FC Barcelona

[Sparky]

Watch the odd spanish match and usually enjoy it but i prefer to watch the Premiership all day long . I dont see the point of the whole whos the better league debate , technical ability may be better in Spain but its hard to measure between the 2 . 3 premiership teams reached last years semi finals of the champions league and i would not be suprised if that happened again .

The Premiership MAYBE not the most exciting but is certainly the strongest IN MY OPINION

[Fez of Mahrez]

bojan isn't much to write home about, yet anyway. it does seem a great league but it's no less predictable than the prem, this season especially. there's a clear top 2, and top 4 in both leagues, and the standard of mid-table prem teams is higher, i would argue. too many in england for money i agree and i'm sure the recession may see a slight decline in top players here for a few years.

I agree about Bojan to a certain extent. He is frustrating sometimes when you're used to watching Eto'o or Messi. Giovani dos Santos suffered the same hype and I always thought he was overrated too. Bojan will get there though, I'm sure. He's improved a lot with less pressure on him this season. Guardiola is bringing him along expertly and his assist last night was class.

I totally disagree about the standard of mid-table teams being higher in the Premiership but there's no real way to decide it.

The top 4 in Spain isn't quite as clearcut as over here. Barca and Real are there every year but Villarreal are a small team who have made it big recently, Atletico Madrid made it in there last year, Sevilla are usually there but not every year, Valencia were terrible last season but are usually there or thereabouts and there's usually a surprise too like Racing Santander finishing in the top 6 or 7 last season.

[Alexikokopops]

The Premiership MAYBE not the most exciting but is certainly the strongest IN MY OPINION

The top four yes. I think English team's performances in the UEFA cup last year show a different story. Not a single team in the quarters.

[Sparky]

The top four yes. I think English team's performances in the UEFA cup last year show a different story. Not a single team in the quarters.

yeah fair shout , not sure many teams take the Uefa cup seriously here or abroad

[Darkzzz_]

Most English fans seem to base their opinions of Barca and Messi on their showing against Man United in the CL last year. Barca weren't playing well at the time and still dominated possession in both legs.

How many arguments have I had with United fans over this.

What a club, what a team, what a city! I love Barcelona. Went last year for a game and it's an incredible experience.

Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Eto'o, Bojan...

What game did you go to?

Check my video ( Excuse the poor quality and my language when I say "What a fooking goal")

This was when they beat Villarreal 4-0 in November 2006.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sWcBISqnJkA

And I hate Real Madrid.

And I love you !!

[lildave3]

The difference between the Barca of last season and this season is unbelievable - and it's practically the same team but with Daniel Alves and occasionally Keita and Pique in. Usually though, it's 10 of the 11 that started most games last year.

Most English fans seem to base their opinions of Barca and Messi on their showing against Man United in the CL last year. Barca weren't playing well at the time and still dominated possession in both legs. If they came up against Barca in this sort of form, I can't imagine Man United would get close to them - and I would rather watch Messi than Ronaldo any day of the week.

In another thread the Forlan argument came up, but there aren't that many top La Liga stars who have come over to the Premiership in their prime. Robinho and Deco haven't exactly been Forlans so far. van Nistelrooy scored goals in both leagues. Henry scored in both leagues. But Henry was the best player in the Premiership, he isn't even in the top 3 best players at Barcelona, let alone La Liga.

Mainly because he isn't a shadow of the player he was at his peak.

[JakeShingler]

The difference between the Barca of last season and this season is unbelievable - and it's practically the same team but with Daniel Alves and occasionally Keita and Pique in. Usually though, it's 10 of the 11 that started most games last year.

Most English fans seem to base their opinions of Barca and Messi on their showing against Man United in the CL last year. Barca weren't playing well at the time and still dominated possession in both legs. If they came up against Barca in this sort of form, I can't imagine Man United would get close to them - and I would rather watch Messi than Ronaldo any day of the week.

In another thread the Forlan argument came up, but there aren't that many top La Liga stars who have come over to the Premiership in their prime. Robinho and Deco haven't exactly been Forlans so far. van Nistelrooy scored goals in both leagues. Henry scored in both leagues. But Henry was the best player in the Premiership, he isn't even in the top 3 best players at Barcelona, let alone La Liga.

That's just like saying Forlan is one of the best players in La Liga but in the prem he was aawfull.

[Fez of Mahrez]

That's just like saying Forlan is one of the best players in La Liga but in the prem he was aawfull.

An example to counter an example, yes.

As for LD3, I take it you didn't see the game last night? Henry is still superb. If Messi played in the Premiership he'd explode in a huge cloud of hype.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I don't know why I'm trying to debate this, it's pretty pointless. Basically I just wanted to celebrate the football Barcelona have played this season.

