Hércules

Full Name: Hércules Club de Fútbol
Manager: Esteban Vigo
Star Players: Javier Portillo, Rodri
2009-10 finish: 2nd (Segunda)
Stadium: Estadio José Rico Pérez (30,000)
Years in Top Flight: 20 (most recently in 96-97)
Best League Finish: 5th (74-75)
Copa del Rey: Round of 16 (3 times)

In: Piet Velthuizen (GK, free, Vitesse), David Cortés (Def, free, Getafe), Cristian Pulhac (Def, loan+€300,000, Dinamo Bucarest), Mohamed Sarr (Def, €300,000, Standard Liege), Matías Fritzler (Mid, on loan, Lanús), Abel Aguilar (Mid, €1.5m, Udinese), Nelson Valdez (Fwd, €3.5m, Borussia Dortmund), David Trezeguet (Fwd, free, Juventus), Royston Drenthe (Fwd, on loan, Real Madrid), Olivier Thomert (Fwd, free, Le Mans). 10 players, €5.6m.

Out: Edu Moya (Def, free, Xerez), Dani Bautista (Def, free, Girona), Andrija Delibašić (Def, free, Rayo Vallecano), Sergio Alejandro (Def, free), Sergio Díaz (Def, free, Nàstic), Gerardo (Mid, free), Rodri (Mid, free, Nàstic), Jorge Alonso (Mid, free, Valladolid), Ionel Dănciulescu (Fwd, free, Dinamo Bucarest). 9 players, €0.

In 2008-09, Esteban Vigo managed Xerez during their run to the Segunda title and promotion to the top flight. Instead of following the club up, he moved to Hércules and ended up guiding that squad to second in the league. Now he gets a shot at the big time and will be doing so in a much better position than Xerez found themselves last year. Their biggest signing, Paraguyan World Cup striker Nelson Valdez, was a solid signing, but he was most assuredly overshadowed by the late free transfer of David Trezeguet from Juventus.

The scandal of the summer involved Hércules and allegations that they had bribed their way to their La Liga spot—allegations that ended up never being investigated by RFEF or anyone else, for that matter. Sid Lowe discusses it in-depth on this Beyond the Pitch podcast back on August 12 that is well worth a listen. This is a decent write-up as well, though I’ve never heard of the website before. There’s little to add to those, but it will be interesting to see where the allegations go and how that affects Hércules as a sporting entity.

Verdict: Hércules is easily the most improved squad in the league after extremely intelligent signings. They have a strike force that’s capable of holding its own against most clubs in Spain and which, if Valdez and Trezeguet can mesh, should be good enough to make up for any defense lapses and keep them up without a huge amount of trouble. Assuming all legal troubles stay away for the season and there are no financial repercussions from signing a big-name player like Trez, the squad should be able to play up to potential. 14th.

Levante

Full Name: Levante Unión Deportiva
Manager: Luis García Plaza
Star Players: Xisco
2009-10 finish: 3rd (Segunda)
Stadium: Estadi Ciutat de València (25,354)
Years in Top Flight: 6 (most recently 2007-08)
Best League Finish: 10th (63-64)
Copa del Rey: Round of 16 (3 times)

In: Gustavo Munúa (GK, free, Málaga), Asier Del Horno (Def, on loan, Valencia), Javi Venta (Def, free, Villarreal), Xavi Torres (Mid, on loan, Málaga), Sergio González (Mid, free, Deportivo), Miguel Pallardó (Mid, on loan, Getafe), Valdo (Mid, free, Espanyol), Nacho Gonzalez (Mid, on loan, Valencia), Nano (Fwd, free, Betis), Christian Stuani (Fwd, on loan, Reggina), Felipe Caicedo (Fwd, on loan, Manchester City). 11 players, €0.

Out: Manu Herrera (GK, free, Alcorcón), Dani Carril (Def, free, Las Palmas), Angel Sánchez (Def, free, Alcorcón), Samuel Baños (Def, free, Alcorcón), Albert Serra (Def, free, Girona), Pau Cendrós (Def, loan return, Mallorca), Jorge Pina (Mid, free, Albacete), Alvaro del Moral (Fwd, free, Logroñés), Javi Guerra (Fwd, loan return, Mallorca). 9 players, €0.

Levante returns to La Primera after a short stint in the second division; they were last seen in 2007-08 when they earned all of 16 points and scoring 20 goals. That pathetic showing (partly stemming from the lack of money to pay their players) should not hinder this particular team—new manager, 11 new faces since the end of their Segunda run—but the financial troubles that reared up before could. They have spent wisely by not spending at all (€0 on 11 players), at least not on transfers. They picked up del Horno from Valencia—remember him?—and Felipe Caicedo from Manchester City on loans that should work out well. Javi Venta and Xavi Torres (of Barça B fame) are solid enough, though Javi Venta is getting up there at 34 years old, but their lack of really class midfielders will hurt them.

Verdict: Despite making some intelligent signings, Levante just doesn’t have the power to sustain a 38-match challenge in La Liga. Their lack of true attacking power—Xisco Nadal, Rubén Suárez, and Rafa Jorda combine for something like 80 burras a game—could come back to haunt them when they need a goal most. 20th.

Málaga

Full Name: Málaga Club de Fútbol
Manager: Jesualdo Ferreira
Star Players: Weligton, Duda
2009-10 finish: 17th, 37pts, 7W-16D-15L (42GF, 47GA)
Stadium: Estadio La Rosaleda (28,963)
Years in Top Flight: 30 (10 as Málaga CF, 20 as CD Málaga)
Best League Finish: 8th as Málaga CF (00-01, 08-09) 7th as CD Málaga (71-72, 73-74)
Copa del Rey: Round of 16 (3 times)

In: Rubén Martínez (GK, €1.2m, Cartagena), Rodrigo Galatto (GK, €1.2m, Litex Lovech), Eliseu (Def, €1.5m, Lazio), Javier Malagueño (Def, €950,000, Indios), Kris Stadsgaard (Def, 1.35m, Rosenborg), Quincy Owusu (Mid,on loan, Al Sadd), Sandro Silva (Mid, €2.2m, Botafogo), Salomón Rondón (Fwd, €3.5m, Las Palmas), Sebastián Fernández (Fwd, €3.6m, Banfield). 9 players, €15.5m.

Out: Gustavo Munúa (GK, free, Levante), Roberto Santamaría (GK, loan return, Las Palmas), Milan Stepanov (Def, loan return, FC Porto), Miguel Angel (Mid, free, Ponferradina), Xavi Torres (Mid, on loan, Levante), Valdo (Mid, loan return, Espanyol), Javi López (Mid, on loan, Ponferradina), Jordi Pablo (Mid, loan, Cartagena), Daniel Toribio (Mid, loan, Ponferradina), Felipe Caicedo (Fwd, loan return, Manchester City), Fernando Forestieri (Fwd, loan return, Genoa), Pere Martí (Fwd, free, Castellón), Victor Obinna (Fwd, loan return, Inter). 13 players, €0.

Taken over in the summer by Qatari Sheik Abdullah bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al Ahmed Al Thani, who is obviously just known as Sheik Abdullah, Málaga invested €15.5m in 9 players, none of whom you’ve ever heard of if you’re a casual fan. Salomón Rondón for €3.5m? Seriously? It sounds like over spending in a much more common-sense way. Like, take this mildly large sack of cash for your mildly decent player instead of the take this huge sack of cash for your hugely talented player a la Chelsea or Manchester City. At least it’s an original approach.

