Getafe 2-0 Athletic Bilbao

A routine win against a very poor, and ten man*, Athletic Bilbao side. Soldado opened the scoring with a a rather lucky goal before Dani Parejo converted a penalty after a clear Athletic handball. Gurpegi was sent off in the first half for the visitors, and it was all Geta from there.

It's hard to read too much into today's result as Athletic, even with eleven men, weren't up to much, but three points is never to be sniffed at.

Next up: Copa del Rey action at home to Espanyol on Wednesday.

*actually nine man for the last minute after Ustariz's straight red

Esteban Granero Wants €600,000 From Getafe

According to As, Esteban Granero's father has emerged in the press to say that his son wishes to collect the 15% of the Getafe-Real Madrid transfer fee owed to him. Apparently Granero waived this sum when moving back to the Bernabeu as he was in line for a massive pay increase, but now wishes to collect, having never formally relinquished his right to it.

Angel Torres, naturally, implies that Granero's had his chance. This one's likely to run and run, but unless Geta managed to get it in writing that Esteban had legally surrendered his claim, it looks like they'll need to pay up...

Mallorca 3-1 Getafe Video

Unlike Barcelona we can't so readily blame the 'FIFA virus'. Instead this was just a bad day at the office with no ability to carve out chances despite seeing plenty of the ball. A worrying result.

Getafe 2-1 Osasuna Video

We beat Osasuna again. (Do we get to keep them?) A fine, fine late goal from Pedro Leon settled matters at the Coliseum, and we well deserved it.

Zaragoza 3- 0 Getafe Video

A grim afternoon in which the Azulones offered little.

Getafe 3-1 Valencia Video - 23/09/2009

Here's the goals. Valencia's strike was awesome but just wait for Pedro Leon's free-kick...

Getafe 3-1 Valencia

I know it looks like I'm only updating properly when we win, but that's just how my schedule works out. Honestly..

Anyway, after David Villa gave Valencia the lead, Manu del Moral struck back before adding a second before the break. Pedro Leon, in a wonderful performance, hit a superb free-kick to make it 3-1, and thus it ended.

An excellent team performance with no real weak links. Valencia's defensive frailties were exposed and utilised, while the man-marking and closing down play in the second period was superb from our team.

A well-deserved victory that puts us on six points. Having seen this fixture arrangement at the start of the season I'd have looked for six or seven from these fixtures - probably seven, truth be told - but this is nonetheless a good start.

Next: Zaragoza away.

Almeria 1-0 Getafe Video

A very disappointing result - defeat to Almeria in such a fashion is not encouraging.

Getafe 0-2 Barcelona Video

As expected, Europe's form side proved just too much for us at the Coliseum:

Racing Santander 1-4 Getafe Video

Match highlights:

JORNADA 1: Racing Santander 1-4 Getafe

Cantabrones silenced by blue tsunami

A convincing win over coastal minnows Racing puts Getafe in their rightful place atop La Liga after the first matchday.*

Rafa was the first to swing the axe of superiority early on before Roberto 'Bobby' Soldado added a swift brace. The hosts pulled one back through Mehdi Lacen before Soldado hit his hat-trick in the second period.

A convincing win, and one that sets the tone nicely for the new season. AUPA GETA!

*allowing for Barcelona keeping the score down against Sporting on Monday night, an admittedly unlikely prospect.

Uche, We Hardly Knew Ye

Ikechukwu Uche has left Getafe for Real Zaragoza in a deal worth around €5m.

Although Ike did not start every game, he was highly rated by both the coaching staff and the management at the Coliseum, Angel Torres being a particular admirer of his.

But now that he's moved on - and not for a massive fee - we have lost a great talent.

Uche arrived from Recreativo in 2007 after four years in Andalusia, having been in Spain since he was a teenager.

Although he never really replicated his old goalscoring form at Geta, he had a habit of netting at just the right time. He scored the infamous 'celebration' goal against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, and also struck against Osasuna under Michel at the end of last season in the game that gave fans faith in our survival.

I wish Uche the absolute best of luck at the Romareda!

El Rey Runs The Show

Yes, it's the obligatory post about Getafe's Burger King sponsor!

The new kit is the first I know of to have advertising on the inside. Now, say what you like about the crass commercialisation of football, and the emblazoning of a US multinational on the kit of a proud Madrid side, but tell me with a straight face that this isn't absolutely awesome:



Here's the 'boring' shot of the exterior:



The away kit is red, while the third kit is white - a change from last year's stylish black-and-yellow number.

People have been asking where you can buy the Getafe Burger King top: my best answer is to keep badgering the club. They barely have a web store presence - if we show them that there is the demand they'll need to relent sooner or later :) But if I find an online store shipping to the UK (or anywhere else for that matter) I'll post it here.

That brings me to another point: not since the Bayern game has there been such interest in the club among English-speakers. Long may it continue - let's get more Getafe fans in Scotland and around the world! ;)

Could It Be Pedro Leon!?

Other than the (excellent) signing of Mané and the (less excellent) arriving of Jordi Codina, the only real arrival this summer has been former Xerez winger Pedro Rios, who will play the right flank spot soon to be departed by Joffre Guerrón, who's flouncing back off to South America where his square head and ludicrously cocksure demeanour will presumably be treated with slightly more respect than he enjoyed here.

So, a new right-winger's in. But imagine my overjoyed surprise when I read that we were linked with another one - and a brilliant one at that. It's Valladolid's Pedro León, an unapologetic wing-based goalscorer who's still only 22. Having impresed with both Levante and now Valladolid in the top flight, he would be an absolute class signing for us. According to Torres he's eager to move but it's far from certain that he will. Here's hoping.

