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La Liga : Light At The End Of The Tunnel?
Hi there. :)
So many may have read my previous post damning the running of our league and how quickly La Liga has gone from a strong in depth league to one ran by only two and is something to think about for other leagues that allow this to happen. In my last post was all doom and gloom however every story has two sides this will the opposite view.
If money distribution has helped destroy our league with the big two making four or five times as much as the rest what have the other teams got to look forward to, the answer is simple, youth.
Is true to say that some major clubs cannot compete financially with the likes of Real Madrid so I ask you what chance has little Rayo got or Celta Vigo and the answer is none, however money is not always everything and there is usually more ways around it than demanding big spending. Just like sometimes you could win big for just a few pounds instead of high stakes, click here to make a football bet.
Last season we all enjoyed Borussia Dortmund and their run to the final with a squad of largely homegrown and small transfers they enjoyed some luck as people forget they were probably a few seconds away from losing to Malaga a team that has payed for trying to buy instant success.
Robert Lewandowski cost around 5 million Euro’s and he scored four times against Real Madrid alongside the likes of Marko Reus, Mario Gotze and Ilkay Gundogan showed that a balance of clever small fee signings and home grown young German talent can compete with the biggest spenders. Of course the key word in their journey was time, is fair to say that they were a very successful side in the 90’s (and I presume earlier as well!) they had a spell of re-building if you will.
This journey is an inspirational one and for teams in La Liga could be the key to the future, a blueprint if you will that shows with a strong academy, trust in younger players and clever signings of smaller fees along with being financially secure can and will breed success if you are patient enough to wait for it.
Spain usually is not patient, however with the situation I explained in our country in the last post for now we dont have any choice, and in a crazy way might just be the saviour of our league and our national team.
Spain has entered the world of our ‘Golden age’ is something I wasnt sure what it meant until I chatted with a few people and it means for now Spain is probably the best team in the world, had you said that when I was at school I would think you were making fun as Spain were the biggest underachievers in history probably! For many years are hopes and dreams of success on the national stage were met with huge disappointment as alongside England we could only watch and admire the history of Brazil, Germany, Italy etc
England and Spain actually share so much in common as our biggest footballing achievements were made in the 1960’s long before I was born and oddly both won on our home soil! Ask any England fan and they will talk about 1966 almost as if they were there, despite like me not being born for 40 or 50 years! Spain won the European championships in 1964 beating the Soviet Union in the final and for us that was as good as is gets and like England and Holland we all joined the one wonder club.
Seems mad to think that these three nations would struggle for so long on the big stage with the players produced, Spain 1964, England 1966 and Holland 1988 would be the only success in the 20th century.
So I ask myself what happened? Well Spain has an excuse of sorts our history, as with all countries ours is full of tyranny, war, greed, corruption and power and the Spanish Civil war. I could honestly spend so much time explaining and talking about it as history is one of my main passions but this topic is probably to big to start in the middle of this one but its role probably destroyed Spanish football for decades.
They say never discuss football and politics the problem with Spain, football is politics and looks like it always will be, that could perhaps be an article in the future. ;)
Lets go through the 70’s and past the 80’s when I was born, through the 90’s and into 2002 the world cup in South Korea and Japan and Spain’s best chance for years a squad that had the likes of Casillas, Helguera, Puyol, Hierro, Raul, Tristan, Albelda, Mendieta, Xavi, Valeron, Luis Enrique!
It was the best squad in years and for the first time excitement that we finally had a genuine chance to lift our first ever world cup then in the quarter finals we lost on penalties to the hosts South Korea.
Our penalty history is on par with England and our hopes and dreams were ended again, two years later in Portugal more disaster as we failed to get out of the group even losing to our rivals Portugal.
It was the end of our so called era and that of the ‘golden generation’.
Then everything seem to change, am not sure why but politics suddenly became less important as players from all over Spain came together as did the fans as we entered 2008 and optimism suddenly flooded the country, another big chance or another chance to disappoint both at the time were 50/50.
