Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:56 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

Catalan v Huddersfield turned off in favour of Elx v Granada! Bar owner says he has to bow to the masses. Winner goes up to first division so could be good.

Do you know what the story is with Granada? Went to see them in January 09 and they were fighting off relegation from 2B, the players were protesting about not being paid and there were about 500 people in the ground.

Now back to back promotions and they're in La Primera.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:13 pm  

Asim wrote:

Do you know what the story is with Granada? Went to see them in January 09 and they were fighting off relegation from 2B, the players were protesting about not being paid and there were about 500 people in the ground.

Now back to back promotions and they're in La Primera.

Just been watching it on a stream then, exciting finish with Granada winning on away goals although some ugly scenes at the final whistle.

It's not so long ago they were in Tercera either. Used to live just up the road from the stadium in 03/04 when the financial situation was that bad then that the players staged a sit down protest during a friendly against Betis, and even slept rough one one of the city centres main streets for a couple of nights to draw attention to the fact that they weren't getting paid.

I believe they've changed owners since then, and their team is decent due to having about a dozen players on loan from Udinese. Who knows what their squad will look like next season, and as you know from having been to the ground it's a bit on the small side for the top division.

Great achievement for them anyway. Aupa Graná!

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:23 pm  

Andalus AND Euskera in the same sentence. He's done his time and he's back.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:25 pm  

FireWire wrote:

Just been watching it on a stream then, exciting finish with Granada winning on away goals although some ugly scenes at the final whistle.

It's not so long ago they were in Tercera either. Used to live just up the road from the stadium in 03/04 when the financial situation was that bad then that the players staged a sit down protest during a friendly against Betis, and even slept rough one one of the city centres main streets for a couple of nights to draw attention to the fact that they weren't getting paid.

I believe they've changed owners since then, and their team is decent due to having about a dozen players on loan from Udinese. Who knows what their squad will look like next season, and as you know from having been to the ground it's a bit on the small side for the top division.

Great achievement for them anyway. Aupa Graná!

I'd forgotten about the Udinese link up, I was there again in January this year and went to see them thrash Betis 3-0, the ground was full (about 16k) but a hell of a lot of them seemed to be Betis supporters, be interesting to see if the city takes to them a bit more now they are in the top flight!

I was watching the semi final last week in a bar in Santiago de Compostela and attracted the ire of the locals for wanting them to beat Celta, after missing two penalties in the game before winning the shoot out then missing the same penalty twice in the first leg of the final the other night they've certainly done it the hard way!

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:30 pm  

I think on the sly, Newcastle are building a heck of a team there. They are getting a lot of flack for selling Nolan (when IMO, West Ham have massively overpaid for a limited, albeit effective, player).

The players they are bringing in are all massively talented, young, and their 3 signings so far, 2 have been free.

I was very impressed with Demba Ba at West Ham, I was slyly hoping he would go to Everton as i think he would have been exactly what they needed. Yohanne Cabaye is a quality player, we'll see if he can adapt to the prem but he's got a couple of other Frenchies in the squad.

Ben Arfa is quality, he showed that before he got injured. And Marveaux is a good player, although either they outbid Liverpool or he actually failed a medical, either way it's a bit of a risk (with a 5 year contract either way).

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:37 pm  

Asim wrote:

Do you know what the story is with Granada? Went to see them in January 09 and they were fighting off relegation from 2B, the players were protesting about not being paid and there were about 500 people in the ground.

Now back to back promotions and they're in La Primera.

Quite bevvied at moment and the night is still young so will post tomorrow. Little known fact, there are two professional clubs in Granada.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:45 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

Andalus AND Euskera in the same sentence. He's done his time and he's back.

Ha ha not been on here for a while, whatever happened to the Spanish football thread?

Puta Granada 74! The MK Dons of Andalucía

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:55 pm  

FireWire wrote:

Puta Granada 74! The MK Dons of Andalucía

I think Granada 74 have packed it in, they had a couple of years in Granada after being "moved" from Murcia then dropped out of the league.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:31 pm  

I see Marouanne Fellaini has issued a 'come get me' plea today. It will be interesting to see who comes a knocking. Harry Redknapp will have no doubt already put a bid in and Newcastle can rarely resist a player that has been looked at by Moyes.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:37 pm  

inside_man wrote:

Ben Arfa is quality, he showed that before he got injured. And Marveaux is a good player, although either they outbid Liverpool or he actually failed a medical, either way it's a bit of a risk (with a 5 year contract either way).

He had been set to sign for us since January. The day after news leaked about him failing his medical, he signs for Newcastle. It's a coup for them as he's apparently a talented player, but we'll see how sensible it is during the next five years.