Ouch, poor result. Seeing the highlights, it looked like your GK who really got it bad. In the first goal, that was a good assist and put-in, but the defense was pretty much ball watching. That deflection lob that floated into the corner for the second goal, that was a tough break, surely surprised the hell out of him. Was he close enough to get it? On the third goal, the attacking player was made to hesitate, which should have given the defenders time to close in, but it looked like they had already given up. After reading how Aulestia was the front-runner for the division "Zamora" it's a bummer to see this. Do you think his previous goalless streak was a fluke? How do you rate him?
The thing is it's deja-vu we lost to Llanes 1-3 a month or so and they showed up our defensive inadequecies that day. Aulestia had a nightmare and the defence seemed to be complete stangers with no cohesion or unity. We'd been coasting for weeks playing the lesser sides and everything looked rosie but a difficult away match and we're shown up again. All the questions that we're asked after Llanes have as yet remain unanswered, why aren't our most experianced players who we're the top players in this league last year not given a chance? Why not keep a settled defence? We may well stuff Hispano 7-0 next Sunday like Astur and regain our 4 point lead (we can hope) but that doesn't mean the team is gelling. We're coming upto the mid point in the season and Carrasco is still tinkering with his selections, often quite bizarrely. The start of the season we we're told most notably by our director of football Ismael Diaz that this was a weak league that we would stroll, a treble of Tercera championships was a certainty. The 10 month league campaign was just preparation for the inevitable play-off campaign. the stark reality is that so far we aren't standing out as considerably better than the 3 or 4 sides below us, can we be that confident that when we come up against the top teams in the other Tercera groups in the play-offs that we'll breeze through like last time (2004-05). Hopefully the misery of the failed Play-off campaign of 2003-04 will serve as a reminder not to take things for granted. Our next 2 away matches are to Tuilia (2nd) and Cudillero (3rd) so we will see if the players have any bottle.
Apologies no match today. Not sure why seems to be a series of minor international matches, Asturias beat the Baleric Islands 2-1 midweek (Centron played) and i believe are playing another Spanish region (Ceuta) today. Only seems to be one match today; Real Tapia 2-1 Collotto, Collotto cemented to bottom, tapia moving upto 14th. everyone else playing Wednesday. Next match: (home) Hispano is on Wednesday 12th. Matias is the only injury worry, so Armanado Quesada may even get on bench this week!!!
Fernando Alonso signs up with Renault for 2008 I can wear my old T-shirts again with the maestro from Asturias returning to the team he won back to back world championships with.
Aulestia was the reason for the clean sheets, he made some decent saves in that time. He came from Cultural Leonesa in summer and was their first team keeper last year in Segunda B so it was a bit of a coup to sign him, a keeper with a good deal of experiance outside the top 2 divisions. He's proved to be a good signing but on the downside perhaps he doesn't impose his authority on the defence in front of him. Maybe it's a fault of chopping and changing and never having the same back 4 (or 5 or 3) in front of him, he is one of the most experianced members of the defence he should be barking out orders when we conceide corners and set-pieces for example. With Oviedos' historically defensive nature the "Zamora" is still a very real possibility, Rafa Ponzo won the title last time we were in Tercera with 17 goals conceeded in 38 matches, obviously that figure will be exceeded this year but the title could still wing it's way back. Second half of season hopefully Carrasco moulds the team into a side that will walk through the play-offs cut out the chopping and changing and building a cohesive unit, a team Hopefully this transfer window a big commanding centre half who can captain the side can come in and be a rock in defence.
Good news.... in the match tonight...... Real Oviedo v Hispano..... we didn't conceed any goals.... Armando Quesada started his first league game of the season.... Pablo Naredo our 16 year old youth teamer made the bench and the first team squad for first time....... Our nearest challengers Cudillero (3rd) drew 1-1 with Tuilla (2nd)..... Do you want to know how many goals we scored? By the way they scored none..... They didn't even have a shot on target...... Why not guess the number of goals..... I'll give you a clue...... We scored 4 goals in the first half..... We scored more goals in the second half.... 2 players scored hat-tricks.... are you ready...... ready to see the score? Real Oviedo 10 - 0 Hispano shall i repeat that? Real Oviedo 10 Hispano xxxx0 yes that's TEN - ten goals!!! Real Oviedos' biggest win in any division.
