Messi, Ronaldo & La Liga

[Ted]

As a Liverpool fan, I'd stay here for as long as I'm wanted, or as long as it takes to win trophies.

[Monster Masch]

Echo that

[Carradona]

I can remember The Tott telling me he didn't think Puyol was one of the top FIFTY defenders in Europe. And that Richard Dunne was the best. And he said this within the last 15 months.

[Joso]

As a Liverpool fan, I'd stay here for as long as I'm wanted, or as long as it takes to win trophies.

 

But If you were and Argentine who simply respects Liverpool but isn't a childhood fan you'd leave right. I'd probably leave if I wasn't a childhood fan.

[PaulMcC]

I think Pique is probably the best centre back in the world.

[stevienando]

Valdes is a pretty shit keeper. That's their only weak spot. Fucking Zlatan off was also a good move. They are fucking phenomenal, not that nobody knows. Xavi is the best player in the world

[Yozzer]

There's a good little overview of the Spanish youth system on Revista De La Liga just then. It was around 30 mins in to the programme so if it's on again then it's worth a look as it explains why they are so good at producing players.

[Guest PurpleNose]

On again at 10. Few times tomorrow probably as well.

[Mathewbet1]

Messi and Ronaldo they score more goals than strikers, as well as contributing all over the pitch with their skills. As mentioned Xavi is the glue that keeps everything ticking over. Always seems to have an age on the ball - sign of an exceptional player.

[ThewaytoRome]

Utterly brilliant. The best team & best player i've probably seen in my lifetime. Only Zidane & our team in 88/89 come remotely close (milan same time might also argue that)

 

Can i add as much as i hate Ronaldo, i inwardy admit that he is also a phenominal footballer. His arrogance & selfishness imo means he has less fans/admirers than Messi.

 

Ajax 95 was better

[MichaelThomas]

La Liga's getting to be a joke with Real and Barca dominance and it's not going to change any time soon.

 

The major problem is that the TV rights are sold on an individual basis, rather than the collective agreement we have here. So while Real can get £80-100M per season for TV rights, someone like Hercules will struggle to get much at all.

 

The gulf is just ridiculous.

[Guest PurpleNose]

Barcelona and Real Madrid are the two best teams in the world. Which seems to cloud things when comparing leagues.

 

Do people really think Villarreal, Sevilla, Valencia, Atletico etc are poor teams?

[Yozzer]

Do people really think Villarreal, Sevilla, Valencia, Atletico etc are poor teams?

 

I'd confidently put a bet on the top 6 Spanish teams beating the top 6 teams in the Premier League. Even the lesser teams like Getafe, Athletic and Esanyol are fairly decent teams.

[Guest PurpleNose]

I'd confidently put a bet on the top 6 Spanish teams beating the top 6 teams in the Premier League. Even the lesser teams like Getafe, Athletic and Esanyol are fairly decent teams.

 

You look through the squads of the mid table sides in Spain and think, "I'd have him at Liverpool, and him, and him etc". Not sure I could say the same about many mid table Premier League clubs.

 

I'm aware of the irony of us currently being a midtable club, but I think thats a reflection of our manager rather than our squad.

 

Five of the last fourteen UEFA Cup finalists have been from Spain. Its not concrete evidence, due to some sides not taking the the competition as seriously as they should, but I think its still a decent reflection of the depth of La Liga.

 

The gap between 2nd and 3rd is large not because there are 18 shit teams, but because there are two exceptional teams.

[TheHowieLama]

Ajax 95 was better

 

Ajax 72 and that is the impetus for Barca

[Joso]

You look through the squads of the mid table sides in Spain and think, "I'd have him at Liverpool, and him, and him etc". Not sure I could say the same about many mid table Premier League clubs.

 

I'm aware of the irony of us currently being a midtable club, but I think thats a reflection of our manager rather than our squad.

 

Five of the last fourteen UEFA Cup finalists have been from Spain. Its not concrete evidence, due to some sides not taking the the competition as seriously as they should, but I think its still a decent reflection of the depth of La Liga.

 

The gap between 2nd and 3rd is large not because there are 18 shit teams, but because there are two exceptional teams.

 

I completely agree with you. Take a team like Villareal, they spend less than say Sunderland, but are a better team.

[Paulie Dangerously]

I suppose getting first team football but i guess with Yaya its the money. He won't be winning many trophies with city though.

 

question. your a brilliant young left back, & have been Lverpools stand out player this season. Barca approach you in January to become their first choice left back. Would you take it or turn it down continue at Liverpool??

 

Konchesky would be daft to turn them down

[RobbieOR]

You look through the squads of the mid table sides in Spain and think, "I'd have him at Liverpool, and him, and him etc". Not sure I could say the same about many mid table Premier League clubs.

 

I'm aware of the irony of us currently being a midtable club, but I think thats a reflection of our manager rather than our squad.

 

Five of the last fourteen UEFA Cup finalists have been from Spain. Its not concrete evidence, due to some sides not taking the the competition as seriously as they should, but I think its still a decent reflection of the depth of La Liga.

 

The gap between 2nd and 3rd is large not because there are 18 shit teams, but because there are two exceptional teams.

 

Spot on.

 

My mate was telling me the other day that it is a 'glorified SPL' which is nonsense.

 

You look at all the squads and most of the players would walk into teams in England. They are technically gifted which makes it a bonus. Give me Osasuna, Hercules and Sporting de Gijon over Stoke, Blackburn and West Ham any day of the week.

[Yozzer]

Around 5 minutes into the video, they start talking about the Spanish youth system.

 

[YOUTUBE]iSDkCZVU8dM[/YOUTUBE]

[Salou]

Barcelona are 5-0 up after 36 minutes away to Almeria. Guardiola almost looks embarrassed apparently the opposition manager is a close friend whose job is on the line and will most probably be sacked after the game.

 

Messi has scored his 100th La Liga goal.

[Salou]

Hat-trick for Messi...that's 6 hat-tricks in the calendar year for him.

[The Dude Abides]

Would people say Pique is the best defender in the world right now?

 

He'd be the one centre half you'd absolutely love to sign anyway. At that right age, not an cunt etc

 

I can't see him leaving Barca until his prime is past anyway...

 

Not sure. It's hard to judge a CB playing for a team that does so little actual defending. Throw him into our team and you'd be looking, obviously, at a much different player.

[Crazyhorse7778]

I'm not convinced by Pique at all.

[RobbieOR]

Anyone else watching Madrid? Very good game. 2-1 at half time. Llorente scored for Bilbao and has had 3 chances. I hope we sign him. They should be ahead.

[Salou]

Llorente is auditioning for Madrid tonight, Mourinho wants him, Perez wants more spanish players. Benzema will leave and Llorente will arrive there is no chance of him going anywhere else by the looks of it.