The Remarkable Rise of Girona FC

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 พ.ย. 2023
  • Catalan minnows Girona FC are top of La Liga a third of the way through the season, above Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid.
    That's despite the fact that Girona - who are part-owned by Manchester City owners the City Football Group - were among the favourites to be relegated before the season began.
    In this documentary, HITC Sevens takes a closer look at Girona's rise from the fifth tier to La Liga title challengers, their controversial ownership situation, and whether this is a fairytale story like Leicester City or a sign of the moral decay of modern football.
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ความคิดเห็น • 502

  • @DavidLimofLimReport
    @DavidLimofLimReport 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +508

    2023. What a year.
    Girona, Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart leading their respective leagues. Lyon and Ajax fighting relegation. Crazy times.

    • @T.E.S.S.
      @T.E.S.S. 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +34

      stuttgart are 3rd

    • @worldwide6626
      @worldwide6626 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +19

      Hopefully Spurs/Arsenal and Nice can comeback to the top.

    • @franze4
      @franze4 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +14

      ajax isn’t gonna fight relegation for the rest of the season, the rest of the eredivisie is too shit

    • @AndrewSmith-fj8jj
      @AndrewSmith-fj8jj 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      Ajax aren't fighting relegation out the bottom 3 now

    • @ezraezra2928
      @ezraezra2928 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +14

      Ajax will surely out of the relegation. Lyon had just won their first league game right now, which is quite nervy.
      It might be hillarious if both Champions League and Euro winners were the dark horses, which brings the 2004 memories back in 2024.

  • @willcraig937
    @willcraig937 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +82

    "Football is messy, murky and morally dubious, but it is also brilliant", classic Alfie!

  • @Jozua86
    @Jozua86 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +97

    I saw their performances, but havent seen them play yet. But i think Blind is a very underrated player. I truly think he is one of the best left footed defenders in the world when it comes to passing and positioning. He's always been a first team choice for the national team under every coach but people still doubt him.

    • @albossman8854
      @albossman8854 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I agree, I'm a Man Utd fan and still disappointed we sold him consistent when he plays and like you said his passing and positioning. I think the only reason we sold him was his speed plus his age but who knows. Always rated him, so glad he still doing well.

    • @johnhendriks6340
      @johnhendriks6340 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      Blind´s problem is, he is extremely slow.

    • @JimTheFly
      @JimTheFly 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@albossman8854When I saw Blind at Man Utd, he looked slow and outclassed. It felt like every time I saw a team beat United's defense, it was often Blind that was the reason. But since he left there, he's seemed more like a stalwart just about everywhere else he's been. I think it might be a case of a few negative instances coloring the larger positive body of work because he's just shown himself to be that good everywhere and everytime else.

    • @Hyde_Hill
      @Hyde_Hill 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Yeah as long as you can compensate for his lack of speed. Also he is out of the National Squad starting 11 because of that now.

    • @BigPurp9
      @BigPurp9 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      As a United fan one thing I loved about him was despite how slow he was he was intelligent enough to compensate for it 9/10.

  • @collapsiblechair9112
    @collapsiblechair9112 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +16

    when business is the focus of football this is when it dies a little death for me. great journalism but these videos can be depressing but being informed is well worth it

    • @PhilB88
      @PhilB88 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

      Football has been about business since the mid 1970s when Coventry City were the first club to have a sponsor on their shirt. Whether we like it or not, football is no longer a game, it's a business and has been for a very long time.
      I completely get the sentiment of the comment, but as football fans, we need to accept that it is a business. Look at how many clubs no longer have FC or AFC on their badge. The term football club isn't marketable but the team name is

    • @Igor19485
      @Igor19485 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Football has been a business for decades now, wake up. Accept it or watch fifth tier competitions where business doesn't make a huge impact.

    • @collapsiblechair9112
      @collapsiblechair9112 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@Igor19485 yes. but it doesn't mean i have to like it. watching top level football doesn't have to be just about money only, for every newcastle or man city there's a brighton and brentford teams who aren't owned by countries who use football to sport wash like city or newcastle, or bled dry like the glasers are doing at united. i'd rather not 'wake up'

  • @ElkjaerTV
    @ElkjaerTV 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +134

    I do feel their ownership will take away some of the respect from their achievements. Similar to if RB Leipzig does become the first East German team to win the Bundesliga. Because of Red Bull it just wont feel the same as if Union Berlin were to do it eventually. Or how Heidenheims rise through the leagues in Germany was more impressive than RB Leipzig even though they started in the same place to my knowledge.
    But for a club this size qualifying for Europe is impressive regardless of ownership if they end up doing it.

    • @TheOriginalJersey
      @TheOriginalJersey 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      from my knowledge and what I once read was that Girona wouldn't be able to play in Europe if Man City are in it since they are both owned by CFG.
      Could be wrong though.

    • @ElkjaerTV
      @ElkjaerTV 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@TheOriginalJersey I think they can now. Like mention in the video they recently relaxed those rules in UEFA.

