European Leagues Thread 2012/2013

[Simmops]

Atalanta up into 2nd place with another big win tonight.

They have now scored 93 league goals so far this season. 5 games left to be the first team in Serie A since 1951 to score 100 goals (3 teams did it all in the same season in 50/51 - mentz!)

But will they get 106?

[Winston Biscuit]

Real Madrid win La Liga

[Old Man Andrews]

Barcelona manager is getting sacked for sure after the result this evening and not winning the league.

[Simmops]

Basket case of a club. They are run like a joke. Even messi is becoming a shell of himself and is just an average player now.

[NewCorkSeth]

Didn't realise Real Madrid had done so well since the restart. Just saw the "Bale doesn't celebrate" video. Honestly, I have some more respect for him not giving a shit. He's done his bit, proved he was a top player, why not sit back and enjoy life and the money? I know its bad that he hasn't bothered learning Spanish in 7 years.

Its a little like the Alexis Sanchez situation right now, why should he leave United and give up that ludicrous contract? Its his last big payday.

[Old Man Andrews]

Didn't realise Real Madrid had done so well since the restart. Just saw the "Bale doesn't celebrate" video. Honestly, I have some more respect for him not giving a shit. He's done his bit, proved he was a top player, why not sit back and enjoy life and the money? I know its bad that he hasn't bothered learning Spanish in 7 years.

Its a little like the Alexis Sanchez situation right now, why should he leave United and give up that ludicrous contract? Its his last big payday.

It is a case of professional integrity I guess. He has chosen to take the money over playing time which I neither blame him for or support, its personal choice.
Personally I'd like him to come back to the Premier League as on his day he is a really exciting player to watch, would be great at Spurs and just what they need. Can't see it ever happening though with their wage policy.

[NewCorkSeth]

Didn't realise Real Madrid had done so well since the restart. Just saw the "Bale doesn't celebrate" video. Honestly, I have some more respect for him not giving a shit. He's done his bit, proved he was a top player, why not sit back and enjoy life and the money? I know its bad that he hasn't bothered learning Spanish in 7 years.

Its a little like the Alexis Sanchez situation right now, why should he leave United and give up that ludicrous contract? Its his last big payday.

It is a case of professional integrity I guess. He has chosen to take the money over playing time which I neither blame him for or support, its personal choice.
Personally I'd like him to come back to the Premier League as on his day he is a really exciting player to watch, would be great at Spurs and just what they need. Can't see it ever happening though with their wage policy.

I wonder if his heart is still in it? I agree he was exciting and a Spurs return would be fascinating.

[Old Man Andrews]

Didn't realise Real Madrid had done so well since the restart. Just saw the "Bale doesn't celebrate" video. Honestly, I have some more respect for him not giving a shit. He's done his bit, proved he was a top player, why not sit back and enjoy life and the money? I know its bad that he hasn't bothered learning Spanish in 7 years.

Its a little like the Alexis Sanchez situation right now, why should he leave United and give up that ludicrous contract? Its his last big payday.

It is a case of professional integrity I guess. He has chosen to take the money over playing time which I neither blame him for or support, its personal choice.
Personally I'd like him to come back to the Premier League as on his day he is a really exciting player to watch, would be great at Spurs and just what they need. Can't see it ever happening though with their wage policy.

I wonder if his heart is still in it? I agree he was exciting and a Spurs return would be fascinating.

Think it certainly is for Wales, he plays out of his skin for them still. Quite literally plays against teams on his own at times.
Think he is the sort of player who has to fell loved and appreciated, very sensitive. He needs to be looked after which just won't ever happen at Madrid especially if you don't make an effort to intergrate properly.

[NewCorkSeth]

It is a case of professional integrity I guess. He has chosen to take the money over playing time which I neither blame him for or support, its personal choice.
Personally I'd like him to come back to the Premier League as on his day he is a really exciting player to watch, would be great at Spurs and just what they need. Can't see it ever happening though with their wage policy.

I wonder if his heart is still in it? I agree he was exciting and a Spurs return would be fascinating.

