La Lambretta Radio: La Liga Bilingual Podcast #7

Roundtable guests today: The man at the controls, Miami Sound Machine aka Edu, Real Valladolid fan boy aka Eugenio, and La Jefa aka resident Malagueña, Inma, from La Lambretta Radio de España. La Lambrettinos are joined by Villarreal groguet Ravi aka @aupasubmarino now sleepless in Seattle, el Juez Jose aka Sportinguista Judge Joe, living in Madrid, and yours truly, Forza Futbol's very own, Elisa, to debate and discuss Spanish football.


Some of today's highlights:

o Saturday's relegation battles: where Malaga rocked Atletico, Racing striked back, Getafe showed they are not dead, and Sporting brought Depor to tears.
o We said adios to Almeria and Hercules.
o We pondered whether Xabi Prieto is a one club man?
o And we consoled Ravi as he recalled the Europa League match.

Plus much, much more.


A great way to learn Spanish or English on the topics we know and love!


Listen below, on itunes, ivoox or here.


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Hunt for Hercules' New Coach

With Hercules bottom of the table at 26 points now, despite being the only club to have beaten top team FC Barcelona and losing 0-4 last weekend to fellow strugglers Osasuna, the club decided to fire coach Esteban Vigo. The club's first choice, Juan Carlos Mandia, the ex-Tenerife coach who was practically signed/sealed and delivered to Alicante, was not allowed by the Spanish Football Federation to accept the position because he had already been coach at Tenerife this year.

The speculation is that ex-Real Madrid forward and UD Almeria, Pumas, and Mexico coach Hugo Sanchez is the primary target to take over at the Jose Rico Perez Stadium and win their safety from relegation. Heaven help Hercules.

Week 29: Heroes in the fight for survival

Duda, Malaga

Hercules' Farinos, Malaga's Duda and Almeria's Albert Crusat have the power to change the fortune of their relegation threatened sides this weekend and should be seriously considered as hot prospects for any fantasy football manager.

Laurence "Johnson" Alexander, looking at La Liga through the fantasy football lens. Author of Fantasy Football: La Liga Blog

As we approach the business end of the season, each jornada feels harder to predict. Injuries are mounting up, the intensity is rising and form is oscillating wildly. This weekend is characterised by a host of tough match - ups which feel increasingly difficult to predict.

Naturally the fantasy footballer manager is looking for as much certainty as possible but at the moment it's all becoming a little hazy - especially at the foot of the table. Thankfully, through the stats and figures that the game throws up we can take a close look at who's really making a difference. Here's three who have huge games this weekend: the fate of their sides weighs heavily on their shoulders.

Farinos, Hercules

FARINOS, Hercules, 19th

Hercules v Osasuna is a massive tie this weekend. With some good results, Osasuna have been easing away from the relegation places, but still remain patchy away from home. Hercules desperately need some form. The key man for this match-up has to be Hercules' central midfield man Farinos. Since his goalscoring appearance in week 23, he has been scoring steadily in Fantasy Football, even as his side has struggled.

He's been instrumental in their best work going forward. He has 10 successful crosses, 2 assists and a goal from 6 games. He has that crucial fantasy ability of scoring well without shooting. Before Farinos Drenthe was the key to Hercules' success. The flying dutchman is back from injury but since his spat with the club he's barely scored a fantasy point. Farinos has taken on the creative resonsibility since Royston has gone missing and the home side will need a big game from him to get some much needed points.


DUDA, Malaga, 20th

Mauricio Pellegrino showed that it was worthwhile rolling over to Real at the Bernabaeu in week 27 as his side saved themselves to register a vital win at Real Sociedad last weekend. Duda returned to the first team after missing the last 6 games and was instrumental in their victory. He was third in the fantasy football scoring charts behind Benzema and Aguero with his match-winning performance and his shots and crosses showed that he dominated the game in the final third for Malaga.

Duda is the top averaging midfielder with just under 10 points: more than Di Maria, Ozil and the rest, and is currently the 3rd most expensive player in the game behind Messi and Ronaldo and just ahead of Aguero and Benzema. This weekend they face 5th placed Espanyol at home and it will be up to Duda to unlatch a defence which has lost some of its steely resolve in recent weeks. His skill and understanding with striker Rondon give Malaga every hope of believing they can win and begin to dream that they can escape relegation.

Crusat, Almeria

ALBERT CRUSAT, Almeria, 18th

Almeria have the old cliche of the relegation 6 pointer at Sporting Gijon. Gijon are three points ahead in 17th. Argentinian wunderkind, Pablo Piatti has been Almeria's best attacking threat this season but he is carrying a knock and we don't know when he'll return. In his place, forward Crusat has rose to eminence in the last few games. In the last three he has two goals, an assist and plenty of shots and crosses, averaging 13.3 points. The Andalusians will be relying on Crusat to keep up his form at Gijon to keep their fight for survival alive.