    • @timtamothy51
      @timtamothy51 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Bit different being owned by a nation state vs a private company

    • @Ananas-280
      @Ananas-280 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      ​@@ElkjaerTVnot only that, man city are their own entity, but the rest of clubs are city football group
      Its a family godfather business but legally not tied together

    • @12thMandalorian
      @12thMandalorian 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Football is a weird sport, people always want to knock achievement and not celebrate it

  • @BOABModels
    @BOABModels 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +43

    Girona is a beautiful city with some of their architecture being made famous around the world by psudo-medieval, gore porn, Game of Thrones.
    I bought a Girona FC keyring when i visited in 2019 - I may have thought twice had I realised they were part of the City machine, but I'm happy for their fans they are having a good season.

    • @Tohardtomakeachannel
      @Tohardtomakeachannel 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I fell in love with the city and team when I visited in 2021. Incredible place to visit.

    • @KevinJGamez
      @KevinJGamez 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      What’s the gore porn link?? Lmaoooo

  • @bababababababa6124
    @bababababababa6124 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +552

    I know it probably won’t happen but I’d really like for these guys to do a Leicester City
    Just to clarify for ppl in these replies, but I don’t actually like Girona at all, I just want to see a team win that isn’t named Real, Barcelona or Atletico 💀

    • @kristianfjelde7897
      @kristianfjelde7897 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +118

      I dont, considering who their owners are

    • @jeffreyjeffery4712
      @jeffreyjeffery4712 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +49

      @@kristianfjelde7897 There's nothing wrong with who their owners are. Rest.

    • @jonaslecktfuesse
      @jonaslecktfuesse 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      sportswashing 😍@@jeffreyjeffery4712

    • @MufaroAntony
      @MufaroAntony 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      They are still in the Championship and might struggle in the prem next year like Burnley

    • @jcm7910
      @jcm7910 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +18

      ​@@kristianfjelde7897if you like city's success then you can loke there's too 🤣 same owners

  • @sega_kid4288
    @sega_kid4288 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    I got lost in Spain and ended up in Girona back in ‘06, it’s a beautiful old city

    • @itsbestname
      @itsbestname 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Can you tell us more about it

  • @richyrich1913
    @richyrich1913 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +14

    The situation within City Football group's clubs seems very similar with the American MLB system of minor leagues for developing players, where every major league team owns a team in each minor league and sends players up and down within the structure.

    • @omariblake21
      @omariblake21 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Yes and I saw on a football fan pannel a coach from there speaking about city football group who said most cfg teams have exactly the same footballing philosophy and scouting networks which aims to render their clubs top for years to come. They even own football academies in areas with a lot of talents in brazil and argentina. 10 years time I think cfg will have more successul teams than anyone .

  • @wrestlingwithbroide955
    @wrestlingwithbroide955 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +15

    Could you do a video on what on earth is happening at Union Berlin

    • @ezraezra2928
      @ezraezra2928 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      And they had just fired Urs Fischer, who led the club to the historic top-flight football and 3 successive European campaigns.

  • @chrisclee6693
    @chrisclee6693 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +28

    It's funny to hear people say "it's not fair" and "what about the integrity of the game" having had Real and Barca dominate for literally decades.
    Girona have found a way to be competitive in a world where that is next to impossible. Bravo!

    • @mundolioknows6447
      @mundolioknows6447 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Real and Barca dominated because they've been better than the rest. They built their clubs by getting it right over a very long period of time (obviously Real have a dodgy history with Franco etc).
      Girona didn't "find a way". They were bought by a group of other clubs who use them in a mutually beneficial way. They didn't develop a team to compete themselves and that's why it's controversial.
      Let's see how they compete when Man City are kicked out of the premier league and the Arabs pull the plug.

  • @riptide.n
    @riptide.n 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    Great vid ! but can you also make one on Union Berlin's sudden collapse?

    • @ezraezra2928
      @ezraezra2928 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      To make things even more complicated, the club had parted the ways with Urs Fischer, who is, ironically, the former Basel coach. Basel are also in a turmoil after their worst start in the history of the top-flight football in Switzerland.

  • @funki4896
    @funki4896 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +106

    Girona didn't just play Real Madrid this season. In the first game they drawed Real Sociedad - a club that aims for 1/8 finals of Champions League and destroyed Benfica also Girona defeated Champions League club Sevilla, as well as Europa League club Villareal - in my opinion Girona had really hard teams to play against - only Barcelona and Athletico are missing. So I think it's pretty reasonable for Girona to aim for at least 44 points in this half season which would safe them from relegation and at least for some time reserve them a spot in the top 4.

