Getafe Escocia would like to wish you and yours a pleasant and merry Christmas, and a fulfilling and prosperous New Year.
Needless to say the blog wishes the same of everyone at Getafe CF.
Saturday, 25 December 2010
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Copa del Rey: Real Betis 1-2 Getafe
0-1 Miku 27'
0-2 Pedro Ríos 35'
1-2 Jorge Molina (pen.) 87'
Narrow first leg advantage hard won in Andalucía
... Miku and Pedro Ríos continue their hot streaks into the year's end...
Getafe took a huge leap towards the Copa del Rey round of 16 with a 2-1 win at Real Betis.
The Madrid side thus ended 2010 with yet another consecutive win and a good performance, spoiled only by the concession of a late penalty.
Miku opened the scoring just before the half-hour after stabbing home from a corner following Iván Marcano's flick-on.
Pedro Ríos, perhaps Geta's player of the season so far, then netted a deserved second on the counter with a brilliantly placed strike from 20 yards out.
Getafe were well in control but surrendered a late goal when Miguel Torres needlessly brought down Ezequiel Calvente with a clumsy challenge. Jorge Molina beat Oscar Ustari with ease to keep the tie alive ahead of the second leg in Getafe in early January.
The winners of this encounter will meet either Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao in the next stage. The Blaugrana could only manage a 0-0 draw at home in their first leg.
Real Betis: Casto; Isidoro, Beleguer, Chechu Dorado, Fernando Vega; Salva Sevilla, Arzu (Ezequiel 46'), Beñat (Juande 68'), Israel (Rodri 61'); Rubén Castro, Jorge Molina.
Getafe: Ustari; Miguel Torres, Rafa, Marcano, Mané; Boateng, Parejo; Pedro Ríos (Casquero 82'), Manu del Moral (Arizmendi 64'), Gavilán (Víctor Sánchez 76'); Miku.
0-2 Pedro Ríos 35'
1-2 Jorge Molina (pen.) 87'
Narrow first leg advantage hard won in Andalucía
... Miku and Pedro Ríos continue their hot streaks into the year's end...
Getafe took a huge leap towards the Copa del Rey round of 16 with a 2-1 win at Real Betis.
The Madrid side thus ended 2010 with yet another consecutive win and a good performance, spoiled only by the concession of a late penalty.
Miku opened the scoring just before the half-hour after stabbing home from a corner following Iván Marcano's flick-on.
Pedro Ríos, perhaps Geta's player of the season so far, then netted a deserved second on the counter with a brilliantly placed strike from 20 yards out.
Getafe were well in control but surrendered a late goal when Miguel Torres needlessly brought down Ezequiel Calvente with a clumsy challenge. Jorge Molina beat Oscar Ustari with ease to keep the tie alive ahead of the second leg in Getafe in early January.
The winners of this encounter will meet either Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao in the next stage. The Blaugrana could only manage a 0-0 draw at home in their first leg.
Real Betis: Casto; Isidoro, Beleguer, Chechu Dorado, Fernando Vega; Salva Sevilla, Arzu (Ezequiel 46'), Beñat (Juande 68'), Israel (Rodri 61'); Rubén Castro, Jorge Molina.
Getafe: Ustari; Miguel Torres, Rafa, Marcano, Mané; Boateng, Parejo; Pedro Ríos (Casquero 82'), Manu del Moral (Arizmendi 64'), Gavilán (Víctor Sánchez 76'); Miku.
Sunday, 19 December 2010
The strange case of Míchel
The fickle nature of football and its supporters is well known, but no more comprehensible for that. After all, has Getafe coach Míchel really changed over the past five weeks? Was a man deemed by some of the national media to be incapable of arresting his team's decline really a hero-in-waiting all along? Or is it the case that Míchel has done what he's always done, and that instead his players have risen to the challenge?
It's impossible to tell, but there are some things we know about the coach who's gone from sack-race favourite to hot property in just one short month. Unfortunately, it's the case that the more we know, the less we understand.
Míchel is not a friendly man. He is gruff, even combative at times, and he has made it abundantly plain on a number of occasions that he is no badge-kisser. When Getafe released his son, Adrián, from playing duty during the summer, Míchel told the press that the president would not have done this if he was not Adrián's father. In numerous interviews he has described, perhaps even made light of, Getafe's status as a small club with a tiny band of quietly fuming fans. Other coaches may opt to make the underdog status of their team a mark of pride: for Míchel it is instead a point for frustration, maybe even contempt.
Yet at the same time the man who seldom leaves any critical thought unspoken has crafted a remarkable team spirit at the Coliseum. When Getafe pulled off that ostensibly job-saving 3-1 win at Sevilla, the players rushed as one to their coach to celebrate. Weeks later, with a fourth consecutive league win on the board at Almería, the same scenes repeated themselves. A coach who apparently has little time for anyone but himself has, paradoxically, won the hearts and minds of his playing staff in a way that perhaps no Getafe coach since the Segunda days has truly managed. (This isn't to downplay the contributions of the likes of Schuster or Laudrup a bit - rather to say that, despite their successes, they never quite managed the almost Spartan adulation we see between players and coach now.)
Míchel's contract is up in June. Five weeks ago, this short deal meant for cheap compensation upon termination, and thus the likelihood of Míchel's being out of work long before that. Now, of course, it means that those clubs in Spain and elsewhere eyeing a change of coach can add another name to their shortlist. Will he extend his contract? That's doubtful. He has made no secret of the fact that Getafe is a stepping stone. In true Míchel fashion, what he says is abundantly true, yet it is still strange to hear it from a coach: Getafe are a selling club who can only ever go so far, regardless of who is in charge. Míchel may well be the man to take Getafe to their glass ceiling this year, but one imagines that if a better offer comes his way he will not hesitate to up sticks rather than take another crack at Europe. Clubs as diverse as Atlético Madrid, Deportivo, maybe even Sevilla could have their eye on the coach: each offers a unique challenge and greater potential than the Coliseum has to offer.
The worry, then, is that if Míchel leaves, his stars will go with him. After a rocky start he's managed to compensate for the departures of both Roberto Soldado and Pedro León, but it's the lot of the selling club that they may have to rebuild all over again come summer. This time, though, it will most likely be a different man charged with coaching the new-look squad. The new boss may well smile at press conferences, pander to the fans and the president, and otherwise comport himself with the dignity and character befitting a modest team's coach. But will he manage 3-1 wins at Sevilla? Ten-man victories against Villarreal? Will he have eleven men surround him with embraces and cheers at full-time in a regular league match? We'll see. And as for Míchel, if he can build this kind of spirit in a squad larger and more star-studded than Getafe's, his is a seriously bright future in coaching.
It's impossible to tell, but there are some things we know about the coach who's gone from sack-race favourite to hot property in just one short month. Unfortunately, it's the case that the more we know, the less we understand.
Míchel is not a friendly man. He is gruff, even combative at times, and he has made it abundantly plain on a number of occasions that he is no badge-kisser. When Getafe released his son, Adrián, from playing duty during the summer, Míchel told the press that the president would not have done this if he was not Adrián's father. In numerous interviews he has described, perhaps even made light of, Getafe's status as a small club with a tiny band of quietly fuming fans. Other coaches may opt to make the underdog status of their team a mark of pride: for Míchel it is instead a point for frustration, maybe even contempt.
Yet at the same time the man who seldom leaves any critical thought unspoken has crafted a remarkable team spirit at the Coliseum. When Getafe pulled off that ostensibly job-saving 3-1 win at Sevilla, the players rushed as one to their coach to celebrate. Weeks later, with a fourth consecutive league win on the board at Almería, the same scenes repeated themselves. A coach who apparently has little time for anyone but himself has, paradoxically, won the hearts and minds of his playing staff in a way that perhaps no Getafe coach since the Segunda days has truly managed. (This isn't to downplay the contributions of the likes of Schuster or Laudrup a bit - rather to say that, despite their successes, they never quite managed the almost Spartan adulation we see between players and coach now.)
Míchel's contract is up in June. Five weeks ago, this short deal meant for cheap compensation upon termination, and thus the likelihood of Míchel's being out of work long before that. Now, of course, it means that those clubs in Spain and elsewhere eyeing a change of coach can add another name to their shortlist. Will he extend his contract? That's doubtful. He has made no secret of the fact that Getafe is a stepping stone. In true Míchel fashion, what he says is abundantly true, yet it is still strange to hear it from a coach: Getafe are a selling club who can only ever go so far, regardless of who is in charge. Míchel may well be the man to take Getafe to their glass ceiling this year, but one imagines that if a better offer comes his way he will not hesitate to up sticks rather than take another crack at Europe. Clubs as diverse as Atlético Madrid, Deportivo, maybe even Sevilla could have their eye on the coach: each offers a unique challenge and greater potential than the Coliseum has to offer.
The worry, then, is that if Míchel leaves, his stars will go with him. After a rocky start he's managed to compensate for the departures of both Roberto Soldado and Pedro León, but it's the lot of the selling club that they may have to rebuild all over again come summer. This time, though, it will most likely be a different man charged with coaching the new-look squad. The new boss may well smile at press conferences, pander to the fans and the president, and otherwise comport himself with the dignity and character befitting a modest team's coach. But will he manage 3-1 wins at Sevilla? Ten-man victories against Villarreal? Will he have eleven men surround him with embraces and cheers at full-time in a regular league match? We'll see. And as for Míchel, if he can build this kind of spirit in a squad larger and more star-studded than Getafe's, his is a seriously bright future in coaching.
Jornada 16: Almería 2-3 Getafe
1-0 Kalu Uche 7'
2-0 Ulloa 24'
2-1 Manu del Moral 29'
2-2 Miku 48'
2-3 Boateng 70'
Stunning Getafe fightback ensures fourth consecutive Liga win
Azulones to finish the weekend no lower than seventh
Getafe pulled off a remarkable 3-2 win at Almería on Sunday afternoon, picking up all three points despite being two goals down midway through the first half.
The Madrid side's spirit and technical proficiency was clearly evident from the half-hour mark onwards, with some excellent attacking play both out wide and through the middle being on display.
Coach Míchel - who as recently as a month ago was said to be fearing for his job - must now be considered some of Spain's hottest property after his charges propelled themselves to sixth place in the standings as of full time, with Atlético Madrid still to play.
Things seemed to be going the way of the relegation-threatened hosts when after seven minutes Kalu Uche - brother of former Getafe striker Ikechukwu - opened the scoring. The Nigerian was left unmarked in the middle of the box to head home Albert Crusat's floated cross from the left wing.
Leo Ulloa doubled the hosts' tally shortly afterwards with a tap-in following a goalmouth scramble in which the visitors failed to clear their lines.
Geta skipper Manu del Moral halved the deficit mere minutes later with a great solo effort from inside the box. The former Atleti forward broke through the corner of the area before sweeping a narrow-angled shot past Diego Alves into the far post.
From here Getafe went on to dominate, playing some of their best football of the season so far. The only surprise was that it took them so long to equalise. The vital leveler came just after the break, on-form Miku firing the ball through Alves' legs after Pedro Ríos' original effort was blocked.
The whole team was singing by this point and it fell to one of the impressive midfielders - Derek Boateng - to finish the job. Twenty minutes from time the Ghanaian scored a typically cool goal with a back-heel following Manu's excellent cut-back.
