[ESP] Primera Liga 2006/2007 (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter ReBeL
- Start date
today is a big day for vlatko, juventus 710, jack,mark83, m_elyaan, and alexander. its barca vs valencia finally. wonder how this game will end. i also wonder what will happen to this thread after the game. will it be m_elyaan and alexander beign the happiest two on this thread r willw e be seeing ack post classic pic's of ronaldinho ( although i have to disagree with u jack when it comes to ronnaldinho i think he is a very talented player) i sure hope vlatko is satisfied at the end of tonight and i honestly hope he does'nt lose any v-cach tonight.
eto will miss tonights game bec he has been a baaaaaaaaaaaad boy this past week so its either guddy or saviola in his spot with ronaldinho and messi most probably starting it tonight.
iam def in for tonights encounter just to see how things work out. its really hard to guess the score from now so we will have to wait and see.
eto will miss tonights game bec he has been a baaaaaaaaaaaad boy this past week so its either guddy or saviola in his spot with ronaldinho and messi most probably starting it tonight.
iam def in for tonights encounter just to see how things work out. its really hard to guess the score from now so we will have to wait and see.
Primera Liga Preview: Valencia - Barcelona
Valencia (4th) v Barcelona (1st)
When: 19:00 CET, Sunday February 18th, 2007
Where: Mestalla, Valencia
Mestalla Pressure Cooker
Given their positions in the table this clash would be a massive, high-pressure fixture regardless of context, but on-field and off-field issues have transformed this contest into an even bigger event, attracting heightened attention.
The in-fighting at Barcelona which has now purportedly been put to bed could quite possibly make the arrival of the Catalans at the Mestalla a tasty proposition for Los Che. Such sentiments have already been voiced in explicit terms by departing Valencia hardman Roberto Ayala.
A Che victory would fire the 2004 champions within touching distance of the current league leaders, leaving them just 4 points behind Barca. However, it has not all been plain sailing for the hosts either, highlighted by the surprise drubbing at the hands of Getafe, just after Quique Flores’ team produced a superb display to brush Atletico aside the week before.
The former Getafe boss will be nervous as to which version of his team shows up on Sunday night for this blockbuster, and there’s the possibility that defeat could shunt confidence right back down to the pre-Christmas doldrums.
Sevilla play at home this weekend, against Atletico, so Barcelona will know they cannot afford to slip up, otherwise the Andalucians could be toe-to-toe in the points stakes with the Champions League and Liverpool looming in a few days for Rijkaard’s men.
For all of these reasons, this match could be a season-turner for both clubs.
No Ayala, Big Problem
Following confirmation of the Argentine stopper’s exit this summer, announced a couple of weeks ago, Flores stated this would not mean Ayala’s preclusion from the squad, as he needed all his best players.
He did not stick to his guns against Getafe and Valencia were thumped 3-0, so expect the 33-year-old to return and marshal the defence. His role is of particular importance with defensive starlet Raul Albiol likely to be forced into central midfield as Los Che have suffered severe shortages in that area all season due to injuries (what they wouldn’t give for one of Barca’s many quality performers in that area).
Los Che’s occasional defensive frailties simply re-iterate what everyone in and around the club knows; that a new world class centre-back is the number one transfer priority this summer. As expected, Deportivo’s Jorge Andrade has emerged as a favourite for the role.
Rijkaard On The Rocks?
As mentioned previously, the problems at Nou Camp were initially 'dealt with internally’ after some very public, biting verbal machinations from Samuel Eto’o which involved Ronaldinho and Rijkaard himself, and goodness knows how many other number of Blaugrana players that we have yet to hear from.
We have since been reading about the Dutch coach’s apparent dismay over it all, to the point he is considering leaving at the end of the season, with a decision supposedly to be made at the end of March. The timing is hardly ideal, and potentially smacks of negativity. Why March? Is he/the club waiting to be eliminated from the Champions League? Late March is hardly a time in the footballing calendar to reflect on long term future issues.
One wonders whether the patchy form and the unseen pressure put on Rijkaard is more pertinent to him considering departure. He endured a fair bit in the first months of his tenure, and perhaps now he feels the return of the sniping after so much success in such a short space of time is too much to take.
We will probably never know, but whether Barca win or lose at the Mestalla, expect pieces of this soap operatic jigsaw to fall into place in the coming weeks.
For now, enjoy what promises to be a fantastic exhibition of high tempo, passionate football, Spanish style.
TEAM NEWS
Valencia
Ayala will surely be recalled to the defence, while Villa is back from suspension. Joaquin and Angulo should be competing for the right wing slot.
