2008/09 La Liga Thread...The games AND THEIR RESULTS

[1StUnA]

Surprised there was no thread for the best league in the world So I decided to make one.

This will certainly be an interesting season especially with some of the results on opening day

[Tomasperez9]

I have to admit that I am not that much of a La Liga fan, however I try to watch Valencia, Real Madrid, and Barcelona a couple times a season if I can. So, I watched the Barca game over the weekend, and it appeared to me that Messi was the only one that actually showed some heart out there. I don't watch that much La Liga, so is that the way Barca usually plays -- a bunch of great players thrown together without much cohesion?

[clean-sweep]

Barca used to be the best club in the world withthe best football ive watch in my entire life but now without ronny the team aint that soli anymore.

Atletico madrid look like thei going to take the crown this season.

Im lookin forward on them in the champion leage aswel.

[demencia_total]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tomasperez9

I have to admit that I am not that much of a La Liga fan, however I try to watch Valencia, Real Madrid, and Barcelona a couple times a season if I can. So, I watched the Barca game over the weekend, and it appeared to me that Messi was the only one that actually showed some heart out there. I don't watch that much La Liga, so is that the way Barca usually plays -- a bunch of great players thrown together without much cohesion?

The last two seasons? Yes. Before that, when Ronaldinho, Puyol, Deco & Eto'o were doing their thing, they played the most beautiful football I have seen in a long time. A lot of people point to Ronaldinho's falling as the point where Barcelona started to falter, but that's not the only reason. During the 06/07 season injuries started to pile up and confidence was eventually completely lost, to the point that they lost La Liga on the last day of the season after leading comfortably for most of the year. Players started acting up against one another, and Frank Rijkaard lost control of the locker room beyond repair, mainly because he is not the kind of manager that inspires discipline to his players, and Barca had too many egos to deal with. He was the perfect manager for the style they should be playing at their peak, but not a good fit when there was turmoil.

Then it carried into the 07/08 season where instead of making a managing change and restructuring the team by getting rid of some players that didn't fit their plans, they went out and brought in a well past his prime Henry. Coupled with this, Ronaldinho showed up completely out of form as a result of his lifestyle, Eto'o suffered an injury against Inter during the preaseason that put him out for months, Deco & Puyol started the season on the sidelines, and nothing had changed in the locker room. Last year was even worse than 06/07 even though they got to the CL semifinals, because of the fact that they rode the problems from the previous season and added new ones. They also developed a dependency on Messi while at the same time failing to incorporate a gameplan around him that suits him, and insisted on playing Ronaldinho when it was clear that he was no where near match fit.

This season they have made some nice changes, brought in a promising manager, but it's going to take time because of how badly the club was left after the last two seasons. After a promising preseason and a good CL start (4-0 vs Wisla without Messi), they reverted to their own ways by losing 1-0 to them, although still winning comfortably on aggregate. Then they go and debut the season with an embarassing 1-0 loss to newly promoted Numancia.

On a more positive note, I think this season will be much better with Guardiola at the helm, but I don't think they will win La Liga or the CL if you ask me right now. So why is that positive? Because after what Barca fans (including myself) had to put up with these last 2 years, a fresh start will be enough to make you breathe easier. Of course, until Joan Laporta (club president) is ousted, I don't think the fans will rest. That is, unless they win big instantly, which I doubt will happen.

And with all that said, I'll still be rooting for them to do well. Go Barca!

[Qb]

I caught small pieces of the Barca & Real debacles from the weekend. Neither team looked to be title-worthy, but it was only their first games of the season. Did you know that this was the first time both teams lost their opening fixture since 1939?!?!

I like the play in La Liga and try to watch Ole! on GolTV each week for the match highlights. I think what keeps me from being really into it is that there isn't a team that I support or even really like more than any other. I'm in the same boat with the Bundesliga. I like the football, I just don't have a strong attachment to any team to get me more involved...

Incidentally, I went to Spain for three weeks with a few friends in May of 2001 and it was awesome. Real clinched the league on a night when we were out to dinner in the south of Spain (Malaga I think). The place just exploded and people were pouring into the streets. There were people riding around in & on top of buses and cars, hot Spanish chicks on mopeds and Real flags galore. Needless to say, we hit the bars that night and had a blast. The only thing I can compare it to was being on the South Side of Pittsburgh immediately following the Steelers' SB win in '06. The weirdest part was this was nowhere near Madrid, which is in the center of the country.

PS - HOT Spanish chicks. Ahh, the memories...

[demencia_total]

Quote: Originally Posted by Qb

I like the play in La Liga and try to watch Ole! on GolTV each week for the match highlights. I think what keeps me from being really into it is that there isn't a team that I support or even really like more than any other. I'm in the same boat with the Bundesliga. I like the football, I just don't have a strong attachment to any team to get me more involved...

Man, this is what really keeps me from getting into the EPL. I have absolutely no preference or feel any sort of connection to any of the clubs, so other than watching the top four play in big games, I don't really get excited for one team or the other. There's some great football to be watched around the world, but like any other sport, if you don't feel a connection to a team or teams, the fervent interest is just not there. I can totally relate to that feeling.

[calcutta]

Is Gijon Spanish for Derby?

[zitomulder]

Quote: Originally Posted by Qb

I caught small pieces of the Barca & Real debacles from the weekend. Neither team looked to be title-worthy, but it was only their first games of the season. Did you know that this was the first time both teams lost their opening fixture since 1939?!?! I like the play in La Liga and try to watch Ole! on GolTV each week for the match highlights. I think what keeps me from being really into it is that there isn't a team that I support or even really like more than any other. I'm in the same boat with the Bundesliga. I like the football, I just don't have a strong attachment to any team to get me more involved... Incidentally, I went to Spain for three weeks with a few friends in May of 2001 and it was awesome. Real clinched the league on a night when we were out to dinner in the south of Spain (Malaga I think). The place just exploded and people were pouring into the streets. There were people riding around in & on top of buses and cars, hot Spanish chicks on mopeds and Real flags galore. Needless to say, we hit the bars that night and had a blast. The only thing I can compare it to was being on the South Side of Pittsburgh immediately following the Steelers' SB win in '06. The weirdest part was this was nowhere near Madrid, which is in the center of the country. PS - HOT Spanish chicks. Ahh, the memories...

Sounds to me that Spain is full of bandwagoners.

[miget33]

Schuster is out at Madrid, with Juande Ramos in as his Replacement