[fueradejuego]

Granny Danger, on 28 January 2012 - 22:53, said:

The only way Barca can win the title now is if Madrid's form dips significantly and there is no sign of that happening. Would be less upset about this if that c**t Mourinho was not the manager.

On that performance it is hard to understand why Villareal are sitting just above the relegation spot. Excellent performance and well worth the point.

I think the league is gone now for Barca unless Madrid have a really poor run. Even then it is hard to see Barca winning all their remaining games in their current form. They just don't seem to be able to play certain games with any intensity at the moment.

Molina has 1 win and 1 draw from his two home games in charge.

He has restored the system which the players are comfortable with and he is a lot less abrasive than Garrido. They should soon clamber up to mid-table safety.

[lichtie23]

Madrid's to lose now

[capybara]

http://uk.eurosport....eal-summer. html

Another story re Mourinho and wither he will stay at Madrid or depart to Blighty. He is at war with the media,some in the club and supporters,but he thrives on conflict. He will end the season as the manager of the La Liga champions. Will that spur him on to stay ? or will he want to leave at the top?

Another terrible night on the road for Barca 5 draws on the road this season and only 4 wins. Also goals for on the road 16 compared to 43 at the Camp Nu. What now for Pepe? He has always been reticent to talk of his long term future at Barcelona. And for the first time in a few seasons he will not be the manager of the Champions. The Spanish cup is a mere consolation , so he will need to land the Champions League. I do not think he is under any pressure from the club. Although there have been internal wranglings over issue to do with Laporta the former president. And Pepe has been supportive of his former boss. I hope he stays but maybe he will see the loss of the championship as his failure.

[fueradejuego]

It may well end with Madrid and Barca both claiming successful seasons.

Madrid win La Liga to end Barca's dominance whilst Barca become the first team to retain the CL.

Both happy?

[capybara]

fueradejuego, on 29 January 2012 - 11:41, said:

It may well end with Madrid and Barca both claiming successful seasons.

Madrid win La Liga to end Barca's dominance whilst Barca become the first team to retain the CL.

Both happy?

Im just not sure if the CL is enough for Barca. Yes any other team on the planet would love that,even if they were relegated. Barca? I am really worried that Pepe walks.

[fueradejuego]

capybara, on 29 January 2012 - 15:52, said:

Im just not sure if the CL is enough for Barca. Yes any other team on the planet would love that,even if they were relegated. Barca? I am really worried that Pepe walks.

What else can he achieve though?

If he wins La Liga this season then he equals the 4 titles won by The Dream Team under Cryuff.

If he wins the CL, Barca become the first team to retain the title.

He already has won more trophies than any manager in Barca's history.

He will leave soon, the only question is when. I think he will either leave this season or at the end of next season.

I just cannot see him staying beyond that given the pressure he is under both on and off the pitch.

The next big question is where he resurfaces?

[capybara]

fueradejuego, on 29 January 2012 - 16:50, said:

What else can he achieve though?

If he wins La Liga this season then he equals the 4 titles won by The Dream Team under Cryuff.

If he wins the CL, Barca become the first team to retain the title.

He already has won more trophies than any manager in Barca's history.

He will leave soon, the only question is when. I think he will either leave this season or at the end of next season.

I just cannot see him staying beyond that given the pressure he is under both on and off the pitch.

The next big question is where he resurfaces?

Tynecastle. ..... He is a cracking manager and he has not really spent big bucks. He also keeps himself to himself, or seems to. Certainly not a Mourinho. Which is a plus. Where after Barca? Good question. He could name his price. But as we both know he has worked his way up at Barcelona. Going into say Chelsea, with a big budget and no real academy... well could he get the same success?

[fueradejuego]

capybara, on 29 January 2012 - 19:37, said:

Tynecastle. ..... He is a cracking manager and he has not really spent big bucks. He also keeps himself to himself, or seems to. Certainly not a Mourinho. Which is a plus. Where after Barca? Good question. He could name his price. But as we both know he has worked his way up at Barcelona. Going into say Chelsea, with a big budget and no real academy... well could he get the same success?

His transfer record is highly debatable. For every Sanchez there is a Chygryinsky.

Wherever he goes, the infrastructure of the club will have to be right and he will need to be able to influence this. I think he will consider options carefully like Bielsa.

Why did Bielsa choose Athletic above otjer offers?

Possibiy due to the ability to imprint his image on young and willing minds. With limited transfer options, Bilbao need a strong cantera and Bielsa can push his beliefs here and get players to buy in similar to the young team he was moulding with Chile.

Pep will be similar I think.

Luis Enrique has been given a chance to mould Roma and change the style of the team. Results have been mixed but with such a strategy you have to be willing to buy into the long term view. You need to avoid knee jerk reactions.

Within the UK, Arsenal is the obvious fit for Guardiola. A strong belief in youth and a defined way of playing the game under Wenger. Some will criticise the Arsenal way of playing and their poor results in terms of trophies over the past few seasons but if its not working its not necessarily the system you change, its the players.

Italy or England are possible options. A year or two out first and then he will reappear.

[lichtie23]

How about the next Man United manager when Fergie retires in a few years?

