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La Liga: 2012-2013 Team of the Season

  By O-Posts Team | May 21, 2013 - 00:28 | , , , , , , ,
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Goalkeeper- Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid)

The 21 year old Belgian still belongs to Chelsea, but he has provided the solid backbone to Atletico’s qualification to Champions League qualification. Superb shot-stopping and solid command of his defence has ensured he has conceded just 30 goals this season, giving Simeone’s men the best defensive record in La Liga.

With 18 clean sheets he has won the league’s “Golden Glove” award in a season where he broke Abel Resino’s club record of games without conceding at home, going 820 minutes without breach at the Vicente Calderon.

 

Right-back- Carlos Martinez (Real Sociedad)

Without Martinez, Sociedad began the season by losing five of their opening eight games. Since returning, the Andalusians have embarked on a run of just 3 defeats in their last 27 as they make a surprise challenge for a Champions League qualification place.

His no-nonsense style makes him effective in defence whilst he also likes to charge forward in Phillipe Montanier’s fluid 4-3-3 system, registering 3 assists with his impressive crossing.

 

Left-back- Damia (Osasuna)

Osasuna sit in 16th place in La Liga but they possess the joint-4th best defensive record with 45 goals conceded. The 31 year old full-back, who can also play on the right, has been central to such solidity under manager Jose Mendilibar, starting 28 matches and contributing with his cautious play and rigid positional sense.

 

Centre-half- Martin Demichelis (Malaga)

The combative Argentinean has been an immense presence at the back for Manuel Pellegrini’s team, defying his 32 years of age to play 37 times, in which his love for a tackle and superb ability in the air has contributed to Malaga’s challenge for a top four spot.

Despite their hopes dying out in recent weeks, Demichelis has reinforced his reputation as a hugely-promising defender as well as being comfortable on the ball.

 

Centre-half- Inigo Martinez (Real Sociedad)

That Barcelona have been intensely linked with the 22 year old to take-over from the ageing Carles Puyol at the Nou Camp is indicative of the standard of season Martinez has had. The Spaniard has made 32 appearances in Sociedad’s superb season, combining a fantastic reading of the game with strength in the tackle.

 

Despite being sub-6ft, he also competes well in the air with an impressive leap and, like all good Spanish defenders, is able to bring the ball out of defence, completing over 1,000 passes over the course of the season.

 

Centre-midfield- Geoffrey Kondogbia (Sevilla)

In his first year in Spain, the 20 year old Frenchman has grown into an excellent force at the heart of Sevilla’s midfield, attracting the likes of Arsenal to his availability. The ex-Lens enforcer patrols the area in front of his back-four with an intelligent positional sense and a dogged nature, winning 61 of his 78 attempted tackles.

As well as being able to win the ball back with impressive strength, he can also move it on effectively too, registering an 87% pass completion rate as he keeps possession ticking in Unai Emery’s midfield.

 

Centre-midfield- Benat Exteberria (Real Betis)

The 26 year old has made 30 appearances for Pepe Mel’s Europa League hunting side, scoring 4 goals and assisting another 8 with his ability to thread a fine pass from deep in midfield. Constantly on the look-out to play the ball around, he averages 53 passes per game, creating 2 chances per match on average too.

 

Benat also likes to get involved in the “ugly” side of the game judging by his 16 bookings, suggesting he is definitely not a tackler, but a gifted passer of the ball blessed with superb vision.

 

Right-midfield- Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad)

The 22 year old graduate of Sociedad’s impressive youth system has chipped in with 8 goals and 3 assists as La Real look on course for a Champions League spot. Able to play right across Phillipe Montanier’s attacking quadrant, he is most at home on the wing, cutting inside of his marker with electric pace and close control.

The French youngster has made 32 appearances this term for Sociedad, impressing with his direct, intelligent displays. He also shows a high-work rate, contributing heavily to the defensive side of Sociedad’s play.

 

Left winger- Pizzi (Deportivo La Coruna)

On loan from Athletico Madrid, 23 year old Luis Miguel Afonso Fernandes, shortened to Pizzi, has shown life is bright on the left side at the Calderon with 8 goals and 6 assists to help Deportivo in their fight against relegation.

Standing at just 5ft 7, his small frame may have seen him get edged out of games, yet his ability has progressed him into a complete winger, able to cut inside, take a man on to cross, get shots away from range or take a dangerous free-kick. His electric pace and fine balance also helps Deportivo on the counter-attack.