    • @jcxkzhgco3050
      @jcxkzhgco3050 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +22

      “Champions league level club sevilla” are in the bottom half of La Liga table

    • @funki4896
      @funki4896 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@jcxkzhgco3050 for know but when they will definitely finnish in the top half

    • @jcxkzhgco3050
      @jcxkzhgco3050 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yeah but maybe like 7th at best, not quite ucl level

    • @ohhibob1006
      @ohhibob1006 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@funki4896yea but for now they’re terrible and anyone in the league can beat them

    • @MrGA555
      @MrGA555 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      Villarreal and Sevilla are struggling this year especially Sevilla who just recently have crawled out of the regulation zone. I never count the first few games as indicators, teams are still trying stuff out. Their real test was vs Madrid and they got destroyed

  • @Alfie_1
    @Alfie_1 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +35

    The most interesting thing is how closely tied Barcelona and Girona are, Eric Garcia and Pablo Torre foremost there. I know they are very close so it is the easiest loan choice, but still, it's interesting

    • @stephenlynch6389
      @stephenlynch6389 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Girona are owned by man city they have no relationship with barca
      Thats like saying crystal palace and man united have a relationship because they exchanged a few players 😂😂😂

    • @zeeafraud7898
      @zeeafraud7898 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

      @@stephenlynch6389are you thick? he’s talking about geography since girona is only an hours drive away from barcelona. it’s hilarious how you thought you made a point there with your little comparison.

    • @Alfie_1
      @Alfie_1 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @@zeeafraud7898 Yeah it's just naturally very beneficial for a small club to have a strong geographical connection to one super club and an economic connection to another, that's all.

    • @NaNi-rx2cc
      @NaNi-rx2cc 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@zeeafraud7898 I'm a Girona fan from Girona and that one guy was right, we have no connection to Barça, in fact our relationship used to be a bit hostile because they had rejected loan offers from us in the past

  • @Jeff_2x
    @Jeff_2x 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +35

    Football needs more of this. They need more and more small clubs competing with the big clubs to make football more competitive

    • @mikeb8517
      @mikeb8517 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +21

      The last thing football needs is more Oil money. Anything they accomplish will be stained.

    • @albert9399
      @albert9399 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

      ​@@mikeb8517oil money ? Only because they have oil owners doesn't matter they spend like it. Name one player they went big on for 10m+. No-one 8m is the most they have spent for one player and most of their players. So don't come with that oil money thing

    • @albert9399
      @albert9399 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@mikeb8517every top division football club in the world has a rich owner. If the owner invests in them or not it's their choice, look at Chelsea or United have owners that invest in them big time but no trophies or anything to brag about

    • @hammer164
      @hammer164 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      football needs none of this

    • @jordanford9320
      @jordanford9320 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@albert9399no but with the new UEFA rules where you can loan out players between the clubs that you own, all they're going to do is buy up the best young players and loan them out to places like here. It's an incredible advantage that any club that's owned by anyone else that is their size doesn't have. It doesn't make them incredible. It just means they have resources that other people don't. They're an oil money club

  • @depekthegreat359
    @depekthegreat359 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +40

    Girona have been doing well in their recent years both in the second and first divisions respectively and to see them in the top of the table at the moment in the Spanish La Liga is of course,a goosebump even for me,good friends!!!They are one of my favourite respective clubs ever and their strong management is a reason of how they are rising well and I hope their impressive form continues despite their suspectable partnership with "The City Football Group",good friends!!!LONG LIVE GIRONA!!!🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️

    • @jcm7910
      @jcm7910 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

      Not suspicious 🤣 they are part of the city group

    • @depekthegreat359
      @depekthegreat359 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@jcm7910Haha!!!I was about to come to your point of view but I get the meaning anyway,good friend!!!🤣

    • @zizujillo5818
      @zizujillo5818 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@jcm7910 their record tranfer is 7m euros I don't think using the money logic will help

    • @jcm7910
      @jcm7910 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@zizujillo5818 without big transfer in a very small time they have own the team and look where they sit 🤷 watch January come and they sign more depth to the roster

    • @zizujillo5818
      @zizujillo5818 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@jcm7910 they won't everyone knows how la liga ffp rules are,,look how they're denying barca to sign players,,they're going to be run on a tight ship until they get that champions league money next season

  • @Alfie_1
    @Alfie_1 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +17

    Speaking of Alvaro Morata, what has happened to him this season? Where have the goals all come from?

    • @reinrassigerStuhl
      @reinrassigerStuhl 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I don't know much about Morata but i think I at least have a possible answer. He is now 31 and not really a player that relies on physical attributes too much. It's also quite common for Strikers to peak a bit later. Elite Strikers have a understanding of the game and instinct that cannot be understated, something younger players oftentimes lack. It also seems like he came to the right coach at the right time. I am really not that invested into Atleti, but what I know is that he and Griezmann are almost tied for LaLig goals (Morata has 7, Griezmann 8) indicating that he isn't their main goal scorer. I think he also profits from a good system in general which is suited for his needs. Morata as a classic main number 9 in any other Team would probably not flourish the same way but that's up for speculation, i guess.