Verdict: Analyzed position-by-position, I’m not sure Málaga is better than they were last year when they ended up 17th. They paid €2.2m for Sandro Silva while they had Xavi Torres. Instead, they loaned the latter out. And Sandro Silva is 26 years old. Which I think tells you a lot more than you think. 19th. Boo Weligton.

Mallorca

Full Name: Real Club Deportivo Mallorca
Manager: Michael Laudrup
Star Players: Dudu Aouate, Pierre Webó
2009-10 finish: 5th, 62pts, 18W-8D-12L (69GF, 44GA)
Stadium: Son Moix (23,142)
Years in Top Flight: 25 (promoted 97-98)
Best League Finish: 3rd (98-99)
Copa del Rey: 1st (02-03)

In: Jonathan De Guzmán (Mid, free, Feyenoord), Sergi Enrich (Fwd, youth team, Mallorca B), Emilio Nsue (Fwd, loan return, Real Sociedad), Pau Cendrós (Fwd, loan return, Levante), Fernando Cavenaghi (Fwd, on loan, Girondins), Edson Ramos (Fwd, free, Bunyodkor), Joao Víctor (Fwd, free, Bunyodkor). 7 players, €0.

Out: Mario Suárez (Mid, €1.8m, Atlético), Julio Álvarez (Mid, free, Tenerife), Varela (Mid, free, Kasimpasa), Borja Valero (Mid, loan return, West Brom), Juanmi Callejón (Mid, free, Córdoba), Bruno China (Mid, released), Javi Guerra (Fwd, free, Valladolid), Aritz Aduriz (Fwd, €4m, Valencia), Felipe Mattioni (Fwd, free, Espanyol), Oscar Trejo (Fwd, on loan, Rayo Vallecano), Alhassane Keita (Fwd, on loan, Valladolid). 11 players, €5.8m.

Mallorca, removed from the Europa League for financial problems, have at least made some cashola from getting rid of, um, all of their forwards not named Pierre Webó. Okay, so they brought in 5 new ones, including Fernando Cavenaghi who I think is pretty solid and could do some damage for Mallorca.

Verdict: They were absurdly terrific at home last year and while there’s no Gregorio Manzano to lead them to similar near perfection this year, it’s hard to see them so substantially worse under Michael Laudrup (especially with the hindsight of drawing against Real Madrid) that they’ll even be troubled with relegation. And, before you point it out in the comments with your judging, yeah, I know it’s not Son Moix anymore, but instead Iberostar Estadi, but come on, it’s Son Moix. Deal. 11th.

Osasuna

Full Name: Club Atlético Osasuna
Manager: José Antonio Camacho
Star Players: Javad Nekounam, Walter Pandiani
2009-10 finish: 12th, 43pts, 11W-10D-17L (37GF, 46GA)
Stadium: Estadio Reyno de Navarra (19,500)
Years in Top Flight: 33 (promoted in 00-01)
Best League Finish: 4th (90-91, 05-06)
Copa del Rey: 2nd (04-05)

In: Asier Riesgo (GK, free, Real Sociedad), Lolo (Def, free, Sevilla), Nélson (Def, loan, Betis), Fernando Soriano (Mid, free, Almería), Dejan Lekic (Fwd, €2.6m, Red Star Belgrade), Damià (Fwd, free, Betis), Kike Sola (Fwd, loan return, Levadiakos). 7 players, €2.6m.

Out: Roberto Jiménez (GK, free, Granada), César Azpilicueta (Def, €6m, Olymique Marseilles), Roversio (Def, loan, Betis), Ion Echaide (Def, loan, Huesca), Jokin Esparza (Mid, loan, Huesca), Andrés Fernández (Mid, loan, Huesca), Ludovic Delporte (Mid, free, Nàstic), Jokin Esparza (Mid, loan, Huesca), Andrés Fernández (Mid, loan, Huesca), Ludovic Delporte (Mid, free, Nàstic), Dady (Fwd, free, Bucaspor), Jorge Galán (Fwd, loan, Huesca). 9 players, €6m.

Losing Azpilicueta, a Spain U-21 player, could be huge for Osasuna, who were on the brink of relegation despite ending 12th last year (just 6 points above relegation). Without the width Azpilicueta provides, they might find it hard to earn points. I like Aranda, Nekounam, and Pandiani, but their 37 goals scored last year will simply not cut it.

Verdict: You have to have guns up front to hope to score and earn points, but they didn’t add any firepower and their lack of width could be the thing that keeps them from increasing their goal count. 18th.

Racing

Full Name: Real Racing Club de Santander
Manager: Miguel Ángel Portugal
Star Players: Pedro Munitis, Óscar Serrano
2009-10 finish: 16th, 39pts, 9W, 12D, 17L (42GF, 59GA)
Stadium: Estadio El Sardinero (22,271)
Years in Top Flight: 43 (most recently promoted for 02-03)
Best League Finish: 2nd (30-31)
Copa del Rey: Semis (07-08)

In: Domingo Cisma (Def, free, Almería), Francis (Def, free, Xerez), Osmar Barba (Def, youth, Racing B), Henrique (Def, loan, Barcelona), Waldo Ponce (Def, loan, U.Católica), Adrián González (Mid, free, Getafe), Kennedy Bakircioglu (Mid, free, Ajax), Ariel Nahuelpan (Fwd, €1.2m, Corítiba), Alexandros Tziolis (Mid, loan+€100,000, Siena), Markus Rosenberg (Fwd, loan, Werder Bremen). 10 players, €1.3m.

Out: Moratón (Def, free, Salamanca), Juanjo (Def, loan, Watford), José Ángel Crespo (Def, loan return, Sevilla), Toni Moral (Mid, free, Cartagena), Jorge Gonçalves (Mid, free, Olhanense), Oriol (Fwd, free, Aris Thessaloniki), Brian Sarmiento (Fwd, loan, Salamanca), Xisco (Fwd, loan return, Newcastle), Mémé Tchité (Fwd, €1.7m, Standard Liège), Sergio Canales (Fwd, €6m, Real Madrid). 10 players, €7.7m.

The tried-and-true method of getting rid of all your good players in favor of worse players seems to be the modus operandi of the day in La Liga. Racing is no exception to this as they shipped out Canales and Tchité, and lost Xisco to a loan return, but only really got Markus Rosenberg in return. If he can score in Spain like he did in the Bundesliga (30 in 90), he should be able to keep Racing out of the relegation zone. Big if, of course.

Verdict: The loan extension of Henrique coupled with the arrival of Domingo Cisma should help shore up some of the defensive bobbles. Pedro Munitis can do the damage up front and earn them the 40 points necessary to survive. 16th.

Back tomorrow with more, folks.

Every year La Liga starts and then goes on FIFA break, so this year I planned in both that and my own laziness in the matter and decided not to publish a preview until after the transfer window closed. Thank goodness I did. Also, before we get this started, can we all chuckle quietly to ourselves about this? I mean, sure, I’m lucky to follow a big club that can discard international players on a whim (and for peanuts!) but seriously, I actually laughed when I read that. It’s not Arun Verma’s fault that he’s excited about Birmingham City’s chances–and indeed they look like they made some pretty solid moves–but I’m sorry, that made me chuckle.