Almería poured forward in the final minutes but in fact the best chance fell to Pedro Ríos, who perhaps selfishly opted to shoot after a defensive error from the hosts gifted him the chance to slide the ball to the unmarked Miku.
Either way, every man in a blue shirt today can be proud of his performance. So too can those in suits and tracksuits: not for nothing did Boateng immediately rush to embrace coach Míchel upon scoring the winner.
Almería: Diego Alves; Juanma Ortiz, Carlos García, Acasiete, Jakobsen; Piatti, Mbami, Corona (Valeri 61), Crusat (José Ortiz 72); Ulloa, Kalu Uche.
Getafe: Codina; Miguel Torres, Rafa, Marcano, Mané; Boateng, Parejo (Casquero 85); Pedro Ríos (Arizmendi 90), Manu, Gavilán (Víctor Sánchez 78); Miku.
2-0 Ulloa 24'
2-1 Manu del Moral 29'
2-2 Miku 48'
2-3 Boateng 70'
Stunning Getafe fightback ensures fourth consecutive Liga win
Azulones to finish the weekend no lower than seventh
Getafe pulled off a remarkable 3-2 win at Almería on Sunday afternoon, picking up all three points despite being two goals down midway through the first half.
The Madrid side's spirit and technical proficiency was clearly evident from the half-hour mark onwards, with some excellent attacking play both out wide and through the middle being on display.
Coach Míchel - who as recently as a month ago was said to be fearing for his job - must now be considered some of Spain's hottest property after his charges propelled themselves to sixth place in the standings as of full time, with Atlético Madrid still to play.
Things seemed to be going the way of the relegation-threatened hosts when after seven minutes Kalu Uche - brother of former Getafe striker Ikechukwu - opened the scoring. The Nigerian was left unmarked in the middle of the box to head home Albert Crusat's floated cross from the left wing.
Leo Ulloa doubled the hosts' tally shortly afterwards with a tap-in following a goalmouth scramble in which the visitors failed to clear their lines.
Geta skipper Manu del Moral halved the deficit mere minutes later with a great solo effort from inside the box. The former Atleti forward broke through the corner of the area before sweeping a narrow-angled shot past Diego Alves into the far post.
From here Getafe went on to dominate, playing some of their best football of the season so far. The only surprise was that it took them so long to equalise. The vital leveler came just after the break, on-form Miku firing the ball through Alves' legs after Pedro Ríos' original effort was blocked.
The whole team was singing by this point and it fell to one of the impressive midfielders - Derek Boateng - to finish the job. Twenty minutes from time the Ghanaian scored a typically cool goal with a back-heel following Manu's excellent cut-back.
Almería poured forward in the final minutes but in fact the best chance fell to Pedro Ríos, who perhaps selfishly opted to shoot after a defensive error from the hosts gifted him the chance to slide the ball to the unmarked Miku.
Either way, every man in a blue shirt today can be proud of his performance. So too can those in suits and tracksuits: not for nothing did Boateng immediately rush to embrace coach Míchel upon scoring the winner.
Almería: Diego Alves; Juanma Ortiz, Carlos García, Acasiete, Jakobsen; Piatti, Mbami, Corona (Valeri 61), Crusat (José Ortiz 72); Ulloa, Kalu Uche.
Getafe: Codina; Miguel Torres, Rafa, Marcano, Mané; Boateng, Parejo (Casquero 85); Pedro Ríos (Arizmendi 90), Manu, Gavilán (Víctor Sánchez 78); Miku.
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Europa League: Getafe 1-0 Young Boys
1-0 Adrían Sardinero 15'
Geta's good form continues with narrow win over Swiss
Meaningless fixture with poor crowd, but a positive result
1,200 fans at the freezing Coliseum Alfonso Pérez witnessed Getafe pull off an impressive win over Young Boys of Bern in their final Europa League appearance of the season.
To read too much into the result would be an error, given that Getafe were already eliminated and the Swiss already through, but a starting line-up containing two reserve players asserted its dominance over the course of the 90 minutes.
Of the four rookies that appeared - two enjoyed substitute appearances - the best by far was Adrián Sardinero, and the 20-year-old forward from Leganés scored his first European goal of his career and the only one of the match in the 15th minute. It was largely a solo effort down the left flank and a confident finish that was the better of Marco Wölfli.
It wouldn't be Getafe if there wasn't a downside to the evening: as well as the pitiful crowd - perhaps understandably, socios could not be lured to the Coliseum by free tickets - influential defender Cata Díaz went off injured just before half time.
Still, what has been a disappointing European campaign has ended overall on a pleasant note, and now the priority is La Liga. Getafe travel to Almería this weekend in pursuit of what would be a record-breaking fourth consecutive top-flight win.
Getafe: Ustari, Pintos, Kas (Miguel Torres 71), Cata Diaz (Alex 40), Cañas; Arizmendi (Escassi 56), Casquero, Mosquera, Albín; Colunga, Adrián Sardinero.
Young Boys: Wölfli; Sutter, Nef, Affolter, Spycher (Raimondi 57); Costanzo, Doubai, Hochstrasser (C. Schneuwly 57); Degen (M. Schneuwly 73), Mayuka, Lulic.
Geta's good form continues with narrow win over Swiss
Meaningless fixture with poor crowd, but a positive result
1,200 fans at the freezing Coliseum Alfonso Pérez witnessed Getafe pull off an impressive win over Young Boys of Bern in their final Europa League appearance of the season.
To read too much into the result would be an error, given that Getafe were already eliminated and the Swiss already through, but a starting line-up containing two reserve players asserted its dominance over the course of the 90 minutes.
Of the four rookies that appeared - two enjoyed substitute appearances - the best by far was Adrián Sardinero, and the 20-year-old forward from Leganés scored his first European goal of his career and the only one of the match in the 15th minute. It was largely a solo effort down the left flank and a confident finish that was the better of Marco Wölfli.
It wouldn't be Getafe if there wasn't a downside to the evening: as well as the pitiful crowd - perhaps understandably, socios could not be lured to the Coliseum by free tickets - influential defender Cata Díaz went off injured just before half time.
Still, what has been a disappointing European campaign has ended overall on a pleasant note, and now the priority is La Liga. Getafe travel to Almería this weekend in pursuit of what would be a record-breaking fourth consecutive top-flight win.
Getafe: Ustari, Pintos, Kas (Miguel Torres 71), Cata Diaz (Alex 40), Cañas; Arizmendi (Escassi 56), Casquero, Mosquera, Albín; Colunga, Adrián Sardinero.
Young Boys: Wölfli; Sutter, Nef, Affolter, Spycher (Raimondi 57); Costanzo, Doubai, Hochstrasser (C. Schneuwly 57); Degen (M. Schneuwly 73), Mayuka, Lulic.
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Europa League Preview: Getafe - BSC Young Boys
Europa League Group Stage: Matchday 6
Thursday December 16, 21:05 CET
Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, Getafe
Getafe's paymasters can expect to see a record low crowd on Thursday night as the Azulones welcome Young Boys of Bern to Madrid for a meaningless Europa League encounter.
With just a few UEFA euros to play for neither side has anything at stake in this fixture. Young Boys have qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League in second place, while Getafe were eliminated by a late equaliser from OB Odense a fortnight ago.
Thus it'll be a cold occasion at the Coliseum, but one in which each coach may experiment a bit with his line-up.
Neither side is yet to name their squad but we know for sure that Jemal Ammar is suspended, while for Getafe left-back Mané suffers a similar fate. Meanwhile Javier Arizmendi and Mario are both out injured.
| Europa League Group H @ 5 Games 1. Stuttgart (12pts) 2. Young Boys (9pts) 3. Getafe (4pts) 4. OB (4pts) |
Geta have won their last three league games and will for reasons of momentum look to take a positive result here, but at this point coach Míchel will know that Europe is not worth worrying about. The fans, long since irritated by expensive tickets, know this too, and thus Young Boys are unlikely to be too impressed by the atmosphere on Thursday night.
The Swiss are eight points off the top in their own domestic competition heading into their winter break: this will be their last competitive match until February and thus they have not the squad concerns that Getafe currently suffer. As such expect boss Vladimir Petkovic to select a strong line-up and seek to end 2010 on a high note.
Probable line-ups:
Getafe: Ustari; Pintos, Kas, Victor Sánchez, Miguel Torres; Pedro Ríos, Pedro Mosquera, Casquero, Gavilán; Albín, Sardinero.
Young Boys: Bürki; Sutter, Nef, Affolter, Spycher; T. Doubai, Hochstrasser; Degen, Costanzo, Lulic; Mayuka.
Saturday, 11 December 2010
Jornada 15: Getafe 1-0 Villarreal
1-0 Albín 89'
Nine-man Geta leave Yellow Submarine stranded
Cata Díaz and goal hero Juan Ángel Albín to serve suspensions
Getafe made it three Liga wins in a row with a heroic victory over Villarreal in a match that saw the hosts end the game with just nine men.
Although both sides were wasteful, Geta deserved the victory in the end, adjusting well to their losing stalwart centre-back Cata Díaz just before the break, while Vilarreal's profligacy - especially at set-pieces - meant that they got from the fixture their just deserts.
Villarreal had the best of the early stages but failed to make too many clear cut opportunities in an opening period that seemed set to lead to a dull 0-0. But just before half-time Getafe were reduced to ten men as Cata Díaz slid in on Nilmar on the edge of the area.
The Brazilian was in full flight and the chasing Argentine was a split-second too late to make contact with the ball: it was a clear foul, but it was open to interpretation as to whether or not it was a clear goalscoring opportunity. Referee Paradas Romero decided that it was and gave Díaz his marching orders, Miku also entering the book for dissent.
The second half was arguably scrappier than the first, but Getafe, playing on the counter, looked active and energetic in the closing stages, and perhaps deserved to take the lead just two minutes from time when Juan Ángel Albín swept home a late winner after Javier Casquero knocked Pedro Ríos' cross down to the Uruguayan's left foot.
Albín then picked up a second booking for removing his shirt, but backs-to-the-wall Geta preserved their lead throughout stoppage time.
This result sees the Azulones move up to sixth place, pending results of matches involving Real Sociedad, Mallorca, and Atletico Madrid.
Nine-man Geta leave Yellow Submarine stranded
Cata Díaz and goal hero Juan Ángel Albín to serve suspensions
Getafe made it three Liga wins in a row with a heroic victory over Villarreal in a match that saw the hosts end the game with just nine men.
Although both sides were wasteful, Geta deserved the victory in the end, adjusting well to their losing stalwart centre-back Cata Díaz just before the break, while Vilarreal's profligacy - especially at set-pieces - meant that they got from the fixture their just deserts.
Villarreal had the best of the early stages but failed to make too many clear cut opportunities in an opening period that seemed set to lead to a dull 0-0. But just before half-time Getafe were reduced to ten men as Cata Díaz slid in on Nilmar on the edge of the area.
The Brazilian was in full flight and the chasing Argentine was a split-second too late to make contact with the ball: it was a clear foul, but it was open to interpretation as to whether or not it was a clear goalscoring opportunity. Referee Paradas Romero decided that it was and gave Díaz his marching orders, Miku also entering the book for dissent.
The second half was arguably scrappier than the first, but Getafe, playing on the counter, looked active and energetic in the closing stages, and perhaps deserved to take the lead just two minutes from time when Juan Ángel Albín swept home a late winner after Javier Casquero knocked Pedro Ríos' cross down to the Uruguayan's left foot.
