West Ham, surely?Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Fair play Atleti, though have had rather too many fascist fans over the years, to be more greatly enthusiastic. That said, an improvement on Franco's Madrid.
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West Ham, surely?Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Fair play Atleti, though have had rather too many fascist fans over the years, to be more greatly enthusiastic. That said, an improvement on Franco's Madrid.
I'm hardly the most objective person to comment but I think I think it's a bit churlish to play down yesterday's FA Cup Final.
They were both great games in different ways. I'm glad the two teams I was rooting for came through.
I didn't see the German game.
I agree with Owls Fan. Ref was outstanding, as were Barcelona fans in defeat.
i was googling the history today to get a better handle on the politics. Apparently Atletico were the Franco regime's preferred team until Real started winning in Europe, making Real a better outward projection of the regime, so Franco and his supporters adopted Real.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Is it more nuanced than that?
I'd say it's more than Franco didn't favour either side until he realised the immense propaganda power the patronage of a club like Real Madrid could afford him. Atletico were never - and could never be - on that level.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
True enough, that and Stutts's post.
A better question would be what clubs in Spain don't have a fascist element in their hardcore support? Apart from Rayo, Villarreal and maybe Barcelona, there's not that many. Same as other ex-fascist countries like Italy. Even France and England have long had problems with right wing nuts.
Bilbao, Sociedad and most Basque teams AFAIK.
Fair point, about far too many clubs' fans having right-wing links, ironically according to social media, even more prevalent in E.Europe...
Eastern Europe was pretty heavily touched by fascism, even if they went communist in the end. There's a fair far-right contingent in East Germany too. In fact, you could probably count on your fingers the places where there isn't a significant far-right hold, and Ireland is thankfully one of them.
Isn't UCD a Fine Gael club? :)
That was me who pointed out the defensive standards of Arsenal. But i don't think its churlish to point this out in a La Liga thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Perhaps it would be churlish to point it out in a FA/EPL thread.
I've said it before that the standards of defending at Atletico are just unworldly, way ahead of the lauded Chelsea's drone like defence and by today's standards of transfer fees paid, it is bargain basement defence. The lighting speed, the anticipation, the art of the dispossession, the interceptions, the playing out of the back, were all evident and was remarkable in contrast to Arsenal's standing around a space and allowing a moderate team to pass itself around them.
That was after a replay I think.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
As regards the Atletico defence, despite all the pressure by Barca, their keeper didn't have a whole lot to do but there was always the possibility of a few seconds of Messi magic. Tremendous game and for Atletico to go to Barca needing a result, falling behind and then coming back: brilliant stuff. Comes close to the Man City v QPR game but will anything ever top that for drama?
It was in extra time(2006)...that West Ham finally ceded a two goal lead.
And Citeh-QPR, possibly the most dramatic EPL game ever...
Ok, lose a two goal lead and not lose on penos :)-Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy