Last Week in Las Ligas
Good Times.
The “fight” has already been discussed ad naueseam, but it’s still worth another look. Big win for Zaragoza, too.
In fairness to Barca, they were playing without half their team.
Before last night, Depor had not won in nine, their squad is basically not that good, their president is contemplating walking away, senior players are desperate to do likewise, and they’re skint. But they did have one thing going for them, the greatest of Kings’ gifts: Real Madrid.
One-up within 10 minutes through a Joan Capdevila free-kick, Depor comfortably defeated an utterly, utterly pathetic Madrid side who played with no organisation, no spirit, and too many players in the wrong positions.
La Liga Loca on Recreativo:
A team following the Getafe’s mantra of modesty, judging by manager Marcelino’s words yesterday - “Our target is 42 points, lets see what happens if we get that”. Now in seventh place, with just four more wins until they reach their target, back to back victories over Real Madrid and now Espanyol means that the current team of the season must surely have secured another year in Spain’s top flight. And played some very nice football along the way.
Real Sociedad 2 Osasuna 1
Atletico 0 Nastic 0
To come back from break and struggle like that against one of the worst teams at home is so horrible yet typical—whatever. Tis the season of re-gifting, and Atletico just re-gifted their temporary holding of a Champions League spot.
Valencia 1 Villareal 0
Betis 1 Celta Vigo 0
Levante 2 Racing Santander 0
Here’s Oliver on England:
FA CUP- Round 3
This week saw a break for the Premier League, so that the FA Cup could get some action
For those who don’t know, this cup includes teams from every league in Britain so the two-hundredeth best team in the country have a chance to play against the big guns. Not only is this great for fans who don’t get too see these ‘big’ teams in the flesh too often, but also for the smaller clubs as the big clubs coming to town can provide a significant financial windfall that can be used to purchase new players or upgrade facilities. Every year some small team comes from nowhere to beat up on premiership clubs- sort of like in college basketball and this year was no different
Plenty of vids out there and check out the two crackers between Liverpool and Arsenal:
FA Cup Round 3
Liverpool 1-3 Arsenal http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxnml_liverpool-v-arsenal
Birmingham 2-2 Newcastle http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxnnq_birmingham-22-newcastle-fa-cup
Hull 1-1 Middlesbrough
Nott Forest 2-0 Charlton
Chelsea 6-1 Macclesfield http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZP3LTUW2Tg&eurl=
Leicester 2-2 Fulham
Doncaster 0-4 Bolton
Portsmouth 2-1 Wigan http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxqcu_portsmouth-vs-wigan-goals
Manchester United 2-1 Aston Villa http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxz2a_man-u-v-aston-villa
Sheffield United 0-3 Swansea
West Ham 3-0 Brighton
Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Man City http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxwni_sheffield-wednesday-vs-man-city-goa
Cardiff 0-0 Tottenham
Everton 1-4 Blackburn (sorry Ryan) http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxwh4_everton-vs-blackburn-goals
Carling Cup Replay after game was called off in Dec due to fog
Liverpool 3-6 Arsenal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hujXjOftocs&eurl=
(my buddy travelled 4 hrs to Liverpool twice to watch this game and the first time it was called off for fog….and the second time his team lose and concede six goals- If god exists, he hates my buddy.)