Match 16: Wednesday 13th December Real Oviedo 10-0 Hispano Real Oviedo: 4-4-2 GK Aulestia, RB Lucas, CB Meijide, CB Falo, LB Lasarte, RM Villanueva (Stefan, min. 64), CM Jon Carrera (Jaime, min. 46), CM Curro, LM Centrón (Carmona, min. 46) CF Armando, CF Cervero. Carrasco chose to change formation and give Armanado Quesada a start, the 2 frontmen who powered Lealtad to the play-offs last year leading the attack. Jose Luis and Jaime dropped after the Caudal debacle with Falo moving to a central defensive position, and Jon Carrera returning to midfield. Hispano proved even worse than their record shows and that is saying something, a pitifull side there for the taking. Oviedo did! Goals: 1-0. Cervero, min. 7. 2-0. Armando, min. 19. 3-0. Villanueva, min. 31. 4-0. Meijide, min. 45. Half-Time 5-0. Curro, min. 52. 6-0. Curro, min. 53. 7-0. Cervero, min. 55. 8-0. Armando, min. 57. 9-0. Cervero, min. 61. 10-0. Curro, min. 87. What can you say? all too easy. Next match will be the opposite, away to 2nd placed Tuilla, let's see what tactics/team Lobo picks in 4 days time. Top of the table: 1. REAL OVIEDO xxx37 2. C.D.Tuilla xxxxxxx34 3. C.D.Cudillero xxxx34 4. Caudal xxxxxxxxx31 5. Lealtad xxxxxxxxx30
Results: 1 xxxxx REAL OVIEDO xxxx 10 xxxxx Hispano xxxxxxx 0 1 xxxxx Lealtad xxxxxxxxxx 2 xxxxxx Astur xxxxxxxxx 0 1 xxxxx U.P.Langreo xxxxxx 2 xxxxx Navarro xxxxxxxx 0 2 xxxxx Gijón B xxxxxxxxx 0 xxxxxx Ceares xxxxxxxxx 3 1 xxxxx Real Avilés xxxxxxx 2 xxxxx Condal xxxxxxxxx 0 2 xxxxx Siero xxxxxxxxxxx 0 xxxxxx Llanes xxxxxxxxx 2 2 xxxxx Universidad xxxxxx 2 xxxxxx Caudal xxxxxxxx 3 2 xxxx Ribadesella xxxxxxx 4 xxxxxx Candás C.F. xxxx 3 1 xxxx Real Tapia xxxxxxxx 2 xxxxxx S.D.Colloto xxxx 1 x xxxxx C.D.Cudillero xxxxx 1 xxxxxx C.D.Tuilla xxxxxx 1 So a good set of results with the 2nd and 3rd placed teams sharing the points. next highest teams Caudal and Lealtad both won while Sporting and Universidad both sadly lost. Oviedo 3 points clear at top, 11 points clear of Sporting and 12 ahead of Universidad. It wasn't long ago Universidad played that re-arranged midweek game (that Oviedo won) when the two teams were the top two, Universidads' season seems to have hit the rocks since - 6 points in last 7 games. Anyhow Oviedo did the business that's all that matters, someone was going to drop points, 2 tough away games either side of Christmas will define the season, will it be a stroll? or will we struggle against the top teams? - incidently these 2 games will be our last 2 home fixtures of the season, as the fixtures get reversed 2nd half of season. (we played Collotto at home first match of the season, that is our first game in the second half of the season - away.) Strange way fixtures turn out, next 4 games; (away) v 2nd place (home) 15th place (away) 3rd (home) 20th. we get a tough match and then a easy one leading on from Caudal (away-4th place) and Hispano (home-19th).
The 10-0 win over Hispano de Castrillón is historical best in league action but only equals the highest score by Oviedo. On 3rd September 1933 in the "Campeonato Regional Asturiano" (33-34) the famous "delanteras eléctrica" won 10-0 against Club Gijón. Oviedo had their greatest ever side. Real Oviedo: Oscar; Calichi, Sión; Castro, Sirio, Chus; Casuco, Gallart, Langara, Herrerita y Emilín. Goalscorers: Langara (4), Herrerita (3), Gallart (2) y Emilín. The team is full of Oviedo greats, Most notably the world class Isidro Langara (the only player to be top scorer in the top division on 3 continents) and Herrerita, both pichichis for Oviedo. That front line of Casuco, Gallart, Langara, Herrerita and Emilín is hall of fame material, the "Electric fowards". Over goalscoring feats: 9-2 win versus Sabadell in 43-44(1ªdivisión) and 9-1 versus Numancia in 50-51 (2ªdivisión). In the Copa del Rey the biggest win is 8-0 at Racing de Santander in 43-44.