[capybara]

Saturday, 4 February 2012
Athletic Bilbao v Espanyol, 17:00
Levante v Racing Santander, 17:00
Mallorca v Real Betis, 17:00
Getafe v Real Madrid, 19:00
Barcelona v Real Sociedad, 21:00
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Sporting Gijon v Osasuna, 11:00
Sevilla v Villarreal, 17:00
Real Zaragoza v Rayo Vallecano, 18:45
Atletico Madrid v Valencia, 20:30
Monday, 6 February 2012
Granada v Malaga, 20:00

Bilbao and Espanyol are neck and neck in the table, Levante should be too strong for Santander. Betis are falling a bit from their great start face Mallorca, in a section of 11 clubs seperated by 9 points. Zaragoza in danger of becoming stranded, and they take on Vallecano. And of course we have a Madrid derby at Getafe. Barca should win at home.

[Granny Danger]

Barca's lineup tonight suggests the importance of the Copa game Midwest and Pep's determination to keep certain key players fit and ready for this game.

Suggests greater importance being placed on Copa than is usual.

Tello scores, Messi assist.

[fueradejuego]

The second leg of the Copa semi with Barca and Valencia is live on Sky tonight with 8pm KO.

Tied at 1-1 from the first leg, this game should be quite close. Unai Emery seems to relish playing Barca from a tactical point of view and although I don't think his Valencia side have beaten Barca, they have drawn 4 of the last 7 meetings.

Valencia usually enjoy more of the ball against Barca than normal and the combination of Alba and Mathieu on the left pins Alves back. Should be a really good game.

Athletic beat Mirandes 6-2 last night for a 8-3 aggregate win. The last 30 or so minutes were great when Mirandes pulled a goal back to make it 3-1 on the night and just started charging forward.

Bilbao are playing some good stuff under Bielsa and the team have adapted well to his style of play. I thought at the start of the season they would be there or thereabouts for 4th place and with only 1 defeat since September, they are on a cracking run.

[capybara]

Former Getafe manager Jose Miguel Gonzalez is the new Sevilla manager , he replaces Garcia who is off to spend more time with his family. Strange to see Sevilla struggle,you are more used to seeing them winning in Europe than in the lower reaches of La Liga.

[Granny Danger]

Barca v Valencia game, first 12 minutes - good game, Valencia the better team.

Note to Capy: any chance of including Copa in thread title?

[Granny Danger]

Cracking save from Pinto. Valencia making a real game of this.

This post has been edited by Granny Danger: 08 February 2012 - 21:09

[Granny Danger]

Barca are fucking imperious. The 1-0 scoreline is a testament to how well Valencia have played.

[McGlovin']

So, Barcelona-Athletic in the final- a repeat of the 2009 final. I think I read somewhere that it's scheduled for the Bernabéu- can anyone confirm? I wonder if the Spanish National Anthem will get an airing this time, it was roundly booed in Valenica in 2009.

[fueradejuego]

McGlovin, on 08 February 2012 - 22:13, said:

So, Barcelona-Athletic in the final- a repeat of the 2009 final. I think I read somewhere that it's scheduled for the Bernabéu- can anyone confirm? I wonder if the Spanish National Anthem will get an airing this time, it was roundly booed in Valenica in 2009.

It could get switched to the Mestalla now that Valencia will not be in the final.

Date still tbc based upon how far Barca progress in the CL.

[McGlovin']

fueradejuego, on 08 February 2012 - 22:14, said:

It could get switched to the Mestalla now that Valencia will not be in the final.

Date still tbc based upon how far Barca progress in the CL.

Ah right, super, thanks.

[fueradejuego]

McGlovin, on 08 February 2012 - 22:17, said:

Ah right, super, thanks.

No probs.

I think it will get played at the Mestalla if only for the reason of avoiding having 80,000 Basques and Catalans roaming around the Spanish capital.

This post has been edited by fueradejuego: 08 February 2012 - 22:28

[Swampy]

capybara, on 08 February 2012 - 14:49, said:

Former Getafe manager Jose Miguel Gonzalez is the new Sevilla manager , he replaces Garcia who is off to spend more time with his family. Strange to see Sevilla struggle,you are more used to seeing them winning in Europe than in the lower reaches of La Liga.

I wasn't exactly gutted when we* didn't keep Michel on. Yes, he took Geta to 6th but he also took them to 16th with a squad that, OK, weakened via the loss of Soldado and Pedro Leon, was still better than that. I regard Luis Garcia as a considerable trade-up.



*If my calling Getafe "we" has anyone reading this convulsing with rage then I can only, and insincerely, apologise

[fueradejuego]

Swampy, on 08 February 2012 - 22:41, said:

*If my calling Getafe "we" has anyone reading this convulsing with rage then I can only, and insincerely, apologise

I find your use of the term "we", frankly, quite vulgar

On Michel, I think he works as a short term appointment but he is not going to take you to the next level.

We had a discussion earlier this season about where Geta would finish. You could argue Garcia was taking them to a top 10 finish, as I thoight they would, but then many teams may contest that they will finish in the top 10 this season given the congested nature of La Liga.

For the record, I still think Geta will get in the top 10.

[capybara]

Granny Danger, on 08 February 2012 - 20:18, said:

Barca v Valencia game, first 12 minutes - good game, Valencia the better team.

Note to Capy: any chance of including Copa in thread title?

Will do just the final to come now. Barca looked more up for it last night. Cesc had a really good game and i dont say this often, did Pinto.

[huckleberrydrewe]

Quite a good final I think for the Spanish cup, a Basque and Catalan team to do battle in Madrid perhaps, looking forward to this one and who knows if Barcelona have an expected prolonged champions league run then Bilbao may sneak an upset, a Llorente double to cancel out an early messi strike?

[Bully Wee Villa]

Real have said they don't want the final played at the Bernabau.


What's Spanish for sour grapes?