[SPA] La Liga 2007/2008 (13 Viewers)
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La Liga Team Of The Week: Round 9
Sevilla stole the headlines late on Sunday night with a 3-0 win over Valencia, one which cost Quique Sanchez Flores his job.
That was the display of the week, though Zaragoza's 4-1 smashing of Villarreal comes a close second. Everything came together for Victor Fernandez on the evening - all it needed was for Aimar and D'Alessandro to be dropped!
Barcelona and Real Madrid laboured to wins in games that had their share of complications, and Atletico Madrid also had to defend tight before Diego Forlan secured the points at Levente. There were some neat goals, but overall, a disappointing display from the three biggest clubs in Spain!
Marcelino's Racing Santander did a very solid job against Getafe, while Dady's heroics saw Osasuna snatch a 2-2 draw from near certain defeat.
Mallorca and Espanyol shared the spoils in a four goal thriller with two red cards and Juan Arango scoring at both ends. Atheltic Bilbao and Real Betis also played out a draw, though this one was a dull scoreless one.
Finally, Real Murcia climbed up into eleventh spot with a 1-0 home win over Recreativo Huelva, who could slip into La Segunda if they don't watch it.
Goalkeeper
David Cobeño (Almeria): The 25-year-old Madrid born man makes the list for the third time this season, this time for producing a number of quality saves against Barcelona. Made himself big, covered his angles, and made sure the Catalans did not have it easy.
Defenders
Roberto Ayala (Zaragoza): While Valencia were conceding left and right in Seville, the Argentine veteran was at his very best against Villarreal, the team he spent one month with this summer.
Ezequiel Garay (Racing Santander): Another supremely mature display from the youngster as Racing moved up into eighth place with a 2-0 win over Getafe after withstanding some very serious pressure.
Pablo Ibañez (Atletico Madrid): The Spanish international has had a dip in form over the last 12 months, but seems to be turning it around again. Kept it clean for his team as Levante went for broke.
Midfielders
Oscar Serrano (Racing Santander): The man of the match at El Sardinero after master-minding his team's 2-0 win. Getafe had no answer to his understanding with Pedro Munitis.
Seydou Keita (Sevilla): The man who made it happen for Sevilla. Blanked Baraja and Albelda out of the game, ensuring that the likes of Poulsen, Navas and Adriano ran the show.
Guti (Real Madrid): Did not have the most consistent of games, but to be honest, he is not quite known for that. He produced two breath-taking passes when it mattered most to keep Real Madrid on top in La Liga.
Christian Poulsen (Sevilla): Keita's partner in the middle. Played a slightly more attacking role, but his work-ethic was just as good. Was denied a goal in the first half, but scored deservedly in the second to drive the final nail in Flores' coffin.
Oscar Gonzalez (Zaragoza): The winger has been limited to substitute roles over the last 12 months, but with D'Alessandro and Aimar relegated to the bench, decided to show what he was all about. By some distance the best player in that 4-1 thrashing of Villarreal.
Strikers
Luis Fabiano (Sevilla): The Brazilian had one of those evenings on which everything he touched turned into goals. Ripped Valencia to shreds with two sublime assists and a goal.
Dady (Osasuna): The Pampalona side were struggling, two goals in arrears, when the 26-year-old Portuguese came on and turned the match on it's head. Two super-strikes to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat.
Honourable Mentions
There were some good defensive displays from Gabriel Milito (Barcelona), Paco Pavon (Zaragoza) and Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).
At the other end, Robinho (Real Madrid) turned around a poor first half to factor in the win, and Raul was hugely effective coming off the bench. Pedro Munitis (Racing), however, is the unluckiest to miss out after his show against Getafe.
As for Sevilla and Zaragoza players, you could go on and on. Peter Luccin, Ricardo Oliveira, Jesus Navas, Frederic Kanoute, Daniel Alves - they were all excellent.
Juan Arango (Mallorca) played well again, though his effort was undermined by his own goal. Albert Riera (Espanyol) did well in the same game.
goal.com
Sevilla stole the headlines late on Sunday night with a 3-0 win over Valencia, one which cost Quique Sanchez Flores his job.
That was the display of the week, though Zaragoza's 4-1 smashing of Villarreal comes a close second. Everything came together for Victor Fernandez on the evening - all it needed was for Aimar and D'Alessandro to be dropped!
