I had an obsession of inter when I was growing up. In my mums attic I must have 4/5 Inter or Italy goalkeeper tops with Toldo on the back.
I’ve been to a few games in Italy over the years. Napoli and Fiorentina being the main ones. With Pisa and Venezia on the list too. I can say you can’t doubt the support of fans but the stadiums really let them down. Don’t hold much atmosphere and just miles away from the pitch. All falling apart and you can tell Italian football has lacked that money for awhile. Definitely not what it once was.
I just don’t want to see Spanish football go the same way. Which unfortunately Real and Barcelona are key to the league’s success commercially. When Juve, Inter and Ac went down hill in Italy that’s when the league fell apart.
If they could make the money more fair in La liga and some of the big names come into the leagues. There’s no reason why they couldn’t get tv deals closer to the premier league and the whole league could benefit.
The title is really there for us. Question is can we overcome these games with lots of players out with covid and injury? If we had a cleaner bill of health I’d be more confident. Hopefully we can win tomorrow as Cadiz are struggling but us being depleted doesn’t help.
The Ref gave Madrid every 50-50 decision in that game but they seemed to run out of legs in the later stages and so even the generous extra minutes extra didn’t help them.
Looking forward to watching Rayo and see if they can repeat that snappy football in and around the penalty area, although a draw would be the preferred result.
I am less bothered about atleti and Barca results. It’s crazy to say this but we so far ahead currently that we don’t need to desperately hope they slip up like usual. That slip up today though by Real Madrid puts the title back in our hands. This month will be a challenge though due to covid, injuries and also Africa cup of nations starting. Thankfully our games on paper aren’t as tough and no Europe in the way yet.
I agree it’s time for the squad to keep stepping up. We have adapted well to every challenge so far and hopefully the squad keep doing it. As that’s what is required for squads capable of challenging for titles. If we could have picked the next fixture to be depleted for I’d pick Cadiz every time at present. While they got a lucky draw at Real Madrid they aren’t in good form, leaking goals more than often and pretty poor in attack.
The great thing is right now we have our destiny back in our own hands. If we keep winning and can beat Real Madrid at home then top spot is there for the taking. Only us and Real Madrid can say that. If we can do well this month and win our games in hand we can officially make this a 2 horse race but a different 2 horse to what the Spanish media are used to or like haha.
Looking at the fixtures, we have a fairly winnable looking January. Cadiz away, Getafe and Celta Vigo at home and the toughest game being Valencia away. I’d be hoping for 10 points from 12 minimum out of that.
We do have a lot of injuries and players out due to Covid, but now has come the time for the overall squad to show what it’s made of and keep us in the title race that we’re very much in.
I’ve looked at the potential line up against Cadiz and even with the makeshift defence, I still think we should have enough to beat a struggling team and for the record to win against most teams in La Liga.
They are both are nemesis clubs. The only thing that holds us back. I think the pain both clubs have left us over the years have left deep scars and we developed an inferiority complex against them. I hope we can change that but even still we have a great chance of the title regardless them games.
The government changed the quarentine time down to 7 days this week, so Sevilla were right to keep stum on the names of the positive cases. I’m hoping some of our case have run-out their quarentines and are available.
There are enough games we should be winning aside from them that should keep us in the title hunt. That said, the home game against Real will be huge, potentially title deciding.
So far against the so called ‘big three’, we have 4 points which isn’t bad. Hopefully it will be more in the return games.
Whatever happens it’s gonna be exciting. We haven’t been in these position for a long time or hardly ever in our lifetimes anyway. Let’s just enjoy the ride.
Rayo weren’t up to the challenge today, they couldn’t get any rhythm going up front. Carrasco and Correa looking great for Atleti but Luis Suarez is going down hill fast.
