Author Topic: La Liga Thread 2013/14 (Read 316721 times)

gordonchas · « **Reply #3520 on:** March 8, 2014, 06:25:15 pm »

Quote from: Xxavi on March 8, 2014, 04:46:01 pm

But to be fair, Barca players just returned from international friendlies unlike Valladolid players.

Most of them only travelled as far as Madrid. Xavi and Pique didn't even play.

Quote from: Xxavi on March 8, 2014, 04:46:01 pm

I don't know if Valladolid deliberately dried their pitch for this game.

TBF fairXavi that is one of the worst excuses I have ever read. In recent weeks their pitch has been a lake - their game with Elche was more like water polo, far worse condition than it was in today.

Quote from: Xxavi on March 8, 2014, 04:51:03 pm

Valladolid are pathetic. 15 seconds left to the end of the game and they fake injury. Fuck's sake.

I take back my previous comment. They were in the bottom three and had only four wins all season. WTF do you expect against the mighty Barca?

Durlmints · « **Reply #3521 on:** March 8, 2014, 07:14:55 pm »

Quote from: LiamLFC061092 on March 8, 2014, 05:36:49 pm

Martino is struggling to accommodate Messi into his tactics which is always a dangerous game to play. If they finish outside the top 2, I don't think he'll be there next season.

Where would he go?

Chelsea? Bayern? PSG?

Can't see him going anywhere.

farawayred · « **Reply #3522 on:** March 8, 2014, 07:21:16 pm »

Liverpool

Yozza1 · « **Reply #3523 on:** March 8, 2014, 08:19:40 pm »

Villa has just scored for Atletico, big goal that. 0-1

JohnHobbes · « **Reply #3524 on:** March 8, 2014, 08:20:37 pm »

Bloody hell. Villa having a good time right now to make it 2-0. Dreadful defensive mistake and pass to give him the first goal and then a lovely cross to give him the second.

please, I have my reasons for it but... · « **Reply #3525 on:** March 8, 2014, 08:23:07 pm »

I said it earlier in the thread the moment Messi returned is that I thought Barca played better (especially in the league) during the the time he was off and so far nothing have changed my mind.

Right now, they're playing with Messi +10 instead of playing as a team, when Messi was absent, Neymar, Alexis and Cesc were all showing their true qualities and more importantly helping there with the defensive transitions, Messi came back and all of a sudden, everything HAS to go through him like the others don't know how to play the ball, more importantly, Messi stands there in the final third and he rarely helps in any defensive work. That's one of the things I like about Suarez is that he's always on the defenders' toes.

I won't go as what Spanish Fan said or anything like that, but IMO, this season, he has been well below his standards. With Atletico's good season so far, I can see Barca finishing third this season to be honest.

Camarero25 · « **Reply #3526 on:** March 8, 2014, 08:30:12 pm »

Quote from: Durlmints on March 8, 2014, 07:14:55 pm

Where would he go?

Chelsea? Bayern? PSG?

Can't see him going anywhere.

Pretty sure he was on about Martino.

Chris~ · « **Reply #3527 on:** March 8, 2014, 08:32:37 pm »

There are bigger problems than Messi though. Their defence is a mess and it's criminal that a club that generates so much money has let it get to that stage. Xavi is declining and has been for a while, but the alternatives are Sergi Roberto or Song so he has to keep playing. Poor squad planning and the mess that is the board room have contributed to to them getting to this stage.

Durlmints · « **Reply #3528 on:** March 8, 2014, 08:34:41 pm »

Quote from: Camarero25 on March 8, 2014, 08:30:12 pm

Pretty sure he was on about Martino.

So was I!

Spoiler

No I wasn't

[close]

JRC_ · « **Reply #3529 on:** March 9, 2014, 10:22:36 am »

Praying for a Real slip up today!

Trev20 · « **Reply #3530 on:** March 9, 2014, 01:46:22 pm »

Why do so few fans in La Liga travel to away games?

Mad Max · « **Reply #3531 on:** March 9, 2014, 02:02:55 pm »

Quote from: JRC_ on March 9, 2014, 10:22:36 am

Praying for a Real slip up today!

Same here.

Danny_ · « **Reply #3532 on:** March 9, 2014, 02:39:54 pm »

Quote from: JRC_ on March 9, 2014, 10:22:36 am

Praying for a Real slip up today!

Would love to see it but probably no chance of it happening. They are too good this season.

JRC_ · « **Reply #3533 on:** March 9, 2014, 02:43:03 pm »

Quote from: Trev20 on March 9, 2014, 01:46:22 pm

Why do so few fans in La Liga travel to away games?