"Zamora" Top Goalkeeper - Tercera Group 2 Goals conceede per match (Goals - Matches) 0,75 xxx (12 - 16) : DAVID ( LEALTAD ) 0,85 xxx (12 - 14) : NOGUEROL ( CUDILLERO ) 0,87 xxx (14 - 16) : AULESTIA ( REAL OVIEDO ) 0,90 xxx (9 - 10.) : ROBERTO ( LLANES ) 0,92 xxx (13 - 14) : ADRIÁN ( TUILLA ) 1.00 xxx (15 - 15) : EMI ( CONDAL ) 1,11 xxx (10 - 9.) : PABLO ARDURA ( LANGREO ) 1,12 xxx (18 - 16) : CHEMA ( UNIVERSIDAD ) 1,16 xxx (14 - 12) : JESÚS ( REAL AVILES IND. ) 1,18 xxx (19 - 16) : RUBÉN LLOSA ( NAVARRO ) 1,18 xxx (19 - 16) : MINGOTE ( CAUDAL ) 1,25 xxx (20 - 16) : RAMÓN RUIZ ( RIBADESELLA ) 1,26 xxx (19 - 15) : MARCOS ( UNION CEARES ) 1,30 xxx (17 - 13) : SERGIO SÁNCHEZ (SPORTING B ) 1,70 xxx (17 - 10) : NACHO ( CANDAS ) 1,75 xxx (14 - 8.) : JAVI PORRÓN ( COLLOTO ) 1,87 xxx (30 - 16) : AITOR ( REAL TAPIA ) 1,88 xxx (17 - 9.) : ROBERTO ( SIERO ) 2,46 xxx (37 - 15) : IVÁN ( HISPANO ) 2,46 xxx (32 - 13) : RICARDO ( ASTUR ) 2,62 xxx (21 - 8.) : IVÁN CIMA ( COLLOTO ) (to qualify have to have played in at least half of the league matches so far.)
"Pichichi" Top Goalscorer - Tercera Group 2 15 xxx DIEGO CERVERO ( REAL OVIEDO ) 9 xxxx VITI ( LLANES ) 9 xxxx MIGUEL ( CAUDAL ) 8 xxxx CARLOS ALVAREZ ( SPORTING B ) 7 xxxx CURRO ( REAL OVIEDO ) 7 xxxx ROMERO ( LANGREO ) 6 xxxx ROBERTO ( UNIVERSIDAD ) 6 xxxx RUBÉN FERNÁNDEZ ( LEALTAD ) 6 xxxx OSCAR PANTÍN ( SIERO ) 6 xxxx LUENGO ( CANDAS ) 5 xxxx JIMMY ( CUDILLERO ) 5 xxxx ANDRÉS GUERRA ( COLLOTO ) 5 xxxx IVÁN ( TUILLA ) 5 xxxx RENÉ ( CAUDAL ) 5 xxxx CHAVI ( CUDILLERO ) 5 xxxx MIGUEL ( REAL AVILES IND. ) 5 xxxx NACHO CASES ( SPORTING B ) 5 xxxx CARLOS ( SPORTING B ) 5 xxxx JAVI ( HISPANO ) 5 xxxx CENTRÓN ( REAL OVIEDO )
Next match: (Match 17) away to Club Deportivo Tuilla Sunday 16th December Club Deportivo Tuilla History: 10 Seasons in Tercera, highest finish 5th last season. Real Oviedo have never been in the same league as Tuilla nad have never played them in a competitive fixture. Form: 3rd place on home form alone - 20 points from 8 matches. Match 2 : xx 1-0 Aviles Match 4 : xx 0-0 Lealtad Match 6 : xx 1-0 Navarro Match 8 : xx 1-0 Llanes Match 10 :x 1-0 Ceares Match 12 :x 1-1 Caudal Match 14 :x 4-2 Colloto Match 15 :x 3-1 Real Tapia 7 games unbeaten. 2nd in table with 34 points. -- Very tough game, much like Caudal very strong at home. in contrast to Caudal Tuilla build success from being very very strong at the back with Adrián in goal one of the main contenders with Aulestia and Noguerol (Cudillero) for the "Zamora" title (see above). (we'll see in 3 games time who has conceeded the least goals!) Tuilla lost their first match 1-4 to Sporting "B" away and since then have only let in 9 goals in 15 matches so that is their strength. As those home results show attacking isn't their strength, their first 6 home games they scored just 5 goals, all their goals have come against no-hopers. I'm in 2 minds how the match will go, i think Oviedo playing well should beat them and beat them well. But on the other hand some of their worst results this season have been when they've battered their opponents only to be hit by break-away and fluke goals. Potentially a side like Tuilla could sit back absorb the pressure and then hit our powder-puff defence with a sucker punch. (i'm thinking primarily of the 1-3 defeat to Llanes.) I'd stick with 4-4-2; Aulestia; Lucas, Lasarte, Meijide, Carmona; Villanueva, Centron, Curro, Falo; Cervero, Armando. Jon Carrera currently injured/missed training along with Dani Garcia and Matias, so his midfiled slot should go to Falo who'll move up from defence. Central defence spot should go to Carmona but for this game perhaps play Lucas Iglesias in middle with Jose Luis at right back. We need to be a solid unit, not giving away any stupid goals.