Okay, so, then, my approach this year was to go alphabetically rather than by how I thought they would end up. You’ll learn to deal with it by the end. This is only part 1, so I’m going from Almeria down to Getafe. Let’s get it started, shall we? There may be one or two incorrect transfers

Almería

Full Name: Unión Deportiva Almería
Manager: Juan Manuel Lillo
Star Players: Kalu Uche, Diego Alves
2009-10 finish: 13th, 42pts, 10W-12D-16L (43GF, 56GA)
Stadium: Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos (22,000)
Years in Top Flight: 4 (2007-11), 2 more (1979-81) as AD Almeria.
Best League Finish: 8th (2007-08)

In: Marcelo Silva (Def, €1.3m, Danubio), Michael Jakobsen (Def, €2m, Aalborg), Carlos García (Def, returned loan, Betis), Diego Valeri (Mid, on loan, Porto), Miguel Luque (Barça B), Leonardo Ulloa (Fwd, €900,000, Castellón), Stanley Okoro (Fwd, Free, Heartland FC). 7 players, €4.2m.

Out: Guilherme (Def, on loan, Valladolid), Chico (Def, €5m, Genoa), Domingo Cisma (Def, Free, Racing), Fernando Soriano (Mid, Free, Osasuna), Alex Quillo (Mid, Free, Recre Huelva), Leonardo Borzani (Mid, Free), Esteban Solari (Fwd, Free, APOEL), Natalio (Fwd, Free, Tenerife), David Rodríguez (Fwd, Free, Celta). 9 players, €5m.

While losing Fernando Soriano, a man who appeared 149 times for them in the league, is a big deal, he is 30 and was never as good as advertised despite scoring just over 16% of their goals last year. That, perhaps, speaks to the lack of overall quality in the side more than to Soriano’s individual quality: they only scored 43 goals during the year. In the end, losing both Cisma and Chico will probably be the biggest losses despite the defensive reinforcement offered by Michael Jakobsen, Marcelo Silva, and Carlos García.

Almería still has a couple of other attacking players worth mentioning–Albert Crusat, Pablo Piatti—who can do damage on the break or whenever given space and Kalu Uche can certainly work some occasional magic. The Nigerian striker was their leading scorer last year with 9 goals, but he needs other to step up and take the burden off of him and him alone. 43 goals in 38 matches is paltry stuff and typically would doom a team to relegation, a location they managed to avoid by 6 points. Expect Diego Alves to have another good year and for his saves count to be high once again as well: last year he had 168 saves (compared to Víctor Váldes’ 93).

Verdict: They’ll stay up, but if Valeri, Ulloa, or Okoro are able to compliment the attack in any meaningful way, Almería will be capable of threatening to make a run to just above mid-table and, depending on their draw, maybe even do something in the Copa del Rey. Juan Manuel Lillo is solid manager, after all (my small discussion of him from early March is here) and is capable of leading sides to, well, mediocrity. 12th.

Athletic Bilbao

Full Name: Athletic Club
Manager: Joaquín Caparrós
Star Players: Fernando Llorente, Javi Martínez
2009-10 finish: 8th, 54pts, 15W-9D-14L (50GF, 53GA)
Stadium: San Mamés (39,670)
Years in Top Flight: 83, 1928-2011
Best League Finish: 8 titles (most recently 1983–84)
Copa del Rey: 23 titles (most recently

In: Mikel San José (Def, €3m, Liverpool), Ibai Gómez (Mid, €300,000, Sestao), Igor Martínez (Mid, €200,000, Alavés), Mikel Balenziaga (Def, returned loan, Numancia). 4 players, €3.2m.

Out: Armando (GK, Retired), Ander Murilllo (Def, free, Celta de Vigo), Iban Zubuiarre (Def, on loan, Albacete), Joseba Etxeberria (Mid, Retired), Fran Yeste (Mid, free, Al-Wasl), Iñaki Muñoz (Mid, Free), Iñigo Díaz de Cerio (Fwd, on loan, Córdoba) 7 players, €0.

Caparrós is an able manager and a solid youth developer—his time at Sevilla included the signings of both Dani Alves and Adriano—who appears to have put in place the foundations of a solid team. Both Llorente and Martínez were members, though not extremely vital parts, of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad and have solid Liga records. Adding Mikel San José and Ibai Gómez will help not only lower the squad’s median age (only 5 players are under 25), but add depth to a threadbare roster of only 20 first team players. Caparrós will be forced to rely more heavily on youth products such as Iker Muniain, still just 17, and Oscar de Marcos, which should pay dividends in the future.

Verdict: Yeste’s departure is a negative, but will not severely hamper Athletic’s efforts to remain in the top half of the league this season. They won’t be European contenders, but should finish in the middle of the pack yet again and preserve their top-flight status without too much trouble. 9th.

Atleti

Full Name: Club Atlético de Madrid
Manager: Qique Sánchez Flores
Star Players: Diego Forlan, Sergio Agüero, Simão
2009-10 finish: 9th, 49pts, 13W-10D-15L (58GF, 59GA)
Stadium: Vicente Calderon (54,851)
Years in Top Flight: 71
Best League Finish: 9 titles (most recently 1995–96)
Copa del Rey: 9 titles (most recently 1995-96)
Awesomest Thing I Found Out While Researching This: During 2003-05, Atleti’s shirt was sponsored by Columbia Pictures and they advertised a total of 10 movies, including Spider-Man 2. How I don’t remember this, I don’t know.

In: Filipe Luis (Def, €12m, Deportivo), Diego Godín (Def, 11m, Villarreal), Fran Mérida (Mid, free, Arsenal), Mario Suárez (Mid, €1.8m, Mallorca), Tiago (Mid, on loan, Juventus), Diego Costa (Fwd, €1m, Valladolid) 6 players, €25.8m.

Out: Pablo Ibáñez (Def, free, West Brom), Roberto (GK, €8.5m, Benfica), Mariano Pernía (Def, Released), Eduardo Salvio (Mid, on loan, Benfica), Germán Pacheco (Mid, on loan, Independiente), José Manuel Jurado (Mid, €13m, Schalke 04), Ibrahima (Fwd, on loan, Numancia), Keko (Fwd, on loan, Cartagena). 8 players, €21.5m.

The team that defies logic will, again, defy logic. They won the Europa League last year and finished 9th in La Liga. I’m not even sure how that works at all. It’d be like the Champions League winner not qualifying for the CL the next year. Oh. Well, okay, so there’s a precedent, but it’s still weird. And it makes it very hard to predict where they’ll end up.

Atleti added both Felipe Luis and Diego Godin to their typically porous back line (last year’s 59 goals allowed was worse than all but 6 clubs) for a combined €23m. Mario Suárez and Diego Costa were cheaper additions while with ex-Barça canterano and Arsenal reject Fran Mérida was free. Tiago returned to Juventus only to be shipped back to Atleti for another year-long loan, so he’s a “transfer” only on a technicality.

None of Atleti’s losses should negatively affect them, at least on net. Mariano Pernía’s free agency might just be a boon for them as the 33-year old is no longer a defensive liability while selling unused goalie Robeto for €8.5m to Benfica was a financial coup. Pablo Ibáñez’s presence may be felt, but it’s unlikely with Godín’s inclusion.

