La Liga Review

Gago lays in to Real Madrid's critics

By Thomas Rooney

Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago has hit back at doubters of his side’s ability. Throughout this season to date, the Spanish club have been criticised for their performances and their capability to win trophies has been questioned.

Gago is convinced that the team are ‘playing better than people say’ and that they will be challenging for all honours come the end of the season. The Argentinean says he thinks about ‘winning every game’ that Real Madrid compete in and this will remain the case for the rest of the campaign.

In fairness to Gago, he does have a point when he says that things are going much better than some people have been suggesting. Real Madrid currently sit three points adrift of Barcelona in the La Liga table, so as far as the league title is concerned – the football odds are far from ruling them out just yet.

Then, in terms of the Champions League, Real Madrid are through to the last 16 after defeating BATE Borisov 1-0 last night thanks to a goal from the ever consistent Raul. Overall, they are in touch with the Spanish league leaders and through to the latter stages of the Champions League, so it is no surprise that Gago has questioned what else can be done to please the critics.

Looking at Real Madrid’s results over the season so far though, it can be assessed as to what the criticism is being aimed at. Yes, they are still involved in the two main competitions of their season, but defeat in the Copa Del Rey to Real Union was very embarrassing. Then, there is the defeats in La Liga to Valladolid and Deportivo as well as crashing to Juventus home and away in Europe.

So, as much as the overall picture isn’t too bad at the Bernabau – you can see where the criticism has come from. Madrid have been beaten on too many occasions for this stage of the season.

In the next couple of weeks they have Getafe and Sevilla in La Liga. Football betting will be favouring them to win these games and it is mighty important they do so to continue the momentum gathered from the last couple of results. Then, they can go into the game with Barcelona on the 14th December in some decent form.

Thomas Rooney

Henry rules out Premier league move

By Thomas Rooney

Barcelona striker Thierry Henry isn’t normally out of the news for too long. Whether it’s for his fantastic ability with a football or for the criticism he often receives from sections of the Barcelona crowd – there is normally something interesting going on in the world of the former Arsenal man.

This time, Henry is being linked with a move away from the Spanish club. The 31-year-old has been tipped to end his inconsistent time in Spain by moving back to the Premier League in England. Chelsea and Manchester City have apparently been tracking his progress and could make a move in the January transfer window.

In reaction to these reports though, the player himself has ruled out a move back to England by saying that he is determined to stay and continue to play for Barcelona. As we all know, Henry has played somewhat of a ‘bit-part’ role for the club this season, but this isn’t affecting his loyalty to them.

The Frenchman has insisted that he is ‘happy at Barcelona’ and that he doesn’t see himself playing in England anytime soon. Henry also hailed Samuel Eto’o as ‘the best striker in the world’ and admitted that he was one of the reasons he hadn’t been able to play as much as he would have liked this season.

Henry may have ruled out a move, but he did admit that he could do ‘incredible things in England’. This is something I have to agree with. If he moved back to the Premier League he could rediscover the form that he showed over so many years for Arsenal. He wouldn’t receive half the criticism he receives in Spain and he could re-new his love for playing the game.

As things stand though, Henry is a Barcelona player and will continue to do all he can to help the team win trophies this season. Tonight sees them take on Benidorm in the Copa del Rey where the football odds will be expecting a heavy win and despite of all this speculation, I’m sure that this game is the only thing on Henry’s mind. He is a model professional after all.

Something I would place a lot of football betting money on though, is that Henry will not finish his career at Camp Nou. He has revealed that he wants to play in America before his career ends, so even if England isn’t his destination, I’m pretty sure he won’t be a Barcelona player for many years to come.

By Thomas Rooney