This work is an analysis of the first tier football league
in Spain. The basis for this analysis is to have a prediction of the teams that
would have a top 5 league table placement at the end of the season. This
prediction will be achieved via the CONTENDERS
RATING SCALE.
Having had a thorough analysis of the last 5 seasons
of the Spanish La Liga in the aforesaid link, it was projected that the 5 teams
that are more likely to have a top 5 league table placement at the end of the
2012/13 La Liga season are Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Sevilla FC
and Valencia. To have an in-depth understanding of how these teams were arrived
at, please click the link, Contenders Rating Scale above.
*Related works -
In this work, we will discuss all 5
Contenders, highlighting the inbound and outbound transfers made by them.
Lastly, we will discuss the projected final table
placement of these Contenders.
REAL MADRID
Having won the 2011/12
SPANISH PRIMERA DIVISIÓN (LA LIGA) SEASON,
Real Madrid is the defending champions. Inclusive of the 2011/12 La Liga season
success, Real Madrid have won a total of 32 league titles which makes them the
most successful team in the Spanish Primera División. The 2011/12 La Liga
success of Real Madrid was the first time the Madrid based club won the league
in 4 years.
Presently, Real Madrid is
having a slow start to the current campaign which has got the club placed in 5th
place with 11 points from 7 matches and 8 points behind regular Barcelona. But
due to this slow start, it will be a mistake by anyone to write-off the Madrid
club from having a top 5 finish and most importantly winning the league.
Lastly, with Cristiano
Ronaldo in the team, the needed goals to get Real Madrid on course for another
season success is guaranteed though Real Madrid will as usual be in stiff competition
with Barcelona as both teams have been the major Contenders of the Spanish
Primera División.
These stated, will the
2012/13 season be a second consecutive triumph for Real Madrid? Find out at the
end of this work.
*Facts
i. Real Madrid has won the Spanish
Primera División 32 times.
ii. In the last 5 seasons (2007/08 - 2011/12),
Real Madrid has had a top 5 finish 5 times.
2012/2013
REAL MADRID TRANSFER LIST
IN (CLUB PURCHASED OR “LOANED”
FROM):
Luka Modric (Tottenham
Hotspurs)
Michael Essien (Chelsea
“Loan”)
OUT (CLUB
SOLD OR “LOANED” TO)
Canales (Valencia), Joselu
(Hoffenheim)
Nuri Sahin (Liverpool “Loan”)
Esteban Granero (QPR)
Lassana Diarra (Anzhi Makhachkala)
Daniel Carvajal (Leverkusen)
Hamit Altintop (Galatasaray)
Fernando Gago (Valencia)
Entry and Exit Transfer Pick:
Luka MODRIĆ
Modrić is a Croatian
international signed from English Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur. Before
joining Tottenham in 2008, he played for Dynamo Zagreb and was very
instrumental while with the club, though he had 2 loan spells to Zrinjski Mostar
and Inter Zapresic in the 2003/04 and 2004/05 seasons respectively.
Having had in the last
two years, a transfer request turned down by his former club, Modrić’s move to
Real Madrid must have had him delighted to have a move scaled through. Rgis is
due to the fact that prequel to the 2011/12 season, he was in a long exit
battle with his former club (Tottenham) but due to his immense influence and
impact on the pitch, Tottenham were not keen on letting their most priced asses
go, irrespective of the amount of money put forward by interested clubs. Most
notably was the turn down of the initially £22 million and subsequent bid of
£27 million by Chelsea football club.
Now a Real Madrid
sequel to Tottenham’s “reluctant sale”, Modrić is expected
to have a significant impact in the team as his passes and sublime ability to
create chances will be very instrumental to Cristiano Ronaldo continuing his goal
spraying prowess.
Though not a regular
scorer, his brilliance at scoring at vital moments will be an added plus to Real
Madrid having a terrific season.
Lassana DIARRA
Having spent 4 seasons
at Real Madrid, precisely from the 2008/09 season to the 2011/12 season, Diarra
no doubt had a decent 4 years with the Madrid club. While in the colours of
Real Madrid he played 19, 23, 26 and 17 times in the 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11
and 2011/12 seasons respectively (Wikipedia.com).
Before playing for Real
Madrid, Diarra played for Portsmouth, Arsenal, Chelsea and Le Havre. Le Havre
was his first club as a professional footballer while Portsmouth was last club
before joining the Madrid club.
There is no better
description of Diarra’s style of plan but that put forward by Wikipedia as thus,
“Diarra has unusually good ball control for a defensive midfielder and has been
praised for his physical strength in defense. Due to his versatility, Madrid’s
La Sexta television commentators refer to him as a ‘todocampista’ or ‘jack of
all trades’”
Diarra played two
matches for Real Madrid in the current campaign before bidding goodbye to the
club to join Russian club, Anzhi Makhachkala.
