Rodallega

utopiacowboy says on Aug 15, 2009, 18:22:

The only Colombian currently playing in the world's best league, the English Premier League, Rodallega is an asset that the Colombian national team seldom uses. They'll give him 10 or 15 minutes late in the game when it no longer matters.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Monpirri says on Aug 15, 2009, 18:34:

Colombian coaches are Not too bright, that's is why the seldom deploy Rodallega.
Rodallega is a great player, ever since I noticed him playing in Colombia. I know he has a great potential.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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CelticAce88 says on Aug 15, 2009, 19:14:

He scored today for Wigan - I think he may well have a good season this year...

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Simon says on Aug 15, 2009, 20:52:

The world's best league is La Liga.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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Haddeman says on Aug 16, 2009, 10:05:

Bollocks Simon,in the past 5 seasons the premier league has dominated the champions league,La liga is for maricas.

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 16, 2009, 10:08:

La Liga has several top notch clubs, no doubt about it but I still think the EPL has better overall quality. There are not too many Colombians, strangely enough. Among them are Fabian Vargas of Almeria, Luis Perea of Atletico Madrid, and Abel Aguilar of Real Zaragoza.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Shortiao says on Aug 16, 2009, 10:43:

Utopia - the EPL is shite now. Theres 2 teams that can realistically win it. and six 'big' teams. You can't tell me that Wolves, Burnley, Hull City, Stoke City, Bolton, Portsmouth can be in a league that claims to be the best in the world.

"cuando una persona toma otro pasaporte....pierde su identidad!" - Shortiao

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thepieman says on Aug 16, 2009, 11:02:

It is the best league in the world if you seen the football on the 1st day of the season.. some outstanding goals.. How many teams can realistically win la liga? 2 with 2 or 3 big teams

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Simon says on Aug 16, 2009, 11:53:

"Bollocks Simon,in the past 5 seasons the premier league has dominated the champions league,La liga is for maricas."

Yeah, that's why Barcelona just danced around Manchester United at the UEFA Championship!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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tropicalshirt says on Aug 16, 2009, 12:09:

This year in the Premier league there will be 5 good teams (time will tell on this, so just wait thank you!)

Liverpool
Chelsea
Manchester Utd
Manchester City
Arsenal

At the moment Barcelona are playing the best football in the World. They are above the five good English teams. Four others? I don't think there are four others in the Spanish league?

Rodallega was coming along OK at the end of last season. It seems having Martinez as coach may suit him very well from the opening day performance. He was involved in everything.

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 16, 2009, 16:23:

I would agree with those five teams in the EPL. Arsenal looked fierce yesterday. My question would be to name the five teams in La Liga that can match them. Barca and Real Madrid and then? There are too many Spanish players in La Liga. One of the teams is all Spanish (Athletic Bilbao) and several of the others only have a handful of foreign players (Tenerife, Xerez, Sporting de Gijon). The UEFA rankings of the leagues over play in the past five years has La Liga second behind the EPL.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Shortiao says on Aug 17, 2009, 09:37:

Simon is a bit of a cock but this time he's spot on. La Liga is a stronger league - you only have to look at how the Spanish national team is doing to see that.

"cuando una persona toma otro pasaporte....pierde su identidad!" - Shortiao

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tropicalshirt says on Aug 17, 2009, 17:00:

When the Spanish national team won the European Championship two Spanish Premier league players made the difference for them: Fabregas when he came on changed everything and Torres got their goals.

The English Premier League was behind in technical ability, particularly after their exit from European football. Now that the technical ability is catching up the other strengths of English football are taking control of World football at the league level. For example, Barcelona are the best club in the World at the moment but if you saw the last semi finals of the
Champions League you will know that Chelsea should of gone through. Their strengths were too much for Barcelona.

Or look at the recent records of Barcelona or Real Madrid against Liverpool for example.