    • @jcxkzhgco3050
      @jcxkzhgco3050 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Maybe a bit of a purple patch, last game against Villarreal he was frustrating to watch. Hopefully he does get back to goalscoring again and that game was a just an off day

    • @jcxkzhgco3050
      @jcxkzhgco3050 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@reinrassigerStuhl Morata has always been pretty good overall, his finishing and positioning maybe horrible at times but he always used to be good for the team. This season he has been able to convert his chances that’s all..

  • @eliteofficial7910
    @eliteofficial7910 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    FYI, Girona are 44.3% (partly) owned by Abu Dhabi-owned City Football Group

    • @kalmenbarkin5708
      @kalmenbarkin5708 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      Yes we can all do math. We know what 50/50 split of a little over 88% is

    • @michaelrowell7798
      @michaelrowell7798 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      They are controlled by CFG then, even if it hasn't direct majority ownership.

  • @Ikatxu
    @Ikatxu 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +16

    The next games will be a test of their real potential this season. In the next three they'll face Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona. If they are still top of the table after that, at least Champions League will start looking quite achievable.

    • @hazinashow8828
      @hazinashow8828 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      Well this Girona team can beat Barcelona

    • @Anishninho_baller
      @Anishninho_baller 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      ​@@hazinashow8828Considering Barcelona's recent form, it's quite possible and predictable at this point. This GIRONA team is magical and I'm sure they can do a Leicester City.

    • @Ikatxu
      @Ikatxu 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@hazinashow8828 I guess they could, but they will certainly be seen as the underdog. As far as Champions League goes, I see the Athletic Bilbao match as the more important one though, since they are a strong contender for the 4th spot. A victory would give Girona a 13 point margin, so even if they lose to Barcelona, they'd still be in a very strong position.

    • @NJ-eo2oc
      @NJ-eo2oc 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      ​@@hazinashow8828Won't happen imo considering all barca's non fit and injured players wil be back in top form specially De Jong their best midfielder with whom they haven't lost a game this year. also you should know by now that even a crap barca can still somehow squeez wins

    • @fanaze
      @fanaze 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      This. They are doing a great start, but Athletic, Barcelona and Atletico are coming, also Betis. They lost to Madrid and draw to la Real, so the real challenge starts now. 25 matches to play are a lot, still 75 points in play

  • @HairyOgres888
    @HairyOgres888 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +41

    It’s been an absolute pleasure to watch Savio this season, reminds me of the early 2000’s wingers, pacey and skillful.

    • @FuhseiMain
      @FuhseiMain 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I haven’t watch any of Girona match. May I know if Savio really worth to look unto?

  • @DarkHorseF.C6686
    @DarkHorseF.C6686 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Ha! I was hoping you'd dive into this one. And once again you delivered!

  • @MastinoNapoletano420
    @MastinoNapoletano420 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

    Girona played the Serie A champs during the summer break and they held them at a 1-1 draw losing in PKs. Definitely watching them this season.

  • @linkgcuk
    @linkgcuk 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    My dad lives in Girona, and the ground is literally the la liga equivalent of Kenilworth Road with scaffold stands. Stunning city though! We try to get out there a few times a year.

  • @kalmenbarkin5708
    @kalmenbarkin5708 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +32

    While the multi club ownership model might take away a lot of the magic for fans it is absolutely incredible for players.
    It provides a smooth pathway for development without having to haggle and fight and then learn a whole new organizational structure

    • @reinrassigerStuhl
      @reinrassigerStuhl 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Especially being in a soulless System like Red Bull can be great to develop without everyone judging every move of yours. You can enjoy elite level football with RB Leipzig domestically and in the CL and practically noone cares if you fall flat. Just compare that to Dortmund where people are also used to young talent not performing right away, it can still get really loud and hectic around the club. I have to admit, Dortmund is an extreme example. They not only have a lot of fans but Germany has the 50+1 rule which gives said fans a lot more real power than in most other leagues.

    • @JustKrin
      @JustKrin 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I personally like it better when players are loaned to clubs in other countries, avoids the akward "seeing your ex" and could help them develop with a different style of play, however I know that homesickness could play a big part mentally. I don't want City Group to have one club in every country in the world, but spaced out and with a low number don't seem too much of a problem

  • @nicocorbo4153
    @nicocorbo4153 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    28:44 it is admirable when public transport and private automobile travel equate to roughly the same travel time

  • @indiekid19872
    @indiekid19872 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

    M-m-m-my Girona

  • @UnbrokenReign
    @UnbrokenReign 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Brilliant recruitment their starting 11 is brilliant throughout with arguably a top 6 midfield and defence

  • @royamitzur5946
    @royamitzur5946 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    One of your best ever videos, I enjoyed every minute of it

  • @jackabalas
    @jackabalas 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great video again thank you

  • @andrewphillipps8815
    @andrewphillipps8815 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Love these videos - fascinating insights

  • @saintpepsi8602
    @saintpepsi8602 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Hope you do a video on Sir Bobby Charlton at some point would love to see you do a video on him like you did Pele

  • @MihailBFC
    @MihailBFC 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I'm rooting for Girona! i hope they will win La liga this season.

