Jose Mourinho has picked a fight with Madrid B coach Alberto Toril, underscoring the club’s failure to develop and promote young players from within. I’m not going to waste time asking for sympathy, because he doesn’t need it, but I think it was more than somewhat unfair that Jose Mourinho’s achievement in becoming the fastest […]
Tag Archives: La Liga
A New Hope – Barca’s next Pique, Marc Batra
His patience has finally been rewarded. Marc Bartra had been persistently praised by Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova in recent weeks, but largely ignored by the Catalan coach – despite the club’s crisis in central defence. On Tuesday night, however, he came of age with an accomplished appearance against Celtic in the Champions League. And there is plenty more to come. … […]
Guardiola in Chelsea Picture
Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola is again being linked with a move to Chelsea after intimating that he could make his return to football in London. … It is thought the Gunners are monitoring his situation in the event that Arsene Wenger opts to call time on his long career in North London. … But […]
Super Santi – Madrid’s loss is Arsenal’s gain
There’s something about Santi Cazorla. He has a strange effect on people. Mention him and there it is: the wide eyes, the enthusiasm, the enjoyment, the sense of discovery, the fun. From Ruud van Nistelrooy escaping the sun at Málaga’s training ground and offering a judgment of unsolicited simplicity, to Xavi Hernández citing him as […]
How Barcelona’s Great Start to the Season Masks Their Defensive Woes
The Blaugrana have suffered this term but have managed to turn it around in all but one game despite defensive problems which have already threatened to derail their campaign. … They looked assured enough against a Hoops side feeding off scraps in the early stages, but breakaway attacks brought moments of discomfort for the Catalans, […]
Lionel Messi: Here and Gone
Wright Thompson travels to Argentina to investigate Lionel Messi’s youth and the strange relationship between Messi and his hometown in Argentina. Thompson looks at his start from his old club Newell’s old Boys and his move to Barcelona. The article looks at how Messi is perhaps trying to re-establish his roots in Argentina, the country […]
The journey to Madrid – Luka Modric
After initial plaudits that came his way, Luka Modric’s career at the Bernabéu seems to be off to a rocky start. He remained on the bench in the Champions League match at Ajax on Wednesday and is by no means certain to play in Sunday’s Clásico. But if Modric’s personal history is anything to […]
El Clasico Preview
Barca and Real are in good shape going into El Clasico, says Guillem. Barcelona have come from behind four times this season and against Sevilla they came back from 2-0 down for the first time since 1999 to win 3-2 with a last-minute goal from David Villa. That is proof of their character. If anybody […]
Forget Messi & Ronaldo, Falcao should win Ballon d’Or
The gala presentation for the 2012 Ballon d’Or may still be some way off, however talk has already begun over who will be crowned the best footballer in the world. Three-time winner Lionel Messi is favourite for many people, while others believe Real Madrid’s Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has finally done enough to pip his […]
World class “water carriers” – The importance of holding midfielders
Back in the 1990′s, flamboyant France and Manchester United star Eric Cantona derisively labelled Didier Deschamps, the captain of the 1998 World Cup winning French team, a ‘water carrier’. The current Les Bleus coach, who used to play as a central defensive midfielder, did not for sure have the skill and panache of a Zinedine […]
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