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[Albion] David Mella







FCB

Well-known member
Sep 1, 2023
287
It should be mentioned that although they are now in the 2nd tier, Deportivo played in the 3rd tier Primera FederaciĆ³n last season. They did win the title but it's divided up into regional segments like the national league North/South so I can't imagine the standard is very high.

There are two groups with 20 teams in Primera RFEF. Some good teams there that have played in La Liga not too long ago. Obviously Deportivo who got promoted to Segunda, then also Malaga (they're playing in one of the promotion playoff finals against the Catalan team Gimnastic Tarragona) and Cordoba (they are playing against Barca B in the other final). Also Recreativo Huelva as the oldest Spanish football team. And then besides those you also have subsidiaries of La Liga clubs (Barca Atletic, RM Castilla, Atletico B, Real Sociedad B - they were playing in Segunda last season, Celta Fortuna,...).

While general level is not too high there are still solid teams with good players. For example our own Fermin Lopez played on loan at Linares in Primera RFEF in 2022/23. Then he returned to Barca and had breakthrough season and is now part of Spain squad for Euros. So you never know where you can find a hidden gem.

I had no idea Deportivo has fallen that far, didnā€™t they hold the record for highest transfer fee in the 90s?

Not sure about record transfer for Deportivo, maybe you've meant Denilson from Sao Paulo to Betis?

That said, Deportivo did have a great team in the 90s and start of this century when they also won La Liga and qualified for CL semi finals in 2004 after eliminating Milan with that great comeback win. Good old times.

Rivaldo started his European career in La Coruna in 1996 but only stayed one season before joining Barca. And then they also had likes of Roy Makaay, Pauleta, Pandiani and Djalminha.

They last played in La Liga in 2017/18. Next season they failed in promotion playoffs and a season after they were relegated to Segunda B (now named Primera RFEF). They spent last four seasons playing in 3rd and always finished top 4 but couldn't get through promotion playoffs. And this season they finally won their group and got directly promoted (sadly at the cost of our B team but I'm still happy for them).
 




Stumpy Tim

Well-known member
There are two groups with 20 teams in Primera RFEF. Some good teams there that have played in La Liga not too long ago. Obviously Deportivo who got promoted to Segunda, then also Malaga (they're playing in one of the promotion playoff finals against the Catalan team Gimnastic Tarragona) and Cordoba (they are playing against Barca B in the other final). Also Recreativo Huelva as the oldest Spanish football team. And then besides those you also have subsidiaries of La Liga clubs (Barca Atletic, RM Castilla, Atletico B, Real Sociedad B - they were playing in Segunda last season, Celta Fortuna,...).

While general level is not too high there are still solid teams with good players. For example our own Fermin Lopez played on loan at Linares in Primera RFEF in 2022/23. Then he returned to Barca and had breakthrough season and is now part of Spain squad for Euros. So you never know where you can find a hidden gem.



Not sure about record transfer for Deportivo, maybe you've meant Denilson from Sao Paulo to Betis?

That said, Deportivo did have a great team in the 90s and start of this century when they also won La Liga and qualified for CL semi finals in 2004 after eliminating Milan with that great comeback win. Good old times.

Rivaldo started his European career in La Coruna in 1996 but only stayed one season before joining Barca. And then they also had likes of Roy Makaay, Pauleta, Pandiani and Djalminha.

They last played in La Liga in 2017/18. Next season they failed in promotion playoffs and a season after they were relegated to Segunda B (now named Primera RFEF). They spent last four seasons playing in 3rd and always finished top 4 but couldn't get through promotion playoffs. And this season they finally won their group and got directly promoted (sadly at the cost of our B team but I'm still happy for them).
We went to see MƔlaga v Real Madrid Castillo this season. It was a full house and a cracking atmosphere. Raul was the RM C manager, and Zidane Junior was playing.
 
