While waiting to see if there's enough enthousiast ones for a general football topic in the lounge... The La Liga topic for last season was relatively active, so let's do one for this season as well :clap2:
It's generally expected that it will be the classic two horse race between Barça and Real Madrid again. Barça have an impressive attack with Pedro-Villa-Messi, then they got Bojan on the bench who would be an undisputed started in 8 or 9 out of 10 other teams. That frontline is lethal. In the back Barça look better organised than before as well, Victor Valdez having improved dramatically the last 2 years and having become one of the world's best as well.
I'm curious weither Real will be able to provide serious competition. A lot of people see a miracle worker in José Mourinho, but it's still the guys on the pitch that have to do it. No denying Mourinho is a tactical mastermind amongst coaches, but is the pool of players he has sufficient to overcome the Barça team with world class players in every position? I'm not too impressed with the shopping Real have done, Özil should be a great purchase (I wonder why he was benched in the first game) but then the other shopping they did didn't convince me. Also, Cristiano Ronaldo seems again to be looked upon as the one to lift the team to a higher level but he never performed that well in the great games, mainly scoring and dominating against teams like Almeria, Xerex, Gijon, ... In the real top games he's often nowhere to be seen.
So despite Mourinho, I put my bets on a new Barça title.
The others?
Probably the only team that can do any harm to the big two (without thinking they're able to win the Liga) is Sevilla. They disappointed against Braga but it was early season. They do have a very good squad there.
Valencia? No, no, no, ... Selling David Villa is reason enough to count it out, they lost their decisive player and mainly paid off debts rather than shopping around with the money they got for him.
Atletico Madrid? I do see potential there, the team's been growing stronger and stronger the last half year and seems to continue upon those fundaments of last season. They also got several players that can decide it on their own (Simao, Forlan, ...). Not a title contender, but I do see them finish in the top-5.
As for my own favourites Mallorca... Not relegating is the ambition, full stop. Not relegating and paying off the debts. Making the club financial healthy against comes as absolute priority now, on the pitch I'll be more than happy if they manage to stay out of the relegation zone. To pay some debts off, several good players had to be solved, luckily my favourite Dudu Aouate is amongst those who chose to stay, and so is Castro who I like quite a lot. Question mark weither Laudrup has the experience for the coaching job but so far I give him benefit of the doubt.
My bet:
1. Barça
2. Real Madrid
3. Sevilla
4. Atletico Madrid
It's generally expected that it will be the classic two horse race between Barça and Real Madrid again. Barça have an impressive attack with Pedro-Villa-Messi, then they got Bojan on the bench who would be an undisputed started in 8 or 9 out of 10 other teams. That frontline is lethal. In the back Barça look better organised than before as well, Victor Valdez having improved dramatically the last 2 years and having become one of the world's best as well.
I'm curious weither Real will be able to provide serious competition. A lot of people see a miracle worker in José Mourinho, but it's still the guys on the pitch that have to do it. No denying Mourinho is a tactical mastermind amongst coaches, but is the pool of players he has sufficient to overcome the Barça team with world class players in every position? I'm not too impressed with the shopping Real have done, Özil should be a great purchase (I wonder why he was benched in the first game) but then the other shopping they did didn't convince me. Also, Cristiano Ronaldo seems again to be looked upon as the one to lift the team to a higher level but he never performed that well in the great games, mainly scoring and dominating against teams like Almeria, Xerex, Gijon, ... In the real top games he's often nowhere to be seen.
So despite Mourinho, I put my bets on a new Barça title.
The others?
Probably the only team that can do any harm to the big two (without thinking they're able to win the Liga) is Sevilla. They disappointed against Braga but it was early season. They do have a very good squad there.
Valencia? No, no, no, ... Selling David Villa is reason enough to count it out, they lost their decisive player and mainly paid off debts rather than shopping around with the money they got for him.
Atletico Madrid? I do see potential there, the team's been growing stronger and stronger the last half year and seems to continue upon those fundaments of last season. They also got several players that can decide it on their own (Simao, Forlan, ...). Not a title contender, but I do see them finish in the top-5.
As for my own favourites Mallorca... Not relegating is the ambition, full stop. Not relegating and paying off the debts. Making the club financial healthy against comes as absolute priority now, on the pitch I'll be more than happy if they manage to stay out of the relegation zone. To pay some debts off, several good players had to be solved, luckily my favourite Dudu Aouate is amongst those who chose to stay, and so is Castro who I like quite a lot. Question mark weither Laudrup has the experience for the coaching job but so far I give him benefit of the doubt.
My bet:
1. Barça
2. Real Madrid
3. Sevilla
4. Atletico Madrid