Possible Starting XI: Canizares, Miguel, Marchena, Ayala, Moretti, Joaquin/Angulo, Albelda, Albiol, Silva, Villa, Morientes
Barcelona
Messi came on in the win against Racing, and is in with a chance of a start at the Mestalla, though the impressive Iniesta is more likely to continue in the team. Motta could challenge Edmilson for the holding midfield role with his slicker passing, though the youth product’s questionable discipline may count against him.
Possible Starting XI: Valdez, Belletti, Puyol, Marquez, Zambrotta, Edmilson/Motta, Deco, Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Saviola
PLAYERS TO WATCH
David Villa
Back in the side and rises to the big occasion, Valencia look far more capable of springing something out of nothing when he is in the team, where the opposition must stay on their toes at all times. Villa makes the Che attack more dynamic.
Ronaldinho
Ronnie has got a fair bit of criticism for his 'poor’ form this season, though he certainly delivered the goods in the Blaugrana’s last match with a brace against Racing. The team seems to be lacking in leadership at the moment, and the Brazilian made need to be the talisman of old for Barca to come through unscathed.
PREDICTION
Los Che will feel a little pressure after the hammering at Getafe, and will be extremely eager to avoid the commencing of another losing streak here. It’s difficult to see them failing to deliver. With the problems peering through the Blaugrana coat of arms at the minute, it will be a close-fought skirmish that will likely be brimming with incident. 2-2.
John Rowlands
Valencia (4th) v Barcelona (1st)
When: 19:00 CET, Sunday February 18th, 2007
Where: Mestalla, Valencia
Mestalla Pressure Cooker
Given their positions in the table this clash would be a massive, high-pressure fixture regardless of context, but on-field and off-field issues have transformed this contest into an even bigger event, attracting heightened attention.
The in-fighting at Barcelona which has now purportedly been put to bed could quite possibly make the arrival of the Catalans at the Mestalla a tasty proposition for Los Che. Such sentiments have already been voiced in explicit terms by departing Valencia hardman Roberto Ayala.
A Che victory would fire the 2004 champions within touching distance of the current league leaders, leaving them just 4 points behind Barca. However, it has not all been plain sailing for the hosts either, highlighted by the surprise drubbing at the hands of Getafe, just after Quique Flores’ team produced a superb display to brush Atletico aside the week before.
The former Getafe boss will be nervous as to which version of his team shows up on Sunday night for this blockbuster, and there’s the possibility that defeat could shunt confidence right back down to the pre-Christmas doldrums.
Sevilla play at home this weekend, against Atletico, so Barcelona will know they cannot afford to slip up, otherwise the Andalucians could be toe-to-toe in the points stakes with the Champions League and Liverpool looming in a few days for Rijkaard’s men.
For all of these reasons, this match could be a season-turner for both clubs.
No Ayala, Big Problem
Following confirmation of the Argentine stopper’s exit this summer, announced a couple of weeks ago, Flores stated this would not mean Ayala’s preclusion from the squad, as he needed all his best players.
He did not stick to his guns against Getafe and Valencia were thumped 3-0, so expect the 33-year-old to return and marshal the defence. His role is of particular importance with defensive starlet Raul Albiol likely to be forced into central midfield as Los Che have suffered severe shortages in that area all season due to injuries (what they wouldn’t give for one of Barca’s many quality performers in that area).
Los Che’s occasional defensive frailties simply re-iterate what everyone in and around the club knows; that a new world class centre-back is the number one transfer priority this summer. As expected, Deportivo’s Jorge Andrade has emerged as a favourite for the role.
Rijkaard On The Rocks?
As mentioned previously, the problems at Nou Camp were initially 'dealt with internally’ after some very public, biting verbal machinations from Samuel Eto’o which involved Ronaldinho and Rijkaard himself, and goodness knows how many other number of Blaugrana players that we have yet to hear from.
We have since been reading about the Dutch coach’s apparent dismay over it all, to the point he is considering leaving at the end of the season, with a decision supposedly to be made at the end of March. The timing is hardly ideal, and potentially smacks of negativity. Why March? Is he/the club waiting to be eliminated from the Champions League? Late March is hardly a time in the footballing calendar to reflect on long term future issues.
One wonders whether the patchy form and the unseen pressure put on Rijkaard is more pertinent to him considering departure. He endured a fair bit in the first months of his tenure, and perhaps now he feels the return of the sniping after so much success in such a short space of time is too much to take.
We will probably never know, but whether Barca win or lose at the Mestalla, expect pieces of this soap operatic jigsaw to fall into place in the coming weeks.
For now, enjoy what promises to be a fantastic exhibition of high tempo, passionate football, Spanish style.
