Chasing the Big Leagues Real Valladolid and the contenders (Spain Segunda) is a post from: Just Football

Just Football's Tales from Tier Two series, in association with @tiertwofooty, continues now as we continue with Spain's Liga Adelante. First we assessed the promotion chances of Deportivo La Coruña in Spain's Segunda Division:

Real Valladolid

Real Valladolid have been in and around the top six all season in Spain's Segunda Division following a run of just 2 defeats in 22 games since kicking off the season with a 3-0 win at Gimnastic Tarragona.

With the ice storm following the snow storm Seattle Sounders FC canceled today's practice. It was to be the formal opening to training camp, even though most players have participated in voluntary workouts for some time. They've been doing that not just because of the roster competition, but because game one this year is in the CONCACAF Champions League against Santos Laguna.

7/11 :
14.00 - 16.00 Pratama vs Karya Utama (A) Lap. Banteng
16.00 - 18.00 Menteng FC vs PS. P.O.P (E) Lap. Banteng
14.00 - 16.00 Maesa vs Hercules (D) Lap. UMS
16.00 - 18.00 PS Setia vs MBFA (C) Lap. UMS
8/11 :
14.00 - 16.00 Putra Indonesia vs Camp 82 (F) Lap. Banteng
16.

7/11 :
14.00 - 16.00 Pratama vs Karya Utama (A) Lap. Banteng
16.00 - 18.00 Menteng FC vs PS. P.O.P (E) Lap. Banteng
14.00 - 16.00 Maesa vs Hercules (D) Lap. UMS
16.00 - 18.00 PS Setia vs MBFA (C) Lap. UMS
8/11 :
14.00 - 16.00 Putra Indonesia vs Camp 82 (F) Lap. Banteng
16.

U.S. Soccer released the roster of players called up by Jurgen Klinsmann and there are some interesting choices. Both Landon Donovan and Kyle Beckerman are on the roster and are apparently expected to be in camp regardless of whether or not their team makes it to MLS Cup. Reportedly Klinsmann will be releasing that player after the match against France in order to let them return to the United States and prepare.

The Dama de Honor, the shopping trolley and the squid Take one pasty white English guy - regular correspondent from this parish, Andy Hudson - his father and a retired footballer from Denmark and send them on an extended European Football Weekend to Spain.... "That's tasteless.""You finish it off.""I don't want it.

The qualification for Euro 2012 is almost done. England will be in Poland and/or Ukraine next summer after comfortably finishing top of Group G, albeit by handing Motenegro an unlikely point and a place in the play-offs in the final game. Ireland also made it to the play-offs, and could be drawn against Montenegro, but Wales and Scotland miss out once again.

Everton have announced the loan signing of Real Madrid winger Royston Drenthe. The 24 year old Dutchman joins the club on a season long loan from Los Blancos, and is expected to immediately slot into David Moyes' side.

Drenthe impressed during his time at Feyenoord, operating as a skillful and quick left back, and promptly earned a €14 million move to Real Madrid.

Thank god. Thank god. Thank god.

My Offside account has finally been restored and so I can now begin posting and updating. Fear NOT! This site will not die so long as TheOffside doesn't prevent me access to post publishing.

So: Today's analysis is on the plan for La Liga players to strike and stay away from matches on the opening day of the La Liga season, scheduled for August 21, a tantalising few days away.

A tad un-PC Aston Villa's mascot is currently Hercules Lion. He is everything you want in a mascot: jovial, sporty and a bit of cheeky chap. While there is a theme of African heritage running through the narrative of Villa mascots past and present, this wasn't always portrayed in quite as politically correct or positive [.

Mais um amistoso, foi disputado no dia 11/06/2011, na cidade de Assuncion-PAR, no Estadio Los Defensores del Chaco, onde jogaram as seleções do Paraguai (23º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção da Romênia (42º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções nunca haviam jogado.

With reports coming through suggesting that Spurs have been quoted a fee in the region of £31m for Fernando Llorente, could Harry Redknapp follow the lead of other premiership managers and take a look at free agent David Trezeguet?

The 33-year old French international is available on a free following his departure from relegated Spanish side Hercules in the summer after scoring 12 goals in 31 appearances in La Liga.

The Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) has revealed that La Liga players will strike for the first two weekends of the season.

Players want a wage guarantee fund for when clubs become insolvent, an all-too frequent problem in Spain, with Levante and Hercules struggling to pay staff members in recent years and Real Zaragoza applying for administration this summer, which is a common occurrence particularly in the Segunda Division.

The Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) has revealed that La Liga players will strike for the first two weekends of the season.

Players want a wage guarantee fund for when clubs become insolvent, an all-too frequent problem in Spain, with Levante and Hercules struggling to pay staff members in recent years and Real Zaragoza applying for administration this summer, which is a common occurrence particularly in the Segunda Division.

