Quick Hits

Topic of the Week: Valverde has benched Riera for the last few matches and it seems that our Albert has taken that on himself as proof that the club blame him for the slide into seventh. In time honored, modern footballer fashion though, instead of working harder in training, he decided that it would be best…to have a news conference. “It hurts me to seem to be the only one responsible (for the slide)”, he said in front of the Spanish press. Foreign press not a peep, so this may just be nothin’ from nothin’ means nothin.” Ernie Valverde obviously put Bert Riera in his place of course. “Ha metido la pata”, he said, “an error, a foot in mouth”. Did he squeeze his rubber ducky? I don’t think it’s that important. It’s not the first time that a player’s feelings are hurt by being benched. It very well could be tied to what I said yesterday that the club have certain players that have been undermining the locker room and it might be Valverde’s need to retake control, but I don’t think this is just one (granted very important) midfielder. This Sunday’s match against Osasuna has been earmarked as our Inchon. I hate making these war analogies, as I have friends in Iraq, but I think it describes a battle that turned the tide of a campaign and the club itself have called it “D-Day, H-Hour” so I’ll use it. So they’ve called for an “SOS to the supporters” to help move us into Europe.

Some Quick hits: A couple more lingering stories before the Osasuna match tomorrow. Too many people to mention have called on us to consider Europe as a motivating factor. Rufete has pledge to do his part. I’d say we need more like him, no? El Rifle, coming back to town with Osasuna says he’d come back in a heartbeat. What we could do with Pandiani’s goals right now. Make it so, Paco! Besides Rufete, David Garcia is back from injury, but our Little Buddha continues his rehab (only Amy Winehouse has spent more time there) and Jesus Mari LaCruz is also out due to injury, but to go with it Moises Hurtado and Zabalea are suspended. Does not look god.

Oh, and lastly, watch out Manchester United because our match next Sunday against Barcelona has been moved to Saturday of next week instead of Sunday to give the creeky knees of every one of their over-the-hill Frenchmen a chance against the Red Devils the following week.

Category: Espanyol Team News

Tags: Espanyol Team News

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