Agreed, even more recently, after the Europa league we could have gone on to something but we finished 7th and failed in all cups. Futre was sensational, think he is playing in that la liga tournament mentioned in an earlier post (post no 31)
Yeah he was just an incredible player to watch, he really stood out because of the Euro ban, which happened when i was 5, you didn't watch much club football, and even the world cups countries like Portugal were whipping boys, i remember England stuffing them 5-0 a couple of times, so you'd heard of these players, but not seen them much, he absolutely tortured United, they couldn't live with him. I'd say next season it's between Atletico, Villareal, Sevilla and Malaga for 4th, i'd imagine Valencia will hold 3rd, as the team hasn't been torn apart lke the rumours, and they were pretty well comfortable there last season, they've added Rami as well which will make them incredibly strong at CB with the players they already had. As i mentioned before, if you take Rossi, that would swing you ahead of Villareal, but if Malaga add Cazorla as well, they will be sensational going forward. Sevilla are a funny one, if Capel's gone, and Kanoute's gone, and Luis Fabiano's gone, you wonder who replaces these players, i will say that Jesus Nava's is one of my favourite players in the league though, amazed Barcelona didn't look at him when buying Alexis Sanchez, such similar players thought they may have fancied the Spanish option. Negredo is a great finisher, but my god he's slow, they need a striker, in fact they need at least 2.
Yeah, I was hoping the table would end up 3 Valencia 4 Atletico 5 Malaga 6 Sevilla the Valencia 'exodus' is just rumours from the English press I think, I believe that Mata will stay and they will be strong this year. I just hope Atletico can learn from them as when they sold their two best players they became a team and improved massively. Can't see Villarreal being as strong this season, as you said Rossi to Atletico and Carzola to Malaga would sink the ship (or submarine!) Can't see them buying players of equal quality to replae them. When 100's of rumours were flying about Aguero's departure the one that annoyed me most was that Negredo would have been used as a 20 million euro flywieght for Real to get Aguero for 25 million euros. Sevilla need to spend some money especially upfront if they are going to compete but if they do then they will have a good team, they already have a base with players like Navas and Rakitic. Navas apparently won't leave Sevilla because he suffers massively from home sickness, if he didn't he probably would be at a top club now. IMO 4th best right winger in the league (behind Messi, Ronaldo and Reyes)
No shame in being behind them 3, although i think he's a better player than Reyes, marginally. Negredo would be a poor buy for Atletico, he's a great striker but his lack of pace will always effect a side, i know he gets goals, but i think as Forlan lacks a bit of pace, you can't have both. What abput Salvio, i know he's back from Benfica now, is there much prospect of him getting game time? He's an exciting player, just seemed to lack the final decision when he first arrived, but that should come. I thought taking Gabi back form Zaragoza for a couple of million euro's was great business, they will miss him, even if he did have a dip mid-season, he surely won't be first XI though. There were rumours about Iker Muniain leaving Bilbao, i know he wasn't linked to Atletico, but he'd be some replacement for Aguero, and at abot half the cost (still a big deal mind!). He's Messi like on the ball, he's going to be a real star in 2 years, getting there already, him and Llorente, Bilbao have some great talent there! They'll struggle to ever bridge the gap with the Basque rule, there will always be 2 or 3 holes.
Last years pre season saw our stupid owners buy four non eu players and you are only allowed 3 in la liga so it was between Salvio and Diego Costa of who stayed and who went out on loan. Costa impressed more, so Salvio went to Benfica on loan with a 15m euro clause. Costa had a fairly poor season where as Salvio became one of Benfica's best players and luckily they were skint so they couldn't afford him. Gabi, I think, was bought for back up as many Atleti fans think our midfield 3 will be M.Suarez - Tiago -Diego/ attacking midfielder which we sign He looked good though last season, much better player then when he left us. Munian is so surprising, he looks so weak and too small but his pace and dribbling makes him so dangerous, would like him for the left wing role. Forgot about Bilbao at first but they have a great spine with Amorebieta, Martinez and those two strikers. Although, they are rumoured to be buying R.Garcia of us which will ruin their fist 11 if they start him. What clubs can you see being relegated this season? (both English and Spainish)
Yeah, Amorebieta, great defender, English style, no messing,fearless. They do have a strong spine, but they are limited in how they can improve it, sadly for them, we like Bilbao, as they were founded initially by 2 Sunderland fans! Relegation, English wise, QPR haven't got nearly enough, Wigan without N'Zogbia will go, and i think Blackburn will be the 3rd, the new owners are cowboys, and they don't have enough, their form under Keen was appaling, and i see that carrying over to next season. From La Liga, it's pretty tough. I think Betis will survive from the newly promoted sides, but Granada & Vallecano are going to be really struggling, th 3rd place for me is between Osasuna & Levante, Levante totally over achieved last season and did really well to stay up, but if i had to put my money on it today, i'd say they'd go. The only other team i see in any danger is Racing, they have steadily declined and i don't see any real quality in their squad, but they should just about scrape through it. Granada, Vallecano & Levante for me. I think the surprise package may be Geatfe (not for the first time either), they have a lot of quality in their squad, players that could play for much bigger clubs, i think they'll be bothering the Europa places this season, i understand they are another club that have found wealthy backers, and with Albin, Diaz and several others already there, they could have a very decent season indeed.
