What the hell is happening in Spain???

Warning…uncontrollable rant ahead.

I had to take a break from my studying today to write a unusual mid-day post for me.  And note that this might will take a ranting form.

But what the hell is Luis Aragones doing with the Spanish national team???

I’m seriously getting sick of this.  I know some of you are asking, Why does the American kid care about what happens with the Spanish side?  Well, I’m basically an adopted Spaniard, so thats why.  I’ve lived there so long, so many times that I follow everything Spain, hence my love for La Liga and my utter dislike, along with most Spaniards, of everything Luis Aragones.

But really, it’s time for the Real Federacion Española de Futbol to just get rid of the aging old man that is Aragones.

Luckily the Spaniards draw in Iceland was not the death blow, as both Sweden and North Ireland drew their respective games on Saturday, leaving Spain in third place on 16 points.

Sure, Spain drew Iceland with 10 men as Xavi Alonzo was sent off unluckily in the first half for an apparent ‘stomp’ on an Iceland player, but that doesn’t matter.  You were playing Iceland for God sakes.

Who does Iceland have on their team besides Eider Gudjohnsen, no one!   They do have a few Reading players and one for Burnley, so lets hear from you Burnley fans just what you think about your Icelandic star.

I know that ‘la furia roja’ have never been a real powerhouse in international football, but seriously, it’s time for him to go.

If you look at his record with the Spanish club, you might be surprised.  In 39 games he has 25 wins, 10 ties and 4 losses.  So you might be asking, why the criticism of ‘el viejo’

Look at what Spain has done in the World Cup.  First off, they almost didn’t qualify for the world cup, and had to beat Slovakia 6-2 on aggregate to even make it into the tournament, with a great squad.  They made it through the qualifying round unbeaten surprinsgly and looked like they were going to make a run.

But then they got beat 3-1 to France.  So one loss on Aragones record did them in.  It goes to show you that only having a few ‘key’ losses can be worse than having 20.

The Spanish team is full of talent, from Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonzo, Javi Navarro, Iker Casillas, and the list goes on.  But Aragones can never get the team to gel and to play up to their potential.  Whether it is some of the players fault is a valid argument, but we are not going to oust the entire Spanish side.

Which means Luis, it’s time to go.

(I apologize for the lack of accent marks, but these stupid UB computers don’t have an option for a Spanish keyboard) 


La Liga Para Todos Sept 10th–Robben training, Aragonés Loves me not, Rijkaard takes it like a man

–Arjen Robben took to the training ground today for the first time with his Real Madrid teammates. Robben, who came over to Madrid for 36 Million Euro in the offseason, has had a knee injury that has kept him out of the lineup thus far. Madrid had a 2.5 hour training session today with all of the players that are remaining in Spain after the calls to international duty, which aren’t many.

Luis Aragonés aka the oldest coach ever, kept his love-hate relationship with Fernando Torres going strong after subbing out El Niño in the 59th minute in place of Iniesta. It just so happens that ‘el viejo’ finally got something right and Iniesta managed to put in the tying goal on 85 minutes to give spain a draw with Iceland. Torres is the leading scorer for Spain under Aragones, with 13 goals, but is goalless in over a year, with his last tally coming on September 2 2006 vs Lichtenstein. As I simply mentioned before, Aragonés just needs to go, period.

Frank Rijkaard is taking his part of the blame for Barcleona’s dismal last season.

I’ve always said, when something doesn’t work, I’m the first person to look in the mirror

Rijkaard’s Barça had a sub-par past season, being knocked out in the Champions League by Liverpool, being beat 4-1 by Getafe to be knocked out of the Copa del Rey, and finishing second behind Real Madrid for the La Liga title. He came under fire from president Joan Laporta and some were calling for Rijkaard’s departure in the offseason. Having a stud like Giovani Dos Santos or an offseason signing in TH14, can’t hurt his chances to save some face in La Liga this season.

–Speaking of Dos Santos, he’s played in ONE La Liga game,but the moneybags in the Premiership are looking to cash in on the 18 year old. I’m personally not sold yet, sure he won the Bronze ball in this years U-20 world cup and the silver ball in the 2005 U-17 World Championship, but you have to let the kid show a bit of talent against some veteran competition first. But Manchester United will sign a 9 year old kid to play, so 18 is surely not too young for Man Yoo.

La Palabra del día

Una vaselina–a vaselina is a cheeky chip over a keeper to score.

Vaya vaselina de Messi, joe tío, que crack.