Village Idiot

Apparently Xavi is paying half of the release clause to get out of his contract with Al-Sadd (we couldn't pay it without breaking FFP). Bless him.

He plays for us like somebody ripped off his soul. Completely dispirited, can't get anything to work. Our attack is as threatening as a newborn puppy and yet he isn't able to nail down a spot in the starting lineup. And the fact is he doesn't deserve it. Probably there's a large mental component to this (also lots of injuries though), and maybe he can recapture *some* form after a change of environment. I mean, by all accounts he behaves very professionally so the player he was 5 years ago can't have vanished completely. But his form at Barça is truly abysmal.

Same for me if Barça appoints Xavi. Want a hug?

Coutinho would be a brilliant transfer!!!!

Ultimately, I think that's the reason why Emery turned you down. Villarreal are probably the best run club in Spain, and they are in the CL. Yes, with your new owners you have lots of potential, but right now you're still in the shit and there are lots of unknowns. Don't go with Robert Martínez though. That dude's a fraud, I was livid when people were linking it with us earlier in the season.

Marca seems to have independently confirmed that he's staying, along the same lines as other reports. They also add that Emery didn't appreciate the leaks from NUFC, which compromised his standing at Villarreal right before a CL game.

Yes. Now if we can sort out Dembelé too, even with all his issues we're not particularly flush with attacking talent right now.

Man, celebrating an agonizing away win at Kiev like it was a quarter-final at San Siro. We suck so much. Still, Fati is the man.

Villarreal's president claimed yesterday evening that NUFC still haven't made a formal approach to them.

Not at all. They are one of the richest clubs in Spain outside of the traditional big ones. They have a pretty rich owner (and they are very well run, too).

They have been quite horrible tbf. But I think it's just one of those patches of form, he did great with them last season. He's a very solid appointment, really.

I'm still here! Agüero spent the night at the hospital and it looks like he suffered an arrhytmia...

Oh, absolutely. Winning trophies in Qatar isn't real experience. But one can dream, which is more I could with Koeman.

There's also the whole chain of torch-passing from Cruyff to Guardiola and now to Xavi. As a football fan, I live for this shit. And yes, our squad is badly depleted but we're much better than what's been on display. Koeman was a terrible manager, with a terrible defeatist attitude and always making excuses. He lost games before the ball started rolling.

Brain says Ten Hag (I know little of Gallardo), heart says Xavi. And I'm gonna go all Disney movie and follow my heart. Dude was the living embodiment of our style. He was more Mr Barça than Messi himself. Hopefully we're not getting Catalan Solksjaer...

It's gonna be Xavi. I know I shouldn't (I mean, he's only managed in Qatar) but I'm all the fuck in right now.

Also, Fati's contract is not really up. We can extend it for two years unilaterally, but that would piss him off (since he deserves more than youth team wages).

According to reports he's already agreed to a new contract and will be announced tomorrow. But after what happened with Messi... Not counting my chickens!

About Dembelé I will say the same I've been saying the past years. All the talent in the world, but injuries and lack of professionalism will prevent him from making the most of it. I will still hate losing him on a free, but if he sings for you, I can certainly live with that.

What's this wall? I guess it can't be listing every player to play for NUFC...

So, Laporta already with the shenanigans. Yesterday was Barça's general assembly. In the order of the day, among other things, was a controversial reform of the club's bylaws. Among other things, it suspended financial liability for the board in case things go south during their term. It increased control over fan clubs. They couched it with other desirable reforms (like a diversity hiring mandate) but the board was likely going to lose the vote. So Laporta decided to postpone the assembly and will now try to get time to win the votes, or just hope that opposition voters will not show up a second time. Boards are usually able to pack the assembly with loyal voters, since these assemblies are usually poorly attended.

Just temporarily this time! Fati is the truth.

It's just the first English language source I found

Very solid manager imho. He would be a good choice.

According to RMC Zidane turned you down. https://chicagotoday.news/sports/zidane-refuses-to-coach-newcastle/ I don't think it would've worked, anyway. He was great at navigating the dressing room and club politics at Real Madrid (not an easy feat), but that's not your situation.