Soccerlens Podcast – El Casico, Chelsea’s anti-football and all about La Liga
El Casico - Real Madrid v Barcelona
On episode nine of the Soccerlens Podcast, Stephen Darwin is joined by FourFourTwo’s man in Madrid, Tim Stannard, to talk about Spanish football and La Liga.
The show will be looking specifically at Valencia and their financial woes, Tim rips into Chelsea and their negative tactics at the Nou Camp and of course there’s just the small matter of El Clasico to deal with too.
Among the points of discussion raised with Tim Stannard were:
- The UEFA Champions League semi-final ties
- Sevilla,Valencia and Villarreal, the race for third place
- Barcelona’s quest for the treble
- Transfer speculation aplenty
- El Clasico and the title race
- Plus more on top of that!
Show Details
Date: Friday 1st May 2009
Host: Stephen Darwin
Co-Host: Tim Stannard
You can listen to the show below:
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Download link (mp3, 29mb, 32 mins)
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I wouldn’t quite agree that Tim “rips into Chelsea”, he actually comes across as a very balanced guy and astute observer.
That said, I’m tired of people criticising Chelsea for so called anti-football. There’s people who understand football and tactics and there’s managers who understand football and tactics.
In today’s game, more than ever, it’s about how to win and be successful.
Gold star to Hiddink and Chelsea and I think they’ll finish them off at the Bridge.
And if that happens AND Real pip them in La Liga, where do we start with the verdicts on this ’superteam’??
Over-rated would be a good starting point! Win both and I’m a believer.
I actually applaud the Chelsea tactics from last week. They worked with what they had (solid defense, physical play, sleepy counter attack) against what Barca has displayed throughout the year (speed, genius, brilliance).
Yes, it’s perhaps not the most thrilling football. But last week’s game was not the Final; it was the first half of simply getting to the game where -perhaps- they will indeed show the more positive side to their game. They played to their strengths in Leg 1 are in a decent position to return to the Final. What’s the harm in that?
It’s funny, this bashing of Chelsea. Brazilian National players are often quoted as saying that they’ll do anything to win the World Cup – even going so far as to admit to cheating, time-wasting, and feigning injury – all while the Brazil team is placed on a pedestal by followers of the game. Why then is Chelsea being treated so harshly? (I saw some attacking play – it’s true, I saw it!)
A team wins a trophy over the course of many many grueling games. If Barca are to prove that they are the footballing gods everyone is making them out to be, then they have to be able to adapt to any tactics thrown at them.
— cheers//dom
Dominick pretty much sums it up.
Real have a much tougher run-in than Barca’s, so even after a draw or defeat for Barcelona, Madrid will find the odds still stacked against them with some very difficult away games to come.
The league should go to Barca, but let’s see.
Interesting to see Tim say that Guardiola won’t rotate his team much, I’d think he’d absolutely have to if they intend to go on to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday and win, I don’t see Messi playing three games at full tilt in 8 days at this stage of the season, even if he was reduced to running around in a cul-de-sac on Tuesday.
Tim also had some interesting views on referees in Spain.
Seeing El Clasico, and Tim’s spot on about the refereeing. Ridiculous.