The Official 05/06 La Liga Española Thread

[Sevillista]

Those "short passes" you mention are that job nobody do when he's out of the team; Raul is the main link between strikers and midfield. Just check the difference in the number of ocassions between the first (no Raul) and 2nd half in the match vs Russia.

He also stole the ball that led to the counterattack of Reyes' free kick. And about the crappy goal... If Villa had scored that it would have been because of his letal instinct or so. But it's just the geriatric Raul.

Haha, it would have a been a garbage goal no matter who scored it. That's just what they're called. Rebound off the keeper, open net.

You're going to tell me that nobody else makes short passes? Cesc, Iniesta, Xavi, Senna, they all are capable of that. It's how their teams play. Raul's passes weren't a "link between strikers and midfield." In fact, I don't recall Raul giving any dangerous passes at all. I'm not putting the guy down, he played just fine, but he wasn't anywhere close to being MoM at all. What did he do that merits his picture on the front of every recap of the match?

Reyes' free kick came off a dive from Torres btw.

More importantly, what did Torres do to earn a spot on the team?? I can't believe there is any talk of benching Villa.

The match against Russia? I'm pretty sure everybody agrees that Reyes coming on in the second half changed the match.

 

[Dream Team]

Thats just your opinion, im disagree.

Iniesta is not the best spanish midfielder, is just your opinion. Guti is much better imho, is just my opinion.

Maybe without De la Morena Iniesta could be out of this team.

Your problem is that you see mafia where there is football. Aragones wanna win the WorldCup, if he need to use Iniesta he will do it.

I call it Common Sense.

I've not said Iniesta is the best midfielder. Xavi is still better than him. But Iniesta has been the best midfielder in the last months. He was better than Cesc in the last stages of the CL and he was better than Cesc in the CL final. Oh, wait, I forgot, he plays for Barça. That team has no value in Spain.

Playing for Barça doesn't help because most people in Spain are Real Madrid fans. Some of them think that Raul MUST play, Guti is better than Iniesta and Beckham is better than Xavi.

I like your patriotism. If Real Madrid win the CL and la Liga by 12 points, we would have Pavon, Guti, Helguera, Raul Bravo and Soldado in the NT.

Abellan has made a campaign against anything related to Cadena Ser and De la Morena. Unfortunately Iniesta has not been an exception.


It's funny how you defend Aragones just because Raul is playing.

Yesterday I heard that Torres and Raul are untouchables for Aragones. Laughable. He's doubting between Villa and Reyes, when Villa and Reyes should play both ahead of Torres and Raul.

Torres is his Atletico kid. Raul is the key to avoid critics, because most people in Spain are Real Madrid fans who can't see the difference between Real Madrid and the NT. Raul has not been good for Real Madrid in the last 2-3 years but they want him for the NT. Yeah, I like your patriotism. Your common sense is still better.

 

[Crusad3r]

I've not said Iniesta is the best midfielder. Xavi is still better than him. But Iniesta has been the best midfielder in the last months. He was better than Cesc in the last stages of the CL and he was better than Cesc in the CL final. Oh, wait, I forgot, he plays for Barça. That team has no value in Spain.

Playing for Barça doesn't help because most people in Spain are Real Madrid fans. Some of them think that Raul MUST play, Guti is better than Iniesta and Beckham is better than Xavi.

I like your patriotism. If Real Madrid win the CL and la Liga by 12 points, we would have Pavon, Guti, Helguera, Raul Bravo and Soldado in the NT.

Abellan has made a campaign against anything related to Cadena Ser and De la Morena. Unfortunately Iniesta has not been an exception.


It's funny how you defend Aragones just because Raul is playing.

Yesterday I heard that Torres and Raul are untouchables for Aragones. Laughable. He's doubting between Villa and Reyes, when Villa and Reyes should play both ahead of Torres and Raul.

