Comments on: Copa del Rey Preview

By: john

john — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:30:31 +0000

Yeah, guys. Copa del eh. Given my love for Spanish football, however, I still feel a Spanish trophy should be a big deal. But the Primera and the CL are clearly the priorities and it’s hard to argue with that reasoning. As you’ve both (Coery and Isaiah) pointed out giving some of the benchers a chance to play is a damn fine thing, and even if Madrid lost, they put on a hell of a show.

And good luck to Barca from here out in the cup, Isaiah, but it’s all Getafe for me at this point. Vamos Azulones!

By: Corey

Corey — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:05:24 +0000

Your right Ish, the Copa is just not a priority, unless either Barca or Real go out of the CL in the group stage (disaster), there is no reason to try very hard in the Copa, its just not worth it. Its a good oppurtunity to give fringe and youth players a shot. Its the same in all other countries, not just Spain. I actually do see one positive from last nights loss. Even with a banged up defense and central midfield pairing, we were able to exert pressure on the opponent. So we will be fine at home for the next month. But away games are what win the league, we cant slip up because Barca will be there to take points off the lead.

By: Isaiah

Isaiah — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:37:33 +0000

John, you pointed out something very interesting there: Madrid doesn’t really care about winning the Copa. I think that’s sad, really, but it’s not something intrinsic to Madrid by any means. The domestic cup should be another competition that everyone wants to win, not just those who are out of the title race.

I like that Barca is putting out a first team squad, but that is more a function of our current position in the league and last year’s collapse than anyone in the Barca front office caring about the Copa. Until you need to bring in the silverware, there’s no reason to waste your energies on the Copa, it seems.

The Champions League is the main Cup focus, of course, and it’s hard to say that it isn’t more important, but even last year, when Barca was out of the CL, they fielded a pretty weak defense against Getafe during the second leg (and look where that got us) rather than caring. I think Madrid is suffering from this same idea, that the Copa is for training players and letting the young guns show off their stuff.

Only time will tell, of course, if Schuster can maintain the league form, but it can’t hurt to have better rested players. Or at least I wouldn’t think so. Does this improve Madrid’s chances of winning the league and the CL or not? I don’t really know, but, again, I don’t see how it can hurt.

I also wonder what it says that the “B” teams of both squads (Madrid and Barca) are playing better, more attractive football that their “A” team counterparts. The league could very well become more enjoyable to watch if Barca begins to play with a “nothing to lose” attitude in the league rather than the sourpuss show they put on against Sevilla on Tuesday. Boring is boring is boring, no matter who does it. Kudos to the defenses, of course, but blah to the offenses.

By: john

john — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:17:23 +0000

Actually – b**ca fan, if you’re talking about today’s game, Madrid played good, attacking football, but as Ryan said, we lacked finishing (with Raul not even on the bench, Van Nistelrooy out for the first half, and Robinho out for 3/4 of a game). This was another case of Madrid playin b-team in Copa del Rey, which gets Wenge praise in the FA Cup, but will no doubt get Schuster jeered in Spain. Personally, I’m sick of Madrid underperforming in the King’s Cup, but it’s clearly not their main focus.

And for the record, your Catalans have been playing some right ugly ball themselves lately. So stuff it.

By: barca fan

barca fan — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:24:40 +0000

as an avid barca supporter i really despise real madrid and my best friend who loves real madrid but doesnt have any means to watch their games- believes im biased when i tell him that they played like crap and still won. Im just glad to read that its not just me that realises it… thanks corey

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:06:44 +0000

We played well, but bad finishing let us down terribly. Saviola is useless.

By: john

john — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:53:43 +0000

ditto.

By: Corey

Corey — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:50:31 +0000

Awful

By: john

john — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:52:04 +0000

Saviola was chopped down in the box, no? But no call. Interested squad out there, and have been playing relatively well, from what I’ve seen. Higuain especially seems eager for the back of the net, hopefully he’ll find it in the 2nd.

By: Corey

Corey — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:08:21 +0000

booo ref, that was a clear handball