Results: Tuilla xxxxxxx 0 xxx REAL OVIEDO x 1 Ceares xxxxx 0 xxx Real Avilés xxxx 1 Hispano xxxx 0 xxx Univisidad xxxxx 4 Llanes xxxxxx 0 xxx Lealtad xxxxxxx 0 Colloto xxxxxx 2 xxx Navarro xxxxx 1 Astur xxxxxxx 2 xxxx Langreo xxxx 3 Candás xxxxx 3 xxxx Gijón B xxxxx 1 Real Tapia xx 2 xxxx Cudillero xxx 2 Condal xxxxx 1 xxxx Siero xxxxxx 1 Caudal xxxxx 0 xxxx Ribadasella x 1 Fantastic results, Real Oviedo winning away to 2nd placed Tuilla. Cudillero drew with lowly Real Tapia. Caudal Astur and Sporting all lost. Lealtad drew meaning that Oviedo were the only team in top 5 to win and they increased their lead at top to 5 points.
Match 17: Sunday December 16th Tuilla 0-1 Real Oviedo Real Oviedo: 4-4-2 GK Aulestia, RB Lucas Iglesias, CB Carmona, CB Diego Meijide, LB Lasarte, RM José Luis (Matias, min.75), CM Falo, CM Curro, LM Centrón (Jaime, min.85), CF Diego Cervero CF Armando Quesada (Sergio Villanueva, min.89). Team news: One change forced by injury to Jon Carrera injury, with Falo moving from defence to midfield and Carmona coming into centre of defence, Sergio Villanueva dropped in favour of Jose Luis. Again 4-4-2 formation with Armando Quesada starting his second match. Before the match Carrasco stated that due to the dimensions of the Tuilla pitch, (very small) the home team would be favorites to win. This was met with derision from some Oviedo fans, Tuilla are hardly a major force in Asturian football whatever their position in the league, how can an Oviedo team go into such a match thinking they are second best? For a manager at the top of the league he has alot of criticism. Carrasco combated the penned in conditions by playing 4 central midfielders and a clinical passing game going through the massed opposition defence rather than aiming to go around. First half all Oviedo, getting the perfect start by scoring in the 4th minute, Armando Quesada volleying over their keeper from distance from a Cervero pass. As the half wore on Oviedo created a further 3 or 4 decent chances dealt well by keeper Adrian with Armando and Cervero linking up well together. Tuilla had a few half chances but no real threat. Second half continued in same manor with Oviedo fashioning 2 good chances. The game began to then open up with Tuilla looking for an equaliser and being more offensive and pushing forward. Tuillas' tactics became more and more agricultural lumping the ball forward, something our mountainous central defenders could easily deal with. Overall Tuilla were poor and Oviedo should have got a goal or 2 more but in the end 3 points is all that's neede and all the results went our way so a great day. Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g37wM8HW1zY