Torres is his Atletico kid. Raul is the key to avoid critics, because most people in Spain are Real Madrid fans who can't see the difference between Real Madrid and the NT. Raul has not been good for Real Madrid in the last 2-3 years but they want him for the NT. Yeah, I like your patriotism. Your common sense is still better.

WE ARE SPAIN!!

http://www.videoenlaces.com/videos_...ios---Himno-no-ofisia-der-Mundia-de-Alemania/


whatever happens we are spain

 

[Sevillista]

WE ARE SPAIN!!

http://www.videoenlaces.com/videos_...ios---Himno-no-ofisia-der-Mundia-de-Alemania/


whatever happens we are spain

The song is way better than "Opa" but god that's a terrible video. What is up with that guy in the underwear.........

And yes, we are Spain and I will cheer for the players no matter who plays, but it'll be hard to digest an early exit if we don't put our best players on the field. I'm going to pray that a bottle of cologne falls on Torres' foot.

 

[faceNside]

Oh, wait, I forgot, he plays for Barça. That team has no value in Spain.

I like your patriotism. If Real Madrid win the CL and la Liga by 12 points, we would have Pavon, Guti, Helguera, Raul Bravo and Soldado in the NT.

Don't know what are u talking about. Barça ended up the seasson with 4 starting spanish players (Valdes, Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi), and 3 out of them have been called up. Perhaps u wanted Oleguer or Gabri to be called aswell

 

[Crusad3r]

In the other side Guti playing for Barça would be playing in Spanish NT, but ohhhh he was the best spanish player (imho) of the 2nd best team in La Liga, thats not enough.

I also want Torres out, lets pray he can close my mouth.

 

[Dream Team]

Nah. Casillas, Salgado, Raul and Ramos and you still want Guti. It's ridiculous. I imagined what would happen if Madrid win the CL and la Liga by 12 points.

All I asked for is a proper chance for Iniesta, who deserves more respect and probably won't have any chance to play in the NT. Is that too much? I guess it is because he plays for Barça.

But there are still worse examples. We could talk about Cañizares, Reina, Valdés and Palop..

In the other side Guti playing for Barça would be playing in Spanish NT, but ohhhh he was the best spanish player (imho) of the 2nd best team in La Liga, thats not enough.

I also want Torres out, lets pray he can close my mouth.

Guti was better than Casillas and Ramos?

Definitely. Winning the CL and La Liga is not enough, but playing for the second best team in Spain with one of the worst midfields should be enough. Your common sense.

 

[Crusad3r]

Nah. Casillas, Salgado, Raul and Ramos and you still want Guti. It's ridiculous. I imagined what would happen if Madrid win the CL and la Liga by 12 points.

All I asked for is a proper chance for Iniesta, who deserves more respect and probably won't have any chance to play in the NT. Is that too much? I guess it is because he plays for Barça.

But there are still worse examples. We could talk about Cañizares, Reina, Valdés and Palop...


Guti was better than Casillas and Ramos?

Definitely. Winning the CL and La Liga is not enough, but playing for the second best team in Spain with one of the worst midfields should be enough. Your common sense.

Please stop talking with that victimism. Barça players have equal chances to other players in example.

Valdes is not playing cause other keepers are better even not winning titles. Oleguer is ... he is just not enough good even for Barça.

The question is why nobody is asking why Xavi is there since Xavi didnt played a single official game in 2006? (i dont count the last Barça matches cause that matches didnt were that important) Iniesta is good, but honestly he didnt even played the champions league for Barça at the begining, and i think is cause Iniesta is not so wonderful and important for Barça

Imho Guti was more important for Madrid than Ramos and Casillas since our midfield was a disaster this season. Its just my opinion, the best Real Madrid of this season came when Guti played more offensive style, when Ronaldo and Raul came Madrid player crap and Guti was playing as DM.

 

[Dream Team]

The best Real Madrid was when Guti played his best games. I agree. But one of the reasons why Real Madrid struggled is because Guti is so inconsistent. He has 2 good months and then nothing. Same old Guti.


