Forza Futbol podcast 151: Summer break

On today´s podcast episode, Ravi, Elisa and Mando discuss the latest news and rumours from La Liga, team by team as we prepare for a one month long summer break. Oh we won't disappear! There will be blogging, tweeting, U19s, U20s, Copa America, and Real Madrid in LA! See you in the beginning of August for more podcasts!!

Subscribe on Ivoox, Itunes, podbean and the first portion on blogtalkradio! We hope to use blog talk radio more often in the future, so we can broadcast live and have callers!

So listen to blog talk radio first, and then the podbean/itunes/ivoox version afterwards. Two hours of Forza Futbol to send us off on vacation. Enjoy!

First part on Blog Talk Radio!!

Listen to internet radio with ArmandoGarcia on Blog Talk Radio

2nd portion on podbean!!

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Transfer Window Nonsense: Madrid and Barca

Is it me or are we in the midst of a transfer window that is more ridiculous than any of us thought going in and certainly as ridiculous as any in recent memory? I know that Real Madrid have contributed to some rather outrageous expenditures for players over the last few years but there was at least a semblance of logic to their nonsense; the club were in dire need of top-shelf talent so they overspent. That they rebuilt their bench last year, bringing in some excellent veteran leadership, spoke more for what they lacked than anything else. Real Madrid are now loaded for bear. Too bad the Barcelona hunting party is still leagues head of them and they will continue to stare down the parade of potential signings and look to each one of them as the one that might bring them over the edge and bridge the talent gap that exists between the eternal rivals.

It's an insidious quest: Benzema, Kaka, and Higuain have all been linked with exits from the Santiago Bernabeu. Alexis Sanchez, Kun Aguero, and Cesc Fabregas have come under Real Madrid's scrutiny. Barcelona have sniffed around the same alleyways. In the end it becomes more about keeping that one player away from a rival than asserting your own dominance. That's wrong. It is always about making yourself more difficult to beat. So ignore what they are telling you. 

Real Madrid CF: Kun Aguero duplicates much of what Higuain and Benzema already do. Granted, El Kun is already acclimated to La Liga, but I think that the club should try to replace what a guy like Emmanuel Adebayor brings to the fold. If Ade is on  the way out, I buy Didier Drogba or a kid like Lukaku, someone who holds the ball up like Mourinho likes. As for Alexis Sanchez? I like the Chilean, a whole lot, but the club already have Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria on the wings. Are you going to stunt their game to involve Sanchez just because you think that Barcelona would capitalise too greatly on his worth? It´s ridiculous. As for Cesc? Maybe if they release Mesut Ozil which would never happen. I think in the end they buy that forward they're looking for and they bring Fabio Coentrao in from Benfica and that´s about it.

FC Barcelona: Alexis Sanchez has come to a personal terms with Barcelona but does anyone actually believe he winds up in blaugrana? They can't afford his wages and Udinese want straight cash to get him out of Italy. They won't take a player and less cash in return. Why should they? Their youth-team structure rivals Barcelona's. Even if he does reach the Camp Nou though, it begs the question: which wing does he play on? Does he spell the best player in the world, Lionel Messi or does he help out with David Villa who is Spain´s all-time scorer? Would Sanchez limit himself to subbing for an established forward for Barcelona's devastating attack? Would Giuseppe Rossi? What about Cesc Fabregas? He seems destined to be a bit player as well with Xavi and Iniesta still ahead of him in the pecking order.  It is an interesting question, and I know that the players and their agents want to facilitate the transfers for many reasons both on and off the field, but I´d say it´s a mistake for the club to invest its resources on expensive transfers just to keep up with Real Madrid.

When the dust settles Real Madrid will probably forgo more Galactico hires and build a squad that reflects the tirelessness and intelligence of the man who guides their squad. Barcelona on the other hand, it seems at least, are looking for ways to meet Pep Guardiola´s expectations without over-spending. Sandro Rosell doesn't seem to be the sort who gambles with 100 million euros of investment especially when the club need only minor tweaks to an already talented squad. They'll make one marquee signing to keep up appearances which in this case is quite obviously Cesc.

All of this other nonsense, this transfer frenzy that pits all of the top clubs against each other, is an invention; the by-product of agents and newspaper-men. They have mutual interests even if their reasons are very different. More clubs bidding on a client means higher agent fees, but to help the sale along they need complicity from the journalists who quite frankly have column inches to fill during a slow off-season. It's a farce. An enjoyable one like professional wrestling but no less fake. Mostly.

