Thats a terrible surface it looks more like a cabbage patch

You're telling me. They were dreadful at the back. Signing Albiol and Garay appears to have fixed nothing. And Pellegrini, despite being a smart man, is playing Marcelo at left back.



Thought Depor were worth a draw personally, and they might have got one had Valeron not missed a sitter at 2-2. Zaragoza - Tenerife wasn't the most exciting affair but Tenerife look like they'll struggle, lacking any real finishing product up front.

Something must be wrong with the Madrid coaching staff. I mean, they have the best centre back in la liga for me (Albiol), they have probably the best goalkeeper in the league in Casillas, as well as a quality right back in Ramos.

If you can't get players of this quality to form a tight defence then they can't be doing their jobs properly. I wouldn't mind if the problem wasn't just the defence, but they have Lass and Alonso in midfield as well, they're not lacking protection.

Oh and Casillas's face fungus - just say no Iker

I went to Betis/Cordoba on Saturday night, a pretty easy win for Betis but the fact they were playing was ridiculous, it was still touching 40 degrees in the stands, and the impact on the already fairly placid pace of the Segunda division was obvious.

After that there was no way I was going to shell out €65 to watch Atlético at Malaga, it was no weather for football and given the result I'm glad I didn't!

Glad we've managed to get £6m for Heitinga, I actually thought he started out OK at centre half last year, but as soon as he made a couple of mistakes he went rapidly downhill - and the move to full back didn't seem to make much difference either.

Miguel Torres signs for Getafe from Real Madrid on 5 year contract.
Only cost €2 million, but Madrid have the option to buy him back within the first two seasons.
Gudjohnsen signs for Monaco on 2 year deal with option of a third.

La Liga Team Of The Week: [size=9[url=http://goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/09/01/1474830/la-liga-team-of-the-week-round-1[i(Goal.com)[/i[/url[/size

Goalkeeper:
Jacobo (Real Valladolid)

Defenders:
Daniel Alves (Barcelona)
Cata Diaz (Getafe)
Alexis (Valencia)
Jesus Gamez (Malaga)

Midfielders:
Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid)
Seydou Keita (Barcelona)
Adrian (Getafe)
Duda (Malaga)

Forwards:
Gaizka Toquero (Athletic Club)
Roberto Soldado (Getafe)

Only one Athletic player! Fix!!

That off goal.com?

Yes there's a really small link up at the top...

Sneaky. Thought you'd dropped your standards then

1-1 home draw with Racing means Atlético's start is becoming a bad one, Resino will be out of the door before too long, especially given the fact the fans have turned on the board, there was a big protest march before the game.

Just watched Espanyol/Real Madrid, Kaka was absolutely superb, Espanyol started well but once he got going he was on a different level, ended up 3-0 to Madrid.

Thought he was superb. Think 3-0 was harsh on Espanyol though.

Definitely was, but when you're opponents are fielding someone like Kaka in form there's always a chance you could take a beating.

I bet the rest of the league are glad the fixtures haven't come out like last year where they played Barcelona then Real Madrid in succession, Messi one week then Kaka the next could be a little bit too cruel.

Ronaldo was less than impressive. Casillas looked sharp, but I can't believe Espanyol are going with Garcia and Tamudo for another season.

I think he'll struggle in Madrid, I really do.

He's got his pace and his skills and he's a decent enough finisher, but his passing game has never been the best and his decision making leaves a lot to be desired. I actually think he could be an excellent striker in Spain, or maybe a left sided player in a 4-3-3.

New deal for Lionel.

[urlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/09/14/manual_143917.html[/url

Just been confirmed on Catalan television.
Contract runs till he's 28 and he'll be on €10.5 million a year.
There's a buy out clause.... €150 million

Very poor start from Atletico and what was Resino thinking playing Forlan and Aguero seperately?
Defense again struggling.

I am thinking of going to watch a Real Madrid game. Or perhaps a Barca one.

Anyone been over there to see a match?

Try and watch them away from home, if you are wanting to see them for footballing reasons.

Unless you get tickets for a big game the atmosphere at the Nou Camp and Bernabeu is generally disappointing, full of tourists more interested in getting pictures and people who think they are at the theatre, in terms of attitude and dress.

I've seen games at a dozen or so Spanish grounds, the best experiences in the top division can be found at Athletic, Sevilla, Valencia or Atlético for me, though obviously it depends on your reasons for wanting to go.

Just like at the start of last season the lack of any striking depth means they are trying to rotate because of the internationals and start of the champions league games, and the squad isn't strong enough to cope.


Yep, expecting carnage at the Nou Camp again tonight, though hopefully it won't be as bad as last season.

I was going to Sky+ the game tonight but then i realised we were playing Barca with our defense. It'll be painful watching if we get off to a bad start.

There is no reason why Resino won't play Aguero and Forlan together tonight but i wouldn't be suprised if he played one in each half again.

As shown in the home games between the two over the last couple of years the only chance we'd have to beat Barca is to attack them, and given the players that's the only way Atlético can really play anyway.

Held out for 90 seconds, slightly longer than last year IIRC