The Mail Bag
Glad Spain Got Creamed
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Why am I glad Spain got creamed by the Swiss? Because the stupid Spanish Manager (Vicente del Bosque) can choose players like David Silve, Andrés Iniesta, David Villa and Sergio Basquests over our very own Mikel Arteta.
I mean, from their performance last night, Mikel is miles ahead of them in terms of skill and ability. Serves Del Bosque right for being such an idiot. If Mikel was playing, things may be different, from where I’m sitting. Serves them right for losing. They’re paying for their own stupidity.
All this while, I was under the impression that Arteta is below par. But, last night’s performance shows that such notion is nonsense. May Spain lose more games for their stupidity. As for Vicente, damn you!!! May you rot in hell forever.
The Swiss played in a way that reminded me of us when we won 4th place: defending in large numbers, offensive plan consisting of mostly counter-attacks, goals from dead balls, hoofballs and ability to break up play in the middle of the park.
And getting rid of Senderos was a good decision by David Moyes. In fact, I was surprise Sanderos started. True enough he didn’t last more than the first half.
Abdul Rahman, Posted 16/06/2010 at 17:52:35
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Abdul, don't you think thats a tad harsh for selecting a team you dont agree with?
Sorry mate, I would love our boy to play, but these guys are super talented and have done ok without him previously.
I don't think the Spaniards will be booking their flights home just yet.
I agree with Dave, talk of the Spanish downfall is a bit premature. That said, a Brazil-Spain second round is a possibility I believe, if they don’t top their respective groups. Has the WC just got interesting?
Villa and Basquests play in different positions, Iniesta is one of the top 5 players in the World. I'll give you Silva though.
By the way, I'd love it if Spain won, I love their style of play.
I am definitely glad that Spain got beat though, would love them to get knocked out in the group stage.
What Spain are excellent at is keeping the ball once they have it but if possession becomes predictable and thereby easier to defend it's not worth that much. Significantly, Barcelona had the same problem against Inter and they share some of the same players.
Great sides have to have an effective plan B. Spain didn't seem to have one and nor did they seem capable of formulating one on the pitch. Great sides do that... they didn't.
I don't want to give the impression that Spain are not a very good side, they undoubtedly are. However, as favourites for the World Cup, they are nowhere near the level of Brazil in 1970, Holland in 1974 (they didn't win it I know, they were robbed by the Germans!)) Argentina in 1978, Italy in 1982 or France in 1998. They were all truly great sides that had various ways of playing the game and could adapt out on the pitch. Spain just don't seem able to do that.
Then you have Fabregas who, again, I would have ahead of Arteta I'm afraid.
And David Villa is a striker, so no comparison needed - even though he's one of the best strikers in world football.
I really hope Evertonians can see that whilst Arteta is one hell of a footballer that would grace the England side with ease, the fact is that Spain have some of the best midfielders the world has seen in the past 20 years currently in their squad. And that's unfortunate for Mikel.
Spain's midfielders are individually world class, but as a team they tend to be a bit "showy" — but they usually overwhelm sides anyway. What happened the other day was they came up against a Swiss side behind the ball and they didn't have the discipline to play "pass and move" instead of "get the ball and try something brilliant".
But individually, the best overall talent pool in midfield I can remember any country having in my lifetime.
If he signs his contract extension, that is... otherwise, he's a mercenary twat.
I can't agree with Lee Kidd either. Alonso over Arteta! No thanks. You have to remember Xavi, Iniesta etc excel partly due to the fact they are surrounded by good players. Arteta does not have that kind of safety net at Everton. He is vastly superior to the players around him. I would not swap him for any of the above except for Xavi.
I really don't see all the fuss over Spain. Barcelona are considered the best due to one man: Messi.
No to be fair the thought crossed my mind watching the game that Arteta would be in good company here and that on that games performance alone he is worthy of a spot...
In the squad... definitely... Arteta is the shiz!!!
The fact Spain haven't won a World Cup means utterly nothing about the players mentioned above, given the fact that there's only a World Cup once every four years!
Compare that to the players performing week-in, week-out in the world's toughest leagues.
