Statistics aren't everything, he's always been more productive than say Iniesta but his performances aren't as good.
Don't think anyone says he's lost it though, just that he doesn't fit their style of play.
La Liga 2013-2014
- Thread starter jojojo
- Start date
Statistics aren't everything, he's always been more productive than say Iniesta but his performances aren't as good.
Don't think anyone says he's lost it though, just that he doesn't fit their style of play.
Alves has become my hero. Eat racism out of football.
It will be recorded in the history of football. Bravo.. Dani Alves.This week is really a great week for football.
He's done well at Bilbao though, so far at least. When you think about it there aren't really any top coaches available now, they can't be really picky. Laudrup won't do well with them I reckon. I've seen Luis Enrique and De Boer linked as well but honestly not sure about them either. Valverde seems like the best choice out of those 4 at least.
He also did an admirable job at Valencia coming in for Pellegrino mid-season. I saw a lot of Valencia fans praising him for stabilizing them in the short-term as he got them from mid-table in December to 5th in May.
OG used to play for united
Alves: "I don't know who threw the banana, but I'd want to thank him. It gave me energy to give 2 more crosses that ended up in goal."
Were the Barca fans blaming Fabregas in this game as well? 
Were the Barca fans blaming Fabregas in this game as well?
Most Barca fans have been extremely cruel towards Cesc for a long time now. Was excellent coming off the bench tonight and helped the team come back from behind. His performances have been a bit underappreciated in the past 3 years overall I would also add.
Having said that, and despite me being his biggest fan on the planet (Cesc's I mean) it is true that he does not seem too much at home in Barcelona, which is extremely bizarre on the face of it. The main reason this is I think, is that he lacks the close control of Iniesta, which renders him impotent in tight spaces (which is what Barcelona are facing in every single game) the other is that he cannot evade pressure from defenders/midfielders like Xavi can with his intelligent turns. The third reason is his lack of speed I would say.
Now in terms of vision, and final ball delivery, I think Cesc is the best on the planet, and for that reason I am certain that he will be a colossus (just like he was for Arsenal) for any major EPL club. I can easily see a bidding war between several English clubs come summer for Francesc Fabregas. Whether Barcelona will be doing the right thing in selling Cesc though, is another matter. It will depend on several factors. The need for a radical change in personnel and a change in the style of play has already been officially recognized by the club, so in that case, it s quite conceivable that Cesc will be better suited to the new-look Barca of 2014/15. On the other hand, if the club can get a good price for him (upwards of 40m pounds or thereabout) then the temptation to sell and go for Arturo Vidal (a player that will surely add something different to our current, rather stale style of play) will be immense.
For Cesc to fit Barca again, would require us to go for a traditional number "9", and big/tall/strong defenders, with Neymar/Messi on the flanks. This summer will be crucial for the club!
Edit: Another point about Cesc that should be stressed here, is that unlike a few others in the team, he has been giving it his all, match in, match out, even if it is sometimes ineffective. Even though I can definitely fault aspects of his games, there is no way I can fault his character and effort.
Alves: "I don't know who threw the banana, but I'd want to thank him. It gave me energy to give 2 more crosses that ended up in goal."
Love it.
Neymar getting in on the response too:
I love Dani
That was class from Alves and then Neymar. Ridiculous that things like that still happen in our society.
Atletico Madrid 35-88
Barcelona 35-84
Real Madrid 35-82
If two teams finish level, head to head counts first.
Results:
RM 0-1 AM
AM 2-2 RM
B 2-1 RM
RM 3-4 B
AM 0-0 B
Remaining:
Atletico: Levante (11th) A, Malaga (13th) H, Barcelona (2nd) A;
Barca: Getafe (17th) H, Elce (15th) A, Atletico (1st) H;
Real: Valencia (8th) H, Real Valladolid (19th) A**, Celta Vigo (10th) A, Espanyol (12th) H.
**Game in hand.
Barcelona 35-84
Real Madrid 35-82
If two teams finish level, head to head counts first.
Results:
RM 0-1 AM
AM 2-2 RM
B 2-1 RM
RM 3-4 B
AM 0-0 B
Remaining:
Atletico: Levante (11th) A, Malaga (13th) H, Barcelona (2nd) A;
Barca: Getafe (17th) H, Elce (15th) A, Atletico (1st) H;
Real: Valencia (8th) H, Real Valladolid (19th) A**, Celta Vigo (10th) A, Espanyol (12th) H.