Verdict: It’s impossible not to go out on a limb when you’re predicting Atleti’s season, so we’ll just run with it: Atleti is more solid now than last year, has capable backups, and will fail utterly and completely to do anything in the league other than throw a few wrenches in the works from time-to-time. 7th.

Barcelona

Full Name: FC Barcelona
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Star Players: Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta
2009-10 finish: 1st, 99pts, 31W-6D-1L (98GF, 24GA)
Stadium: Camp Nou (98,787)
Years in Top Flight: 83, 1928-2011
Best League Finish: 1st (20 times)
Copa del Rey: 1st (25 times)

In: Adriano (Def, €9.5m, Sevilla), Javier Mascherano (Mid, €22m, Liverpool), David Villa (Fwd, €40m, Valencia). 3 players, €71.5m.

Out: Alberto Botía (Def, free, Sporting), Dmitri Chygrynskiy (Def, €15m Shakhtar Donetsk), Henrique (Def, on loan, Racing), Rafael Márquez (Def, free, NY Red Bulls), Martín Cáceres (Def, on loan, Sevilla), Yaya Touré (Mid, €24m, Manchester City), Víctor Sánchez (Mid, on loan, Getafe), Alexander Hleb (Mid, on loan, Benfica), Keirrison (Fwd, on loan, Santos), Thierry Henry (Fwd, free, NY Red Bulls), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Fwd, on loan, AC Milan). 11 players, €39m.

The Champions are, of course, the subject of this particular blog and as such are subject to much lengthier discussions than any of the other teams. Still, it’s worth noting Adriano and Mascherano shore up potentially weak squad points. The lack of central defenders may come back to haunt the team, but for the moment it looks likely that Eric Abidal will play a major role in making sure there are no letdowns via injury or suspension. Ibra’s departure puts more pressure on Bojan to step forward and on Pedro to continue his brilliant run from last season.

Verdict: Despite any possible squad depth issues, Barça have arguably the best starting 11 in the world and certainly the best squad in La Liga and one without any kind of a learning curve to worry about. Those players considered weak points (it depends on who you ask and what time of day you ask them) would be gladly welcomed on almost any squad on the planet and that alone ensures a high finish. 1st.

Depor

Full Name: Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña
Manager: Miguel Ángel Lotina
Star Players: Andrés Guardado, Juan Carlos Valerón
2009-10 finish: 10th, 47pts, 13W-8D-17L (35GF, 49GA)
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Riazor
Years in Top Flight: 40 (last coming up in 91-92)
Best League Finish: 1st (99-00)
Copa del Rey: 1st (94-95, 01-02)

In: Felipe Ramos (GK, free, Real Madrid Castilla), Stopira (Def, free, Santa Clara), Aythami (Def, loan return, Xerez), Claudio Morel (Def, free, Boca Juniors), Knut Olav Rindarøy (Def, on loan, Molde), Yves Desmarets (Mid, free, Vitória), Míchel (Mid, on loan, Valencia), Saúl (Mid, free, Elche), Urreta (Mid, on loan, Benfica), Rubén Pérez (Mid, on loan, At. Madrid B). 10 players, €0.

Out: Filipe Luis (Def, €12m, Atlético), Álex Bergantiños (Def, on loan, Granada), Sergio (Mid, free, Levante), Iván Pérez (Mid, on loan, Ponferradina), Rodolfo Bodipo (Fwd, on loan, Vaslui), Mista (Fwd, free, Toronto FC), Rubén Castro (Fwd, free, Betis). 7 players, €12m.

Depor had a fairly horrible year on the offensive end last season and they responded to that by shipping out 3 strikers and brining in none. Knut Olav Rindarøy, however, wins the Name of the Moment award. A name like that makes me happy because Norwegian sounds funny to uncultured clods such as myself. Young wingers like Urreta will probably fit in quite well, especially if the idea is to get maximum euros for Guardado later and have a handy replacement; at the very least they’re lowering their median age. They replaced Filipe Luis with Claudio Morel of Boca Juniors, but they’re unlikely to find the 32-year old capable of filling such metaphorically large shoes.

Verdict: Lotina is the master of the boring match, but he’s getting in over his head without a striking ensemble better than Riki, Adrián, and Lassad. Those are literally the only strikers on their books and the whole squad only scored 35 goals last year. Valerón is good, but aging, and Guardado cannot carry the offensive burden on his own, no matter how much Tri fans think of him. 15th.

Espanyol

Full Name: Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino
Star Players: Carlos Kameni, Iván de la Peña
2009-10 finish: 11th, 44pts, 11W-11D-16L (29GF, 46GA)
Stadium: Estadi Cornellà-El Prat (40,500)
Years in Top Flight: 75
Best League Finish: 3rd (32-33, 66-67, and 86-87)
Copa del Rey: 1st (28-29, 39-40, 99-00, 05-06)

In: Ernesto Galán (Def, loan return, Girona), Felipe Mattioni (Def, free, Mallorca), Jesús Dátolo (Mid, on loan, Napoli), Javi López (Mid, free, Espanyol B), Aldo Duscher (Mid, free, Sevilla), Sergio García (Fwd, €5m, Real Betis), Osvaldo (Fwd, €5m, Bologna). 6 players, €10m.

Out: Javi Ruiz (GK, free), Kiko Casilla (GK, on loan, Cartagena), Fernando Marqués (Fwd, free, Parma), Iván Pillud (Def, loan return, Racing Club), Facundo Roncaglia (Def, loan return, Boca), Angel Martínez (Mid, loan, Girona), Nicolás Pareja (Def, €10m Spartak Moscow), Milan Smiljanic (Mid, loan, Partizan), Valdo (Mid, free, Levante), Moisés Hurtado (Mid €1.1m, Olympiakos), Ben Sahar (Fwd, loan, Hapoel), Raul Tamudo (Fwd, free, Real Sociedad), Grégory Béranger (Fwd, free, Tenerife). 12 players, €11.1m.

Espanyol was never in danger of being too defensive—the sale of Nico Pareja strikes me as a prudent move in that regard—but like Depor, there were massive questions on the offensive end. 29 goals scored in a 38-match season is a horrendous return, so something had to be done. Adding Sergio Garcia in place of the departing Tamudo (who won’t be missed by my blaugrana self), Béranger (who scored all of once in 21 appearances last season), and Ben Sahar (who  one-upped Béranger by scoring just once in 23 appearances) strikes me as another prudent move.

Verdict: These prudent moves are backed by even more prudent moves, including the loan signings of Jesús Dátolo and Osvaldo (the latter for a second season). All of this suggests that periquitos should be more positive than Depor fans that a change is coming to their goal-scoring habits. Prudence, however, is not synonymous with quality. 10th.

Getafe

Full Name: Getafe Club de Fútbol
Manager: Míchel
Star Players: Dani Parejo
2009-10 finish: 6th, 58pts, 17W-7D-14L (58GF, 48GA)
Stadium: Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Pérez (14,400)
Years in Top Flight: 7 (2004-11)
Best League Finish: 6th (2009-10)
Copa del Rey: 2nd (06-07, 07-08)

In: Marcano (Def, on loan, Villarreal), Pablo Pintos (Def, Free, Lazio), Franck Signorino (Def, released), Borja (Mid, free, Valladolid), Víctor Sánchez (Mid, on loan, Barcelona), Mosquera (Mid, free, Real Madrid Castilla), Javier Arizmendi (Fwd, free, Zaragoza), Adrián Colunga (Fwd, €2.5m, Recreativo). 7 players, €2.5m.

