Agree, but hey; 3p is all that counts. Despite the fact that the dust hasn't settled yet, that we are still struggling with putting the pieces of the new project together, this season opening has been really great. At least the points and results sevilla have got so far are way better than how we started last season.
La Liga 2016/17
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Agree, but hey; 3p is all that counts. Despite the fact that the dust hasn't settled yet, that we are still struggling with putting the pieces of the new project together, this season opening has been really great. At least the points and results sevilla have got so far are way better than how we started last season.
I thought Gomes was the strange choice. Don't rate Gomes much at all and the fee was extremely overpriced.
Denis Suarez is a talented kid with lots of potential and had a very good season at Villarreal. Barcelona looking for more depth in the attack midfield role due to Iniesta being injured and getting older and cover for Neymar. £2.7 million buy back clause, great business IMO.
Valencia one down to Real Betis and looking into 3 straight defeat.....they obviously have much deeper problems then the manager situation so Neville can breath a bit easier now IMO.
Good composure from Ruben Castro for the goal. Valencia's midfield is getting easily bypassed from counters, same problem against Las Palmas.
Heat looks unbearable out there. Gaya had to be substituted, important to replenish body fluids.
Looks like Gaya suffered a heat stroke. He couldn't even walk and had to be laid on the sideline. Can't believe they have no water breaks in these conditions.
Enzo Perez sent off... Valencia down to 10 men now. Durmisi looks like a very good player, good signing for Betis.
what did he do?
Another goal from counter. Ofcourse it had to be Joaquin. Game over.
A lunging two footed tackle on Durmisi. Not sure if it was a second yellow or a straight red.
Ufff Munir hits the post! He's looked good since coming on.
Parejo releases Rodrigo and he scores. One more to go..
Equaliser!
Munir! 2-2. What a comeback!
Valencia need to pull their socks up now and go for the neck. They gave momentum with them
Feck! Munir almost... Great save by Adan
Heavy pressure from Valencia in the last 10 minutes.
Ouch. Valencia losing in injury time.
Ouch! Ruben Castro again 
Rubén Castro is the ultimate party pooper. Very cruel on Valencia but that's what you get for being so open.Bloody hell, still zero points for Valencia.
They go to Bilbao next weekend. Bilbao won both games I think last season.
Valencia need to get a top manager with experience in la liga and stop with the experiments.
Valencia and Celta Vigo are really a negative surprise so far.
Celta had a difficult start. They already played against Atletico and Real. It is also not really a surprise that they´d struggle without Nolito. I think they´ll be okay in the end. Valencia on the other hand...boy oh boy... losing against Las Palmas, Betis and Eibar is not good. They´ll probably sack their manager soon and stabilize afterwards. It will be a long season for @prarek
How did Munir look on the whole, considering he's only just arrived?
Yesterday I was in
Not a good game that was decided with an incredible goal of Raúl García, besides later the referee didn´t concede a legal goal to Andone. Marlos Santos played some minutes. Despite the defeat I am quite optimistic to stay in Primera.
About the rest of games, very happy with the result of Barça. It´s good for la liga to see small teams not losing 5-0. Barça have to do something with Aleix Vidal in the winter market. Sell him and buy some proper RB, even if Sergi Roberto can play there. Neymar returned from holidays and on wednesday he will publish his new song!, I guess that after that will start playing some football.
Poor Jémez, Granada lost in the last minute. They receive too many goals, the same problem that had in Rayo
About the rest of games, very happy with the result of Barça. It´s good for la liga to see small teams not losing 5-0. Barça have to do something with Aleix Vidal in the winter market. Sell him and buy some proper RB, even if Sergi Roberto can play there. Neymar returned from holidays and on wednesday he will publish his new song!, I guess that after that will start playing some football
.Poor Jémez, Granada lost in the last minute. They receive too many goals, the same problem that had in Rayo
Yesterday I was inNot a good game that was decided with an incredible goal of Raúl García, besides later the referee didn´t concede a legal goal to Andone. Marlos Santos played some minutes. Despite the defeat I am quite optimistic to stay in Primera.
About the rest of games, very happy with the result of Barça. It´s good for la liga to see small teams not losing 5-0. Barça have to do something with Aleix Vidal in the winter market. Sell him and buy some proper RB, even if Sergi Roberto can play there. Neymar returned from holidays and on wednesday he will publish his new song!, I guess that after that will start playing some football
Poor Jémez, Granada lost in the last minute. They receive too many goals, the same problem that had in Rayo
Wow you got to see that goal. What a thunderous strike.
Very long season indeed. I don't think Valencia have ever lost the first 3 games in a row.
I thought he looked good. Definitely made a difference since coming on. Not afraid to shoot from outside the box, made some good runs and was unlucky to hit the post.
I believe Vidal is misused in Barca. He was rb just few times under Emery, with the purpose of having full attack on the right flank- so basically having two right wings on that flank. Else, he played on his natural position in Sevilla, which was as an attacking right wing. Imagine playing Jese in PSG as rb instead of as the winger that he is, would be similar way of mistreatment as barca are doing with Vidal. (Although, Emery is already mistreating Jese by putting him as center forward/target, but that is another story). I hope he returns to Sevilla in January.
