La Liga 2012/13

Marcelo Bielsa has signed a new contract with Athletic Bilbao this morning - renewing until 30th June 2013.

It will be interesting to see who Malaga splash the cash on this summer now that they have Champions League football. I see they are being linked with a move for Gaston Ramirez recently

MANUEL Preciado, who was due to be unveiled as the new coach of Villarreal tomorrow, has died of a heart attack, the Spanish club have confirmed.
Villarreal announced yesterday they had reached an agreement with Preciado to take charge of the club next season, with the 54-year-old set to be presented to the media tomorrow.
Preciado spent six years in charge of Sporting GijĂłn before parting company with the club in January ahead of the challenge of achieving promotion at Villarreal, who suffered relegation from La Liga last season.
Preciado took over Sporting in the summer of 2006 and in his second season led them into the Primera Division for the first time in 10 years.
His record of 232 official matches in charge at El Molinon is second only to Jose Manuel Diaz Novoa, who sat in the Sporting hot seat for 282 games.
A statement on the Sporting website read: “With deepest regret, Sporting Gijón wish to express their sorrow at this sad loss, for someone who formed an integral part of this club’s history, and send their deepest condolences to his family in this time of grief.”
Prior to his time at Sporting, Preciado was coach of the likes of Racing Santander[/url], [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Levante_UD”]Levante[/url] and Murcia, while as a player he represented Racing, Real [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/RCD_Mallorca”]Mallorca and Alaves among others.
Sporting were relegated from the Primera Division in the recently-completed season, as were Villarreal.
Villarreal said in a statement this morning ''The coach Manuel Preciado died overnight in Valencia as a result of a heart attack.
''The Cantabrian, who had been chosen by Villarreal to lead next season’s project, was 54 years old.
‘‘Villarreal want to express their deepest sorrow at the sad loss and want to offer their condolences to his family and all his relatives.’’

Sad news for all the LFC family:

http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3882/spain/2012/06/25/3198203/betis-defender-miki-roque-passes-away
Betis defender Miki Roque passes away

It is a sad day for Spanish football with the news that the young defender, a former Liverpool player, has died after losing his battle with cancer

Betis[/url] defender [url=“http://www.goal.com/en-sg/people/spain/14559/miki-roque”]Miki Roque has passed away at the age of 23 following a battle with pelvic cancer.

Spanish media has confirmed the news concerning the former Spain Under-19 international who was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 after undergoing a routine check-up on a back problem.
He had surgery to remove the tumour in May of that same year after Betis raised funds to pay for the defender’s treatment by selling wrist-bands with the player’s name written on them.

Roque was on Liverpool’s books between 2005 and 2009, making just one official appearance for the Reds’ first team, during a 3-2 Champions League victory against Galatasaray in December 2006.

After being released by the English club Roque joined Betis, where he made 14 competitive appearances in 2010-11 before being forced to halt his career after the tumour was discovered.

I see the Spanish Super Cup is down for this coming Thursday and the following Wednesday this year

I think it was always unlikely that next year’s Super Cup would be down for this coming Thursday anyway.

Rocko, do you want a dig in the jaw? I will fucking give you one you pedantic turkish cunt :shakefist: :guns:

Valencia have equalised just before half-time at the Bernabeu for a 1-1 scoreline at the interval. Nicely setup for a decent second half now.

Athletic (possibly traumatised by Llorente and Martinez on the way out) are losing 0-3 at home to Betis also at half-time.

Is that prick Bielsa still managing Bilbao?

He is indeed and he called Llorente and Martinez traitors before today’s game. :o

Athletic have pulled 2 back… still 1-1 in the other game.

3-3 now!

Soldado incorrectly ruled offside when he would have been clean through a while ago.

Is he still going around bullying construction workers? Did he have to make an embarrassing climbdown after that incident?

Madrid have been poor enough in this game. Ronaldo completely ineffective so far. There was a sickening clash of heads between Casillas & Pepe as Valencia equalised.

What La Liga team are you guys supporting this season? Want to make a decision between Barca and Real Madrid by the end of the month.

I support neither but I find my preference of one over the other fluctuates depending on who are the underdogs of the two. I used to detest the Galactico’s & wanted Barca to kick their arse, but the last few seasons I’ve plumped for Madrid over Barca. This year though I don’t know. Both teams have players I detest.

Looks like we have the league in the bag and we haven’t even kicked a ball yet.

As long as the wonderful Cristiano Ronaldo is playing there, Real Madrid will have my support.

Early lead for Barca but Sociedad level already.