Official Sevilla FC Thread [R]

Yes very cool. Still I would have traded our UEFA Cup and our Copa Del Rey for a league title. But all things considered a very good year.

My nomination for understatement of the year!

What an incredible year. I would have been thrilled with a league title but I'm just as thrilled (well, almost) with a CL spot for next year. I can't wait for those games.

Think, before UEFA Cup, 2006 (I like that we have to cite which one we're talking about), it was what 48 years since we'd won a trophy? Now we've got 4 in the last two seasons. I, for one, think that's effing phenomenal!

One thing that I ask . . . Sign Juande. Don't let him go anywhere.

I totally agree with the Juande statement. The way I read his spokesman's statements, he really wants to stay at Sevilla. Hopefully they will renegotiate his contract in the coming days.

I also read where Kanoute wants to go back to England. I would like for him to stay, but IMHO he greatly benefited from Ramos' system. I'm not so sure he'll do this well in England.

Yes the oppertunity was there to win la liga and it was a shame, however if someone had offered me a third place, right in the champions league frame int he beginning of the season, I would have taken it!! I think Sevilla has exceeded beyond any sevillistas expectations!! Uefa cup again and a Copa del Rey title!!! And with Kanoute opting now to stay with us, im sure other players will follow suit!

I'm hoping the reason Kanoute is staying comes from a Juande Ramos decision to stay as well. These two staying, along with some key re-enforcements, makes Sevilla very viable next year.

Good news on the Sevilla Athletic front, as well. Now the B team will get improved competition at the Segunda A level. All is right with the world.

Congrats on a great season, can't wait to see you guys play in the CL Sevilla will be a match for anyone.

A couple things . . .

Anyone else think it's strange that they're making a big deal about unveiling the new shirt when they had photos on the website with the new signings wearing them? Funny, I think.

Second, with Madrid and Barca making strong moves in the market and our moves being substantial (in quantity, not necessarily quality) how do you think we will stack up? I think the biggest news from the transfer market is that it sounds like Alves and Kanoute are staying fer sher and Juande doesn't seem too eager to get away either. Big news!

Third . . . I'm going to be in Europe for a month in December and would like to make a trip down to the Pizjuan. Any suggestions about getting a ticket? It looks like the matches are going to be reletively crappy (too bad I can't stay through the first week of January). Any suggestions would be great.

Lastly, anyone have the lyrics to the himno? I can't find them on the net and would love to have them.

I think this was gone over earlier in the thread, but tickets for that week's game don't go on sale until the week of the game, so get there early and you should have no problem landing tickets. Go to the stadium, that would be your best bet.

NO8DO, I was able to get 4 tickets, very good seats, on the day of the match. We bought them from the ticketing office at the stadium. You should go if at all possible, the Pizjuan is amazing on match night.

Hi there! I'm a barca fan from India. Apart from Barca, I really respect Sevilla.

Congrats on a great season first of all! Winning the Copa and Uefa cup second time in a row AND just coming in third. What a feat for Sevilla! I really hope to seeing you in Champions League this season. Let's prove to the world La Liga is way better than the overrated EPL. Another thing I really like about Sevilla is how you make world class players out of seemingly average/unnnoticed players.

One thing I wan't ask all you Sevillistas (?) : Do you believe you should maintain your core squad and move forward with hopes of achieving greatness again this season or Do you think you should sell if the price is good enough for the players.
(Would you be ready to lose Palop, Kanoute or Alves ?)

While this team isn't flush with money in the manner of a Barcelona or Real Madrid, it's not exactly a Villarreal making it on the cheap either. The team is actually quite young, so they should be able to hold it together (for the most part) for another couple of years. One thing not to be dismissed, though, is the high quality assembly line of talent coming from Sevilla's excellent youth academy.

Surely you realized Packman, that I don't dismiss Sevilla's youth academy. Rather I said it's one of the premier ones. But you really didn't answer my question...Maintain your current squad, specially all the key players OR Sell and get enough money to cover debts and sponser another campaign on the shoulders of more youngsters/new buys?

I personally think you guys should take a (big) risk and hold on to your key players, which probably might mean rejecting really big offers. You've really earned a shot at the CL title. Might as well test how good you are in Europe amongst all the big guns. Also, though I hate to say it, you should make one major charge at the Liga title.

The best thing about the transfers in the last few seasons is that they have put Sevilla in a position of financial stability. It's my understanding that even with the stadium expansion, the club will be left with almost no debt and a solid balance sheet. I dare say, they are one of the best managed (speaking financially . . . not to take anything away from Juande) clubs in the world. The biggest reason they can say 'no' to transfers out is that they have the financial footing to do so. They will do all they can to keep their talent for the next two seasons and see what happens. I believe they can keep Dani and Juande and Fredi and Jesus for at least two seasons. Hopefully, they can build a solid enough footing to change the face of Spanish football. They're the only contender in recent years who have been able to compete with the big three without overspending and putting themselves in financial trouble.