Transfer Targets: Liverpool FC

There is no club in England with more of a devoted following nor with a more storied past: Anfield, the Kop, 18 League titles and 5 European Cups. Yet it all seemed so far away this time last year. A group of small-market American owners with a small-market mentality instilled that lack of ambition all the way down to the famous Melwood training facilities. Players were lining up to leave a club that few had dared to reject in the past. Then Boston Red-Sox owner John Henry bought the Reds. Trading one set of American owners for another seemed cosmetic at best, but the re-emergence of a club legend like Kenny Dalglish has re-instilled pride in the club and in the badge again. They have a renewed ambition sure but they have an influx of filthy lucre which is better still. I know the club have signed Sunderland's 20 year old midfielder Jordan Henderson and they'd like to create a more typically English side by signing Blackpool's Charlie Adam and Aston Villa's Stewart Downing amongst others, but is this the time to abandon their policy of signing Spanish players to Costa del Merseyside? There are bargains to be had in cash-strapped Spain. I´d say it's time to redouble the efforts on the peninsula.

Defense: Spanish defenders aren´t usually mistaken for the sort of hard-nosed intimidators that thrive in England but there are still some around. Fernando Amorebieta of Athletic Bilbao is that sort of typically built bruiser grown on the grounds of the famous Lezama academy and would be a perfect fit alongside Martin Skrtel at Liverpool. There is however a more immediate concern for Kenny Dalglish. With Paul Konchesky on the way out and with Fabio Aurelio´s injury woes continuing, the club have got to find other options at left-back. The tabloids have pipped Arsenal´s Gael Clichy but I think a promising youngster like Jose Angel Valdez of Sporting de Gijon is perfect. He looked primed for FC Barcelona just this past week before the deal fell-through and could be had if his valuation of 15 million euros is met.

Midfield: I know this is where Liverpool are looking to find the sort of grit and determination that the 20 million pound Henderson and the intrepid Blackpool captain Adam would provide, but if technical ability is what's missing in comparison to the Liverpool sides of old, then how can you look past a comparable Spanish player? Joe Cole is out, so I think I´d rather have a similar player, Pablo Piatti of relegated Almería who is the sort of Argentine spark-plug that if I were lacking in descriptors I´d say reminded people of Lionel Messi; a bit, if you closed one eye and ruffled his hair a bit. Or made him slouch some. More centrally, Ever Banega is never going to be the sort of player that fits Unai Emery´s system at Valencia either personally or professionally, but he is the sort of player that combines the steel of Javier Mascherano with the creativity of Xabi Alonso; two players that are clearly missed in the Liverpool midfield. Come to think of it, I think I'd rather spring for Banega instead. Never mind about the Piatti thing then; Ever Banega it is. I mean if they can't get one internet exhibitionist in Young, why not bring in another one, no?
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Winger: you can forget about attracting Ashley Young now. He´s now at Manchester United. Juan Mata has been a favorite an Anfield since Rafa Benitez´s day, but he´s too valuable right now for Valencia, but I actually prefer the idea of bringing Jeffren in from FC Barcelona as is rumoured. He´s the sort of small pseudo-winger that Barcelona bake by the dozen at La Masia and whose chances of a starting place are dwindling by the minute as the club keep talking with Cesc Fabregas and Giuseppe Rossi. If real service for Andy Carroll is needed however, and they can´t prise Spanish International Santi Cazorla from Villarreal then I think Real Madrid´s Pedro Leon is a perfect substitute. He played very well for Getafe in 2009-2010, but after falling out with Jose Mourinho last year, he could be had for a song. Or maybe if they added some tapas to go along.

Now remember, this isn´t your usual transfer speculation blog, not even close by a long shot, but just a bit of light-hearted musings as to who I think would be valuable additions to a Liverpool squad. Let us know who your preferred options are at Anfield, ok?

Next stop in the Premier League gravy train: Tottenham Hotspur

Summer Exodus Abroad?

The Spanish Player's Union (AFE) recently announced that there were 300 unpaid players, the majority in Second division and that if nothing is going to change, a strike would be eminent the first week of the 2011-12 season.