Last weeks Premier league scores and highlights
December 30
Tottenham 0-1 Liverpool http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azKOMeocc4Y
Man Utd 3-2 Reading http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ372G_lPMQ&eurl=
Bolton 3-2 Portsmouth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C29lDsHXojE&eurl=
Charlton 2-1 Aston Villa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VIS_jey7JE
Blackburn 2-1 Middlesbrough
West Ham 0-1 Manchester City http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02k1PhFSb8o
Chelsea 2-2 Fulham http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqUXoRkA10Y&eurl=
Everton 3-0 Newcastle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brb_3yknojE
Sheffield United 1-0 Arsenal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGePOWQj8tE
January 1st
Liverpool 3-0 Bolton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjm59xL2eEI&eurl=
Portsmouth 1-1 Tottenham http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3rEr480b7E&eurl=
Fulham 0-0 Watford
Reading 6-0 West Ham http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZiBilFCYoU&eurl
Aston Villa 0 –0 Chelsea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNoEb0nzc2Y
Arsenal 4-0 Charlton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v_AlE62TdM
Wigan 0-3 Blackburn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2IqsJEMEcM
Man City 2-1 Everton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU6sRM-4yaE
Middlesbrough 3-1 Sheffield Utd
Newcastle 2-2 Man Utd http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzM30Mw9rEg&eurl=
Portsmouth 1-1 Tottenham http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEeCqsIhpKw & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_peJH_vNPIA&mode=related&search=
Other News
Sheffield United
Huge props to relegation candidates Sheffield United from last week. Not only did they beat and outplay Arsenal, but it is reported the struggling Sheffield club are in talks with major Brazilian powerhouse, Sao Paulo to form an ‘exclusive partnership’ to bring some of the best, young Brazilian talent from the Brasiliero to the Premiership. Exact details have not yet been released, but if these rumours are true it will be a huge coup for Neil Warnock and co. Sao Paulo have always produced great talent, such as Denilson, Cafu and Kaka and if somehow Sheffield United can put themselves in the position to sign guys like Kaka, who has been one of the world’s best players for a few years now, the results can only be positive for the Northern club.
Any Blades fans out there can watch this vid and drool at Kaka, the kind of guy Sao Paulo produces (basically a nice excuse to show you guys how good Kaka is and why Chelsea have been sniffing around him the last few years)
KAKA video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNJQwHN9lyw&eurl=
In other news-
The Transfer window is OPEN and lots of teams have money to burn including Aston Villa, Chelsea and Manchester United
Chelsea have been linked with an almost infinite number of players, the most likely include Man City’s star defender Micah Richards, Valencia forward David Villa, Birmingham centre back Matthew Upson and Dani Alves of Spanish leaders Sevilla.
Manchester United supposedly lead the long list of suitors for Spanish star Fernando Torres (actually, hot mamis lead the list of suitors for Torres—Jake) and also may have a successful end to their chase of Bayern Munich’s star midfielder Owen Hargreaves. Villa have been linked with way to many players to list here but Robbie Keane, Joey Barton and Miroslav Klose would be good signings, if Villa are serious about showing their intention of gaining a place in Europe next year.
Another Player likely on the move include Southampton’s seventeen year old star in the making, Gareth Bale who has Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid interested in snatching up the Welsh, free kick specialist. England squad players Nigel Reo Coker and Shaun Wright Phillips could also be on the move with Arsenal and Manchester United interested in the West Ham man and Manchester City reportedly only willing to let Micah Richards go to Chelsea, if winger, Wright-Phillips is part of the deal.
(UPDATE- only even slightly big signing in a VERY quiet transfer window so far has been Luis Boa Morte’s £6 million transfer to West Ham- I expect things to pick up toward the end of the month)
Amusing video of the week- the fight against diving
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COevQbe19WY
Goal of the week-
Peter Crouch over head kick against Bolton- he’s 6’7! That’s the same height as Kobe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKuFyIIC63o
Performance of the week
I’m a little bias. But there is nothing better for me than watching Thierry Henry make a shock return to the field against Charlton and then open the scoring in a four goal rout. To round off a great week he also scored against Liverpool in the FA Cup as well. It wasn’t that Henry was that incredible in either game, just having the talismanic Frenchman on the field has been enough to rejuvenate the Gunners. (as I predicted last week) Great to have you back Thierry!
POI
This week one of the most complete football players on earth. Not the best week for Liverpool’s Captain Steven Gerrard- as he lost twice to Arsenal but he scored a great goal in the Carling Cup game and showed that he may be the best midfielder in the Premiership. He can tackle, pass, dribble and shoot…boy can he shoot- Some of the goals on this video prove that-
Great player. Last year was voted the Premiership’s best player (MVP for you yanks)
Here’s why!