They used to let Alves raid down the right for years. He was like a 3rd wide player. So I'm sure they could give Vidal the same freedom if that actually believed in him.
Roberto has been in great form though.
I know, but replacing Alves as rb is like replacing Iniesta as midfielder. Alves is one of a kind, with incredible set of lungs. I would put him right up with other wing back legends, as Brehme, Cafu or Carlos. Aleix Vidal's fault at barca is rather his defensive flaws than his attacks. No matter how much freedom he will get or not, his defensive play is not good enough as a wing back. Sergio Roberto is very versitale and quite decent. He doesn't have top world class quality but he always does good enough performances, or at least what is expected from that position. Aleix Vidal however, in contrast with Alves, is first and foremost an attacking winger, and not a wing back, hence why he is struggling as wing back at Barca.
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Is Revista de La Liga not on Sky Sports anymore? Looking for a highlights show to watch for La Liga.
They're too different, Aleix can't do the same work imo, Alves was a RB in defense, another CM when his team got the ball and a RW when the ball reached the last third. He didn't just have stamina and speed to spare, his tactical awareness was top level and that was key for his "3 position player" style. In his final years he lost some stamina and speed so his errors became apparent because he would always appear in the photo of defensive mistakes, he still had the right instincts, but his legs were not the same.
Aleix is, at best, 2/3rds of the player Alves was, he is quick, he works hard and has stamina to last 90 minutes, he knows when to run forward but that's it. Alves was better on the ball (so, the 3rd CM role helping in play build up won't work with Aleix), he also lacks the tactical discipline from Alves and his awareness, Alves was a genius at tactical fouls, he got away with a lot of 50/50 duel calls from the ref, he knew how to use his body to block or displace, and even if I don't like it, his teathricals helped him a lot in those situations. Aleix constantly loses duels against wingers, they usually throw him out of position with their body and even if he manages to catch up again he just loses another duel, he doesn't know how to master tactical fouls, either not fouling at all or doing it in a way that usually gets him a yellow card, I thought he would be able to claim the right wing, but he is lacking some aspects that are required in Barcelona's 433, aspects that Sergi Roberto already has, good ball control, CM experience, good instincts to work as a winger, stamina, speed and work rate
Playing for FC Barcelona as a right/left back is hard, a position that works in a stablished way for our playstyle, not the "usual" way. I think Sergi Roberto has the right arguments to be our starter in RB for the next years and Aleix will get crucified after every game, he's had enough time to try to fit (Arda is a good example, he's a different player now comparing him to his 9 months ago version) so it would be best for both, team and player to part ways, he could do a terrific job in a 5 man defense, just like Alaves' Kiko Femenia did this weekend, another player that struggled for some years between the RB and RW positions but really shines as a full back in a 5 defensive line that covers his flaws
It got panned last season, no idea why, was a cracking show. Replaced with La Liga goals or La Liga world or something, which just shows limited highlights.
Ah that's a shame. Just got Sky Sports back this year after not having it for a few years. Used to always watch it. Thanks for the reply.
Emery is not known to be great with youth development
Absolutely. I do wonder what Sergi Roberto's ceiling might be as a RB - he's such an intelligent player and is still very new to the position. Now that it's truly his, he can make his mark there - I don't see him being anything but first choice for a long time which means he will inevitably get better with that squad
Vidal was an election ploy, ridiculous acquisition - his defensive limitations are painfully obvious to everyone which is why I will be surprised if he's with the team still in January
Yeah it is a shame but I thought it is a largely ignored priority for the Sky producers in the social network era. Mark Bolton was too stiff but Scott Minto wasn't half bad really. It just got worse from there and the conversations were no longer remotelty uninteresting
How Balague continues to thrive there is one of the great employment mysteries but of course Piers Morgan is popular too
Terry Gibson seems genuinely a fan of the Primera as does Graham Hunter. They would from time to time get some good Spanish ex-coaches & players to visit and provide unique perspectives - an aspect they didn't do enough of, IMHO. But again, the programme wasn't really a priority for the producers - strange considering its popularity
I was arguing about football with a culé friend but we need some neutral opinion.Who do you think is better right back,Carvajal or Sergi Roberto?
Nonsense.
He has given a lot of first-team opportunities to his players and a lot of them have had succesful careers and got millionaire transfers:
Almeria:
Diego Alves(22) (Valencia)
Felipe Melo(24) (Fiorentina)
Negredo(22) (Sevilla)
Valencia:
Mata(20) (Chelsea)
Silva (22) (Man CIty)
Jordi Alba(20) (Barcelona)
Banega (22)
Feghouli (21)
Parejo(22)
Bernat(18) (Bayern)
Alcacer(18)
Sevilla
Kondogbia(19) (Monaco)
Rakitic(24) (Barça)
Alberto Moreno(20) (Liverpool)
Sergio Rico(19)
Vitolo(24)
Cheryshev(23)
Krychowiak(24) (PSG)
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