The Portuguese has shown enough in his 33 appearances to suggest his will be a bright future.

 

Attacking midfielder- Isco (Malaga)

The 21 year old is set to follow his manager Manuel Pellegrini to Manchester City and this year’s La Liga campaign has suggested he has everything it takes to succeed in the Premier League. Blessed with fine skill and control, he is able to weave his creative magic between the lines, producing a total of 42 chances for his side this term.

He has made 43 appearances for Malaga so far this season as they narrowly missed out on the semi-finals of the Champions League and sit 6th in La Liga.

Isco’s 8 goals has contributed to that, as well as his comfort on the ball when closely marked, averaging an 84% pass completion rate in the final third, helped by his fine balance and vision.

 

Centre-Forward- Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

It hasn’t been the most successful of seasons when you consider the Argentinean’s own frighteningly high-standards, but the stats speak for themselves. 54 goals from 43 games as Barcelona romped home to the league title, on top of 14 assists.

 

Dribbling like the ball is tied to his feet, playing like his on his own untouchable plateau, Messi was threatening to beat last season’s outrageous record-breaking goal-tally before a hamstring injury took its toll towards the end of the year, his struggle for fitness clearly felt as Bayern Munich demolished the Catalans in the Champions League.

Despite his troubles, he remains the best player in the world.

 

Manager- Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid)

Tito Vilanova deserves a big mention for guiding Barcelona to the La Liga title despite his cancer diagnosis, whilst Phillipe Montanier has done a remarkable job in guiding Real Sociedad to the edge of the Champions League on a limited budget.

But Simeone has built on winning the Europa League last season with a superb campaign, leading Atletico to third place, their best finish since 1996, and winning the Copa Del Rey.

 

The 28 goals of Radamel Falcao has been platformed by the consistent quality of Diego Costa behind him, whilst Diego Godin, Miranda, Mario Suarez and Gabi have embodied Simeone’s fierce nature in the spine of the team, providing a rock solid shield to Thibaut Courtois’s goal.

 

Written by Adam Gray

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Real Betis: The Andalucians left disappointed by the point that got away

  By O-Posts Team | April 26, 2013 - 18:42 | , , ,
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In the Bernabeu on Saturday night, Real Madrid signed off from domestic duty for their Champions League semi-final with Borussia Dortmund by recording a fairly comfortable victory over Real Betis. Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t add to his mammoth 47 goal tally for the season you’d be surprised to hear, but Madrid possessed enough quality, most noticeably in Mesut Ozil and Karim Benzema, to see Betis off.

The result was not surprising as Real went three points clear in the second spot of La Liga, but Betis had full reason to be disappointed with their defeat. Manager Pepe Mel argued that a draw would have been a fairer result and had striker Dorlan Pabon converted a rebound of the crossbar late on they probably would have got one. Madrid averted that danger and immediately added the decisive third.

That Betis could be dissatisfied with exiting the Bernabeu with nothing is indicative of how far they have come under 50 year old Mel who took over the club after their relegation in the summer of 2010. The former striker, who played 112 times for Betis in the early 90′s, led the Verdiblancos back to La Liga in his first season and after last season’s consolidation, they are now sitting in seventh and, with Malaga’s financial uncertainty incurring the wrath of UEFA, eyeing a place in next year’s Europa League.

It has been an unexpected story with a squad assembled from minimal resources. Nosa Igiebor, a 21 year old Nigerian striker, was their biggest signing of the summer at £1.2 million. He has endured an awful campaign, having to wait until last week’s derby with Sevilla to score his first goal for Betis, but the scoring mantle has been assumed by the two 31 year olds; Ruben Castro, finally settled in Andalusia after a nomadic career spanning eight different clubs, and Jorge Molina, who had never played higher than the second division prior to his 1.6 million euro move to Andalusia in 2010. Between them, they have netted 26 league goals.

Mel has taken advantage of a highly versatile front line to deviate from a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3, with Castro and Joel Campbell, the 20 year old Cuban who is on loan from Arsenal, able to either lead the line or drop back into a deeper attacking role.

Campbell’s scarce goal return of 2 should not deviate away from his overall team contribution, popping up right across the front four with his impressive work-rate, movement and body strength occupying defenders in order to make space for others.

Molina and the also on-loan Pabon, with his five goal haul, have both filled in at centre-forward whilst in support, Salva Sevilla, able to play deeper in midfield or as an attacking playmaker, and left winger Juan Carlos have both been vital to Mel’s persistence on rotating the team and system. Only four players in the entire squad have started more than twenty games this season and it is testament to the character the coach has installed in his side that a cheaply assembled squad can have such strength in depth.