Spain delighted however with fast paced attacking football, the fresh faced Fernando Torres and the clinical finishing of David Villa the experience of Puyol and Marchena matched with the youth of David Silva and Cesc Fabreagas. It seems everything was in place, no expectation just excitement of the team we had. Three wins from three in the group and then a victory on penalties to Italy it did really feel like this could be done. The semi was Russia defeated and then Germany and a moment that will stay with me for my life, Fernando Torres racing in and clipping the ball over the keeper and into the goal, Spain held on and we had finally won something!
It was odd and surreal to see our nation lift the trophy, to see players all together under one flag the intense history almost forgotten for a few hours (or days!) as the parties went on long into the night, for once I can say I actually saw my team win a major European trophy. Not living in memories from times before I was born and not waiting in nervous excitement only to be let down as usual, but winners, on the main stage.
Only two years later our nation would lift the biggest prize in world football in South Africa with Andres Iniesta’s extra time winner against Holland a moment that would bring the nation together again as one for the first time in decades. For the first time Spain went is as arguable favorites and I saw the most incredible moment of my life.
This felt different like the European success two years earlier was the dress rehearsal for the main event oddly this victory felt as if everything has been achieved, our country with its troubled past, its politics its ability to hurt itself had finally won the biggest prize available.
I guess its a moment that changes your life but changes nothing, it just feels like it does. A moment money cant buy, a moment you can say I was there even though you were not at the stadium your spirit was there. A moment Spain was united as one country and politics and history were forgotten for a few days. A moment of history and a moment you forget just how bad your hair was! :)
A picture I keep with me always, it was after the victory and my family for once all came together and celebrated, a moment of a life time.
Its hard to put into words the feeling you feel, especially in a language that is not your own! I just couldn’t believe that our country and our team was the best in the world I felt sure that it was as good as it can get, English is the most poetic language around full of little sayings and one felt more true than ever.
‘What goes up must come down’ I felt sure that this was it for Spanish football, but I dint mind as we had achieved the biggest prize available. To win yet another European championship in 2012 was crazy as now it felt like we were dominate and I look at the squad now and the youth teams and I ask just how did this happen? We go into Brazil looking for our fourth major trophy in a row even I don’t know how that has happened but having looked the answer is simple, to go back to my opening paragraph the answer is youth.
Please Select Page 2 For The Second Part Of My Article.
Spain now is reliant as ever on home grown academy players, every team in the world has the same chance yet people keep asking why do Spain keep doing it? I guess the obvious answer is we have too their is no alternative, with teams like Sociedad cant afford to go spending so they rely on academy players and it is paying off in a big way. Inigo Martinez is regarded as one of Spain’s brightest players he isnt the flashy David Silva type nor the rampaging Gerard Pique type he is just what the world calls a proper defender.
He reads the game exceptionally well, is strong and determined and is part of winning youth teams including the recent one this year at u21 level. The question is had Sociedad been big spenders he may have slipped through the gaps and into obscurity. The exciting future in Spain is now, all of Spain has latched onto the simple idea, find, nurture and trust your academy players as the rewards can surpass the richest clubs.
We are all aware of what Spain has achieved and the players produced from Xavi to Raul, and Casillas to Torres and everything in between however more clubs are providing outstanding potential so here are some names to watch for in the future.
Some say the next big thing in Spain Inigo Martinez has already proven to be a valued member of his club team. Won his first cap of many a few weeks ago and starred in the recent u21 success for the Spanish team a reliable defender who can only get better.
Spain have always longed for good fullbacks and now there is a huge arrival of potential first team players, Montoya suffers most as he isnt really the all out attacking full back he is much more well balanced which is actually a good thing as he tries to replace Dani Alves.
For me it feels like he has been around forever! Which show his talent as his debut was aged 17 and he is set to shine at troubled Malaga if he can stay injury free. Another who relies more on hard work than skill and one who will make an impact in the future.
As a Barca fan it hurts me to say I feel Morata is the best young Spanish player at the moment and the one with the most potential. Is almost the next Raul waiting to happen but with extra height and power, his scoring record at all levels is very impressive a certain star.
So for those outside of Spain or those unfamiliar may never have heard of this emerging talent, homegrown through the excellent Sevilla academy is another full back. For years left back has been a problem for Spain and now we seem to be very strong another who starred in the u21 success.