Next Matches: Match 18: Sunday 23rd December 2007 (home) Real Tapia Club de Fútbol History: Only 1 previous season in Tercera Division finishing 18th (1005-06) and being relegated. (will be a fight this year to improve on that record) currently at the heady heights of 15th place. Away form: 2 points from 8 away matches (4 goals scored 16 conceeded) Apart from Hispano (we beat 10-0) they have the worst away form. LOST 0-4 Ribadesella LOST 0-1 Real Aviles LOST 0-2 Lealtad DRAW 2-2 Navarro DRAW 0-0 Llanes LOST 0-2 Union Ceares LOST 1-2 Caudal LOST 1-3 Tuilla This will be my first Oviedo match of the season so I’m looking forward to the inevitable goal fest, knowing my luck it’ll be a boring 0-0. My visits to Oviedos’ new stadium (Nuevo Carlos Tartiere) have so far yielded less than a goal a game, I can’t actually recall a goal off hand just mind numbing 0-0 draws. After the match it’s the Barca-Madrid match on TV (hopefully – somewhere) so it’ll be a good days football. Then I’m looking forward to seeing my nephew play for Caudal youths during the Winter break, they organise a lot of youth tournaments in Spain while the seasons halts for a week or two over the festive period. Match 19: Sunday 6th January 2008 (away) Club Deportivo Cudillero History: Like Tuilla only one season in Tercera, last year they finished in 8th position. They look well on course to better that this year and possibly even get into play-offs. Home form: For a side currently in 2nd place (35 points) they’ve only actually got 15 points from their 8 home matches and on home results alone are in 7th place. With just 9 goals from those 8 games they are hardly a force at home (the opposite being true away 20 goals in 9 matches.) bizarrely Real Tapia (15th place) have a better home record. Previous match Oviedos’ next 2 opponents ground out a draw, Real Tapia 2-2 Cudillero. WON Cudillero 1 - 0 Ribadesella DRAW Cudillero 0 - 0 Real Aviles Ind. WON Cudillero 3 - 1 Lealtad DRAW Cudillero 1 - 1 Navarro WON Cudillero 1 - 0 Llanes LOST Cudillero 1 - 2 Union Ceares WON Cudillero 1 - 0 Caudal DRAW Cudillero 1 - 1 Tuilla Another tough match but with the experience of a decent performance against Tuilla this game shouldn’t be a problem. We should go into the second half of the season with 46 points and a very healthy lead on our rivals. I’m looking forward to my second match of the season and a visit to the beautiful coastal town of Cudillero, I’m not sure how welcoming a place it is in winter but the pictures on the internet show a long sandy beach and fantastic scenery. Hopefully the food and drink is equal to the rest of Asturias and the day should be another memorable day out. Second half of the season then repeats the fixtures over again (sides we played at home we now play away etc etc) so our last 2 games will be Real Tapia (away) and lastly Cudillero (home). Predictions for new year: Lobo "tinkerman" Carrasco decides to stick with 4-4-2 and Armando Quesada partnering Diego Cervero and we go on a long winning run. Cudillero and Tuilla drop down the league and the teams predicted to challenge us at the start of the year move up the league most notably Caudal and Universidad (both will make the Play-offs, in Universidads case just). I can see us quite easily reaching the high 80s points tally and continuing our goalscoring and all round attacking quality. I think improvement is needed in defence and hopefully atleast one defender comes in when the transfer window re-opens. A settled cohesive defence and this league will be a walk in the park. Diego Cervero will win the "Pichchi" and Aulestia the "Zamora" trophy.