Albín then picked up a second booking for removing his shirt, but backs-to-the-wall Geta preserved their lead throughout stoppage time.
This result sees the Azulones move up to sixth place, pending results of matches involving Real Sociedad, Mallorca, and Atletico Madrid.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Jornada 14: Getafe 3-0 Mallorca
1-0 Pedro Ríos 20'
2-0 Pedro Ríos 27'
3-0 Dani Parejo 78'
Masterclass In Efficiency Sees Getafe Crush Weak Mallorca
Pedro Ríos, now top scorer, puts in magnificent performance
Getafe picked up their second consecutive Liga victory in resounding fashion, thumping a poor Mallorca side 3-0 at the Coliseum, thus pulling 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Getafe dominated from the beginning and in the 20th minute took a deserved lead when after a fine solo run, the on-form Pedro Ríos netted an absolute golazo, the ball whistling into the top corner from the corner of the area.
Eight minutes later the Jerez-born winger doubled his tally as he seized on a cut-back from Miku to net confidently from twelve yards.
In the second period Mallorca came out swinging but created few clear-cut chances: those that they did, Jordi Codina dealt with well enough.
The Balearic side thus began to lose their patience, resulting in substitute Rubén being sent to the stands by referee Muñíz Fernández for dissent.
Pedro Ríos was one of many Geta players to miss a chance to add to his tally on the 73rd minute as Mallorca somehow kept the ball out during a 20-second goalmouth scramble.
But it was still to be the Azulones' day: with twelve minutes remaining Getafe sprung the offside trap in beautiful fashion, Miku clipping a beautiful ball over the top of the defence for Víctor Sánchez, who in turn served up a golden chance for Dani Parejo to shoot into an empty net.
Getafe will thus finish the weekend in a mid-table position with 20 points, 10 clear of Sporting and Almería at the top of the dropzone and just four behind fifth-placed Valencia.
As such at this early stage in the season Geta are again closer to Europe than relegation. Yet much still needs to be done and coach Míchel - knowing how quickly good form can beget bad - will discourage complacency with all seriousness.
2-0 Pedro Ríos 27'
3-0 Dani Parejo 78'
Masterclass In Efficiency Sees Getafe Crush Weak Mallorca
Pedro Ríos, now top scorer, puts in magnificent performance
Getafe picked up their second consecutive Liga victory in resounding fashion, thumping a poor Mallorca side 3-0 at the Coliseum, thus pulling 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Getafe dominated from the beginning and in the 20th minute took a deserved lead when after a fine solo run, the on-form Pedro Ríos netted an absolute golazo, the ball whistling into the top corner from the corner of the area.
Eight minutes later the Jerez-born winger doubled his tally as he seized on a cut-back from Miku to net confidently from twelve yards.
In the second period Mallorca came out swinging but created few clear-cut chances: those that they did, Jordi Codina dealt with well enough.
The Balearic side thus began to lose their patience, resulting in substitute Rubén being sent to the stands by referee Muñíz Fernández for dissent.
Pedro Ríos was one of many Geta players to miss a chance to add to his tally on the 73rd minute as Mallorca somehow kept the ball out during a 20-second goalmouth scramble.
But it was still to be the Azulones' day: with twelve minutes remaining Getafe sprung the offside trap in beautiful fashion, Miku clipping a beautiful ball over the top of the defence for Víctor Sánchez, who in turn served up a golden chance for Dani Parejo to shoot into an empty net.
Getafe will thus finish the weekend in a mid-table position with 20 points, 10 clear of Sporting and Almería at the top of the dropzone and just four behind fifth-placed Valencia.
As such at this early stage in the season Geta are again closer to Europe than relegation. Yet much still needs to be done and coach Míchel - knowing how quickly good form can beget bad - will discourage complacency with all seriousness.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
About Getafe Escocia
It just struck me that I'm in breach of blog etiquette by failing to provide a self-indulgent me-fest masquering as an informative page about the blog.
Why Getafe?
Have you ever worked for a large multinational? Have you ever worked for a large multinational whose business model revolves around providing hotel rooms for tourists with more money than sense, or men in suits named Chuck and Brandon on expense accounts? Have you ever worked for a large multinational whose business model revolves around providing hotel rooms for tourists with more money than sense, or men in suits named Chuck and Brandon on expense accounts, while you are housed in a small office below a block of council flats in an ill-ventilated building with temporary builders' walls around the window for low pay while being charged with an antiquated computer and told to rewrite over four hundred hotels' websites in adherence to a style guide of stunning abstruseness, your completion of this task being met with a sad smile and a request to do it all again because standard rooms are now called guest rooms? If you have then you might understand why after six months I decided to see about an escape plan. This, perhaps unrealistically, was to combine my main hobby of football with my sole useful ability of writing. Understanding that prospective employers weren't likely to be beating down my door I started small: by day I continued my mole-like existence as hotel copywriter; in the evening I, at the invitation of an online friend of mine, wrote betting guides about Spanish football and tried not to think about going back to the office the next morning.
Like most other UK football fans with Sky TV and a pitiful social life I was no stranger to live Spanish football on Saturday and Sunday evenings, and had long since marveled at the country's great clubs, flirting briefly - at my younger brother's insistence (complete with scarf) - with following Barcelona. But by the winter of 2006 I had instead found myself captivated by a team named Getafe from the suburbs of Madrid. There was more to it than the simple small-town-underdog-made-good tale that attracted all manner of idiots to (say) Gretna in Scotland: here was a team that, a brief Wikipedia examination revealed, almost played in the literal shadow of Atlético Madrid, and definitely played in the figurative shadow of both Atleti and Real Madrid. Yet they had weathered bankruptcy and low support to find themselves not just in Spain's top flight but actively taking the piss out of it: winning at the Bernabéu and finishing in the top half just to show that they could. Getafe, indeed, didn't seem particularly bothered about making friends in high places: their website was (and remains) charmingly amateurish, and with the local players not endorsing Adidas or Nike but instead the local pizza restaurant, they were - at least for a time - mercifully free of the more prosaic trappings of modern football. The whole organisation gave the impression of being a local club for local people, a club screamed onwards on its path to the Primera by nobody but Getafe residents too stubborn to be lured to the city or too old to go so far in winter, preferring the crumbling Margaritas in the town centre or, in later days, the guffaw-inducing soullessness of the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez - named for a man that never played for Getafe and, to anyone's knowledge, never gave it a second thought. It was, in short, the perfect football club.
Getafe were at the tail end of another pleasant mid-table campaign - Bernd Schuster in the dugout, Pato Abbondanzieri in goal, 32 in the goals against column and a Zamora trophy in Pato's considerable hands - when I penned my betting preview ahead of the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final. Having lost 5-2 to Barcelona at Camp Nou the match seemed a formality; we were, as providers of team news and tactical updates, discouraged from writing actual result predictions, but it was all I could do not to write "BARCELONA ARE THROUGH, DO YOU REALLY NEED 200 WORDS AND A FORMATION?" and send it out to our faithful readers in Hong Kong and the like. Good thing I didn't, because, in front of a Sopcast feed of remarkable reliability I watched agog as Geta put four goals past the Blaugrana to reach their first ever Spanish Cup final. Javier Casquero, Dani Güiza, Vivar Dorado, Dani Güiza again. The most important goals in Geta's history since - long before I cared about the club - Sergio Pachón put five past Tenerife to secure promotion to the Primera. I might have missed that occasion: bollocks to missing the cup final as well.
Thus it was that in late May I found myself in Madrid, equipped with a rucksack, no Spanish, and a considerable reluctance to test my linguistic abilities on actual people, thus rendering my diet one largely based around vending machines. Fuelled by Aquarius and peanuts, and the fetid remains of a hostel breakfast buffet, I went out in search of a cup final ticket. I'd long since given up on the official avenues: I wasn't a Sevilla socio, and Getafe's allocation was going only to those who signed up for a season ticket for the following year. There were, however, no touts to be found the day before the game, or even the afternoon of, no matter how convincing my "yes, I'm buying" face.
The night before the final I'd done a recce in Getafe itself, and the city rewarded me by living up almost exactly to my expectations. A baking piece of light-industrial suburbia, Getafe segued beautifully from its gritty, narrow-street centre to its post-Franco northern suburbs of five-story apartment buildings, corner supermarkets, metro stations and, of course, the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. But of particular note were the posters dotted around the main drag, the Calle Madrid, advertising the Copa del Rey final on a big screen in the city centre for those not attending the match. The Bernabéu was off-limits, but this would be the next best thing.
Spain is, of course, a country where the streets don't empty out in the evening. This is the land of the paseo, and on my initial trip to Getafe I was oddly touched by the throngs of people looking in the windows of gift stores selling random Taiwanese crap at 8 o'clock at night, dressed in their best casual wear. That all changed on the night of the cup final, though: it was shorts and t-shirts, boxes of wine and, in my case, four large cans of Mahou and my red Getafe away top.
I arrived in the town square early to stake out a decent spot, and though I couldn't grab a seat along the wall I at least had, for a time, an uninterrupted view of the screen. Youths in various states of drunkenness barged around, asserting their own personal space; eventually, one yelled something in my ear, obviously expecting a response. I put my finest Spanish to the test and told him, enunciating the H, that I didn't hablo Español. Cue uproarious laughter, and the appearance of a supporting cast behind the man whom I'd know only as Rico.
Rico, it labouriously transpired, was a janitor in a cemetery, and these were his friends. One of them had a few words of English: we established that, yes, I was Scottish, that, yes, I was here by myself, that, no, I was not a student in Madrid, that, yes, I had come over from Scotland for this, that, yes, I knew this was Getafe, and that, yes, I was here by myself. "Ahora, tu no estás solo," said Rico, and I knew what he meant.
I was asked - instructed - to try their drink of choice (beer apparently being the stuff of old men), namely a Rioja mixed with Coke, which was as good as it sounds; was repeatedly offered cigarettes; and even, charmingly, given the gift of gossip as one of the female circle of friends accused the others of being "small" and "silly", in halting English. All this while I was trying to watch the game. In the event a Fredi Kanouté goal in the first half was the only notable action after Getafe's early miss, and with Rico and the gang fast losing interest in the second period I stood, surrounded by smoke, spilled Rioja and gabbling voices, hungry for more vending machine sustenance, feet aching, back creaking, craning my neck to see a game that I knew we had already lost. It was, in short, the perfect evening.
As I lay wide awake in my hostel bunk that night, silently wondering how many decibels a Scandinavian snorer could manage without setting off a car alarm three stories below, I decided that this trip could well have been the best investment of my life. I'd fallen in love with a football team, and it felt like more than just a holiday romance. It was a love as strong as the one I felt for my hometown club. And it was to cost me sleepless nights - and plenty more in plane and train tickets and internet bills - in years to come.
This blog is my way of staying in touch with Getafe, first from Scotland and now from the United States. (There are no plans to change the blog's name to Peña Getafense Tio Sam Imperialista.) The coverage mainly focuses on match reports and the occasional previews but I'll add other items of interest if and when the mood takes me. On average I return to Getafe once a season or so: next time I'll be sure to add some photos and a travelog.
Oh: and despite the title this site doesn't represent a real peña. Twice I emailed the head of the supporters' federation and twice he didn't get back to me. In any case, it's just me. Just like this post. That's what this blog's about.
Contact: Please use this article's comments feature to contact the blog. Comments are moderated before they appear, so if you wish to communicate privately please mark your comment accordingly.
