Those go-getting fast-trackers running the Spanish league gave a good four days notice to the plebs and players of when they would be in footballing action this week, so everyone had better be ready.
Incidentally, La Liga Loca would love to know how mild-mannered Sir Alex Ferguson would react to having to wait until Thursday morning to find out whether he would be playing a match the following Tuesday or Wednesday.
The blog imagines that a taxi to the leagueâÂÂs HQ and a chainsaw would form part of the measured response.
"I'll be back... with reinforcements"
For just the second time this season, la Liga is in midweek action with yet more dodgy refereeing decisions, rubbish red cards, god-awful 1-0 wins for Real Madrid and family friendly 10pm kick-off times on a Thursday night.
Tuesday sees two of the 10 games kicking off with Real Madrid at home to Getafe in yet another enthralling encounter that should see 80,000 people quickly regretting not having stayed at home to watch Liverpool take on Arsenal.
One player who completely forgot that there was a midweek encounter was Julien Faubert, who chose to stay in bed on Sunday and missed the morningâÂÂs training session. La Liga Loca is still unsure of how anyone noticed his absence.
The Frenchman is set to be fined with Juande Ramos commenting that his waste-of-money winger âÂÂthought it was a free day as normal.âÂÂ
The speculation in the Madridista press is on whether RaúlâÂÂs booty will be parked on the bench for the game. But only because he is such a key player in the final run-in and needs his rest. And not because he has been really rubbish of late. Oh no.
AS come nearest to heresy in the Spanish capital with editor Alfredo Relaño noting that the Madrid captain has yet to score against Getafe and that he may not have the chance to do so again after tonight.
âÂÂA new era is coming with new players and itâÂÂs difficult to guarantee that he will keep his status (as sporting director)â writes the number one AS, who is probably angling for an interview with the Madrid number seven, rather than expressing an actual, valid opinion.
Marca are in two minds about RaúlâÂÂs role in the Getafe game. The official review has him starting the encounter but the accompanying caption has him sitting firmly on the bench. Nothing quite like covering all the bases.
"Well don't leave me here on tenterhooks..."
The paperâÂÂs craziest columnist, Roberto Gómez, is still suffering his punishment for having raided the office cookie jar one time too many.
ItâÂÂs a punishment that sees his witterings cut down in size and poked away in a dusty corner of the paper. In response, Gómez has spent the past fortnight calling for the renewal of Juande Ramosâ contract and that the spirit in the Madrid camp has never been better.
âÂÂThe little faces of Salgado, Guti, Codina, Faubert, Javi Garcia and Parejo were a poem,â sniffled Gómez on the moment when Ramos announced his squad for the away match to Recre last weekend. âÂÂThey all wanted to go.âÂÂ
The midweek round of matches gives another excuse for both lazy players and press alike to ramble on about there being eight/seven/six finals left until the end of the season.
Except in the footballersâ case when the âÂÂfinalâ is lost. Then it is the next game that is the real final. Unless that is lost, and so on.
Speaking of losing, Athletic Bilbao play âÂÂtheir final in Soriaâ according to Marca by travelling to play little old Numancia on Tuesday night.
The bottom of the table side are also facing a final where âÂÂthe league is at stake,â according to manager Pacheta.
However, after just one win in 10, Athletic cannot get any worse and should more or less condemn Numancia to la Segunda with a cheeky away win.
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