I've often thought that too, just had a quick search...

http://www.xtratime.org/forum/showthread.php?t=131178

Bangin Them In · « **Reply #3534 on:** March 9, 2014, 02:43:05 pm »

Quote from: JRC_ on March 9, 2014, 10:22:36 am

Praying for a Real slip up today!

No chance, Gareth Bale runs fast

AnotherSpanishfan · « **Reply #3535 on:** March 9, 2014, 02:50:16 pm »

Quote from: Trev20 on March 9, 2014, 01:46:22 pm

Why do so few fans in La Liga travel to away games?

Don't travel to away games and average home attendance is also significantly lower than England's. Lower wages, higher unemployment, cost of tickets + travel, longer distances, late night match scheduling, a lot cheaper to watch on TV, probably higher bias towards RM/Barcelona than home city team, etc...

JRC_ · « **Reply #3536 on:** March 9, 2014, 02:53:55 pm »

Quote from: AnotherSpanishfan on March 9, 2014, 02:50:16 pm

Don't travel to away games and average home attendance is also significantly lower than England's. Lower wages, higher unemployment, cost of tickets + travel, longer distances, late night match scheduling, a lot cheaper to watch on TV, probably higher bias towards RM/Barcelona than home city team, etc...

That's what I can from the forum too, interesting to know, cheers mate

gordonchas · « **Reply #3537 on:** March 9, 2014, 03:07:54 pm »

Quote from: Trev20 on March 9, 2014, 01:46:22 pm

Why do so few fans in La Liga travel to away games?

The distances are usually enormous compared with what English fans are used to. Let's take today's noon kick off between Espanyol and Elche - at which Elche had about 200 supporters. That might not look far on the map, just up the coast. In reality it is 340 miles each way and a minimum of 6 hours driving in each direction - more by coach.

It was possible to get the train back from Barcelona this evening, but it wasn't possible to get a train up there for the start of the game without an overnight stop.

Last week Elche were at home to Celta de Vigo for a 10pm kick off. There's no way any of the 100 Celta fans at that game would have been back in Galicia before the following afternoon.

Trev20 · « **Reply #3538 on:** March 9, 2014, 03:12:25 pm »

Quote from: JRC_ on March 9, 2014, 02:43:03 pm

I've often thought that too, just had a quick search...

http://www.xtratime.org/forum/showthread.php?t=131178

Nice one. Cheers for that mate.

Quote from: AnotherSpanishfan on March 9, 2014, 02:50:16 pm

Don't travel to away games and average home attendance is also significantly lower than England's. Lower wages, higher unemployment, cost of tickets + travel, longer distances, late night match scheduling, a lot cheaper to watch on TV, probably higher bias towards RM/Barcelona than home city team, etc...

Makes a little more sense but regardless it's a bit of a shame. Especially when Barca took 2,000+ to city the other week.

Trev20 · « **Reply #3539 on:** March 9, 2014, 06:10:11 pm »

Real started very well. Ronaldo just force a good save by the Levante keeper from a lovely chipped pass by Di Maria.

Trev20 · « **Reply #3540 on:** March 9, 2014, 06:15:34 pm »

1-0 Real after just 11 minutes. Great header by Ronaldo.

Looks as though this'll be another comfortable afternoon for them. Levante hardly been out of their own half let alone have any possession.

Popcorn · « **Reply #3541 on:** March 9, 2014, 06:31:42 pm »

Modric is brilliant.

These write off games are annoying though, inevitable wins.

Kopenhagen · « **Reply #3542 on:** March 9, 2014, 06:36:41 pm »

Xabi. <3

gordonchas · « **Reply #3543 on:** March 9, 2014, 06:38:52 pm »

Quote from: Popcorn on March 9, 2014, 06:31:42 pm

Modric is brilliant.

These write off games are annoying though, inevitable wins.

Is that "inevitable" in the same way as it was for Barcelona against Levante in Week 20? Or yesterday afternoon even?

Popcorn · « **Reply #3544 on:** March 9, 2014, 06:44:57 pm »

Quote from: gordonchas on March 9, 2014, 06:38:52 pm

Is that "inevitable" in the same way as it was for Barcelona against Levante in Week 20? Or yesterday afternoon even?

No, Barcelona are very underwhelming at the moment where as Real are getting better and better as the season goes on. Today was always going to be a routine Real Madrid win.

Also, they were away games you mentioned and Barcelona away under Martino haven't been convincing at all to me anyway. I know Barcelona slipped up against Valencia and very nearly did the same against Sevilla earlier on in the season but they were the exceptions and the majority of their home games are comfortable.

Barcelona have won every single home game except that Valencia game and Real have won every single home game except the Atletico game..

There's obviously an inevitable sense of a home win in these fixtures.

