I will say, even though I hated the PK calls, this match should serve as a reminder to Madrid fans and the organization that proper defenders are needed not two that combine defending with clownish behavior. Between Pepe and Ramos, they are just asking for a red card almost every match. After a while it gets annoying to watch them do the same crap.
Like this? <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kNYdZuIlDwM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Or like this? <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/11enIeWNJbE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Lol can't see the vids but think I remember the plays. Between Pepe, Ramos and Marcelo on one side and Dani Alves and Busquets on the other side, there are enough dirty players that play act excessively and generate controvery almost every time both teams tangle.
How does this help the case of defending Busquets? It's obvious from his video that he touches Pepe's head on purpose. Yeah, he is not stepping full force on Pepe's head, but just doing enough that he could get away with it, but still intentional. That said, I find Pepe incredibly annoying.
Don't forget Xabi Alonso and of course Mou isn't there anymore.. I agree on Busi and Alves being a bit dirty.
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/sto...mes-spare1-032514?cmpid=tsmfb:fscom:foxsoccer <iframe width="480" height="270" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight='0' scrolling="no" src="http://hub.video.msn.com/embed/de803e38-77f3-4e07-a838-2991a988a82d/?vars=bGlua292ZXJyaWRlMj1odHRwJTNBJTJGJTJGbXNuLmZveHNwb3J0cy5jb20lMkZzb2NjZXIlMkZzdG9yeSUyRmJheWVybi13aW5zLWJ1bmRlc2xpZ2Etd2l0aC1yZWNvcmQtNy1nYW1lcy1zcGFyZTEtMDMyNTE0JTNGY21waWQlM0R0c21mYiUyNTNhZnNjb20lMjUzYWZveHNvY2NlciUyNnZpZGVvSWQlM0QlN0IwJTdEJTI2ZnJvbSUzRCZjb25maWdOYW1lPXN5bmRpY2F0aW9ucGxheWVyJmJyYW5kPWZveHNwb3J0cyZta3Q9ZW4tdXMmbGlua2JhY2s9aHR0cCUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5iaW5nLmNvbSUyRnZpZGVvcyZjb25maWdDc2lkPU1TTlZpZGVvJmZyPXNoYXJlZW1iZWQtc3luZGljYXRpb24mc3luZGljYXRpb249dGFn"> <A href="http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/bayern-wins-bundesliga-with-record-7-games-spare1-032514?cmpid=tsmfb%3afscom%3afoxsoccer&videoId=de803e38-77f3-4e07-a838-2991a988a82d&from=shareembed-syndication&src=v5:embed:syndication:" target="_new" title="Bayern Munich clinch earliest Bundesliga title ever">Video: Bayern Munich clinch earliest Bundesliga title ever</A> </iframe> Bayern Munich rolls past Hertha Berlin to clinch Bundesliga title Bayern Munich defeated Hertha Berlin 3-1 to become the earliest Bundesliga champion in 51 years of the league on Tuesday, when the defending champion claimed its 24th German title. Toni Kroos scored in the sixth minute and Mario Goetze added a rare header in the 14th. Adrian Ramos pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 66th, but Bayern substitute Franck Ribery settled the issue in the 79th. The result ensures Pep Guardiola's side wraps up the title with seven games to spare in the Spaniard's first season as coach, beating the mark set in last year's record-breaking campaign by one game. It was also Bayern's 19th consecutive win, its 10th consecutive victory away from home, and it stretched its unbeaten run to 52 games. All are Bundesliga records. Second-place Borussia Dortmund failed to overcome Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann and had to settle for a 0-0 draw in the Ruhr derby despite dominating. Dortmund remains one point ahead of Schalke and slips 25 behind Bayern, the first side to win the Bundesliga in March. Bayern finished 25 points ahead of Dortmund last season and is even more dominant this campaign. Of 27 games so far this season, Bayern has won 25 and drawn the other two. It has also scored more goals (79) and conceded fewer (19) than any other side by a large margin. Kroos opened the scoring with a half-volley through Hertha goalkeeper Thomas Kraft's legs after Christoph Janker deflected Thomas Mueller's cross into the unmarked midfielder's path. Poor defending from the home side allowed Goetze to score with a header from Bastian Schweinsteiger's cross. Mueller hit the crossbar in the 38th, and went very close again before the break, when his lob over former teammate Kraft went just wide of the post. The intensity dropped in the second half until Guardiola introduced Ribery and Mario Mandzukic together in the 54th. Mandzukic tested Kraft from a tight angle shortly afterward, before an apparent push from Rafinha on Ramos allowed the Colombian striker pull one back from the penalty spot.
Damn... what's going on at Arsenal? Everton is 6 points behind Arsenal with 1 game in hand. The second game they play will be against Arsenal, meaning they could very well overtake Arsenal at the 4th, assuming they win their next game vs Fulham. That would be a must-watch game... one of the 2 teams will have a total meltdown.
ATW, why do you think the German league isn't popular (or as popular as it should be)? I mean, in terms of quality, it's better than Spain. Definitely superior to Italian football. In terms of excitement and tradition, I understand why the Prem clinches it (language being a big thing in this as well) but it's weird to me that the Bundesliga doesn't come in at 2nd. Basically, I don't think anyone cares. Of course, watching German teams in the CL is completely different.
Did the opposite of what you usually see after big acquisitions. They started out strong, and then faded off.
I love NBC and what they've done with the Prem coverage. Every game is televised, you never have to miss out.
In the USA I think language is the biggest factor. Most English speakers lean towards England and most Spanish speakers lean towards Spain as their favorite leagues. It's also not broadcast here since La Liga moved to BeIN and GolTV got dropped from most TV packages. Fox has their TV rights next year so it should become more widely available. And I agree that is is underrated for some reason. It seemed like any game that I watched was pretty entertaining regardless of who was playing.
I've asked SJC this exact question, but that was like 50 pages ago. I think he said that the marketing pretty much sucks for Bundesliga. He even said he was approached by the league to be part of the global marketing team, but turned it down (my guess is that SJC is waiting for a call from mauri).
Yup, basically what SJC said. German league office really half-azzed finding new markets and has been been sleeping on netting good TV and marketing deals in USA, Asia, etc. I think we just signed a new TV deal in USA which should help the Bundesliga attract new fans. Also, the surge of Bayern and BVB has and will help in the future, both clubs had great showings in CL and millions of fans joined from all over the globe. Especially Bayern is doing everything possible marketing-wise, think we just opened or are about to open new offices in USA and Asia.
Great win for City yesterday. They outplayed and outclassed Man U for the duration of the match. Now with 2 games in hand City are only 3 points behind Chelsea. This is really City's title to lose as they control there own fate in the last 10 or so games.