. . . and yes, their youth system is phenomenal.

(any chance we see Capel, this season?)

What I was saying, amidst all that, is that I think Sevilla can hold the team together and take another shot or two at the title. They've got money, and their team really isn't all that expensive.

Anyone going to the games in Chicago??? I'm disappointed these games weren't promoted better. I'd have gone. I only found out about the games today. Stinks.

Ramos deal 'very complicated'

Sevilla president Jose Maria Del Nido has admitted that agreeing a new deal for coach Juande Ramos will be 'very complicated'.

Sevilla finished third in La Liga last season as well as winning the Uefa Cup for a second successive season.

Ramos has since seen his stock rise and was strongly linked with the Manchester City job this summer, but he decided to remain with Sevilla as the job gave him 'the chance to make the most of my career'.

However, his contract at Sevilla is due to expire in 2008 and, while his president wants him to extend that deal, Del Nido admits it is unlikely that a new contract will be agreed.

"The new deal for Juande Ramos is very complicated," he told the Spanish press.

"At this time, I think it will be difficult for him to carry on after next season.

"We have made an offer and I believe that it will be difficult for us to reach an agreement, but the club is not preoccupied with this subject."
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Navarro suffers injury blow

Sevilla defender Javi Navarro is set to be sidelined for six weeks.

Navarro has been complaining of pain in his knee during pre-season and doctors have now ordered him to rest.

He is not expected to return until the middle of September and will therefore miss a number of key games early in the season.

Among the games he will miss will be the Uefa Super Cup against Milan and the Spanish Supercopa against Real Madrid.

"This is bad news for us because August is a key month for Sevilla," coach Juande Ramos told the Spanish press.
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Chelsea close in on Alves

Chelsea are closing in on Sevilla right-back Daniel Alves: the brilliant Brazilian`s agents were in London yesterday to negotiate his personal terms.

'El Mundo Deportivo` states that Daniel Alves` agents travelled to London yesterday to negotiate with Chelsea. So confident is the daily sports newspaper that they declare that 'Daniel Alves is very close to becoming a Chelsea player` and 'everything suggests that there won`t be any difficulties for the two sides to agree upon a deal`.

Of course, any agreement between player and Chelsea would be meaningless until Chelsea and Sevilla, Alves` current club, agree upon a transfer fee. This could be tricky, as the Sevilla President, José María Del Nido, has declared on any number of occasions that he won`t allow Alves to go for anything less than €30 million.

Chelsea have already offered €25 million, and this has been rejected by Sevilla. Should Alves agree upon terms with Chelsea, Chelsea are likely to increase their offer, possibly including in any bid the full transfer of Khalid Boularouz, who is conveniently already at Sevilla on loan. In addition, Chelsea will be able to count on the support of the player himself.

Whilst we should not underestimate Del Nido`s capacity to redefine 'hardnosed` when it comes to negotiating, this particular transfer could go through sooner rather than later. Since Alves (who played at the Copa America) has been on holiday until now, it would seem that this particular transfer could gain momentum.
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Bad news all around. Even if Alves doesn't leave I think him and Navarro had an important link up, it won't be the same and your defense would leak from the right. Though Navas and Alves would still overlap well...

Just a note to point out the 2007-8 thread is started. That being said, if you would rather post here, that's fine with me. It provides a nice history. However, its my understanding BigSoccer don't like threads to past the 300s post size. But until Pichi or another mod decide to close this thread, this is the place to post about the best team in Andalucia.

On to news, Dr. Alfaro is back. We should have a lot of doctors in training learning the proper technique of performing knee surgery; without anesthetists, while playing soccer. Other musings as well.

http://www.sevillafc.es/_www/actualidad.php?op=not&id=8584

I attended the Chicago Trophy match on 7/27. There was little to report as far as action; the starting side was sprinkled reseves, though we did see a good deal of Luis Fabiano, Duda, Paulson and a number of other regular starters. Freddie warmed up but did not play; unsurprising considering they'd supposedly gotten off of the plane from Europe less than 5 hours prior. The most unfortunate moment happened during the second half of the first game on the bill, when the whole Sevilla were waming up behind the touchline when the Wisla fans showered much of the squad with beer. After that they had to run sideline drills on an area no longer than 30 feet. Still as a Chicago Sevilla fan it was great to see them play here at Soldier Field and of course to get a win.

All animosity and rivalry aside I thought I should convey condolenses to all Sevilla fans and their organization on the sad news that we all heard today regarding Antonio Puerta. On behalf of the Real fans our condelenses and may you have a successfull season this year and dedicate it to this young promising talent of Spain.