Topic: La Liga 11/12

[Danyaals Kop]

to be honest I dont think that was a pen.

[rowan_d]

The only difference between that and Jones on Yakubu is that he's a defender and he used his forearms instead of his palms imo

Needed a replay, but looks a clear pen from the close-up angles

[Kochevnik]

I don't know what the rest of you are watching, but for me that's a definite penalty.  The defender's arms are clearly extended for a push.  It's not that they came together, it's that the defender clearly extended his arms to push Cuenca over.  How could it not be a pen?

[Y2J]

If that was a penalty, then I'm Tom Cruise. It was a foul on Cuenca FFS.

[Degs]

Not a pen
Said it in the bargains thread but Kone is on a free and if he would settle for it would be a good 3rd/4th choice backup considering the extra matches we have next season.

[Danyaals Kop]

As long as Barca win - all will be right.

[Degs]

I'll clarify though, it's a pen in Spain but not over here

[PhiLFC#1]

Scored in the last 8 league matches now Messi, wonder what the record is

[.Mike]

63 for the little fella now. Can see it going to 66 on Wednesday.

[Nick110581]

63 for the little fella now. Can see it going to 66 on Wednesday.

63. Holy fuck.

Sets up Clasico nicely though.

[Kochevnik]

Not a pen
Said it in the bargains thread but Kone is on a free and if he would settle for it would be a good 3rd/4th choice backup considering the extra matches we have next season.

Worked tirelessly for his team tonight.  Depends on who else we're bringing in, I suppose.

[Vidocq]

I'll clarify though, it's a pen in Spain but not over here

Ashley Young

[Stevie93]

Messi and Ronaldo both on 41 for the Pichichi. That's gonna go right to the wire.

[Stevie93]

I'll clarify though, it's a pen in Spain but not over here

It's not a pen in Spain at all, did you see the reactions of the Levante players? Soft pen.

[Kochevnik]

Ashley Young

Not even remotely the same thing.  The Levante player isn't just touching Cuenca with his right arm, he pushes him over.

[Scruba]

Just seen the pen, soft as butter, could cost Madrid the league that

[Vidocq]

Not even remotely the same thing.  The Levante player isn't just touching Cuenca with his right arm, he pushes him over.

yup, i was just quoting someone who said that is never a pen in England...Ashleys pen was twice softer

[Spanish Fan]

Cesc best contribution in the match.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFHPVGJrxWo&feature=player_embedded

[theartist]

Cesc best contribution in the match.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFHPVGJrxWo&feature=player_embedded

  wtf ahah

[BarryCrocker]

Messi and Ronaldo both on 41 for the Pichichi. That's gonna go right to the wire.

Just goes to show how poor La Liga is as a 20 team competition. Last year Ronaldo was the first player to ever score 40 goals in the league in a season. This year we have two players who just happen to come from the clubs that get the highest income from individual TV rights deals.

Becoming more like the SPL in being a 2 horse race every year.

[sirjames]

Just goes to show how poor La Liga is as a 20 team competition. Last year Ronaldo was the first player to ever score 40 goals in the league in a season. This year we have two players who just happen to come from the clubs that get the highest income from individual TV rights deals.

Becoming more like the SPL in being a 2 horse race every year.

Wtf?

Did you not see bilbao demolish united? Valencia, athletic Madrid, Bilbao, Malaga and others are all good teams just Madrid and barca are unbelievable.

[BarryCrocker]

Wtf?

Did you not see bilbao demolish united? Valencia, athletic Madrid, Bilbao, Malaga and others are all good teams just Madrid and barca are unbelievable.

Maybe you gleaned over my point 'Just goes to show how poor La Liga is as a 20 team competition’. I’m not saying the teams are crap its the fact that individual TV deals for Real & Barca puts daylight between them and the rest.

Valencia - 3rd Place 50 Goals For, 38 Against in 32 Games.
Atlético Madrid - 9th Place 43 Goals For, 41 Against in 32 Games. (Even we have a better record)
Bilbao - 8th Place 47 Goals For, 44 Against in 32 Games. (Ditto)
Malaga - 4th Place 48 Goals For, 45 Against in 32 Games.

As we all know playing teams in cup competitions can be a bit less challenging then playing over a whole season.

[PhiLFC#1]

Wtf?

Did you not see bilbao demolish united? Valencia, athletic Madrid, Bilbao, Malaga and others are all good teams just Madrid and barca are unbelievable.

Isn't that basically what he's saying

[sirjames]

maybe i focused on your spl point as i ma slightly hungove. apologies. I think the standard of the teams in the league is very good in terms of quality but i do agree that in terms of competition to the big two they arnt comparable.

[gordonchas]

Maybe you gleaned over my point 'Just goes to show how poor La Liga is as a 20 team competition’. I’m not saying the teams are crap its the fact that individual TV deals for Real & Barca puts daylight between them and the rest.

Barry, why do you keep insisting on trying to make this point over and over and over again?

Why do you think this League is any different from any other major league? When has the Premier League ever been "a 20 team competition"? The difference in Spain currently is that there is not such a wide divergence between 3rd and 20th as there is in England. That, at least, makes the rest of the places more competitive.

As I tried to explain to you before, the TV deal is by-and-large an irrelevance. Even if all the money was spread evenly, the big two would still have an enormous financial advantage over the others, just as Manchester United do in England.  Re-distributing TV money, which you keep going on about, wouldn't change a thing.