Why Getafe?
Have you ever worked for a large multinational? Have you ever worked for a large multinational whose business model revolves around providing hotel rooms for tourists with more money than sense, or men in suits named Chuck and Brandon on expense accounts? Have you ever worked for a large multinational whose business model revolves around providing hotel rooms for tourists with more money than sense, or men in suits named Chuck and Brandon on expense accounts, while you are housed in a small office below a block of council flats in an ill-ventilated building with temporary builders' walls around the window for low pay while being charged with an antiquated computer and told to rewrite over four hundred hotels' websites in adherence to a style guide of stunning abstruseness, your completion of this task being met with a sad smile and a request to do it all again because standard rooms are now called guest rooms? If you have then you might understand why after six months I decided to see about an escape plan. This, perhaps unrealistically, was to combine my main hobby of football with my sole useful ability of writing. Understanding that prospective employers weren't likely to be beating down my door I started small: by day I continued my mole-like existence as hotel copywriter; in the evening I, at the invitation of an online friend of mine, wrote betting guides about Spanish football and tried not to think about going back to the office the next morning.
Like most other UK football fans with Sky TV and a pitiful social life I was no stranger to live Spanish football on Saturday and Sunday evenings, and had long since marveled at the country's great clubs, flirting briefly - at my younger brother's insistence (complete with scarf) - with following Barcelona. But by the winter of 2006 I had instead found myself captivated by a team named Getafe from the suburbs of Madrid. There was more to it than the simple small-town-underdog-made-good tale that attracted all manner of idiots to (say) Gretna in Scotland: here was a team that, a brief Wikipedia examination revealed, almost played in the literal shadow of Atlético Madrid, and definitely played in the figurative shadow of both Atleti and Real Madrid. Yet they had weathered bankruptcy and low support to find themselves not just in Spain's top flight but actively taking the piss out of it: winning at the Bernabéu and finishing in the top half just to show that they could. Getafe, indeed, didn't seem particularly bothered about making friends in high places: their website was (and remains) charmingly amateurish, and with the local players not endorsing Adidas or Nike but instead the local pizza restaurant, they were - at least for a time - mercifully free of the more prosaic trappings of modern football. The whole organisation gave the impression of being a local club for local people, a club screamed onwards on its path to the Primera by nobody but Getafe residents too stubborn to be lured to the city or too old to go so far in winter, preferring the crumbling Margaritas in the town centre or, in later days, the guffaw-inducing soullessness of the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez - named for a man that never played for Getafe and, to anyone's knowledge, never gave it a second thought. It was, in short, the perfect football club.
Getafe were at the tail end of another pleasant mid-table campaign - Bernd Schuster in the dugout, Pato Abbondanzieri in goal, 32 in the goals against column and a Zamora trophy in Pato's considerable hands - when I penned my betting preview ahead of the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final. Having lost 5-2 to Barcelona at Camp Nou the match seemed a formality; we were, as providers of team news and tactical updates, discouraged from writing actual result predictions, but it was all I could do not to write "BARCELONA ARE THROUGH, DO YOU REALLY NEED 200 WORDS AND A FORMATION?" and send it out to our faithful readers in Hong Kong and the like. Good thing I didn't, because, in front of a Sopcast feed of remarkable reliability I watched agog as Geta put four goals past the Blaugrana to reach their first ever Spanish Cup final. Javier Casquero, Dani Güiza, Vivar Dorado, Dani Güiza again. The most important goals in Geta's history since - long before I cared about the club - Sergio Pachón put five past Tenerife to secure promotion to the Primera. I might have missed that occasion: bollocks to missing the cup final as well.
Thus it was that in late May I found myself in Madrid, equipped with a rucksack, no Spanish, and a considerable reluctance to test my linguistic abilities on actual people, thus rendering my diet one largely based around vending machines. Fuelled by Aquarius and peanuts, and the fetid remains of a hostel breakfast buffet, I went out in search of a cup final ticket. I'd long since given up on the official avenues: I wasn't a Sevilla socio, and Getafe's allocation was going only to those who signed up for a season ticket for the following year. There were, however, no touts to be found the day before the game, or even the afternoon of, no matter how convincing my "yes, I'm buying" face.
The night before the final I'd done a recce in Getafe itself, and the city rewarded me by living up almost exactly to my expectations. A baking piece of light-industrial suburbia, Getafe segued beautifully from its gritty, narrow-street centre to its post-Franco northern suburbs of five-story apartment buildings, corner supermarkets, metro stations and, of course, the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. But of particular note were the posters dotted around the main drag, the Calle Madrid, advertising the Copa del Rey final on a big screen in the city centre for those not attending the match. The Bernabéu was off-limits, but this would be the next best thing.
Spain is, of course, a country where the streets don't empty out in the evening. This is the land of the paseo, and on my initial trip to Getafe I was oddly touched by the throngs of people looking in the windows of gift stores selling random Taiwanese crap at 8 o'clock at night, dressed in their best casual wear. That all changed on the night of the cup final, though: it was shorts and t-shirts, boxes of wine and, in my case, four large cans of Mahou and my red Getafe away top.
I arrived in the town square early to stake out a decent spot, and though I couldn't grab a seat along the wall I at least had, for a time, an uninterrupted view of the screen. Youths in various states of drunkenness barged around, asserting their own personal space; eventually, one yelled something in my ear, obviously expecting a response. I put my finest Spanish to the test and told him, enunciating the H, that I didn't hablo Español. Cue uproarious laughter, and the appearance of a supporting cast behind the man whom I'd know only as Rico.
Rico, it labouriously transpired, was a janitor in a cemetery, and these were his friends. One of them had a few words of English: we established that, yes, I was Scottish, that, yes, I was here by myself, that, no, I was not a student in Madrid, that, yes, I had come over from Scotland for this, that, yes, I knew this was Getafe, and that, yes, I was here by myself. "Ahora, tu no estás solo," said Rico, and I knew what he meant.
I was asked - instructed - to try their drink of choice (beer apparently being the stuff of old men), namely a Rioja mixed with Coke, which was as good as it sounds; was repeatedly offered cigarettes; and even, charmingly, given the gift of gossip as one of the female circle of friends accused the others of being "small" and "silly", in halting English. All this while I was trying to watch the game. In the event a Fredi Kanouté goal in the first half was the only notable action after Getafe's early miss, and with Rico and the gang fast losing interest in the second period I stood, surrounded by smoke, spilled Rioja and gabbling voices, hungry for more vending machine sustenance, feet aching, back creaking, craning my neck to see a game that I knew we had already lost. It was, in short, the perfect evening.
As I lay wide awake in my hostel bunk that night, silently wondering how many decibels a Scandinavian snorer could manage without setting off a car alarm three stories below, I decided that this trip could well have been the best investment of my life. I'd fallen in love with a football team, and it felt like more than just a holiday romance. It was a love as strong as the one I felt for my hometown club. And it was to cost me sleepless nights - and plenty more in plane and train tickets and internet bills - in years to come.
This blog is my way of staying in touch with Getafe, first from Scotland and now from the United States. (There are no plans to change the blog's name to Peña Getafense Tio Sam Imperialista.) The coverage mainly focuses on match reports and the occasional previews but I'll add other items of interest if and when the mood takes me. On average I return to Getafe once a season or so: next time I'll be sure to add some photos and a travelog.
Oh: and despite the title this site doesn't represent a real peña. Twice I emailed the head of the supporters' federation and twice he didn't get back to me. In any case, it's just me. Just like this post. That's what this blog's about.
Contact: Please use this article's comments feature to contact the blog. Comments are moderated before they appear, so if you wish to communicate privately please mark your comment accordingly.
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
Europa League: OB Odense 1-1 Getafe
0-1 Pedro Ríos 17'
1-1 Andreasen 90'
Getafe Out Of Europe After Late Surrender
... Young Boys' heroics against Stuttgart eliminate Spaniards
A late, late equaliser from Henrik Andreasen rescued a point for OB Odense at home to a Getafe side whose failure to build on their early lead cost them their Europa League qualification hopes.
A Pedro Ríos opener early in the first half went unreplied until the depths of stoppage time, at which point the Danes scored an equaliser that - at the moment - seemed set to keep both sides in Europe.
But in the group's other match, Young Boys of Bern managed a sensational three-goal haul in the final minutes of their match with Stuttgart to win 4-2 and thus join the Germans in the next stage.
On a frigid evening on the island of Funen Getafe started strongly and took a deserved lead when on-form Pedro Ríos' excellent header from a deep cross left Roy Carroll stranded in the OB goal.
The Danes enjoyed a brief period of resurgency, but Getafe should have put the tie beyond doubt on the half-hour mark when Miku, provided for by the excellent Juan Angel Albín spurned two fine chances in the space of two minutes.
OB's Kalilou Traoré showed Geta that there were still two sides in it as he hit the post just before half time, but after the interval the Danes seemed to be out of contention.
Indeed, despite the snowy surface it was the Madrid side who looked to be at home, but Miku's recent lean spell continued as he twice missed the target heading towards the hour.
OB rallied as full-time approached, though, and Andreasen showed profligate Getafe how it was done with a confident finish after being put through by Peter Utaka.
Getafe and OB will now reflect on chances wasted as they prepare for meaningless fixtures against Young Boys and Stuttgart respectively, these two sides themselves playing for first place.
Video to follow.
1-1 Andreasen 90'
Getafe Out Of Europe After Late Surrender
... Young Boys' heroics against Stuttgart eliminate Spaniards
A late, late equaliser from Henrik Andreasen rescued a point for OB Odense at home to a Getafe side whose failure to build on their early lead cost them their Europa League qualification hopes.
A Pedro Ríos opener early in the first half went unreplied until the depths of stoppage time, at which point the Danes scored an equaliser that - at the moment - seemed set to keep both sides in Europe.
But in the group's other match, Young Boys of Bern managed a sensational three-goal haul in the final minutes of their match with Stuttgart to win 4-2 and thus join the Germans in the next stage.
On a frigid evening on the island of Funen Getafe started strongly and took a deserved lead when on-form Pedro Ríos' excellent header from a deep cross left Roy Carroll stranded in the OB goal.
| Europa League Group H @ 5 Games 1. Stuttgart (12pts) 2. Young Boys (9pts) 3. Getafe (4pts) 4. OB (4pts) |
OB's Kalilou Traoré showed Geta that there were still two sides in it as he hit the post just before half time, but after the interval the Danes seemed to be out of contention.
Indeed, despite the snowy surface it was the Madrid side who looked to be at home, but Miku's recent lean spell continued as he twice missed the target heading towards the hour.
OB rallied as full-time approached, though, and Andreasen showed profligate Getafe how it was done with a confident finish after being put through by Peter Utaka.
Getafe and OB will now reflect on chances wasted as they prepare for meaningless fixtures against Young Boys and Stuttgart respectively, these two sides themselves playing for first place.
Video to follow.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Europa League Preview: OB Odense - Getafe
With Getafe having put in a suberb performance against Sevilla on Saturday evening, confidence is high among the Azulones. Yet the Madrid side's current European form leaves much to be desired, and as such nothing can be taken for granted ahead of Wednesday's visit to Odense to face OB.
With four games played in the Europa League group stage Getafe are on the verge of European elimination, having taken just three points so far. Those came against OB themselves at the Coliseum back on Matchday 1, Javier Arizmendi and Pedro Ríos bringing Geta back from a goal down.
