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發表於 2007-8-24 19:43:50
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The Big Season Preview - Part Two
From Murcia to Zaragoza
Murcia
Championship legend, Gifton Noel Williams, could have been the only Englishman in the Spanish top flight this season. Instead, the club felt that the former Burnley giant might struggle against Milito and co and ditched him over the summer. Fair enough. Coming into the squad are Real Madrid's Alvaro Mejía and another reject from the Bernabeu, the highlighted Pablo García, who is now at his fourth side, in four seasons. If he doesn't want to play in the Segunda next year, then he'll have to make it club number five, next time round, as that's where Murcia are going.
Key man - Pablo Garcia, although the mauling midfielder now looks like Janis Joplin with a lemon juice bleach job.
Prediction - 19th (relegated)
Osasuna
Spain hasn't seen this many people fleeing Pamplona since Andy and Lucas decided to play a week of gigs there. Over the close season, Osasuna has waved good-bye to Raúl García, David López, Roberto Soldado, Pierre Webó, Cuéllar, Valdo and Savo Milosevic. And they have only replaced them with Javier Portillo, Walter Pandiani and Hugo Viana. This does not suggest a fruitful season.
Key man - A fully fit Ludovic Delporte. Unlike most girl's blouse wearing poncy wingers, Delporte is a snarling, nut job genius.
Prediction - 14th
Racing Santander
The big man with the great touch, Nikola Zigic has gone. And Racing Santander are reportedly a good 20 million euros richer, so expect a late flurry of signings from the Cantabrians. Last year's coach, Miguel Angel Portugal, stomped off over the summer, to become Real Madrid's Sporting technical director. Or is it Secretary of sporting direction - an oxymoron if ever there was one. In his place is ex-Recreativo chief, Marcelino, whose number one priority must be to unearth a new striking partner for Pedro Munitis, sharpish.
Key man - Ezequiel Garay. If Racing Santander hang onto the talented, young Argentinean centre back for the whole season, then La Liga Loca is a fair and accurate reflection of the Spanish game.
Prediction - 13th
Real Madrid
If anyone out there can correctly predict Real Madrid's starting eleven against Atletico Madrid on Saturday, then you are doing well. And you may want to call Bernd Schuster. He could do with the help. And another two years of preseason, to stumble on a winning combination from Van Nistelrooy, Raul, Robinho, Granero, Baptista, Soldado, Saviola, Drenthe, Gago, Guti, Diarra, de la Red, Balboa, Sneijder, Higuaín and Robben.
There are two many good players for Real Madrid not to be challenging for the title, but too many open questions remain on whether Schuster is up to the task of seeing it through to the end. And if Ramón Calderón can hang on to what little of the plot is still in his grasp.
Key Man - Robinho. If Real Madrid are smart, they won't let the arrival of Robben block the path of the Brazilian who is finally starting to deliver on his potential. But it's a big 'if'.
Prediction 3rd
Recreativo
To come straight to the point, Recreativo are absolutely screwed, this season - something Marca readers also predict in a current poll. All the key figures that lifted Recre to a remarkable eight placed finish, last year, have buggered off. No more Marcelino, López Vallejo, Viquera, Uche and Cazorla. In fact thirteen players have moved out, with eleven coming in. And they all look rubbish.
Key man - Florent Sinama-Pongolle. The striker's move from Liverpool has now been made permanent, but it looks like he is going to be carrying the entire side on his goal scoring back.
Prediction - 18th (relegated)
Sevilla
La Liga Loca has eternally underestimated Sevilla in its predictions - Sunday was the last time - and it is going to do so again. Dani Alves may well be flopping around and clutching his head at Chelsea some time soon and there is a fair chance that the love-hate relationship between del Nido and Juande Ramos may finally swing in the direction of the latter. Will be interesting to see how well Sevilla's Boulahrouz-containing squad cope with the stresses and strains of the Champions League.
Key Man - Jesús Navas. A quiet season, last time round, Sevilla are really going to need to see him back at his best. And travelling.
Prediction - 5th
Valencia
Yet again, the biggest opponent for Valencia in their title chase, is Valencia. However, the side have helped themselves by ditching the former sporting director Amedeo Carboni, who has headed off to Italy to hatch dastardly plans for revenge on his former club. Probably. On paper, still the best squad in the league. But it is on grass - but more particularly grass away from home, that Valencia have stuffed things up over recent years.
Key man - Angel Arizmendi. Not really. Come on...five goals in two seasons and crazy people still claim he is a great striker.
Prediction - 3rd
Valladolid
The almost unpronounceable side, when a little bit tipsy, blew away the opposition to storm to Segunda division glory, last season - a campaign that included a twenty seven match unbeaten run. The combination of this momentum and the cannon fodder of Recreativo and co, should be enough to keep the new boys up.
Key man - Well, men really. Víctor and Llorente grabbed thirty six goals, this season and will form one of the few old fashioned striking partnerships in this year's top flight.
Prediction
Villarreal
An awful lot of movement in the Yellow Submarines' waters, over the summer, suggests it may take time for Manuel Pellegrini to find a winning combination in his 4th season in charge. Forlán has moved on to Capital City and Ayala was in...and then out again, when he took the chance to move in with his Argentinean chums at Zaragoza. The front three of Rossi from Manchester United, Nihat (remember him?) and Tomasson have awfully big boots to fill, after Forlán's departure. How well they do it is the key to Villarreal's season.
Key Man - Robert Pires was the driving force behind Villarreal's astonishing end of season, Atletico Madrid-screwing run. The Yellow Submarines will be hoping he has one more corker of year left in his gallic footballing fuel tank.
Prediction - 8th
Zaragoza
The canniest - or dodgiest - piece of transfer trickery this summer, was Zaragoza's diversion of Ayala to La Romareda to fill the Gaby Milito shaped hole in defence. Especially, as the side have also lost the on loan Piqué, who has returned to Old Trafford. Aside from that, the Zaragoza side is similar to last year's bunch, although they will be very relieved that they managed to repel a sneaky late bid from Real Madrid for Diego Milito's services.
Key man - Ricardo Oliveira. A superb bit of on loan business. The former Betis striker had a torid time at AC Milan, last season, both on and off the pitch. The Brazilian is a guaranteed fifteen goals a season, man.
Prediction - 6th
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That table in full
1 Barcelona
2 Valencia
3 Real Madrid
4 Atletico Madrid
5 Sevilla
6 Zaragoza
7 Mallorca
8 Villarreal
9 Espanyol
10 Getafe
11 Betis
12 Athletic
13 Racing
14 Osasuna
15 Levante
16 Valladolid
17 Deportivo
18 Recreativo
19 Murcia
20 Almeria
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發表於 2007-8-28 14:13:54
潛水艇排名會高過馬體
戴倫菲駕車時撞左落架警車度?!
發表於 2007-8-30 23:11:16