The first tandem seemed to have been our most balanced this season, but you can’t really draw too many conclusions after 1 match. But we all saw Jordan out there right? Lope, and even Navas were yelling at him at some point during the game. I’m baffled how he plays like this sometimes, because he shows how adventurous he is in other matches. Jordan is probably the only DM who will attempt those passes down the middle to find our creators who work well in tight spaces. It just didn’t come off today.
Munir is cool, but that isn’t his position either i’m afraid. Honeymoon over. Why do we always have an issue at LW? He was switched centrally after we conceded to form a front-2 w Rafa, but things just got disjointed and we didn’t get any better.
The game was calling for Oscar Rodriguez in that second half. We had good protection with the 4-3-3, but the possession game was getting stale. After Rakitic came on, you knew it was a wrap. There must be a problem internally w/ Oscar’s attitude, i’m almost sure of it. When he lashed out at Acuña during that Granada loss, it must’ve stemmed from somewhere. This could also be complete BS because we don’t know what happens behind the scenes, but why else wouldn’t you play him if Papu is out?
I think what it shows is how competitive la liga is. It’s very tough to win any away game. Look at Barca losing again tonight. I think Mallorca were very good tonight so despite that and still get a point and nearly win isn’t too bad. I was impressed with Mallorca intensity, skill and pressing game tonight. Then also having to put up with these useless and corrupt refs doesn’t help either.
Anyway we take point and move on to osasuna! Vamos!
One thing, when is Antonio Zarzana making his debut? He was this ‘big prospect’ wanted by Arsenal (mainly Arteta) for a couple of millions, but he didn’t even play a first team game yet. If he really is that good, give him some playing time instead of Suso, can’t get much worse anyway. Or Juanlu Sanchez, or our little Maradona called Carlos Alvarez.
Sevilla let’s these players debut when they’re about 20/21, and in a team like Ajax you would be considered old by that age, haha.
I’m 100% agreed but if we can’t do Mallorca what are we going to do in Champions? We need a bit of factor X to tilt the balance and we aint got any factor x’s with mr Lope.
I think even in champions league I will take the last 16 or last 8 at best. I know our limitations but because the top la liga teams are weaker it gives us more chance for the top positions. The likes of la real and are also sensing that chance too. Still although our squad is good it’s still not world class like previous Barca or Real Madrid sides. I never expect us to blow any team out the water. Every game is a battle and tough especially away from home.
I am not arguing they will help solve any problems. The last youth players we got from our Academy to play first team football where Soria and Rico, and even they are gone for some time now.
I am just asking when will these se called ‘talents’ come to the first team. Because I’ve seen so little be produced since I’ve become a fan. That the whole academy seems like a waste of money. The best Sevilla Youth player now is Fati, and he seems to be wearing the wrong shirt.
Right now we are leaders of la liga and I’m far from happy, not even close to merely satisfied. What’s happening? Are we being too critical or are there real reasons to be concerned?
Mostly true. A little untrue. ManU usually produces something despite having loads of cash, even Sheik FC City has Foden and Sheik FC Paris has Kimpembe, Bayern usually has some youth products, Barca always has youth products and half Ajax team consist of youth products.
What I am trying to say is; you either choose to embrace your youth or neglect it no matter playing level and money status. And if you choose for the latter, why even bother having it and paying all those equipment, staff, (youth-only)scouts, contracts and what-more
I think personally we overrate the squad. What I mean is we don’t have in terms of star players someone on a par with great the Real Madrid, Barca, Bayern, Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool sides of present or past.
We have a very strong squad and talented group of players. Still we still don’t have a stand out player who could say go close to winning the ballon d or or other awards. We are well drilled, have good footballers and have lots of experience too.
The fact we could be in the title race and we might get to say last 16 or last 8 of champions is a success for us. I think as we fans we get a bit carried but must still realise our limitations like Castro and Monchi do. Which is why they put less pressure on lope and happy with his work to now. We have to remember where we were before lope and the new project started. We were a mess so we should be grateful how far we come.
I still never feel we will go to a team like Mallorca and win 0-4. We not an all conquering team but I feel we can give anyone a game on our day and we solid and talented enough to take on anyone. That’s my reflection on us.
Do you see any Superstar or Ballon d’Or contender in that lineup of Atletico in the final of CL vs. RM in 2013-14 (their best historical season)?
You could argue for David Villa, but he was past his prime and towards the end of his career at the time.
It’s not what they became after that or how they progressed, it’s what they were at the time, that particular season. The only real star was Diego Simeone.
Exactly right mate. You hit the nail on the head. I think that’s what we have to remember when we get frustrated with things or lope sometimes. At the end of the day once they cross the white line there’s not a lot he can do. He can only influence it with changes during game or before hand with tactics and preparation.
We don’t have a prime Suarez, Messi or Ronaldo to make it easier to get us out of tricky situations. We work well with what we got. I agree Jim, that is winning la liga is the equivalent to Leicester city winning the prem. Leicester city won the prem being well organised, tough to beat, great counter attacks and also took advantage from a rare poor season by all the money/big clubs like Man City, Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Spurs, arsenal.
It would be still a surprise if we win la liga now but it’s just a bit less of a surprise than normal because the big 3 are the weakest they all been for many years now. That’s obviously a big reason why we even have a slight chance and also the fact our squad has depth and is strong. Still there’s a reason the bookies still have us as long odds to win it and also factor in the refs and authorities will do anything to stop us as well like today.
I constantly worry that it will crumble beneath us at any time. Only a few sparks of hope (Valencia, Levante) keeps the total pessimism at bay, but in my opinion our perfomances haven’t been worthy of second place. And I have that constant fear that the 1-goal victories and the luck will run out soon and the points will stop coming. So I think it’s the feeling that it is just temporary might be dominating here… at least it is for me.
It might have worked with atletico. Fair enough they are a bit of an exception but they still spent a lot more money than us. Diego has still had more resources at his disposal than what lope has. We are still a selling club albeit on a smaller scale but we will likely lose kounde soon. It makes it harder to dominate or stay near the top.
We could maybe look at it another way. Maybe, we did well to get the points we got. I think we will be alright though because our home form is pretty strong. We also have YEN back soon. I fancy us to win most of the matches at home. It’s away we will always struggle g but if we can remain unbeaten a lot and get a few more away wins then it will keep us in top 3/4 and maybe the title race too.
Yeah I’d still rate that defence above ours. Our defence is good but that atleti defence was like a brick wall over 38 games. It was very hard to punch any holes in it they were rock solid.
That is true, however, doesn’t stand for that particular season. In 2013-14 they have sold Falcao for 60 million and Demichelis for 5 million. Purchased Guilavogui for 10 million, Leo Baptistao and Alderweireld for 7 million each and David Villa for 5.1 million Euros. So that season they were on a profit of 35.9 million Euros only from the transfers.
Besides, their midfield was also very well constructed. Gabi wasn’t talented but he ran his heart out almost every match. Others were a mix of talent and hard work like Koke, Tiago, Raul Garcia, Diego, Mario Suarez, but hard work prevailed.
are also sensing that chance too. Still although our squad is good it’s still not world class like previous Barca or Real Madrid sides. I never expect us to blow any team out the water. Every game is a battle and tough especially away from home.