Holding midfielder Benat Exteberria has seven assists to his name whilst Ruben Castro, as well as his 16 goals, has five. It is a squad that has productivity running through its attack, contributing to a total 264 chances created and a respectable 48 goal tally.

Benat.... in top form this season.

Benat…. in top form this season.

Averaging just 48% possession however, Mel likes his Betis side to invite pressure and then to spring counter-attacks with the pace and fluidity that he has at his disposal in attack.

The sitting midfield duo of Benat, who has been the hub of Betis’ creative force with a huge total of 1420 passes this season, and Jose Canas, the combative midfielder who is reportedly on his way to Swansea when his contract runs out in the summer, are instructed to play direct balls up to the attacking quartet who inter-change smoothly and cohesively.

Such prowess in playing on the counter has suited them away from home, where they have recorded seven wins, the joint best total in La Liga away from the Barcelona and Real Madrid duopoly.

The philosophy of being content to allow the opposition possession before striking at them has often appeared naive however, with their defence conceding 49 goals in total, more than any club in the top 6 they are pursuing and only 6 La Liga sides have shipped more than that tally this season.

Antonio Amaya and Mario Alvarez have provided a consistent base at centre-half but the back four still has not managed to escape Mel’s devotion to rotation. Portuguese Nelson has been the regular starter at right-back but it was Javi Chica playing so impressively against Madrid, whilst Nacho and Alex Martinez have shared the left-back spot.

Inconsistent form and squad unrest could have been the result of such constant rotation but Mel has managed to keep a reign on it and Betis are looking at the upper reaches of the Spanish Primera for the first time since they challenged the top four spots back in 2005.

Despite the near-€30 million financial deficit amongst the league riddled with crippling debts, European football is likely to be on the agenda again at the Villamarin next season. Maybe Pepe Mel and his band of unsung, bargain-basement heroes will then start to get some credit from the rest of Europe.

It has been a great underdog story in a league that suffers financial disparity like no other.

 

Written by Adam Gray

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La Liga: A Lowdown on the League’s best rising talents

  By O-Posts Team | April 6, 2013 - 19:05 | , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Every season in a league there is a number of breakthrough talents, and arguably the league that produces the most talent is La Liga. In this era of Spanish dominance in international football the conveyor belt of young stars seems endless. Last season there was plenty of young players making a name for themselves.

The likes of Isco, Griezmann and Tello all made their breakthrough last season and this season the amount of young stars coning through is no different.

Here is a lowdown on the best rising talents in La Liga -

 

Raphael Varane

The ex-Lens defender has been nothing short of a revelation this season. He was recommended to Real Madrid by Zidane and the money they paid for him was hefty for a teenager but boy has it paid off.

Jose Mourinho put his faith in him by playing him in both legs of the Copa Del Rey against Barcelona and he proved Mourinho right by putting in fantastic performances in both legs, as well as scoring in both matches.

It’s hard to believe Varane is still only 19 when you see him shutting out likes of Messi, Drogba and Van Persie. It really is scary how good this Frenchman could become.

 

Koke

In what has been such a successful season for his club, Atletico Madrid, Koke has been magnificent. The Spanish midfielder has largely been utilised at right midfield for Atletico and is not only a threat going forward, but works very hard and helps out his full-back constantly which shows his maturity.

The main strength in his game is his creativity and this is proved by the fact he has the most La Liga assists in the Atletico squad. He isn’t blessed with amazing pace like the most conventional winger but he makes up for this with clever passing and intelligent play.

Under Diego Simeone’s guidance, Koke will only get better and who knows, maybe a Spain call up could be on the way if he can keep up these performances.

 

Leo Baptistao

In his first season for Rayo Vallecano’s senior team Leo has stepped up for Rayo after the loss of Michu. There are rumours that his representative has already agreed a deal with Atletico Madrid to replace Falcao in the summer. Those are big boots to fill but Baptistao’s performances this season have been very good for a 20 year-old.

His goal tally of 7 this season isn’t anything to shout about but the fact he has 6 assists shows he is a well-rounded player. He can drop deep, get involved in the play and create chances for his team mates as well as hold the ball up and run in behind the opposition defence.

If the rumours are true, I’m sure it will prove to be a superb move for him to continue his development and play in the Champions League as well as a clever acquisition for Atletico.

