Each professional futbol federation in Europe has their own way of operating. From the number of teams in the first division to promotion/relegation/Champions League/UEFA Cup playoff scenarios (don't even have me try to explain the Dutch one. It'll take hours). Countries like Scotland have a league specifically for youth or reserve sides. Italy features regular weekday matches between reserve sides. And then there's Spain which has a quirky setup where reserve teams, commonly known as 'B' or 'C' teams, play against other clubs vying for promotion to the next level. In the case of a reserve team in El Infierno, it makes for the odd situation where promotion can never be attained since the parent side is already in the first division. However this might change soon and the case of this year's Sevilla Atletico presents a good argument.
Simply put, Sevilla Atletico never had a chance this year and were officially relegated after last weekend's defeat versus 'lider' Xerez. They were a sacrificial lamb all season long which has resulted in just one solitary win in 34 weeks so far this season. All the other teams in El Infierno could look at the 'temporada' and at least count on six points in the two matches they were to play against Sevilla Atletico, which is Sevilla FC's youth/reserve team. The low point for the squad came a couple weeks ago when first division aspirant Hercules thumped them 8-0. Talk about a world-class thrashing...
Sevilla Atletico is in the unfair position of being a feeder team that is competing against teams who are aiming for promotion to the first division or trying to stay alive in the second division. There's a conflict there. The other 19 teams are looking to win every week, Sevilla Atletico's goal is to develop players into first division quality. The first emphasis is not on winning, but rather individual development... and that's not fair to players and fans. Why should a player even care about winning when promotion is impossible? Instead, the attitude turns to, 'Let's see how well I can play individually today and maybe get noticed by a first division team.'
So what is the remedy? A 'Liga de Filiales', or rather, a "Reserve League' where clubs like Real Madrid, Sevilla, Barcelona can have their 'B' teams compete against each other in one league and have their 'C' players compete against each other in another league. And with so many clubs having so many reserve teams, you could have a Liga de Filiales B-1, B-2 where promotion and relegation is at stake.
It's time for the Spanish Futbol Federation to start looking at this option so we can stop putting up with conflicting interests in games with high stakes like last weekend's Xerez-Sevilla Atletico tilt.
Other news from El Infierno... I failed to mention last week that Jozy Altidore had toenail surgery and is out for four weeks. I have to doubt that he'll return this season.
Massive game this weekend at La Romareda between Zaragoza and Tenerife who are in the 3rd and 2nd spots respectively. A victory would most assuredly secure Tenerife's spot in La Primera Division next year.
Big thumbs up to the players at Alicante who pulled off the huge upset defeating Rayo Vallecano last week and dropping them out of the promotion place. The Comunidad de Valencia side is still 9 points from safety but has had a terrific second half of the season. It's a shame their 'ida' went so poorly or else they would be spending another year in El Infierno. As it looks now, they'll be relegated to the Segunda B but I can't help but think we'll see them in this blog again during the 2010-2011 Liga Adelante season.
Jornada 34 - Resultados
Albacete - Cordoba 1-1
Celta - Levante 2-2
Salamanca - Elche 1-1
Tenerife - Las Palmas 1-1
Eibar - Zaragoza 2-3
Huesca - Real Sociedad 1-2
Castellón - Hercules 0-0
Gimnástic - Murcia 3-0
Xerez - Sevilla At. 2-0
Girona - Alaves 0-1
Alicante - Rayo 2-0
Clasificacion
1. Xerez - 66
2. Tenerife - 65
3. Zaragoza - 61
4. Hércules - 60
5. Rayo - 59
6. Salamanca - 53
7. R. Sociedad - 53
8. Levante - 50
9. Castellón - 47
10. Gimnástic - 46
11. Elche - 46
12. Huesca - 44
13. Girona - 42
14. Albacete - 41
15. Las Palmas - 40
16. Córdoba - 40
17. Celta - 40
18. Murcia - 40
19. Alavés - 35
20. Alicante - 31
21. Eibar - 29
22. Sevilla At - 13
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