La Liga

[langpark]

Crazy stuff! Villarreal B are in Segunda so what happens now? Will both the A team and reserves play in the same league?

Zaragoza along with Wigan get my vote for best comebacks of the season. Both were down in March yet won a string of games to survive.

Malaga also got the 4th UCL spot.

I'm happy for Zaragoza, I like their coach Jimenez, he coached AEK last season.

That's an interesting question, I was actually going to raise this a while ago when it was looking like Barca B were going to get promoted. Would the 2nd team be 'instructed' to throw the match when they play each other? Can a player play for both sides? (surely not) etc etc....

 

[Big Sam]

That's an interesting question, I was actually going to raise this a while ago when it was looking like Barca B were going to get promoted. Would the 2nd team be 'instructed' to throw the match when they play each other? Can a player play for both sides? (surely not) etc etc....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011–12_Segunda_División

The table gives us our answer.

 

[langpark]

Ah, right.

Geez it must hard playing for and/or going to support one of these teams, knowing whatever they do on the field doesn't really count, their fate is decided by their first team. So does it mean they can never get promoted either? Not much incentive to play...

 

[Big Sam]

Geez it must hard playing for and/or going to support one of these teams, knowing whatever they do on the field doesn't really count, their fate is decided by their first team. So does it mean they can never get promoted either? Not much incentive to play...

Well these teams are merely reserves of the main team. They wouldn't have many supporters anyway and the players aren't motivated by promotion of the team but rather individual promotion up to the top squad. And I'm not sure how they can be promoted ahead of the 'A' team. Surely that would mean the 'A' team is no longer the club's best team?

I know that France and Germany are the two other major football countries where teams' reserve clubs are allowed in their football league system however they can't be promoted above the 4th division.

 

[Big Sam]

Also from Wikipedia:

Unlike the English football league system, reserve teams in Spain play in the same league system as their senior team rather than a separate league. Reserve teams, however, cannot play in the same division as their senior team. Therefore, Real Madrid Castilla/Villarreal CF B/FC Barcelona B are ineligible for promotion to the Primera División. Reserve teams are also no longer permitted to enter the Copa del Rey. In addition, only under-23 players, or under-25 players with a professional contract, can switch between senior and reserve teams.

 

[Bulldog Force]

I still can't believe Guardiola is not with us anymore

 

[langpark]

hold your horses, there's still the Cup final on Friday....

 

[Bulldog Force]

That would be the perfect way to send him off - 14 titles in 4 years.

In other FCB news, here's what the 2012/13 season's home jersey will look like <3

 

[langpark]

Copa Del Rey Final is literally the last decent bit of football now until Euro 2012 starts...

Athletic Bilbao this last month have looked like they're exhausted and all the Europa, Copa DR and League matches had finally caught up with them. I hope they can muster just one more decent match and put up a decent fight against Barca tomorrow...

 

[Big Sam]

Deportivo now one win away from going straight back up to La Liga next season whilst one of Vigo or Valladolid will be the other side automatically promoted.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

So what happens if Barca get relegated? The year they signed Davids they were battling relegation until January.

 

[langpark]

it's already becoming the bloodbath I feared it might be...

 

[Bulldog Force]

Perdo <3

 

[Big Sam]

Vigo now promoted too. That's 2 Galician clubs after not having any the season just ended.

The 1st leg play-offs also are as follows:

Cordoba v Valladolid
Hercules v Alcorcon

Wouldn't it be crazy if Madrid had 5 clubs next season?

 

[Big Sam]

Promotion final has been decided. Alcorcon v Valladolid. First leg midweek, second next weekend.

Valladolid have been out of La Liga for a few years now whilst Alcorcon is a small club in the suburbs of Madrid who's only claim to fame was when they beat Real Madrid 4-0 in the cup a few years ago.

 

[Big Sam]

Valladolid won 2-1 on agg. Back in La Liga next season after a 2 season absence.

 

[langpark]

nice to see Real held to a draw...

So far 16 goals across the 4 matches today and the Barca match is still in the first half....

 

[Big Sam]

Barca 2 point lead already on RM, and Messi 2 goal lead on Ronaldo. Given they usually split the points across both Clasicos, it's how they fare against the other 18 clubs that makes La Liga's title race so interesting.

 

[pennywisealfie]

I tried to find where to watch this on the weekend and it wasn't on! Is noone in aus broadcasting la liga this season?

 

[Big Sam]

Supercopa this morning was superb. Had everything. Barca's lost nothing without Guardiola.