Village Idiot

We are looking tired and Lucho isn't doing any sub. I think our lack of depth is showing here.

He didn't start the season well - like most of the team -, but he's coming around.

Gerrin.

Third sitter we miss this half. Meh.

And have only conceded 6 goals! That's Cholo for you. You might not like his playing style (I don't), but he's damn good at it.

"Making someone's bed" (hacerle la cama) is a Spanish idiom for making someone fall, or undermining them. It's used often in football for accusing players of trying to get a manager sacked, by underperforming in games.

Like we say in Spain, Chelsea players are really busy making Mourinho's bed (trying to get him sacked).

Dunno what to think of this game. Valencia seem to be in disarray, but we always have a damn hard time at Mestalla.

So Phil's in charge then? No, Voro.

Neville won't yet be in Valencia's dugout when they play against us tonight. He never won a game against Barça as a player (he only played Barça 4 times, tbf). Rivaldo tore him a new one in that crazy 3-3 game.

Madrid expelled from the Cup by the FA. The club's appeal should be resolved next Friday.

Some guys that I work for have run a simulation of the current La Liga TV deal, and Marca has published the results: http://www.marca.com/2015/12/03/multimedia/graficos/1449131702.html Left side is the old TV money, right side is the money given under the new collective contract. Note that Real Madrid and Barça lose €30m each. First column on the right: fixed TV money. Second column on the right: prize money. Third column on the right: awarded through TV audience and stadium attendance (this one is obviously rigged so Barça and Madrid keep some advantage) The season isn't finished, so they are using last season's results for the prize money calculation. Overall figures are set to increase next season, since the new contract is expected to boost TV revenues by around 50%.

Real Madrid are going to base their defence arguing that they weren't communicated effectively of the fact that Cherysev was banned by the Spanish FA. The FA supposedly sent out a fax to all clubs back in July with a list of all player bans carried over from the previous season (with Cherysev in it), but Real Madrid claim to have not received it. A ruling is expected tomorrow (Real Madrid could still appeal).

Depends on how much he speeded (jail time triggers when you go 70+ km/h over the limit), but yeah.

In Spain you don't go to jail if your sentence is below 2 years and you have no priors.

In other big La Liga player in jail trouble news, Mascherano has settled with the prosecutor for 800k and a 1 year of prison time for fiscal fraud. Since he has no priors he won't serve the time. Settlement has still to be approved by the judge.

Cádiz have officially raised a complain in front of the FA.

La Liga is going through the process of selling the several TV packages for the next 3 years (instead of a big single TV contract, La Liga has broken up the rights into 6 different packages). Right now it's looking like it will close deals for around €1600 million/year. In the 2014-2015 season, the last one without collective bargaining, TV contracts earned "only" €800 million.

Apparently Osasuna were hoyed out last year for fielding an ineligible player, agree that Real is a different kettle of fish though. It was this season actually, the FA really have no excuses if Cádiz raises a complain. the hastily-written article I read was incorrect then. His 3rd booking was against Pique Suárez actually. I wish it had been a dive

Cádiz fans singing "Benítez, now play De Gea"

Benítez casually subbing him off. http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/nothing_to_see_here_naked_gun.gif

Apparently Osasuna were hoyed out last year for fielding an ineligible player, agree that Real is a different kettle of fish though. It was this season actually, the FA really have no excuses if Cádiz raises a complain.

Hilarious stuff I bet they get away with it, mind.

Heh, we're winning 6-1 against a Segunda B team in the Copa del Rey, and Mathieu has just been hauled off injured with 10 mins to go. Luís Enrique hasn't even bothered to actually replace him, and we're playing with 10 men.

He's been fading these past 18 months, after a few great years at Real Sociedad, but it's still a coup for the MLS to get a player like Vela when he's entering his prime years.