[lildave3]

An example to counter an example, yes.

As for LD3, I take it you didn't see the game last night? Henry is still superb. If Messi played in the Premiership he'd explode in a huge cloud of hype.

If i'm honest no I didn't see it. But i've seen him on other occasions this season and he hasn't looked anywhere near as good.

[Sparky]

I don't know why I'm trying to debate this, it's pretty pointless. Basically I just wanted to celebrate the football Barcelona have played this season.

It is a hard one to debate really , no one is gonna come out and prove 1 way or the other .

Id love to go and watch Barca , been on the tour and that was awesome but need to pull a match in next time

[Darkzzz_]

It is a hard one to debate really , no one is gonna come out and prove 1 way or the other .

Id love to go and watch Barca , been on the tour and that was awesome but need to pull a match in next time

You will love it mate.

I hope you get to go.

[Fez of Mahrez]

You will love it mate.

I hope you get to go.

Me and my mate are trying to organise Barcelona v Sevilla this season. Would love to know any tips you can pass on about the best way to do it. We might struggle for a package-type deal cos he's in a wheelchair and I don't know how it works with disabled tickets.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Have to add about the games tonight, not the greatest pick for the current match although I'm not watching. I bet Real Madrid-Sevilla later will be a decent watch though, especially if Sevilla play both Diego Capel and Jesus Navas.

[Darkzzz_]

Me and my mate are trying to organise Barcelona v Sevilla this season. Would love to know any tips you can pass on about the best way to do it. We might struggle for a package-type deal cos he's in a wheelchair and I don't know how it works with disabled tickets.

I am not 100% sure how it works with disabled spectators but I am sure that if you state you need wheelchair access they are usually very good at organising that for you. When I went there were a Scottish family that had a member of their party in a wheelchair and they were down at the front.

I will link you to a site which I usually use to book tickets.

http://www.spainticketbureau.com/tickets/b...la-FC&idP=3

The prices have shot up lately and you could always get your tickets out there, but when I done that the first time against Atletico, I got rubbish seats and have always used the above site since.

You will want Cat 1 tickets because of the wheelchair access and this will cost more.

It is always worth sending them a email, in the meantime I will scan some websites and get some info for you.

I might be going to this game also.....

[Fez of Mahrez]

I am not 100% sure how it works with disabled spectators but I am sure that if you state you need wheelchair access they are usually very good at organising that for you. When I went there were a Scottish family that had a member of their party in a wheelchair and they were down at the front.

I will link you to a site which I usually use to book tickets.

http://www.spainticketbureau.com/tickets/b...la-FC&idP=3

The prices have shot up lately and you could always get your tickets out there, but when I done that the first time against Atletico, I got rubbish seats and have always used the above site since.

You will want Cat 1 tickets because of the wheelchair access and this will cost more.

It is always worth sending them a email, in the meantime I will scan some websites and get some info for you.

I might be going to this game also.....

Superb. Cheers mate.

Didn't get to see the Real game tonight but lovely result. Had a feeling that would happen.

[Darkzzz_]

Superb. Cheers mate.

Didn't get to see the Real game tonight but lovely result. Had a feeling that would happen.

I just sat and watched it and I couldn't believe it, It was a game of two halves. Good game, although I am very pleased with the outcome.

Before Robben got sent off It looked as if Real were going to nick it.

Then Renato popped up and ended all hope and possibly just made Schuster unemployed.

Now we await the El Clasico next week. Can't wait.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I love Villarreal for having Nihat and Pires and Senna

Villarreal are the team I follow in La Liga. They're a better team than alot of people like to give them credit for, and they proved that when Man United couldn't break them down at all in the Champions League, at Old Trafford or at the Madrigal.

I also like them because of the loyalty they have shown to Pellegrini, surely he must be the longest serving manager in the league?

[Fez of Mahrez]

I just sat and watched it and I couldn't believe it, It was a game of two halves. Good game, although I am very pleased with the outcome.

Before Robben got sent off It looked as if Real were going to nick it.

Then Renato popped up and ended all hope and possibly just made Schuster unemployed.

Now we await the El Clasico next week. Can't wait.

I'll be on the way back from Carlisle. <_< Hoping to go without knowing the score until Sunday and watch it taped!

[Finnegan]

Me too.