Barcelona and Real Madrid laboured to wins in games that had their share of complications, and Atletico Madrid also had to defend tight before Diego Forlan secured the points at Levente. There were some neat goals, but overall, a disappointing display from the three biggest clubs in Spain!
Marcelino's Racing Santander did a very solid job against Getafe, while Dady's heroics saw Osasuna snatch a 2-2 draw from near certain defeat.
Mallorca and Espanyol shared the spoils in a four goal thriller with two red cards and Juan Arango scoring at both ends. Atheltic Bilbao and Real Betis also played out a draw, though this one was a dull scoreless one.
Finally, Real Murcia climbed up into eleventh spot with a 1-0 home win over Recreativo Huelva, who could slip into La Segunda if they don't watch it.
Goalkeeper
David Cobeño (Almeria): The 25-year-old Madrid born man makes the list for the third time this season, this time for producing a number of quality saves against Barcelona. Made himself big, covered his angles, and made sure the Catalans did not have it easy.
Defenders
Roberto Ayala (Zaragoza): While Valencia were conceding left and right in Seville, the Argentine veteran was at his very best against Villarreal, the team he spent one month with this summer.
Ezequiel Garay (Racing Santander): Another supremely mature display from the youngster as Racing moved up into eighth place with a 2-0 win over Getafe after withstanding some very serious pressure.
Pablo Ibañez (Atletico Madrid): The Spanish international has had a dip in form over the last 12 months, but seems to be turning it around again. Kept it clean for his team as Levante went for broke.
Midfielders
Oscar Serrano (Racing Santander): The man of the match at El Sardinero after master-minding his team's 2-0 win. Getafe had no answer to his understanding with Pedro Munitis.
Seydou Keita (Sevilla): The man who made it happen for Sevilla. Blanked Baraja and Albelda out of the game, ensuring that the likes of Poulsen, Navas and Adriano ran the show.
Guti (Real Madrid): Did not have the most consistent of games, but to be honest, he is not quite known for that. He produced two breath-taking passes when it mattered most to keep Real Madrid on top in La Liga.
Christian Poulsen (Sevilla): Keita's partner in the middle. Played a slightly more attacking role, but his work-ethic was just as good. Was denied a goal in the first half, but scored deservedly in the second to drive the final nail in Flores' coffin.
Oscar Gonzalez (Zaragoza): The winger has been limited to substitute roles over the last 12 months, but with D'Alessandro and Aimar relegated to the bench, decided to show what he was all about. By some distance the best player in that 4-1 thrashing of Villarreal.
Strikers
Luis Fabiano (Sevilla): The Brazilian had one of those evenings on which everything he touched turned into goals. Ripped Valencia to shreds with two sublime assists and a goal.
Dady (Osasuna): The Pampalona side were struggling, two goals in arrears, when the 26-year-old Portuguese came on and turned the match on it's head. Two super-strikes to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat.
Honourable Mentions
There were some good defensive displays from Gabriel Milito (Barcelona), Paco Pavon (Zaragoza) and Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).
At the other end, Robinho (Real Madrid) turned around a poor first half to factor in the win, and Raul was hugely effective coming off the bench. Pedro Munitis (Racing), however, is the unluckiest to miss out after his show against Getafe.
As for Sevilla and Zaragoza players, you could go on and on. Peter Luccin, Ricardo Oliveira, Jesus Navas, Frederic Kanoute, Daniel Alves - they were all excellent.
Juan Arango (Mallorca) played well again, though his effort was undermined by his own goal. Albert Riera (Espanyol) did well in the same game.
goal.com
I agree its great news for Valencia but I hope they get Mourinho because I will be waay too jealous if Lippi became their coach.
Maybe you don't watch Valencia but, my roomie is a Valencia fan and I watch most of their games. Quique has been messing up for a long time now. The players don't like him except for Albelda and Canizares (theyre the same age). He didn't rest any of his key players they are all injured so I am not sure what you are talking about with his one mistake.
I think this is the best move by Valencia's management because teams tend to win their next game out after a coach is sacked so who knows. Quique just couldn't get it right anymore.