Royston Drenthe amongst many were not paid their wages for months

Spain's domestic season is in danger of being delayed as the players association representing 110 professionals including Carles Puyol and Iker Casillas have called for a strike after an agreement on collective bargaining failed to materialize.

According to a report from Goal.com, Premier League newcomers Swansea City could succeed in an audacious attempt to sign former World Cup winner David Trezeguet. The French striker is available on a free transfer after leaving Spanish side Hercules, and the Premier League could be an attractive destination.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish wants Wigan's Colombian star Hugo Rodallega but will have to pay £9million to get him.
Dalglish is keen to bring in the powerful attacker to give Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez some top-class support as the Kop aim to get back on the glory trail this season
Rodallega has impressed Dalglish in the past couple of years, often dazzling against the Anfield side in games, and he thinks the South American would be a huge asset
Dalglish is looking to move out David Ngog and Milan Jovanovic as he improves the quality of his options and he knows Suarez and Carroll will pick up injuries because of their all-action styles
So Dalglish wants Rodallega to fill that gap and hopes Wigan will be sensible with the fee as the 25-year-old is going into the last season of his contract and can go for nothing next summer
Wigan supremo Dave Whelan values Rodallega in the £9m class, similar to winger Charles NZogbia who is also in the same contract position and boss Roberto Martinez is backing him.

The Spanish League's calendar has been out and we will be travelling to Malaga in the opening fixture of our title defense on the 21st of August. We will be aiming to win our fourth successive La Liga title and equal the record of the Cryuff's Dream Team. The first Clasico match which is going to be held at Camp Nou is scheduled on the 11th of December.

SPANISH FOOTBALL has a new name to its long list of future young up & coming Football stars, KIKO FEMENIA, 20 year old Spain International just signed by FC BARCELONA from Club HERCULES. Many will not know the name or the player but the "kid" has already played 33 matches for Hercules that has been recently relegated to the 2º Division after playing in all last season in La Liga.

Real Zaragoza have applied to the courts to go into voluntary administration in a bid to sort out their finances.

Zaragoza avoided relegation on the final day of the season last month and have sought protection from creditors while they put together a new plan to deal with a net debt of 110 million euros ($161 million).

Hoy recordamos en Retrofootball al gran Mario Alberto Kempes, "El Matador".

Un delantero que alcanzó la cima en el Mundial 78, que ganó Argentina en casa y que tuvo una dilatada carrera, con éxito a nivel de clubes. Jugó en España en dos equipos (Valencia en dos etapas y Hércules), además de en Argentina, Austria, Chile e Indonesia.

Who is out and who is close to the Relegation Zone as of Mon May 16:
3 more got knocked down this weekend: Birmingham, Blackpool & Deportivo La Coruna.
UNREAL: With 1 round left in Ligue 1 there are still nine teams trying to avoid the one final relegation spot!
Only 2 relegation places are left in the top 5 leagues of Europe - France and Germany.

In the end, some will be left crying. This, my friends is football and even teams like Deportivo la Coruna had to learn the hard way following their 0-2 loss to the Valencians last night. Los Turcos have been relegated from La Liga, and will face a painful season in second flight with Almeria and Hercules.

The excitement of the last round of the 2010-11 Spanish league was all about who would be relegated together with Almería and Hercules. It is perhaps telling about how poor the Spanish league is (outside the top 2), that in the last few rounds, up to eight teams were fighting relegation! While there are 21 points between teams number 2 (Real Madrid) and 3 (Valencia), there are only 19 points

Tense & emotional finish in the SPANISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE with Round 38 unfortunately sending DEPORTIVO A CORUÑA, along with Hercules & Almeria, to the 2º Division. Here is a run down of tonights events with all the results & goal scorers. Deportivo relegated to second division DEPORTIVO A CORUÑA lost 0 - 2 to VALENCIA CF & thus gets relegated to the Spanish 2º Division after 20 glorious years

Who is out and who is close to the Relegation Zone as of Mon May 16:
5 more got knocked down this weekend: Eintract Frankfurt, Hercules, Lens, Sampdoria, West Ham.
Officially Relegated:
Almeria - Primera Division
Arles - Ligue 1
Bari - Serie A
Brescia - Serie A
Eintract Frankfurt - Bundesliga
Hercules - Primera Division
Lens - Ligue 1
St Pauli - Bundesliga
Sampdoria - Serie A
West Ham - Premier League
Serie A - 1 game to go (three lowest placed teams relegated)
REL-36 Sampdoria (-14)
REL-31 Brescia (-18)
REL-21 Bari (-33)
Bundesliga - 0 games to go (two lowest placed teams relegated, with third lowest in playoff against third highest in 2.

Valencia ensured third place in La Liga and an automatic berth in next season's Champions League when they drew 0-0 at home to city neighbours Levante and nearest rivals Villarreal lost 3-1 at home to Real Madrid.

With one match remaining, Valencia have 68 points, six ahead of Villarreal, who are assured of fourth and go into the qualifying round for Europe's elite club competition.

