HOT BEACHES BUT HOTTER FOOTBALL (Spanish Football League in General)

Member Name: Stroody

Product:	Spanish Football League in General
Date:	15/11/07 (522 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cream of the crop quality players - Exceiting & Entertaining

Disadvantages: You need to subscribe to a Sky Sports package

I have watched them all , the Italian league , the French league , the German league , the English league , the Scottish league and I have even seen games from the Asian and South American leagues. I am what you would call a hardcore football fanatic - not only do I play football for a team but I also watch most live games on the box as well as buy tickets for certain matches. A common scenario in my household is me with a couple bottles of beer in my hand (San Miguel) - I then head for the remote control and switch channels to Sky Sports 1, all the while getting comfortable on my living room sofa and then its eyes fixed on the 40 inch LCD screen. - I am now in my element. You see , the Spanish league is about to start and there is no way I am missing out on the best football league in Europe, also known as La Liga. It is here that I get to experience action packed football at its very best & at its very worse - not only will you see top world class players perform and show boating their technical skills as well as score glorious goals but you will also witness some of the most dirty & unsavoury aspects of the modern game and more so in the Spanish league.


•[La Liga Football & Spanish Supporters]•

Football matches in La Liga have no obvious outcome - the games are unpredictable and anything can happen, adding far more excitement & fun when viewing. A colourful league that not only caters for the football fan but for the neutral viewer as well. Take this weekend for example 10/11/07: Barcelona got beaten convincingly by Getafe - two teams that are poles apart. Not only in skill but also in the contrast style of football played on the pitch. Yet this unpredictability is what keeps La Liga in the forefront when compared to most European Leagues - the element of surprise & amazement.

The fineness and quality of the top footballers on offer throughout this league not only represent the bigger clubs but even the so called weaker opposition are well equipped with big star names. The rivalry is fierce and the derby's are deadly and this is further fuelled by the passionate Spanish supporters who can make or break a team. Their voices will be heard in thousands for they don't shy away - if the team is losing games and slipping further down the table the people will come together and wave a white handkerchief throughout the entire stadium and what a spectacle it is to see -. For it's the fans way of saying - get the manager out as we are not happy with the current results. In spite of all this fan passion that is expressed throughout the stadium , the atmosphere in any Spanish football ground is family friendly - brawling & violence is seldom seen. Take the Italian league for example: You will be well advised not to take young children to a football match in Italy - for the fans are simply crazy and violence is a common occurrence.

Either way the influence and weight of the fan base is not one that can easily be dismissed , for many top managers in Spain have fallen by the way side right after the white handkerchief protest. The Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello who won the league title last season was sacked by the board - a decision that was cheerfully embraced by the Real Madrid fans. They wanted to see an attacking Real Madrid team not a defensive side - tactics that were frequently used by Capello & with a certain degree of success. Yet despite wining the La Liga title 2006/7 Capello`s tactics were his downfall. If a manager wins a league title in England or any other league for that matter , his job is pretty much safe and more likely offered a new and improved contract - A sheer indicator of what La Liga is all about - a ruthless & demanding football league on and off the pitch.


•[Football Entertainment - El Gran Classico]•

Gerry Armstrong and Rob Palmer the Sky TV commentators are entertained & drawn in just as much as the viewers are when watching some of the amazing events that unfold in this league. When the referee blows the whistle for kick-off and the two teams are lined up in position - all 22 players are ready to go head-to-head. The Spanish league will no doubt provide 90 minutes plus of sheer entertainment , controversy , thrill and more importantly a show boating display of top quality football from world class footballers. You will witness a collection of special players from all nationalities in La Liga , contributing diverse football skills on the pitch: Whether it be players with sublime technical ability , skilful players that can dribble and run with the ball , players with pace to burn , dead ball specialist at free kicks , physical and strong players , top strikers that can score goals for fun. As well as the very best defenders and goalkeepers on show. - In La Liga there is no shortage of skills , goals , class and talent on display. This is exactly what we the viewers want to see. Some of the premiership games in England are so dull and lack quality - its simply 90 minutes of boring football. - A big yawn!!

However ,there is no question that the pinnacle of all games has to be Barcelona versus Real Madrid also known as "El Gran Classico" - these two giants will clash twice in La Liga season. At the Nou Camp which has a stadium capacity of 98,000 and at the Santiago Bernabeu - an 85,000 seated stadium. A football event that should be circled on everybody's sporting calendar -. I already have it marked , Sunday 23rd December 2007 - Have you? - Here you will see the cream of the crop. All 22 world class players on show , providing action packed football from one end of the pitch to another - for "El Gran Classico" lives up to its name. The rivalry , the history , the hatred , the hunger to win and even the on-going discussions that Barcelona should be the capital of Spain and not Madrid is more than enough spur and drive for the Catalans & the madridistas to perform and raise the temperature - one that is already at boiling point. - For they only have 90 minutes of football to take the enemy down - an important scalp not only for the players , the manager , the fans , and the board of directors but many will also perceive it as a political victory. The last time these two teams met was back in March 2007 - the final score was 3-3. -


•[You Dirty Fouler - Yellow & Red - Sent Off]•

Anyone that follows the Spanish league will no doubt agree that La Liga provides sublime football and wonderful goals throughout the exciting season. However , having said that La Liga also has an unsavoury aspect to the football game. Its actually a normal occurrence to see on average 7-10 yellow cards in any given football match as well as the odd red or two. The Italian league is just as bad , one thing for sure these two leagues will never win the fair play award. You will witness some rash crunching tackles , shirt pulling , rugby tackles , two footed tackles , player brawls , players diving to get other players sent off , swearing & abuse , dissent , players squaring up to referees ,managers squaring up to referees & vice versa - this league has it all and in abundance. A league with a cutting edge to it and one that is full of surprises. For all those hardcore football fans like myself - Check out the player Alves , right-back for Seville - a talented Brazilian player yet he is one dirty footballer. He will do anything to stop you - arms raised , chop at your heels , literally push you in the back and his main speciality is diving to the ground so to get players sent off. This type of player is one of many in this league hence why the high yellow and red card count. One can argue and say this ruins the game of football and would much prefer to see the Premiership or another European league due to its player fairness and honesty. Then you do that , despite all the above I still consider La Liga to be the best & exciting football league in the world.