Trev20 · « **Reply #3545 on:** March 9, 2014, 06:52:41 pm »

Benzema close to a second for Madrid. Header back off the post.

1-0 at the break.

gordonchas · « **Reply #3546 on:** March 9, 2014, 06:57:42 pm »

Quote from: Popcorn on March 9, 2014, 06:44:57 pm

No, Barcelona are very underwhelming at the moment where as Real are getting better and better as the season goes on. Today was always going to be a routine Real Madrid win.

Also, they were away games you mentioned and Barcelona away under Martino haven't been convincing at all to me anyway. I know Barcelona slipped up against Valencia and very nearly did the same against Sevilla earlier on in the season but they were the exceptions and the majority of their home games are comfortable.

Barcelona have won every single home game except that Valencia game and Real have won every single home game except the Atletico game..

There's obviously an inevitable sense of a home win in these fixtures.

TBF, not much to argue with there!

Butter Keks · « **Reply #3547 on:** March 9, 2014, 07:04:59 pm »

2-0. Brilliant goal from Marcelo.

Modric just oozes class.

please, I have my reasons for it but... · « **Reply #3548 on:** March 9, 2014, 07:19:11 pm »

Modric is the best midfielder in the world right now IMO.

edge · « **Reply #3549 on:** March 9, 2014, 07:19:18 pm »

Anyone have the link for the spoof blog someone made when Bale moved to Real? Where "he" writes like a girl in love with Ronaldo

edge · « **Reply #3550 on:** March 9, 2014, 07:21:50 pm »

Red card, Navarro. Went through the back of Ronaldo.

please, I have my reasons for it but... · « **Reply #3551 on:** March 9, 2014, 07:22:15 pm »

That tackle looked much worse in real time than it did on second viewing, red card seems a tad harsh for Levante.

edge · « **Reply #3552 on:** March 9, 2014, 07:23:00 pm »

Quote from: Y2J on March 9, 2014, 07:22:15 pm

That tackle looked much worse in real time than it did on second viewing, red card seems a tad harsh for Levante.

Reckon it would've been a yellow if it had been on someone else.

Butter Keks · « **Reply #3553 on:** March 9, 2014, 07:23:00 pm »

Quote from: edge on March 9, 2014, 07:21:50 pm

Red card, Navarro. Went through the back of Ronaldo.

Probably a bit harsh a straight red but it was such a stupid pointless tackle in which he had no chance of getting the ball.

lorenzo23 · « **Reply #3554 on:** March 9, 2014, 07:23:14 pm »

Quote from: Y2J on March 9, 2014, 07:19:11 pm

Modric is the best midfielder in the world right now IMO.

Xxavi · « **Reply #3555 on:** March 9, 2014, 08:44:48 pm »

Valencia - Athletic is fairly good game right now. Laporte is a really good talent.

Po The Panda · « **Reply #3556 on:** March 9, 2014, 08:45:46 pm »

Quote from: Y2J on March 9, 2014, 07:19:11 pm

Modric is the best midfielder in the world right now IMO.

Along With Ronaldo being the best player in the world right now. Bayern vs Madrid would be a dream final!

666 · « **Reply #3557 on:** March 9, 2014, 08:50:40 pm »

Quote from: Legacy on March 9, 2014, 08:45:46 pm

Along With Ronaldo being the best player in the world right now. Bayern vs Madrid would be a dream final!

Bayern would trounce Madrid so badly it would be near embarrasing. Ronaldo shines against poor opposition. He disappeared against Dortmund 3 times was it? Bayern Munich as well, even missed a penalty? Barcelona time and time again he has flopped, yes a couple of good games but no where near Messi generally. Euro 2004 final, CL final against Chelsea, yes he scored but he was non existant. CL final against Barcleona, Messi shone again.

Playing well against poor opposition doesn't make you the best player in the world. Ronaldo mostly flops because players have worked him out. Put him against Alaba, Lahm, Alba etc... the best fullbacks, his pace is matched and he disappears.

tonysleft · « **Reply #3558 on:** March 9, 2014, 08:53:02 pm »

Quote from: 666 on March 9, 2014, 08:50:40 pm

Ronaldo shines against poor opposition. He disappeared against Dortmund 3 times was it? Bayern Munich as well, even missed a penalty? Barcelona time and time again he has flopped, yes a couple of good games but no where near Messi generally. Euro 2004 final, CL final against Chelsea, yes he scored but he was non existant. CL final against Barcleona, Messi shone again.

This is a joke isn't it? I feel like it is but you can never be sure.

Po The Panda · « **Reply #3559 on:** March 9, 2014, 08:54:07 pm »

Quote from: tonysleft on March 9, 2014, 08:53:02 pm

This is a joke isn't it? I feel like it is but you can never be sure.

It has to be