Last time I wrote, we were playing Deportivo at home, and I among many others was pretty confident that this game would be the decisive one and finally put to rest or relegation troubles. Confidence was so high that the supporters spoke little of the game and instead worried about how we toreceive Real Madrid if they arrive to Pamplona next week as champions. It was a simple debate really, wheher the fans should throw lighters or more bizarrely an oilcan like they did two years ago. We really,really, dont like them. Anyhow we were playing at home, spirits were high from the previous week victory against Espanyol, against a team who had little to play for, the scene was set for celebration really. But nope, that’s not how Osasuna like to do business this year. For the third consecutive match at home Osasuna had everything going for them, including the best opportunities and more possession but once again the opposite team came, saw, conquered and left Pamplona with 3 points and a guilty face knowing well they did not deserve all three points. And now Osasuna remain in limbo and its not looking well for the Navarros. It was Groundhog Day for Osasuna as the games were identical to the last three home defeats including the dubious referee decisions. Which has lead to wild comments from some of our players and staff, Ziganda for example has stated that he does not even want to begin thinking that there is a black hand behind the scenes while our club captain Cruchaga said with a straight face is that if it wasn’t for the referee mistakes Osasuna would be well saved and fighting for a Uefa spot, yea right and if my aunt was a man she’d be my uncle.

The truth of the matter is that the referees have not done Osasuna any favours, and there could well be a small conspiracy towards us as there are a lot of clubs who would like to see this club go down. That said, it does not fully explain why in the last three games at home we have failed to capitalise on the possession and chances against mediocre sides and why Zigandas team selection and tactics have been rubbish.

The weekend was further dampened by Zaragozas victory over Recreativo. If Recreativo had of won that game, they would of send Zaragoza straight to the second division to the delight of the Pamplonicas, Valencianos, Pucelanos and there opponents but Zaragoza playing for there life outplayed Recreativo and beat them 3-0 at home and have thus prolonged the relegation scrap.

The table now looks like this

14 Osasuna 33 11 7 15 33 35 40
15 Valencia 33 11 6 16 36 54 39
16 Valladolid 33 10 9 14 39 53 39
17 Zaragoza 33 9 10 14 44 54 37
18 Recreativo 33 9 10 14 35 54 37
19 Murcia 33 7 8 18 29 53 29
20 Levante 33 7 4 22 29 61 25

This weekend Osasuna travel to Valencia in a crucial game. Valencia fresh from there Copa del rey victory but even fresher from there sacking of Koeman and their thrashing by Bilbao last week (5-1), need a victory more than anything but hopefully their off the field distractions and the fact that they have only won 4 times this year in the league making them by far the worst form team in la liga will hopefully work in our favour. A draw would not be the worst result, considering.

Recreativo play relegated Levante who are threatening strike as the players are not getting paid, we want to play, but we need a solution to call off the strike”, said Luis Rubiales, the club Capitan.

Zaragoza play “we have not scored a goal in 5 games” Espanyol while Valladolid entertain Almeria.
This season could not finish quickly enough!
AUPA OSASUNA!!!

And I stick to my previous argument when I said that the reason was not the competitiveness of the league but on the contrary the poorness of it. And if an average Real Madrid side win it, it is only because Barcelona could not be bother playing catch up. The same can be said about who goes to Europe or who gets relegated, Its thanks to the ineptitude and inconsistency of the rest of the teams that are placing this teams in a European spot or saved from relegation.

Nevertheless Osasuna came to Barcelona with the knowledge that they were in deep trouble and they needed to show some ‘cojones’ after last weeks defeat. And that they did, they wanted it more than there opponents, they played the better football and they return to Pamplona with 3 golden points. A simple goal by ‘el pulpo’ Astudillo (the squid, now there’s a nickname) was enough to win the game thanks to bad goalkeeping by Kameni. It could of been two or three if it wasn’t for the post, as the Chezch Placil and Juanfran both hit the woodwork. Espanyol did not come up with much and was easy to see how this team has not won or scored in four consecutive matches.

With this victory Osasuna are now with 40 points and one foot in safety land, the other foot is hanging over a cliff where the likes of horn wearing Zaragoza are jumping and with there devilish paws trying to pull us down with them.