 

Geoffrey Kondogbia

In what has been a tough season for Sevilla, Kondogbia has been a shining light. His tackling rate of 2.6 per game is impressive for a 20 year-old but he also reads the game well and has made 1.4 interceptions per game this season.

Furthermore, his height and strength allow him to drive through midfield and boss a match unlike most players his age.

To be such a complete player at 20 is great and no wonder Man City and Arsenal are interested in signing him this summer. Due to Sevilla having financial trouble and with Kondogbia’s performances being consistently superb, a move to a bigger club is certainly on the cards.

 

Written by Charlie Smith

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Javier Portillo: Real’s forgotten man

  By O-Posts Team | April 2, 2013 - 16:33 | , , ,
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A little over a decade ago Real Madrid were the dominant force in European Football. They had lifted the much coveted Champions League trophy three times in five years and had a squad boasting many of the leading players of that era. There was little if any focus on bringing through youth team players but one player appeared to be bucking the trend, his name was Javier Portillo.

The young Portillo was born in Aranjuez, a province of Madrid, and was a member of the youth set up at Real from the age of 12. Despite many of the extravagant purchases the perceived standard bearer of the club was still Raul. In many ways his early career had mirrored Portillo’s and so there was great expectations placed on young Javier’s shoulders from an early age. Indeed, during Portillo’s time in the youth sides these comparisons became more frequent as he went on to score a record 150 goals beating Raul’s own record.

It was a tough period for young Madridista’s with intentions of playing for the club they adored and longed to represent. Every summer during that period the president would make one, if not two, significant signings every year which would make it even harder for progression to happen. With a starting line up boasting Figo, Hierro, Raul, Ronaldo and Zidane to name but a few opportunities were going to be hard to come by for any prodigious young player hoping to make the grade.

However, during the 2002/3 season Portillo finally got his chance and helped the side to progress in the Champions League with a fine equaliser against Borussia Dortmund. It seemed to many that Madrid had finally managed to unearth the next superstar to rival their beloved Raul. He went on to score 14 goals in all competitions that season and expectations continued to grow.

The problem Portillo always faced though was that he had to do something spectacular in almost every appearance in order to warrant a regular place. Placing these kind of expectations on any young player makes it extremely tough to succeed, and following an unsuccessful loan spell at Fiorentina a year or so later, he was finally released by the club in 2005/6. It was seen as further proof of the failings of Madrid’s efficiency at producing young players and one that still resonates today in certain circles.

Following his departure from Madrid he enjoyed a good initial spell at newly promoted Gimnastic where he scored 11 goals in his first season and earned a move to Osasuna. However, after falling further and further behind in the pecking order, the majority of his appearances came as a substitute and his goal scoring exploits became almost non existent. He has since played for Hercules and Las Palmas to some degree of success, but has not touched on the levels of performance initially witnessed at Real.

It is incredibly tough to decipher whether Portillo’s failings are a result of not being quite as good as initially thought or whether he paid the price for Madrid’s purchasing policy. Young players need an environment where they can thrive and learn to corrent their errors on the pitch rather than being excluded. At the time though, Madrid was an incredibly tough place to succeed for a young player intending to make his mark and perhaps people were too hasty in believing he was Raul’s long term successor.

In recent years, we have seen Barcelona’s faith in their youth development reap rewards but it is still something that plagues Madrid. There has been a clear emphasis placed upon buying the best players from around the world rather than develop their own stars.

Portillo was let down badly by the system, but it remains unclear as to how good he could have been had Madrid had a better system for nurturing young talent.

 

Written by Andy Hunter

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Real Sociedad: Former Gunner’s side trying to roll back the good days

  By O-Posts Team | February 23, 2013 - 14:29 | , , , ,
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It is ten years since Real Sociedad missed out on La Liga by two points as the potent strike-force of Nihat Kavheci and Darko Kovacevic hit a combined tally of 43 goals to lead them to a runners-up spot. Xabi Alonso, the World Cup winner now with Real Madrid, won the Don Balon for 2003 while French coach Raynald Denoeueix won manager of the year.

The following year Denoeueix all but disappeared from the game and a relegation to the second tier followed in 2007 with the club crippled with debts. Now, they are back at the top table and on the up again.

Perhaps sixth in La Liga is not quite on par with Denoeueix’s superb side of 2002-03, but they are only five points off a return to the Champions League where they have not competed since 2004. They are now under another Frenchman, a former goalkeeper by the name of Philippe Montanier, and have built a vibrant side based on talented young players.