I love Racing for the way its pronounced and Garay. I love Almeria cos they've got Pablo Piatti who was a legend on FM08. I love Athletic Bilbao for the Basque-only policy, the romance of the club and Llorente's hair, I love Getafe for the image of their centre-back striding over the halfway line at the Bernabeu last season as Real were still celebrating a disallowed goal, on his way to set up Uche's goal to win it 1-0, I love Valladolid for the way me and my mate last season thought "they played really well" when they lost 7-0 to Real Madrid, I love Valencia for Silva and Villa, I love Atletico for Kun Aguero and their atrocious defending this season, I love Sporting Gijon for the way you pronounce Gijon and their kamikaze approach to matches this season, I love Betis from when they had Denilson and the green-and-white stripes, I love Deportivo for their Diego Tristan and Valeron team (featuring Manuel Pablo), I love Villarreal for having Nihat and Pires and Senna... and Cygan and I love Barcelona for everything.

And I hate Real Madrid.

1. Racing for their name and the fact they play in Green. 'Zeek Garay will go far in the sport, you'd hope.

2. Betis for also playing in green, but for Marcus Assuncao's freekicks, Dani, Alberto Riveria and my best ever FM game.

3. Getafe for their underdog "the OTHER team in Madrid" attitude and how feverously their fans get up for a match against Real.

4. Valencia, likewise, for David Silva (my favourite player) but also Vicente (and then later Joaquin and David Villa.)

5. Barca because they're Barcelona, the greatest city I've ever been to and some of the best football I've ever witnessed (to be fair, Arsenal in their unbeaten season deserve a mention here.)

6. Villareal for their hard fought rise from obscurity to the Champions League on a relatively shoestring budget.

7. Mallorca for the days Samuel Eto'o came to my attention and, once again, their strips.

But if I have to pick a Spanish club, while it'd be hard for me to turn away Valencia, it'd have to be Atletico. They play wonderfully, absurdly irresponcible attacking football with some of the most amazing talents in football. They've been down and had to fight it out in the Segunda, showing great character to bounce back, they've had two of my favourite current attackers over the last few seasons (Aguero and Torres) and above all else there's just the wonderful culture of the club. They're everything Kilworth seems to hate in a political team.

None of his fascist, right wing, bougeroise club bollocks.

[Bert]

I think the main difference between La Liga and the Premiership is, when two of the top four play each other in England, more times than not, the games are tight, dull affairs, with no-one wanting to lose. In La Liga when two of the top four play each other, they are normally full of goals, with some quality attacking football. Tonight's game with Real Madrid and Seville is a prime example, 7 goals. When was the last time two of the top four teams in England had a 7 goal thriller?

Big teams in La Liga tend to drop more points to struggling clubs, especially when playing away, than teams in the Premiership do.

Both are quality leagues, with it being very tight as to which is better, we'll never know, as opinion will always be diveded. La Liga have had a different number of teams play in the Champions League (proper) in the past 10 years (Madrid, Barca, Atletico, Valencia, Villareal, Seville, Sociedad,) whereas the Prem has only had five. Could this mean that the Prem is better than La Liga due to the consistency of teams that have qualified, or that La Liga is more competetive because more teams have qualified for the Champions League?

[Floating Fox]

As much as I dislike the prem, if your on about quality the premiership wins.

Attendences are higher. Atmospheres are better.

I REALLY fail to see what La Liga offers to be fair. Competitive...Maybe slightly more, but I really can't watch any live games. I'd fall asleep.

I do realise that comment may look daft after Sevilla/Madrid game, when I left the pub it was only 0-1!

[Finnegan]

As shocking as this may be to believe, Andy, quite a lot of us actually like football for the athletic activity that goes on on the field and not the mass ranks of chavs stood screaming (sometimes in an organized manner[!]) in the stands.

[Floating Fox]

As shocking as this may be to believe, Andy, quite a lot of us actually like football for the athletic activity that goes on on the field and not the mass ranks of chavs stood screaming (sometimes in an organized manner[!]) in the stands.

I fail to see how anyone finds La liga more entertaining than the premiership though. Quality is much higher.

[Finnegan]

I fail to see how anyone finds La liga more entertaining than the premiership though. Quality is much higher.

Don't really think the quality is "much" higher. I think there's a sizable difference in quality between, say, the SPL or the Eredevise and the Premier League. But the top tier leagues are all relatively on a par. I'm less prone to watch Serie A as I frankly find it somewhat boring.

But La Liga's pretty good. I'm not really a football puritan, I don't really get off on a fantastic defensive displays from well organized 4-4-2s. I want to see glamorous, extravagant full backs belting them in from fourty yards, teams coming forward in waves to wash through unprepared defenses with classy team goals and the team bottom of the league's center back having the audacity to try some cheeky back heal.

The Premiership's all too clinical these days, it's boring at the top and it's boring at the bottom. La Liga's like footballing panto and I fucking love it. Very rare you get a dull game.