  • @Jeff_2x
    @Jeff_2x 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +15

    I’m just glad to see a small club be a contender for the league. Hopefully they win because football needs more of this.

    • @varelasensei
      @varelasensei 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I think you missed the whole "Girona is owned by Man City" point.

  • @Steve-390
    @Steve-390 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Girona n Real Sociedad are the most fan to watch right now

  • @Brickhazard
    @Brickhazard 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +23

    People say do a Leicester but are most likely too young to remember do a Deportivo.

    • @ezraezra2928
      @ezraezra2928 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

      But Deportivo won the La Liga with the lowest tally point in the history.

    • @josecipriano3048
      @josecipriano3048 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Deportivo spent so much to achieve it, that they're playing semi-professional football nowadays due to all the debts they had.

    • @ezraezra2928
      @ezraezra2928 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@josecipriano3048 Malaga as well. They had a historic Champions League run back in 2013, when they were so close to reach the semifinal, after their La Liga surprising run the previous season. After the club was banned due to the financial irregularities, they soon crumbled and now are in the semi-professional football.

    • @DeTaxxman
      @DeTaxxman 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Leicester was more impressive than Deportivo, Leicester nearly got relegated the season prior

    • @ezraezra2928
      @ezraezra2928 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@DeTaxxman You can also include Union Saint Gilloise. Winning a promotion in 2021, they won the league in 2022 (although they failed to do so for the championship playoffs against Club Brugge) and were in Europa League quarterfinals a season later.

  • @chuninho3179
    @chuninho3179 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    They need to stay humble and grounded and be within top 4 by March and then anything can happen!It would be nice for them to win La Liga!
    They have hungry, focused players who want to win something!Blind was pivotal at Ajax under Eric Ten Hag and so is used to working with such young managers and tactics!
    Thank you for the video!

  • @kalmenbarkin5708
    @kalmenbarkin5708 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    While their net spend on paper might only be €3M their budget doesn’t account for city group’s massive scouting network which they get to use

  • @maxtalksfootball3159
    @maxtalksfootball3159 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    random Torquay united shoutout in this video is the last thing i expected

  • @ackelkelz6097
    @ackelkelz6097 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    We have been waiting

  • @robkenzie6919
    @robkenzie6919 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Yes allfie!! yet another masterclass 🎉❤

  • @wpracy
    @wpracy 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Can you do a video on players who you feel should have had more international caps ? Maybe due to injury or rich talent in the same position certain players may feel hard done by that they couldn’t represent their country more often

  • @T.E.S.S.
    @T.E.S.S. 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +17

    I find it hard to get too excited about these lads because they're just a dingleberry on the backside of man city

  • @seandelap8587
    @seandelap8587 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +28

    This would be more remarkable if it wasn't for the fact that they didn't have the same ownership as Man City which really puts a stain on it and so its not all that similar to Leicester City winning the EPL who weren't backed up by oil money those sort of fairytales are unfortunately becoming rarer and rarer in football and success just becomes meaningless when its bought

    • @ramotsalong8877
      @ramotsalong8877 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      I agree with you

    • @cameron3203
      @cameron3203 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

      Yes, because money has been only factor in City's sustained success and United's inability to replicate that success, for example, is a total anomaly. Girona have been as successful as they have, largely because the industry knowledge and infrastructure CFG has brought to their club. Ask yourself: are Girona better off now than they were before 2017? The answer is unequivocally yes to even the most one-eyed and tribal of Football fans.
      Do they fit snugly into your tedious and overly romanticised idea of a Football fairytale? Maybe not. Let's not forget though, that Leicester is also owned by a multinational conglomerate. Where's the cut off for fairytale? Is it 100s of millions ...a billion perhaps? The argument that 'money ruins the game' is both hollow and transparent. The reality is, you'd love your club to have the resources to compete with the top of the game and your argument that its somehow ruining Football, derives solely from the fact your club can't at the moment. A simple case of the green-eyed monster.

    • @BigPurp9
      @BigPurp9 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      @@cameron3203we’ve found the city fan 😂😂

    • @cameron3203
      @cameron3203 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      @@BigPurp9 yep, great contribution. I doubt you have anything valid to add beyond that just don’t like City. That’s fair enough - each to their own.

    • @jasonvoorhees3124
      @jasonvoorhees3124 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@cameron3203absolutely superb reply mate👍

  • @jonntischnabel
    @jonntischnabel 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    They started to go off kilter on their "city" named clubs 😂 . They were doing so well at first! By the way, "Troyes" is pronounced twa (similar to the number 3). ❤❤

    • @5minutemovies977
      @5minutemovies977 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      No it's not pronounced "twa", R are strong in French, this sound doesn't exist in English.

