Poor Gareth 
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.
Well, Podolski started the semifinal against Italy with Müller and Reus on the bench, so yeah, I wouldn't be surprised, after all, Löw is a massive idiot. So far Schweinsteiger and Gündogan not once played together in CMHANG on.
Gündogan can't get a game for Germany over Khedira?
WHAT?
.Sounds like the same nonsense logic that saw people pining for Fellaini this summer
How did Bale play? He looks glum in that picture! It does seem that it may turn out to be the biggest transfer boob of all time.They didn't need him.They paid too much and he aint THAT good and so they should allow him to leave for us and cut their losses and accept £25 million!
Seriously though, how did he play?
Seriously though, how did he play?
Pretty poor. Didnt affect the game much. Dont know how fit he is, that might be a reason.
It sounds like it, I never personally was a fan of either players.
That was as inept an officiating performance as even seen. Two penalties, one so blatantly obvious, denied to the visitors.
Instead of being bitter, you should get laid Vato, it might do you some good instead of drooling over Ronaldo's poster, ok. Barcelona won, Neymar scored a goal and assisted a brilliant goal from Sanchez and your boy, apart from an assist (I'll be the first to say that Messi was quiet too) and a childish outburst when nothing went his way, he did sweet f-a.
And I'm the bitter one... yeah, ok.
You are right about the penalties for the handball and the push on Ronaldo, but let us not forget the trip by Pepe on Fabregas inside the box which was as blatant as you can get yet the referee chose not to give it. These things happen for both sides.
It was a definite penalty for the foul on Ronaldo but the handball? Come off it. He's sliding in about a foot away from the keeper who's saved a shot from point blank range and it's came back right at Adriano. He can't make himself disappear. A penalty for that would've been so harsh imo, some incidents are just physically unavoidable.
As has been mentioned, the foul on Fabregas was as much a penalty as the foul on Ronaldo.
As has been mentioned, the foul on Fabregas was as much a penalty as the foul on Ronaldo.
The foul on Fabregas was a definite penalty and in the premier league would have been one too. As for Ramos, he should have seen red long before was taken off, especially after those two elbows in quick succession in the first half, but these incidents are somehow forgotten. As for the foul on Ronaldo, that was a penalty too so, in all, two definite penalties turned down and a bottle job on not sending off Ramos.
The handball was never a penalty, that call would have been beyond ridiculous. There was no intension, no movement towards the ball, he was lying on the ground and the ball fell on his arm. It didn't prevent a chance for Real either. That would have been an awful decision.
How did Bale play?
I think he touched the ball about 4 times
What happened with Ramos? Never saw all of the game but I'm not surprised he could've been sent off
Pepe was already on a yellow card when he did this...
Ref just sucked for both teams tonight I think.
What happened with Ramos? Never saw all of the game but I'm not surprised he could've been sent off
Pepe was already on a yellow card when he did this...
Ref just sucked for both teams tonight I think.
If Pepe or Ramos ever played in the Premier league, they would be sent off on a constant basis. I think this is one of the reasons why they are staying in their comfort zone, knowing full well that they can commit fouls on a regular basis without any fear.
A lot of people are incredibly negative about Khedira. I suspect he'd get a lot more respect in the PL. In fact I suspect he will get more respect in the PL.
Modric's a problem for me. I see the turns and flicks, I can see the class, but I don't see the control over the flow or the rhythm of the game. Which is what Madrid need from him, particularly without Alonso. I don't know if he was different at Spurs - maybe he was always that kind of player but I thought he was more flexible then.
So out of the three goals scored on the night, he assisted one? Yeah, sweet fa.
What happened with Ramos? Never saw all of the game but I'm not surprised he could've been sent off
Ramos got taken off in the 55th minute for Illarramendi. Probably partly because Ancelotti couldn't see him finishing the game.
IMO this was probably Messi's poorest ever Clásico performance, but tactically he did very well.
He started out as RW in the 1st half, which basically nullified Marcelo offensively (also as the latter received no help whatsoever from Cristiano). According to WhoScored.com only 24% of RM's attacks originated from their left side, compared to 42% from the right (and 34% through the centre). Messi and the rest of Barcelona's attacking players were defending excellently from the front throughout the entire game, as evidenced by...
Most successful tackles:
- Messi, 5
- Iniesta, 5
- Fàbregas, 4
- Dani Alves, 2
- ...
