Village Idiot

Messi has had motivation issues for a good couple years. But when he's on, he's on; he bossed the game against Atlético for example. But seems harder for him to remain at the very top, every game, like he did 2-3 years ago. Maybe because he's achieved everything at club level, I don't know.

A Liverpool fan friend of mine just told me that "Newcastle were one of the richest clubs in England the 90s", in the middle of a "money doesn't buy success" tirade. Is that true? I know you were actually one of the top clubs in England (money-wise) in the 2000s, but not too sure before that.

Madrid have been better without him on the pitch, but he actually had a great game this weekend. Makes no sense to turn on a player after he puts on that kind of performance. Anyway, the Bernabéu crowd are known for their fickleness.

Gonna try to keep this thread more active. This week saw us getting a balsamic win over Atlético de Madrid, which will ensure Luís Enrique's future in the short term. With an election called at the end of the season (which the current board won't win), it's very unlikely that he'll get sacked unless things go real pear-shaped. Actually Enrique got one over Simeone by deploying Messi on the right, were he faced inexperienced Gámez and ran riot all night. Madrid disposed of Espanyol (useless c***s), and somehow Bale managed to get booed despite scoring a great FK and giving a great assist, for the crime of not passing it to Ronaldo when he was clear on goal. Elsewhere, Alves stopped another penalty (he's over 50% stopped penalties at the moment, ridiculous), although Valencia conceded a draw. That's the problem with them; they pull off great results like beating Madrid or Atlético (and almost drawing against us), but they drop points against much lesser opposition. Sevilla nailed another win and piped 4th place off them.

Speaking of which, I'm reading Lowe's weekly La Liga article (great read if you're interested in our OMGWEMIGHTFINISHTHIRD-crisis), and found this great bit: http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jan/12/lionel-messi-barcelona-unite-crisis-for-now Sadly true

We do have a few ex-pros serving as pundits, too, but not in the staggering amounts you do. We still have mostly professional "journalists" doing most stuff. Not that the average Spanish football journo is going to win the Pullitzer anytime soon, mind. The best journalist that writes about Spanish football is a brit.

That joke would have been remigarded as awful.

What has Morrison ever done to warrant a move to Serie A's third placed team, besides being as thuggish as Lazio fans?

that looks a horrible deal for Toronto Defoe wants to leave, Altidore will score boatloads in the MLS. Also, IIRC Toronto doesn't really get to decide, the MLS gets to decide if the offer is adequate. And the MLS probably wants Altidore there; he's still a star in the US, isn't he?

You may not like Atlético's style (I don't), but what he's achieved there is sort of incredible.

She speaks four languages. I'm in love. I only speak three, I feel emasculated

Also, Kate Abdo is ridiculous.

Also, really unfair on Simeone, but was going to be hard to win it this year with the WC going on.

Miranda deserved to be there, imho.

Glenn Hoddle 0% Tim Sherwood 0% Good.

I can hereby break the news that I'm NOT on Newcastle's radar for the Head Coach job.

They were all three immense players, among the best of the past 25 years; but they didn't complement their strengths. A strike force is about balance, too (also the reason why I believe the two other Barça tridents I mentioned are better than the current one). I believe they would have been shown up in a truly competitive environment.

Ronaldo-Ronaldinho-Rivaldo only played together in international football, which is vastly inferior nowadays to, say, the CL. Not to say Neymar-Suárez-Messi are in considerantion, it's just been a few months and they have hardly clicked yet. I'd rate them below Henry-Eto'o-Messi or Villa-Messi-Pedro.

Remember him from his times as striker. Was decent.

Can he score goals? That's not our problem. The goal scorers, I mean. The problem is we have absolutely no idea how to get them the ball. Gil's a quite creative AMC. (Very) poor man's Isco, if you wish.

Borini spotted at the Camp Nou Oh wait. We can't sign anybody, no need to panic.

Messi just rubbished all the rumours about him wanting to leave or not getting along with Lucho

He was one of the best players in a team that barely avoided relegation in Spain. Make of that what you will.

First really good performance of the season against a proper big team. Hope the team's atmosphere improves. Neymar is embarrassing. If he wasn't my player I would be mortified. I barely can stand his antics as it is now.

He's squandered his several chances at several better teams (Barça, Milan, Ajax, Roma...) Absolutely, but it's such a downturn in quality like. I think the lad just has a mentality problem; he's quality, but crumbles in a high-pressure environment.