Iniesta has not played more because he had to compete with some world class players like Xavi, Deco or van Bommel and even though van Bommel was average, he was a big name when he came. Iniesta not only was the best midfielder, he also was one of the best players in the last 2-3 months. Man of the Match in important CL games with key performances against Benfica and Milan. Don't tell me that it's because he plays with Deco because Deco disappeared the last part of the season.

Nobody argues about Xavi because he earned his spot before the injury. He was the best player in the NT before the injury. You're wrong, he played some games after the injury. It's not like Xavi is untouchable like Raul anyway.


Valdés is not in the NT because of his blunder against Valencia (BTW Casillas made the same mistake against Egypt). Valdés was a key player in the CL final while Liverpool conceded two goals in the FA Cup final because Reina didn't have a good day. On the other hand Palop was the best GK in la Liga. I admit this is arguable and it's more about personal opinion. The GK is the position better covered in Spain. I don't care too much since they wouldn't play anyway because that spot is for Casillas but I think it's unfair.

 

[RuiCosta_10]

Aragones is making the Spanish media happy. He'll be like Iñaki Saiz. Spain has talent and potential but the NT doesn't have a coach with guts.


Iniesta has been the best Spanish midfielder in the last months and he won't even get a proper chance. Besides he's fresh unlike other players because he's shared minutes with other players at Barça. He'll be like Xavi in the Euro2004, a talented benchwarmer. There are certain journalists who will never give him the credit that he deserves just because he's friend of Jose Ramon de la Morena.

Who's Jose Ramon de la Morena?

 

[Crusad3r]

Iniesta has not played more because he had to compete with some world class players like Xavi, Deco or van Bommel and even though van Bommel was average, he was a big name when he came. Iniesta not only was the best midfielder, he also was one of the best players in the last 2-3 months. Man of the Match in important CL games with key performances against Benfica and Milan. Don't tell me that it's because he plays with Deco because Deco disappeared the last part of the season.

Man,

Xavi was injured the lasy 6 months.
Van Bommel is totally different to Iniesta, and everyone agree Iniesta should play over Van Bommel always

 

[Crusad3r]

Who's Jose Ramon de la Morena?

He is the boss of Cadena SER sports section, and Cadena SER is the most important Radio in Spain. A pressman that can destroy if you have problems with him.

 

[RuiCosta_10]

Oh ok, thank you.

I've always wondered why Iniesta is so underrated...

 

[Dream Team]

Radio:
SER=JR de la Morena. El Larguero, ~1.5m listeners.
COPE=JA Abellán. El Radiador, ~500.000 listeners.

Then each one has a TV show, "Maracana" and "El Rondo".

It happens that JR de la Morena is almost Iniesta's father and he's always praising him. He always tells the story. How they chose Iniesta as the best player of that youth tournament playing for Albacete and then Barça signed him. I don't think he helps Iniesta at all. I'm a fan of Iniesta myself and I hate when he's 5 minutes saying how good is Iniesta.

Abellan & company hate De la Morena. He's at least 20 minutes every night to criticize Cadena SER, JR de la Morena & company. They tried to manipulate the audience results and all. It's a big war of mafias, a long story.

 

[Vedran-10]

It would be a stronger Spain with Torres in the stands and Raul on the bench.

 

[Crusad3r]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNOkzw_HDrE

I was watching this evening the program, and WTF, Lopetegui down! xDD Patxi Izco comment have been amazing LOL

"¿No queriais sorpresas?"


http://img234.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ironia0ya.jpg

 

[Socrates]

Wow, a lot has been talked about here so I will try to keep mine short. I think that its stupid to bench Villa, Torres is horrible and Raul is questionable. I think Spain would be stronger if Raul was on the bench unless he has upped his form somehow? I did not see the game vs Russia so I cant comment on how he did.