I also can't understand the logic that Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso etc. are apparently "held up" by superb players around them when it is quite clear that all three of those players are actually the backbone of two teams considered amongst the best on the planet.
Arteta would walk into nearly every other national team on the planet (including England), but I think you're in cloud cuckoo land if you look at the careers, performances, adulation and accomplishments of Arteta compared to Spain's World Cup midfield and think he "should" have been a part of it.
I couldn't care less whether Arteta should be there or not. On the evidence of watching Spain the other day, though, I have to say Arteta would have improved them.
And would I swap Arteta for them? No. I don't think any of them would have any bigger impact for us than Arteta does. Argentina are the team I put money on before the start of it all & I can't see any threat to them from Spain.
James, so you reckon Spain aren't world class because they have not won the World Cup? So what is your opinion on Arteta then, world class or not?
Arteta isn't in the squad cos there are at least 8 other Spanish midfielders who are better than him. Hardly rocket science!!!
As for individuals, Alonso is not world class by any stretch of the imagination. Xavi looks like the string-puller when it's going well but, when it isn't, he doesn't have the ability to find alternative strings. He was getting very frustrated yesterday. This is evident in Barcelona games as well.
Busquets (the 'peeper') is nothing extraordinary and wasn't he ineffective and taken off yesterday?
Don't underestimate Arteta just because he plays for lowly Everton. The lad is world class in my opinion, he is a thinker and a 'probing' footballer and his only weakness is that he doesn't score enough goals (although when he does, they are usually crackers!). His corners aren't that great either but if he played for Spain he wouldn't have to take them, would he?
I agree with James Stewart, it is so easy to start believing the hype while ignoring what is in front of your eyes. Spain were poor yesterday, loads of possession but did nothing with it. Switzerland had two chances, scored one and should have scored from the other! Go figure! Spain could conceivably win this World Cup as I have seen nothing awe-inspiring from anybody yet. But that wouldn't make them any better than the Italians of 2006. They are certainly not a great side.
Some of you lads on here just need to take those blue-tinted specs off now and again.
As for this being a bad World Cup??? I thought today was alright.
Writing the Spanish off at this stage is madness, although that striker they've got with the new haircut doesn't look very fit. I wouldn't be telling Senor Del Bosque to 'go rot in hell' when in fact he is probably doing us a favour in the long run.
Alonso is a very good footballer, but is not "world class". This term and the "legend" term are used far to easily to describe footballers nowadays.
When Gareth Barry did not play against the USA and in the warm up games for the World Cup, England "struggled like fuck", unlike the qualifying campaign when Barry played and we sailed through with ease. Using your Liverpool argument on post 28, does this mean Gareth Barry is "World Class"?
It is a phrase that gets banded about all too often these days. World class in my eyes is someone who will go down in the history books as an all-time great. Pele, Maradona etc were world class.
Present day, the only world class player I can think of is Messi. To describe Alonso as world class or Arteta even is just plain daft. World class is you are the best in the world. I am sorry but the media darlings Spain & Brazil are simply not world class.
It is a phrase that gets banded about all too often these days. World class in my eyes is someone who will go down in the history books as an all time great. Pele, Maradona etc were world class. Present day the only world class player I can think of is Messi. To describe Alonso as world class or Arteta even is just plain daft. World class is you are the best in the world. I am sorry but the media darlings Spain & Brazil are simply not world class.
No, Arteta is not as good as Xavi, Iniesta or Villa, however is better than the likes of Silve and Basquests. It is simple, If Arteta plays for Barcalona, Manchester Utd, Arsenal, he would be without a doubt in the Spanish team, even with his 12 month injury layoff.
The upside to this is that Arteta can have a rest and come to Australia where i can watch him play!Hopefully an injury free pre season for the lad.
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1 Posted 17/06/2010 at 05:51:04
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In fact, he'd been perfect in the hold-up when the Swiss were thinking they had the box locked-up.
I think he's better spending this time healing. After all, his earnings are from his pro contract. But looking at today's game, Arteta should have been in there. Oh well. Spain paid the coach millions. That makes him right. Right?