•[Come On Ref That was a Foul - Blows Whistle]•

With all this fast paced football action on the pitch as well as the passionate Spanish fans in the stands you need a very good referee to take charge of the situation. This is one area of the game that beats most European leagues hands down. La Liga has no shortage of quality referees - composed and alert , the men in black will not be intimidated by the crowds nor the players. They are the law & order for 90 minutes of football and if need be they will stamp their authority as early as the first minute of the game - whether it be a yellow card , red card or award a penalty. Spanish referees will punish players when appropriate - they are fair and always act in a neutral manner. Unlike some of the weak & lost the plot referees in the English Premiership. It is so obvious that some of the English refs show favouritism towards certain football clubs and many teams have won games due to the blunders , mistakes and turn the blind eye scenario. The English refs lack balls when it comes to awarding penalties or certain decisions when refereeing at the home ground of a bigger club.. The Spanish refs however , show no such flaw - the club nor the ground will influence their decision. They judge the football game by the letter of the law - there is no corruption in this league , La Liga refereeing is clean and honest.


•[Watch The Spanish Sunset]•

This is Spain , a country that puts siesta first and then football second - Unlike most European leagues that tend to kick off much earlier in the afternoon , La Liga kick off times are in the evening and some games are played as late as 9pm. - Sky Sports 1 will broadcast two live games on Saturday as well as another live game on a Sunday. You can refer to your Sky magazine for exact times but normally Gerry Armstrong and Rob Palmer will be tuned in approx 6.00pm - 8.00pm - or for the 9.00pm kick off. The rights to televise the Spanish league is somewhat of a luxury as many rival companies would love to have a piece of the action despite the array of leagues on offer. Channel 5 as well as Eurosport broadcast the Italian league - Sentanta Sports broadcast the German , French , English ,& Scottish league and Sky Sports show live coverage on the Spanish and English league.

So once the Spaniards awake from their siesta and nightfall approaches the nation is drawn to La Liga - Football is huge in Spain & the majority of families follow the game as well as support their football team. The once deserted streets whilst the nation slept suddenly come alive for La Liga is about to begin . The bars are packed & the beers and tapas are on the go , for its the football is what they have come to see. Then you have the travelling supporters who arrive in numbers , all packed out stadiums throughout the country. Homes are tuned into Canal Plus (Equivalent to Sky Sports) , Spain's sporting channel that broadcast live La Liga coverage. No matter how exaggerated this may sound to you , this is how it is in Spain - you can feel the football in the atmosphere. - Its just like one big FIESTA.

La Liga is simply the best and no European League can touch it. It also hosts the Copa Del Rey tournament which is equivalent to our FA Cup


I have been to the following football club stadiums in Spain:

Barcelona
Valencia
Real Madrid
Atlectico Madrid

Thanks …………. Strood 2007 @ 17.45 15/11/07


A small insight about the 20 La Liga Football teams that will be competing against each other in the 2007/08 season:

[Team] Almeria
[Stadium] Municipal
[Capacity] 15,000

[Team] Atletico Madrid
[Stadium] Vicente Calderon
[Capacity] 57,000

[Team] Atletico Bilbao
[Stadium] San Mames
[Capacity] 46,500

[Team] Barcelona
[Stadium] Nou Camp
[Capacity] 98,000

[Team] Betis
[Stadium] Ruiz De Lopera
[Capacity] 52,500

[Team] Deportivo
[Stadium] Riazor
[Capacity] 36,000

[Team] Espanyol
[Stadium] Olympico de Montjuic
[Capacity] 55,000

[Team] Getafe
[Stadium] Coliseum Alfonso Perez
[Capacity] 14,000

[Team] Levante
[Stadium] Cuidad de Valencia
[Capacity] 28,000

[Team] Mallorca
[Stadium] Son Moix
[Capacity] 26,500

[Team] Osasuna
[Stadium] Reyno de Navarra
[Capacity] 20,000

[Team] Racing Santander
[Stadium] El Sardinero
[Capacity] 23,000

[Team] Real Madrid
[Stadium] Santiago Bernabeu
[Capacity] 87,000

[Team] Real Murcia
[Stadium] La Condomina
[Capacity] 15,000

[Team] Recreativo
[Stadium] Colombino
[Capacity] 13,000

[Team] Sevilla
[Stadium] Sanchez Pizjuan
[Capacity] 45,000

[Team] Valencia
[Stadium] Mestalla
[Capacity] 49,000

[Team] Valladolid
[Stadium] Nuevo Jose Zorilla
[Capacity] 27,000

[Team] Villarreal
[Stadium] El Madrigal
[Capacity] 12,000

[Team] Zaragoza
[Stadium] La Romareda
[Capacity] 35,000


Sporting pictures can be seen on www.ciao.co.uk - Posted pics of the two biggest European stadiums - Nou Camp (98,000) - Santiago Bernabeu (85,000 Capacity) . - Hope you enjoyed as much as I enjoyed writing this piece.

Summary: Where`s the San Miguel? - VIVA ESPANA !