The revolution started slowly, Sociedad were amongst more familiar company of bottom in the November of Montanier’s first year, but he managed to turn it around to steer the club to a respectable twelfth placed finish. The kids were given a chance, 20 year old centre-half Inigo Martinez, 21 year old winger Antoine Griezmann and 19 year old centre-midfielder Ruben Pardo all indicated a bright future. Pardo in particular, dubbed the new Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid offered €10 million before he’d even appeared for Sociedad.

Martinez is now a regular starter at the back with another youth product, the 22 year old Asier Illaramendi, offering protection to the back four in midfield. Griezmann plays on the left side of Monatnier’s attacking midfield 3 and has scored four goals this season. The squad is also offered depth by target man Imanol Agirretxe and midfielders Xabi Preito, David Zurutuza and Gorka Elustondo, all graduates of the club’s youth set-up and fully ingrained in life at the Anoeta. Pardo has been given the cautious treatment of easing him into the spotlight, making 9 starts and a further 9 appearances as a substitute.

It is this reliance on homegrown talent that has allowed Montanier to operate on a shoestring. The club’s sole signing of the Frenchman’s first summer in charge was a short term deal for Parma’s defensive midfielder McDonald Mariga for whom they forked just £1 million. Then last summer, they turned Carlos Vela’s loan spell from Arsenal permanent for £4 million after he hit 12 goals last season. Jose Angel, a 22 year old left-back from Roma, has also been added, for free, and will join the club at the end of the season.

This season the young Mexican Vela is Sociedad’s top scorer with ten. Having struggled in the Premier League with Arsenal due to a slight frame and a crisis in confidence, the 23 year old has thrived against the high-lines of La Liga and has accounted for 26% of Sociedad’s 38 league goals as well as registering 5 assists.

He’s also shown his versatility as Montanier has deployed him right across the front three; left, right, through the middle, it doesn’t seem to matter to Vela who has got on with the job to minimal fuss. Arsenal, perhaps ruing the prematurity with which they released him, have the option to buy him back for €4 million.

It is Montanier’s positive style that has ensured only the top 3 of Barcelona, Real and Atletico Madrid have scored more than Sociedad’s 38, a style that urges possession football with an emphasis on width. They have lost just once in fourteen matches, they have beaten Barcelona (the only team to do it in La Liga so far) and Malaga, and they sit in a Europa League place.

It has been a great turnaround from the days of Chris Coleman and his doomed tenure in the Spanish Segunda, with Montanier, a rookie coach of previous experience with just Boulogne and Valenciennes, relying on not money, but young talent and tactical nous.

The 48 year old Montanier will surely have won himself a few admirers with the job he is doing in the Basque Country of San Sebastien, in a league plagued with growing debts, Sociedad are looking upwards on a diet of homegrown talent and just the odd clever signing.

It may not be the days of Alonso, Kovacevic and Nihat a decade ago when they came agonisingly close to winning La Liga, but it sure is just as remarkable.

 

Written by Adam Gray

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Infographic: 2012/13 La Liga in Numbers

  By O-Posts Team | December 25, 2012 - 19:34 | , , , , ,
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At PowerTable, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to present football data to fans of the beautiful game. We have therefore come up with our La Liga infographic which is a visual way of showing random data, stats and facts to do with the Spanish football season so far.

For instance, how many different goalscorers has there been?  Who has made the most passes?  Who is the oldest player? Which team has scored the most goals in away games?  We think we’ve produced the best football infographic on the La Liga ever created, what do you think?

 

 

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Oba Martins: Where has La Liga’s latest star been?

  By O-Posts Team | November 5, 2012 - 22:40 | , , , ,
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If you have read the latest “Dizzels La Liga Column” then you know that the most recent Player Of The Week was awarded to Levante striker Obafemi Martins. You also would have read that he had turned 28 on Saturday, which left a lot of people thinking where this magnificent player has been all this time.

Martins was first seen playing for a small Italian club named Reggiana by Inter scouts 10 years ago. He was exceptionally fast and had great skill for such a young player. They immediately knew that he was going to be a great player and signed him when he was just 18 years old.

He spent 5 years at Inter scoring 28 official goals in over 80 official appearances for the team – his most famous, the final strike in the stunning 3-0 Champions League victory against Thierry Henry’s Arsenal at Highbury. He had an eye for goal, but just wasn’t as prolific as their other front-men: Ibra and the much troubled Adriano.