Carmona, Matías, Juan Luis (long-term), Jon Carrera and Centrón all out injured for Real Tapia clash (now on saturday). Curro 50-50 after missing training this week. Jaime should come in for Centron on left of midfield but Carrasco will have to again change the defensive personnel. With Falo probably needed to play in centre of midfield Lucas Iglesias will likely move into centre and either Jose Luis moving from right midfield to right back or Dani Garcia coming in from the cold. Probable team: GK Aulestia, RB José Luis, CB Lucas Iglesias, CB Diego Meijide, LB Iker Lasarte, RM Sergio Villanueva CM Falo, CM Curro, LM Jaime, CF Diego Cervero CF Armando Quesada (If Curro out you'd probably have Jose luis in a holding midfield role and Dani Garcia at right back) Looks like there could be a few B team (Vetusta) players on the bench. (Pablo Naredo, Nico possibly)
Match 18: Saturday 23rd December 2007 REAL OVIEDO 2 REAL TAPIA C.F. 0 Goals: Sergio Villanueva 45, 75m Real Oviedo 4-4-2 GK Iván RB-CB L.Iglesias CB Meijide CM-RB José Luis (Dani (RB) 46m) LB Lasarte RM Sergio Villanueva CB-CM Falo CM Curro LM Jaime (Matías (LM-CF) 46m) CF Diego Cervero CF Armando (Santos (LM) 70m) Tinkerman Carrasco never fails to be boring with his team selections, giving a first start to Ivan in goal (Aulestia fit and on bench). Lucas Iglesias rather than play in his favoured position of centre back started at right back, likewise central midfielder Falo started at centre back, and to round off playing players out of position right back Jose Luis played in central midfield. Even more bizarrely Carrasco decided on the half hour mark to change positions around and put everyone into their preffered playing positions, Lucas moved to central defence Jose Luis to right back and Falo into the centre of midfield, wher's the logic? 1st half was dismal with the state of the pitch being blamed by all after the game. Oviedo failed to get a blatant penalty when Lasarte was upended but otherwise a staid miserable affair. The presumption that this could be another goalfeast such as Astur or Hispano was bleakly unrealistic. Tapia matched Oviedo throughout the first half putting the ball in the back of the net twice, on a different day both goals could have been awarded, the first especially looked onside with the two players in off side positions not interfering with play as the ball got played through to the “goal” scorer. Oviedo upto this point were limited to a few half chances, when on half time Curro played a ball down the right wing to an unmarked Sergio Villanueva who cooly slotted home from a tight angle. Oviedo with some fortune went in at half time 1-0 up against an amateur team at the other end of the table. Carrasco obviously not happy with the team made even more changes at half time taking off Jose Luis and Jaime and bringing on youngsters Matias and Dani Garcia, Matias asked to play out of position on left of midfield. Second half was slightly better, with Matias and Villanueva both providing a creative outlet down the wings but you’d expect the visitors to tire playing against professional footballers. Forgotten man Roberto Santos come on for his 3rd substitute appearance of the season and showed some decent touches on the left of midfield with Matias switching for last 20 minutes to centre forward. Cervero again got a few half chances that he again he fluffed, another day the striker would have buried atleast one but it just wasn’t his day. The second goal was a repeat of the first Villanueva in acres of space with their left back napping found from distance by Santos, again Villanueva had some work to do to score and showed good composure to slot the ball home. Overall disappointing but another 3 points and the number one spot is consolidated further. Carrasco says after match he fells he has a good enough squad to win league and doesn’t necessarily need any knew players as the transfer window reopens. Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Ymjd_XZIs
Christmas break then 2 weeks of no league matches but the transfer window opens mid way through so specaulation time begins on who is potentially in and who is possibly going out. As soon as Carrasco hints that there may be no signings in January the Director of Football Ismael Díaz Galán announces Oviedo will sign a defender a midfielder and a striker. Dani Garcia and Matias will move to the B side if and when these replacements come in. With Pablo Prieto on loan at Llanes and Juan Luis out injured for the rest of the season that means 4 squad places freed for new signings. Ismael Díaz Galán announces 3 players names that the club are talkig to; Bravo (La Unión) 34 year old central defender, advanced stage hopefully signing asap. Mario Prieto (Melilla - 13th Segunda B Group IV) 30 year old central midfielder likewise hopefull imminent signing. Cristian (Gimnastic de Torrelevaga- 1st Tercera Group III) highly rated teenage striker, Oviedo in early stage of negotiations with his club.
