The_Rev Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 (edited) From what I can tell about the Owen story, he didn't really settle in Madrid either. He lived in a hotel the entire time he was there and he didn't mix socially with the other players. Part of this is understandable, at the time he had a one year old baby and anybody who has had a kid can tell you what being a parent does to your social life, this is probably amplified if you move to a new country and don't have any pre existing friendships or any family members to help with babysitting. Owen probably felt it was right that he spent his time with his wife and child, sadly that probably undermined his career as a footballer. think Madrid fans took to Bale at end of last season his goals in the cup final and Champions League win made him a hero. as for British players abroad hargreaves was probably the biggest success since 2000 I'm not sure I really count Hargreaves. He was definitely successful, but I don't consider him to be British. He is a Canadian who's England career was a marriage of convenience. He had never even lived in England until he signed for Manchester United and by then he already had 39 (of his 42) England caps. I'm not sure whether he travels on a British or Canadian passport but I think he is still a Canadian citizen which suggests he travels on a Canadian passport. Edited October 20, 2014 by The_Rev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Hargreaves was a wonderful player though, that is undeniable. A big loss to England. He'd probably be captaining the side now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Mcmanananananananan is a bit of an idol in Madrid, although that was 15 years ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 he scored a couple of really important goals didnt he? not just the great champions league final goal from what i can remember he joined madrid at a time when there were properly in the shit and yet somehow they won a fair bit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 he scored a couple of really important goals didnt he? not just the great champions league final goal from what i can remember he joined madrid at a time when there were properly in the shit and yet somehow they won a fair bit they won champions league a year before he joined, bit harsh to say they were in the shit. He joined a Madrid who were more workmanlike though compared to galacticos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 they had huge money trouble didnt they? im sure mcmanaman joined in the same summer as they flogged all their star players, suker, mijatovic, seedorf etc all left, he was at madrid before the galacticos and at a time when they were really struggling off the pitch but somehow very successful on it and he also wasnt a galactico and didnt get much game time but refused to give up and leave which is why i think he is so fondly remembered in madrid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 was more of a rebuilding Madrid, Suker adn Mijatovic were nearly past it by then, when he joined they still had Redondo, Raul, Roberto Carlos, Seedorf and Anelka and won Champions League that season. next year Perez came in wiped out debt and signed Figo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 They solved the money problems with a very very shady property deal with the city of Madrid council. It's still in court now but it was basically state aid. McManaman joined the season they won the Champions League didn't he? He certainly has two winners medals. He scored and was man of the match in the all Spanish final of 2000, and he came on as a sub in the 2002 final which was the game when Zidane scored that quite incredible volley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Pretty sure he scored a goal in the semi to get to that final vs Leverkusen too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 So he did. It also happened to be Barcelona away and was probably the decisive goal in the fixture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Suarez starting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Erm why aren't sky showing the beginning of this?! Barca have already scored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Just found out... Sky Sports are unable to screen the first quarter of an hour of Barça's eagerly awaited clash away to Real Madrid because no British broadcaster is allowed to show live football between 2.45pm and 5.15pm. The rule is designed to protect attendances at British games with a 3pm kick-off. What an absolute nonsense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I like that rule. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodders0223 Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 Can we still put a cheeky bid in for Isco? only the best player on the pitch in the El Classico like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 Yeah, he is class. Probably the best £30m squad player in world football today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaChris Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 When I saw the teams, I thought Barca would win. Sky put Madrid as a 4-4-2 with Isco and James playing as wide midfielders although I assume they adopted more central positions in the game. Barca just looked more balanced to me with their 4-3-3 particularly their front trio which one Suarez gets his fitness up looks devastating. The issue I have is their three in midfield, surely they need fresh blood in there now? Xavi was getting phased out last season but started last night and Iniesta is 30 now and isn't quite impacting game as he used to. On a general thing, it's incredible to see how big this game has become in the U.K now. When I first started watching in 2000 Sky were showing it but you'd be lucky if you got a line or two in a British newspaper. Now all pubs show it, BBC had it as one of it's lead stories on its news bulletin before MOTD last night and on the BBC website I noticed they did player ratings which you don't even get for the big prem games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 I thought Suarez did quite well after being out so long. One assist plus a brilliant cross which Messi should have scored. Iniesta and xavi were woeful. The fullbacks for Real were terrific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 The issue I have is their three in midfield, surely they need fresh blood in there now? Xavi was getting phased out last season but started last night and Iniesta is 30 now and isn't quite impacting game as he used to. rakitic is there who will be the long term replacement for xavi, but sergi roberto and rafinha arent there and im not sure they will, sergi samper will next in line after that, halilovic after that dont think it helped last night that busquets has been out injured and looked very leggy by the end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 Busquets was brilliant for 70 mins. Nothing got past him if he was challenging for the ball. It was the first time I've properly watched him. Great at breaking up play and keeping pressure on the other team. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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