Spain Football

I have just looked at the Segunda A results, and I saw that Elche only managed a nil-nil draw against Alicante. That's keeps them at the bottom of the table with only four points. If they don't buck their ideas up soon, it's going to be Segunda B next year.

Thank you for that comment, Simon, I'm sure it was aimed in my direction.

For the record, I would agree with it and an increasing number of supporters have already given up.

However, 9 games in is far too early to draw a meaningful conclusion, as I believe that when the league settles down completely we'll see that more than half the division will be involved in the relegation scrap.

Elche's problem at the start of the season was conceding goals. They seem to have addressed that problem with two consecutive clean sheets, but at the expense of posessing any sort of goal threat themselves, as yesterday's ultra-bore draw proved.

 This despite posessing a couple of on-loan Primera strikers in Dani Martin (scorer of a winner for Betis against Mourinho's Chelsea in the Champions League), and Ivan Bolado from Racing.

However, there's a lot of work to be done and Elche's new coach Barragan has to ensure that his team are not out of the picture before the Christmas break! 

It certainly was, Gordon, and I wish you all the best. Apart from anything else, I'd like Elche to stay up so Ill be able to argue the toss with you when Sant Andreu are also in 2ª A.

Phew! I only remember Rangel vaguely - I had a fall-out with the gang of blokes I used to go to Narcis Sala with and went very little last season. I can see I need to brush up a little!

Nice to see Elche grabbing a few points - draw by draw you might just clear the relegation zone.

Saw the first half of Orihuela-Sant Andreu on TV today. I don't know what the final score was but they were 1-nil down at half-time and lacked punch.

Elche should have beaten Albacete yesterday and been well on the way to clearing the relegation zone, but they have at least got one side of the equation right - no goals conceded in the 4 games since the new coach took over.

The local press mentioned a very apt quote "el fútbol es como una manta corta, si te tapas la cabeza te destapas los pies y viceversa".

My Spanish is not so good as others, but basically "football is like a short blanket. If you cover your head, you uncover your feet and viceversa"

As much as we would all like to see swashbuckling adventure, you won't win matches without first getting a sound defence.

If they can add a bit more attacking potency they will climb the league for sure.

at 05:21AM on Nov 10, 2008

Elche should have beaten Albacete yesterday and been well on the way to clearing the relegation zone, but they have at least got one side of the equation right - no goals conceded in the 4 games since the new coach took over.

The local press mentioned a very apt quote "el fútbol es como una manta corta, si te tapas la cabeza te destapas los pies y viceversa".

My Spanish is not so good as others, but basically "football is like a short blanket. If you cover your head, you uncover your feet and viceversa"

As much as we would all like to see swashbuckling adventure, you won't win matches without first getting a sound defence.

If they can add a bit more attacking potency they will climb the league for sure.

 

I've been reading up on Ladislao Kubala today and saw that he managed Elche in the 88-89 season. Would never have guessed!

Couldn't have been a very good time, Simon. Finished rock bottom of the 1st Divison with a terrible record (only 4 wins all season).  It was the last time the club was in the top division.