was valdes last ever game for barcelona?

Looks like it.

Re: Sevilla-Real Madrid

Haven't seen the match only the highlights so far. Obviously it's disappointing and it has to be said that in the last month or so Diego Lopez has really been letting us down. He has to save the second goal from Bacca. There is already a #CasillasYa campaign going on twitter. Varane hasn't been the same this year either with the injury and not a lot of regular football.

All that said we're only 3 points down and I think anyone who thinks all of the top 3 are going to win the rest of the games is fooling themselves. By some logic defying miracle the league is a lot more competitive than it has been in nearly a decade. So I don't think it's completely a lost cause although obviously it's better when your can decide your own future.

If I'm being honest, to this point Atletico deserve the title.

I was saying that for me. I would talk about challenges, while I was thinking about shorter working hours, higher salary, less travelling, less pressure, less being away from my family, more vacation days etc. It's a trained answer to an interview question.  You can be bored with your job and a change can help, but we can get a job that truly is different. Valdes, on the other hand, would still do pretty much the same job (training, matches etc.) just in a different location. How different is the location for footballers these days, it's not like when Ian rush went to juventus and he couldn't get proper toast . With their money, they live in massive houses, drive fancy cars, go to expensive restaurants, which are pretty much the same whether he is in barcelona or monaco. Talking about challenges or changes gives a better impression than him answering "loadsamoney" if journalists, football fans etc asks him why he is moving.

Jaime wrote:

110% wrote:So that was valdes last ever game for barcelona?

Looks like it.

Re: Sevilla-Real Madrid

Haven't seen the match only the highlights so far. Obviously it's disappointing and it has to be said that in the last month or so Diego Lopez has really been letting us down. He has to save the second goal from Bacca. There is already a #CasillasYa campaign going on twitter. :lol:Varane hasn't been the same this year either with the injury and not a lot of regular football.

All that said we're only 3 points down and I think anyone who thinks all of the top 3 are going to win the rest of the games is fooling themselves. By some logic defying miracle the league is a lot more competitive than it has been in nearly a decade. So I don't think it's completely a lost cause although obviously it's better when your can decide your own future.

If I'm being honest, to this point Atletico deserve the title.

  

I am hoping that Athletico win it in the last game of the season in the home of you know who

I agree as well  

But I am wondering if they maybe should prioritize CL run over Spanish Title - the former sounds much more profitable and they are far away from decent financial situation. Not sure if they can do more damage in both competitions.