Village Idiot

That will keep Benítez in charge for a while

So weird to watch a trophy final at 11.30 in the morning. Very happy we get to wear the "best in the world" badge for a year. That's probably the only reason I care about this trophy. River had a good 15-20 minutes where they argetine'd their way to frustrate us and our game, but once we got going it was no contest.

Messiiiiii

That Sánchez dive I don't know whether to love or hate argie teams.

Yeah, that's the one.

We are apparently very close to signing Roberto from Fluminense. Flip, what do you know about him?

Marca already linking him with the Madrid job if/when Madrid gets the sack. Santiago Bernabéu, this coming February: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-cpgvSa9D0

Spanish media are giving it for granted.

While I think Mou is a cunt, I wouldn't give that book much credence. Torres and Mou were enemies since day one at Real Madrid, and he's got a massive axe to grind.

Guangzhou are very well drilled, it looks like Scolari has done a good job with them.

Ugh, poor Chinese lad. Horrific injury. Suárez goal.

He would never leave, but the only way I could see it happening is if Guardiola comes calling.

Not liking the prospect of Guardiola managing City re: a Messi bid.

Neymar makes the bench for the CWC semi-final. We're putting out a decently strong team, I hope we don't regret it this Sunday since River will have one more day of rest (and will give several more f***s).

Marca are claiming that Ancelotti is heading to Bayern at the end of the season, and that it will be announced in a few days.

I want Leicester to lose, if somebody does it big in the Premier League, I want it to be NUFC.

I think it's a problem when Sissoko is your most creative player. But that's no reason to drop him, certainly!

Espanyol sack Sergio González, after a Carver-esque run of 1 win and 7 defeats in their last 8.

Meh, Arsenal. Seems we always play an English team in the first knockout.

Those 3 months were Real Madrid looked great were bookended by 12 months were they looked unassuming except the occasional game (let's not forget that they had given up on the league when they won La Décima the year prior). At some point you have to accept that Real Madrid's level is not the one displayed during those 3 months, but probably closer to the other 12. They have a collection of great players that can carry them, but there's no team in there. For example our midfield looks poorer on paper, but we have players with the different profiles and skillsets required to build a balanced midfield. Meanwhile they have Kross, James and Modric - great players but not a balanced midfield. People yell at Rafa playing Casemiro, but at the end of the day he's their only midfielder with any kind of defensive nous. Pérez has mangled the team like he mangled the Galácticos during his first stint. Long may it continue.

You must be loving that appointment I just hope he sort of hangs in there, if he does too badly he might get sacked before it's too late.

Well, once again Rafa bails us out. Pity that Simeone isn't obliging too.

So, we hit a bad run and you suddenly hit a winning streak. Related?

In Europe? I don't think so, but I would have been too young back then. Given the bad run of Spain in the EC in the 70s and 80s, it didn't get much coverage over here either.

Yeah, over here it's the EL of tinpot cups. Most people here are arguing whether it will hurt our league chances like Real Madrid seemed to crash and burn right after winning it last season. It would be a bit of an embarrassment if we lost, mind. Meanwhile Neymar is crazy about playing in the final, even if that means doing it while nursing an injury.