Cybereagles

Mr. Piffington wrote:I feel for people who actually follow that league. Barcelona will win it for 10 straight years and they'll tell you how competitive it is because everybody there can dribble.

chendosplastic wrote:I will choose tikitaka over KnF any day.

Diego Simeone believes Barcelona are making the La Liga title race "boring" after Atletico Madrid suffered a 4-1 defeat at the Camp Nou on Sunday.

"Our team is a strong team, we know how to play," the Atletico boss said. "With our weapons we try to be competitive. And today for a long time were. We put in an enormous effort, we showed our souls. We lost to a team who plays in a different league than ours. They are making this a boring league.

"We played a perfect first half when we had three clear chances to score. We closed off all the paths where they could hurt us, then they scored from their first shot. The game was decided by them taking their chances."

Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova has been cautious about his side's title hopes this season, despite the club's best ever start to a season with 15 wins and one draw from the opening 16 rounds.

He once again insisted that Barca cannot become too complacent, citing the anxious ending to his side's 2009/10 title win as a warning sign.

"I have the luck of having a similar experience before," he said. "We were 11 points ahead of Madrid, but then we had to go to Bernabeu to win the title. Also, Atletico are only nine points behind, and they showed how well they can play. We need to include them in the reckoning.

"Many times we have won right at the end, having suffered during the game. We have not been picking up points easily, we could have dropped more points. The league does not seem easy to me, quite the opposite."

Striker David Villa was once again forced to make an appearance from the bench as replaced Pedro in the 80th minute.

Villa's frustration at a lack of starting opportunities since he returned from injury is gradually becoming apparent, but Vilanova believes the Spaniard should expect to fight for his position in a competitive squad.

"For a player of such a high level [like Villa], it is not easy, but we have lots of players like that in this squad," Vilanova said. "Alves and Mascherano were on the bench today too. Alexis did very good work. We do not just judge on scoring goals, but on all their work in the game, offensively and defensively."

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was much more confident than Vilanova when asked about his side's title credentials, acknowledging that they are in the box seat to become Spanish champions.

"La Liga is only ours to lose," he told AS. "We're in a very favourable position, but we cannot lose a game. If we relax, the danger is that we go into a run where we don't win two or three games and lose our advantage.

"If we lose a game, nothing happens, but we cannot lose a game. We're having a great season. It's something else to watch my team-mates."

Pique conceded that Barca were tested early and were fortunate to take a slender lead into the break with Falcao creating a number of chances on goal.

"The first half took it out of us," he said. "Adriano's goal gave us a lot. We had a very good game against a great team who are second. [Falcao] is a great player - he's having a great season. He runs a lot, so you have to be wary. He's very difficult on the field."

airwolex wrote:Even the Spanish are aware of how pathetically uncompetitive their league is and it's a worry.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/12674 ... 27?cc=3888

Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova has been cautious about his side's title hopes this season, despite the club's best ever start to a season with 15 wins and one draw from the opening 16 rounds.


"I have the luck of having a similar experience before," he said. "We were 11 points ahead of Madrid, but then we had to go to Bernabeu to win the title. Also, Atletico are only nine points behind, and they showed how well they can play. We need to include them in the reckoning.

tfco wrote:

airwolex wrote:Even the Spanish are aware of how pathetically uncompetitive their league is and it's a worry.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/12674 ... 27?cc=3888

Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova has been cautious about his side's title hopes this season, despite the club's best ever start to a season with 15 wins and one draw from the opening 16 rounds.


"I have the luck of having a similar experience before," he said. "We were 11 points ahead of Madrid, but then we had to go to Bernabeu to win the title. Also, Atletico are only nine points behind, and they showed how well they can play. We need to include them in the reckoning.

airwolex wrote:

tfco wrote:

airwolex wrote:Even the Spanish are aware of how pathetically uncompetitive their league is and it's a worry.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/12674 ... 27?cc=3888

Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova has been cautious about his side's title hopes this season, despite the club's best ever start to a season with 15 wins and one draw from the opening 16 rounds.


"I have the luck of having a similar experience before," he said. "We were 11 points ahead of Madrid, but then we had to go to Bernabeu to win the title. Also, Atletico are only nine points behind, and they showed how well they can play. We need to include them in the reckoning.

15 wins in 16 games....you can't make that ish up.

Coach wrote:Last season, t'is a new day, new dawn at present. Barca are only a few points to the good, three horse race.

cic old boy wrote:

Mr. Piffington wrote:I feel for people who actually follow that league. Barcelona will win it for 10 straight years and they'll tell you how competitive it is because everybody there can dribble.

I watch football b/c of the quality on display, same with boxing. Two 5 year olds fighting could be “competitive”, but with no technique whatsoever. I wouldn’t want to watch that.

Mr. Piffington wrote:

cic old boy wrote:

Mr. Piffington wrote:I feel for people who actually follow that league. Barcelona will win it for 10 straight years and they'll tell you how competitive it is because everybody there can dribble.

I watch football b/c of the quality on display, same with boxing. Two 5 year olds fighting could be “competitive”, but with no technique whatsoever. I wouldn’t want to watch that.

Fair play.

Coach wrote:Last season, t'is a new day, new dawn at present. Barca are only a few points to the good, three horse race.

tfco wrote:Real Madrid (7-3) Sevilla


with their chances of winning the NDL now at 0%, they are going for individual honours...pinchinchi or whatever dem dey call am. C Ron with ANOTHER hat-trick