Out: Fabio Celestini (Def, free, Laussanne), David Belenguer (Def, free, Betis), David Cortés (Def, free, Hércules), Joffre Guerrón (Mid, €1m, At.Paranaense), Miguel Pallardó (Mid, on loan, Levante), Adrián González (Mid, free, Racing), Pedro León (Mid, €10m, Real Madrid), Roberto Soldado (Fwd, €10m, Valencia), Kepa (Fwd, free, Recreativo). 9 players, €21m.

The season after a highest-ever finish can show a lot about a club’s ambitions. 6th place and a spot in the Europa League put Getafe in rarified air they’d never encountered before and the management’s response was to offload talent in favor of cash on hand. I am, of course, ignorant of the club’s financial situation, but both of their €10m moves strike the casual observer as maximizing profit in the short term. This is not necessarily a negative thing if they can replace those pieces with more young talent—getting rid of Celestini (33 years old) and Belenguer (37 years old) is a good step in that direction—but players like Arizmendi and Borja aren’t necessarily the right replacements.

Verdict: Getafe are significantly weaker than they were last year given the losses of Pedro León and Roberto Soldado. Their replacements, Mosquera and Colunga respectively, are not up to the standards of those two and so the goal-scoring will suffer. 13th.

Much more tomorrow, folks.

Boy, does it feel good to get back to doing what we do best, and that’s kicking ass and taking names. We rolled into Racing with a lot of questions swirling around the side, questions capable of distracting a lesser team. But no less than 3 minutes into the match, the Xavi-Iniesta-Messi combination had our Man of the Match off to the races again, to see if he can top last season’s gaudy goal total.

And suddenly, it was all like it used to be.

I could watch this match again and again, because Pep Guardiola rolled out with Valdes, Alves, Pique, Abidal, Maxwell, Keita, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Villa. More important than who he rolled out with, was what he rolled out with: A new look Barca. Make no mistake, it was the same tika-taka, but with intent, particularly once Villa decided to actually become part of the offense rather than stand around, waiting for the ball. Iniesta was drifting back to bring the ball forward, thus saving Messi from long runs. He also relieved the defense of the burden of bringing it out in the face of an attack-minded Racing side.

It was also an “it takes a village” midfield, as Xavi was as subdued as I have ever seen him during a match, and not just because his Achilles tendon was bothering him. Keita and Busquets were deputized to help him maintain possession, and Messi’s passing skills, developed during this summer’s World Cup, were on full display.

Last season, a team could flood the midfield and play aggressively against Xavi, fouling him if necessary. This season, with Iniesta as not only an attacker but a safety valve, Messi as an attacking midfielder rather than a full-on forward and Busquets playing the Guardiola role, that tactic is not going to work, particularly if Keita and Busquets continue to mine their rich vein of form.

And this season, the width is back! Villa’s movement off the ball and his tendency to drift to the left means that defenses are lopsided again. This gives more space for Messi, and with Iniesta pushing up into the attack, it makes us so much more difficult to play.

Crucially, this wasn’t just a match, this was a message: No matter who we roll out with, we are ready. Even in the second half, when Xavi was watching from the bench in street clothes, we reduced Racing to chasing the ball, maintaining possession for what seemed like hours, with the metronomic precision of pass-offer-receive. It was brilliant, and a delightful way to start the season. Messi did more with less effort, the side showed that, unlike last season, it can play perfectly well without Xavi and Villa notched his first official goal for the club, sending him off to the races, as well.

But because things didn’t start out as smoothly as we’d hoped, the early goal from Messi was crucial, as Iniesta broke him loose with a perfectly weighted ball. He outfought the defender and lofted a cheeky chip over the charging keeper, and that was that. Barely 3 minutes in, we had an early lead, which gave one David Villa a chance to get himself sorted.

His first efforts were offside, foul, lost ball, offside, etc, etc. And when he wasn’t running foul of an overzealous sideline official with an offside flag, he was static, not yet realizing that you have to become a cog within our attack at both ends of the pitch. Once he got a clue, he was marvelous, working give-and-gos with Messi, battling for possession and making things happen. And when he scored our third, off a flawless cross from Alves, the thrashing was complete.

From then on, it was just a question of playing keepaway, which we did to perfection.

The other remarkable thing, which can, we hope, augur well for the future, is that Iniesta’s force field seems to have come down as he scored an absolute delight of a goal that will take one hell of a strike to be outrun for goal of the season. Messi and Villa worked a play, and the resultant Villa cross was punched away by Racing’s keeper. Iniesta ghosted over and, with perfect form, struck off the volley over the keeper. Frankly, I was stunned, more because I, like everyone else, assumed that the force field was still up.

It was also a goal that came from pressing, and effort. Messi worked himself into a position that forced the keeper to make the punch, rather than catching and distributing. And Iniesta was pushed up, because we were determined to attack, and not cede any possession that we didn’t have to, to Racing. So he was in the perfect spot for his golazo. And once we notched that second goal, it was all over but the shouting, even though there was still a bit of drama, courtesy of Valdes.

After a bad bit of interplay between Busquets and Alves, Racing were off on the attack. Maxwell initially tried to take the professional foul on the sideline. When that didn’t work, he had to chase, and caught the attacker in the box. He did indeed brush him, but no way should have have been a penalty. Yet the attacker got the call. At 2-1, it’s a very different, and much more fraught match. So up stepped Tchite to take the penalty. He struck it well, and Valdes, who has clearly been working out with Pinto, flashed out to parry it away. And that was that, the last real threat that Racing offered us. They did have shots, including a couple of excellent chances, but Valdes was more than up to the task.

The other thing worth noting about this year’s group is its versatility. Our starting LB played CB, the LB for this match slid into midfield when a mid came in, and said mid played LB. A CB brings the ball up the pitch to start the attack, and a ghost plays DM. This is just crazy, and exciting.

Team: 8. There were some lapses but overall, a very fine performance against a club willing to chip, fight and scratch. Racing attackers were unleashed at full gallop through the midfield a little too easily. A better club will take more advantage of those, but it’s early days.

Guardiola: 8. I liked his substitutions in this match, and the precautionary moves with Xavi and Puyol not only keep them fresh, they introduce doubt rolling into the FIFA break. Nice! His experiement with Abidal at CB seems to be bearing fruit, as well.

Valdes: 10. A contender for Man of the Match, since his penalty stop made things very different, but Messi was just too good today. He is brimming with confidence, and looks to be talking to the defense more, which was a weakness of his last season.

Alves: 7. His defense is much improved this season, though he was often too casual with the ball, losing it as a result in a dangerous spot. His passing and running are, as always, marvelous, and what an assist on the Villa goal. Pressure from Maxwell and Adriano has him raising his game.

Pique: 6. Came into the match very nicely, but could have cost us on more than one occasion. It took him a while to comprehend that because he is slow, he has to compensate for it with superior positioning. Once that happened, he was excellent.

