European Leagues Thread 2012/2013

[Starfish]

Ralf Rangnick resigns as Schalke manager due to health issues.

Your role on this thread is really the angel of death, isn't it? Your last few posts (apart from the Hamburg thumbs up) have been first-with-the-news on sackings and so on.

Not good news for Nürnberg, maybe. It is no secret that Schalke covet Dieter Hecking - he has done an exceptional job here and I would not be happy to see him go.

[Compo's Hat]

Ranieri confirmed as new Inter boss.

[Compo's Hat]

Another poor performance from Roma tonight drawing at home to Siena who scored their first goal of the season late on and deservedly so.

Can see what Luis Enrique is trying to do but it's a far cry from how Barca play.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Yeah, I was gonna say --ol' Claudio might've held out for tonite's result and perhaps found himself the object of a bidding war (assuming that Roma would welcome him back)

Wild nite in Seville as Betis go 2-0 and 4-1 up on Zaragoza before their 'keeper gets himself sent off for unlawfully denying a scoring chance with a reckless lunge outside of his area on 69'

Roque Santa Cruz a vital brace for the hosts, who survive the late onslaught and walk out 4-3 winners and unblemished and alone atop La Liga, two points clear of Valencia after four rounds of play

Fellow Premier League veteran Walter Pandiani a winner for hosts Espanyol against Getafe during time added on at the end of the match played earlier on Thursday that ended 1-0

[southbank1871]

Hmm, cheers both, might need a re-think then as going to the football would be one of the main reasons for going there. One of my m8's gf is fluent in German, so could get her to phone up I guess, to see if that helps.

You could also go to see St. Pauli. The system in Germany is that if there are two professional clubs in one city, they will take turns at playing 'at home' (even if they use different stadiums and are in different leagues). St. Pauli are playing their first home game of the second half of the season sometime between February 10th and 13th (against Bochum), are currently second in the 2. Bl and are possibly the 'coolest' club in Germany to be a fan of. And as the name suggests, the stadium is in the going out area, a catapult shot from the Reeperbahn.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_St._Pauli

Nice one Starfers, will definitely look into this.

[Starfish]

Bottom of the table Hamburg had the difficult task of travelling to in-form Stuttgart tonight. Having not won a game since March, as we know, they sacked Michael Oenning this week and tonight ... with Cardoso in temporary charge, they found their second-half feet and ran out 1-2 winners.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

And that after going a goal down (and it should've been two at a minimum --Cacau )

I really do hope that all of this seeing around corners that you've been doing on here is paying off for you, Starferz

Just watched Benfica come from a goal behind twice on the nite to walk out of Porto with a point as it finishes 2-all in a top of the table clash over in the 'Guese league

Both are on 14 points from 6 matches played, with Porto one goal better on GD at +9 and thus top

Braga would draw level on points with both if they should defeat struggling islanders Nacional at home on Saturday

[Starfish]

And that after going a goal down (and it should've been two at a minimum --Cacau )

I really do hope that all of this seeing around corners that you've been doing on here is paying off for you, Starferz

To be honest, I am not really saying anything that football pundits on barstools all over Germany are not saying. I am the only German-based one doing so do on HNA? though.

[Compo's Hat]

Inter grind out a 3-1 win at Bologna. Huge pressure 2nd half and not a great performance but given the circumstances they'll be happy just to get the 3 points.

[sandman]

Madrid fcuking up again with Casillas slipping into old habits and palming the ball straight to a striker. Vallecano look impressive especially Bangura although he is up against Marcelo who can't defend.

[Compo's Hat]

Comfortable 1-0 win for Milan tonight, Cesena never really looked like doing much damage.

Napoli held at home by Fiorentina.

[Compo's Hat]

Great comeback for Chievo against 10 man Genoa. Moscardelli has become a super sub this week although they do seem to play better as a side when he comes on.

Watched a couple of other games which were dire to watch in the games at Cagliari and Parma, Roma i reckon are not going to be great viewing this season with this passing style Luis Enrique has brought in.

[Simon's Church]

PSG are 1-0 up against Lyon, they then should have gone 2 up and Gomis just missed the free-est of free headers from 6 yards out for Lyon. I like Pastore.

[Compo's Hat]

Juventus completely dominated AC Milan tonight, i think we witnessed the changing of the guard at the top beginning to take place in Serie A this weekend.

Abbiati has to be one of the worse keeper's i've seen at a top European club, just don't rate the guy at all!

[RoyalJames101]

Did Napoli beat Inter 3-0 yesterday?

[Simon's Church]

Both Inter and Milan look like they're in a bit of trouble at the moment and even though it's early they could end up struggling to make the Champions league next season.

[bobbybottler]

A complete coupon-wrecker of a weekend in Holland - come one Handbags, we're all waiting

[Compo's Hat]

Did Napoli beat Inter 3-0 yesterday?

At the San Siro too without Cavani, although it was a shocking decision to give the red card and the penalty for the opening goal.

[cmonurz]

Just a little snippet of information that interested me today...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bojan_Krki%C4%87

Bojan Krkic joined Roma at the start of the season from Barcelona, for €12m. The transfer includes an obligatory repurchase of the player for €13m in two years time by Barcelona. Roma can exercise a right to block the repurchase, but if they do they so, their original purchase price increases to €40m.

Is there a financial reason why Barca might want Krkic off their books? Can't see what advantage this deal has to anyone over a loan.

[rhroyal]

Krkic is quite a way from Barca's regular first team; Villa, Pedro, Messi, Affelay etc. This gives Bojan a chance to gain proper experience; 2 years will give him plenty of time to settle in, get to know his team mates, understand the mentality etc. It definitely makes a difference; for example Simon Cox never really did much when we loaned him out but when he got a proper chance to settle down he flourished.

All of this at a high standard too. Sounds almost better than a loan as Barca don't have to take him back if he's not up to the task. If he's extremely good and they lose him, at least they get a big fee.

He looked like a real bright light a couple of years back, but he has fallen down the pecking order and not progressed all that quickly.

I believe that Barca do have some issues with debt too; this helps cash flow and gets him off the wage bill. Makes good sense to me all round.