TEAM NEWS
Valencia
Ayala will surely be recalled to the defence, while Villa is back from suspension. Joaquin and Angulo should be competing for the right wing slot.
Possible Starting XI: Canizares, Miguel, Marchena, Ayala, Moretti, Joaquin/Angulo, Albelda, Albiol, Silva, Villa, Morientes
Barcelona
Messi came on in the win against Racing, and is in with a chance of a start at the Mestalla, though the impressive Iniesta is more likely to continue in the team. Motta could challenge Edmilson for the holding midfield role with his slicker passing, though the youth product’s questionable discipline may count against him.
Possible Starting XI: Valdez, Belletti, Puyol, Marquez, Zambrotta, Edmilson/Motta, Deco, Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Saviola
PLAYERS TO WATCH
David Villa
Back in the side and rises to the big occasion, Valencia look far more capable of springing something out of nothing when he is in the team, where the opposition must stay on their toes at all times. Villa makes the Che attack more dynamic.
Ronaldinho
Ronnie has got a fair bit of criticism for his 'poor’ form this season, though he certainly delivered the goods in the Blaugrana’s last match with a brace against Racing. The team seems to be lacking in leadership at the moment, and the Brazilian made need to be the talisman of old for Barca to come through unscathed.
PREDICTION
Los Che will feel a little pressure after the hammering at Getafe, and will be extremely eager to avoid the commencing of another losing streak here. It’s difficult to see them failing to deliver. With the problems peering through the Blaugrana coat of arms at the minute, it will be a close-fought skirmish that will likely be brimming with incident. 2-2.
John Rowlands
I wonder what Barca have done to piss a lot of you off so badly... How come you don't like Barca? I mean they are playing some nice football, they donate money to charity and they have pinnacle players everyone loves to watch like Ronaldinho and Eto'o. I'm puzzled... 
Valencia-Barcelona: Vecente , Cañizares And Baraja Ruled Out
The two Che veterans have been ruled out of Sunday's much anticipated clash at the Mestalla.
Cañizares, who has only just signed a two-year extension to his Valencia contract this week - had to be left out of the squad at the last minute due to a flu.
Baraja and Vicente have also both been discarded after failing to recover from various injuries.
The good news, however, is that all three could make the squad for Wednesday's Champions League clash away to Inter Milan.
Mora comes in for the veteran goalkeeper, while Jorge Lopez takes Baraja's place in the squad. However, Ludovic Butelle will be the one who will start in goal, with Marchena likely to partner Albelda in a rather rugged midfield.
The two Che veterans have been ruled out of Sunday's much anticipated clash at the Mestalla.
Cañizares, who has only just signed a two-year extension to his Valencia contract this week - had to be left out of the squad at the last minute due to a flu.
Baraja and Vicente have also both been discarded after failing to recover from various injuries.
The good news, however, is that all three could make the squad for Wednesday's Champions League clash away to Inter Milan.
Mora comes in for the veteran goalkeeper, while Jorge Lopez takes Baraja's place in the squad. However, Ludovic Butelle will be the one who will start in goal, with Marchena likely to partner Albelda in a rather rugged midfield.
most teams are the same though, especially with the diving. when porto met celtic in the uefa cup final, deco and co were diving all over the place, time wasting and play acting. when mourinho had the gall to accuse barca of diving in their CL matches it was hillarious, as what goes around comes around. Barca will get their comeuppance dont worry
:thumbs:
Considering the available options...
1) Worldly good like what?
2) What Vcash, I'm in debt and Jack is rich like hell!!! And don't tell me that Jack is going to distribute my Vcash on poor people as if he is a Robin Hood like. But he may do that, he is a good guy. (Of course, because he is a mod
)
Considering the available options...
1) Worldly good like what?
2) What Vcash, I'm in debt and Jack is rich like hell!!! And don't tell me that Jack is going to distribute my Vcash on poor people as if he is a Robin Hood like. But he may do that, he is a good guy. (Of course, because he is a mod
)
:thums:
Considering the available options...
1) Worldly good like what?
2) What Vcash, I'm in debt and Jack is rich like hell!!! And don't tell me that Jack is going to distribute my Vcash on poor people as if he is Robin Hood like. But he may do that, he is a good guy. (Of course, because he is a mod)
Considering the available options...
1) Worldly good like what?
2) What Vcash, I'm in debt and Jack is rich like hell!!! And don't tell me that Jack is going to distribute my Vcash on poor people as if he is Robin Hood like. But he may do that, he is a good guy. (Of course, because he is a mod
)
plus jack aint robin hood, robin hood wishes he was jack