Spanish Football thread

[BKB1991]

I am not a huge fan of the fights, but it does show that these players care and are really passionate about this. In days where teams hardly have locals its important players play with some degree of pride.

Loved the game, feel Madrid have bridged the gap between Barcelona, so expect much tougher battle for the Spanish league title. If Mourinho masterminds the Spanish league, its got to be his greatest achievement.

 

[m_vaughan]

What a legend ahaha.

I'm a big fan of Jose Mourinho but even I don't approve that. He is a fantastic coach who likes to speak his mind out, but what he did here is just crossing the line. People do crazy things when things are heated, but I hope Mou realises that such things cannot be tolerated, no matter what.

Credit to Barcelona. I thought they were lucky in the first leg, but last night they did enough to justify the overall victory. However, irrespective of the fact that Barca are still far away from their top gear, I honestly believe we have moved closer to them and am confident of atleast winning La Liga this season. If Xavi honestly believes that only Barca will improve as the season progresses, then he is strongly mistaken. We have yet to see Nuri Sahin play, Higuain has yet to reach full fitness and Benzema failed to match his preseason form in the Super Copa games. Benzema however still showed fantastic work rate, which by itself is an improvement and a sign of his development under Mou.

I think the top two teams in the world are in La Liga at the moment. So for us to win any trophy this season we might have to do so by beating the only side that lies between us and numero uno. Can't wait for La Liga to start. Oh wait the players have gone on strike which means it wont be starting this weekend.

 

[Haarithan]

but why does he need to do that is a question though.

Cos he's a psychopathic prick who's got tons of ego in him, that eventually makes him exhibit such sort of saddistic behavior.

Fabregas hasn't won a trophy at Arsenal for 6 years and he goes to Barcelona and win one within days!

Epic!

----------

New poll please.

 

[JBlues08]

Cos he's a psychopathic prick who's got tons of ego in him, that eventually makes him exhibit such sort of saddistic behavior.

And not to mention, his expression during the melee is classic!

 

[ZexyZahid]

Two great matches. Real Madrid were the better team in both matches, but still Barcelona won the Super Cup. Real Madrid should have won the first match, since Barcelona came up with about 5 players in the starting line up, who aren't regulars in the team. The second match was the normal Barcelona line up, except for Puyol.

Great thing was that Real Madrid played the matches, without any of their new players (I know two of them are suspended) and they showed great promise for upcoming season.

The first round of La Liga is probably going to be suspended, since about 200 players didn't receive their loans previous year. I was looking forward to the Malaga vs Barcelona match though.

 

[KBC]

I'm surprised and I think it's just not me. Ofc Marcelo tackled hard and deserved the Red card but Barca have overdone their stance to the occasion. Look at them, as soon as Fabo fell they came rushing in like magnets and Madridistas didn't expect that either until after. It's just not Mourinho, sorry and from the video It looked more like a friendly gesture to calm down and get back to work. Barca have been downright arrogant not for the first time.

Cesc had a great debut, pleased for him, he ran down a brilliant timed pass to Messi, and deserves his hand in the winning goal. Barca look more complete than last season, Busquests might have to see his time on the bench like Bojan did, not too sure of pedro with Sanchez in.

If 4-3-3 prevails, this looks complete with their signings this season.

============================================================
Pedro/Sanchez--------------Messi/Villa-----------------Villa/Messi
Iniesta-------------------------Fabregas/Xavi ^------------------Xavi/Fab
Abidal/Maxwell/Adriano ^----------Puyol----------------Pique------------------Dani Alves

Valdes
============================================================
​

With that kind of lineup the likes of Keita, Mascherano, Buesquests, Afalley would be worthwhile rotations in the mid of the league.

But that said I still have a better feeling about Madrid this season. Their signings are on the same boat as Benzema when he arrived to Madrid, and by time they'll only get better and responsible. Hala Madrid.

 

[Auwais]

It's ridiculous, isn't it? They were nowhere near as fit as the Real Madrid side, had some injuries and didn't really perform that well over both legs but still managed to grind out the win.

How do you stop this Barca side?

 

[War]

It's ridiculous, isn't it? They were nowhere near as fit as the Real Madrid side, had some injuries and didn't really perform that well over both legs but still managed to grind out the win.

How do you stop this Barca side?

Haha ye man for real, Barca are on some next level ████..

 

[Dr. Pepper]

I'm surprised and I think it's just not me. Ofc Marcelo tackled hard and deserved the Red card but Barca have overdone their stance to the occasion. Look at them, as soon as Fabo fell they came rushing in like magnets and Madridistas didn't expect that either until after. It's just not Mourinho, sorry and from the video It looked more like a friendly gesture to calm down and get back to work. Barca have been downright arrogant not for the first time.

