This first weekend of the season was the weekend of wrong impressions; on the one hand you had Real Madrid who looked a much better team than they probably are at this early stage in Bernd Schuster's reign.
I still think they need a strong central midfield player if they want to dominate games and play the way Schuster wants.
I feel the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Roysten Drenthe and Arjen Robben may have ups and downs in their first seasons in La Liga, but it was obviously a really good start against Atletico and they played some really nice football.
Rossi: Scoring start
The other wrong impression came from Santander where it was clear that Barcelona have a lot of improvements to make following their goalless draw. It is a worry that they could be a copycat of last year.
But they are only one step from being a very good team, they just need to improve on two things. Firstly they need to work on the defensive work of the three forwards in Rijkaard's 4-3-3 formation, whoever they may be. And secondly they need to move the ball quicker. I feel that is round the corner.
On the other hand what was not a wrong impression was Villarreal who were impressive against the ten men, and then nine men, of Valencia. Villarreal will be a force to be reckoned with this season.
Guillem Balague
Quotes of the week
On the other hand what was not a wrong impression was Villarreal who were impressive against the ten men, and then nine men, of Valencia. Villarreal will be a force to be reckoned with this season.
And more wrong impressions coming with Murcia, Almeria and Valladolid all winning. It obviously is a competitive Liga this season but apart from Murcia, I'm sure that Almeria and Valladolid will be fighting relegation.
Ones to watch
Keep an eye out for these players during the season: Andres Guardado from Deportivo - a Mexican left winger who is very skilful; Stephen Sunday, known as Sunny, who will offer cover for Daniel Albelda in Valencia's midfield. He was born in Nigeria but is a Spain under-21 international.
Espanyol's Lola, who is called Milan Smiljanic but prefers to be called Lola, a central midfield player and Serbia under-20 international; Giovani Dos Santos at Barcelona who keeps knocking on the door and wants a place in the line-up.
And Alvaro Negredo at Almeria - a typical, tall, English-like striker. Watch out for these young talents and I will mention a few more to look out for as the season progresses.
Guillem answers your email...
Guillem, I've been supporting Barcelona for years now, would you agree with me that a time for change has come to the club? Frank Rijkaard should fix the problem by selling on at least one or two of the players who suffer from 'galacticoism'. With Dos Santos coming up the ranks and the new stars added I believe it's time for Deco to move on, there is also Eto'o and Ronaldinho, two great players but if one leaves it would create money and I hope it will end the 'Galacticoism' problem facing the club and we might win something again. Foysol, East London.
Guillem Replies: I really thought, as many did, that this summer, that Barca should have got rid of one of the top players - either Ronaldinho or Samuel Eto'o. That almost happened, but now the player who is almost getting the blame for Barcelona not winning anything last season is Deco, who is out of the line-up at the moment. He has to move on and I think they have left the big revolution of selling either Eto'o or Ronaldinho until next season. That is why Ronaldinho is preparing himself for the big move and that is why his brother, Roberto de Assis Moreira, met Roman Abramovich recently. I agree with you Foysol, things should have changed in the summer and you can see already that there are still traces of what went wrong last season, but it has not happened. Barca still has the quality to win enough matches to win the league.
Hi Guillem, Which English players do you think would have good success in La Liga? Do you think Wayne Rooney will ever go to Spain to play football and will Ronaldinho ever leave Barca for Chelsea? Mark Brown.
Guillem Replies: Wayne Rooney to Spain? Never. He's the kind of player who will struggle outside of the Premier League. Not so much with his football, which would be wonderful to see in Spain, but personally I think he would struggle. And being at Manchester United, I don't think they would let him go that lightly so I don't think we will ever see him in La Liga. I know it's pretty early to say but I think this will be Ronaldinho's last season at Barcelona and Chelsea is definitely a possibility. But one that is closer to his heart is Milan. I think Frank Lampard would be great for a team like Real Madrid. Barcelona also need goals from midfield so I think he is a player who would do really well in Spain. Sol Campbell is wanted by Villarreal and that kind of centre back is not typical of Spain, but the problem is that Villarreal is an offensive team and they leave lots of gaps at the back and maybe Campbell hasn't got the pace for it, but he would be good in other facets. Shaun Wright-Phillips is different and would be good in la Liga and of course Steven Gerrard could play in any team. I once asked him if he would join my team, Espanyol. It was a bit of a joke and he said 'no' anyway. Of the players that don't automatically spring to mind, Wayne Bridge would do well in Spain as there are not that many good left backs in la Liga. And finally, a player who I would love to see in Spain, and who I think would be great, and who I also hope a big team will go for soon is Derby's Giles Barnes.
Comments (11)
Chris Morton (Blackpool fan) says...
I would agree totally with your views on Giles Barnes. He's a great player for Derby and he dragged them through some tough games last season. It's disappointing that he's been injured for the start of Derby's campaign, but I think you'll see a slight improvement in the Rams' fortunes when he returns to action. Although it still won't be enough to save them from relegation - everyone will see just what a class act he is.
Posted 11:30 20th October 2007
John Mcinnes (Queens Park Rangers fan) says...