RESULTS: REAL OVIEDO …..….... 2 …….... REAL TAPIA C.F. …...….. 0 S.D. COLLOTO ……..... 1 …….... C.D. CUDILLERO ……..... 2 UNIVERSIDAD ...... 1 …….... C.D. TUILLA ………..…..... 1 RIBADESELLA C.F. …..... 2 …….... CLUB HISPANO …...….... 1 REAL SPORTING "B" ..... 2 …….... CAUDAL DPTO. ……....... 2 REAL AVILES IND. …….... 2 …….... CANDAS C.F. ……...….... 2 CLUB SIERO ………..... 2 …….... UNIÓN C. CEARES ....... 2 C.D. LEALTAD ……..... 3 …….... CONDAL CLUB ………...... 1 U.P. LANGREO …….... 0 …….... C.D. LLANES ……...…..... 0 NAVARRO C.F. ……... 0 …….... ASTUR C.F …….....…..... 4 Oviedo stay top, Cudillero 2nd with Lealtad storming up the table on a 12 match unbeaten run. TABLE: 1 REAL OVIEDO 18 14 1 3 44 14 43 2 CUDILLERO... 18 11 5 2 26 16 38 3 TUILLA ..........18 10 5 3 25 15 35 4 LEALTAD ........18 .9 7 2 24 13 34 --------PLAY-OFFS--------- 5 CAUDAL ........18 .9 5 4 35 22 32 6 AVILES .........18. 8 6 4 24 19 30 7 UNIVERSIDAD 18 .8 5 5 25 19 29 8 LLANES .........18 .7 6 5 24 16 27 9 SPORTING "B" .18 .8 3 7 31 24 27
Central defender Bravo signs, just the signing the club needed. He can also play all across the defence at either left or right full back and as a central defensive "pivote". Bravo Francisco J Lopez Bravo b Malaga 6/4/74 (33) Playing record: 2007-08 (3rd) La Union 18 starts 0 goals 2006-07 (2aB) Melilla 25 / 0 (10 yellow 2 red cards) 2005-06 (2aB) Rayo Vallecano 2004-05 (2nd) Rayo Vallecano (Relegated) 2003-04 (2nd) Rayo Vallecano 2002-03 (1st) Malaga 3 / 0 2001-02 (1st) Malaga 2000-01 (1st) Malaga 29 (+3 subs) 1 goal 1999-00 (1st) Malaga 27 / 0 1998-99 (2nd) Malaga 39 / 2 goals (2nd Division CHAMPIONS) 1997-98 (2aB) Malaga 35 / 2 (2nd B CHAMPIONS) A few gaps but you can see that he is a vastly experianced defender with a good number of games at a high level. 9 seasons at Malaga including 4 seasons in the Primera. --- As soon as you sign a centre back though you lose 2 others, Lucas Iglesias picked up his 5th yellow card against Tapia so is suspended for the match away to Cudillero and Carmona has picked up a knock and could be out for a few weeks. Sergio Villanueva out of Cudillero match too with injury so a few forced changes. Both Centron and Jon Carrera look 50-50, returning to light training while Armando missed the post Christmas training sessions with a slight knock but is likely to be ready to play in the Cudillero match.
Match 19: 6th January 2008 Cudillero 1 Real Oviedo 1 Goals: Alberto Medio (25´) Meijide (46´) Real Oviedo 4-4-2 GK Aulestia RB José Luis CB Meijide CB Bravo LB Lasarte RM Bruno (Jaime 71m) CM Falo CM Curro LM Centrón (Santos 81m) CF Diego Cervero CF Armando (Jon Carrera 81m) So enforced changes with a makeshift squad, Aulestia returned with Ivan returning to bench, new signing Bravo comes straight into the centre of defence. In midfield Bruno replaceed injured Villanueva while fit again Centron replaced Jaime. Falo resumed his central midfield partnership with Curro. Again Carrasco sticks with 4-4-2. Interesting to read an article about Cudilleros’ squad before the match, their whole squad have full-time jobs outside football, their team line (jobwise) reads: Sales Manager; Student, Fishmonger, Student, Gardener; Hotelier, Student, Mechanic, Warehouse worker; Administrator, Welder. Puts into perspective that the full-time pros at Oviedo have a massive advantage on the team in 2nd place and all those teams below. First half Oviedo were abysmal but they held on defensively with Bravo and Meijide looking like having the potential of being a class act together at this level. Cudillero threw everything at Oviedo and were unfortunate to only get the single goal in the first half. Jose Luis went to