La Liga Team of Round 23

Round 23 was very exciting and a hard fought bunch of games. There were several relegation 6 pointers, as well as some difficult away fixtures for the top 4 teams. Only 22 goals this week and 4 clean sheets. Here is my best of the weekend:

Goal Keeper: Dudu Aouate (Mallorca)

The underrated Israeli had another solid game. The Barrallets managed an early goal. Soon afer, the three pronged attack of Iker Muniain, Javi Martinez, and Fernando LLorente pummelled the Mallorca goal. Dudu made save after save.

Defenders: Marc Torrejón (Racing Santander), Pepe (Real Madrid), Jose Angel (Sporting Gijón)

The ex Espanyol defender, Torrejón, was immense this weekend as he lead the 10 man Racing Santander defense against Sevilla. His best game to date. His team garnered 3 golden points in operation salvation.

Pepe returned after injury to the Real Madrid starting 11, against a very determined Espanyol After the early sending off of Iker Casillas in goal, Pepe stayed calm and was quick to intercept many threats on goal. He deserves that contract renewal asap.

Young canterano Jose Angel was a threat for Sporting Gijón, in defense and attack. He utilized his pace to full effect and contained the best right back in the world, according to many, Barçelona's Dani Alves. Who says you can't play Jose Angel and Roberto Canella!

Midfielders: Juan Rodriguez (Deportivo), Kennedy (Racing Santander), Francisco Farinós (Hércules), Francisco Portillo (Málaga), Joaquin (Valencia)

So difficult to choose one midfielder, so I picked 5. La Liga is midfielder heaven.

Juan Rodriguez, who is rumored to be going to Getafe in the summer, was instrumental in Depor's upset over Villarreal. He was a constant danger on the right and made sure that his team took all 3 points in operation salvation.

Kennedy has been a revelation in the midfield for Racing this year. He was extremely impressive, as he contained the Sevilla attack.

The veteran crack, one of the top Spanish transfers in the modern era, from Valencia to Inter Milan. Farinós,the old timer, now at Hércules, initiated the come back against follow relegation rival Real Zaragoza, with a goal and an assist to Trezeguet. His first start this season was one to remember.

The Málaga canterano, Portillo, with very limited primera experience, was instrumental in the midfield. He was key in the comeback against Getafe that ended with a point. Definitely one to watch.

The veteran winger, also one of the most expensive Spanish transfers, is finally playing to his potential. Joaquin, the captain and ex Betico, led the comeback against Atlético Madrid away, and netted two quality goals for the win.

Strike Force: Raúl Tamudo (Real Sociedad), Felipe Caicedo (UD Levante)

Basque derbies are extremely physical and rife with anti-football. But it was only a matter of time that La Real, with all their chances, would score. Tamudo came through with a cheeky goal. His first attempt was blocked, but on the rebound, he managed to pull off a hospitable ball into the back of the net, with his back to goal.

Felipe Caicedo has been immense for the Valencian team, who are now on a bit of a run. A 6 pointer against Almerîa, with controversy. Caicedo came through with the only goal. Clinical.


3-5-2: AOUATE; TORREJON, PEPE, JOSE ANGEL; JUAN RODRIGUEZ, PORTILLO, FARINOS, KENNEDY, JOAQUIN; TAMUDO, CAICEDO

La Liga Team of the mid-season (excluding Barça & Real Madrid)

Well punters, I thought I would make things a little more interesting. Here's my La Liga starting 11 for the 2010-11 halfway point, excluding any of the super power teams aka Real Madrid & Barçelona.

Here we go:

Goalkeeper: Diego Lopez (Villarreal): overlooked, underrated, brilliant stops and positioning, need I say more.

Defense: Angel (Villarreal), Forlín and Victor Ruiz (Espanyol), Jose Angel (Sporting Gijón): Solid, consistent games for all of the above. Jose Angel playing out of his skin and only 21. Once the understudy for the injured Canella is the go to left back for los Gijóneses. Angel is another solid journeyman, who has really stepped up this year. The Espanyol dynamic duo are simply sublime and a wall in the perico defense.

Midfield: Xabi Prieto (Real Sociedad), Borja Valero (Villarreal), Tino Costa (Valencia), Chori Castro (Mallorca): Each of these players have been a key part of their team. Xabi Prieto, a veteran, leader, creator, who reads the game sublimely. Borja Valero just keeps getting better and better like a fine bottle of Rioja. Tino Costa, has this killer knack for goal. I call his shot,the blaster. The Argentina man played in France and Guadeloupe?? What a revelation! Chori Castro, the Uruguayan has had two break out years for Mallorca and will probably be moving to a bigger La Liga team in the summer. He is pacy, wily and intelligent.