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FCB

Well-known member
Sep 1, 2023
287
Yes, Malaga is another club whose fans deserve better. Hard to imagine they were just a few minutes away from the CL semi-finals a decade ago and then all went downhill for them since. They were relegated to the third tier in May 2023 for the first time in 25 years. But they still have a chance to return to Segunda immediately.


Back to Depor - they have 29k season ticket holders and higher average attendance than half of La Liga teams (that's partly down to stadium capacities tbf). Way too big club to be stuck down there for so long.

Special mention to former Arsenal player Lucas Perez from Sid Lowe's article last month.


Nor were CĆ”diz. They needed him, after all: he was their top scorer. They pointed to his buy-out clause: ā‚¬1m. They offered him a new contract, better than anyone in the team. They tried to shame him into staying but PĆ©rez kept on. And on New Yearā€™s Eve 2022, he left for home, taking a ten-fold pay cut. He paid half of the buy-out clause ā€“ ā‚¬493,000 ā€“ himself. Thousands came to his presentation, the queue stretching round the stadium. ā€œAnd only Bebeto ever had that,ā€ he said.
 




mejonaNO12 aka riskit

Well-known member
Dec 4, 2003
21,927
England
MELLA, MELLA, MELLA, MELLA OOH
Te amo, te amo
It was love at first sight
Te amo, Te amo
He is up for the fight


I'm sure @mejonaNO12 aka riskit will do better
Too kind.

Umbrella -Rhinanna?

When the sun shines, we'll shine together
Told you we have signed a winger
A winger you simply can't defend
Your defender's legs are gonna need a mend

Now he's running more than ever
A player that's ever ever so clever
You can't cope with Devid Mella
You can't cope with David Mella, mella mella, eh eh eh
Cope with David Mella Mella Mella eh eh eh
Cope with David Mella Mella Mella eh eh eh
Cope with David Mella Mella Mella eh eh eh





Something like that anyway.
 
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timbha

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
10,515
Sussex
We just used to sing ā€œSpider, Spider, ā€¦ā€¦ repeat..ā€ to our last MellašŸ˜‰
 


thedonkeycentrehalf

Moved back to wear the gloves (again)
Jul 7, 2003
9,353
Back to Depor - they have 29k season ticket holders and higher average attendance than half of La Liga teams (that's partly down to stadium capacities tbf). Way too big club to be stuck down there for so long.
I went to their stadium a few years ago. Great location, you could be on the beach 10 minutes before kick off and still have plenty of time to be In your seat for kick off. Their club shop had some of huge trophies they had won over the year.
 




Stumpy Tim

Well-known member
Yes, Malaga is another club whose fans deserve better. Hard to imagine they were just a few minutes away from the CL semi-finals a decade ago and then all went downhill for them since. They were relegated to the third tier in May 2023 for the first time in 25 years. But they still have a chance to return to Segunda immediately.


Back to Depor - they have 29k season ticket holders and higher average attendance than half of La Liga teams (that's partly down to stadium capacities tbf). Way too big club to be stuck down there for so long.

Special mention to former Arsenal player Lucas Perez from Sid Lowe's article last month.


Nor were CĆ”diz. They needed him, after all: he was their top scorer. They pointed to his buy-out clause: ā‚¬1m. They offered him a new contract, better than anyone in the team. They tried to shame him into staying but PĆ©rez kept on. And on New Yearā€™s Eve 2022, he left for home, taking a ten-fold pay cut. He paid half of the buy-out clause ā€“ ā‚¬493,000 ā€“ himself. Thousands came to his presentation, the queue stretching round the stadium. ā€œAnd only Bebeto ever had that,ā€ he said.
Glory for MƔlaga last night!
 
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FCB

Well-known member
Sep 1, 2023
287
Glory for MƔlaga last night!

Yeah, it was a crazy game, I love promotion playoffs.




 


Stumpy Tim

Well-known member
Yeah, it was a crazy game, I love promotion playoffs.





Why was the keeper up at the end? Worst case it was going to penalties no?
 


























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