Now to Iniesta...come on DT. It not because he plays for Barca, its because Luis is a fool. I dont think Salgado or Raul really deserved a callup so please stop with the your a Madrid fan so you will defend Raul/anything Madrid related. As for why Iniesta does not start? Like I said Luis is a fool, he starts Lopez/Del Horno infront of Pernia, puts Ramos at RB, plays Albelda and Senna at the same time, etc. I dont know if Xavi is fit/on from to start this WC so a midfield of Cesc-Iniesta would be great imo. I dont like coaches who have untouchable players, so it sucks that some players who should see the bench might not. On the GK issue, Casillas > any keeper.

 

[Dream Team]

I'm not saying Iniesta should start.

I think he'll see the WC from the bench when he could be a player more important and very useful. He couldn't show what he can offer. If only he would have given a proper chance. Now I don't expect that he becomes a starter all of a sudden. Russia was his debut, he's played about 70 minutes with the NT. In the season 2004/2005 Iniesta was the #12 player with Barça, he played all the games. Though he wasn't called up before. The same happened with Cesc. Cesc has played only one more game. What I don't know is why Iniesta has not been considered until the last moment. The media has been influential IMO.


This is my line-up:
------------Casillas------------
Ramos---Puyol--Pablo----Pernía
--------------DM--------------
----------CM-----CM----------
Joaquín------------------Reyes
-------------Villa--------------

Where there are no names, I don't care, your choice. I have my preferences but it's more important the way you want to play than the players that you pick.
DM Senna and Albelda
CM Xavi, X.Alonso, Cesc and Iniesta

To me Xavi is the best but after the injury he still has to prove that he's fit again. If he's fit, there's no contest. Playing with Senna and Albelda at the same time would be the last thing I would do.

Joaquin because he's the best RW and I like to play with wings. I wouldn't mind to play with Raul just for his attitude, because Joaquín is not a guarantee either.

Pablo because I believe he can be a good partner for Puyol and he's very good for set pieces.

I don't have to explain the rest.

 

[Socrates]

This is my line-up:
------------Casillas------------
Ramos---Puyol--Pablo----Pernía
--------------DM--------------
----------CM-----CM----------
Joaquín------------------Reyes
-------------Villa--------------

Where there are no names, I don't care, your choice. I have my preferences but it's more important the way you want to play than the players that you pick.
DM Senna and Albelda
CM Xavi, X.Alonso, Cesc and Iniesta

To me Xavi is the best but after the injury he still has to prove that he's fit again. If he's fit, there's no contest. Playing with Senna and Albelda at the same time would be the last thing I would do.

Joaquin because he's the best RW and I like to play with wings. I wouldn't mind to play with Raul just for his attitude, because Joaquín is not a guarantee either.

Pablo because I believe he can be a good partner for Puyol and he's very good for set pieces.

I don't have to explain the rest.

I agree with your lineup except Pablo, he looked quite poor vs Russia and Egypt. He seems to be too slow and if I remember correctly at one point he even fell down as the opposing players came at him? Cant be sure of that but he has looked quite poor. Ramos is better as a CB but because Luis called up Salgado to be the other RB its not looking good at that RB position. For DM it has to be Senna, I dont like Albelda that much. For CM there are 4 very good players there and whoever is on form should partner the next one...damn thats a strong center mid no matter who starts.

 

[Sevillista]

I agree with your lineup except Pablo, he looked quite poor vs Russia and Egypt. He seems to be too slow and if I remember correctly at one point he even fell down as the opposing players came at him? Cant be sure of that but he has looked quite poor. Ramos is better as a CB but because Luis called up Salgado to be the other RB its not looking good at that RB position. For DM it has to be Senna, I dont like Albelda that much. For CM there are 4 very good players there and whoever is on form should partner the next one...damn thats a strong center mid no matter who starts.

Agreed. Marchena would fit better than Pablo. I don't mind if Raul plays instead of Jouaquin, just don't put Torres in.