Zaragoza re joined in the hole with Murcia and Levante. Levante are pretty much gone but they continue to give themselves the tiniest bit of hope, this time by beating Betis away from home, but Its far too little far too late. Murcia are in the same boat and not even Clements mouth will save them from the drop zone.
Zaragoza have a final to play on saturday at home against Recreativo which will determine the fate of one of this two teams. Is adios to Zaragoza if they loose. No pressure then maños.

Valencia in 15th place are also under pressure and have a tough game away against Athletic. Its a most win game for the Ches.

Osasuna with six point advantage over relegation zone have also a greater goal difference and are playing a nothing to play for Deportivo at home this weekend, so its in our hands.
AUPA OSASUNA!!! SAVED BY NEXT MONDAY the same cant be said about Zaragoza or Valencia!!!

Carlos VEla has hinted he is happy to stay another year with Osasuna (well of course he is, we are simply the best). The on loan Arsenal star has been quality for us this year and hopefully remains with us for another one. Stay Carlitos we love you!!!. Patxi Izco Osasunas president was in London last weekend negotiating Vela possible extension and further negotiations of a possible collaboration with the English club.

And finally commiserations to Getafe for there great effort against Bayern munich. They did themselves proud. And for those who saw the match they will understand when I write Luca Tony you dick. But hopefully Getafe can bounce back and beat Zaragoza this weekend and push them further down. A SEGUNDA OE A SEGUNDA OE.
AUPA OSASUNA

Barcelona
Josep carrera (tenor)
alex corretja
arantxa sanchez vicario (tennis players)
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (prime minister of spain)

Since Zapatero is from Valladolid, his choice is not, as it has been with previous prime ministers, a matter of constitutional preference. He chose Barca because he liked what he saw.
Jordi Puyol (politician)
Drew carey(actor)

kobe Bryant (US basketball star)
He has said that if he had stayed in Italy, he would have tried to become a professional soccer player, and that his favorite team is FC Barcelona. Bryant is a big fan of FC Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard and their star player Ronaldinho.

Real Madrid
Aznar and Rajoy (Politicians) ewwwww.
Antonio Banderas (Actor)
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Julio Iglesias (Singer)
for a short period goalkeeper for the Real Madrid soccer team. In 1963, his career as a football athlete was cut short after a car accident.

Rafael Nadal (Tennis Star)
Nicholas Cage……..?? apparently. Calderon you Twat.

Atletico Madrid
Joaquin Sabina (Singer)
Manuel Calvo (Boxer)
Fernando Torres

Mallorca
Carlos Moya (tennis star)

Espanol
Guillem Balague - (Sky Sports Spanish football pundit)

Deportivo La coruna
MANU CHAO ( SO JEALOUS + he also supports athletic Bilbao)

Sevilla
Isabel Pantoja (singer and dog)
Eva gonzales (model, Casillas wife and babe)

Osasuna

Miguel Indurain (cyclist best known for having won the Tour de France from 1991 to 1995 and pretty much a legend)

Once again the three points have escaped Pamplona. Once again, the opponents did nothing to deserve the 3 points, one shot one goal. Once again it was a Liverpool reject, cinema pongolle, who nailed the coffin. Once again the referee as well as his marry men linesmen should have gone to specsavers. And more importantly once again we were simply not good enough and thus are now involved in a relegation battle set to continue until the last day of the season.

And it all could have been so much different. The scene was set for Osasuna’s victory. The tickets were reduced to €10 to successfully fill up the stadium. The match was on a saturday night. The opponents were in the relegation zone and with a home victory Osasuna could distance themselves from recreativo by 7 points. But Osasuna forgot one major detail to start of the celebrations, that’s right, Osasuna forgot to win. Thats the last time Ziganda organises my party, I tell you.

