A must win again if we want to keep up with the European places...

Are Sporting expected to bring a lot of fans?

 

I will tell you tomorrow, I'm going to San Mamés. I guess so, Sporting normally has a good set of fans travelling, just hope the Ultra Boys don't appear around. It's been lots of years since they are afraid of coming to San Mamés, but they do travel to other basque stadiums, in fact they literally destroyed Ipurua around 2-3 years ago, the last season Sporting was in Segunda.

It will be a tough match, tougher than we think. Sporting was shit (preciado was very close to being sacked) but he has changed the system and they have improved lately, including wins against Atlético and Mallorca (0-4) in their last games. In a way the tactical change has had a similar effect as Lotina's in Depor, and we know what happened to us vs Depor so we must play at 100%. Javi will be missed so Gurpe and Orbaiz must play specially well tomorrow.

Next two games are quite important (Sporting and Mallorca) as we then start the bit tougher route against Barcelona, Valencia, Villarreal, Sevilla and the likes. In addition, Atlético visits Camp Nou this weekend, so in normal conditions we could increase our gap to 8 points.

 

I will tell you tomorrow, I'm going to San Mamés. I guess so, Sporting normally has a good set of fans travelling, just hope the Ultra Boys don't appear around. It's been lots of years since they are afraid of coming to San Mamés, but they do travel to other basque stadiums, in fact they literally destroyed Ipurua around 2-3 years ago, the last season Sporting was in Segunda.

Good!

Hopefully you bring luck to the team!

I think I remember when I was in Spain, think at the Málaga game, I later saw a summary of Racing Santander-Sporting on TV and there were a lot of fans from Gijon, about 2500?
Of course that's close but if they bring such a lot to Santander I surely expect them to bring a lot to San Mamés too.

Have there happened bad things with Sporting fans in San Mamés in the past?

 

In San Mamés no, since as I told you the Ultra boys haven't come lately. In Gijón yes, in fact the police and the ultra boys joined forces in the 90s to "haunt" athletic supporters.

Said this, Sporting moves a lot of people and leaving this group aside they are all nice people, so I expect a good atmosphere in San mamés. And outside, because knowing the tickets situation in san mamés (you perfectly know it), many of those sporting supporters will probably have to watch the game on a tv outside the stadium.

 

Said this, Sporting moves a lot of people and leaving this group aside they are all nice people, so I expect a good atmosphere in San mamés. And outside, because knowing the tickets situation in san mamés (you perfectly know it), many of those sporting supporters will probably have to watch the game on a tv outside the stadium.

You've got your ticket?

However, Athletic has to send a certain amount of tickets to Gijon I reckon?

And what are their Ultras about?

Just look at the picture when they faced us... says enough I think.

http://www.ultraboys.info/20100918bilbao/bilbao02.jpg

Have to say they were with an impressive amount of fans in A Coruña btw...
http://www.ultraboys.info/20101218depor_v/depor01.jpg

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Actually before this season visiting Sporting-Athletic was one of my goals but because of the Utrecht European Tour unexpectedly continued after Celtic, the game came too early.

 

Hmm, I thought Amorebieta was recovered, but I guess he isn't. I guess that means Ekiza starts again. Good, in a way, the more minutes he gets the more he can develop. Although I wouldn't mind Amorebietas toughness for this game.

What political persuation do the Gijon fans have? The clubs crest has the royal crown, but maybe that doesn't say that much. According to Wikipedia: "Sportinguistas are widely regarded as one of the most loyal, traveler and cheerful supporter groups in La Liga,[7][8][9] providing one of the best atmospheres in the competition." And what are their Ultras about?

It will be a tough and important game. Let's hope we don't mess up.

 

Hmm, I thought Amorebieta was recovered, but I guess he isn't. I guess that means Ekiza starts again. Good, in a way, the more minutes he gets the more he can develop. Although I wouldn't mind Amorebietas toughness for this game.

According to Caparrós Amorebieta is recovered, he has left him out for 'technical decission'. I guess that he just wants to wait one more week just in case, because even if he wants to keep on playing SanJosé-Ekiza he could have called up Fernando to be in the bench instead of Ustaritz.

 

Is 'Teixeira Vitienes, JA' a different referee from the 'Teixeira Vitienes' we had last week in Madrid?

 

They're brothers.

 

Aupa Urko, UV33! Like a suntan lotion

 

Should be an interesting one, both teams have won their last three matches!

 

According to the official homepage this will be our line-up:
Iraizoz;
Iraola, San José, Ekiza, Koikili;
David López, Orbaiz, Gurpegi, Muniain;
Toquero y Llorente.

On the bench:Raúl, Ustaritz, Iturraspe, De Marcos, Gabilondo, Susaeta and Urko Vera.

Mo surprises, then. Unless Capparos is outing a false line-up agian, just to confuse the opposition. But I don't think so. Sportings strong side is theor left, where Castro has been playin greally good lately. Better to have David López then Susaeta to counter that.

 

Sporting start with:

Cuéllar;
Lora, Gregory, Iván Hernández, Canella;
Rivera, Nacho Cases, Eguren;
De las Cuevas, Barral, Diego Castro

Probably more of a 4-5-1, though, and 4-3-3 when they counter-attack.

Hope you have a good evening in the stands, Iribar!

 

anbody got a decent streaming?

 

http://veetle.com/index.php/channel/view#4ca4f36e7dd9a but ya need veetle software :]

 

Thanks a lot! seems all the websites are blocked

 

gregory sent off for sporting, gives up a penalty and David Lopez converts!

 

Great penalty! It was stupid to give it away though. Llorente wasn't going to get the ball and he was lucky not to give another away just before that. Come on!

 

Bad start from the ref, first he misses a fair goal for athletic and then misses a clear penalty for before he shows the red card for Gregory. All in 15 minutes...

 

what a brilliant counter! Toquero wins a free kick in a dangerous position

 

IKER Y TOQUERO!!!! LLORENTE WHO? GAIZKA IS ****ING AWESOME!!!!!!!

 

Toquero is like a new man after his goals against Atletico. All of his play in the first 30 mins has been top class. Keep it up!

 

Muniain is on fire tonight!

 

Gaizka has been overshadowing Llorente since the Athletico game, which is good because now we have a new source of goals when Llorente isn't in top form


And of course muniain is just tearing them up

 

I actually thought Gurpegis first goal was correctly disallowed. He was offside, It seemed. But it turned the crowd crazy, which got to Sporting and the ref. Great job so far from "number 12".

The penalty was clear, but maybe should have been awarded earlier when Gurpegi was pulled to the ground.

The sending off, hmm... The first yellow was ridiculus. Gregory handballed, but unintentionaly and his hand close to his body. (Same as the booking of San José later on).

Great penatly, though, from David lópez. And the first one to congrat him was Llorente! All seems good.

Beautiful second from Toquero. Great set-up by Muniain. And Sporting are now going to damage control when a centre back enters ofr de las Cuevas.

 

He isnt offside when Toquero shoots and judging by where the free kick is placed the ref says its Toquero that is offside?

 

great play on the right side and Llorente hits the post with his header

 

I like this reff, although he was a bit shaky early on

 

some really nice passing right now

 

Hope Gorka is alright, looked like Barral stepped on his hand when they collided. Barral = dirty diver, BTW.

Also, Espanyol are down 3-1!