Stickied Spanish Football

[SALTIRE]

Yeah the league is done. Real will win their second title in 8 or 9 years. Barca will have to concentrate on the Copa del Rey as I see Juve beating them in the CL.

 

[mistermagic]

Yeah the league is done.

 

[SALTIRE]

Can't really disagree surely, Barca are too inconsistent.

 

[mistermagic]

Perhaps but Real aren't that far ahead and aren't immune to the odd shocker (3-3 vs Las Palmas, losing at Valencia). This ain't over.

 

[Super_horns]

Tony Adams in at Granada - probably not going to save them from the drop.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39557191

 

[Stevencc]

Real Madrid are the first team ever from the top five leagues to score in 62 consecutive games in all competitions.

 

[4froale]

Looks like that Sergio Ramos injury time equaliser at the nou camp could well have won Real Madrid the league.

 

[Bilo]

Looks like that Sergio Ramos injury time equaliser at the nou camp could well have won Real Madrid the league.

He has to go down as the best defender of this era. While he isn't quite the best defender in the world, there's no centre back you'd rather have in your team. He's so incredibly vital.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

He has to go down as the best defender of this era.

Not in a million fucking years. The best defender of the era should probably be a great defender first and foremost.

 

[Bilo]

Not in a million fucking years. The best defender of the era should probably be a great defender first and foremost.

He is a great defender, just not the greatest. Say one centre back in the world you'd rather have in your team?

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Bonucci, Thiago Silva, Godin, Chiellini... there are loads. His disciplinary record is an embarrassment. But for the important goals he scores and the team he plays for he wouldn't even be in the discussion.

 

[Bilo]

But for the important goals he scores

This can't be overlooked as a "he does that well". His goals alone have been instrumental for Real in more titles than I can bother to count.

First of all Silva, is overrated and I haven't ever rated him as one of the top, top defenders of this generation. Godin and Chiellini are two fantastic defenders, but partially because of his importance in big games I'd have Ramos above the two. Bonucci is the only one I'd agree is debatable, but even then I'd rather have Ramos in a world cup final than I'd want Bonucci.

 

[JimJams]

First of all Silva, is overrated and I haven't ever rated him as one of the top, top defenders of this generation.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you invalidate your point before you've even made it.

 

[Bilo]

This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you invalidate your point before you've even made it.

To hold Thiago Silva over Sergio Ramos is almost as outdated as saying Marcelo is iffy defensively. It might have been briefly true at some point but at this moment in time it's hard to imagine that it ever was.

Anyway, it's not a controversial opinion to hold that Silva is overrated, it's quite mainstream if anything nowadays (for those who still care). So perhaps I should say that he was overrated, he very rarely gets mentioned in this context nowadays and rightly so. I've watched him almost exclusively in the Champions League and for Brazil, and I did for a long while think I just hadn't seen enough considering how highly rated he was but he's 31 now. He's still giving the ball away needlessly a lot and he still gets beaten in the air regularly, at a genuine "target that guy if you're tall" frequency when he's having a poor game, which isn't as extremely rare as you'd expect at his level. He was always very good but he wouldn't get anywhere near replacing either Ramos or Bonucci in a starting XI, and I'm struggling to think of a single tangible argument as to why he ever would to be completely honest. Silva's just a very good defender, that's it, to have him anywhere near a defender of an era-discussion is frankly ridiculous.

 

[Super_horns]

Madrid's title now?

 

[Stevencc]

https://streamable.com/dqcub

Aspas receiving a second yellow card for diving against Real.

 

[mistermagic]

Bonucci, Thiago Silva, Godin, Chiellini... there are loads. His disciplinary record is an embarrassment. But for the important goals he scores and the team he plays for he wouldn't even be in the discussion.

Sorry EG but I'll have to go Bilo's way on this one. I'd rather have SG than TS in my team at this moment in time. He didn't play in the 1st leg against Barcelona (the one which we won 4-0) and we were fine at the back (helped by midfield superiority (no Rakitic for Barca)) and he was awful in the 2nd leg. This was typically a game where we needed a cool, experienced head to calm down the young boys in a rocking and electric Nou Camp and he didn't deliver. This basically proves that Bonucci and Chiellini are better defenders at least.
However, on a purely defensive record Sergio Ramos is questionable. I must say, I don't pay much attention to his individual performance when watching RM because they are always pillaging La Liga sides left, right and centre. Marcelo is certainly more impressive but it's easier to get forward from open play when you're a full-back.
Godin is another fine example but I think he's past his peak. He had a ridiculously good 2013/14 season and the World Cup after that but I think his performances have mildly dropped since.

 

[SALTIRE]

Messi was superb last night for Barca's cup triumph.

 

[mistermagic]

Expect Barca to sign Verratti and Real to get Mbappé this summer.

 

[YorkshireRed]

Just watching Villarreal vs Real Betis. Your typical La Liga game, build up and passing, decent watch so far. Like Bacca and Bakambu as a partnership up top.

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

Valencia 2nd?

 

[Super_horns]

Madrid beaten by Girona 2-1.

 

[Dirk]

Madrid beaten by Girona 2-1.

Girona is in Catalonia, right?

edit: Just watched the La Liga standings and Real is 8 points behind Barca after 10 matches.

 

[Super_horns]

Think so!

Probably a sense of political pride there..

 

[Lionel Messi]

Girona is in Catalonia, right?

edit: Just watched the La Liga standings and Real is 8 points behind Barca after 10 matches.

Barca have won 17 of their last 18 La Liga games. get your money on Barca! Madrid's midfield and attack still not at their fluent best. Expect some more performances lacking energy, motivation and dropped points

- Lionel Messi

 

[SALTIRE]

You were a bit quiet on Saturday Messi, get the finger out son it's not good enough!

Watched a bit of Real last night as well, there is definitely something off about them just now. No doubt they'll ride it out and be boss come the second half of the season yet again unfortunately.

 

[Stevencc]

It's fun to watch them falter in the meantime though, eh?

 

[JimJams]

Messi comes close. From certain angles that almost looks like its over the line....

 

[Stevencc]

https://streamable.com/gv46z

It's scandalous yet comical because it happened to Barcelona.

 

[mistermagic]

Watched the game last night. First half wasn't very good as Valencia let Barca have the ball and the catalans didn't do much with it. Messi's shot which was mishandled by the keeper was their only effort at goal despite having loads of possession. It's looking increasingly easier to defend against them.
Second half, Valencia actually played and I liked the look of Guedes (on loan from PSG) who was instrumental in the goal. Barca didn't really deserve to equalise but you must admit what a pass by Messi for Alba to finish.
This goal also confirmed that Soler had a horrible evening. He was nowhere to be seen offensively while he should have been marking Alba on the goal.

Still Valencia look like a decent side and I hope they make it to the top 4. Some kind of wake-up call to the Madrid sides.