La Liga 2017/18

[El Gato]

I'm sure Madrid fans are delighted that their team won 2 titles in the last 10 years. That gap in La Liga titles is getting dangerously slim for them. Would be tragic for the Capital for FC Barcelona to be the no1 Spanish team in terms of domestic titles. And the big pride of Spain to be no2.

Madrid can consider themselves lucky that UEFA allow 2nd, 3rd, and 4th placed teams in the 'Champions' league, or else Madrid would be back to back Europa League winners at best.

Everyone is lucky to a degree. Barca are lucky Spain don't succumb to some dudes in the Catalan government or else they'd be begging to compete in a very different environment. Couldn't personally give a damn how many titles it goes down to. You're the lot that care most about this sort of stuff, 30 years spent trying to catch up... Wait 5-10 years and we will see where we all stand. The landscape will be vastly different to what you think it may be now.

 

[serghei]

Everyone is lucky to a degree. Barca are lucky Spain don't succumb to some dudes in the Catalan government or else they'd be begging to compete in a very different environment. Couldn't personally give a damn how many titles it goes down to. You're the lot that care most about this sort of stuff, 30 years spent trying to catch up... Wait 5-10 years and we will see where we all stand. The landscape will be vastly different to what you think it may be now.

You mean might be, not will be. Most of the Madrid fans I know brag about their team's titles to no end. Your fans even put them on a huge banner in one of the recent clasicos on Bernabeu. One of those two big records goes away in the next period, if you keep your abysmal record in the league. Hell, last decade Madrid dominated La Liga was in the 80s.

 

[El Gato]

You mean might be, not will be. Most of the Madrid fans I know brag about their team's titles to no end. Your fans even put them on a huge banner in one of the recent clasicos on Bernabeu. One of those two big records goes away in the next period, if you keep your abysmal record in the league. Hell, last decade Madrid dominated La Liga was in the 80s.

Glad to see you think of Messi so little as to say there is a chance there won't be any difference when he's gone.

Seriously, you'll find that it's not many of the current fandom that genuinely care about the trophy tally besides its bragging value, which is designed precisely for the purposes of winding up the fans with Napoleonic complex. Which historically ends up being those forever oppressed snowflakes that always love the underdog story. I mean look at the discussion we're having right now? Who out of the 2 of us brought it up?

When you strip that away you'll usually find fans don't generally associate their fandom with wins and teams they didn't grow up watching. Unless you're particularly respectful of historical context and use it as a measuring stick for quality. On the forum I've been told countless times CL is less important, because of the lesser amount of games to play leading to a smaller fuckup margin, luck factor, whatever other excuse, you name it... Suits Barca fans for the past 15 years, can't deny the regularity Barca shows since the retraction to Cruyffian ideas under Xaviesta and Leo. Will it continue that way when the last piece facilitating it is gone? Really doubt that.

 

[serghei]

Glad to see you think of Messi so little as to say there is a chance there won't be any difference when he's gone.

Seriously, you'll find that it's not many of the current fandom that genuinely care about the trophy tally besides its bragging value, which is designed precisely for the purposes of winding up the fans with Napoleonic complex. Which historically ends up being those forever oppressed snowflakes that always love the underdog story. I mean look at the discussion we're having right now? Who out of the 2 of us brought it up?

When you strip that away you'll usually find fans don't generally associate their fandom with wins and teams they didn't grow up watching. Unless you're particularly respectful of historical context and use it as a measuring stick for quality. On the forum I've been told countless times CL is less important, because of the lesser amount of games to play leading to a smaller fuckup margin, luck factor, whatever other excuse, you name it... Suits Barca fans for the past 15 years, can't deny the regularity Barca shows since the retraction to Cruyffian ideas under Xaviesta and Leo. Will it continue that way when the last piece facilitating it is gone? Really doubt that.

A lot of fans think the league is more indicative of a team's strenght than CL is, plenty of arguments have been said in each direction (btw, a lot of Barca fans here value CL as the highest prize, maybe you missed that part). That's not something new for this forum. And of course teams and fans (through the connection with the team) will brag with what they win. Madrid value the CL the most because they've won it the most. Other teams and fans aren't as obsessed by it.

Before Messi's Barca it was Ronaldinho's Barca. Before Ronaldinho's Barca it Rivaldo's Barca. Before Rivaldo's Barca it Romario's Barca. Etc. Barca's domination in La Liga goes back almost 30 years. No reason why it can't continue. It is an established way of working every week during a season, rarely slacking off the way Madrid have been doing time and time again.

I didn't bring it up. You did when you bragged about the back to back CL wins.

Hardly a massive price to pay for a back-to-back CL win as part of a 5-trophy calendar year.

 

[Messi983]

Girona vs Athletic in 15 minutes.

Inigo Martinez will make his debut and Yeray is returning into the lineup after his battle with cancer. Really great news to see him back.

 

[El Gato]

Madrid value the CL the most because they've won it the most. Other teams and fans aren't as obsessed by it.

Only partly. There are bigger natural reasons as to why they'd care i.e. opposition quality, stretches Europe wide etc.

Before Messi's Barca it was Ronaldinho's Barca. Before Ronaldinho's Barca it Rivaldo's Barca. Before Rivaldo's Barca it Romario's Barca. Etc. Barca's domination in La Liga goes back almost 30 years. No reason why it can't continue. It is an established way of working every week during a season, rarely slacking off the way Madrid have been doing time and time again.

Aye, that domination of 1996-2004

I didn't bring it up. You did when you bragged about the back to back CL wins.

Context lad. It's not the addition to the tally that's important about that year. It's about doing the impossible and having the best year in club's history. Adding one on top of the previous doesn't matter there.

Also "bragging"... It's only bragging if you receive it as that. My bad I guess, I forgot who I was talking to for a moment.

 

[serghei]

Only partly. There are bigger natural reasons as to why they'd care i.e. opposition quality, stretches Europe wide etc.


Aye, that domination of 1996-2004


Context lad. It's not the addition to the tally that's important about that year. It's about doing the impossible.

There are big natural reasons for why fans shouldn't be obsessed with the CL. The amount of luck you need to have both in games, and on draws (which Madrid had plenty), the low margins involved, the unfairness of facing teams who are not fighting on all fronts and/or are playing in weak leagues, having players well rested mentally and physically etc.


In the 90's Barcelona won 6 / 10 titles. Madrid won 3

In the 00's Barcelona won 4 / 10 titles. Same as Madrid.

In the 10's Barcelona won 5 out of 7 so far. Madrid has 2.

 

[serghei]

Maybe Valencia can get something vs Atletico to keep a two figure lead.

 

[ThwiX]

There’s a Marca journalist that follows Atletico closely who wrote an article called “We need to talk about Koke” last week. Even people close to the club have started talking about his stagnation over the last couple of seasons. He’s quite average for some time now.

 

[Horatio]

Godin lost his teeth.

 

[ThwiX]

That was a clear pen.

 

[raedkuwait]

oh man that looked awful, dislocated jaws maybe and lost teethes

 

[ThwiX]

Golazo by Correa that one. Hoping for a draw here.

 

[DonAK]

Correa with a great goal. Reminds me of the goal that eliminated us from the CL with Pinto in goal

 

[raki]

Atletico will drop points ahead, specially with EL every thursday.