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Futbol Espanol 2008-09
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Futbol Espanol 2008-09
WOOHOO... that will have to do. (Although I would have preferred the Espanyol fixture that day to have been in Barcelona... Espanyol v Real Madrid))
Anyone fancy this, or are the Espanyol fans not allowed to set foot in the Camp Nou?
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Futbol Espanol 2008-09
Sounds like a goodie to go to - may well try to go to that one if poss ... remind me nearer the time if you're up for it ...
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Futbol Espanol 2008-09
Thank you for the welcome here, I am looking forward to discussing futbol espanol with everyone.
The schedule makers did not do many clubs a favour. Most will have to play in consecutive weeks (in this order): Sevilla, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villarreal!
Some more transfer news:
-Alexander Hleb to Barcelona to fill the vacancy left by Ronaldinho;
-Sebastien Squillaci, the sometimes French international centerback to Sevilla from Lyon;
-Jaime Gavilan from Valencia to Getafe. The latter also are close to signing Roberto Soldado from Real Madrid.
In national team news, it is official now, Vicente del Bosque will be Spain's new coach. A good move in my view. Del Bosque is a practical coach who knows how to get a group of stars working together.
Spain will play a friendly on 20 August versus Denmark then World Cup qualifying starts two weeks later with a pair of home games, on 6 September in Albacete against Bosnia & Hercegovina and 4 days later in Murcia versus Armenia. Spain's main qualifying rival likely will be Turkey which based on their Euro 2008 form should set up quite a pair of home and away matches!
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Futbol Espanol 2008-09
Am I the only one who Alexandr Hleb leaves a little cold ?
I mean, nothing against his excellent technique and stuff, I've just never really found him a player with much character or drive, more the sort of player who plays well when Arsenal play well but can't turn games in which they are toiling.
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Futbol Espanol 2008-09
bollocks. the weekend of 23rd oct i was hoping to go over as its first weekend of Half Term, as they move the games at short notice i could fly back from barca on the monday or tuesday, but away at mallorca
may go to that
will see closer to xmas
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Futbol Espanol 2008-09
Lodzubelieveit wrote:
Guiza starts to adapt to life in another country in a cosmopolitan, Reyes-esque fashion ... He'll be complaining about the weather within a month, the food within two, shopping hours by December, and will have returned home to Jerez in time to eat his grapes on New Year's Eve ...
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Futbol Espanol 2008-09
For the past few years, Barca have arguably had too many of those players, which accounts for their frequent descent into something resembling a "half court offense" in basketball, in which every one stands around and watches the guy with the ball try to drive to the net/dribble the ball into the goal by himself. We will see if offloading Ronaldinho, Deco and Giovanni at one go is too much, but I see Hleb as a useful complement to Xavi and Iniesta, and believe that the real new attacking threat will come for Alves.
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Futbol Espanol 2008-09
Interesting. On the occasions I see Barcelona they appear the opposite - a technically strong team with shape and intrictate passing which looks pretty but with the exception of Messi doesn't inflict the sort of damage on opponents their talents suggest they should.
Agree on Alves though.
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Futbol Espanol 2008-09
Atleti are on a pre-season tour of Mexico. They lost at the weekend 1-0 to Pueblo and by the same score again last night to Cruz Azul. Brief highlights are available on Cruz Azul's website. The quality isn't particularly good but that's a pretty poor goal to be conceding. I'm always unsure what the goalkeeper's reaction should be in those circumstances when they're clearly anticipating a touch on the ball from an attacker, still...
http://www.cruz-azul.com.mx/d_prensa...a16070800.html
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Futbol Espanol 2008-09
The rumour doing the rounds this evening seems to be of Barcelona's interest in Robinho ...
Meanwhile, Sevilla have presented Sebastien Squillaci as their newest signing. Again, a player I don't know much about - would him and Escude be a good pairing? Is his nickname Toto??
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Futbol Espanol 2008-09
Lodzubelieveit wrote:
... Meanwhile, Sevilla have presented Sebastien Squillaci as their newest signing. Again, a player I don't know much about - would him and Escude be a good pairing? Is his nickname Toto??
I think Sevilla signing him is a sign the club feel Javi Navarro, who missed all of last season and is in his mid 30's, may not make it back from injury and the club are not convinced that Colombia's Aquivaldo Mosquera is the answer at centerback either. With Escude, Dragutinovic, Fazio and now Squillaci they seem to have central defense well covered.
At my local whenever we see Squillaci come on the field we call him Toto, I don't know if he's popularly called that though!
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Futbol Espanol 2008-09
Yeah, plenty of options at centre back, even with the talismanic Javi Navarro crocked. Personally, I'd go with the following line-up:
Palop
Konko - Escude - Squillaci - Fernando Navarro
Navas - Renato - Fazio - Capel
Kanoute - Luis Fabiano
... and there are plenty of alternatives available in the squad, in all departments, with the likes of De Sanctis, Drago, Crespo, Adriano, Maresca, Romaric, Acosta and Cheva-cheva-cheva-chevantooon all ready to come in, so it's a well-compensated squad. Arguably the best pair of wingers in European football, and I think Fazio could start to make an impression, possibly in a defensive midfield role, this time round.
I'm not convinced yet about Manolo Jimenez, though - I think he needs to prove himself that he can really handle managing a big, potentially trophy-winning team. Plus, without OTF-favourite Javi Navarro, there's perhaps a lack of strong personality and on-field leadership there - a void that someone will have to fill ...
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