**Game in hand.
It is ridiculous.
Re the league, you'd imagine AM will surely get the two wins to clinch their first league win since the 90s.
Re the league, you'd imagine AM will surely get the two wins to clinch their first league win since the 90s.
Athletic are up 3-0 at the moment but nobody is showing the game...?
I've got a stream but there's literally 2 minutes left.
Been watching it through an internet steam. Mikel San Jose, Oscar de Marcos and Ander Herrera with the goals. Athletic Bilbao are now guaranteed CL qualifiers next season, will be unseeded though. Unbelievable for a side with zero foreign players.
Huge achievement for Bilbao.
Not just zero foreign players. Zero non-Basques. It'd be like United deciding that only players from Greater Manchester could play for us and still being a top four side (Basque country has 2.1 million inhabitants, Greater Manchester 2.7 million). Its amazing. Great side, great spirit.
Yeah, I should have said zero foreigners, and zero Spaniards. And it's not like they can pick from each and every Basque either. Alonso plays for Madrid, Martinez for Bayern, Llorrente for Juventus, Arteta for Arsenal, Illaramendi for Real and so on and so on... Astonishing stuff! I hope they can make it through to the group stage. Arsenal are possible opponents though
Lizarazu played for Bilbao, although he counts as Basque I suppose.
He does indeed. The city he was born in is part of the Basque region.
I really hope to see Bilbao in the group stages next year, though it's going to be tough with them not being seeded.
Yeah, similar to Laporte at the minute. Athletic Club isn't as strict in their Basque only policy as they used to be.
If atletico win the title is theirs.
True. Higuaín would be eligible to play for them as he was brought up in a Basque-ish environment in Argentina and learned about their culture and history. At least that's what I remember reading about.
A part of the basque country is part of france; Lizarazu is a french basque. With Laporte its a bit of stretch. I highly doubt that Agen is part of the basque country, but its not very far off either. I read an interview where he said that his grandparents were basques and he played for a basque club in his youth; cant give you too much details, my french skills are rather limited.
Anyway, the club plays great football and thats all that matters. I am glad that they were able to secure the 4th spot.
Anyway, the club plays great football and thats all that matters. I am glad that they were able to secure the 4th spot.
Amorebieta was born in Venezuela but has Basque parents and was raised there so he counts.
I think so too. I think it's safe to count the last match with Barcelona as pretty much won, can't see them getting 1st from here on in and I highly doubt they'd give it their all and hand the title to you lot.
The Basque's have always considered part of France to be Basque territory. Laporte and Lizarazu would always have qualified.
It's players like Llorente and Amorebieta who perhaps wouldn't have formerly been picked.
Didn't Bilbao want to sign the Mexican kid Jonathan Espericueta one time? Said his last name meant he had basque origins, or some such.
Aye, that's true. Me saying Laporte is another French born player eligible to play for them is a different point to me saying they've loosened their requirements. Still an interesting policy though.
Doesn't even matter if they beat Levante and Málaga, as they'd be champions already.
On a different subject, what the hell is going on in the Segunda this season? I've never seen it so tight before. Only 23 points seperating 1st from 22nd and no team with a GD higher than +17 or lower than -14.
How many goals has Lafita scored against Barcelona and Real Madrid? Must be a crazy amount.
He's scored two today, the second of which has just cost Barcelona 3 points
Edit: 6 apparently, impressive considering he's not a regular goalscorer.
He's scored two today, the second of which has just cost Barcelona 3 points
Edit: 6 apparently, impressive considering he's not a regular goalscorer.
And Barca lose La Liga
The point difference suggests it's exciting but looking at the goals scored will change your mind. The average is a little over 2 goals per game.
Very odd to see the team in 2nd last place has scored the 3rd in both scoring and conceding.
I think that is yesterday's news.
It was closer than you think. ATM slip up and stuff would have been interesting.
Caught the very end of this game and surely Dani Alves will be out the door? always up the park cheaply conceding possession and hanging his already shit defence out to dry.
No more than Barca deserve, pitiful season for them.
No more than Barca deserve, pitiful season for them.
Wow!
Incredible. What a season this could be for Atletico. Looking nailed on for La Liga, and a European final against their city rivals where anything can happen.