What's the worst ground in la Liga?
Like many of the old boots that turn up on SpainâÂÂs ever-popular gossip programmes boasting of a night of passion with a bullfighter or Sergio Ramos (or both), a large chunk of la LigaâÂÂs grounds are either in need of an extensive facelift or are saving up for one.
Both Real Madrid and Barcelona are looking at tarting up their homes, whilst Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao have bold plans for new stadiums that they hope to move to any time between 2013 and 3160.
However, an awful lot depends on how long it takes for the institutions to both raise the capital and - most importantly of all in Spain - make sure that the right cash-stuffed envelope reaches the right planning official at the local council.
Espanyol recently moved from the stray cat-invested Montjuic into their Cornella ground but are still just as useless, whereas Valencia currently have two homes - the Old Mestalla, which they are desperate to flog, and the New Mestalla whose construction has ground to a halt due to a lack of funds.
Hammers (and all tools) down at the New Mestalla
So the blog thought it was high time to start the hunt for la LigaâÂÂs worst stadium whilst many of the decrepit old wrecks are still with us.
And in doing so, La Liga Loca has been far and wide and canvassed opinions of those whose travels around the country have brought them into contact with the most unsympathetic supporters in the scabbiest of stands.
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The results have thrown up nominations from all over Spain, making it a fierce competition for this most coveted of awards.
Atlético MadridâÂÂs beloved home was the choice of one lady touchline correspondent who fondly remembers fans yelling âÂÂwh*re! wh*re! wh*re!â at her throughout one encounter.
It was a delightful experience that certainly rivalled a trip to Betis, where the charming fans are âÂÂalways batteredâ and once spat on her head.
Up north, the considerably more cultured supporters of Osasuna opted instead for lobbing a sandwich at her bonce.
Betisâ name comes up again from another grumbler who recalls the lovely locals âÂÂpouring beer on my head from 30 feet,â whilst the Vicente Calderón gets a second nomination with the not unreasonable claim that it is âÂÂwide open, cold and populated by clowns who make a virtue of their own ignorance.âÂÂ
Oh dear.
A little further to the south of the Rojiblanco lair, GetafeâÂÂs Coliseum gets a pummelling with one comment that fans will only enjoy their visit there if they happen to like âÂÂhuge, grim empty spaces.âÂÂ
Oop north, AthleticâÂÂs San Mamés receives nominations for being âÂÂhostile," "uncomfortableâ and âÂÂbleak."
ValladolidâÂÂs ground is âÂÂas cold as f**kâ with another recollection seconding this stance by describing the José Zorrilla as being âÂÂthe coldest IâÂÂve ever been in a stadiumâ whilst Real SociedadâÂÂs home supposedly has a âÂÂpretty c**p atmosphere."
Zorilla: Colder than Oldham
MurciaâÂÂs fairly new home has very little love, as it seems to be located âÂÂin the a**e end of nowhereâ where âÂÂyou can forget about getting out of the car park until 2am.âÂÂ
A slightly more positive description given to the blog reports that it is âÂÂa lovely ground, but smells of s**t from the surrounding fertiliser, has a 30,000 capacity and one access road â which is shared by a cinema complex and shopping centre.âÂÂ
AlmerÃÂaâÂÂs ground is said to be a âÂÂsoulless, running track-possessing, out of town hellhole.âÂÂ
One of the lucky few to have made the trip there described it simply as âÂÂa wasted experience.âÂÂ
MallorcaâÂÂs Ono Estadi also appears on the list of shame due to its out-of-town location and complete lack of atmosphere, although the latter is something that both Real Madrid and Barcelona can boast.
But La Liga Loca suspects that these rants are just the tip of the iceberg of loathing and is looking for yet more nominations from you the viewer for the worst ground in la Liga.
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