I could easily sit here and support Ziganda in his statement that we suffer from bad luck, or even agree with some of the fans in thinking that week after week the referees rob us from a penal or a goal. Osasuna did play ok and probably deserved something from the game, at least a point. Flanos goal early in the first half was incorrectly disallowed and would have certainly changed the game. Furthermore Osasuna managed to hit the post in a couple of occasions and Recres keeper Sorrentino had a fantastic game. Add the fact that Recreativo had one decent chance in the whole game compared to osasuna eight. Then the fact that the referee was completely inept and we start to see what ziganda and co are talking about.

But as they say in football, you create your own luck. And the fact is that Osasuna have not been able to kill off the game at home for two weeks running against near rivals which has allow for them to find some hope and for us to loose faith.

Questions must also be asked about “cuco” Ziganda. A great part of the crowd are calling for his head but for now I will sit on the fence and see how the season pans out. Nevertheless is easy to see that this man is Navarran as his stubbornness matches no other. He continues to play with a lone striker. Which I find baffling as scoring goals is Osasunas major downfall this year. As for his player selections, a sex scandal involving Portillo, Vianna and Pandiani and Zigandas wife, is the only explanation for ziganda continuous choice to totally overlook these good players.

So here we are, the dreaded guide to the relegation battle.
This week results concerning the lower table are:

Levante-Valladolid 0-3
Zaragoza-Betis 0-3
Racing-Deportivo 1-3
Murcia-Valencia 1-0
Osasuna-Recreativo 0-1
Barcelona-Getafe 0-0

We are please to welcome Valencia to the mix. The more the merrier. Assuming that Betis Getafe and Mallorca are more or less save. And that levante are already planning trips to Vitoria and Albacete. The real fight is between Deportivo (more or less saved), Valencia ( They surely cant go down, can they?), Valladolid (lifeline, over the weekend with 0-3 against levante), Osasuna (dear oh dear), Recreativo (resurrected again thanks to us), Zaragoza ( surely to good to go down and have enough quality to save themselves, but are they leaving it too late?) Murcia (one foot in the second division) and levante (F*cked).

which leaves the table like this.
11. Betis 31 11 8 12 39 43 41
12. Getafe 31 11 7 13 37 39 40
13. Deportivo 31 11 7 13 39 43 40
14. Valencia 31 11 6 14 34 47 39
15. Valladolid 31 10 8 13 38 50 38
16. Osasuna 31 10 7 14 32 34 37
17. Recreativo 31 9 9 13 33 49 36
18. Zaragoza 31 8 9 14 41 54 33
19. Murcia 31 7 8 16 28 48 29
20. Levante 31 5 4 22 25 60 19

Next week, espanyol who have lost and not scored in three consecutive games.
AUPA Osasuna!!!!

Hopefully this season is just a blip for the wonderful Liga, and hopefully Osasuna reach salvation fast so we can start building for next years. As Osasuna are the largest suppliers to the Spanish under 21 squad called up for a friendly (Monreal, kike Sola, and Javi Garcia) which promises a good young talented squad for next year as long as the big clubs keep there grubby hands of them.

And settling is exactly what Osasuna are beginning to do in la Liga. Osasuna faced Valladolid this past Sunday in what was a cliché “six pointer” as both teams are doing there best not to flirt with relegation near the bottom of the table. Osasuna claiming this game as one of there remaining four finals that will decide weather Osasuna stays up to fight another day (the other three are, bottle throwing Betis, Getafe and Recreativo).

So Los Rojillos travelled to the Jose Zorrila stadium with around 500 Pamplonicas (pretty decent for an away game in Spain) and hoping for a good result. What resulted was a horrible nil all draw with Valladolid having the better of the first half and probably game but Osasuna being the closest to score with the ever improving Kike Sola. This result helped neither of both sides really but considering it was an away game and Osasuna have been as bad as Chinas treatment of Tibet away from home a point is not at all bad. It allows us some breathing space and allows us to continue this run of good results stability (11 points out of a possible 18 so far).

And although Osasuna lie a mistrusting 12th in the league they are still only two points away from the dreaded zone. Valladolid are now deeply in trouble, saving themselves only by goal difference.

But on the other hand we are only 9 points away from a UEFA cup spot …or have I had one too many pints of Guinness?

Happy St.Patrick’s Day everybody and Aupa Osasuna!

AND HERES SOMETHING TACKY….