In 2006 he handed in a transfer request and was sold to Newcastle United. He also scored 28 official goals for them. He began wonderfully scoring 17 goals in his first season, but he only managed 11 in the next two seasons so they decided to sell him to Wolfsburg in Germany. They in turn sold him to Russia’s Rubin Kazan who then loaned him out to Birmingham City, where his fondly remembered for his last minute winner in the League Cup final against – surprise, surprise – Arsenal, yet again.

With these numerous transfers he hasn’t been able to make a name for himself at any one club. The only team where he has consistently shined is for the Nigerian national team. He has been capped 37 times and has scored 18 goals in his national colors.

Recently he has joined Spanish team Levante and has been playing extremely well. He has scored 4 goals in his first 5 games and his overall playing style seems perfectly suited for his new team.

Maybe this could be the one team that can tame the traveling speedster that is Obafemi Martins.

 

Written by Deon Beauzec

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Gary Medel: Finally a midfielder Sevilla can rely on

  By O-Posts Team | November 5, 2012 - 20:31 | , , ,
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Over the past decade, Sevilla have had some impressive central midfield partnerships, but there have been a few which just quite simply have not worked out or lived up to expectations.

The partnership of Renato and Enzo Maresca was effectively the bedrock for the club’s success in the UEFA Cup in 2006, with both players more than capable of creating goals, scoring themselves or breaking up the play of the opposition. Generally speaking they were good all-round centre-midfielders, without being particularly spectacular at a great deal.

After the aforementioned duo came Christian Poulsen and Seydou Keita, arguably the best centre midfield the club has ever. Poulsen’s steel off the ball meant he sat deep, just in front of the defence, while Keita’s all-action style meant he was able to help the Dane out, or get forward to good effect, something he did regularly.

The duo’s grip on the heart of the team ended prematurely as Poulsen left for Juventus, and Keita went off to Barcelona, and since then there has not really been the same energy in the club’s midfield.

Didier Zokora impressed for a year before his off-field antics saw him shipped off to Turkey, while Christian Romaric had similar problems. All the while Renato and Maresca were getting older and older, and less capable of bailing the team out. But then arrived two new hopes; Ivan Rakitic and Gary Medel.

The Croatian was the more renowned of the two, but Medel has undoubtedly become the essential cog in midfield.

Nicknamed the ‘Pitbull’, Medel’s game is a more intense and hyped-up incarnation of Poulsen. The Chile international swarms around his opponents like blood-thirsty mosquitoes, hassling them into making mistakes before nicking the ball off them.

Medel compliments Rakitic well, with the former Schalke man the more creative influence, but his job would be far harder without ‘el Pitbull’ doing the dirty work.

The problem with Medel has often been pinpointed as his over-tenacious style, with his tendency to get carried away and lose his temper particularly frustrating.

Last season he picked up 16 yellow cards in 30 La Liga matches, but early indications suggest he may have calmed himself down a little this year.

Aside from a rather harsh red card picked up against Barcelona, Medel has picked up only three yellow cards in eight matches so far, while his tackles-per-yellow-card ratio is a massive improvement too. Last season he was picking up a yellow card every 2.6 tackles, yet so far this season that stands at six.

The 25-year-old’s importance to Sevilla is highlighted by the fact that they have won just two of their last nine matches that he has not played, losing five of those.

After a number of years failing to replace the several impressive central midfields assembled at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Medel is making up for the likes of Romaric, Lolo, Zokora, Luca Cigarini and Tiberio Guarente, all of whom failed to prove themselves to be good enough for Sevilla.

However, it takes two to tango, and Medel cannot run a team by himself. It is time to stand up and be counted, Rakitic.

 

Written by Ryan Benson

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Radamel Falcao: The Best Striker In The World

  By O-Posts Team | November 2, 2012 - 16:22 | , ,
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There is little to no doubt that at this current moment in time Radamel Falcao is the best striker in world football. The Colombian forward, currently plying his trade at Atletico Madrid is dominating the headlines both in Spain and across Europe with continued tales of his exploits.

His career began at River Plate in Argentina where he progressed through the ranks. The 2007/8 season was when he really began to make his mark by scoring 19 goals in 39 games. The following year he followed it up with more goals and at the end of that season moved to Porto for €3.9 million.

It was in Portugal that Falcao really began to earn plaudits worldwide for his goal scoring excellence. During his two seasons for Porto he scored 72 goals in 85 games in all competitions and helped the club to win the UEFA Europa League in 2011. It was clear that the Colombian was destined to play in one of the bigger European leagues and that summer he signed for Atletico.