With him, a central midfielder, and a new centre back, I really think we would be mid-table next season rather than scrambling around the bottom. Already with Mané we're stronger than we were: let's keep it going.

Transfer Outs, And An In

Eugen Polanski has gone on loan to Mainz back in his native Germany, while Miguel Pallardo is back at Levante on yet another loan deal.

Both of these moves are great for all parties. Polanski isn't good enough for Getafe and Pallardo seems to be well settled back home in Valencia.

We're also losing Jacobo back to Valladolid and Stojkovic back to Sporting Lisbon, but, er, today comes the 'great' news of the arrival of Jordi Codina from Real Madrid.

I have never been impressed by Codina on the few occasions that I've seen him, and for those calling up the Diego Lopez comparisons, let's remember that Lopez left Madrid for something like €6m. Codina comes to Getafe for free.

Hopefully he'll be second choice to Osky...

Mané Signs For Getafe

In a surprise - but extremely welcome - move, Mané has signed for Getafe on a four-year deal.

The 28-year-old left back arrives from Almería after three successful seasons on the south coast. Previously he served Ciudad Murcia, Atlético Madrid B, Díter Zafra, and Linense, his first club, just a few miles from his hometown of Tarifa.

An excellent arrival and one that fixes a problem position for us!

Michel Signs Two-Year Deal With Getafe

Michel has been appointed manager on a full-time basis, signing a two-year deal with Getafe CF SAD this morning.

Great news, as far as I'm concerned - he's shown so far that he has what it takes.

Now we just need to get the summer market right...

One Goal Keeps Getafe Up!

We did it. Salvación.

A 1-1 draw at Racing Santander on the final matchday of La Liga proved enough for Getafe to stay up, for Real Betis failed to overcome Valladolid in Seville. That sees the two sides finish level on points; an equal head-to-head means that it comes down to goal difference, wherein Getafe's -6 beats Betis' -7.

It's been a hell of a wild ride, but, dammit, we deserved to stay up, and we've done it. Now the hard work begins. It's up to the club to harness the good feelings of today and build a project worthy of Liga survival next season. It looks like Míchel will be at the helm. Based on his tenure so far, he deserves it.

After a weekend - no, a week - of preoccupation, I can finally breathe. And with my first exhalation comes the shout - AUPA GETA!

We May Have Just Lost To Madrid...

But I'm proud of the effort that we put in during the 3-2 loss at the Santiago Bernabeu. There's no way that Real Madrid deserved to win that, and while that penalty miss may come back to haunt us there's no denying that Getafe still showed spirit and guts at a tough arena.

As for Javier Casquero, here's hoping that his back heals up after that disgraceful assault from Pepe, who raked his studs across him and also stamped on him.

Onwards and upwards. Villarreal at home this weekend. I reckon we can get all three.

Getafe 2-1 Recreativo Huelva

At. Last.

Two months without victory; two goals from Roberto Soldado; too much to take as we sought to hold onto a lead that has in the past looked all too often far too fragile.

It's a sad state of affairs that we must celebrate a victory over fellow strugglers Recreativo Huelva as something out of the ordinary, yet here we are: we will be merry tonight because we edged out the Andalucians 2-1.

I didn't watch the game - just followed it on Marca - so I will reserve judgement for now, but I ask you this: why do we play better when Polanski is taken off? :)

Still, the time for remonstrations is later. For now, celebration. WE ARE STAYING UP!

It's Been Almost A Month...

So it's time for an update! (I really need to get back into the swing of this.)

Anyway, suffices to say, this blog now officially endorses the removal of Victor Muñoz from his position as Getafe CF coach. In fact I reached that decision long before today's ten-man loss at Valladolid, but a seventh consecutive game without a win just seals the deal. Relegation is now a genuine concern, and it's time to stop the rot.

Atletico Madrid 1-1 Getafe

The "derby" was a suitably scrappy occasion, but one from which we emerged with a deserved point. A defensive error let Diego Forlan open the scoring for Atleti, but Juan Angel Albin atoned for his penalty miss with a late, late equaliser.

Video to follow.

Apologies For The Lack Of Updates

Various changes in my personal and professional life have meant that I've barely had any time to update recently.

Nonetheless "we" (i.e. me) here at the Peña remain fully committed to the Geta cause, and we will make that plain tomorrow by shouting at the television as Getafe meet Atlético Madrid at 21:00 local time!

Dive Or No Dive?

You be the judge:



Actually, no, I'll be the judge. What a disgraceful piece of play-acting from Gorka Brit!

Had Pato stayed on the pitch, who knows what the outcome might have been?

Still, we know what it was: 2-0 to Numancia, and that's a third straight defeat for us.

Nonetheless the first half of the season has drawn to a close with us fully six points clear of the dropzone. I for one would have accepted that if offered it at the start of the season.

As for the B team, they're in an even worse state: four consecutive losses has put them down to 15th.

Transfer Redux

In: None
Out: None

We have, however, been linked with Artur Boruc of Celtic. The Polish international is apparently subject to interest in a nine million euro (!!!) bid.

Atletico Madrid's apparent chasing of the Celt is perhaps a bit more realistic, particularly as the fate of Oscar Ustari is far from certain.

Defeat Redux

As if getting thrashed by Osasuna wasn't enough, a Sergio penalty late on gave Deportivo a 2-1 win over Team Win at the weekend at the Coliseum.

Nonetheless a positive result against Numancia on Sunday will see us end the first half of the season in the top half, which is fine.