Since then two losses to Young Boys of Bern and Stuttgart render Getafe decided outsiders to progress: defeat, in fact, will almost certainly result in elimination, while even a draw will not be good enough if already-qualified Stuttgart lose to the Swiss.
Geta coach Míchel, still beaming from Saturday's result, has put aside all talk of his managerial future to focus on Wednesday's game, calling up a strong squad replete with regular first teamers. Rafa returns to the squad after recent injury, but Javier Casquero and Javier Arizmendi are unable to recover in time to travel to Denmark.
OB are yet to announce their squad but in the aftermath of their 2-0 defeat to Brondby in a match vital for both sides' Champions league aspirations, coach Henrik Clausen may ring the changes, particularly as influential midfielder Hans Henrik Andreasen limped off injured midway through the first half. The veteran, who scored twice against Young Boys in OB's last Europa League outing, is now doubtful for the Geta clash.
The Odense club have realistically given up their title ambitions already, with FC Copenhagen leading by 19 points after just 18 games, but need to remain in the top four to secure a European spot for next season; and with Getafe not safe from being sucked into the relegation mire, this tie may take a back seat for both sides.
Nonetheless OB will feel that there is a score to settle and their small but loud set of fans are likely to produce an atmosphere that was sadly lacking at the Coliseum last time these sides met.
Probable line ups:
Getafe: Ustari; Miguel Torres, Cata Díaz, Ibrahim Kas, Mané; Boateng, Borja; Pedro Ríos, Albín, Manu; Miku.
OB: Carroll; Ruud, Moller Christensen, Haland, Sorensen; Traoré, Djemba-Djemba, Feldballe/Andreasen, Kadrii; Johansson; Utaka.
----
In other news, Eugen Polanski has made permanent his loan move from Getafe to high-flying Bundesliga outfit Mainz, siging a deal with the Pfalz side until 2014.
With four games played in the Europa League group stage Getafe are on the verge of European elimination, having taken just three points so far. Those came against OB themselves at the Coliseum back on Matchday 1, Javier Arizmendi and Pedro Ríos bringing Geta back from a goal down.
Since then two losses to Young Boys of Bern and Stuttgart render Getafe decided outsiders to progress: defeat, in fact, will almost certainly result in elimination, while even a draw will not be good enough if already-qualified Stuttgart lose to the Swiss.Geta coach Míchel, still beaming from Saturday's result, has put aside all talk of his managerial future to focus on Wednesday's game, calling up a strong squad replete with regular first teamers. Rafa returns to the squad after recent injury, but Javier Casquero and Javier Arizmendi are unable to recover in time to travel to Denmark.
OB are yet to announce their squad but in the aftermath of their 2-0 defeat to Brondby in a match vital for both sides' Champions league aspirations, coach Henrik Clausen may ring the changes, particularly as influential midfielder Hans Henrik Andreasen limped off injured midway through the first half. The veteran, who scored twice against Young Boys in OB's last Europa League outing, is now doubtful for the Geta clash.
The Odense club have realistically given up their title ambitions already, with FC Copenhagen leading by 19 points after just 18 games, but need to remain in the top four to secure a European spot for next season; and with Getafe not safe from being sucked into the relegation mire, this tie may take a back seat for both sides.
Nonetheless OB will feel that there is a score to settle and their small but loud set of fans are likely to produce an atmosphere that was sadly lacking at the Coliseum last time these sides met.
Probable line ups:
Getafe: Ustari; Miguel Torres, Cata Díaz, Ibrahim Kas, Mané; Boateng, Borja; Pedro Ríos, Albín, Manu; Miku.
OB: Carroll; Ruud, Moller Christensen, Haland, Sorensen; Traoré, Djemba-Djemba, Feldballe/Andreasen, Kadrii; Johansson; Utaka.
----
In other news, Eugen Polanski has made permanent his loan move from Getafe to high-flying Bundesliga outfit Mainz, siging a deal with the Pfalz side until 2014.
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Jornada 13: Sevilla 1-3 Getafe
1-0 Kanouté 29'
1-1 Manu del Moral (pen.) 57'
1-2 Miku 59'
1-3 Pedro Ríos 74'
Getafe stunned Sevilla to pull off a vital 3-1 win at the Sánchez Pizjuán in a match crucial for both the Azulones' aspirations of league survival and coach Míchel's hopes of retaining his job.
Despite Geta chairman Angel Torres' recent statement of support for the tactician, it had been rumoured that a poor performance and defeat in Andalucia would spell the end for Míchel.
But such talk was rendered moot as Geta mounted a superb second-half fightback against a Sevilla side capable of far better.
In an uneventful first half the hosts took the lead after 29 minutes. Neither Cata Díaz nor Iván Marcano was on form, and this showed when the latter gifted Fredi Kanouté a tap-in chance by failing to clear a routine cross from Diego Capel.
Despite Geta's recent poor form, though, there seemed to be hope of a revival as the visitors began the second period strongly. Their pressure told as Getafe were awarded their second penalty in two games, Abdoulay Konko handling Marcano's cross in the box. Manu del Moral, having previously missed a sitter, stepped up for the spot-kick: home 'keeper Andres Palop got a touch to it, but the ball rolled in off the post.
Two minutes later Getafe were ahead. Under-fire Venezuelan forward Miku was left unmarked at the far post to meet Jaime Gavilán's cross for a confident finish on the half-volley.
Geta's victory was complete when in the 74th minute Pedro Ríos took advantage of Sevilla's failure to clear their lines from a corner, rifling the ball into the roof of the net from ten yards out.
Thus Getafe picked up their first victory in all competitions in over a month, and rise to ninth in the table, pending results elsewhere this weekend.
Next: Away to OB Odense in the Europa League on Wednesday. Getafe must win this game to be in with a chance of progression to the knockout rounds.
1-1 Manu del Moral (pen.) 57'
1-2 Miku 59'
1-3 Pedro Ríos 74'
Getafe stunned Sevilla to pull off a vital 3-1 win at the Sánchez Pizjuán in a match crucial for both the Azulones' aspirations of league survival and coach Míchel's hopes of retaining his job.
Despite Geta chairman Angel Torres' recent statement of support for the tactician, it had been rumoured that a poor performance and defeat in Andalucia would spell the end for Míchel.
But such talk was rendered moot as Geta mounted a superb second-half fightback against a Sevilla side capable of far better.
In an uneventful first half the hosts took the lead after 29 minutes. Neither Cata Díaz nor Iván Marcano was on form, and this showed when the latter gifted Fredi Kanouté a tap-in chance by failing to clear a routine cross from Diego Capel.
Despite Geta's recent poor form, though, there seemed to be hope of a revival as the visitors began the second period strongly. Their pressure told as Getafe were awarded their second penalty in two games, Abdoulay Konko handling Marcano's cross in the box. Manu del Moral, having previously missed a sitter, stepped up for the spot-kick: home 'keeper Andres Palop got a touch to it, but the ball rolled in off the post.
Two minutes later Getafe were ahead. Under-fire Venezuelan forward Miku was left unmarked at the far post to meet Jaime Gavilán's cross for a confident finish on the half-volley.
Geta's victory was complete when in the 74th minute Pedro Ríos took advantage of Sevilla's failure to clear their lines from a corner, rifling the ball into the roof of the net from ten yards out.
Thus Getafe picked up their first victory in all competitions in over a month, and rise to ninth in the table, pending results elsewhere this weekend.
Next: Away to OB Odense in the Europa League on Wednesday. Getafe must win this game to be in with a chance of progression to the knockout rounds.
Monday, 22 November 2010
Míchel's Job Not In Danger - Angel Torres
Spanish sports daily Marca reported on Saturday that anything other than a win for Getafe against Zaragoza could spell the end for coach Míchel, but prior to tonight's fixture club president Angel Torres dismissed these rumours.
"We are pleased with Míchel," he said. "Last season he did well and we finished sixth. This year we can't expect to enter the Champions League and win the Copa del Rey.
"Míchel is under contract and will remain with us."
"We are pleased with Míchel," he said. "Last season he did well and we finished sixth. This year we can't expect to enter the Champions League and win the Copa del Rey.
"Míchel is under contract and will remain with us."
Jornada 12: Getafe 1-1 Zaragoza
0-1 Bertolo 33'
1-1 Colunga (pen.) 49'
Getafe could not make pressure count against a ten-man Zaragoza side who also had chances to kill off what was an entertaining but low-quality match at the Coliseum.
The hosts' failure to find the net increased their winless run in La Liga to four games, although the previous three were defeats.
It's a particularly disappointing result given that Zaragoza played most of the second half a man down, and the Aragón side both began and ended the night in last place.
Zaragoza took the lead just after the half hour mark in bizarre circumstances. Jordi Codina came 40 yards off his line to the touchline to meet a speculative ball forward but made a hash of his clearance; Argentine midfielder Nicolás Bertolo - who had a superb game - duly dispossesed the 'keeper and chipped the ball into the net from a distance.
Adrián Colunga levelled the score five minutes after the break, slotting home a penalty after Dani Parejo was unfairly challenged in the box by Florent Sinama-Pongolle, who received a yellow card.
Also booked on that occasion was Leonardo Ponzio, who saw yellow for dissent, and that was to cost him dearly as in the 63rd minute he was sent off for a second cautionable offence after handling Manu del Moral's cross just outside the area.
Getafe poured forward in the closing stages but could not find either the finish or, in truth, much by way of a meaningful final ball; Zaragoza looked dangerous on the counter once or twice but themselves lacked definition.
Next: a trip to Andalucia on Saturday evening to face Sevilla.
1-1 Colunga (pen.) 49'
Getafe could not make pressure count against a ten-man Zaragoza side who also had chances to kill off what was an entertaining but low-quality match at the Coliseum.
The hosts' failure to find the net increased their winless run in La Liga to four games, although the previous three were defeats.
It's a particularly disappointing result given that Zaragoza played most of the second half a man down, and the Aragón side both began and ended the night in last place.
Zaragoza took the lead just after the half hour mark in bizarre circumstances. Jordi Codina came 40 yards off his line to the touchline to meet a speculative ball forward but made a hash of his clearance; Argentine midfielder Nicolás Bertolo - who had a superb game - duly dispossesed the 'keeper and chipped the ball into the net from a distance.
Adrián Colunga levelled the score five minutes after the break, slotting home a penalty after Dani Parejo was unfairly challenged in the box by Florent Sinama-Pongolle, who received a yellow card.
Also booked on that occasion was Leonardo Ponzio, who saw yellow for dissent, and that was to cost him dearly as in the 63rd minute he was sent off for a second cautionable offence after handling Manu del Moral's cross just outside the area.
Getafe poured forward in the closing stages but could not find either the finish or, in truth, much by way of a meaningful final ball; Zaragoza looked dangerous on the counter once or twice but themselves lacked definition.
Next: a trip to Andalucia on Saturday evening to face Sevilla.
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Jornada 11: Valencia 2-0 Getafe
1-0 Tino Costa 8'
2-0 David Navarro 63'
A poor performance at the Mestalla consigned Getafe to their third consecutive league defeat.
Tino Costa opened the scoring early on for the hosts with an excellent volley from inside the area, and David Navarro doubled Valencia's tally on the hour mark with a via a tap-in after Jordi Codina parried away the defender's initial effort.
Geta's midfield didn't show up on the day and a typical display of poor deep defending did little to settle the nerves either.
