[DrWise]

Real Madrid vs deportiva

real quality going forward but suspect at the back still

[thelegendofyrag]

Cant watch, missus playing 1vs100

[DrWise]

Exactly what I said real lack
at the back 2-2 now

[RMCF]

Madrid win but not convincing. Still rubbish at back.

Early yet but I'm guessing Barca for the league this year.

[SHATNERSTACTIC]

What struck me about the Madrid performance was the lack of fluidity when on the ball - coming straight from watching the Man Utd vs Arsenal game it was quite a contrast where both teams swept forward rapidly in numbers and always looked dangerous. Real lacked width, with only the full backs offering anything out wide resulting in a congested midfield. Kaka was afforded no space at all, Xabi Alonso had few opportunities to split the defence with his passing and Benzema was frustrated that attacks broke down before reaching him.

All in all, a little disappointed that Madrid weren't more convincing, I was hoping for a more harlem globetrotters of football display with the attacking talent they have. Maybe a little unrealistic given the oppressive weather conditions and the lack of time to gel. Barca will not be overly worried on last nights opening game.

Oh and why were the commentators saying the defence hadn't been built on? Two of the back four are new this season.

[DrWise]

i think tonights game between sevilla and valencia will be a hell of a game

did anyone see ac milan get outdone by inter milan yesterday jeez
i think inter have made some quality buys in eto and sneijder

but as for real madrid, i even think ronaldo was frustrated i actually think hes missing english football, the thing is when you have so many stars in a team it can get frustrating at times, and believe me sooner rather than later i think some players will start falling out with eachother
but a lovely goal by lassana diarra saw him do it in pre season and he done it last night, but what would have been if valeron had made it 2-3 to deportiva

[SHATNERSTACTIC]

Certainly Sevilla & Valenica will be two teams to watch this season, should be a cracking match tonight. I see Barca have strengthened their defence with a big signing today. £22m and I've never heard of him!

Will have to check out the Milan derby highlights on the net when I get a chance (not got ESPN just yet). Was it as one sided as the score suggests?

[Steven]

I'd like to see Nakamura succeed after turning down a big pay day back home and taking what would be his final chance at the big time

[kopchoir]

Valencias pitch is a disgrace i know they are skint but come on thats terrible first game of the season should be a carpet

[Steven]

Yeah it's odd and seems to happen too frequently. Months to prepare. Allotments putting the UEFA money show at Monaco to shame

I see Athletico went down

[DrWise]

Originally Posted by lee12

Certainly Sevilla & Valenica will be two teams to watch this season, should be a cracking match tonight. I see Barca have strengthened their defence with a big signing today. £22m and I've never heard of him!

Will have to check out the Milan derby highlights on the net when I get a chance (not got ESPN just yet). Was it as one sided as the score suggests?

yeah i saw that guy play on friday put a sterling performance for shaktar

[SHATNERSTACTIC]

I guessed he must be something special, £22m for a defender is an awful lot.

Had a brief look at the youtube highlights of the Milan derby and the fourth was some hit by Stankovic. I hear Inter thanked Milan for the training work out this match gave them ahead of their big forthcoming Champions League tie versus Barcelona. Ouch.

[RMCF]

Originally Posted by lee12

I guessed he must be something special, £22m for a defender is an awful lot.

Had a brief look at the youtube highlights of the Milan derby and the fourth was some hit by Stankovic. I hear Inter thanked Milan for the training work out this match gave them ahead of their big forthcoming Champions League tie versus Barcelona. Ouch.

Watched the Milan derby. AC were awful and embarrassing. Inter not overly great, just that Milan were that bad.

[dazza74]

Inter have bought well for me, I still can't believe the Et'o deal certainly after having watched Zlatan in the super cup what were they thinking.

Milan seem a very ageing team, they could get turned over by Madrid if they catch them on a bad day in the champs league I reckon.

Pitch wise in the spanish league I wonder whether the weather has been a factor, we've not been short of rain here over the summer so maybe can expect a more lush surface. I thought the madrid pitch looked okay then again they did sign the groundsman who was at Arsenal if I remember rightly.