Cesc had a great debut, pleased for him, he ran down a brilliant timed pass to Messi, and deserves his hand in the winning goal. Barca look more complete than last season, Busquests might have to see his time on the bench like Bojan did, not too sure of pedro with Sanchez in.

If 4-3-3 prevails, this looks complete with their signings this season.

============================================================
Pedro/Sanchez--------------Messi/Villa-----------------Villa/Messi
Iniesta-------------------------Fabregas/Xavi ^------------------Xavi/Fab
Abidal/Maxwell/Adriano ^----------Puyol----------------Pique------------------Dani Alves

Valdes
============================================================
​

With that kind of lineup the likes of Keita, Mascherano, Buesquests, Afalley would be worthwhile rotations in the mid of the league.

But that said I still have a better feeling about Madrid this season. Their signings are on the same boat as Benzema when he arrived to Madrid, and by time they'll only get better and responsible. Hala Madrid.

Busquets is one of Barcelona's most important players. There's no way they're going to play Xavi/Iniesta/Fabregas and leave Busquets on the bench, unless it's in say the last 15 minutes of the game and they need a goal desperately.

 

[Auwais]

They could probably get away with that against relegation fodder. Maybe shift Iniesta onto the left wing and drop Fab in midfield in some big away games.

They're still a bit short at the back in terms of numbers, although I assume Font?s will play a few more games than usual but that doesn't explain why they paid ?8m for Henrique and loaned him out every season since he joined.

 

[KBC]

Busquets is one of Barcelona's most important players. There's no way they're going to play Xavi/Iniesta/Fabregas and leave Busquets on the bench, unless it's in say the last 15 minutes of the game and they need a goal desperately.

Mention not the diving..


But That can't happen with the 4-3-3 they have. They must drive him on rotation policy. They've offloaded their rarely used 1st team players and Barca can't have the same team they had last season. Fabregas will play most of the games, Sanchez might be pepped ahead of Pedro unless Pep wants to use him as the super sub or why would they buy him for such price?

Busquests was Important last season football wise, yeah, had excellent chemistry with Xavi and Iniesta up front but with the new mid field trio he could be used as a switch for a fatigue hit player all round the season OR should Barca's formation change for him to fit in. Not just Busquests alone they have too many quality players on the bench to fit in. Barca still lack in defense really, Real rushed into their defence once every 5 minutes, so unless for Messi, Barca.......well let's just leave it that way.

 

[War]

I'm always surprised that Busquets still starts ahead of Mascherano as the main defensive mid-fielder when Pique/Puyol are fit to play together in the center of defense.

But yea the only way Fabregas will get first team action is if Guardiola drops Pedro, sends Iniesta out wide and brings Fabregas into the middle. However dropping Pedro would be extremely harsh.

 

[KBC]

I'm always surprised that Busquets still starts ahead of Mascherano as the main defensive mid-fielder when Pique/Puyol are fit to play together in the center of defense.

But yea the only way Fabregas will get first team action is if Guardiola drops Pedro, sends Iniesta out wide and brings Fabregas into the middle. However dropping Pedro would be extremely harsh.

My word. Love hamburgers but can't eat 10 a day. They have too many quality players for mid-field to play.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

I'm always surprised that Busquets still starts ahead of Mascherano as the main defensive mid-fielder when Pique/Puyol are fit to play together in the center of defense.

But yea the only way Fabregas will get first team action is if Guardiola drops Pedro, sends Iniesta out wide and brings Fabregas into the middle. However dropping Pedro would be extremely harsh.

Really? Busquets is an incredible player. Easily the best defensive midfielder in the world, and could walk into any side as a playmaker as well.

Pedro is needed out wide to maintain width and stretch play. His movement is so, so good as well. Watch how Alves will always drive down the right hand side and move in towards goal, and then set up Messi. The space for him to go through is made by Pedro.

Of course Barca will rotate. Xavi is into his 30's now and both him and Iniesta have had injuries in the past. But they won't just cram them all in together.

 

[m_vaughan]

Really? Busquets is an incredible player. Easily the best defensive midfielder in the world, and could walk into any side as a playmaker as well.

Pedro is needed out wide to maintain width and stretch play. His movement is so, so good as well. Watch how Alves will always drive down the right hand side and move in towards goal, and then set up Messi. The space for him to go through is made by Pedro.

Of course Barca will rotate. Xavi is into his 30's now and both him and Iniesta have had injuries in the past. But they won't just cram them all in together.

Agree with that. Both Pep and VdB rate Busquets as vital to the Barca and Spanish sides. There is a reason for that, which is as Dr. Pepper said, his ability to dual as a DM as well as a playmaker. He is not the cleanest players you will find, but I do believe that he is one step above the traditional DMs because of his ability to make through balls, short passes and general distribution of the ball. He is certainly better than Mascherano.