Next: relegation candidates Zaragoza at home in what is surely a must-win tie.
2-0 David Navarro 63'
A poor performance at the Mestalla consigned Getafe to their third consecutive league defeat.
Tino Costa opened the scoring early on for the hosts with an excellent volley from inside the area, and David Navarro doubled Valencia's tally on the hour mark with a via a tap-in after Jordi Codina parried away the defender's initial effort.
Geta's midfield didn't show up on the day and a typical display of poor deep defending did little to settle the nerves either.
Next: relegation candidates Zaragoza at home in what is surely a must-win tie.
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Copa del Rey: Getafe 0-0 Portugalete (1-1 agg.)
A dull as dishwater encounter at the Coliseum sees Getafe through to the next stage of the Copa del Rey, thanks to their 1-1 draw in the Basque Country in the first leg.
The draw for the 1/8 finals - or Round of 16 if you prefer UEFA-speak - takes place on Thursday November 18 at 13:00 CET. All teams remaining in the competition play in the Primera, with the exception of Segunda pairing Córdoba and Betis.
The draw for the 1/8 finals - or Round of 16 if you prefer UEFA-speak - takes place on Thursday November 18 at 13:00 CET. All teams remaining in the competition play in the Primera, with the exception of Segunda pairing Córdoba and Betis.
Sunday, 7 November 2010
Jornada 10: Getafe 1-3 Barcelona
0-1 Messi 22'
0-2 Villa 33'
0-3 Pedro 64'
1-3 Manu del Moral (pen.) 70'
Barcelona ran out easy winners against Getafe in a match that went largely as expected, although both sides ended the evening with ten men.
Getafe's shell-shocked defence could not deal with Barcelona's excellent passing and movement, resulting in Messi tapping home the opener on 20 minutes after a superb team move.
David Villa was next to net towards the end of the first half, and when Pedro added a third just after the hour mark it seemed to be game over.
However, Gerard Piqué conceded a penalty - and a second booking - for handball on 70 minutes, allowing Getafe skipper Manu to convert the spot-kick and give his side a lifeline.
But another red card, this time for Geta's Derek Boateng, removed most hopes of a comeback. When Javier Arizmendi spurned a simple one-on-one ten minutes later, it was clear that Barcelona were bound to win.
0-2 Villa 33'
0-3 Pedro 64'
1-3 Manu del Moral (pen.) 70'
Barcelona ran out easy winners against Getafe in a match that went largely as expected, although both sides ended the evening with ten men.
Getafe's shell-shocked defence could not deal with Barcelona's excellent passing and movement, resulting in Messi tapping home the opener on 20 minutes after a superb team move.
David Villa was next to net towards the end of the first half, and when Pedro added a third just after the hour mark it seemed to be game over.
However, Gerard Piqué conceded a penalty - and a second booking - for handball on 70 minutes, allowing Getafe skipper Manu to convert the spot-kick and give his side a lifeline.
But another red card, this time for Geta's Derek Boateng, removed most hopes of a comeback. When Javier Arizmendi spurned a simple one-on-one ten minutes later, it was clear that Barcelona were bound to win.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Europa League: Getafe 0-3 Stuttgart
0-1 Marica 25'
0-2 Gebhart 63'
0-3 Harnik 76'
Stuttgart ran riot at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Thursday night, thrashing a lacklustre Getafe 3-0 in the fourth matchday of the 2010-11 Europa League group stage.
The hosts could not make the most of the few chances that they created, with their moves often breaking down on the edge of the area; Stuttgart, meanwhile, were confident in front of goal and were well worth the margin of victory.
The result sees Stuttgart advance to the next stage with a 100% record, but Getafe's Europa League dreams remain hanging by a thread as they languish on just three points from a possible twelve.
With the home support depleted to around 2,000 - due in part to high ticket prices - the visiting Stuttgart contingent had the most occasion to make noise on what was yet another disappointing evening for the hosts.
Getafe started in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation and with a recognisable first eleven, although the inclusion of forgotten man Ibrahim Kas at centre-back was a surprise. Also unusual was the inclusion of Adrian Sardinero, a reserve player making a rare first team appearance.
Stuttgart, meanwhile, went 4-4-2, and although they had to do without Khalid Boulahrouz and Pavel Pogrebnyak, their line-up was generally un-rotated from regular league play, with Mathieu Delpierre overcoming injury in time to start.
Geta had the best of the early stages, Colunga hitting the side netting with a solo effort and Sardinero having a penalty claim turned down when his strike from the edge of the area appeared to hit Tasci's elbow.
Stuttgart should have gone ahead on the quarter-hour mark, though, with Ciprian Marica's superb solo run bringing out a low save from Oscar Ustari: as the ball trickled across an open goalmouth, Mauro Camoranesi somehow contrived to send it wide of the target.
Indeed, Marica was fast becoming the star of the show in the early stages, with rotated right-back Victor Sánchez struggling to deal with his wide play.
It was not a great surprise when the Romanian star gave Stuttgart the lead. Derek Boateng committed an uncharacteristic howler by giving the ball away to the forward twenty-five yards from goal, and with no blue shirts nearby the Romanian was able to take his time and place his shot low past Ustari for the opener on 25 minutes.
Six minutes later, following a series of Stuttgart corners, Javier Arizmendi was afforded a chance on the counter but skimmed the top of the bar from the edge of the area.
For the most part, though, the remainder of the first half was all Stuttgart: die Roten should in fact have gone two up when Delpierre's deep cross left Kas standing and allowed Martin Harnik a free header. His attempt, though, hit the post and bounced wide.
The barrage continued as three minutes later Boka teed up Kuzmanovic to play a fine ball across goal, only for Harnik to shoot straight at Ustari from an unmarked position.
Harnik again found himself denied by Ustari, and then on the whistle Juan Angel Albín summed up Getafe's opening 45 with a poorly-taken free-kick that slammed straight off the German wall before a rebounding shot flew wide of the target.
After the break Getafe's night was further exemplified as Croatian referee Marijo Strahonja booked Cata Díaz and substitute Javier Casquero for protesting after the whistler pulled back play following a quickly-taken Getafe free-kick.
Seconds later, though, Javier Arizmendi's header from an Adrian Colunga cross had Sven Ulreich beaten, but narrowly missed the target.
Although Getafe enjoyed the best of the possession after the restart, they were struggling to convert possession into chances. Thus on came skipper Manu del Moral for Sardinero, while Stuttgart brought on Timo Gebhart for Serdar Tasci.
The change seemed to pay off as Geta enjoyed a series of chances in quick succession. The best of all fell to Adrian Colunga, who beat the offside trap to meet Javier Arizmendi's cross but shot straight at Ulreich when one-on-one.
All hope of a result disappeared three minutes later as Stuttgart managed their second goal. Marica and Kuzmanovic combined well to keep possession on the edge of the area before slipping the ball to the unmarked Gebhart, who had plenty of time to place his shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Getafe continued to press forward, though, with plenty of crosses coming in from the right courtesy of Arizmendi and Colunga, albeit to little effect.
But it was all too easy for Stuttgart who duly made it three: Marica sprayed the ball out wide for Boya, who in turn launched an incredible first-time cross to the far post, where Hernik had got in ahead of Cata Diaz to finally land his first goal of the evening with fifteen minutes to go.
It seemed as though it would be the perfect evening for Stuttgart, but in fact die Roten were hit by a hammer blow as Marica - not a first team regular, but one of their top performers on the night - was shown the red card after what seemed to be a fairly innocuous confrontation with Casquero.
Still, that was not enough to dampen the visiting fans' enthusiasm; as the home support trooped out in near silence, the German songs rang long and loud into the night.
Getafe face Barcelona at home this weekend, and their next Europa League fixture is at OB Odense on December 1st.
0-2 Gebhart 63'
0-3 Harnik 76'
Stuttgart ran riot at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Thursday night, thrashing a lacklustre Getafe 3-0 in the fourth matchday of the 2010-11 Europa League group stage.
The hosts could not make the most of the few chances that they created, with their moves often breaking down on the edge of the area; Stuttgart, meanwhile, were confident in front of goal and were well worth the margin of victory.
The result sees Stuttgart advance to the next stage with a 100% record, but Getafe's Europa League dreams remain hanging by a thread as they languish on just three points from a possible twelve.
With the home support depleted to around 2,000 - due in part to high ticket prices - the visiting Stuttgart contingent had the most occasion to make noise on what was yet another disappointing evening for the hosts.
Getafe started in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation and with a recognisable first eleven, although the inclusion of forgotten man Ibrahim Kas at centre-back was a surprise. Also unusual was the inclusion of Adrian Sardinero, a reserve player making a rare first team appearance.
Stuttgart, meanwhile, went 4-4-2, and although they had to do without Khalid Boulahrouz and Pavel Pogrebnyak, their line-up was generally un-rotated from regular league play, with Mathieu Delpierre overcoming injury in time to start.
Geta had the best of the early stages, Colunga hitting the side netting with a solo effort and Sardinero having a penalty claim turned down when his strike from the edge of the area appeared to hit Tasci's elbow.
Stuttgart should have gone ahead on the quarter-hour mark, though, with Ciprian Marica's superb solo run bringing out a low save from Oscar Ustari: as the ball trickled across an open goalmouth, Mauro Camoranesi somehow contrived to send it wide of the target.
Indeed, Marica was fast becoming the star of the show in the early stages, with rotated right-back Victor Sánchez struggling to deal with his wide play.
It was not a great surprise when the Romanian star gave Stuttgart the lead. Derek Boateng committed an uncharacteristic howler by giving the ball away to the forward twenty-five yards from goal, and with no blue shirts nearby the Romanian was able to take his time and place his shot low past Ustari for the opener on 25 minutes.
Six minutes later, following a series of Stuttgart corners, Javier Arizmendi was afforded a chance on the counter but skimmed the top of the bar from the edge of the area.
For the most part, though, the remainder of the first half was all Stuttgart: die Roten should in fact have gone two up when Delpierre's deep cross left Kas standing and allowed Martin Harnik a free header. His attempt, though, hit the post and bounced wide.
The barrage continued as three minutes later Boka teed up Kuzmanovic to play a fine ball across goal, only for Harnik to shoot straight at Ustari from an unmarked position.
Harnik again found himself denied by Ustari, and then on the whistle Juan Angel Albín summed up Getafe's opening 45 with a poorly-taken free-kick that slammed straight off the German wall before a rebounding shot flew wide of the target.
After the break Getafe's night was further exemplified as Croatian referee Marijo Strahonja booked Cata Díaz and substitute Javier Casquero for protesting after the whistler pulled back play following a quickly-taken Getafe free-kick.
Seconds later, though, Javier Arizmendi's header from an Adrian Colunga cross had Sven Ulreich beaten, but narrowly missed the target.
Although Getafe enjoyed the best of the possession after the restart, they were struggling to convert possession into chances. Thus on came skipper Manu del Moral for Sardinero, while Stuttgart brought on Timo Gebhart for Serdar Tasci.
The change seemed to pay off as Geta enjoyed a series of chances in quick succession. The best of all fell to Adrian Colunga, who beat the offside trap to meet Javier Arizmendi's cross but shot straight at Ulreich when one-on-one.
All hope of a result disappeared three minutes later as Stuttgart managed their second goal. Marica and Kuzmanovic combined well to keep possession on the edge of the area before slipping the ball to the unmarked Gebhart, who had plenty of time to place his shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Getafe continued to press forward, though, with plenty of crosses coming in from the right courtesy of Arizmendi and Colunga, albeit to little effect.