Debate continues to rage as to whether or not Pep Guardiola's class of 2010/2011 are in fact the best football side ever....Rolly investigates.

The stats themselves, courtesy of FC Barcelona.net do much to give weight to this claim. Such a subjective term can only demand statistical evidence from which a conclusion can be garnered.

After long absence, I am back now, with full basket of new stuff, with the new look of the blog. Today, I will start with videos and goals only. I will cover the past two weeks.
I will start with Sendoa wonderful goal for Hercules vs. Mallorca in a 2-2 tie.

Who is in and who is close to the Relegation Zone as of Tue May 10:
3 more got knocked down this weekend: Almeria, Brescia & St Pauli.
Officially Relegated
Almeria - La Liga
Arles - Ligue 1
Bari - Serie A
Brescia - Serie A
St Pauli - Bundesliga
Serie A - 2 games to go (three lowest placed teams relegated)
42 Parma (-9)
41 Bologna (-13)
40 Cesena (-12)
38 Lecce (-20)
- - - - -
36 Sampdoria (-13)
REL-31 Brescia (-17)
REL-21 Bari (-31)
Bundesliga - 1 game to go (two lowest placed teams relegated, with third lowest in playoff against third highest in 2.

Liga: Il miracolo di Pellegrini! Di Pietro Colella La 35esima della Liga offre, negli anticipi del sabato, ben sette partite: Getafe-Almeria, Valencia-Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao-Levante, Sporting Gijon-Deportivo La Coruna, Hercules-Racing Santander, Atletico Madrid-Malaga e Siviglia-Real Madrid.Il Getafe di Michel vince per 2-0 condannando matematicamente gli andalusi alla retrocessione (

La Liga Lowdown, Jornada 34: Thrills at the bottom as the big boys lose out is a post from: Just Football

Barcelona lost. Real Madrid lost. When was the last time you heard that after a weekend in La Liga? Well, let me tell you: 2009. It's been two years since they both succumbed to defeat in the same round of games, so Saturday's events came as a bit of a shock.

Who is in and who is close to the Relegation Zone as of Mon May 1:
Officially Relegated
Arles - Ligue 1
Bari - Serie A
St Pauli in Germany and Almeria in Spain are down for all intents and purposes, but not officially quite yet.
Serie A - 3 games to go (three lowest placed teams relegated)
42 Chievo (-13)
41 Parma (-13)
40 Catania (-14)
37 Cesena (-13)
36 Sampdoria (-12)
- - - - -
35 Lecce (-20)
31 Brescia (-13)
REL-21 Bari (-30)
Bundesliga - 2 games to go (two lowest placed teams relegated, with third lowest in playoff against third highest in 2.

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: Predictions

This week, the languagecaster team attempt to predict some big games at the foot of the table in Spain and England, wonder if Manchester United can be stopped in the Premier League and who will win the big derbies in London and in Rio de Janeiro.

Liverpool are reportedly considering a summer move for Dutch international midfielder Royston Drenthe, according to reports.
The versatile 24-year-old Real Madrid player, who can also play in defence, joined Hercules on loan in the summer and is helping the La Liga strugglers in their fight against relegation.

FC barcelona vs Real Madrid Clash promises to be a Classic

Update: Puyol has been declared fit and is included in squad.

So it's officially starts tomorrow - The Grand Series of El Clasico. FC Barcelona will be going to Bernebeu to kill any ray of hope that lingers in the Real Madrid fans and players' mind of lifting the La Liga trophy.

Rivalry

What does that word really mean.

Its hard to put into words the sensation a Valencians feels when Valencian clubs face off.

You see most matches i love watching Villareal Levante and Hercules succeed.

Then comes the moment the yellows set foot on our beloved grass in Mestalla.

La Liga Lowdown, Jornada 29: Real Madrid win derby, world keeps turning is a post from: Just Football

Reyes was falling, Diarra was fouling – two predictable features of the latest edition of the Madrid derby. There's another thing that was equally as predictable: Atlético Madrid's failure to beat their local rivals in a derby game once again.

Calendario e Risultati 29° Giornata Liga: 19/03/2011 18.00 Maiorca - Saragozza 19/03/2011 20.00 Barcellona - Getafe 19/03/2011 22.00 Atl.Madrid - R.Madrid 20/03/2011 17.00 S.Gijon - Almeria 20/03/2011 17.00 Hercules - Osasuna 20/03/2011 17.00 R.Santander - R.Sociedad 20/03/2011 17.00 Malaga - Espanyol 20/03/2011 17.

Liga: Il Siviglia riapre in parte il campionato, bagarre in zona retrocessione Di Pietro Colella Il sabato spagnolo vede scendere in campo le due squadre di Madrid ed il Valencia; l'Atletico affronta l'Almeria al "Mediterraneos" mentre le "merengues" ospitano l'Hercules ed i valenciani fanno visita al Real Saragozza.