Fascinating watch. 
La Liga 2013-2014
- Thread starter jojojo
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Went off at halftime - probably more or less as planned given it was his first start and Madrid were comfortable.
Atletico 2-0 up against Athletic Club. Villa and Costa with the goals.
Atlético just went 2-0 up at home to Athletic, Villa with the first, Diego Costa with a brilliant second... similar to the one Cristiano Ronaldo scored this weekend, but even better (between two defenders).
Koke with the pass for that one. His 7th assist in La Liga, equalling Neymar.
Koke with the pass for that one. His 7th assist in La Liga, equalling Neymar.
Atlectico have been ultra impressive this season despite the loss of Falcao.
I know they aren't quite top but surely they are the most impressive side in the whole of Europe right now. Roma could probably challenge that assertion I guess.
Agreed, I believe Athletico and Roma have been the two most impressive sides in Europe. Imagine that Athletico have lost Falcao and had to rely on someone who had a 0.29 goal per game ratio before the start of this season, and you realise that this is some effort from them. Same goes for Roma, a brilliant side that has made inroads in Serie A. Perhaps we need to include Arsenal in this list for being impressive too. The fact that they have bought Ozil and a rejuvenated Ramsey has helped them to get to first place.
Villarreal have been more impressive IMO, playing great football and potentially challenging for Europe straight after coming up from the Segunda División.
Herrera benched again I see.
This weekend:
Granada 3 Malaga 1 (last night) El Arabi hattrick
Saturday 9th November 2013 (from the BBC so all times are UK)
Real Madrid V Real Sociedad 15:00
Getafe V Elche 17:00
Athletic Club V Levante 19:00
Celta de Vigo V Rayo Vallecano 21:00
Sunday 10th November 2013
Espanyol V Sevilla 11:00
Valencia CF V Real Valladolid 16:00
Villarreal V Atlético Madrid 18:00
Real Betis V Barcelona 20:00
Real Sociedad are starting to find their form again, Madrid are still leaking goals. However with Ramos, Coentrao and Marcelo out (maybe Khedira too) the normal defence won't be there - for better or worse. I would guess Ancelotti's cunning plan will be to try to score more than the other lot. As it's being played at the Santiago Windows 8 Arena Madrid have to be favourites.
Bottom place Betis entertain Barca, though it's hard to see them doing more than that.
Match of the weekend, or at least contest of the weekend, should be Villareal Vs Atletico. Both teams are on form, both are where they are by playing to their strengths (albeit there's a lot of individual quality in Atletico) and Villareal at home don't make it easy for anyone. It might all come down to refereeing and red cards
Granada 3 Malaga 1 (last night) El Arabi hattrick
Saturday 9th November 2013 (from the BBC so all times are UK)
Real Madrid V Real Sociedad 15:00
Getafe V Elche 17:00
Athletic Club V Levante 19:00
Celta de Vigo V Rayo Vallecano 21:00
Sunday 10th November 2013
Espanyol V Sevilla 11:00
Valencia CF V Real Valladolid 16:00
Villarreal V Atlético Madrid 18:00
Real Betis V Barcelona 20:00
Real Sociedad are starting to find their form again, Madrid are still leaking goals. However with Ramos, Coentrao and Marcelo out (maybe Khedira too) the normal defence won't be there - for better or worse. I would guess Ancelotti's cunning plan will be to try to score more than the other lot. As it's being played at the Santiago Windows 8 Arena Madrid have to be favourites.
Bottom place Betis entertain Barca, though it's hard to see them doing more than that.
Match of the weekend, or at least contest of the weekend, should be Villareal Vs Atletico. Both teams are on form, both are where they are by playing to their strengths (albeit there's a lot of individual quality in Atletico) and Villareal at home don't make it easy for anyone. It might all come down to refereeing and red cards
How is Manucho doing in Spain?
I can look up the stats but they don't mean everything
I can look up the stats but they don't mean everything
Hmm, not sure really - i've hardly seen him this season, but then I've only watched highlights of Vallodoid games and my only memory of him is him getting booked.
Manucho's injured at the moment, in fact half their team are injured and Valladolid are in their customary dancing with relegation position. He didn't do badly last year and it looked as if he was going to establish himself but it hasn't really happened. Javi Guerra's their main forward and he's not bad (in highlights!)
Skorenzy will answer this better.
I agree with most of that, he had a good 1st half last season leading the line for Djukic' side which played some brilliant attacking football (esp. period October-December 2012), but was eventually overtaken as a starter by Javi Guerra in the 2nd half of the season.. he missed the entire month of January due to the Cup of Nations, had a little revival in March starting the majority of games in that month, but eventually deferring to Javi Guerra for the rest of the season. Currently he's injured I believe, but he'd already been reduced to a handful of subs appearances before that. Guerra finished last season on 8 league goals (same as Manucho), now already on 6 in 12 games.
Madrid 1-0 - Ronaldo (of course) from a lovely pass by Benzema.
Good pass by Benzema.
Great goal from Benzema.
Benzema gets the second off a Ronaldo pass.
Another goal then the defence can try giving away a few penalties.
Another goal then the defence can try giving away a few penalties.
This is going to get messy, Real could have 3 or 4 already.
Sociedad are so shit. If we had played the way we can midweek we could have tonked them too. They keep giving possession back through their own shitness.
The only thing wrong with Benzema is that he is great for his club, but for his country is often found wanting. This is why Ribery is so important to the French team, even more so than the attackers.
That is why they have 0 points in the group. They are probably the weakest team left in the competition and we honestly got shown up against them. It wasn't a great performance by them, but a terrible performance from our overpaid stars.
1 point.
How many fouls by Arbeloa so far; 3?
I do apologise for that factual error. I saw the table before the game finished and it showed '0' points. Thanks Fergus.
They have 1 point though after playing us
No probs, what's annoying is that we're the ones who gave them the point!
Handball's are harsh at that distance.
Not that Ronaldo cares - another penalty scored.
Not that Ronaldo cares - another penalty scored.
Correct decision for the penalty, but the referee totally ignored Sociedads claims for a handball by Modric in which both the ref and the linesman saw.
He has actually been poor for both recently, Real fans were booing him a couple of weeks ago. He is starting to turn the corner for Real though. He just seems lost out there at times.
What is worse is the fact that we are made to look good in a group that is probably the weakest in the competition.
How much penalties is that for Real for the season?
Bale is too left footed. Real could get 7 again if they want. Soceidad are awful.
Benzema, Bale, Ronaldo seem to be doing a lot of swapping around and it seems to be suiting Benzema. Early days of course and Real Sociedad aren't the toughest challenge right now. Interesting though.
Khedira with the fourth.
Khedira with the 4th goal with Bale assisting. Getting better by each game for Bale at the moment. Information, Barcelona have been awarded 2 penalties, Real Madrid 6 and Athletico Madrid at least 2 in all competitions.
Real have been great but at the same time Sociedad just decided to bend over.
Griezmann scores from Pepe's through ball
4-1
Deserved consolation goal - could have had a penalty a couple of minutes before.
4-1
Deserved consolation goal - could have had a penalty a couple of minutes before.
Nice assist Pepe.
God, what a bunch of shit defenders. And at the highest level of the game too.
God, what a bunch of shit defenders. And at the highest level of the game too.
Griezmann nearly scores again. Madrid's defence desperate to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.