  • @johnwhittington2998
    @johnwhittington2998 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +12

    I think in your Criticism of CFG clubs suffering due to players being taken from NYC especially, they won the MLS the year before this campaign.
    We also have to admit that due to the structure of the MLS it’s a lot more unpredictable with form

    • @CF-sd4rl
      @CF-sd4rl 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I agree as an NYC fan. If we recruited the players we got mid-season before the season started, we would have easily made the playoffs

  • @DavidLimofLimReport
    @DavidLimofLimReport 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Breaking: union berlin just sacked urs fischer.

    • @goursaol6463
      @goursaol6463 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      I hope they survive this season 😢

  • @Diego.Ambrosini
    @Diego.Ambrosini 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    As a Bahia supporter, I'm looking forward to something similar happening with my club. But this first year with CFG has not been easy and we are fighting against relegation with four games remaining in the season. I hope we manage to stay up, but it is easier said than done 😞

  • @Marquinhos1901
    @Marquinhos1901 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I got to visit Girona in 2023. Beautiful city. It used to be an old roman fort. you can still walk along the medeival walls and see some mountains in the distance.

  • @domaniac9119
    @domaniac9119 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Interesting how some of the descritptions of their tactics remind me of how Stuttgart is being talked about in the Bundesliga. Here's hoping their successes continue.

  • @shakiMiki
    @shakiMiki 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    An excellent analysis.

  • @mashiah1
    @mashiah1 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    Not so remarkable rise. It's a farm club of Abu Dhabi City

  • @NobletheSavage
    @NobletheSavage 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Has Alfie done a video on Sampdoria yet? I'm hoping he also does a deep dive on 777.

  • @pavelmarinov8361
    @pavelmarinov8361 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    You should do a video about the downfall of Bulgarian football, especially after the fiasco that is the Bulgaria- Hungaria game

  • @funki4896
    @funki4896 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Leverkusen has the nickname Vizekusen (vice) so they are pretty much expected to be a contender for the first spot

  • @TheWannabeexpert
    @TheWannabeexpert 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I knew there was a reason why i was not hyped about Girona. Thank you for the reminder. Great video!

  • @rowandoherty8183
    @rowandoherty8183 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    At the start of the season it was well known Girona were aiming for European football, no one was expecting them to be near relegation. Guy doesn’t have a clue

    • @slslskspslba2407
      @slslskspslba2407 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Yep, had them come sixth in my prediction

  • @warf5872
    @warf5872 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    when watching this video but as soon as a i heard you mention torquay united instantly caught my attention gotta love torquay

  • @Sasser2015
    @Sasser2015 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    As an American whose love of football came a bit later in life and who only really knows/follows the Premier League, you've given me a La Liga team to root for and follow. Love the channel and all the information on the many off-the-pitch facets (financial and other) it provides.

  • @Sasha-mk3ht
    @Sasha-mk3ht 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    Dnipro fan here. I'm cheering for Girona this year as if I've been a fan for them all my life. It's about time the world sees what Ukrainians have seen in Dovbyk and Tsygankov all along.

  • @hignettron
    @hignettron 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Saw the Daily Mail show your tweet about not getting tickets to the Euros 😂
    Hope you end up getting some and I bump into you in Dusseldorf

  • @Fujiwaranohasan
    @Fujiwaranohasan 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Video Suggestion: Top 20 ranked National teams' golden generations if they were compiled into a league format

  • @thomasrisbjergschrder9341
    @thomasrisbjergschrder9341 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    Video Idea: The expansion of the World Cup to include 48 teams, and it's impact, for better or worse, on the sport.

    • @franze4
      @franze4 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      worse by a longshot

  • @qwerzaip5351
    @qwerzaip5351 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    you should also make a video about Stuttgart

  • @mofaizanuar8220
    @mofaizanuar8220 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hi Alfie you can do a video on the demise of Kelantan FC

  • @romanr9883
    @romanr9883 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Before anybody gets too excited about these underdog teams leading let me remind you of Hoffenheim in 08. In their first Bundesliga season the newly promoted team managed to win everything early on, still topping the table even at the halfway point before going into the winter break. At the end of the season though they only finished 7th. Performing well in a dozen or so games is one thing, but doing it for a full 35+ game season is something entirely different. I wish Girona the best and hope they can continue to compete but I doubt that anyone other than Real will be on top by the end of the season, as boring as that would be.

    • @killagoat5433
      @killagoat5433 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      i don’t think real madrid win la liga actually. idk why just think either atleti or barcelona will

    • @NJ-eo2oc
      @NJ-eo2oc 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I don't think so. i think it will be either Barca or Atletico

    • @kery_5131
      @kery_5131 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      and, just like girona, hoffenheim is also owned by a soulless corporation

    • @josecipriano3048
      @josecipriano3048 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      R Madrid are looking good for 3rd place. In case they lose Bellingham to injury, they may even fall lower.

