La Liga Half-Term Report

kinaldo

Barca dropped more points tonight with their game in hand at Betis finishing 1-1. Just as an example of how brilliantly unpredictable this league can be look at how many points the top teams have dropped lately:

Barcelona have taken 9 pts from their last 7 games, R.Madrid have taken 9 pts from their last 6 games, and Sevilla have taken 10 pts from their last 7 games.

Meanwhile, Valencia have won their last 6 and Atl. Madrid are grinding out results with the possible outside chance of winning it.

Phil Ball sums it all up nicely:

• 1. Barcelona: Still top of the class, but only just. Bright and talented, but some signs that the success and praise of the last two seasons are going to its head. Jeered off the field this weekend despite beating bottom club Nastic 3-0, the Camp Nou regulars are reminding the players that it is obligatory to win, but in style. Anything less is sacrilege. Lots of absences through illness and injury this term, but should pick up as winter fades and Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o return. Manager Frank Rijkaard is still the epitome of cool, but even he showed he is fallible by thumping the plastic window of the dug-out during the recent humiliation at Espanyol. Mark: B+

• 2. Sevilla: Some things were expected of them, but they have exceeded all predictions. Dropped off a little recently, as if they are gathering strength for another long-term assault on the title, but they have nevertheless surprised the doubters with some amazingly entertaining displays, and victories over their nearest rivals. The team everyone (apart from Betis) wants to win the title, it may prove just beyond their reach. Good at home, they'll need to get a little meaner on their travels. Tough-guy manager Juande Ramos is on Chelsea's agenda, should Mourinho leave. Mark: A

• 3. Real Madrid: Steeped in transitory paranoia, wading in a crisis of their own (and the press') making, it's impossible to tell which way they will go. The last of the galactic ones seem to be on their way out, but even that is unclear at the time of writing. Raúl has spoken, and Raúl says that David Beckham and Ronaldo should be brought back into the fold. Stranger things have happened, but it's been great soap, a veritable theatre of the absurd. The weird thing is that they're joint top, and still alive in the Champions League. They've been naughty boys, but the headmaster is prepared to forgive. New boy Fernando Gago looks good - and seems to be the first sensible signing since Sergio Ramos. Don't write them off just yet. Mark: B-

• 4. Valencia: They've had an astonishing amount of injuries to key players throughout the season - and Asier Del Horno is yet to make his debut. Nevertheless, they've just won six games on the trot (equalling a club record) and are only two points behind the leading pack. They could easily win it, now that Carlos Marchena and David Albelda are restored to defence, and Roberto Ayala seems to be recovering his past form. You just can't write them off. Mentally and physically strong, if you see longish odds at the bookies, place your money on them. New star player - David Silva. Mark: A+

• 5. Atlético Madrid: Despite an indifferent start, the overall quality of the league is perhaps apparent in the fact that they are still in with a shout, at least statistically speaking. They managed to (just) overcome 7-man Osasuna this weekend to move into 5th place, three points behind the leaders, but realism suggests that their inconsistency will reduce their ambition to hanging onto a Champions League place. New manager Aguirre has disappointed with his conservatism, and the much-hyped Kun Aguero has not really lived up to billing. But time's on his side. Atlético have not had such a good half-term since the double year of 1996. But don't get too carried away. Mark: B

• 6. Zaragoza: One of the surprise packages, no-one expected them to be doing so well at this stage of the season, despite the obvious quality in their ranks and the addition this season of Pablo Aimar. They should sustain the good first term, get into the UEFA, and get a weekend away to EuroDisney, courtesy of their proud parents. Mark: A-

• 7. Recreativo de Huelva: It's never been as good as this, going right back to the 1880's. The league's first adventurers are at last looking as though they will stay up, having been relegated in each of the two previous seasons in which they managed to clamber up to the top class. Highlight of the season, or of their existence, was surely the 0-3 drubbing of Real Madrid in the Bernabéu. Mark A+

• 8. Getafe: Another pupil who was expected to struggle in the top class, but who has adapted remarkably well. Has certain lapses of concentration, and teacher Bernd Schuster has occasional delusions/illusions of grandeur (such as managing Real Madrid), but he has made the team into one difficult to beat, and they have the best defensive record of the first term, with only 13 goals conceded. Nevertheless, Dani Güiza up front remains their star turn. Last season they finished 9th, the best in their history. This season they're on track to better that. Mark A

• 9. Osasuna: Last season went like a dream, only spoiled by manager Javier Aguirre's departure to Atlético and the failure to progress beyond the qualifying stage of the Champions Cup. With new manager 'Cuco' Ziganda, the ex-Bilbao striker, they started poorly, but things are picking up. Roberto Soldado, on loan from Real Madrid, looks a class act, and will probably return to the Bernabéu next season, but for now he's the pride of Pamplona. Expect them to finish lower, but not a bad first term, all in all. Mark B

• 10. Espanyol: Another class with a new teacher (Ernesto Valverde), you can never be quite sure what Espanyol are going to do. It all depends on whether Raúl Tamudo is fit and whether Ivan De la Peña is in a good mood. Keeper Carlos Kameni seems to be back to the form which propelled him into Alex Ferguson's note-book two years ago, and who knows, they could finish even higher. There's a feel-good factor to the club at present, and the win over Barça seems to have unlocked a whole new jack-in-the-box of confidence. Mark B +


Full report and article

iregk

La liga at the moment is just amazingly exciting. Look at the top of the table.
1 Barcelona 38
2 Sevilla 38
3 Real Madrid 38
4 Valencia 36
5 Atlético de Madrid 35

The top 5 seperated by 3 points! Thats amazing, anybodys game. The premiership creaming themselves that the gap between the top two is still 6 points and not 9. Sorry folks, this is football....

kinaldo

iregk wrote:

La liga at the moment is just amazingly exciting. Look at the top of the table.
1 Barcelona 39
2 Sevilla 38
3 Real Madrid 38
4 Valencia 36
5 Atlético de Madrid 35

The top 5 seperated by 3 points! Thats amazing, anybodys game. The premiership creaming themselves that the gap between the top two is still 6 points and not 9. Sorry folks, this is football....