FC
BARCELONA
In the last four years,
Barcelona was undoubtedly the best football club in Europe and the world. This
magnificent high flying rating is due to the phenomenal achievement they
achieved, comprising both local and international triumphs. Locally, the club
won the La Liga 3 times in the first four years of Josep “Pep” Guardiola in
charge but in the 2011/12 season, Real Madrid stole the show, winning the
league.
But nothing can be
taken from the fact that the 2008/09 – 10/11 seasons were 5 star for the
catalan club, especially 2009 when they unprecedentedly had the sextuplet,
wining all competitions/trophies they participated in and as thus, 14 trophies
in all in the four years of Guardiola in charge.
Though the 2011/12
season was the least triumphant in all 4 years under the tutelage of Guardiola,
his exit from the club deserved the celebration it graced as it granted him his
final trophy (copa del Rey) of his sojourn term in charge of the club.
With Guardiola not in
charge and his then assistant, Tito Vilanova now at the helm of affairs, I
foresee Barcelona having a much better season than the 2011/12 season. Currently
Barcelona is in first place on the league table placement with 19 points which
makes them 8 points ahead of their biggest rival, Real Madrid.
In addition, with 3
time world footballer of the year, Lionel Messi in the club, nothing but the
best is expected from Barcelona.
*Facts
i. Barcelona has won the Spanish Primera
División 21 times.
ii. In the last 5 seasons (2007/08 -
2011/12), Barcelona has had a top 5 finish 5times.
2012/2013
FC BARCELONA TRANSFER LIST…
IN (CLUB PURCHASED OR
“LOANED” FROM):
Jordi Alba (Barcelona)
Alex Song (Arsenal)
OUT (CLUB
SOLD OR “LOANED” TO)
Seydou Keita (Dalian Aerbin)
Ibrahim Afellay (Schalke “Loan”)
Entry and Exit Transfer Pick:
Alex
SONG
Alex Song’s exit from Arsenal to Barcelona is one that got many followers
of the beautiful game shocked as it was one no one saw coming. While at
Arsenal, precisely in the last 2 seasons, he established himself as not just a
rugged, strong and intelligent defensive midfielder but a sublime passer of the
ball, as he had a remarkable 11 assists to his name in the English premier
league.
Prior to joining Arsenal, Song played for Bastia.
Since joining Arsenal at the age of 17, he has over the time evolved to be a
world class midfielder that could fit into any team, which primarily accounts
for the reason behind Barcelona poached him from Arsenal.
Now in the colours of
Barcelona, un the colours of a new club with a new manager, it is expected that
Song will be an added vibe and rhythm to Barcelona claiming the La Liga title
from Real Madrid, added to winning other trophies.
Seydou
KEITA
Seydou Keita is a
Malian international that spent 4 years with Barcelona before leaving prior to
the start of the 2012/13 season. Brilliantly, his sojourn with the club was
during the triumphant years when Pep Guardiola was in charge.
Having spent a
remarkable season with Seville in the 2007/08 season, then Barcelona coach,
Josep “Pep” Guardiola signed him.
In the FIFA U-20 World
Cup held in Nigeria in 1999, irrespective of Mali having a third place finish
in the tourney, Keita recorded a sublime performance that got him bagging the
Golden Ball award.
According to Wikipedia,
while at Barcelona, Keita recorded 119 league appearances and scored 16 league
goals. A handful of these games were as a substitute.
No doubt, his exit to
Chinese Super League Club, Dalian Aerbin was a big surprise. This is because
according to http://www.dailymail.co.uk, Liverpool was
keen of signing him.
Among the many trophies
won in his 4 trophy-full years with Barcelona are 3 La Liga, 2 UEFA Champions
League, 2 FIFA Club World Cups and 2 UEFA Super Cups titles.
Keita definitely paid
his dues to the club and as such will be greatly felt by the Barcelona
faithful.
VALENCIA
CF
Valencia CF is a
football club based in Valencia. Valencia CF has won the Spanish La Liga title
6 times, with the last title won in the 2003/04 season. But ever since then,
the Valencia based club has had a consistent top 5 season placement, most
notably the 2009/10. 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons which had the club finishing
the league in 3rd place in all years mentioned.
Currently having a slow
start to the current campaign, as evident in the club being placed in 14th position
with 8 points from 7 matches, Valencia will certainly not be pushovers for a
top 5 season finish.
*Facts
i. Valencia has won the Spanish Primera
División 6 times.
ii. In the last 5 seasons (2007/08 - 2011/12),
Valencia has had a top 5 finish 3 times.