[Stevie93]

Just goes to show how poor La Liga is as a 20 team competition. Last year Ronaldo was the first player to ever score 40 goals in the league in a season. This year we have two players who just happen to come from the clubs that get the highest income from individual TV rights deals.

Becoming more like the SPL in being a 2 horse race every year.

And the football is still of better quality and more enjoyable that the Premier League.

[.Mike]

Barry, have you even watched a La Liga game not involving Madrid or Barca?

They are so far ahead it's not even funny.

[Coolie High]

They are not so far ahead though.

[BarryCrocker]

Barry, have you even watched a La Liga game not involving Madrid or Barca?

Yes many times. I actually love watching football at many levels, especially the frenetic pace of The Championship.

My point is that there are only two teams in the running from the start of the season. From 1999-2004 there was always at least 4 teams in the running. Where are the teams like Deportivo La Coruna and Valencia who not just challenged the big 2 but beat them.

[Degs]

Maybe you gleaned over my point 'Just goes to show how poor La Liga is as a 20 team competition’. I’m not saying the teams are crap its the fact that individual TV deals for Real & Barca puts daylight between them and the rest.

Valencia - 3rd Place 50 Goals For, 38 Against in 32 Games.
Atlético Madrid - 9th Place 43 Goals For, 41 Against in 32 Games. (Even we have a better record)
Bilbao - 8th Place 47 Goals For, 44 Against in 32 Games. (Ditto)
Malaga - 4th Place 48 Goals For, 45 Against in 32 Games.

As we all know playing teams in cup competitions can be a bit less challenging then playing over a whole season.

The difference in goals scored between Real/Barca and Valencia is 107/96 to 50 (with a game in hand for Valencia). So roughly double, followed by Malaga on 48 and Levante on 47. 

The difference between Man U/City and Arsenal? 50/58 to 25, again roughly double (with City having played one more).

The goals against conceded by Real/Barca is 29/24 to Valencia's 38, a difference of 9/14.
Man U/City have conceded 28/27 while Arsenal have conceded 41, a difference of 13/12.

The only difference between the 2 horse race in England and Spain is there is a bigger points gap in Spain, it's still a 2 horse race.

[eirwen]

Wow what's going on with Valencia?

[eirwen]

The difference in goals scored between Real/Barca and Valencia is 107/96 to 50 (with a game in hand for Valencia). So roughly double, followed by Malaga on 48 and Levante on 47. 

The difference between Man U/City and Arsenal? 50/58 to 25, again roughly double (with City having played one more).

The goals against conceded by Real/Barca is 29/24 to Valencia's 38, a difference of 9/14.
Man U/City have conceded 28/27 while Arsenal have conceded 41, a difference of 13/12.

The only difference between the 2 horse race in England and Spain is there is a bigger points gap in Spain, it's still a 2 horse race.

But in the beginning of the season Chelsea or Spurs were still considered to be in the race, even though not for too long. And last season Arsenal stayed in it until the end.

If you're a Spanish team other than the big two, the league is simply out of the question. It's not even something you can think about. Barca and RM are just much much better than anyone else.

[Aido LFC]

Just goes to show how poor La Liga is as a 20 team competition. Last year Ronaldo was the first player to ever score 40 goals in the league in a season. This year we have two players who just happen to come from the clubs that get the highest income from individual TV rights deals.

Becoming more like the SPL in being a 2 horse race every year.

Derp.

[Robert_B]

to be honest I dont think that was a pen.

It deffo was, the defender clearly made a push towards him, far moreso than the Ashley Young one.

The fall was a bit dramatic, but it was definitely a foul.

[.Mike]

Yes many times. I actually love watching football at many levels, especially the frenetic pace of The Championship.

My point is that there are only two teams in the running from the start of the season. From 1999-2004 there was always at least 4 teams in the running. Where are the teams like Deportivo La Coruna and Valencia who not just challenged the big 2 but beat them.

I'd actually agree with that, but without a fairer La Liga deal the league will never advance. Maybe Malaga in a couple of season can break Barcelona and Real up and make a more competitive league. But since 2004 only United and Chelsea have won our league.

About 1/2 of the clubs in La Liga are in debt or administration. Even a huge club such as Valencia was on the brink just a couple of years back, it's a real shame because with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer it just creates a bigger quality divide.  My point is, that despite all this, the quality being produced by these lower teams is amazing. Spain as a national team and as a league are benefiting from their youth system. The football and league outside the top 2 are really really good, just my opinion though but I think it's sort of backed up in cup competition.

[BarryCrocker]

Derp.

So thats how you clock up 5000+ posts.

[crasher1in]

So thats how you clock up 5000+ posts.

If la liga is so bad, then how come one of their lesser teams, destroyed the BPL champions?

[Stevie93]

If la liga is so bad, then how come one of their lesser teams, destroyed the BPL champions?

He's not saying it's bad, he's saying the difference is quality between the top 2 and every other team is vast. Which is true.

And how is Athletic a lesser team?

[BigMarcs]

Wow. Espanyol 4-0 Valencia.

[BarryCrocker]

If la liga is so bad, then how come one of their lesser teams, destroyed the BPL champions?

How does a team from Cyprus beat the reigning Portuguese, Russian and Ukrainian Champions in the group stages as well as Lyon in the knockout stage.

It’s cup competition. Just like us beating Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United in the League and FA Cups.