But it was all too easy for Stuttgart who duly made it three: Marica sprayed the ball out wide for Boya, who in turn launched an incredible first-time cross to the far post, where Hernik had got in ahead of Cata Diaz to finally land his first goal of the evening with fifteen minutes to go.
It seemed as though it would be the perfect evening for Stuttgart, but in fact die Roten were hit by a hammer blow as Marica - not a first team regular, but one of their top performers on the night - was shown the red card after what seemed to be a fairly innocuous confrontation with Casquero.
Still, that was not enough to dampen the visiting fans' enthusiasm; as the home support trooped out in near silence, the German songs rang long and loud into the night.
Getafe face Barcelona at home this weekend, and their next Europa League fixture is at OB Odense on December 1st.
Monday, 1 November 2010
Jornada 9: Athletic Bilbao 3-0 Getafe
1-0 Iraola 6'
2-0 San José 12'
3-0 Gabilondo 83'
An exceedingly disappointing result and performance in the Basque country resulted in a 3-0 defeat for a Getafe side who never got going.
Two early goals from the hosts set Athletic en route for a routine win, and one that they absolutely deserved.
That said, Getafe had two first half chances that, had they taken, could have put a different spin on the game, but the result was in no way an injustice.
2-0 San José 12'
3-0 Gabilondo 83'
An exceedingly disappointing result and performance in the Basque country resulted in a 3-0 defeat for a Getafe side who never got going.
Two early goals from the hosts set Athletic en route for a routine win, and one that they absolutely deserved.
That said, Getafe had two first half chances that, had they taken, could have put a different spin on the game, but the result was in no way an injustice.
Friday, 29 October 2010
Copa del Rey: Portugalete 1-1 Getafe
Getafe couldn't hold their early lead in their first leg 1/16 round Copa del Rey clash against Portugalete, eventually managing only a 1-1 draw away to the Basque minnows.
reserve star Adrián Sardinero tapping in Juan Angel Albín's cross after good work from Pedro Mosquera. (Fun fact: Sardinero has scored at La Florida before, netting for the reserves in June as Getafe B ousted Portugalete in the play-offs to reach the Segunda División B.)
Although Getafe enjoyed the best of the first half, Portugalete were well worth their draw, which they earned seven minutes after the break, Gaizka Bergara eventually burying Javier Iturriaga's corner.
The rematch is in two weeks' time. This weekend: another trip up to the Basque Country to face Athletic Bilbao.
reserve star Adrián Sardinero tapping in Juan Angel Albín's cross after good work from Pedro Mosquera. (Fun fact: Sardinero has scored at La Florida before, netting for the reserves in June as Getafe B ousted Portugalete in the play-offs to reach the Segunda División B.)
Although Getafe enjoyed the best of the first half, Portugalete were well worth their draw, which they earned seven minutes after the break, Gaizka Bergara eventually burying Javier Iturriaga's corner.
The rematch is in two weeks' time. This weekend: another trip up to the Basque Country to face Athletic Bilbao.
Sunday, 24 October 2010
Jornada 8: Getafe 3-0 Sporting Gijón
1-0 Boateng 9'
2-0 Colunga (pen) 51'
3-0 Marcano 60'
A routine and well-deserved victory for Geta against a poor Sporting side unable to compete with the hosts' effectiveness in front of goal. The visitors managed to carve out just one chance worthy of the name - a near-open goal squandered by Gastón Sangoy - while Getafe could in fact have added more to their tally of three.
This result puts the Azulones seventh on 13 points, six above the relegation zone and seven short of top spot.
2-0 Colunga (pen) 51'
3-0 Marcano 60'
A routine and well-deserved victory for Geta against a poor Sporting side unable to compete with the hosts' effectiveness in front of goal. The visitors managed to carve out just one chance worthy of the name - a near-open goal squandered by Gastón Sangoy - while Getafe could in fact have added more to their tally of three.
This result puts the Azulones seventh on 13 points, six above the relegation zone and seven short of top spot.
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Europa League: Stuttgart 1-0 Getafe
1-0 Marica 29'
Another away defeat in the Europa League sees Getafe slip to third in Group H.
Stuttgart maintained their 100% record thanks to an early goal from Ciprian Marica, and fully deserved their win in what was a disappointing Geta showing.
One point of interest for Getafe supporters was the configuration of the defence in the absence of Mané and Miguel Torres. Marcano started at left-back, Pablo Pintos on the right, and Rafa teamed up with Cata Díaz in the middle.
Next up: Sporting at home this weekend, then a trip to Portugalete in the Copa del Rey next midweek.
Another away defeat in the Europa League sees Getafe slip to third in Group H.
Stuttgart maintained their 100% record thanks to an early goal from Ciprian Marica, and fully deserved their win in what was a disappointing Geta showing.
One point of interest for Getafe supporters was the configuration of the defence in the absence of Mané and Miguel Torres. Marcano started at left-back, Pablo Pintos on the right, and Rafa teamed up with Cata Díaz in the middle.
Next up: Sporting at home this weekend, then a trip to Portugalete in the Copa del Rey next midweek.
Monday, 18 October 2010
Injury News: Mané & Miguel Torres Out For Three Weeks
Marca informs us that both of Getafe's first-choice full-backs will miss the next three matches. Both Mané and Miguel Torres pulled up injured during the 2-0 defeat at Atlético Madrid on Saturday evening.
Pablo Pintos, on loan from Lazio, is likely to step in at right-back, while while it's difficult to see who may play on the left. Reserve team star Álvaro Arroyo could make an appearance, utility man Víctor Sánchez is more than able to play left-back, and there's a slim chance of Pedro Mosquera's taking part.
Either way it's a significant blow to the team.
Pablo Pintos, on loan from Lazio, is likely to step in at right-back, while while it's difficult to see who may play on the left. Reserve team star Álvaro Arroyo could make an appearance, utility man Víctor Sánchez is more than able to play left-back, and there's a slim chance of Pedro Mosquera's taking part.
Either way it's a significant blow to the team.
Saturday, 16 October 2010
Jornada 7: Atlético Madrid 2-0 Getafe
1-0 Codina (og) 37'
2-0 Diego Costa 72'
Not too unpredictable a result at the Calderón as Atleti easily dispatched of a poor Getafe side 2-0. Geta took nothing from the game, which is about what they deserved.
Interestingly Michel went off on one after the game, stating that the team did not appear to be of Primera standard. Far be it from me to suggest that he's working his ticket or anything, but... well, yeah, that's what I'm suggesting. Any coach would be annoyed at losing his two best players over the summer but in every interview he gives he bends over backwards to slam Getafe. Between him and president Torres one wonders if there's anyone behind the scenes at the Coliseum who actually wants to be there.
Anyway, here's the match highlights:
2-0 Diego Costa 72'
Not too unpredictable a result at the Calderón as Atleti easily dispatched of a poor Getafe side 2-0. Geta took nothing from the game, which is about what they deserved.
Interestingly Michel went off on one after the game, stating that the team did not appear to be of Primera standard. Far be it from me to suggest that he's working his ticket or anything, but... well, yeah, that's what I'm suggesting. Any coach would be annoyed at losing his two best players over the summer but in every interview he gives he bends over backwards to slam Getafe. Between him and president Torres one wonders if there's anyone behind the scenes at the Coliseum who actually wants to be there.
Anyway, here's the match highlights:
Monday, 11 October 2010
Dani Parejo assists for Spain U-21
In a break with previous seasons there's been no Getafe players active this international weekend, at least in the senior game. On the other hand Dani Parejo played 82 minutes of Spain U-21's 2-1 victory against Croatia, and took the corner that allowed Mikel San José to score the winner. You can see that in the fan-made video below:
There's little news coming from the Geta camp, except that Manu del Moral and Miku are back in training, and that Javier Casquero, Ibrahim Kas, Jaime Gavilán, Miguel Torres, and Javier Arizmendi should all be fit to play against Atlético Madrid next weekend. Only Mario is out long-term.
There's little news coming from the Geta camp, except that Manu del Moral and Miku are back in training, and that Javier Casquero, Ibrahim Kas, Jaime Gavilán, Miguel Torres, and Javier Arizmendi should all be fit to play against Atlético Madrid next weekend. Only Mario is out long-term.
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Jornada 6: Getafe 3-0 Hércules
1-0 Parejo 20'
2-0 Manu del Moral 42'
3-0 Miku 81'
A convincing and very much deserved win over a very poor Hércules side for Getafe, who now sit sixth in the table. International week's next, then a trip to Atlético.
2-0 Manu del Moral 42'
3-0 Miku 81'
A convincing and very much deserved win over a very poor Hércules side for Getafe, who now sit sixth in the table. International week's next, then a trip to Atlético.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Europa League: Young Boys 2-0 Getafe
1-0 Degen 11'
2-0 Degen 64'
A very disappointing match and performance in Bern saw Getafe lose 2-0 to a Young Boys side who in truth could have added far more.
The only silver lining to take from this performance is that it was far from the Geta first team. The likes of Albín and Miku did not take their chance to impress and both will be rotated out of the side at the weekend, when Geta meet Hércules at home.
Group standings after two games:
Group H
Team Pld Pts
Stuttgart 2 6
Young Boys 2 3
Getafe 2 3
Odense 2 0
2-0 Degen 64'
A very disappointing match and performance in Bern saw Getafe lose 2-0 to a Young Boys side who in truth could have added far more.
The only silver lining to take from this performance is that it was far from the Geta first team. The likes of Albín and Miku did not take their chance to impress and both will be rotated out of the side at the weekend, when Geta meet Hércules at home.
Group standings after two games:
Group H
Team Pld Pts
Stuttgart 2 6
Young Boys 2 3
Getafe 2 3
Odense 2 0
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Jornada 5: Racing 0-1 Getafe
0-1 Victor Sánchez 16'
A deflected effort from loan midfielder Victor Sánchez was enough to give Getafe yet another victory at the Sardinero against a Racing side who will feel they should have at least managed a draw.
Although the visitors drew first blood, Racing were the better side for the vast majority of this game, and only poor finishing and some great saves from Jordi Codina kept Getafe en route for all three points.
In what was a dispiriting day for the Cantabrians, Markus Rosenberg was sent off minutes before full-time for a second bookable offence.
A deflected effort from loan midfielder Victor Sánchez was enough to give Getafe yet another victory at the Sardinero against a Racing side who will feel they should have at least managed a draw.
Although the visitors drew first blood, Racing were the better side for the vast majority of this game, and only poor finishing and some great saves from Jordi Codina kept Getafe en route for all three points.
In what was a dispiriting day for the Cantabrians, Markus Rosenberg was sent off minutes before full-time for a second bookable offence.
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Jornada 4: Getafe 0-2 Malaga
0-1 Rondón 54'
0-2 Apoño (pen) 62'
A dreadful match with very, very little to recommend it for the Getafe supporter. Although we had most of the possession and most of the chances in a numerical sense, it was the visiting side that always lookedl ike winning: they had more pace, more confidence, more definition in front of goal, and more of a winning strategy. Full credit to Malaga: I tipped them, along with Racing, to struggle badly this season, but they show every sign of having what it takes to stay up.
Next up: a trip to Cantabria to face our pseudo-rivals, Racing Santander. Last time we played at the Sardinero was on the opening day of the 2009-10 campaign, where we won 4-1. Overall our record there is good, and I expect an away win.