2012/2013
VALENCIA TRANSFER LIST…
IN (CLUB PURCHASED OR
“LOANED” FROM):
Sergio Canales (Real
Madrid)
Aly Cissokho (Lyon)
Haedo Valdéz (Rubin “Loan”)
Fernando Gago (Real Madrid)
Jonathan Viera (UD Las
Palmas)
Joao Pereira (Sporting)
Andres Guardado
(Deportivo La Coruna)
OUT (CLUB
SOLD OR “LOANED” TO)
Jordi Alba (Barcelona)
Aritz Aduriz Zubeldia (Bilbao)
Alejandro Dominguez (Rayo Vallecano)
Míchel (Levante)
Mehmet Topal (Fenerbahçe)
Paco Alcácer (Getafe “Loan”)
Pablo Hernández (Swansea City)
Entry and Exit Transfer Pick:
Sergio
CANALES
According to Wikipedia,
having impressed in the 2009/10 season which happened to be his second year at
Racing Santander, Canales got signed by Real Madrid from Racing Santander. Subsequently
on 16 February, 2010, Real Madrid announced as thus “Real Madrid and Racing
Club Santander have reached a deal for the transfer of player Sergio Canales
Madrazo. The contract will take effect as of 1 July 2010 and will keep Canales
at Real Madrid for the next six seasons‘’. (Wikepedia.com)
Though, he did not see
off his contract with Real Madrid, his exit to Valencia is a move well executed
as he will have more playing time and effect in jis new club, Valencia CF.
Jordi ALBA
Jordi Alba’s exit to Barcelona has got him united with his
childhood club. According to Wikipedia, the 23 year old had his youth career
with Barcelona between 1998–2005 seasons. With three seasons in
the colours of Valencia, having a commanding presence in the squad, notably in
the last two years, as apparent in his 26 and 32 league appearance from a
possible 36 appearance, Alba is one talent to be well missed and his exit to
Barcelona is somewhat of a big blow to Valencia as they proceed with their
quest to end the season on a high like they did consecutively in the last three
seasons with a third place finish.
SEVILLA
According to
Wikipedia.com, Sevilla have competed 67 seasons in the First Division and 13 in
Second, a record which places it as the seventh-best team in the history of
Spanish league football. This feat adds credence to the fact that Sevilla has
enjoyed a phenomenon consistency in the Spanish top flight and a club to reckon
with season in, season out.
In addition, “they were
designated by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics
as the best club in the World in 2006 and 2007, currently the only team that
has achieved this distinction in consecutive years” (Wikipedia.com).
Though Sevilla has won
the Spanish Primera División once, its consistency of performance in the last 5
years with regards to having a top 5 finish in the top flight league is the
root reason I will give them the nod to end the season on a high.
Sevilla last won the La
Liga title 66 years ago (1945/46 season), the only time it has won the league
in its history but their international recognition and ability to record a
remarkable reckoning in the first tier football division in Spain has got the
current campaign one not to rule out, with regards to them having a top 5
finish.
In 7 matches played so
far in the current campaign (2012/2013 season), Sevilla is placed in 7th
position with 11 points.
Irrespective of the
season being young for one to arrive at a conclusion, it is pertinent to point
out that this commendable start is the right vibes to grant them a good final
table placement in the current campaign.
*Facts
i. Sevilla has won the Spanish Primera
División once.
ii. In the last 5 seasons (2007/08 -
2011/12), Sevilla has had a top 5 finish twice 4 times.
2012/2013
SEVILLA TRANSFER LIST
IN (CLUB PURCHASED OR
“LOANED” FROM):
Diego Lopez (Villarreal)
Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia)
Geoffrey Kondogbia (RC Lens)
Cicinho (Palmeiras)
Alberto Botia (Real Sporting “Loan”)
Bryan Rabello (Colo Colo)
Matilla (Betis “Loan”)
Bernardo Espinosa (Racing “Returning
from Loan”)
OUT (CLUB
SOLD OR “LOANED” TO)
Fred Kanouté (Beijing Guoan FC)
Javi Varas (Celta Vigo “Loan”)
Arouna Kone (Levante)
Alexis
Ruano (Getafe “Loan”)
Deivid
(UD Las Palmas)
Emiliano
Armenteros (Osasuna)
Tiberio
Guarente (Bologna F.C. “Loan”)
Julien
Escude (Beskitas)
Romaric
(Real Zaragoza)
Luis Alberto (FC Barcelona B “Loan”)
Entry and Exit Transfer Pick
Hedwiges MADURO
Hedwiges Maduro is a central defender of Netherlands origin. He joined
Sevilla from Valencia where he spent 4 years of his professional career outside
his native country.
According to Wikipedia.com, Maduro turned down a contract extension with
Valencia, choosing to join Sevilla as a free agent. Prior to joining Valencia, he played for Ajax.
With this decision made, it is expected that he will have an immensely
impact with the club.
Frédéric Oumar KANOUTÉ
The exit of Kanouté to Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan is one
that Sevilla will definitely miss due to how well he immensely paid his dues
during his sojourn, spanning 7 years with the club.
