I have seldom been as disgusted by any performance as I was by Seville's yesterday, it was one of the most dishonest and cynical performances I have ever seen, compounded by a thoroughly incompetent refreeing performance. It's easy to see why Seville is developing such an ugly reputation. While one team was trying to play football yesterday, the other (except for the 2 substitutes Antoñito and Marcos Vales) was playing a curious mixture of diving and rugby. Surely, there must be some way to punish Fredi for the shamelessness of his diving. I counted no more than 2 actual fouls on him but i stopped counting at six the number of times he fell on the floor as if struck by a mortal blow, killing the Betis flow before rising miraculously from the dead, like he was Jesus Christ on a football field. All you needed to do was look at him and viola, he was down!!! He made Inzaghi and Klinsmann look like amateurs! Toedli and surprisingly, even Reyes, were not much better while Pablo Alforo needs to be reminded that he is the leader of a football team, not a mafia hit squad. And while Betis will never win awards for staying off the ground (remember Dani against Sociedad?), to have 3 good penalty shouts turned down in one match (the handball on the first appeal nd the foul on Denilson on the 3rd were as clear cut as can get) goes far, far beyond the typical bad luck that evens itself out over a season. That a team playing aggressive, passionate, attacking football lost to such a shameless, cynical display was pathetic and a poor advertisment for what many of us feel is the most beautiful league in the world
Visca El Eurobeti etc.. I watched that match and it was AWFUL The sevilla players were diving and stalling and hardly playing. The kicking of the ball incident at the end was also classless. I had high hopes for this Derby..and it sucked Donkey Balls...
That was one of the worst games I have watched in any league. My Betis would have killed Sevilla if that piece of shite ref would have done the job he was paid to do. There wasn't more than 2 minutes played without someone stopping the play by commiting a foul that he should have obviously taken out some yellow cards. 50 fouls committed ? How many yellows, 3 ? You can't even look back at this and laugh
Why did you have high hope for this derby? If people know anything about Spanish football they should know that the Seville derby is not one to watch if they expect good football. The ignorance of some people... Also perhaps a moderator should move this to the Andalucia forum where it belongs.
No comment on the match, the only good thing was that we had a chance to have about 7 Beticos and one sevillista over at my house to watch the match and eat some great tapas and drink some nice Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Needless to say on Monday my inbox was filled with emails from all those sevillistas I have come to befriend through the years rubbing it in. The only solace is that they agreed that the match was bad, and agreed with what I have been saying all along that Lopera is a buffon and until he forks out the money for a true "9" this team isn't going anywhere fast! BTW-Notario showed that he is a great goalkeeper and Prats showed us why some games he seems to have his head up his fourth point of contact! Viva er eurobeti manque lopera! Pichi
Hey Pichi, glad to see you post here now and then. Pretty awful match but I expected that. Anyways, you are right about Notario. He is easily the MVP for Sevilla for not only this season but last season as well. A shame that he doesn't get any recognition from the NT coaches.
I actually got to see the highlights of the match, after a friend taped Estudio Estadio for me. Certainly, there were plenty of fouls and little soccer, and the referee missed a clear penalty (Hand ball on a free kick by Denilson). But it was good to see highlights of the derbi nonetheless. Notario certainly is worthy of a look by the NT coaches, but he's only 20, isn't he? Did he play for any of the younger NT's (U-17 or U-21)?
I had no idea, especially since he is relatively new for Sevilla, right? In the last two years at least... Where did he play before, or has he always been with Sevilla? His story is probably similar to Contreras with Malaga, an excellent keeper playing for a smaller club that doesn't get as much recognition, although Koke was called up as the third keeper for Japan-Korea 2002 after the aftershave incident with Cañizares. Certainly, Notario should get noticed, at least for a friendly or two, as a courtesy to acknowledge his value and amazing past two seasons with Sevilla. Unfortunately, Spain just doesn't play as many international friendlies as countries like the US, thus, players, especially keepers, have less of an opportunity of breaking in and getting a cap or two. He should be able to give Casillas and Cañizares a run for their money.
Yes he is fairly new to Sevilla. In fact he made his first division debut with Sevilla (in 2001). A late bloomer I guess. Before that he bounced around a lot of teams in Segunda (Granada, Valencia B, Murcia, Poli Almeria, and Guadix). Funny in that he is actually from Barcelona. Barça could use a keeper like him. As far as the NT is concerned, he probably will never get a game. His age is against him. Saez has said before he wants to go with a younger team. That's too bad because I think he has a good 2 or 3 years left in him.
Sabrá Saez que los porteros pueden jugar a una edad mayor que la de un jugador de campo??? habrá oido hablar de Seaman o Pat Jennings?