Think it certainly is for Wales, he plays out of his skin for them still. Quite literally plays against teams on his own at times.
Think he is the sort of player who has to fell loved and appreciated, very sensitive. He needs to be looked after which just won't ever happen at Madrid especially if you don't make an effort to intergrate properly.

Could be a degree of nationalism in there too. Anyway, whole reason I said it is he gets a lot of criticism for sitting back and earning but i don't blame him. He has nothing left to prove in football and doesn't owe Real Madrid anything more. He gave them his best years and helped them win enough.

[Simmops]

Anybody remember Winston Bogarde? He was paid so much money and never played he just ended up refusing to move and said he would rather sit on the bench and not try every week and collect xgrand a week then lose out on it.

I have sympathy for bale somewhat. He's a very good player and has really done so much for the club and they (Zindaneine Zindane specifically) have basically ostracised him.

He's never going to get that wage anywhere bar China maybe and why would he want to rot there in the joke league. Tbf to him he's achieved really all he can in his career bar winning the PL and I don't think the top teams would need him.

[Simmops]

Andre schurlle retires aged just 29.

[Winston Biscuit]

Set up the winning goal in the world cup final, which is not a bad legacy to have.

[Simmops]

From his interview it seems that his mental health was really suffering badly

[Winston Biscuit]

In 209 games at RM Zidane has won

2 x La Liga
3 x Champions League
2 x Spanish Super Cups
2 x UEFA Super Cups
2 x World Club Cups

Yet still doesn't seem to get talked about as an 'elite' manager

[Simmops]

In 209 games at RM Zidane has won

2 x La Liga
3 x Champions League
2 x Spanish Super Cups
2 x UEFA Super Cups
2 x World Club Cups

Yet still doesn't seem to get talked about as an 'elite' manager

Maybe he needs to do the biz somewhere else to be called one? Or do it for longer?

It's a weird one. Guardiola is an elite manager but he'd basically inherited the best teams wherever he's gone. Klopp is better the him imo.

[Winston Biscuit]

In 209 games at RM Zidane has won

2 x La Liga
3 x Champions League
2 x Spanish Super Cups
2 x UEFA Super Cups
2 x World Club Cups

Yet still doesn't seem to get talked about as an 'elite' manager

Maybe he needs to do the biz somewhere else to be called one? Or do it for longer?

It's a weird one. Guardiola is an elite manager but he'd basically inherited the best teams wherever he's gone. Klopp is better the him imo.

Guardiola - 10 trophies in 281 games at Barca

Zidane - 11 trophies in 209 games at RM

[Simmops]

In 209 games at RM Zidane has won

2 x La Liga
3 x Champions League
2 x Spanish Super Cups
2 x UEFA Super Cups
2 x World Club Cups

Yet still doesn't seem to get talked about as an 'elite' manager

Maybe he needs to do the biz somewhere else to be called one? Or do it for longer?

It's a weird one. Guardiola is an elite manager but he'd basically inherited the best teams wherever he's gone. Klopp is better the him imo.

Guardiola - 10 trophies in 281 games at Barca

Zidane - 11 trophies in 209 games at RM

And the rest for guardiola and zindane?

[Hendo]

Maybe he needs to do the biz somewhere else to be called one? Or do it for longer?

It's a weird one. Guardiola is an elite manager but he'd basically inherited the best teams wherever he's gone. Klopp is better the him imo.

Guardiola - 10 trophies in 281 games at Barca

Zidane - 11 trophies in 209 games at RM

And the rest for guardiola and zindane?

Pep was already considered elite when he left Barca?

[Simmops]

Guardiola - 10 trophies in 281 games at Barca

Zidane - 11 trophies in 209 games at RM

And the rest for guardiola and zindane?

Pep was already considered elite when he left Barca?

No idea. Maybe not and maybe he was. Who says Zidane isnt elite? I think he is.

[Stranded]

Guardiola - 10 trophies in 281 games at Barca

Zidane - 11 trophies in 209 games at RM

And the rest for guardiola and zindane?

Pep was already considered elite when he left Barca?

Close to but felt the need to test himself elsewhere. How big a test he took on, esp. at Bayern is an interesting* discussion.