A serious cruciate injury robbed us of Mallo last season but is still a player who has made over 100 appearances for his club Celta and again one people may not be to familiar with. Is another defender at right back with pace and power and that extra quality which means is one for the future.
I cant really express my admiration of this player is almost the vision of Xavi with the pace and power to also help the defense, intelligent, aggressive and hardworking with that clinical pass and appreciation of others around him is very likely to be the next great midfielder in the Spain national team.
Probably a player most have never seen or as he plays for little Levante but is one of their prized assets after an excellent first season following his promotion from the Levante B team. Capped at u20 level seems set to work his way up to the very top a very exciting right midfield player.
Once again a talent from a club you wouldn’t expect this time is Real Betis another who has suffered with cruciate injuries but looks such a talent at only 18 years old. Is much more a traditional Spanish wide player like Silva or Mata a regular in the youth teams and one to keep an eye on in the future.
I think people often forget how strong the Real Madrid academy is and Carvajal is an example sold and bought back is set to be a regular this season.
Special Mentions!
In truth this discussion on players happened with my boyfriend when we were chatting over dinner one day, he is half English and half American so is drawn mostly to English football and the national team and he complained how inferior English players seem to be to Spaniards. He asked me who I thought was the future of Spain and he compared to what he thought the English future would be which was the main inspiration for this post as he wished he could be Spanish!
I made a list as I often do but their are just so many names I have, the list could be several pages long! I picked out who I thought were the very best and tried to stay away fro the obvious but I can mention some of the extra names here.
First is obviously Isco who joined Real Madrid from Malaga and at 21 is probably the most exciting young Spaniard around alongside Thiago Alcantara who swapped Barca for Bayern Munich another young player at 22 but both are very well known. Alvaro Vazquez from Espanyol is set for a bright future coming through their academy aged 22 now and on loan in ‘New Spain’ in England which is Swansea who have a few Spanish players around!
Pablo Sarabia is up next and yet another from the Real Madrid youth set-up but signed by Getafe with a buy back available, alongside Jese who remains at Madrid for now but is another set for a move to help progress his very talented future.
Paco Alcacer likened to a young David Villa came through the youth at Valencia scoring so freely for the Valencia B team but a mixed season on loan at Getafe but is really one to keep an eye on, Oliver Torres from Atletico is looking very exciting for an 18 year old alongside Gerard Deulofeu from Barca but on loan in England at Everton who will see a glimpse of the potential.
I cant forget the brilliant Iker Muniain who is one again seems to be around forever but is only 20 but he did make his La Liga debut at 16 from Bilbao obviously! Juan Bernat at Valencia is a real talent Denis Suarez another at Barca (originally Celta) is a very promising 19 year old attack minded midfielder and another who looks like a star for the future.
Back to Bilbao and a mention to Jon Aurtenetxe on loan at Celta a 21 year old fullback and other with massive potential, Manu Trigueros at Villarreal is another excellent young player at 20 years old along with countless others I haven’t mentioned!
I have only included Spanish players in Spanish academies and non-foreign based players if I did I would be here for months! (Hence why no Griezmann!) to highlight my point that although our country is in debt and the future for so many looks bleak, and our league is unfairly balanced we do have have reasons for optimism and hope.
Our youth structure is probably amongst the best in the world and I know I have probably missed loads more players but I have to end this post sometime! Money may be key for some but in Spain for now we are back to basics, building our own future and every team in La Liga is now involved.
Our youth teams are some of the best around and we have the talent to maybe even surpass what we posses now, I am proud of my country and proud of my team I guess in an ironic way without all the players being sold and lack of money 50% or more of these players would simply slip through the ranks and now we see the real quality of our league from our youth, Spanish legends like Xavi, Villa, Casillas and Puyol might be getting to retirement age but we are not concerned as we see what the future will hold, we see the future of our youth.
We are setting a blueprint for others to follow money may be the quickest way to get success but it isn’t always the best way, it will take time but the foundations are now laid and I expect even more Spanish talent to come through.
¡Viva España!