Over the last five years there has been a dramatic shift away from what was regarded as the traditional striker. Ever since Lionel Messi was deployed in a ‘false nine’ position many clubs have attempted to copy this tactic and ensure that their striker is more of a team player than purely a finisher. However, El Tigre is the archetypal old fashioned striker; phenomenal in the air, strong physically and a lethal finisher. When you combine these attributes and place them in someone young and hungry the result is what everyone has witnessed in the last three or more years.

Before this season commenced it was thought that Atletico would be fighting for one of the Champions League places but they are currently joint top of the Primera Division with Barcelona. One, if not the primary reason for this is Falcao’s goals; he has scored 10 goals in eight games in the league. Allied with some wonderful creative talent the club is certainly seeing their expensive outlay being repaid in full. It is unlikely that Athletico will maintain this league position until the end of the season but if this remarkable goal scoring run continues it is not implausible.

Part of the reason for this remarkable success is the impact that the head coach Diego Simeone has had on his striker. This season he has specifically asked Falcao not to do too much chasing back and pressing; he just wants him to remain in his position and finish off the chances. Although this tactic sounds relatively simple it is quite unique at the moment with everyone focusing on defending starting from the forward.

Inevitably with all this personal success the transfer rumour mill is in over drive at the moment with links to Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid amongst others. The fee would be astronomical considering he only signed for his current club two years ago but of all the striking options available at the moment it appears to be the closest to a sure thing you can get.

Whatever happens in the coming months and wherever the Colombian ends up playing he is a must watch for anyone who is yet to witness this thrilling player in action. His goal scoring record is getting better the older he gets and at 26 he is approaching the peak of his powers.

It will be a fascinating few years ahead.

 

Written by Andy Hunter

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Dizzel’s La Liga Column: Oba Martins shines for Levante, as Ronaldo and Messi stand out yet again

  By O-Posts Team | October 31, 2012 - 17:43 | , ,
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The 9th match-day of the 2012-2013 Liga BBVA has been completed and it has been another terrific week packed with outstanding goals. Currently Barcelona and Atletico both have 25 points from 9 games, but Barcelona have a superior points-difference and thus top the league.

Lionel Messi leads the race for the Pichichi with 13 goals followed closely by Ronaldo and Falcao on 11 and 10 goals respectively. Willy Caballero of Malaga has statistically been the best goalkeeper so far conceding only 5 goals in 9 matches.

I will as usual run down the 5 best matches of the weekend as well as providing my Team Of The Week and Player Of The Week.

 

1) Levante vs Granada

Levante were overwhelming favorites heading into this fixture being 9 places above their rivals on the log before kick-off. Levante replaced arguably their best player of last season Kone with the Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins and it seems that this was some excellent business. Martins has been class for Levante and will help them in their attempt to gain Champions League Football next season.

Martins scored twice on his 28th birthday this weekend. His first came in the 12 minute and he doubled the lead with his second in the 61st minute. Winger Pedro Ríos scored the third for Levante in the 73rd minute. Granada got a consolation goal through El Arabi near the end of the match.

Levante dominated the match and were very deserving winners.

Final score: Levante 3-1 Granada.

 

2) Real Zaragoza vs Sevilla

Sevilla have lost their third game of the season and maybe they should be worrying. Their form over their past 5 games is nothing to brag about and with the players that they have they should be getting much better results. I take nothing away from Zaragoza who on the day were a better side.

Zaragoza have been one of the most inconsistent sides in the league so far with 5 wins, 4 losses and no draws. Zaragoza definitely have a very good striker in the Portuguese Hélder Postiga. Their first goal came after he rounded the ‘keeper on the end of a very well executed solo run in the (insert) minute. Zaragoza doubled their lead when the defender Săpunaru scored a well placed header from a free-kick in the 45th minute.

Sevilla started a comeback in the 70th minute when Medel scored, they just unfortunately couldn’t complete the comeback and the match ended: Zaragoza 2-1 Sevilla.

 

3) Atletico Madrid vs Osasuna

Atletico have started their season phenomenally being unbeaten so far and some people believe that they are serious title contenders this season. You can’t deny that they are a very formidable team and with El Tigre leading their line they score loads of goals. Osasuna have not had as great a start to their season, but only a fool would underestimate them.

Atletico definitely played true to form and opened the scoring in the 31st minute through the Brazilian centre-back Miranda. They doubled the lead 4 minutes later when Raul Garcia guided the ball into the back of the net.

