The LaLiga Thread

[Phil71]

You just don't associate heart attacks with fit athletes.

But it obviously happens.

[Losmeister]

btw, barca booed at home in a half empty stadium ... cheers me that busquets got it

[Losmeister]

btw, if zidane is so great why was real so shit aftre he signed on?

my contention stands... weird cosmic aligmnet led to the 3 UCls running...

doesnt like Bales attitude? didnt he score 2 ucl finals winners?

[LMAO]

The nightmare season is finally over

btw, if zidane is so great why was real so shit aftre he signed on?

my contention stands... weird cosmic aligmnet led to the 3 UCls running...

doesnt like Bales attitude? didnt he score 2 ucl finals winners?

If we're looking at Bale in a vacuum, then yeah, he looks like a club legend who was treated unfairly. However, he was given plenty of opportunities to be the talisman (remember, he was brought in to take over from CR7 so those are the expectations with which he is judged through no fault of his own), but he'll never be good enough to be that guy at a club of Madrid's stature—not to mention he's often been injured. Idk I just feel like he never fully embraced the club; I mean, he seemed to enjoy playing for the badge but never embraced being a Madridista, if that makes sense.

Anyway, Zidane was never going to be judged for these three months, especially when it seemed like 3/4 of the players weren't up to snuff this season or lost motivation to play for the badge. Marcelo, Modric, and Bale just aren't starting Real Madrid quality anymore. Kroos can't carry a midfield by himself. Vini is still raw, and Benzema can't brute force the attack solo all season. Zizou still has his favorites, but he'll need to evolve his selection philosophy (i.e., being more ruthless when it comes to dropping underperforming players) for Madrid to get back to the top.

With Jovic, Hazard, Eriksen?, Ndombele/Pogba, and Mendy likely to be part of the madness this summer (with Militao from Porto already signed), 85 points in La Liga and a CL QF is likely the ceiling next season, with maybe a CdR and a fortuitous CL semifinal depending on the draws. As much as I hate to admit it, it's going to take at least 2 summer windows to rebuild to the point where Madrid is a bona fide favorite for the CL again.

But it hasn't just been Madrid. Seems like most La Liga teams had a down year. It's the first time since Barca in 2008-09 that a champion hasn't gotten at least 90 points.

If Valverde is still at Barca next season, it'll be a much closer title race between a rebuilding Madrid and Messidependencia. Atletico will probably have a down year, and idk who could be a realistic challenger to the top 3 in Spain.

[Losmeister]

the post CR7 era started out with a whimper.
so the merenegues have to re-galactico ...

i love zizou but am just not willing to give him so much credit for that run. some. sure, of course. but i think the stars aligned as well...

[#ST]

Copa final:

https://thesportsflix.com/351-2/

[Highbury Hillbilly]

Valencia win Copa Del Rey, 2-1 v Barcelona. Valencia striker misses 2 nearly open-goal chances in the last minutes and looked as depressed as the Barca players at the final whistle.

[Losmeister]

good for la liga. barca exposed as weak other than messi.

[Jedi]

Does this mean we're better than Barca considering we smashed Valencia 7-3 on aggregate?

[Losmeister]

Does this mean we're better than Barca considering we smashed Valencia 7-3 on aggregate?

of course not.

anyway that club has had 2 consec years of super tragic UCL exits. psyche broken. while they are my favored Spain side. so what!

any claim that any trophys post pep had anything to do with the manager is pfffft.

to me, the only 2 managers who have shown thet can win anywhere are pep and klopp.

the rest? not so much. but thats just me.

[EliteKiller]

of course not.

anyway that club has had 2 consec years of super tragic UCL exits. psyche broken. while they are my favored Spain side. so what!

any claim that any trophys post pep had anything to do with the manager is pfffft.

to me, the only 2 managers who have shown they can win anywhere are pep and klopp.

the rest? not so much. but thats just me.

Klopp? - Only ever won in the Budesliga guys still an absolute fraud. If god forbid Liverpool screw up on Saturday his 'bottler' tag will be well earned.

Putting Klopp (3 trophies) even close to Pep (14 trophies) is beyond funny - Klopp is only at Pell's level at least until Saturday ....

Barca will spend 100-200-300m won't get them straight back to the top - needs a complete rebuild and that takes time as well as money

[Losmeister]

2 ucl finals shows he gets them RIGHT THERE...

[LMAO]

LE COQ

to me, the only 2 managers who have shown thet can win anywhere are pep and klopp.

Gotta include Mourinho if you include Pep imo

Won in Portugal, England, Italy, and Spain.

[Angelito]

good for la liga. barca exposed as weak other than messi.

Next year's La Liga gonna be lit: Messi vs Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid.

[BS221B]

Zidane is going to prove this season that he is bald fraud v2.

Real Madrid 0-5 Atletico Madrid, 45 mins to go at International Champions Cup.