Abidal: 9. Wait a minute. The man who can’t play CB gets a higher score than our starting CB? You betcha. Dude was full-on beast, and another example of what having to play your way into the lineup will do for you. He had one funky clearance that Pique got on him about, but was omnipresent and spectacular.

Maxwell: 6. Attacks flowed a little too smoothly up his side of the pitch, and though Valdes bailed him out and it wasn’t a penalty, it was a risky play given that the official was an idiot today. And his offense didn’t really make up for the defensive lapses.

Busquets: 9. Were it not for a Bad Busi moment or two, he’d have grabbed a perfect score. His possession and distribution were extraordinary today. He has matured so much over the summer, and the way he slid so elegantly into the Xavi role alongside Keita was wonderful. He’s a destroyer, but also a creator. And rather than destroying with the tackle, he’s just where the ball is, before the ball gets there. It’s crazy, but so cool to watch.

Keita: 9. A little loose with possession at times, but he was hovering very close to his second 10 of the season. What a match from a versatile, aggressive and energetic player. His passing game has improved to the extent that he and Busquets can form a very effective Xavi possession clone.

Xavi: 7. I wanted to see him impose himself more on this match, though his passing eye is clearly as unerring as ever. Perhaps it was the knock that he picked up.

Iniesta: 6. He took time to work into the match, and was essentially invisible, aside from his golazo for most of the first half. When he assumed the Xavi role, his first touches were uncertain on too many occasions, losing possession for us in a dangerous part of the pitch. But holy crap, what a goal! He made the amazing look easy.

Messi: 10. Perfection for our Man of the Match, from his finding Villa with perfect passes, to battling for balls that other players had given up on to his incessant work rate, this was a marvel of a match. I would rather Messi play a match such as this one, than score 4 goals as a less-effective player. Everyone was involved thanks to him, and where before he would continue his run, now he might stop to make the pass. Seems impossible, but he’s better this year.

Villa: 6. Too static for too long. He will learn to hold those runs for that beat necessary for Xavi to survey, then pass. Once he opened up and became part of the offense, he was exceptional, and what a well-taken goal. So much of goalscoring is making the run to be in the spot. He made himself available to Alves, knowing that Alves could get the ball there. And the header across the goal was beautiful, as was his interplay with Messi.

Substitutes

Pedro! (for Xavi): 5. Continues to display the maturity that I have mentioned before, along with an improved sense of reading the match. But he wasn’t as effective as he usually is. With the attack-minded Iniesta, I wonder if P! will be part of our best lineup.

Krkic (for Villa): 1. The Kid was worthless today. When he wasn’t in the wrong spot, he was giving the ball away, or having it taken away by a defender. I like that Guardiola subbed him in during a match that was under control. But he has to do better. This is supposed to be his season, and the path to playing time will never be more clear for him.

Adriano (for Iniesta): 7. I love what this guy does. Recall the attack in which he ran to the corner line. You could see him looking up, repeatedly surveying the pitch so that his cross would in fact be effective, rather than what most players do, which is to create space and just throw an aimless cross in. He also has pace galore, and will be difficult to keep off the pitch.

This wasn’t as dominating a performance as our SuperCopa dismantling of Sevilla, but it was more impressive, because Racing’s tactics didn’t play right into our hands. We had to win this match, and did so at a caper. And EE dropped points, which is the perfect way to start this season. And with that, a bit of joy.

It’s here, and we’re ready. So get all that negativity out of your systems. Because we’re on, and our club needs the positive karma.

First Half:
8/28 – @ Racing Santander
9/12 – Hercules
9/19 – @ Atletico Madrid
9/22 – Sporting Gijon
9/26 – @ Athletic Club (Bilbao)
10/3 – Mallorca
10/17 – Valencia
10/24 – @ Zaragoza
10/31 – Sevilla
11/7 – @ Getafe
11/14 – Villareal
11/21 – @ Almeria
11/28 – Real Madrid
12/5 – @ Osasuna
12/12 – Real Sociedad
12/19 – @ Espanyol
Winter Break
01/02 – Levante
01/09 – @ Deportivo La Coruna
01/16 – Malaga

Second Half:
1/23 – Racing Santander
1/30 – @ Hercules
2/6 – Atletico Madrid
2/13 – @ Sporting Gijon
02/20 – Athletic Club (Bilbao)
2/27 – @ Mallorca
3/2 – @ Valencia
3/6 – Zaragoza
3/13 – @ Sevilla
3/20 – Getafe
4/3 – @ Villareal
4/10 – Almeria
4/17 – @ Real Madrid
4/24 – Osasuna
5/1 – @ Real Sociedad
5/8 – Espanyol
5/11 – @ Levante
5/15 – Deportivo La Coruna
5/22 – @ Malaga

As you may have noticed, the schedules second half is a mirror image of the first, with the sides only switching locations. Preliminarily at least, it looks like Barça got a favorable draw without having too many brutal or far away games packed into small frames of time. Even the trip to the Riazor comes after the winter break. This looks like a wonderful schedule for our boys, hopefully we can navigate with only one loss again.

In Other News:

-Apparently we are loaning Henrique out to Santander again, huzzah!

- Big rumors that Marquez is going to become New York Red Bulls third DP in a move that should net us a few million here or there.

- One of our youth players, Thiago, scored during the Spanish U-19 game against Croatia at their World Cup to equalize. Spain would eventually win 2-1.

-Not sure of anything else at this moment in terms of transfer rumors.

Real Sociedad – 2009-10 Segunda champions return to the Primera after a 3-year absence. They were dropped after the 2006-07 season when they finished 19th (35pts, 8W-11D-19L, 32GF 47GA). You might remember that as the year that Barça caved and lost the title on head-to-head to thems from the capital. They have twice won the La Liga and did it in successive years: 1980-81 and 1981-82 and have finished 2nd twice, most recently in 2002-03 when they were overtaken on matchday 37 by thems from the capital.

They’re from San Sebastián, known as Donostia in Basque, in the upper reaches of Spain. The city is small (fewer than 200,000 residents), but has a fantastic beach (Bahía de La Concha), a rich cultural heritage, and something that Pep no doubt loves to visit: the longest running jazz festival in Europe.

Hércules CF – Oh, you mighty warrior, you. Your last appearance in La Primera was in 1996-97, when you finished 21st (it was the last year with 22 teams), just 2 points behind 20th placed Sevilla. Those were wild times, man. Truly wild. Extramadura was in the Primera! And Compostela finished 11th! Oh wow. The memories. What? No, I don’t want to talk about where Barça ended up that year. Or who our leading scorer was. Or how fucking Hércules beat us twice that year. I don’t want to talk about it!

Just for that they’re destined for the bottom 3 next year…even they did score more goals than the Segunda champions this year and let in fewer. Wait. What the hell is wrong with La Segunda? I wish I knew, but let’s just put it this way: We will hopefully be able to be their Nessus, except without our death. Dammit, that analogy didn’t work all that hot. Okay, so how about this: We’ll be like Nessus, but instead of Hércules killing us, we’ll take his poison arrow and shove it up his [this is a family friendly site! -ed].

Hércules is based in Alicante, a city of some 350,000 people in the southern part of the Valencian Community. It apparently has some neat stuff or whatever. I don’t know cause I can’t stop thinking about how much I want to destroy Hércules.