sleep allowing their left winger all the time in the world to lob Aulestia in goal. There was a terrible sense of deja-vu about the goal, weren’t the two 1-3 defeats started off with lobbed goals over stranded Aulestias’ head, Maybe he should learn to keep back a few yards rather than pushing up sweeping up behind his defence. If Aulestia wants that Zamora trophy the defence has to be sorted, hopefully Bravos’ signing will be the catalyst, he certainly seems to be a talker and good organiser on the pitch, possibly something that has been lacking so far. Oviedo highlight was a Bravo effort hitting the post. Second half and things improved, as soon as the half started the Cudillero goal was blitzed chances came, and a decent goal ruled out for some unknown reason presumably offside. Pressure continued and from a corner Meijide is in the right place to hit the back of the net and parity again. For further 10 minutes Cudillero were on the ropes with Oviedo playing some of their best offensive football, playing how they should to their real ability. Little by little though Cudillero got back into the game with Chavi (warehouse worker) especially playing a blinder. A few chances to Cervero went begging, he again looked off colour, he hasn’t scored since his hat-trick against Hispano – 3 games without a goal! muy terrible! “Justice in Los Tarronales” read the newspaper heading in La Nueva Espana the regional paper in Asturias. Los Tarronales the home ground of Cudillero the sea side town in the West of Asturias. 1-1 was a fair result and a decent one for both teams, keeping the positions in the league and on course for the play-offs. Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVr5NwAgs1E
RESULTS: CUDILLERO ……...….... 1 …….... REAL OVIEDO ……....... 1 REAL TAPIA ……....... 0 …….... UNIVERSIDAD ……....... 3 TUILLA …...……..…..... 4 …….... RIBADESELLA ……....... 1 HISPANO ………..…..... 1 …….... SPORTING "B" ……....... 1 CAUDAL ………..…..... 2 …….... REAL AVILES …..…...... 1 CANDAS. ………..…..... 3 …….... SIERO ……................... 2 CEARES ………..…..... 1 …….... LEALTAD ….…...…....... 2 CONDAL ………..…..... 1 …….... LANGREO ……...…....... 0 C.D. LLANES ……...….... 3 …….... NAVARRO …..…........... 1 ASTUR C.F ……..….... 1 …….... S.D.COLLOTO ……...... 0 Lealtad kept their unbeaten run going to 13, since beating Oviedo 1-0 they haven't looked back taking 29 points in that run. In contrast Hispano ended an 8 match losing streak by drawing with Sporting "B", they have just 3 points in their last 13 matches.
TABLE MATCH 19: MID POINT OF SEASON Position Matches Won Drawn Lost Goals ...Points For & Against..... REAL OVIEDO ….. 1 ….. 19 . 14 . 2 .. 3 . 45 15 . 44 CUDILLERO ….. 2 ….. 19 . 11 . 6 .. 2 . 27 17 . 39 TUILLA ….. 3 ….. 19 . 11 . 5 .. 3 . 29 16 . 38 LEALTAD ….. 4 ….. 19 . 10 . 7 .. 2 . 26 14 . 37 -----------PLAY-OFFS-------------- CAUDAL ….. 5 ….. 19 . 10 . 5 .. 4 . 37 23 . 35 UNIVERSIDAD ….. 6 ….. 19 .. 9 . 5 .. 5 . 28 19 . 32 LLANES ….. 7 ….. 19 .. 8 . 6 .. 5 . 27 17 . 30 AVILES IND. ….. 8 ….. 19 .. 8 . 6 .. 5 . 25 21 . 30 SPORTING B ….. 9 ….. 19 .. 8 . 4 .. 7 . 32 25 . 28 LANGREO .. 10 ….. 19 .. 7 . 5 .. 7 . 31 24 . 26 UNION CEARES .. 11 ….. 19 .. 8 . 2 .. 9 . 25 24 . 26 RIBADESELLA .. 12 ….. 19 .. 6 . 5 .. 8 . 23 25 . 23 CANDAS .. 13 ….. 19 .. 6 . 4 .. 9 . 26 32 . 22 SIERO .. 14 ….. 19 .. 5 . 6 .. 8 . 27 33 . 21 CONDAL .. 15 ….. 19 .. 4 . 6 .. 9 . 16 22 . 18 REAL TAPIA .. 16 ….. 19 .. 4 . 6 .. 9 . 22 37 . 18 ASTUR .. 17 ….. 19 .. 5 . 3 . 11 . 25 42 . 18 -----------RELEGATION------------- NAVARRO .. 18 ….. 19 .. 4 . 5 . 10 . 15 28 . 17 HISPANO .. 19 ….. 19 .. 2 . 5 . 12 . 18 47 . 11 COLLOTO .. 20 ….. 19 .. 2 . 3 . 14 . 16. 39 .. 9