Also, Messi was for the first time in a while again more involved in keeping the midfield ticking... (usually Busquets and Iniesta have more passes, although the latter was subbed off with around 10 min. to go in this game)
Total passes:
- Xavi, 89
- Messi, 58
- Busquets, 52
- Iniesta, 51
- Dani Alves, 47
- ...
His passing accuracy was unusually poor though, a mere 78%. However, he didn't suffer a single dispossession or turnover. All in all, a very average game from him, although a tactically and collectively very useful one.
Meanwhile, Cristiano didn't exactly run things for RM, but he was more involved than Messi even though he extraordinarily only had a single (1 !!) shot in the entire game (his La Liga average this season was 8.9 shots per game before the game btw), which Victor Valdés did very well to save. Instead he played 2 key passes, one of which that neat assist at the end (his first ever in a Clásico or against Barcelona in general) and also a great cross creating danger in Barça's box. He had the most successful dribbles of anyone (3), but at the same time he was also the most dispossessed player on the pitch (4x).
My MOTM for this game would probably be Busquets or Neymar. Pretty poor match in general, I thought.
He started out as RW in the 1st half, which basically nullified Marcelo offensively (also as the latter received no help whatsoever from Cristiano). According to WhoScored.com only 24% of RM's attacks originated from their left side, compared to 42% from the right (and 34% through the centre). Messi and the rest of Barcelona's attacking players were defending excellently from the front throughout the entire game, as evidenced by...
Most successful tackles:
- Messi, 5
- Iniesta, 5
- Fàbregas, 4
- Dani Alves, 2
- ...
Also, Messi was for the first time in a while again more involved in keeping the midfield ticking... (usually Busquets and Iniesta have more passes, although the latter was subbed off with around 10 min. to go in this game)
Total passes:
- Xavi, 89
- Messi, 58
- Busquets, 52
- Iniesta, 51
- Dani Alves, 47
- ...
His passing accuracy was unusually poor though, a mere 78%. However, he didn't suffer a single dispossession or turnover. All in all, a very average game from him, although a tactically and collectively very useful one.
Meanwhile, Cristiano didn't exactly run things for RM, but he was more involved than Messi even though he extraordinarily only had a single (1 !!) shot in the entire game (his La Liga average this season was 8.9 shots per game before the game btw), which Victor Valdés did very well to save. Instead he played 2 key passes, one of which that neat assist at the end (his first ever in a Clásico or against Barcelona in general) and also a great cross creating danger in Barça's box. He had the most successful dribbles of anyone (3), but at the same time he was also the most dispossessed player on the pitch (4x).
My MOTM for this game would probably be Busquets or Neymar. Pretty poor match in general, I thought.
I thought Iniesta was MOTM - controlled the game really well.
7 balls recovered from Leo, as well. It was an off night for him, no doubt but I love how he worked harder on the defensive end, knowing he was off. The Chilean has been in great form. Neymar, would've loved to see him get the ball more tonight - virtually unplayable
Agreed though, it was very unClasico, for me. Had there been a bit more clinical end product with goals, I'd say so but they both looked like teams still not in midseason form. I liked that Tata showed up Carlo in the tactics department, nice welcome to Europe for the Argentine by the Italian.
Mallenco is a douche but no more rotten a ref as the majority in Spain - Everything he denied to Barcelona, came as little surprise but genuinely shocked he didn't give the pk for the all too easy to go down, CR
Agreed though, it was very unClasico, for me. Had there been a bit more clinical end product with goals, I'd say so but they both looked like teams still not in midseason form. I liked that Tata showed up Carlo in the tactics department, nice welcome to Europe for the Argentine by the Italian.
Mallenco is a douche but no more rotten a ref as the majority in Spain - Everything he denied to Barcelona, came as little surprise but genuinely shocked he didn't give the pk for the all too easy to go down, CR
Was a great game. Refereeing was bad, but at least it was bad in both directions and it didn't decide the game IMO (Ronaldo's penalty cancelled out by Fabregas' penalty, and Real could have easily ended up the match with 10-men).
MOTM was Neymar IMO. A goal, and an assist, and was a constant threat..
Real's last minute goal might mean an extra point for Real (effectively) as it's now easy for them to win the head-to-head record in the Bernabeu. 2-0 would have been a bit too much for Madrid to reverse.
MOTM was Neymar IMO. A goal, and an assist, and was a constant threat..
