La Liga 2013-2014

If anybody doesn't think that Barcelona couldn't do the exact same thing to hull, Cardiff, Sunderland, Stoke et Al. Can they explain why?

Because I'm pretty certain those teams would be just as badly pasted as Levante on occasion if they visited the camp nou regularly.
"Wet Tuesday night, and such...."

Or not.
 
Other English teams do it as well if they have a big game coming up. Every team rests players for big games. For a relegation team, playing a fellow low table team is a bigger match than playing United.

I am not talking about relegation threatened teams. Even the midtable Spanish sides do that and when the next games a week later there's no excuse for it. It's far too common not that Blame them.People must be absolutely blind not to see how most La liga teams don't even care about the Barca games. Not that I blame them mind, the gulf in quality is way to large.
 
Levante have lost a lot of key players though: Munua, Ballesteros, Javi Barkero, Michel...
 
I see Ligademierda is trending on Twitter. Is La Liga getting a lot of criticism from within Spain itself?
 
So I watched Valencia against Malaga last night. Valencia understandably missed Soldado, but there were a few bright lights in the youngsters trusted by new manager Djukic and who came away with the 3 points.

First things first I've already mentioned Juan Bernat in the Under 21 tournament thread a month or so ago after Spain went out. He played at left back last night and it looks like Valencia are keen on Jordi Alba-ing him. This is interesting because he's already shown far more to his attacking game than Alba ever did as a winger for Valencia. So if he can make the conversion to left back like Alba did, then he's going to be a real star player. Early signs are that its possible, he's a determined little player and did make a couple of tackles to see out his defensive responsibilities. But he'll have much tougher tasks than last night in the season ahead...

Coming forward on the other hand he had Valencia's best forward dribbles of the game. He's quick, can dribble past players and has a pretty good pass and was easily one of Valencia's best players yesterday.

Now onto "Fede" (Federico Nicolás Cartabia). He's a young man I haven't seen before, turns out he's Argentine and very much in the same mould as David Silva complete with the left foot. He played coming inside from the right. In the second half he had a spell where he was very impressive with his touches, turns and passes. He still needs to keep the ball a bit better and instead of playing really well for 20 mins or so, make that a full fantastic performance. But it was impressive from a player I didnt know about before. He's a couple of months older than Bernat, but both 20 year olds look like they have the potential to be among the best in the league in their positions at some point.

Two to watch out for, certainly as they have the quality to play for the senior Spain (Or Argentina if Fede opts for them) team eventually.
 
I get that the money men want to keep the status quo, but really , this can't be doing Barca the team much good.

They are rarely tested in the league, and I do wonder if thats partly why they just were not at the races in the CL last year, exhibition game slook good, but that isnt how a team improves or gels for the big tests.
 
I get that the money men want to keep the status quo, but really , this can't be doing Barca the team much good.

They are rarely tested in the league, and I do wonder if thats partly why they just were not at the races in the CL last year, exhibition game slook good, but that isnt how a team improves or gels for the big tests.

Was exactly the same when they were dominating in europe. Its fine for them, its strangling teams like Valencia who might not have had to sell their best players each summer to service their debt if they had an equal share to Madrid and Barcelona
 
we all get it, la liga is shit, the premier is great

now. you "we all know about football" like walsh, bosnoian and paz, kindly, go to another thread


To be fair they're quite entitled to express their opinions on La Liga in the La Liga thread. Grow thicker skin perhaps, because this subject will endure throughout the season.
 
Levante have spent 250k in the transfer market this summer and got around 6m in from sales. Getting players on frees and selling them on is how they're surviving. They'll be signing players right to the end of the window, basically those players who can't get a job somewhere else.

Levante a couple of months into the season, playing at home, won't play like this.

Barca on the other hand, may well do.
 
Was exactly the same when they were dominating in europe. Its fine for them, its strangling teams like Valencia who might not have had to sell their best players each summer to service their debt if they had an equal share to Madrid and Barcelona


If they shared out La Liga's total current TV income equally, Valencia would be taking a cut in their income. If they used the PL model for sharing (by position) they'd get about the same TV money as they do now. Same with Atletico.
 
Remember that despite their budget and being in the shadow of Valencia, a couple of seasons ago they were around the european places. The problem is they did it with quite an old team and a few years later they cant rely on those players as much, if they are even still at the club
 
If anybody doesn't think that Barcelona couldn't do the exact same thing to hull, Cardiff, Sunderland, Stoke et Al. Can they explain why?

Because I'm pretty certain those teams would be just as badly pasted as Levante on occasion if they visited the camp nou regularly.

Of course they'd do the same to them. There isn't much between the likes of Levante and the likes of Hull, Palace etc. at all.
 
Remember that despite their budget and being in the shadow of Valencia, a couple of seasons ago they were around the european places. The problem is they did it with quite an old team and a few years later they cant rely on those players as much, if they are even still at the club
They did qualify for Europa League on one occasion too.
 
This Fabregas lad has been pretty decent today.
 
we all get it, la liga is shit, the premier is great

now. you "we all know about football" like walsh, bosnoian and paz, kindly, go to another thread
Look who crawled from under his rock!

How've you been man? You been on holiday or something?
 
Still in disbelief that Messi actually sat after 70 minutes. Cesc played great but again, he has to play high up the pitch with no midfield responsibilities - he's basically a support striker like Leo and was all over the attacking third. First time I can recall Cesc playing well with Xavi, sans Iniesta. Agree with Ferrer, Fabregas should start against Atletico as well. If Pedro & Alexis keep this up, Neymar will see a lot less minutes in year 1
 
Still in disbelief that Messi actually sat after 70 minutes. Cesc played great but again, he has to play high up the pitch with no midfield responsibilities - he's basically a support striker like Leo and was all over the attacking third. First time I can recall Cesc playing well with Xavi, sans Iniesta. Agree with Ferrer, Fabregas should start against Atletico as well. If Pedro & Alexis keep this up, Neymar will see a lot less minutes in year 1

He probably got bored and asked Tata to sub him hehe