Neil

wat

Pleased with our kits this year. Shame Naismith seems to constantly be in the photo shoots.

Quite a few Mackems in Bishop Auckland isn't there? County Durham is all Sunlun marra. Massive lads fans etc. "Only til 1992 marra before the skyboys changed allegiance. Seen a mag wearing his shirt in Shildon the other day. Nearly crashed me robin reliant." I have Shildon Mags as relatives. Impossible marra, Shildon is a Sulun stronghold. 95% red & white. FTM. I also have Bishop Auckland mackems as relatives. Ouch. Just having to reside in Bishop Auckland is bad enough. Unlucky.

Reading all these pages and "brool story co"-ing everyone in my mind. You all know your teams will be completely different within 4 weeks.

Such an underwhelming career after early promise. Typical Brazilian.

Founded by Super Hans, I think.

Distinct difference between Rodwell and Henderson. Rodwell has bags more natural talent. Technically very sound, was the epitome of a prospect who would go on to marshal England's midfield for many years to come. Then injuries struck, and his attitude was exposed. Henderson never really impressed at all at Sunderland and I think everyone pissed themselves when Liverpool paid that much. But while I hardly think he's owt special now, it's clear how much he's working to improve and is now a regular in a title-chasing side. Rodwell has massively regressed, Henderson has massively progressed. I personally can't see Rodwell achieving his original potential though I'd like to see him work hard and get somewhere near it.

In. Regardless of whether I'm playing or "managing" again. But I agree with James, might be best to give a wee bit more notice to let as many as possible get involved.

People forget we had a considerable surplus last year thanks to the Fellaini sale. I was fully expecting the profit to disappear into a black hole like it usually does, mind.

Not often but it was something he tried due to our full backs/wing backs being arguably the best players in our squad. I've found that this rough sort of formation actually happens during games more often than you might think. The deepest lying midfielder will often be so deep that he's essentially part of 3, meaning the 2 CBs can split and in turn the 2 full backs can push on.

So good they named it twice?

What's the point? They've had their whole side ripped apart. And without those players and the manager who was presiding over their 'project', they're not going to go out and attract immediate top quality players.

Absolutely convinced that if you looked through Lampard's catalogue of goals, you would find goals of that calibre in there. Of course you would. Lampard scored a long list of sensational strikes, remember in particular one he kindly plonked in the top corner at Goodison after being given it from a throw-in. Gerrard however has the Captain Liverpool romanticism surrounding him which falsely puts him above Lampard. It's pathetic.

Just caught up on all this. Utterly staggering effort and reassuring to know humanity is capable of such kindness. RIP.

Real life Stifler is real.

Status above sense. It sort of worked out okay when they got rid of Ozil for Bale tbf. Di Maria offers more to them than Ozil did though IMO.

Status above sense.

Stop buying players.

You've had a great day, but you're now in an angry mood because your team lost a pre-season friendly? Sake.

Not sure I can think of anyone - maybe only Messi - who, in my lifetime, can keep the ball better than Iniesta. The way he keeps possession and controls it immaculately in the tightest of spaces borders on the absurd.

I'm enjoying it. Warming to Rio a bit. He's been surprisingly good. Thought he'd be shite but been better than most. At the very least he takes the time to actually research the players he's supposed to be commenting on which puts him above the Soccer Saturday numpties for a start.

I don't think the fact he ambled about was indicative of a lack of hunger. He regularly ambles about, it's part of his style and presumably is a deliberate tactic to conserve energy. What I found more concerning was for one of the first times ever, he didn't have that air of invincibility about him. He was still able to beat players - of course he was, he's fucking class - but there was something about him which made you think he wasn't going to win the game for Argentina, or he wasn't going to put away that chance. Harsh criticism you may think but the context with which we're talking about him is about whether he's the greatest ever. He was a disappointment at this tournament IMO. Mitigating factors, yes, but he didn't excel at all.

Khedira and Sanchez to Arsenal represents, for once, some serious business from them. Buying actual top quality players who can make a real difference.

Or, if Messi had decided to look more bothered or put away his chance which, while not a sitter, is the sort of chance he's regularly put away year after year, he'd be a world champion? Devil's advocate, I know, but I'm not sure I can get on board with the "clearly the best ever" school of thought. There's an argument for it but I don't think it can be said with such a degree of certainty. And as I say, I'm as big a fan of him as anyone else. I hope there's more to come from him, new heights, I really do, but for the first time I wonder if a) his body is feeling the effects of so much football in the past 7-8 years or b) we've already seen the best of him?

I think Busquets is without doubt a more complete footballer. But in terms of this Argie set-up, Mascherano suits it very well. It's not an ideal system at all IMO and ultimately it got found out (if an attacking player doesn't do something brilliant you're screwed) but it definitely highlighted his strengths. A purely defensive midfielder with the sole intention of stopping the other team play. As the pressure cranked up, due to Argentina playing deep, it meant Mascherano had to slide in more and that gave him the perception of a heroic, last-ditch tackler. Interested to see what happens with him at Barca this season. Hasn't Enrique said he wants to put Mascherano in midfield?