Kanouté, a French born descent of Mali was named
the 2007 African Footballer of the Year, the first player born outside Africa
to win the award (Wikipedia).
Prior to plating for Sevilla, Kanouté kicked off
his career with Lyon in France. Afterwards, he moved to West Ham, then
Tottenham. After a spell at Tottenham Hotspur, Kanouté moved to Spanish club
Sevilla where he won two consecutive UEFA Cups in the 2006 and 2007.
Following the exit of Frédéric Oumar Kanouté, his wealth of experience will be greatly
missed by Sevilla.
ATLETICO
MADRID
Atlético Madrid have
won La Liga nine times, though they last won the league in the 1995/96 season. However,
Atletico have in the last three years had a successful campaign in Europe, This
is precisely the UEFA EUROPA Cup in which they won the competition in the
2009/10 and the 2011/12 seasons. In addition, they already have a trophy in
this campaign, courtesy the overwhelmingly shocking 4-1 drubbing over Chelsea
that was inspired by a Falcao hat-trick.
With such an
overwhelming performance, Atletico Madrid definitely got the right boost to
ensure they end the 2012/13 campaign on a fly.
Presently with 7 games
played so far in the league, Atletico are placed in 2nd place with
19 points, same points with the first placed team, Barcelona.
*Facts
i. Atletico Madrid has won the Spanish
Primera División 9 times.
ii. In the last 5 seasons (2007/08 - 2011/12)
Atletico Madrid has had a top 5 finish 3 times.
2012/2013
ATLETICO MADRID TRANSFER
LIST…
IN (CLUB PURCHASED OR
“LOANED” FROM):
Emre Belezoglu (Fenerbahce)
Cristian
Rodriguez (Porto)
Daniel
Diaz (Getafe)
Aritz
Aduriz (Valencia)
Thibaut Courtois (Atl. Madrid “Loan”)
Antonio López (Mallorca)
Raúl García (Osasuna“Returning from
Loan”)
Domingo Cisma (Racing)
OUT (CLUB
SOLD OR “LOANED” TO)
Eduardo Salvio
(Benfica)
Rubén Pérez (Betis “Loan)
Iago Herrerín Buisán (Bilbao)
Pizzi (Deportivo “Loan”)
Rubén Micael (Braga “Loan”)
Leandro Cabrera (Hércules “Loan”)
Fran Mérida (Zaragoza)
Entry and Exit Transfer Pick:
Emre
BELEZOGLU
Emre Belezoglu is a
veteran footballer. His vast experience will be a big boost to Atletico Madrid
having a terrific season and perhaps one of their best seasons in a long time.
Emre has a rich pedigree with a significant role in the clubs he has played
for. These clubs include Galatasaray, Internazionale, Newcastle United and most
recently before joining Atletico Madrid, Fenerbahçe.
Also at the
international scene, Emre immensely paid his dues. According to Wikipedia.com,
Emre featured in the Turkish national team in the 2002 World Cup and at Euro
2008.
Significantly, Pelé
named Emre in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers as a
part of FIFA's centenary celebrations (Wikipedia.com).
With his acquisition, at
32 years of age, Emre his well grounded with the necessary experience to spur
the Atletico Madrid team, on and off the pitch.
Eduardo SALVIO
Eduardo is an Argentine
international attacking midfielder. His exit from Atletico Madrid is the second
time he is leaving the club for Portuguese club, Benfica. The first one was on
a loan deal during the 2010/11 season.
Due to his performance
being on a high, according to Wikipedia.com “on 31 July 2012, Benfica and
Atlético agreed on Salvio transferring permanently to the Portuguese for five
years, for a club record €13.5 million – surpassing the previous record of €13
million paid to FC Barcelona to acquire the services of Simao Sabrosa in 2001.
With such a huge amount
spent on Salvio and the club requiring his services on a long term basis proves
the immense qualities Salvio has.
2012/13
SPANISH PRIMERA DIVISIÓN FINAL LEAGUE TABLE PLACEMENT
Having analyzed the
2012/13 Spanish Primera División Contenders, my projection with regards to the
placement of these teams is shown in the table below.
From the table above, it is anticipated that at the end of
the season, Barcelona will lift the 2012/13 Spanish Primera
División. On the other hand, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla
will end in the season in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th
place respectively.
This predicted, please take note that out of the 5
Contenders (teams) used in the Spanish Primera División used in
this analysis and forecast, 4 are
certain to make the top 5 spot which entails that a team other than these 5
Contenders could make the cut, thus replacing one of these teams stated above.
References:
>
“Frédéric Kanouté” Wikipedia
17 Oct. 2012.
“Spanish La Liga Transfers – 2012/2013” Soccernews 17 Oct. 2012