Levante UD – Another Valencia club? Come on, now. They too have a bat on their symbol, but aren’t down with orange theme. They were last in La Primera waaayy back in 2007-08, when they finished dead last with just 26pts and the worst goals for (37) and goals against (75) record in the league. Blech. The highest they’ve finished in La Liga is 10th back in 1963-64 when there were only 16 teams in La Liga. But they won the Copa del Rey…in 1937…so that’s pretty awesome.

Their city is fairly famous, what with it being Valencia and all, so there’s not much to talk about there, really. Blah blah culture, oranges, bats, whatever. Let’s just get hyped to crush Hércules and send them back down to La Segunda…along with some periquitos, perhaps?

Our new number 7 (duh, right?). Still can’t believe that number wasn’t taken.

Is everybody digging the new kits? Not a fan of the red shorts, but I only wear the shirts, anyhow.

Finally ….

Now, for some thoughts. This is brilliant. Exceptional. Staggering. I’m almost woozy with the joy.

Why? Because David Villa, though I am on the record as thinking he’s overrated, will probably make me eat those words. His mobility, finishing skill and more importantly in the context of our offense, passing ability and ball control, means that we have the most potent front line in the world. Period.

What other team will be able to bring the likes of Pedro! off the bench? Puyol is right when he says that Ibrahimovic and Villa are compatible. He’s absolutely right. The possibilities are inSANE. I will leave the tactical nuance to Euler and his big brain. For me, I envision Ibrahimovic moving defenders around and Villa or Messi scampering into the space created. I envision a world in which you can’t sit on Messi and foul Ibrahimovic, because there’s that third guy to kill you.

Some say that we haven’t solved the left wing problem, but I think that we have. Unlike Samuel Eto’o, when Villa drifts out to the wing he is every bit as lethal as he would be leading the line. His cutting ability will bring that valued width, and I just don’t see anything bad about this signing.

But maybe that’s just me. In all of the Fabregas hooraw, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that we have nailed a major, major coup in this signing. He’s durable, keeps himself fit and bangs in goals.

I can’t wait for the new season.

Pere Punti/El Mundo Deportivo

No, it ain’t THE picture from this year, but it’s symbolic. So symbolic. Club. Trophy. Essential Captain. Celebration. What you have to ask yourself, is what more need be said, really? This image speaks with an undeniable eloquence that mere words can’t begin to express. Not that it will shock anyone that nonetheless, I’m going to give it a go.

This match was immense for so many reasons, not least of which was that everything was on the line.

–Us vs Them and Their Money in a battle for La Liga
–Naysayers ready, if we’d stumbled, to say “See, told you this season sucked.”
–Beautiful football, and what it means.
–And oh yeah, a stinkin’ Championship, our last shot at silver (and what a prize!) for this glorious season.

And we were at home against Valladolid, a side who were rolling under its new coach, enjoying a great string of results while fighting for its Liga life. And they came into our house and started the match by spitting in our faces, thanks to an appalling first touch by Valdes that gifted a glorious scoring opportunity to them. The ball fell to one of their attackers, who scuffed it off the pitch, allowing Puyol to block it with a flying leg ninja kinda thang.

If that goal goes in, it’s a little crazy, right? But it didn’t, because finally this season, luck was on our side.

This was rather an odd match, in that we were without a midfield engine room, due to the suspension of Xavi for having a big mouth, and Iniesta not really being match fit after his lengthy injury layoff. So Guardiola rolled out with Valdes, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal, Keita, Busquets, The Yaya, Messi, Pedro! and Krkic.

So Valladolid flooded the midfield, got in our faces and raised all kinds of hell in an effort to save their lives (to no avail …. they will take the drop). For the first 15 minutes, they were all over us. They had more corners, more shots on goal and 10 minutes into the match, Messi hadn’t touched the ball. And after that early, heart-stopping chance, we began to slowly take command of the match, thanks to the World’s Largest Attacking Mid. And from then on, it was all over but the shouting. Messi got more involved, The Yaya began to control the midfield as Keita and Busquets did the dirty work, and it was off to the races, eventually.

Pedro! should buy a lottery ticket. Right now. Because he was a mess, scrambling hither and yon, chasing the ball, chasing the match, chasing his tail and anything else that he could. He took a ball, fumbled it as was his early wont today, and scurring toward the end line, accompanied by two defenders. Somehow, he comes out with the ball and decides to cross it into the box, despite the fact that nobody made a run, probably because they were all shocked by the fact that he came out with that ball. His cross to nobody deflects off a Valladolid defender for an own goal, a 1-0 lead and yet another example of why Pedro! is the luckiest man in Barcelona.

It was a goal not only out of nothing, but out of less than nothing, and Valladolid didn’t know what to do. The shock and horror on their faces, that this was their reward after playing their collective hearts out, was almost too cruel even for me to bear.

And from that moment on, the match was over. Because the footy gods had given them their one opportunity. Take it, and go for it. They couldn’t, so the footy gods snatched the match away from a side that didn’t look all that likely to score on us.

Then came our second goal, a piece of jaw-dropping brilliance that I will watch again, and again, and again, and again. It’s easy to write at this moment, but it happened so quickly, so improbably, that I had to rewind my DVR to see exactly how it happened. So here it is:

–Pique spanks a pass to Alves, who sends it back to Pique
–From there it goes to The Yaya who, facing some pressure, slides it back to Alves
–Then it’s back to The Yaya, before Messi decides that he wants to play, and rolls over to the scene.
–Alves to The Yaya to Messi to The Yaya to Alves to Messi, who begins one of those crazy-quilt runs of his, eluding both a defender as well as an in-the-way ref, who I’m sure was caught watching that amazing display of one-touch tika-taka, just like the rest of us.
–At the end of the run, Messi’s way is blocked, so he hits The Yaya with a pass to create some space.
–The Yaya back heels the ball back to Messi, who slots a perfect pass to Pedro!, who goes between the keeper’s legs for 2-0.

It was, for me, fitting that the championship would be in effect clinched on a goal so exquisite, one that showed off not only our attacking flair and passing ability, but ability to go from nothing to 2-0 in about 4 seconds. It was astounding, and now the match was really done.

But there were more goals, more moments in The Yaya Show. Our third goal came when he took a pass and rumbled forward, nutmegging the first defender, hurdling the second and knocking a perfect cross to Messi, who buried the shot.

Our fourth goal once again came from The Yaya, as he smacked a ball to Messi in the exact right spot for Messi to control and shoot back across the grain, beating the keeper while also tying, with 34 goals, the scoring record set by Ronaldo, El Fenomeno.

