Villarreal Down

[Supagoon]

Does anyone find this a bit surreal.

6 years ago, we were duking it out with them to get a place in the european cup final.
Only a few years ago, we played them in their yard and they totally outplayed us.

Now today they are sent into the spanish championship.

Liverpool have fallen too but not this far. To be fair Villarreal were punching above their weight for many years at the top table. I always liked the way they played, shame.

[slag]

town of 50,000 residents, tv deals that forget about all the teams in spain bar two....the economy in spain is shot so people are not going to the games...bad times

[1989]

Interested to see what happens to the likes of Rossi, Diego Lopez and Musacchio - all very good players.

[Leyton Gooner]

Same thing happened to Deportivo La Coruna. Champions League Semi-final defeat to one of either Porto or Monaco, can't remember which, in 2004, then relegated last season. Think they won the league once as well. As has been pointed out it could have a lot to do with the economic crisis and the way TV money is distributed in Spain.

[Barriecuda]

Wow, had no idea they had fallen so much. The Yellow Submarines were a pretty good squad even 3-4 seasons back. Sad to see this.

[Bradywasking]

They took Cygan off us so they have a special place in my heart ....

[GranadaJoe]

However, a story showing the other side of football is that of Granada, who have managed to stay in La Liga after as an amazing three years as could be imagined.

[cusamano]

Does anyone find this a bit surreal.

6 years ago, we were duking it out with them to get a place in the european cup final.
Only a few years ago, we played them in their yard and they totally outplayed us.

Now today they are sent into the spanish championship.

Liverpool have fallen too but not this far. To be fair Villarreal were punching above their weight for many years at the top table.

You see, Arsenal in contrast is a well run club

[mike_stefan]

Same thing happened to Deportivo La Coruna. Champions League Semi-final defeat to one of either Porto or Monaco, can't remember which, in 2004, then relegated last season. Think they won the league once as well. As has been pointed out it could have a lot to do with the economic crisis and the way TV money is distributed in Spain.

Didn't Deportivo sign the "other" Denilson for megabucks c 2000 (something stupid like £20)??

[flash gunner]

Same thing happened to Deportivo La Coruna. Champions League Semi-final defeat to one of either Porto or Monaco, can't remember which, in 2004, then relegated last season. Think they won the league once as well. As has been pointed out it could have a lot to do with the economic crisis and the way TV money is distributed in Spain.

Didn't Deportivo sign the "other" Denilson for megabucks c 2000 (something stupid like £20)??

That was Betis i think

[mike_stefan]

Same thing happened to Deportivo La Coruna. Champions League Semi-final defeat to one of either Porto or Monaco, can't remember which, in 2004, then relegated last season. Think they won the league once as well. As has been pointed out it could have a lot to do with the economic crisis and the way TV money is distributed in Spain.

Didn't Deportivo sign the "other" Denilson for megabucks c 2000 (something stupid like £20)??

My bad - it was Betis, and they paid £21.5m. Mind boggling.

[SteveO 35]

It isn't that amazing really. They have spent most of their life outside of the top flight, and its a tiny little town with zero fan base. In reality what they achieved a few seasons ago was hugely punching above their weight, a bit like the Nottingham Forest team of the late 70s.

[g88ner]

Same thing happened to Deportivo La Coruna. Champions League Semi-final defeat to one of either Porto or Monaco, can't remember which, in 2004, then relegated last season. Think they won the league once as well. As has been pointed out it could have a lot to do with the economic crisis and the way TV money is distributed in Spain.

Didn't Deportivo sign the "other" Denilson for megabucks c 2000 (something stupid like £20)??

That was Betis i think

Yeah, Real Betis.

Something like £22m. May even have been the world's most expensive player for a short time.

Never really justified it, but was very skilful and great to watch.

I remember when we signed our own Denilson on transfer deadline day a few years back, and skysports were frantically trying to verify whether we'd signed the ex-Real Betis player, but no... sadly, we hadn't...

[littlefire]

However, a story showing the other side of football is that of Granada, who have managed to stay in La Liga after as an amazing three years as could be imagined.

Tell us more Joe, love that town.

[GranadaJoe]

Just under a year ago, when Granada were promoted to La Liga, under the influence of lots of free brandy, I posted a potted history.

In the 80's Granada were in the equivilent of the Conference. In 07 they got back into the third tier (which consists of 4 regional groups). In 09/10, on the brink of closing, they won the regional group, then won the play-offs and got into the 2nd Div. The next year they finished 5th but won the play-offs and, after 35 years got back into La Liga (cue free brandy, all night). Every single pundit throughout the media had them as favourites to go down, but then again so did most of the fans. But, despite only scoring about three goals all year they have clung on and I've read all 18 pages about it in the local rag. They'll be favourites to go down next year, but for now ...... there's the free brandy.

For any of you who haven't been, Granada is a fantastic city, perfect for a long weekend.