Real's last minute goal might mean an extra point for Real (effectively) as it's now easy for them to win the head-to-head record in the Bernabeu. 2-0 would have been a bit too much for Madrid to reverse.
Just watched the highlights for Villareal 4 Valencia 1
Villareal are just so well organised and so comfortable playing to their strengths.
Valencia meanwhile just look so lacking in organisation and confidence. You can't help but look at the team and think it's got the quality (despite the big names sold) but not the fight, maybe because the players know they're in a selling club.
Happy for Villareal though!
Incidentally, last night, Malaga 0 Celta 5
Wow.
Villareal are just so well organised and so comfortable playing to their strengths.
Valencia meanwhile just look so lacking in organisation and confidence. You can't help but look at the team and think it's got the quality (despite the big names sold) but not the fight, maybe because the players know they're in a selling club.
Happy for Villareal though!
Incidentally, last night, Malaga 0 Celta 5
Wow.
Good chance for Atletico tonight to get back the 5 point gap between themselves and Real Madrid. Costa is on fire, and has just been called up by Brazil for the upcoming friendlies.
Griezmann with a brace for La Real so far... 2-0 up against Almería.
Thinking about the CL for a second, would anyone agree Atletico are as good/dangerous as anyone outside of Bayern/Dortmund/Barca/Madrid? Seems to be a group below them that'd be very difficult to rank, which would include the likes of Juve, Chelsea, City, PSG etc.
At their best, yes definitely. The question is of course how long they can keep this type of form up... last season they were excellent until March, then they started to drop off and were eventually overtaken by Real Madrid in the league. This season they'll need Diego Costa, Koke and Arda to stay injury free if they want to achieve anything IMO. Villa hasn't as of yet really made the impact most people would've suspected and that might eventually turn out to be a problem... Léo Baptistão hasn't had much game-time but looks very bright. Their squad depth is decent enough, but compared to the top teams it will likely be insufficient to go very far on both fronts.
Atlético
Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe; Gabi, Tiago; Koke, Óliver Torres; Villa y Diego Costa.
Betis
Sara; Juanfran, Perquis, Jordi Figueras, Dídac; Matilla, Lolo Reyes, Nosa; Vadillo, Cedrick y Chuli
So basically Atléti's best line-up save for Arda (injured)... and with Óliver Torres starting! For Betis, Vadillo getting some good game-time, could be his breakthrough season. I'm surprised they don't have one of Molina or Rubén Castro starting though.
Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe; Gabi, Tiago; Koke, Óliver Torres; Villa y Diego Costa.
Betis
Sara; Juanfran, Perquis, Jordi Figueras, Dídac; Matilla, Lolo Reyes, Nosa; Vadillo, Cedrick y Chuli
So basically Atléti's best line-up save for Arda (injured)... and with Óliver Torres starting! For Betis, Vadillo getting some good game-time, could be his breakthrough season. I'm surprised they don't have one of Molina or Rubén Castro starting though.
1-0 after 13 seconds. Oliver Torres. They are a bit good aren't they?
Atléti score after 13 seconds!!!! Óliver !! haha
Oliver!!
Is this likey to be more interesting than what I am currently watching (Ghostbusters)?
I just turned this on and it's over
Whát a ball by Koke by the way, so many would've just gone for goal there, he pulled it back perfectly.
Agree with this. Great second half more than a great game. A bit lackluster in the first half. Ref was bad overall, not towards a team specifically. I felt that as well.
Barca were the better team as expected. A deserved win that could have gone the either way has some things not gone their way (a bit like our game against Sociedad in that regard). I was actually kind of surprised that Real managed to open up the Barca defense like they did on a few occasions with some very quick passing. Too bad for them that it was normally not their better players at the end of those attacks.
Barca's passing wasn't up to their standard. In general it was good but they messed up a lot in the final third. Could have gone through 1v1 a few times had Messi or Iniesta made better passes. The two of them weren't bad, just didn't finish of attacks well like normally. Ran the game for the most part. Neymar was excellent but he still doesn't look like he can finish 90 minutes properly. I reckon he's not used to having to work this much in his career before. Messi has been given a fair slack in his defensive duties but it feels like he's having to compensate a bit for Neymar.
Barca feel like they have a plan B now. Tactically they aren't monotonous anymore.
Oliver
Great point-blank save by Sará on Diego Costa