Here are some numbers to mull over:

–We dropped only 15 points this season, winning with a record-setting total of 99 points
–Only a single defeat, to those damned mattress makers]
–34 goals for Messi the Pichichi, who will add all kinds of golden shoes to his wardrobe
–Our 20th title

And here are some more numbers:

Team: 10. It was collective excellence that defeated Valladolid, even if individual players didn’t live up to that immense standard.
Guardiola: 10. At first it didn’t look like the right lineup, but it was. And I loved the substitutions, done with kindness at the forefront, particularly in the case of Henry.
Valdes: 5. Holy crap, did he about give us a heart attack, or what? Made up for it with some great saves, though.
Alves: 7. Indefatigable bundle of energy, who was a key component of our Xavi-less attack.
Puyol: 9. A key, brilliant intervention to keep Valladolid from scoring, and kick-starting us with his exhortations.
Pique: 8. Didn’t have a lot to do, but did it brilliantly. His play from the back makes me smile all the time.
Abidal: 8. That play in which he anticipated a pass, controlled it with his chest and started a break is why I love our French Greyhound.
Keita: 9. Majestic. Absolutely majestic in doing all the dirty work, attacking, defending and helping with possession. What a player.
Busquets: 8. Dude just wins balls. He’s been on a roll since the shame of his Inter dive.
The Yaya: 10. How can we even think of letting go of my Man of the Match? He was astounding, absolutely astounding.
Pedro!: 7. Really came into the match well after a wild-eyed start that found him trying way too hard. Nicely taken goal, too.
Krkic: 3. Verging on worthless. Pillow-soft passes that were easily intercepted, and not much else.
Messi: 9. What a match, not just because of the brace, but also the effort and sheer joy of his game today. Even late in the match, up 3-0, he’s still running at the keeper, trying to force an error. Wow.

Substitutes

Henry (for Krkic): 4. A nice gesture by Guardiola to give him a chance to play in his last match with us. But he really didn’t have a chance to do that much, though he should have had an assist.
Ibrahimovic (for Alves): 3. Might have played to a better rating had he had more time. And just head the ball, dude!
Iniesta (for Pedro!): 5. Boy, could you see how much we missed him. He moves the ball so beautifully. Again, would have played to a higher rating with more time.

Yes, this review is short. Deliberately so. We’re all busy celebrating, and I think the focus should be on us and our feelings about our wonderful, wonderful club. Thanks to it, the players and all of the personnel for a memorable year filled with beautiful, soul-stirring football. Can’t wait for next year.

Luke, with the livebloggage:

This is what a *team* looks like!

Liga Preview: Barça – Valladolid, Sunday 1pmEST, ESPN2HD

This match is somehow under the radar, despite its significance. There are no Ens Hi Deixerem La Pell shirts being displayed, there are no slogans, no commercials, no gratuitous news coverage of the team’s every move. Yet this match dwarfs the Champions League semifinals because it is the match that will decide who earns the La Liga title this year. I know it’s just Valladolid, but we cannot take them lightly and we must beat them.

This is for everything. It’s easy to fall into the hyperbolic sewer of claiming each and every game is the most important one of the season. I’ve done it, of course, but at least this time I have the luxury of saying that I won’t do it again this season…which is akin to saying my favorite Zoolander movie was the first one. Which it was. Still, this match has become the defining match of the season for those who define seasons solely by trophy hauls. It’s either we win this and rise above the rest of the league or we lose and Madrid surfaces from beneath the murky depths to somehow claim our prize.

I want to say this now: whatever happens against Valladolid, whether we win, draw, or lose, whether we come out with a league title or not, whether there’s a goleada historica or an epic choke job, this team and this season are as far from failures as you can get. They are winners and overachievers, they are artists in a world of hacks, and they are successful through beauty despite the hard fouls, despite the bullseye on their backs, and despite the inclination of others to dismiss their grievances because they need to “man up.” Man up this, suckas.

So we await the arrival of Valladolid, the pucela, of Javier Clemente and his band of relegation-battling boys. They have the same personnel as they had before Clemente’s arrival in April (they started the season with Jose Luis Mendilibar, who they traded out for B squad manager Onesimo Sanchez two weeks after they lost to us in Jornada 19), but they’ve picked up the pace, going 3W-3D-1L (6GF, 5GA) and allowing various media outlets to talk about how good Javi Clemente is at this whole coaching business (and he is).

Thing is: we need to win this to win the championship and they need to win this to survive relegation. That is one of those things that makes you pause and go “hmmm” when you really think about it. Yes, they’re a decent enough squad, but they’re still fighting relegation and their leading scorer is Diego Costa. I can’t believe it isn’t Manucho…Diego Costa must have like 50 goals! Oh, he has 8? And Manucho only has 4? I guess he meant next season he’ll score between 30 and 40 goals. That’s the only logical explanation.

My whole point is that you can’t discount Valladolid, but you can say that we will probably win. The bookies, according to 101 Great Goals, are so confident in Barcelona winning the title that they’re offering 13-1 on a draw and 28-1 on a Valladolid win (unless I’m reading that wrong–I’m a terrible gambler), which is to say that Barcelona really is that much better than Valladolid. Guardiola, of course, is demanding his team not consider themselves champions yet, because, frankly, they’re not. 90 minutes against Valladolid could ensure or destroy that, so we have to play hard and we can take nothing for granted.

But I still think we’ll win.

Xavi is missing for this match thanks to his absurdly childish yellow card against Sevilla, which was his 5th of the season, ensuring his suspension against Valladolid. He got that card, by the way, for protesting Luis Fabiano’s goal instead of getting on with play–what stupid thing did he say to the ref? What could it have possibly been that mattered enough to say it despite the obvious consequences? Xavi is generally an extremely mature player, with his head screwed on correctly, but all 5 of his cards this year (4 during a match and 1 in the tunnel after the Villarreal 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou) have been for protest. Seriously, buddy? Come on. (And no, I don’t buy the blah-blah from El Mundo Deportivo about it being an unjust suspension. He committed the acts, he must sit. That the committee has unfairly rescinded suspensions against Kameni and Albiol merely means that the committee is bunk, but that doesn’t mean Xavi shouldn’t be suspended. He f-ed up, he pays the price. Fair.)

What could be the exultant return of Iniesta has been put in jeopardy by the fact that his injury is still an ongoing problem. It is possible he’ll make the bench for the match, but extraordinarily unlikely that he’ll make the starting lineup. Keita, too, has been hurting this week, but looks good to start. That’s obviously good news since Xavi is missing.

Predicted lineup: Valdes, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal, Busi, Yaya, Keita, Pedro, Ibra, Messi.

That’s who I think will be out there. Busi is only included because, well, we don’t have anyone else who isn’t busted up. That’s how that goes, even if I don’t like it. We beat them last time with goals from Xavi, Alves, and Messi with a strange starting lineup including Keita, Xavi, and Iniesta in the middle fronted by Henry, Ibra, and Messi. Unheard of!

We’ll need tactical control of this match, which means stepping in and stepping up. An early goal would change everything, either way; if we score first they must come out and play because a loss is as good as relegation for them and that just can’t be from their point of view. They’ll try to hit us on the counter, but with Abidal back in the fold, we should be fine covering any wing attacks they launch our way. Expect Messi to drop into a more central role and try to spring attacks with his dribbles and undercuts while the “central striker,” be it Ibra or Bojan, trying to peel away for a through ball.

Official Prediction: 3-0. It is time we put this league away and I think we will. Goals by Messi (2) and Pedro to seal the deal. How hot would it be if it were Ibra, though? Yeah, I said it.

Time: 7pm local/Barcelona, 1pm EST, check your local time here.
TV: This match will be on in the US on ESPN2HD as well as ESPN Deportes.
Weather: ~63F (~18F), clear skies, 0% chance of rain. Perfect for some friggin football.

Just so you know: It. Is. Goddamned. On. Let’s do this, woooooo!

He has a little Cap'n in him, that's for fucking sure.

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