The Spanish economy is not getting any better. Unemployment is at an all time high at 20%. The Euro continues to lose buying power. Spanish club indebtedness is at an all time high. Meanwhile, a potential labor strike is looming once again because teams are not paying their players timely, or at all.

Rumors continue to persist that a mass exodus of Spanish players abroad will occur this summer. Spaniards are quite versatile and very adaptable on the pitch as well as to other cultures. Players from all levels, from the stars to journeymen to canteranos and veterans are playing in England (Jose Enrique), Greece (David Fuster), Ukraine, Romania, Hong Kong, Turkey (Guiza) and the Middle East (Yeste). More are expected in Germany (Jurado), France (Azpilicueta), Italy (Victor Ruiz), Portugal (Javi Garcia), Holland, and Russia. Hey, even Sergio Koke, Malaga canterano, fresh from Aris in Greece, and still only 27, is playing in the MLS at Houston Dynamo!

But Spain are the World Champions, with the two biggest and best club teams in the world! Spain has arguably the best youth and coaching development in Europe. How could this happen?

Well, both players and coaches want a guaranteed paycheck and are attracted to the quality of life abroad. Many countries or cultures respect the privacy of players and coaches much more than in Spain, where the daily paper is big business. Some argue that cheaper South Americans and African players are squeezing out the journeymen. Whereas big name foreigners are also squeezing out the marquee players from the top teams in Spain. This is especially the case when only Real Madrid and Barcelona can afford you - see David Silva. More Spanish and ex La Liga coaches are moving abroad and making it easier to move. Ernesto Valverde and Manolo Jimenez are working in Greece, while Juande Ramos is plying his trade in the Ukraine. Bottom line with such a short sporting life, it makes career and family sense.

The perfect case in point is Schalke in the Bundesliga where you have the star veteran, Raul, journeyman, Jurado, and canterano from a smaller club who had little chance of 1st team Primera football, Sergio Escudero. I totally expect to see more and more transfers abroad this summer. But it just doesn't sit right with me. Frankly I am torn. Global experience is good for the game, coaches and players. But what ever happened to the best league in the world? Shouldn't the best league retain and promote their own players?

What do you think? Will this happen? Is this good or bad for Spanish football? I want to hear from you.

PREMIERSHIP RUMORS: Summer Transfers

Rumblings and rumors out of Spain are pointing towards several tasty transfers that could take place this summer. What are your thoughts on the following speculation?


Raul Albiol to Chelsea?
The central defender is no longer a starter for Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid. As expected, the Valenciano is chomping at the bit for more playing time. He also wants to solidify his spot as the heir apparent in the Spanish National team, for the aging Marchena and Puyol. Chelsea needs a younger replacement for John Terry and has a strong desire to shore up the backline. Possible?


Nacho Monreal or Jose Enrique to Liverpool?
The team from Merseyside is in desperate need of a left back. Monreal is young and talented and let's get real, Osasuna is a selling club. If the right offer comes along, and it is not from Athletic Bilbao, then they are more than willing to part ways and rebuild. Monreal is on the fringes of the Spanish National team and is looking for ways to advance his career and become a big star. On the other side you have Jose Enrique who is already playing in the Premier League with Newcastle. He has the experience of playing in the physical, fast paced rhythm and dynamism of the PL. The only downside is his price tag, which will be vastly inflated. (See Andy Carroll) Do you go for potential and a more reasonable price tag? Or do you vie for experience and less risk at a steep price?


Fernando Llorente to Tottenham?
Harry Rednapp came to Spain midwinter, in search of a "bride", but came away empty handed. Speculation is that he will return in the summer for the big prize and with the big bucks. Unfortunately, this time he will need to compete with Real Madrid. The Athletic Bilbao striker is the Lion King at his current club. He is used to being the top dog. However he does pine for bigger things and has mentioned the Premier league quite often, as the style is much to his liking and talent. T'Ham would be a good match, provided the club is involved in European competition. ACB President Macua could sell, if the price is right, especially after the summer elections. Probable?


Diego Lopez to Manchester United?
All the transfer rumors are talking about David De Gea to ManU to replace the retiring Van der Sar, but the young Atletico player still lacks the big game experience, particularly in Europe. That said, a goal keeper with the experience of the underrated Diego Lopez would fit in perfectly, in my opinion. A solid offer could sway the Villarreal hierarchy. A transfer in the making?