  • @ExileOnDaytonStreet
    @ExileOnDaytonStreet 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    One quick thought and a longer one:
    1- I did a day trip to Girona while my family visited Barcelona, specifically the old part of the city. Absolutely gorgeous location. And we also visited some of the smaller villages in northern Catalonia on the way to a seaside village of Palamos... truly a lovely place.
    2- Girona is doing fantastic so far this season, but at least a small part of it is a trick of the scheduling. Of the three traditional La Liga powerhouses, they've only played Real Madrid once (and it accounts for their only loss). Of La Liga teams that usually end up playing in Europe, they've played Real Sociedad (their only draw) and Sevilla and Villareal (two 2-1 wins with a combined +0.3 xG advantage against those underperforming clubs).
    No matches against Barcelona, Athletico, Real Betis, or Valencia. They have, however, played matches against all but one team from the bottom half of the La Liga table. Of course... they've won almost all of these matches, which in part helps to account for why the teams that they've played don't have an extra 3 points in the table, but that's still quite remarkable.
    Here's an interesting way to try to measure this: each team has X points per Y matches played. Take an average of those points/match of all opponents played so far. You'll expect that average to be lower at the top of the table than the bottom (teams lose more to the top of the table than to the bottom of the table and teams don't play themselves), but across most of the top 5 leagues, that range is limited.
    Avg Opponents' Pts/MP across the top of the rest of the Big Five tables: City at 1.24, Bayer Leverkusen at 1.22, Inter at 1.27, and PSG at 1.20. For context: The values for teams in the relegation zones of those leagues and La Liga are typically in the 1.4-1.6 range. Girona's average? 1.08. Only Eintracht Frankfurt (1.02) is lower and only four other clubs across the Big Five (Stuttgart at 1.12, Napoli at 1.16, Le Havre at 1.18 and Barca at 1.19) are below 1.20.
    It's not a perfect measurement, of course, but it does speak to how much easier their schedule has been than their neighbors in the La Liga table, and therefore how much of a challenge is left on their schedule. I don't know that I'd predict any of the sub-1.20 clubs, save for Barcelona, are likely to rise higher in the table than they are now, and most of them (Girona included) I would expect to come back down at least a spot or two by season's end.

    • @josecipriano3048
      @josecipriano3048 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Do you know how many points have thouse powerhouses lost against bottom-half teams? A couple of weeks ago Real Madrid has drawn with relegation-contenders Sevilla, while Girona beat them. A league is a matter of regularity, not winning 6 matches a year.

    • @ExileOnDaytonStreet
      @ExileOnDaytonStreet 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@josecipriano3048 That's information that's easy enough to find, but the point still holds that Girona has played the bottom half of the table far more than the top half.
      It's hardly a given that their winning ways will continue as they complete the rest of their league schedule, which as of right now will be more difficult than the rest of league's remaining schedule.

  • @HiddenDonut01
    @HiddenDonut01 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I’m curious MLS has ownership loss rules, for example in the NFL and NBA, ownership can be stripped and forced to resell. So if an ownership group is blatantly picking the benefit of another league over theirs, off you go and are forced to sell. If it’s not a rule already, it should be.

  • @JackFirstAndThe
    @JackFirstAndThe 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Still waiting years later for one of these on wigan.

  • @jaimev9702
    @jaimev9702 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great video, just one remark: Inter Milan are not pronounced like that. You either pronounce Milan as in English, or you simply call them Inter ( as Italians do). AC Milan are pronounced like that because that’s how Italians pronounce the English word Milan ( the club was established by Englishmen I believe), but Inter’s name actually uses Milano.

  • @an1xtin
    @an1xtin 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    this video was only a matter of time ngl

  • @zlatomir_kolaksazov
    @zlatomir_kolaksazov 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    @HITC Sevens, after your Bosnia downfall video, your next topic should be the recent events that played out in my home country of Bulgaria. Banning fans from stadiums, protests and overall unprofessionalism, to say the least, from the football authorities in the past 18 years! This surely deserves a video itself due to the unprecedented situation with the match against Hungary and the dictatorship style of Borislav Mihaylov aka the “Wig”

  • @ivonikolov8278
    @ivonikolov8278 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Waiting for "What on Earth is going on with the Bulgarian national team" and battle between the fans and the Bulgarian football federation almost resulting in the forfeit of the Bulgaria - Hungary match

  • @jonathanward1585
    @jonathanward1585 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Similar to Arsenal 2022/23 season
    The aim was champions league but they were years ahead being title contenders

  • @darwis4769
    @darwis4769 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    multi-club ownership reminds me of colonialism, eg when the British Empire would every land imaginable to control their resources

  • @JoeMercersWay
    @JoeMercersWay 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    We get 8 minutes and get to Tebas and the vid loses all credibility.
    At the end of the day, it gives young players a structured experience and gives the fans experiences they can only dream of.
    Other clubs that are so bitter should perhaps reflect on why they've let a system be established that otherwise prevents their club from ever usurping Real, Barca or Athleti.

