Village Idiot

Most of the Valencia fans I know are up in arms about the appointment. Given that he's inexperienced and that he has business ties with Lim, he's seen as getting the job because of that - like Nuno before him. Just a stooge to get all those shady transfers going without opposition. Neville will have a hard time winning the fans over, but I agree that you just don't turn down a chance like this.

Winning the overall best player award precludes you from winning the "best from continent" one. These La Liga awards are relatively new and still in flux. Rules and awards seem to change every year.

Aduriz is the top goalscorer for a Spanish club this season (yeah, this includes Neymar/Suárez/Cronaldo) across all comps. He's also battered several other domestic goalscoring records. But he won't get a callup (although there's been a longstanding rumor that he doesn't want to play for Spain).

There's been some big pressure from the stands, but nonetheless I am surprised.

He must be old as f***? 34. Might end his career, this.

Tiago out for the season, huge blow for Atlético. He's key in Simeone's system.

Neymar has said that talks are ongoing to sign a new contract with us, and that he wants to stay

And my teams finish 5-5 on aggregate. Messi, Neymar and Suárez weren't enough to turn NUFC's result around.

I'm going to be controversial here but I don't think Ashley's to blame this year (he's to blame for the greater mediocrity narrative and I too want him out, mind). The club has spent and brought in several new players and a new manager, but the guys that have taken those decisions (Carr or Charnley) have fucked up big time.

3-0, Neymar brace.

Can't believe how good Alves has been these past weeks. He looked finished 12 months ago, but Lucho must have performed some nasty zombie shit on him.

Ah f***. I don't want to lose against that fucking cunt. Not HIM.

We're all just gonna watch the Barca game, tbh. Might make that the match thread. It's gonna suck, right? I should probably even turn off NUFC score updates from my phone until the end of the game. But nah, gotta be there. I'll watch Barça but put some live commentary on the PC, or just keep refreshing this thread.

Oh wait, they play at the same time as Barça - Real Sociedad. Decisions, decisions...

This is on the Spanish telly, I officially consider it a second derby game nowadays, so I'll be watching. Fearing the worst though... will probably get hammered in the evening to un-piss me off.

Fixed. How dare you break off from the herd. Considered it, but felt it would be hypocritical given how un-miserable my boys are making me feel lately.

Palace succeeding, Derby succeeding, HBA back in the French national team... Sometimes it feels as if the entire world conspires to make NUFC fans miserable.

Lazy t***s. Does anyone know if football clubs charter their own plane, or they go on Ba or Easyjet or what? Charter or have their own for short haul, regular flights in the posh seats long haul I think. I know NUFC used charter planes for European games a while back. We charter flights. There's even a lottery for club members where winners can buy tickets and fill out the plane, travelling with the squad.

Fair enough

Atlético, Real Madrid and "other big European clubs" to be fined/banned by FIFA for illegal youth player transfers (same thing we got our ban for) - according to "As" and "Mundo Deportivo". Apparently the current situation at FIFA - with everybody and their mothers facing corruption charges - is holding up the punishment until a new FIFA board is elected and can move forward with the paperwork.

Nah, Casillas got done by the taxman too.

€180m. I hope he stays. In a couple years he can easily rise to top man as Messi heads into his 30s and drops to #10 to feed him balls.

There are rumors that we are close to get Neymar to extend his contract; runs until 2021, €15m year net, 3rd best paid player in the world. We have "been close to" extend Neymar's contract like half a dozen times during the past year though, so I will still take this rumor with a pinch of salt. Our DoF said last week that he was a priority though.

Ronaldo says, "Rafa or me." The board backs Rafa. Ronaldo to Old Trafford. Book it. Would you really want him back? I personally think he's gonna be off at the end of the season, but he would still cost an arm and a leg and he will be 31.

I'm starting to believe Real Madrid players want Benítez sacked. Yesterday's game stunk of "look how good we can be if we want, and look how s*** we can be if we want...". Would fit with all the reports of dressing room strife between players and manager.