Maybe you don't watch Valencia but, my roomie is a Valencia fan and I watch most of their games. Quique has been messing up for a long time now. The players don't like him except for Albelda and Canizares (theyre the same age). He didn't rest any of his key players they are all injured so I am not sure what you are talking about with his one mistake.
I think this is the best move by Valencia's management because teams tend to win their next game out after a coach is sacked so who knows. Quique just couldn't get it right anymore.
Oh I definitely agree Canizares is not the better goalie. I think even Quique put aside his friendship with Canizares and realized it after that Rosenborg debacle which he had waaay too many errors. At the Sevilla game with the defense barely there Valencia was lucky to only have 3 goals and imo, Timo was man of the match. I just am anxious to see who this new coach is going to be. Tomorrow will be a good game to see Valencia after Quique and I really think that Valencia will win against Real who have not been at the top of their game but, still winning.
Ronald Koeman will most likely be the new coach from Valencia.
PSV will give a press conference tonight.
For those who speak Dutch
http://www.soccernews.nl/news/36712
For those who speak Spanish
http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/koeman-nuevo-entrenador-valencia/dasftb/20071031dasdasftb_17/Tes
PSV will give a press conference tonight.
For those who speak Dutch
http://www.soccernews.nl/news/36712
For those who speak Spanish
http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/koeman-nuevo-entrenador-valencia/dasftb/20071031dasdasftb_17/Tes
And for those who speak english. 
Koeman Set To Take Over At Valencia
Ronald Koeman has agreed to become the new Valencia coach and will officially sign a two-and-a-half year deal this week, according to reports in Spain.
The Dutchman has reached an agreement with Los Ché after a quick round of negotiations and will replace Quique Sánchez Flores at Mestalla.
Valencia approached PSV about talking to Koeman, who had a contract with the Eindhoven giants until 2008, and were given permission to make their offer.
After accepting the contract laid out by the Spanish side, Koeman will take over until the summer of 2010 with the remit of challenging for silverware and playing entertaining football.
Flores was sacked in the early hours of Monday morning after Valencia slumped to defeat against Sevilla, which followed a number of tepid displays already this term.
Speculation over his successor was rife with José Mourinho, Fabio Capello, Marcelo Lippi, Vicente Del Bosque, Didier Deschamps and Luiz Felipe Scolari being mentioned.
Koeman's name only cropped up in the press on Wednesday morning and by then talks between Valencia and the trainer were already close to a conclusion.
The other big names in the frame had almost all ruled themselves out, although it now appears doubtful that any of them were formally approached.
After working as Louis Van Gaal's assistant at FC Barcelona, Koeman moved out on his own and guided Ajax to the Dutch league title in 2002 and 2004 and then won the championships last term with PSV.
He also won the Dutch Super Cup with Ajax in 2002 and the Portuguese Super Cup during a brief stint as coach of Benfica.
goal.com
Koeman Set To Take Over At Valencia
Ronald Koeman has agreed to become the new Valencia coach and will officially sign a two-and-a-half year deal this week, according to reports in Spain.
The Dutchman has reached an agreement with Los Ché after a quick round of negotiations and will replace Quique Sánchez Flores at Mestalla.
Valencia approached PSV about talking to Koeman, who had a contract with the Eindhoven giants until 2008, and were given permission to make their offer.
After accepting the contract laid out by the Spanish side, Koeman will take over until the summer of 2010 with the remit of challenging for silverware and playing entertaining football.
Flores was sacked in the early hours of Monday morning after Valencia slumped to defeat against Sevilla, which followed a number of tepid displays already this term.
Speculation over his successor was rife with José Mourinho, Fabio Capello, Marcelo Lippi, Vicente Del Bosque, Didier Deschamps and Luiz Felipe Scolari being mentioned.
Koeman's name only cropped up in the press on Wednesday morning and by then talks between Valencia and the trainer were already close to a conclusion.
The other big names in the frame had almost all ruled themselves out, although it now appears doubtful that any of them were formally approached.
After working as Louis Van Gaal's assistant at FC Barcelona, Koeman moved out on his own and guided Ajax to the Dutch league title in 2002 and 2004 and then won the championships last term with PSV.
He also won the Dutch Super Cup with Ajax in 2002 and the Portuguese Super Cup during a brief stint as coach of Benfica.
goal.com