Forwards: Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), David Trezeguet (Hercules): Fer has had an awesome year, ever since the World Cup. He has been prolific in goal, physical and a constant threat. Look out for those elbows. The "old French man" has demonstrated to the world that he still got it! His physical presence in front of goal. His futbol IQ has really made a difference for the team from Alicante. I am so happy that he is playing in La Liga de Estrellas!

Coach: Garrido (Villarreal) for promoting youth and beautiful football.

This is my mid season best XI. Do you agree? Give me yours.

David Trezeguet: The Second Coming ?

Many will have been unsurprised when David Trezeguet rolled into Alicante, Valencia. Having played little in the last 2 years of his time at Juventus mainly due to injury, it was decided it was best for everyone to release him from his contract with 12 months remaining. However the shock factor was clearly that he wasn't arriving at the Mestalla but joining newly promoted Hercules.

Having recently turned 33 the promise of regular football may have been enough to persuade David to jump on the plane. His record of 170 goals in 317 games for Juve speaks for itself, becoming the highest scoring import in the club's history. At International level he fared just as prolific with a better than 1 in 2 ratio. Few players in Europe if not the World have such a scoring rate so consistently throughout the years. An ability to score with either foot comfortably and being good in the air made many defender struggle to cope with him. His partnership with Noel Gallagher's friend Alesandro Del Piero has been the envy of many a team in the last decade. With a loyalty rarely seen in modern day football he stayed in Turin even when they were relegated to Serie B for there part in what came to be known as Calciopoli (The 2006 Italian football scandal). So with all due respect to Hercules, why not a bigger club ?

From a club prospective Lazio and Roma were thought to have been interested, he was even touted to join his close friend Thierry Henry in New York. Many of the big names in English football have been linked with the Frenchman for several years most recently in the summer Liverpool as a potential back up to Fernando Torres. The player himself declared that they were in the process of sorting out Javier Mascherano's future and didn't want to start anything else.

"After 10 years in Turin, above all I needed to find sun and sea again. And the fact that my wife is from the region also played a part in my decision." he told French newspaper L'Equipe.

"I wanted to know the Spanish League, for me it was an important objective in my career," and "A new adventure" was what he told a local radio station.

The above quotes along with Liverpool's failure not for the first time to act swiftly enough in the transfer market certainly explain the decision.

Now having signed for Hercules on a 2 year deal, this free transfer is looking like one of the signings of the summer. A debut against Barcelona doesn't come much bigger in Spanish football especially as they went on to win the game 2-0. Having notched 6 goals in his opening 9 games its clear that he is enjoying his time in Spain. A self belief that ensures he thinks positively and a level head in his attitude are all contributing factors to his early success. His goals having come against Valencia, Sevilla, Villarreal and Real Madrid show that he is still a player for the big occasion. But last Sunday's finish against also newly promoted Real Sociedad will be what the fans are really looking for. An ability to fire the goals against their nearest competitors could well be the difference for Hercules this season. Having thrown his hat back into the ring for a return to Laurent Blanc's France side, things are certainly on the rise. While some teams may have thought he wasn't worth the risk David Trezeguet is proving them all wrong. Providing he can stay injury free in the battle for survival he might just give Hercules the edge come May.

Round 5 in La Liga - Sevilla In Crisis

President Jose Maria Del Nido finally felt that he needed to act. Times were tough economically in Spain. His team practiced financial austerity and prudence. They developed their own, scouted for young jewels or unknowns and sold their players at a profit. Alves, Baptista, Keita, Reyes, Ramos, and most recently Adriano, were developed in Sevilla and sold at a nice profit to rivals, or big clubs abroad. In 2000-01, Sevilla were still playing in the Second division of Spain — quite a feat to bring this team to prominence, UEFA and Copa del Rey cup winners, and constant champions league contenders, four years running.

To read more go here: http://www.globalfootballtoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=398:round-5-in-la-liga-sevilla-in-crisis&catid=3:laliga&Itemid=22

Axe falls first on Antonio Alvarez

Five games and five weeks in, a uncharacteristically long time by Spanish standards, La Liga has its first managerial casualty of the season.

After a 2-0 defeat to Hercules on Sunday evening, Sevilla announced that Antonio Alvarez would be the first of undoubtedly tens of managerial changes this term.

In a widely anticiated move, Sevilla have again aid the rice for not acting during the summer. For the second consecutive season they played managerial blackjack in the off season and regretted sticking with what they already had.

