Real Betis' relegation from La Liga last season was an absolute shambles, finishing a massive 15 points from safety in the end. Down long before the season's climax, the club are now making waves in La Segunda and look to be heading back to the big time. To bounce straight back up to La Liga is uncommon, although Deportivo did manage the feat last season as runners-up to Eibar. Yet looking further down this season's table, we see many ex-Primera Liga sides squandering such as Mallorca, Racing Santander and Osasuna in 17th, 18th and 19th respectively. Having suffered a 14 match winless streak … [Read more...]
Sociedad to dispense with Arrasate
Real Sociedad will sack manager Jagoba Arrasate this week after the side continued their awful start to the new season. Former Mainz boss Thomas Tuchel is the favourite to take over at the Anoeta, with ex-West Brom and Real Betis manager Pepe Mel also in contention. The news comes following Sociedad's weekend draw with Cordoba as La Real conceded a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with the newly promoted side. With that result, Sociedad extended their winless run to seven games and dropped down to 17th place, yet to win since their 4-2 victory over Real Madrid. Arrasate, who took on the role of … [Read more...]
Breaking Transfer News – West Bromwich Albion Sign Thievy
It has been a remarkably quiet transfer deadline day in La Liga. The deadline has just passed but news is coming through that West Bromwich Albion have signed Thievy from Espanyol. Thievy Bifouma is a 21 year old French forward who has spent his career at the Barcelona club and at Las Palmas. He hasn't set the world alight yet, scoring 15 goals in 70 games over three years. He is known, if anything, more for his fluctuating hairstyles than his goalscoring prowess. Pepe Mel, however, was impressed by him whilst he was manager of Real Betis. He has taken the young striker on loan until the end … [Read more...]
Pepe Mel Takes Charge At West Bromwich Albion
Former Real Betis manager Pepe Mel has today become the new head coach of Premier League strugglers West Bromwich Albion. Steve Clarke had performed wonders with Albion on a limited budget before being sacked on December 14th following a barren start to the season. This is remarkably similar to Mel's record who was himself sacked by Betis in December after eight games without a win despite performing miracles to win them promotion and then gaining them Europa League football. Mel was tipped for the job from the very start but in a strange twist WBA had announced in late December that they … [Read more...]
Mel no longer a contender for Baggies job
Former Real Betis boss Pepe Mel has ended negotiations with West Brom concerning their vacant managerial position after a reported disagreement over backroom staff. Mel, who guided Betis to promotion in his first season and European qualification in his second, was looking the most likely candidate to succeed Steve Clarke but negotiations have broken down and Mel has returned to Spain. … [Read more...]
Derby defeat for Betis may push Mel closer to the edge
"I don't know if my players are good or if my players are bad, all I know is that they are my players and I have to pick them up” said a dejected Pepe Mel after he had watched his Real Betis side dismantled against Sevilla. He had just had to watch Sevilla's indulge in the 4-0 thrashing with their fans who chanted "Let Pepe Mel jump” around the Sanchez Pijuan and the 2.1 mile journey back to the Villamarin would have felt like the longest of journeys as, in another fact Sevilla's faithful were quick to point out, Betis were heading to the Segunda. … [Read more...]
Betis Season Preview
Returning to La Liga following promotion in 2010/11, Betis' season of consolidation was about as much as could have been asked of them. A whirlwind start of five wins from their first five games triggered fans to dream and took them to the summit of the league, but inevitably it wasn't to last. A run of six straight defeats then followed until their results became more sporadic and Betis hovered above the relegation zone for a while. Avoiding the drop back down to the Segunda straight away was the first objective outlined at the start of the season and it was duly achieved as the Andalucian … [Read more...]