[ed_mcl]

Originally Posted by RMCF

Watched the Milan derby. AC were awful and embarrassing. Inter not overly great, just that Milan were that bad.

AC Milan weren't bad until Gattuso injured himself and started going ape ****.

[RMCF]

Originally Posted by dazza74

Inter have bought well for me, I still can't believe the Et'o deal certainly after having watched Zlatan in the super cup what were they thinking.

Milan seem a very ageing team, they could get turned over by Madrid if they catch them on a bad day in the champs league I reckon.

Pitch wise in the spanish league I wonder whether the weather has been a factor, we've not been short of rain here over the summer so maybe can expect a more lush surface. I thought the madrid pitch looked okay then again they did sign the groundsman who was at Arsenal if I remember rightly.

Correct - they paid £20mill for him

Only difference was that Madrid relaid the pitch the the Bernabeu in the summer, so there is a chance that it may have been grown elsewhere for a while and then put into place at the stadium.

Valencia's was a disgrace and I think at this level of football its time UEFA cracked down on bad surfaces. It can ruin games for players and fans.

[bearman3784]

i see messi has just signed a new contract till 2016, with a 225 million euros buy out clause

[SHATNERSTACTIC]

Originally Posted by bearman3784

i see messi has just signed a new contract till 2016, with a 225 million euros buy out clause

There's more than that in City's loose change pot.

The Sunday double-header will be broadcast in HD this weekend, should be good!

[dazza74]

Originally Posted by lee12

The Sunday double-header will be broadcast in HD this weekend, should be good!

Thanks for posting this, be great if this continues in HD throughout the season. Pity tonight's games aren't in HD though, that looks a great game Barca v Athletico

[jabintendo]

it is that fact that athletico can't defend and to lesser extent barca that it should be a good game today with goals
I going for a 0-0 draw lol

[DrWise]

im going for aguero on the scoresheet and possibly forlan

[SHATNERSTACTIC]

Well Atletico held them for one minute at least!

[DrWise]

5-2 damn

but i got my prediction right aguero and forlan would score :P
how got were some of the goals though
messis was quality the 2nd

[dazza74]

Is an absolute joke competition wise the spanish league for me so far, you can see what damage it seems to be doing Barcelona & Real Madrid getting the lions share of the TV money. That team Madrid played tonight all the players were on loan from other clubs.

Can't see Chelsea struggling against Athletico if they play like they did against Barcelona, very ordinary.

Great to watch it now in HD

[RMCF]

Poor Xerez's budget for the entire year is £8mill (if newspaper reports are to be believed).

Ronaldo's wages are more than that for this season.

Hardly fair, but Madrid were only 1-0 up in the 75th minute.

[dazza74]

Originally Posted by RMCF

Poor Xerez's budget for the entire year is £8mill (if newspaper reports are to be believed).

Ronaldo's wages are more than that for this season.

Hardly fair, but Madrid were only 1-0 up in the 75th minute.

Luckily I tuned in just seconds before Ronaldo banged in the first, they were doing well until the 75th minute then the flood gates opened

I think Real have a TV contract of 1.1 billion Euro's over 7 years, works out to be around £145 million pound a season. The tax is the big one for me though, you'd have to pay Ronaldo £16 million a year here as opposed to £10.5 mllion a year in spain currently to pay wages after tax of £8 million

[DrWise]

whichever way you look at it
spainish football is dominated by madrid and barcelona

[SHATNERSTACTIC]

I'm having trouble getting Revista to series link on Sky HD - have any of you managed this?

Valencia vs Atletico Madrid looks the most interesting tie on the card this weekend, it's a pity Sky have gone with Barca and Real for their coverage tonight. I suppose the mass appeal... A cricket score at the Bernebeu looks likely!

[dazza74]

Hopefully sky will show this but looks a good game next Sunday Sevilla v Real Madrid

[DrWise]

Ronaldo keeps scoring damn he's quality
2 at the mo tonight against marseille