I'd say...Both
La Liga - 2014/15
- Thread starter jojojo
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Bit of both.
Every time I see Neymar on the pitch I just get the urge to punch him in the face, just can't find it in me to like the guy..
Atleti have been very dirty tonight though, surprised no one's seen a red yet in this game.
Atleti have been very dirty tonight though, surprised no one's seen a red yet in this game.
La Liga really is the bitchiest league in the world. It's embarrassing.
Boy this Neymar will be some beast in coming years. Terrorized the defence today. Glad we have him.
Yeah. I've been blinded by my hipster love in for them. But they've been pretty terrible (dirty) tonight.I'd say...Both
Both! Though their president said after the RM game that Atletico are the cleanest team in the world or something like that
Both! Though their president said after the RM game that Atletico are the cleanest team in the world or something like that
They are like Simeone when he was a footballer.
Perhaps Barca effect. Iniesta, Busquets, and Alba all have punchable faces.
Yeah. Just look at that hairstyle by Simeone. Scares the shit outta me
The joys of Spanish refs. On any other night this same ref could/would have sent off Messi, Giménez, Juanfran, Suárez, Mascherano and Mandzukic.
Fair result. Hard to see Atlético properly competing for the title now unfortunately though, 4 points with Madrid's game in hand is tough to overhaul.
He always looks like a coked up drug baron out of some gangster movie. Certainly not the guy I would mouth off at.Yeah. Just look at that hairstyle by Simeone. Scares the shit outta me
So much for crisis
Because them going a goal down has forced them to revert from their normal plan in such games. They normally get a goal on the break or a setpiece and then defend their lead by playing a game based on hard work, constant closing down and pressing, doggedness and a resilient attitude. They do not give the opposition any space to play or to get in behind them. Going a goal down has forced them to open up and take risks that they are not so comfortable taking against such quality opposition like Barcelona which has given Barcelona more space than Atletico normally give teams. We have seen before in games when they have gone a goal down against Real that they can then be picked off and beaten by several goals (ie the 3-0 and 0-2 in the Copa semis last season and the CL final once Madrid went a goal up). They simply cannot afford to take on Madrid or Barca in an open game because the gulf in individual quality is too great between them.
Giménez and Godín taking swipes at their fellow countryman Suárez
Giménez really is a no-nonsense defender straight from the past.
Giménez really is a no-nonsense defender straight from the past.
Disappointed in Atletico. Usually so compact and well drilled but they were all over the place at times.
He always looks like a coked up drug baron out of some gangster movie. Certainly not the guy I would mouth off at.
so trueI think so too, but then again it is still quite open. League results between the big three this season;
Real Madrid 1-2 Atlético
Real Madrid 3-1 FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona 3-1 Atlético
Barça's problem is their away form, while at home they still look strong enough to beat almost any team. Atléti's problem is that they can't afford to concede first as they don't have the offensive firepower for a more proactive approach (instead of their typical reactive style), as @Raul Madrid notes in his post above. RM's main issue doesn't seem related to their quality or style as they're the most flexible of the three in those departments, but rather a question of their fitness and relative lack of rotation so far. In any case they are still the favourites.
But still looking like a very interesting title race. Not to mention the battle for European places!
1. Real Madrid, 42pts (game in hand)
2. FC Barcelona, 41pts
3. Atlético, 38pts
4. Sevilla, 36pts (game in hand) !!
5. Valencia, 35pts
6. Villarreal, 32pts
7. Málaga, 31pts
Well both RM and Barca still have to go to the Calderon so not over yet. RM's game in hand is also at Sevilla away, they'll probably win but still no guarantee.
Anyway well done to Enrique for doing well today under pressure and also getting his players perform. I still don't think he will survive the season, let alone be at Barca beyond this season, but it wasn't an easy week at all for him with all the rumours and speculation which he survived (for now).
Anyway well done to Enrique for doing well today under pressure and also getting his players perform. I still don't think he will survive the season, let alone be at Barca beyond this season, but it wasn't an easy week at all for him with all the rumours and speculation which he survived (for now).
awesome dribbling
You get one free elbow on Atléti defenders, didn't you know? Cristiano already used his free pass on Godín earlier in the season
At home*, so expecting a 6-3 type scoreline there. In their current form I don't think they'd get 3pts from the Pizjuán however.
I guess it's fair considering how they playYou get one free elbow on Atléti defenders, didn't you know? Cristiano already used his free pass on Godín earlier in the season
Messi seems pretty pissed off based on the quotes I've read from his post-match interview. Saying everything from the past week in the media is lies and he's tired of the press trying to make it look like he runs Barcelona. Also said he has no intention of leaving Barcelona.
Well, he looked angry today and up for a fight. 12 dribbles in a single match, that's ridiculous. Somehow it felt his body language was a lot more aggressive. Iniesta too played a very decent game after a long time.
That Neymar, Suarez, Messi frontline is so deadly, especially in fast transitions. The header chance Neymar wasted was such a beautiful counterattacking move. Still lacking that one dominant midfield general though.
Good thing to have anger in a match like this. Of course, it could have cost him, but it didn't and Barcelona "comfortably" won.
True, it gets extremely silly at times. Your recent exchange with @Balu concerning Messi's supposed influence on the Barça appointment/leaving/NT appointment of Tata Martino pretty much summed it up.
Another thing is the whole narrative of his supposed negative influence on his strike partners or even as far as forcing people out (especially the whole Ibrahimovic situation is quite straightforwardly about Ibra v Pep, not Messi).
I don't know if Barcelona fans can relax. Messi looked like he was actually training to play at Stoke.
How's Busquets been?
In this game? Good. In general his level has declined over the past 2 seasons. Some say it's because he is carrying a long term hip (?) injury, some say it's the general collective decline of the team, especially in midfield (Xavi). But even at his best he can't do it alone. They need someone who covers the whole pitch and creates chances for the front line. Right now the forward line creates among themselves, mainly Messi.
Will need to work on his long throws though!
Yeah but he was aggressive enough to make Shawcross or Huth proud.
Hah. Apparently Simeone said that he didn't see anything strange and that the ref did a great job... though it was in response to the question whether or not Atléti should've finished the game with 11 men
There wouldn't be any "" about it if not for that laughable penalty. Barcelona easily dominated the game. First time I see them do that against Atletico in quite a while.
He never seems to criticise referees, as far as I can remember. Guess he gets all his ranting out of his system during the 90 minutes...Hah. Apparently Simeone said that he didn't see anything strange and that the ref did a great job... though it was in response to the question whether or not Atléti should've finished the game with 11 men
I actually put in quotations because of the physicality. Barcelona were clearly the better side.