Gerrard video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVM5fRT7-zA
21 Responses to “Last Week in Las Ligas”
Jan.12 at 11:43 am
jake appleman says:
I’ll write something about Beckham soon…
Jan.12 at 11:52 am
oliver says:
real madrid are a freakin embarassment-
Jan.12 at 11:57 am
oliver says:
oh yeah and i think all the basketball columnists have the Beckham angle covered- u can probs take a break on that
Jan.12 at 12:02 pm
Nadav Mor says:
The Bundesliga is on the longest break in the history of the world.
Jan.12 at 12:30 pm
oliver says:
yeah thats a stinker nad- whens it back in action?
what you think of the rumour that Bayern want Robben? and what you thinks gonna happen with the hargreaves situation?
Jan.12 at 12:49 pm
Nadav Mor says:
Hargraves wants out - REALLY out. To Man U. I geuss Sir Alex wants him, too. But he busted up his knee pretty bad, so we’ll see what happens.
Word is Claudio Pizzaro is gonna leave Bayern to Bremen, which would be pretty gangsta of him.
Action returns on January 26th. Luckly I’ll be in the States, catching some NBA games, hopefully.
But I’ll be back in time to catch Bayern here in Berlin against Hertha.
Jan.12 at 1:00 pm
Nadav Mor says:
Also, don’t sleep on Ben Haim. He’s the man.
Jan.12 at 1:12 pm
Ryan Jones says:
F*cking Blackburn.
Jan.12 at 1:51 pm
h-wag says:
Hargreaves had a broken bone in his leg, but he should have recovered from that injury soon.
And I´m still wondering how Bayern still hasn´t sold him at that huge price tag. He will never be worth that much, and Bayern could find a few nice players instead.
Jan.12 at 3:14 pm
Oliver says:
agreed H-wag- Espc as Man U love payin inflated prices- Carrcik for $35 million makes Beckham for $250 seem like a steal-
and yes ryan- everton stink- ill make you a gooner yet
Jan.12 at 3:41 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Never that, Oliver. Considering the billion-year-old ground and lack of a gazillionaire owner (although Sly’s homie might help), Everton are a grand old club who tend to make the most of what they have. Regardless, I’ll never root for your crew of froggie emigrees… well, except when they put six on the red shite from analfield. Well done, that.
Jan.12 at 3:44 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Although, speaking of switching allegiances… Jake? http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=399649&campaign=rss&source=soccernet&cc=5901 Join me, friend. Come, walk toward the light.
Jan.12 at 3:49 pm
Ryan Jones says:
One more thing: I’ve been sort of out of the soccer loop due to the relocation, so I’m just now getting around to watching the Zaragoza - Sevilla sh*t… BEST. FIGHT. EVER.
Jan.12 at 9:58 pm
R7 says:
think that’s the reason robinho started drinking??
Jan.13 at 9:38 am
oliver says:
Robinho sways like he drinkin in every game- no idea why tho
Jan.13 at 9:39 am
oliver says:
if scoring 6 on Liverpool wont make u a gooner i dont know what will- oh yeah - how come you relocated? no more ed?
where are you now? somewhere u can watch Everton all day and night?
Jan.14 at 6:29 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Oliver, that 3-0 over Liverpool at Goodison back in the fall is the only three-goal victory over Liverpool I need. But thanks.
As for my wherabouts, check out Farmer Jones under the columnists. That would be I.
Jan.15 at 2:37 pm
Oliver says:
got ya
dont forget the 6-3 win either
Jan.18 at 8:04 am
Waters says:
Just so everyone remembers how tricky maradona was http://plsthx.com/Sports_videos/1961_Diego_Maradonna_in_training.html
Jan.18 at 7:02 pm
Oliver says:
maradona was amazing one of the best ever
post that again nxt week
waters
Jan.18 at 7:57 pm
Waters says:
man, I’ll post maradona any week. Dude was amazing, all 5′4 and 312 pounds of him (well at least now)