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 17, 2009, 20:40:

The Spanish National team? You mean the one that lost to the US?

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Shortiao says on Aug 17, 2009, 23:49:

The Spanish National team? You mean the one that lost to the US?

*****************

c'mon, it was the Confederations Cup - South Africa even got to the semi's

"cuando una persona toma otro pasaporte....pierde su identidad!" - Shortiao

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Shortiao says on Aug 17, 2009, 23:51:

The English Premier League was behind in technical ability, particularly after their exit from European football. Now that the technical ability is catching up the other strengths of English football are taking control of World football at the league level. For example, Barcelona are the best club in the World at the moment but if you saw the last semi finals of the
Champions League you will know that Chelsea should of gone through. Their strengths were too much for Barcelona.


-----------------------------------------

Don't you think though that the massive influx of foreigners in the EPL is hampering their national team? Ok, England are doing well with Capello in charge but they stil don't have that extra edge botu them to win a major trophy.

"cuando una persona toma otro pasaporte....pierde su identidad!" - Shortiao

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Simon says on Aug 18, 2009, 13:43:

"The Spanish National team? You mean the one that lost to the US?"

That was such a fluke.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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thepieman says on Aug 18, 2009, 14:58:

how much did reaL madrid spend in the summer $250 million? how many spanish players did they buy? the 2 big clubs in spain have always spent vast sums of money especially when a new president is being elected.
michelle platini talks out of his arse and is a hypocrite

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cali1010 says on Aug 18, 2009, 16:36:

Real Madrid

Kaka - $94 Million
Ronaldo - $132 Millon

Ignorance does not discriminate race, age nor gender

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tropicalshirt says on Aug 19, 2009, 04:54:

"Don't you think though that the massive influx of foreigners in the EPL is hampering their national team?"

Sure, it makes sense that potential English football talent is not getting the chance to develop at the top level due to the amount of foreign footballers in the Premier League. That talent is either missing out or playing in the lower leagues. The problem is the lack of academies, managament and money being invested at developing talent which is due to... the problem of the the influx of foreign players as instant solutions! Pundits will say the best talent will always rise to the top but at some point this talent has to be given a chance when it is unclear that they will succeed at the highest level. But this is a problem that exists in all the major leagues which are flush with money. And if you look at leagues which have less money are they producing more national talent???

I think the bigger problem is having a production line that continually produces different kinds of football talent: strikers, player beating midfielders, etc This happens when football is an overiding passion that gets everyone playing, everywhere, producing all types of players. People don't play football like that in most countries today.

Anyhow, I'm sure you know a lot of supporters don't really care about the national team, it's all about club football. England as a national side have only one current good striker! Good luck to Capello.

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thepieman says on Aug 19, 2009, 12:04:

cali1010 also $45 million xavi alonso and $50 million karim benzema.. with a total spend of $360 million!!

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 19, 2009, 20:21:

"I think the bigger problem is having a production line that continually produces different kinds of football talent: strikers, player beating midfielders, etc This happens when football is an overiding passion that gets everyone playing, everywhere, producing all types of players. People don't play football like that in most countries today."

One of the things that I keep noticing are the Argentinians all over the world. I was thinking that the Argies should be able to field several teams: Argentina (EPL version), Argentina (La Liga version), Argentina (FMF version), Argentina (local version). I often think after watching a Mexican League game, well X's Argentines were better than Y's Argentines today. It's uncanny. You just don't see the same diaspora of Brazilian players.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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tropicalshirt says on Aug 21, 2009, 12:58:

Hi uc

You a big football fan right? We invented the game, just no good at it :-)

I agree, Argentina always producing talent, and always producing skillful midfielder/strikers who can run with the ball or control the pace of the game. Players like Riquelme are very rare now in World football.

Brazilians play all over the World from the Faeroe Islands to Brunei. There is a big cachet in having a "Brazilian" in your side, whatever the league or level.