  • @charliezobel511
    @charliezobel511 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    10:31 Lee Sharpe reference 😮

  • @guywood4955
    @guywood4955 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Girona is becoming the team that we all Manage in Fifa xD. We start humbly, go on to first division, then winning The League up to going to Champions league the next year and make an incredible European journey, not necessarily champions hahaha. I wish, would love to see Girona win The League this season!! Even though I'm a Barca fan!

  • @DarthQueefious
    @DarthQueefious 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    For non-MCFC clubs, CFG is all about the scouting network and stable structure.

  • @bradders-ge7sf
    @bradders-ge7sf 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Wolves fan here
    Santiago Bueno left Girona to us to sweeten the Nunes to City deal too.... or it was a MASSIVE coincidence 🤣

  • @DanielKelly-ds9tv
    @DanielKelly-ds9tv 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Just reminds me of Leicester magical season good luck to them for the rest of the season

  • @NobletheSavage
    @NobletheSavage 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I'm going to spend the rest of the year practising how to pronounce Milan like our mate Alfie. Me-Laaan sounds even sexier when he says it than even when northern Italians say the word.

  • @miudga
    @miudga 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    They got bought by the owners of Man City, with the amount of money they got it's no surprise that they are the top of the league. They didn't grow a team from the youth, they got bought. It's like buying store-bought food and thinking you are the best.

  • @nonyeedwin9204
    @nonyeedwin9204 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Do one of these for VfB Stuttgart.

  • @MrDreddyp
    @MrDreddyp 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    The Spanish Brentford 👌🏾👏🏾👊🏾

  • @toph8298
    @toph8298 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Incredible underdog story, here’s hoping they can go all the way and upset the (sees name of owners)… oh

  • @MithrandilPlays
    @MithrandilPlays 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    lol 2 weeks later and they are 7 points above 3rd place, locked in against Madrid. Still wouldn't pick them to win it all, but there's a really solid chance they do

  • @matteogrutman9489
    @matteogrutman9489 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Really weird comment but 0:09 UDINESE MENTIONED LETS GO, WTF IS A TROPHY RAHHH

  • @michaelbeaumont145
    @michaelbeaumont145 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    How about a video on multi club ownerships starting with udinese

  • @michaelay4900
    @michaelay4900 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Day 1: 7 best 10-men performances in _______. (pick your criteria, can be premier league, recent 10 years, all-time etc.)

  • @DavidLimofLimReport
    @DavidLimofLimReport 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

    I knew this was coming……

  • @beauallen9872
    @beauallen9872 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Looked at the laliga table on the weekend and wondered how long til we get a “what on earth is happening in Laliga” video.
    In a year when CR7 goes to Saudi, Messi goes to MLS and the England captain moves to Bavaria… I just wouldnt write off the unbelievable laliga fairytale just yet…

  • @DolFunTheDolhpinVtuber
    @DolFunTheDolhpinVtuber 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    It would be awesome if they could do a Leicester City and break the boring stranglehold La Liga has had for 20 years.

  • @adamczerepinski9575
    @adamczerepinski9575 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Still waiting for the what on earth is going on at everton and the what on earth is going on at chelsea videos to drop

  • @shannonkeys8594
    @shannonkeys8594 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Curious question and a legit 1 as silly as it's going to sound. Isn't having a family member on a club board and the other a coach or player a conflict of interest

  • @QueerChica
    @QueerChica 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Torquay and Man Utd as examples in a sentence? You been researching Lee Sharpe, Alfie 🤣 x

  • @friedrichnietzsche2557
    @friedrichnietzsche2557 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    Girona and Real Sociadad are the best teams in Spain right now
    Unbelievable

  • @connorhall4208
    @connorhall4208 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    didn't even mention them bringing in Real madrid's youngsters, miguel and arribas have played big roles for them

  • @klauskleber9250
    @klauskleber9250 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Wait, over 50 million a season is just 7% of Madrid's wage bill? Are they actually paying about 700-800 million in wages every year?

    • @funki4896
      @funki4896 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yes. A single player makes 8 digits per year and they have like 30 of them.

  • @DudeFootball123
    @DudeFootball123 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Can you make a video about the PFL (Philippines Football League) it's currently been horrible several clubs have Dissappeared like United city the most successful philippine football club

  • @aerolynx33
    @aerolynx33 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I think I’m in the perfect position to tell you that multiclub really sucks for fans. Since american clubs don’t really have any history/tradition, I support the closest/most representative team. I started with Red Bulls, who haven’t won a single cup despite being a founding member of the league. Then I switched to NYCFC, who as noted in this video, were completely gutted last season and spent most of this one without a real striker. Now, I’m switching to Brooklyn FC, which, as it happens, is going to be part of a group including a Serie B side and several lower division clubs. While I’m still going to support my local teams, I’ve shifted most of my attention to the team my family supported before immigrating in the 2. Bundesliga, one of the most exciting in europe and where individual clubs actually matter.