Video of the Malaga shocker:
0-2 Apoño (pen) 62'
A dreadful match with very, very little to recommend it for the Getafe supporter. Although we had most of the possession and most of the chances in a numerical sense, it was the visiting side that always lookedl ike winning: they had more pace, more confidence, more definition in front of goal, and more of a winning strategy. Full credit to Malaga: I tipped them, along with Racing, to struggle badly this season, but they show every sign of having what it takes to stay up.
Next up: a trip to Cantabria to face our pseudo-rivals, Racing Santander. Last time we played at the Sardinero was on the opening day of the 2009-10 campaign, where we won 4-1. Overall our record there is good, and I expect an away win.
Video of the Malaga shocker:
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Getafe 'B' 1-1 Leganés
0-1 Tonino 36'
1-1 Adrián Sardinero 55'
Geta's greatest rivals have been reduced to playing our reserves in the Segunda B. While both first teams used to attract bumper crowds against each other in the Segunda, these days 2,500 showed up to watch the second string of Geta come from a goal down to secure a draw. Fan-made videos of the goals below:
This result sees Lega stay top of Segunda B with 13 points - this being their first draw after four wins - while Geta B are second with eleven, pending today's matches, of course, which could see Celta Vigo B and Babajoz overtake them.
1-1 Adrián Sardinero 55'
Geta's greatest rivals have been reduced to playing our reserves in the Segunda B. While both first teams used to attract bumper crowds against each other in the Segunda, these days 2,500 showed up to watch the second string of Geta come from a goal down to secure a draw. Fan-made videos of the goals below:
This result sees Lega stay top of Segunda B with 13 points - this being their first draw after four wins - while Geta B are second with eleven, pending today's matches, of course, which could see Celta Vigo B and Babajoz overtake them.
Monday, 20 September 2010
Jornada 3: Deportivo La Coruña 2-2 Getafe
0-1 Colotto (og) 33'
1-1 Guardado (pen) 49'
2-1 Guardado (pen) 56'
2-2 Arizmendi 69'
A massively entertaining second half saw three goals - two from the spot - as Getafe managed a draw at Riazor against Deportivo. This was without question the most entertaining game of the season so far and one that, had we eleven men and a charmed Jordi Codina, beatable only from the spot, for the entire second half, we might have won. As it stands a point in Galicia is nothing to be sniffed at. Nonetheless a lack of composure in front of goal remains a small source of concern: Arizmendi's wonder-strike, and Manu's hitting the bar from 30 yards notwithstanding, we passed up several opportunities (as did Depor.)
Video:
1-1 Guardado (pen) 49'
2-1 Guardado (pen) 56'
2-2 Arizmendi 69'
A massively entertaining second half saw three goals - two from the spot - as Getafe managed a draw at Riazor against Deportivo. This was without question the most entertaining game of the season so far and one that, had we eleven men and a charmed Jordi Codina, beatable only from the spot, for the entire second half, we might have won. As it stands a point in Galicia is nothing to be sniffed at. Nonetheless a lack of composure in front of goal remains a small source of concern: Arizmendi's wonder-strike, and Manu's hitting the bar from 30 yards notwithstanding, we passed up several opportunities (as did Depor.)
Video:
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Europa League: Getafe 2-1 OB
0-1 Arizmendi (og) 43'
1-1 Arizmendi 50'
2-1 Pedro Ríos 80'
This was the right result: 2-1 to the hosts. Jaime Gavilán went off with what looked to be a pulled muscle after just five minutes in what was a bad omen. The Danes were infinitely better in the first half but were still somewhat fortunate to take the lead after Javier Arizmendi scored an OG while defending a drilled free-kick.
Getafe came out looking completely different for the second period: there was just one substitution - Javier Casquero on for Borja - but it looked like a whole new eleven. Arizmendi equalised with a simple header before Pedro Ríos scored an absolutely beautiful free-kick to give Geta the three points.
Sadly the crowd can't have been more than 3,000 or so. Fans were boycotting the game because the price for socios was 15-30 euros and for regular fans 50-80 (!) euros. 80 euros for a Europa League group stage match against a modest Danish club! No wonder presi Torres was getting booed before kick-off.
An encouraging result for Geta considering that it wasn't a full-strength line-up and this is very much a competition that's secondary to surviving in La Liga. I wouldn't say the knock-out stages are beyond us at all but I won't be especially bothered if we finish a close 3rd, either.
Oh - and Getafe are the only Spanish side to not only win but avoid defeat tonight. Sevilla, Atleti and Villarreal all lost. Incredibly Sevilla lost at home to PSG, Atleti lost away to an underrated Aris, and Villarreal contrived to concede at Dinamo Zagreb.
1-1 Arizmendi 50'
2-1 Pedro Ríos 80'
This was the right result: 2-1 to the hosts. Jaime Gavilán went off with what looked to be a pulled muscle after just five minutes in what was a bad omen. The Danes were infinitely better in the first half but were still somewhat fortunate to take the lead after Javier Arizmendi scored an OG while defending a drilled free-kick.
Getafe came out looking completely different for the second period: there was just one substitution - Javier Casquero on for Borja - but it looked like a whole new eleven. Arizmendi equalised with a simple header before Pedro Ríos scored an absolutely beautiful free-kick to give Geta the three points.
Sadly the crowd can't have been more than 3,000 or so. Fans were boycotting the game because the price for socios was 15-30 euros and for regular fans 50-80 (!) euros. 80 euros for a Europa League group stage match against a modest Danish club! No wonder presi Torres was getting booed before kick-off.
An encouraging result for Geta considering that it wasn't a full-strength line-up and this is very much a competition that's secondary to surviving in La Liga. I wouldn't say the knock-out stages are beyond us at all but I won't be especially bothered if we finish a close 3rd, either.
Oh - and Getafe are the only Spanish side to not only win but avoid defeat tonight. Sevilla, Atleti and Villarreal all lost. Incredibly Sevilla lost at home to PSG, Atleti lost away to an underrated Aris, and Villarreal contrived to concede at Dinamo Zagreb.
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Jornada 2: Getafe 4-1 Levante
1-0 Gavilán 5'
2-0 Colunga 10'
2-1 Rafa Jordá 13'
3-1 Gavilán 90'
4-3 Arizmendi 90+1'
A convincing win for el Geta in a match that saw the visitors rarely threaten.
2-0 Colunga 10'
2-1 Rafa Jordá 13'
3-1 Gavilán 90'
4-3 Arizmendi 90+1'
A convincing win for el Geta in a match that saw the visitors rarely threaten.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Preview - Jornada 2: Getafe-Levante
After last week's disappointing season opener, El Geta have a great chance to get back on track as they meet newly-promoted Levante at home.
The Valencians lost 4-1 at home to Sevilla in their own Liga debut this season, with Getafe losing 3-1 against Espanyol in Barcelona.
Ibrahim Kas and Mario are out of the defence, while Juan Angel Albin and Pedro Rios will sit out in midfield. Pablo Pintos, newly-arrived from Lazio, is also absent. Of these Mario and - bizarrely - Pedro Rios have been left out by the coach despite not being injured.
Levante have never beaten Getafe at home in the Primera.
The Valencians lost 4-1 at home to Sevilla in their own Liga debut this season, with Getafe losing 3-1 against Espanyol in Barcelona.
Ibrahim Kas and Mario are out of the defence, while Juan Angel Albin and Pedro Rios will sit out in midfield. Pablo Pintos, newly-arrived from Lazio, is also absent. Of these Mario and - bizarrely - Pedro Rios have been left out by the coach despite not being injured.
Levante have never beaten Getafe at home in the Primera.
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Jornada 1: Espanyol 3-1 Getafe
1-0 Osvaldo 33'
2-0 Osvaldo 54'
2-1 Galán (og) 61'
3-1 Datolo 90+4'
A disappointing, but unsurprising opening to the season.
2-0 Osvaldo 54'
2-1 Galán (og) 61'
3-1 Datolo 90+4'
A disappointing, but unsurprising opening to the season.
Monday, 19 July 2010
I've been away
Yeah, South Africa and so forth.
Anyway:
Europa League qualifiers. Michel says we will take these games as importantly as is deserved, i.e. not very. Even the Copa del Rey is more important to him.
The Liga is by far the biggest challenge. We had a brilliant position this year; next season will be worse, and may well be a battle for survival.
That's because Soldado's away to Valencia, and Pedro Leon has signed for Real Madrid.
In have come Javier "Bloody" Arizmendi from Zaragoza, Borja of Valladolid, Ivan Marcano of Villarreal on loan, and Madrid reserve Pedro Mosquera. Ibrahim Kas and Franck Signorino are back from loan but Signorino in particular won't be here for long, I reckon.
Also heading out are David Cortes and David Belenguer on free transfers, Joffre Guerron for a nominal fee to Atletico Paranaense, and Fabio Celstini back to Lausanne.
Anyway:
Europa League qualifiers. Michel says we will take these games as importantly as is deserved, i.e. not very. Even the Copa del Rey is more important to him.
The Liga is by far the biggest challenge. We had a brilliant position this year; next season will be worse, and may well be a battle for survival.
That's because Soldado's away to Valencia, and Pedro Leon has signed for Real Madrid.
In have come Javier "Bloody" Arizmendi from Zaragoza, Borja of Valladolid, Ivan Marcano of Villarreal on loan, and Madrid reserve Pedro Mosquera. Ibrahim Kas and Franck Signorino are back from loan but Signorino in particular won't be here for long, I reckon.
Also heading out are David Cortes and David Belenguer on free transfers, Joffre Guerron for a nominal fee to Atletico Paranaense, and Fabio Celstini back to Lausanne.
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Yeah, yeah...
Every time I say I'm going to start updating again, I then forget.
Anyway, I just watched Getafe 3-0 Mallorca, and while the stream was of poor quality, the style of our play more than made up for it. The Barralets were left looking more like relegation candidates than Champions League contenders, and we, on the other hand, looked fully deserving of our top half place. It also brings to an end our poor run of results. Onwards and upwards from here! Next up, Athletic at San Mames next week and then a midweek game with Real Madrid right afterwards. That one's at the Coliseum...
Video to follow.
Anyway, I just watched Getafe 3-0 Mallorca, and while the stream was of poor quality, the style of our play more than made up for it. The Barralets were left looking more like relegation candidates than Champions League contenders, and we, on the other hand, looked fully deserving of our top half place. It also brings to an end our poor run of results. Onwards and upwards from here! Next up, Athletic at San Mames next week and then a midweek game with Real Madrid right afterwards. That one's at the Coliseum...
Video to follow.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Getafe 1-0 Valladolid
A late Casquerazo* did the trick here.
Next up: a trip to struggling Malaga in the Copa del Rey.
*admittedly it did take a slight deflection:
Next up: a trip to struggling Malaga in the Copa del Rey.
*admittedly it did take a slight deflection:
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Gosh
I apologise for the lack of updates of late. I have no excuse.
Either way, we're eighth in the league table, having finally won two in a row.
Next stop: home game with Valladolid this afternoon. I remember they beat us 3-0 at home quite recently. This time, though, Pedro Leon's on our side!
Either way, we're eighth in the league table, having finally won two in a row.
Next stop: home game with Valladolid this afternoon. I remember they beat us 3-0 at home quite recently. This time, though, Pedro Leon's on our side!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)