"Brazil sold 1,176 footballers abroad in 2008, a record number that beats last year's total by 8.4 percent (1,085), according to the Brazilian Football Association (CBF). Of the footballers who emigrated abroad, 222 ended up in Asian clubs, 762 in Europe, 105 in other South American countries, 69 in North and Central America and 15 in Africa."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/soccer/12/23/brazil.transfers/in...

I think there are over a thousand Argentinian players abroad and I guess many more Brazilian players

Football in Brazil is something else. The national leagues have problems, but the local appetite to play is huge. Where I used to live in the northeast you had pitches within 5 minutes walk in every direction, north, south, east and west. All ages, sexes, mixed etc. Always with someone as a referee. In Rio they have floodlit pitches with games going on at 3 am.

Football in Brazil is a great topic, if you want to read some more this book can't go wrong:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Futebol-Brazilian-Life-Alex-Bellos/dp/07475617...

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 21, 2009, 17:59:

I guess from your stats it says that there were only 69 Brazilians in North and Central America. That explains why there are only a handful in the Mexican league. They could field several WC teams themselves. In fact between them and the Argies you probably wouldn't need anyone else. You're right, Riquelme is a great player. I love to watch the guy play. Damian Manso, who was so good for LDU Quito in last year's Copa Libertadores, is another one.

Back to the thread, Rodallega and the Latics have their work cut out for them tomorrow against Man U. I'd love to see Wigan pull off the upset!

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 22, 2009, 09:48:

Wigan held Man U scoreless in the first half but then they broke down in the second half and ended up being destroyed 5-0. It was depressing, for a while I thought I was watching Rodallega back at Necaxa. He got a yellow and had a bit of a tantrum after getting hit in the face. Luckily the ref calmed him down. The EPL is brutal, the refs don't call anything. OTOH, it's a refreshing change from the FMF where the game is constantly interrupted for free kicks and there's always some stupid Mexican rolling around on the field and crying.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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tropicalshirt says on Aug 22, 2009, 14:31:

"I guess from your stats it says that there were only 69 Brazilians in North and Central America."

Thats the statistics for the 2008 only, how many Brazilians were sold to those leagues in 2008.

Whats the FMF? Mexican? Mexican league is a world to itself, a big league and all unkown but to Mexicans.

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cali1010 says on Aug 22, 2009, 14:47:

Colombia needs a 10 to have the forwards be effective. Pibe Valderrama is surely missed, without his excellent passes and thru balls we can se how ineffective the Colombian team has become when attacking.

Ignorance does not discriminate race, age nor gender

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cali1010 says on Aug 22, 2009, 14:48:

Mexico, is way overated. They have the best South American players playing in their league. However, the best S.A player go to Europe first.

Ignorance does not discriminate race, age nor gender

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 22, 2009, 16:02:

Yeah, I guess that's why Colombian Aquivaldo Mosquera is playing for Club America after leaving Sevilla of La Liga. This summer Club America beat both AC Milan and Inter Milan. So much for quality. I find that those who dismiss the Mexican league usually haven't watched it much and don't know what they are talking about. The Paraguayan national team has 13 players from the FMF including the incomparable Salvador Cabanas.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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cali1010 says on Aug 22, 2009, 16:51:

Mexican league overated in my view (Y punto carajo!). Have played futbol for now 22 years and well aware of the quality of the leagues around the world. To the point that I became a soccer bum in the Tahuichi academy in south america for about 9 months and got to play a mundialito. Yep, that is true they beat AC Milan and Inter Milan but NOTE these were friendly games and not to be taken seriously then again S.A players are what make the mexican league worth watching to me. Let's not forget that a couple of days after the game the ETO joined Milan and Ibrahimović left to Barca. I also when to see the Inter Milan vs Chelsea and let me tell you that if it wasn't for Drogba that game sucked. On the good side I got to meet Pizzaro and Ibrahimović and othe players after the game. I find that people who don't really know about the sport shouldn't really comments. Cabanas is the best thing that happened to america, and there are already rumors that he will go to Europe soon.