I too was at Mestalla a couple of weeks back. The ref did Valencia no favours throughout the whole match, and 2 of Villarreals goals were breakaways, the other a penalty. Quique now has autonomy over the team and in Fernandes a player who should excel in La LIga. This team will certainly progress, there is to much talent to do otherwise, and will challenge for the title as well as go far in the Champions League. Amunt!
Posted 13:39 10th September 2007
Remby Tinio (Chelsea fan) says...
Real Madrid regardless of whatever comes up at the start or at the end of this season will still be favorites in all competitions, let me explain why, its because of the shirt these guys are wearing.
Posted 04:08 8th September 2007
Dean Lloyd (Crystal Palace fan) says...
What is it with players like Arizmendi and riki their goal scoring statistics are absolutely pathetic yet they are even given or highly tipped for a call up to the spanish team when some one like mikel arteta who's had two great seasons with everton and their best player and i am not an everton fan
Posted 14:30 6th September 2007
Mike Barnard (Newcastle United fan) says...
I am in complete agreement with Ibrahim! I went to the Valencia v Villareal game on day one at the mestalla, and i would agree that Villareal were far better than Valencia, but not until the 2nd half when Valencia were without Villa (who had a few decent chances in the 1st half hour) and Joaquin, who both got stupidly sent off. Villareal are going to struggle to make the champions league places, probably having to finish up with a UEFA cup spot. They were completely blown away by Real Madrid on sunday, in front of their own fans. The club's infrastructure isnt big enough for them to be 'a force' in la liga this season.
Posted 14:03 6th September 2007
Ibrahim Indimi (Newcastle United fan) says...
With all due respect, I noticed that guillem balague is constantly wrong with assessment of la liga. last season, almost 75 to 80% of his predictions were wrong, and the ones he got right were those that were too clear for even a profesional to be asked for an opinion about. He got real madrid's adventures totally wrong till the last blow of the wistle of the season. And this term, in comparisson to what his views were on madrid and villareal on match day one, and what the liga fans saw when both teams met is a definite contender for the blunder of the season already in terms of expert views.
Posted 13:42 5th September 2007
Anton Setiawan (Manchester City fan) says...
Well I am a Madridtista, and we have seen a spectacular Madrid at a five stars performance at Villareal. I sincerely doubt Schuster in the pre-season but if this kind of performance is becoming regular, I'd say, no Messi or dos Santos could stop Les Merengues. Still early in the season tho, lets hope to see more dazzling performance of post-galacticos, new Madrid. Cheers
Posted 13:17 5th September 2007
Dejan Petkoski (Chelsea fan) says...
Well i think that the past has shown that every brasilian star who played for Barcelona in the end finished as a disapotment in other clubs ( the ones like Ronaldo and Rivaldo for example ), so i think that Barca has nothing to fear if they sell him to another club like Chelsea or Milan. In a way, the allways find in a one or two years someone better than the last one... In this case Barca has two potencial players who can follow Ronaldinho success ( Messi and Dos Santos ). I think that is good that Ronaldinho will stay for one more year so this two, especialy Dos Santos can gain more experince. Next year they will be able to control the game by them selfs without R. And the money from the sale will be more than exelent, the real price on the market for R is 50 milion euors, but Barca will recive 70 milions at least for a player who will be 29 year old.
Posted 10:26 5th September 2007
Abu Islam (Arsenal fan) says...
I think that Eto'o's injury has made things much easier for Rijkaard interms of keeping the 'Fantastic Four' happy. Now, Rijkaard's only purpose would be to get the best out of his players which is just 'pure hard work'. Also I agree with Guillem that Rijkaard does need to make his 'front three' track back and defend (Chelsea are the prime example). And my last thought on Barcelona is that this year they are more up for the Champions league rather than the Spanish league which is exactly the reason why Henry is bought and exactly the reason why he chose Barcelona. As far as Real Madrid is concerned, I also agree with Guillem that they are still playing with the same passion and euphoria which was there towards the end of last season. At some point this passion or rather euphoria will die down and thats where the quality factor comes into play. And that is where they would struggle even though I still believe that they are favourites to win the Spanish league along with Barcelona.
Posted 11:58 1st September 2007
Stewart Pickering (Rangers fan) says...
In response to Thomas Webster's comment I have to agree, Mikel Arteta is a great player and hugely under-rated in the Premier league. When he was at Rangers it was evident that he would be a huge talent for years to come. I hope he does get the chance to play for Spain, as I've not seen many players better than him. He's not in the "World Class" category, and no disrespect intended, simply because he plays for Everton. Maybe if Everton can break the top four and make the Champions League, he will be more revered. And if that doesn't happen, he could move on.
Posted 22:16 31st August 2007
Thomas Webster (Everton fan) says...
Ive been an Everton fan all my life, and I dont think i have ever seen a more talented player in an Everton team than that of Mikel Arteta, he is world class! and certainly good enough to play in the Spanish National side. What are your views Guillem? I understand Spain do have an awful lot of talented midfield players at their disposal, but i think Arteta matches the class of Reyes, Marchena, Silva and Albalda, who are all quality players, however do they create as much as Mikel and isnt it about time he gets his chance to shine?
Posted 16:13 31st August 2007