Spanish Football

[jimmy two times]

Don't know if anyone saw the Valencia v Villareal game last night? What a performance. Valencia were superb, though admittedly against 10 men for much of the game. David Silva looks like he's back to his best.

[Annasfield]

Loved watching La Liga when I had Sky and miss it on Sunday nights now.

[Mick Mac]

I watched la liga highlights yesterday afternoon. The Barcelona game had two goals from Messi which were absolutley superb.

At the end of the Barca game (Barca won 4-0) the commentator asked Gerry Armstrong (pundit): "Is this the best team we have ever seen?" Gerry replied - "they are certainly up there as possibly the best of the last 10-15 years."

[Sandperson]

Anna! You're alive!

[jimmy two times]

I watched the Barcelona game on saturday as well and I think I would have to agree with him. They played Seville off the park and I rate Seville very highly. I know everyone often says Messi, Kaka and Ronaldo are the best players in the world, and it's a justified shout, but my favourite two players currently in World football are Xavi and Iniesta. Xavi's range of passing short and long is exceptional and he is so switched on and clever. He did one reverse pass in the first half with the outside of hiss foot which just split the Seville defence in two. Iniesta is so dynamic and skilful. His dribbling skills and touch are as good as Messi's in my opinion. He plays a bit deeper and wider so he doesn't get amongst the goals as much as Messi. At the moment I'd say that Barcelona play the nearest thing to a modern brand of Total football.

[Annasfield]

The third of Messi's hat-trick against Tenerife last weekend was outstanding. Love watching him play.

(You're observant today SP)

[Atila Reincarnate]

The Spanish league and it players are a joy to watch, a bit like watching the Arsenal, because they vastly more technically skilled than the " good, honest professionals" of the English league. For "good, honest professional" read useless clogger devoid of touch, skill, vision and technique, regrettably there are far too many of these littering the Prem.

The vast majority of players in La Liga are comfortable on the ball which makes for good viewing as opposed to the as oppossed to some of the up and under we get here.

[Sandperson]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> The third of Messi's hat-trick against Tenerife

> last weekend was outstanding. Love watching him

> play.

>

> (You're observant today SP)

Just trying to be friendly. Excuse me.

[jimmy two times]

Atila I don't want to start a slanging match on this football related thread as that goes on on the other one a lot and it gives me the hump as some of us just want to talk about football seriously. So please don't take this the wrong way as it's not a criticism of Arsenal as I'm a big Wenger fan even though I'm a Spurs fan. In my opinion Arsenal are a lite version of Barcelona. I think Wenger has seen the Barcelona template and wants to go with it, but I feel Arsenal fall very far short of being mentioned in the same breath as the magnificent current Barca team. I'll be the first to hold my hands up and admit it if I'm proved wrong.

[Annasfield]

It wasn't meant in an arsey way, I have been around. You've obviously just not noticed me.

Have you been to any games out there Jimmy? Have been a few times, but never to a La Liga game. Saw Atletico v Oporto last season when we were in Madrid. Love the Calderon.

[jimmy two times]

No Anna I haven't, but I really want to go to a game this season. I love watching Seville on the box because the atmosphere there is electric and it doesn't stop right the way through the game. I would love to go to see Barcelona as well, but after watching Valencia last night I'm now thinking of going to see them.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Jimmy, Barcelona lite eh? I don't take offence from these comments but suffice to say I don't agree. In the season 2003/2004 I thought our football was BETTER than theirs but that's my view.

[jimmy two times]

I agree about that season but you're talking about 5 years ago and this is a different Barcelona team. At the moment they are peerless.

[matthew123]

Arsenal were the best team in Europe 03/04 but they had a pounding fixture list in April 04 which saw exhaustion finally catch up with them as they faced, I think, 6 consecutive matches in April against just Man U (2), Liverpool (1) and Chelsea (3).

Barcelona have had some great teams down the years - but I think their best was under Rikyaard and if it hadn't been for Messi/Eto'o injuries I think they'd also have moped up Europe in 07 and 08. Their current team is also magnificent but with Ronaldinho in his pomp I think Rikyaard's side have the slight edge.

Having said all that I've not watched much La Liga this season... I've gone over to the dark side and started watching the NFL ::o

[jimmy two times]

Take it from me Matthew...Barcelona this season will be very difficult for anyone to beat. They are sorted at the back and Ibrahimavic, who I didn't think much of before, has slotted in beautifully. He is a very intelligent player. Think Berbatov but with work rate. Also they have some good young players coming through such as Pedro. Apparently 17 of the current squad came through their academy system! They have taken the Dutch model and improved on it with regards to their academy and how they play.

[matthew123]

Agreed they are fantastic team and now very solid defensively under Guardiola. Although I was surprised they traded in Eto'o for Ibrahimovich but then I guess the Swede does a bit more outside the box for the team. Yes it's amazing their youth production line - I heard Wenger tried to nab Messi at same time he took Fabregas as they were both in same youth team.

[jimmy two times]

I reckon they'll replace Henry with Rooney in the summer, particularly if he has a good world cup. I think he would slot into their system very well.

[woofmarkthedog]

Yes that considered, but never replace sliding sashes with UPVC

In or out of the box, NEVER

W**F

[Atila Reincarnate]

Rooney won't suit spanish Football in my opinion. They are aware of his suspect temprament and will wind him up mercilessly.

[jimmy two times]

I think he has improved a lot in that area Atila. What they will love is his creativity, skill and phenomenal workrate.

[Atila Reincarnate]

jimmy two times Wrote:

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> I think he has improved a lot in that area Atila.

Did you watch him spit his dummy out last night? So much for an improvement in that area.

[matthew123]

Rooney would never play in Spain he is too vain to look like a beetroot all year round

[jimmy two times]

Rooney....vain? Are you sure? Never strikes me as that kind of bloke at all.

[jimmy two times]

Again Barcelona were in brilliant form on saturday night. Fantastic goal from Daniel Alves. Ronaldo had an eventful evening as well. He scored two fantastic goals and then was sent off!

[Sandperson]

that seems to be what he does every time he plays over there. Get a couple of goals, have a couple of weeks off with a ban. It's a good way to get a bit of extra holiday. :))