I totally agree. It's now 4 pts that separate the top 5 though (after Barca's draw last night). Incredible considering it's at the half way stage.

iregk

oups sorry, that must have been before last nights one had been put in.

Xavi6

Definitely the most exciting league. None of this 'two horse race' stuff. Lookin forward to the run in.

On a side note, happy birthday Xavi! 27 today.

kinaldo

Real Madrid suffered their 6th league defeat this season, 1-0 at Villareal, and miss the chance to finally return to the top.

I'm backing Valencia for the title now as none of the others seem to want it.

Atl. Madrid could only draw 1-1 at home to Racing Santander this evening so now the top 5 teams are only separated by 3 POINTS!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/spain_results/tables/default.stm

Raskolnikov

Xavi6 wrote:

Definitely the most exciting league.

Did you watch Villareal Vs. Real Madrid last night? I think there was one shot on goal for the entire game. Capello has ruined Real. At least when they lost before, they were entertaining to watch. Now they lose playing boring and useless football. As for the article implying Sergio Ramos was a good player? Ludicrous.

eirebhoy

I watched the first 10 minutes of last nights match and Real seem to be having a similar problem to Rangers under Le Guen. They're playing a 4-2-3-1 formation and the players are being too disciplined in sticking to their positions. The 2 defensive midfielders are sitting a bit behind the other 3. They should be playing with a lot more freedom and stop worrying about keeping the formation. Either that or just play a 4-4-2.

kinaldo

I admit Real Madrid are fairly dull this season but I'd like to see Capello given the time he needs to shape his team. They were considered quite dull under him ten years ago (in a Chelsea kind of way) with Redondo, Seedorf, Carlos, Raul, Suker and Mijatovic, but I thought they were amazing - still my favourite Madrid team ahead of the Galacticos and European Cup winners of 00 and 02.

I guess I jinxed Valencia by tipping them in this thread cos they just went down 2-1 at relegation threatened Betis tonight after winning their previous six. I only saw the second half of an enthralling contest and Valencia were unlucky not to get anything, at least from what I saw. Joaquin was given a standing ovation by the Betis fans when he came on as a late sub for Valencia, similar to the reception Sevilla fans afforded Reyes upon his return home.

6 points now separate the top five.

Barcelona 42
Sevilla 41
R.Madrid 38
Valencia 36
Atl. Madrid 36

kinaldo

Raskolnikov wrote:

As for the article implying Sergio Ramos was a good player? Ludicrous.

Based on how many games you've seen him play in? He was probably their best player last season you know. He's very highly rated by the likes of Capello, Valdano, the Spanish media etc.

Fans love him, over 20 Spanish international caps, transfer fee of €27m, and still only 20 years old.

For someone like Phil Ball who follows him closely to suggest he's a good player... ludicrous indeed.

el rabitos

it would be Ludicrous to suggest he's a complete player, while he's excellent going forward and a decent defender too, he's prone to a fair few lapses in concentration and makes some silly mistakes. but thats where his age comes into account.

he's still one of the better right back/wing backs in europe right now imo

Raskolnikov

kinaldo wrote:

Based on how many games you've seen him play in? He was probably their best player last season you know. He's very highly rated by the likes of Capello, Valdano, the Spanish media etc.

Fans love him, over 20 Spanish international caps, transfer fee of €27m, and still only 20 years old.

For someone like Phil Ball who follows him closely to suggest he's a good player... ludicrous indeed.

Several La Liga and Champions League matches this season.

Like rabitos made some point, he is prone to mistakes, pointless red/yellow cards and getting hopelessly out of position. He actually reminds a little of Geremi in that he loves getting forward, the problem is, like Geremi his final ball is often poor. I'm not dismissing him, just making a point that he has a long way to go.

event

Raskolnikov wrote:

Several La Liga and Champions League matches this season.

Like rabitos made some point, he is prone to mistakes, pointless red/yellow cards and getting hopelessly out of position. He actually reminds a little of Geremi in that he loves getting forward, the problem is, like Geremi his final ball is often poor. I'm not dismissing him, just making a point that he has a long way to go.

well of course he has a long way to go, he is only 20

but when you look at the fuss being made of richards and bale, i think its justified in calling him 'good'

iregk

Raskolnikov wrote:

just making a point that he has a long way to go.

he is 20 for god sake, of course he has a long way to go. When was the last time you saw the complete player at 20 years of age! He was brilliant last year and is having a good season this year. Nobody is saying he is the best player on the planet just that he is 20, bags of potential and looks to be a class act in the making.

Bateman

He might have a long way to go, but playing with Cannavaro will make him go a bit quicker.