One of Osasuna’s best players so far, Lamah scored just before half-time to bring the deficit back to just one goal. The in-form striker in world football, Radamel Falcao, scored again in the 73rd minute and is making his worth to Atletico higher each time he gets a goal.

This result just shows that Atletico have the ambition and skill to go all the way. They just have to survive the January transfer window.

Final result: Atletico 3-1 Osasuna

 

4) Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano

Barcelona have started their campaign brilliantly. They are undefeated and have only drawn one match. Tito Vilanova is beginning to get the best out of his players. The best example is Cesc Fabregas who was average for them last season, but has recently playing terrific football getting himself 7 assists.

It took longer than expected, but Barcelona opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Spanish striker David Villa netted. Messi lived up to reputation and scored the second in the 48th minute. After a couple of missed opportunities and a lot of passes Xavi scored Barca’s third in the 78th minute.

Two minutes later Cesc got his name on the score-sheet and the phenomenal little Argentine got his brace in the 89th minute to finish Rayo off.

This was an easy enough outcome to predict and it will take something special to stop this current Blaugrana team.

Final score: Barcelona 5-0 Rayo Vallecano

 

5) Real Madrid vs Mallorca

Real Madrid have definitely gotten their league effort back on track. After a shaky start Los Blancos look as impressive as ever and determined to decrease the gap that separates them from Barcelona and their local rivals Atletico.

Mallorca started very well, but it seems they are getting ready for a mid-table season. Their biggest problem has been discipline, the have received three straight red cards in their 9 games. Meaning they get a red every three games which is very worrying.

Real Madrid looked the better team from kick-off and kept running right through the Mallorca defense. Higuain opened the scoring with a well taken volley in the 8th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the second in the 22nd minute after some calm passing on the edge of the Mallorca box.

Higuain got his second in the 70th minute and Ronaldo would not be bested getting his brace three minutes later. Substitute Jose Callejon scored the 5th on the 90 minute mark.

Real Madrid were impressive, but it was a terrible display by the entire Mallorca team.

Final score: Real Madrid 5-0 Mallorca

 

Team Of The Week:

 

GK: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)

The Madrid captain had a good game and earned his clean-sheet. He made a couple of good saves that destroyed any hope of a Mallorca comeback.

 

LB: Juanfran Garcia (Levante)

Levante were more defensive than you would expect from a team that scored 3 goals and their solid back was mostly due to veteran left-back Juanfran Garcia who was very solid overall.

 

CB: Miranda (Atletico Madrid)

The Brazilian centre-back was very impressive in his sides win against Osasuna. His goal gave Atletico the confidence they needed to dominate the game.

 

CB: Varane (Real Madrid)

The young French received a rare starting position in the Madrid XI and surely took his chance he was sublime and will be an amazing defender in the future.

 

RB: Sapunaru (Real Zaragoza)

Sapunaru was safe in defense, but what caught the eyes of the fans was his constant forward runs. He looked motivated and also scored his first goal for Zaragoza in just his sixth appearance for them.

 

CM: Xavi (Barcelona)

Xavi presented another passing master-class this match-day. He barely misplaced a pass and pulled the strings, as we are so used to seeing him do, in one of the best mid-fields in the world. He scored a well taken goal that some would blame on the defense, but he definitely deserved it.

 

CM: Fabregas (Barcelona)

Provided a good opposite to Xavi’s calm passing by going forward more and presenting the ball to the outstanding forwards that they have. Also got himself a goal.

 

LW: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Cristiano scored in his 8th consecutive match this weekend. He just keeps getting better and better. He has started the season terrifically and will be striking terror into goalkeepers every single week.

 

RW: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

The La Liga top scorer added to his tally with two goals against Rayo Vallecano. He has been exceptional as always and no one can dispute him as one of the best players of this week.

 

ST: Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid)

Higuain has been Madrids in-form striker over the last couple of matches and repaid Mourinho’s faith in him with two great goals. He has taken his starting chances while Benzema has been very unimpressive.

 

ST: Obafemi Martins (Levante)

The Nigerian striker bagged a brace against Granada and has been a revelation for Levante ever since they signed him. He has certainly more than equaled his predecessor Kone.

 

Dizzels Player Of The Week Match-Day 9: Obafemi Martins

He was spectacular and deserves the award for his terrific brace on his birth-day. He will surely be a huge part of their team this season.

 

Written by Deon Beauzec

Follow him on Twitter @DIZZEL001

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