Ignorance does not discriminate race, age nor gender

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cali1010 says on Aug 22, 2009, 16:57:

And the EU teams were on pre-season.

Ignorance does not discriminate race, age nor gender

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 22, 2009, 17:03:

True it was preseason warm-ups for them but both Milan teams had their big guns out there. OTOH, America was playing without Ochoa. The South Americans do make the league, no doubt about it. IMHO they are what make the league worth watching and I wish each team could have more than 5 extranjeros. There have been rumors for years that Cabanas is going to Europe and I wish it would happen - he deserves a wider audience - same with Ochoa. Cabanas scored two goals today in America's victory over Cruz Azul 3-2.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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manINred says on Aug 22, 2009, 19:14:

"La Liga is a stronger league - you only have to look at how the Spanish national team is doing to see that. "

That argument is flawed. Brazil and Germany have never had the strongest leagues, neither has Argentina.

UC is spot on.

The English national team, unlike Colombia, has the talent to win the world cup, all this talk of "extra jazz" or whatever aside. The fact that Rodallega doesn't play is a joke. IT would be like not picking Walcott or Aguero.

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cali1010 says on Aug 23, 2009, 00:47:

manINred - Hummm.....England winning a World Cup?? The last time English played against Brazil didn't they get spanked like 3-0 or 3-1? If my recollection is correct? Yes, the English are more closer than Colombia to win a world cup, but they won't. We only have a couple of months for the World Cup to begin and I'm sure the England will not live up to expectations.

Ignorance does not discriminate race, age nor gender

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manINred says on Aug 23, 2009, 18:13:

No cali1010, your sources are incorrect. The last time the English played Brazil was in 2007 when they had a worse squad and much worse manager. They drew 1-1, and it was a friendly.

You sound like one of those who were saying before the Croatian match in Zagreb last year that "England will get thumped by Croatia"; given that they had lost the two previous times and Croatia hadn't lost in Zagreb for ages... well England thumped them 4-1 in a match that wasn't even close. They continue with a 100% win record in the qualifying campaign, 7 wins and only 4 goals against.

So be careful in your assuredness; anyway, I said that the English have the talent to win the world cup, and that does not translate to "manINred believes that England will win the world cup"... I honestly do not believe that they will win it, although it's a wonderful possibility.

I must say, I think that Colombia has the 'talent' to make the world cup, but I don't believe they will because there are better and more organized national teams in South America who deserve to make it more thus far in the qualifying campaign.

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 23, 2009, 18:53:

You could be right, ManlNred. Watching ManU on Saturday, the English guys, Rooney, Owen and Scholes were very impressive. Even the announcer said at one point, "Ronaldo? What Ronaldo?".

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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cali1010 says on Aug 24, 2009, 13:09:

manINred , thanks for the correction, but I was talking about the last time they played in the World Cup in 2002. Brazil won 2-1. Yes, there are better organized teams than Colombia in S.A at the moment....for example Chile.

Ignorance does not discriminate race, age nor gender

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manINred says on Aug 24, 2009, 17:20:

Ahh ok, yes the last competitive match against brasil they lost the close battle 2-1 and I remmeber it clearly :( , but that was 8 years ago, and both Brasil and England have changed too much to compare to now.

For those who are interested (UC, cali and others) , you can create your own premiership fantasy league team here:

http://fantasy.premierleague.com/

Sufficed to say, Rodallega's one of my starting strikers. You get 100 million pounds to spend on 15 players (11 starters and 4 reserves) and obviously, the best players are more expensive (Lampard, Gerrard at 12.5 million) and worse players are priced as low as 4 million. Rodallega's a steal at 6.5 million.

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 24, 2009, 20:31:

Cool. I'm going to check it out and get my checkbook ready!

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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