Last season Maonolo Jimenez, despite his impressive cojones, was sacked in March. His replacement, Alvarez, was charged with the objective of getting an expensively assembled squad back into the Champions League. He did so. Just. And the decision to keep him was based somewhat on a false premise.

On the last day of the season Mallorca's players assembled in the centre circle of Son Moix after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Espanyol. Their comical and loveable mascot Demonio took to the pitch, champagne bottles in hand. Unbelievably, a club on the verge of bankruptcy had been saved. Thanks to the wonderful efforts of their manager, Gregorio Manzano, they were headed for a fourth place finish. Then as they watched in horror, an unheralded 19-year-old, Rodri, scored a 93rd (a them some) minute winner for Sevilla in Almeria.

Alvarez had achieved his goal. Or so they thought. Come August and a 5-3 aggreagate defeat to Braga in the Chamions League qualifiers, Alvarez's fate was sealed. A strong start to the domestic campaign only served to delay the inevitable. Sunday's loss, the first of the season in the league, was the final straw. But at least he has robbed his successor the chance of Champions League football, twice. The man now stepping into the breach at Sevilla, Gregorio Manzano. Funny old game and all that.

Alvarez's sacking has somewhat overshadowed another great performance from Hercules who are shaping up to be inconsistent, mad, exciting and a whole lot of fun deserately needed around the mid-table spots of the league. They were so good against Sevilla that even Royston Drenthe looked like that 'New Roberto Carlos' that Real Madrid signed three years ago.

Players being overprotected?

Two weeks ago after the Saturday evening game between Athletic Bilbao and Ateltico Madrid I supported Sid Lowe's assertion that sometimes madness is better than genius. In San Mames' latest Saturday night offering madness and genius were combined for a thoroughly entertaining fare. Barca beat Athletic 3-1 and again looked imperious, particularly in the creation of their first goal. However, the pattern of the game was determined by Fernando Amorebieta's sending off for a semi-lunge on Andres Iniesta. It was a challenge that on another day might have seen just a yellow but in the light of the 'protect the best players' debate precipitated by Ujfalusi's challenge on Messi last week, and which also got Ernesto Galan sent off for his challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo midweek, it was always going to see red.

Four-Point Roundup

1. Valencia are for real. Pace, skill, clinical finishing and good organisation is a heady mix. They should really test Man Utd in the Champions League this week and given the form of another team in white who knows...

2. Which leads to point two. Real Madrid are rubbish! Well, at least in front of goal. Six goals in five games it sounds all so Mourinho. Their drought is so bad that this week they couldn't even score against a side still in administration and whose highest earner (Felipe Caicedo, yes, thats right Felipe Caicedo is their highest earner) earns less than Ronaldo does in a week. Well played Levante!

3. Depor 0 Almeria 2 means that Depor have now gone 563 minutes without a goal from open play...quelle suprise.

4. That talk of madness being better than genius. See the first 43 minutes of Malaga-Villareal. At that point the score was 3-2 Villareal (including 2 corkers from little fat Santi Cazorla!). Anyway, at that point it was all too much fun for Carlos Marchena,record breaker, leg breaker and arguably La Liga's most evil man. Eliseu saw red for this 'assault' on poor Carlos, although (the only thing) in Marchena's defence, Eliseu is a dirty cheating scoundrel aswell.

Fair Play in La Liga

One of many things that is noticed from a global perspective, is the role of the referee in a league. Are they too lenient? Do they give red or yellow cards too easily? Are they fair and consistent? Are they swayed by the players or fans? Do they make good decisions or do they lose control of the game?

They say a good referee is hardly noticed. They do not affect the outcome of the game or play on the pitch. They allow the game to play out, but still protect the marquee player(s).

For more please go to http://www.spainsportsnetwork.com/2010/09/fair-play-in-la-liga/

La Liga, Round 3: Who's ready for Derby Time?

This weekend in La Liga was packed with plenty of derbies and oodles of morbo, or intense rivalry. The games contained all the ingredients for a proper derby as they were heated, tight, controversial, and very physical.

In the Battle Real, a team that defended and attacked as a team (Real Sociedad) were very unfortunate not to get a draw, against an individualistic, slow starting team (Real Madrid). Moments of individual brilliance (Di Maria's goal) a lucky deflection (Ronaldo's free kick), and three missed clear-cut, early opportunities by a young startlet (La Real's Griezmann) was the story of the game. That's two dropped points by the team from San Sebastian. Mourinho's brood are still a work in progress. FT 1-2 (RS: Tamudo, RM: DiMaria, Ronaldo)

To read more go to: http://www.globalfootballtoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=378:la-liga-round-3-derby-time&catid=3:laliga&Itemid=22