Primera Division 2011/2012

Gerry Armstrong: 'Well I'm glad to see the back of him.'

 

Thought Pep was going to hit Puyol there

 

what happened at the end of the Real game?

 

Granada players were going mental at the ref, didn't watch the whole game so not sure why. They were being pulled away by staff, officials etc and one of them chucked a water bottle and hit the ref in the face, on camera as well. The commentators said they had been warned before about their team's behaviour so they could be in deep *

 

idiots, hope that guy gets a good ban for throwin the water bottle at the ref

 

They are still not safe so any points reduction will send them down.

 

Not even the biggest fan of Barcelona but wow that was emotional there. I just hope sooo much that this great team doesn't fall apart just as Pep leaves. He really has changed football in many respects, and if you cannot appreciate the brand of football that he commits himself to and the success they have acheived in doing so, you cannot appreciate football. They played football in the purest form, as Stein would have put it they played 'beautiful, inventive football'. Barcelona have overall in their history, as a football club, underacheived. Madrid too often as the establishment team has beaten them to far too much, but Pep delivered a few years of complete dominance of Spain and European football for them - and i actually hope this guy Tito Villinova can do well to keep this nucleus firing together as they deserve a chance to claw back some more titles that they are behind with.

If this new guy Tito turns out to struggle, and the full English league tthen comes in and steals Messi, Inestia and co i think i would cry.

My hopes are high though - i think the transition is going to be smooth and hopefully we won't notice on the pitch that there has been a change of coach - football deserves a team that plays so well together.

 

Mauricio Pellegrino is new Valencia manager , Big gamble

 

How much must River Plate kick themselves for not taking a chance on Messi

 

Official: Mauricio Pellegrino has been announced as the new manager of Valencia CF. He has signed a two year contract.

 

Unai Emery to Spartak Moscow.

http://valenciacf.lasprovincias.es/noticias/2012-05-08/emery-confirma-marcha-rusia-20120508.html

 

Carles Puyol (34) could tomorrow at a press conference announce that he retires.

 

I think after euros he'll be finished, there's been a few times this season were he has been caught out.

 

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Puyol says "impossible" he will make Euro 2012
By Elena Gyldenkerne
12:20 BST, Wed 9 May 2012
BARCELONA (Reuters) - Spain defender Carles Puyol, described by coach Vicente del Bosque as "part of the team's soul", believes it will be impossible for him to recover from knee surgery in time to play in the European Championship starting next month.
EURO 2012

"To be honest it's going to be very tough, but I have to wait and see how the operation goes," the Barcelona centre back told a news conference on Wednesday when asked whether he would be fit for the tournament.
"But I think it's impossible because when you come out of an operation there is a recovery period and I believe that those who are in better shape should go," added the 34-year-old.
The loss of the talismanic Puyol, who is hugely respected by team mates and opponents alike, is a significant setback for the world and European champions, who begin the defence of their continental title against Italy on June 10.
His absence will likely mean that coach Vicente del Bosque will deploy Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos alongside Barca's Gerard Pique in central defence, with Javi Martinez of Athletic Bilbao another option.
"It's one of the worst pieces of news we could have expected but we have to deal with it and find solutions, although it won't be easy," Del Bosque was quoted as saying in As sports daily.
"Puyi is a titan and his absence means Spain is losing part of its soul," added the former Real Madrid coach, who is due to announce his final squad on May 27.
"We are talking about a player who is an example on and off the pitch and is key in both matches and at training camps."
RELIABLE PRESENCE
Barca announced on Tuesday that Puyol had sustained an injury to his right knee that required arthroscopic surgery and would sideline him for around six weeks.
The shaggy-haired centre back damaged the knee in last weekend's La Liga match at home to Espanyol and is due to have the operation on Saturday.
He will be unavailable for the King's Cup final against Athletic Bilbao on May 25, the club said.
Puyol, one of the team captains, has been a reliable presence in the Spanish back line for more than a decade, making 99 appearances and scoring the winning goal in the 1-0 semi-final victory over Germany at the 2010 World Cup.
"I am not saying I am retiring or not retiring from the national team," Puyol told reporters at Wednesday's news conference.
"Right now the operation is the important thing and later we'll see. It's not only my decision," he added.
Spain also face Ireland and Croatia in Group C at the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

 

I think Puyol has at least another year in him, hes still quite quick but might retire as hes injured a lot especially if he needs surgery after the EUROs

 

He's not retiring from international football.

 

Puyol: "Rumours about retiring from national team? I want to retire on the pitch, not in the operating room."



"This operation is like having your car checked. It's nothing bad, I'll be back soon. I'm optimistic."

"People already said I'd retire last year. We'll see how far I can get... The recovery starts on Sunday."
"Saving my strengths a bit? People tell me to do so, but I have my way of training and playing... It's hard to change that."
"The Copa final is the most beautiful game of the season. I will do everything possible to help."
"My idea is to play for many more years, five or six... But we will go game by game."

 

Hope he doesn't retire. Still one of the best centre halfs in the world for me, better than Pique as well IMO.

Absolutely schooled Ronaldo a few times over the last two years, great defender.

 

For * sake Alves.