Village Idiot

Heh, just noticed Torres is 1 in 9 in Serie A. One of these days it will be revealed that he was abducted and replaced with a body snatcher.

Real clubs > Qatar Really, for a split second I thought he had missed, he looked so crushed http://img02.mundodeportivo.com/2014/11/22/GRA308-BARCELONA-22-11-2014-El_54419616404_54115221152_960_640.jpg

By the way I was really amused by how honestly devastated Rakitic looked after he scored against Sevilla

39 points with only 3 defenders and Chadli to play. Pfeh.

Now this was more like it First really good game against good opposition we've had this season, and first great Messi game in a while. Hopefully it won't be just a one off.

Rayo Vallecano have announced they are going to pay the rent of a 85-year old woman, who lived in Vallecas, that just got evicted from her house of 50 years. Classy

It's not really that; Valencia are trying to copyright an amended version of their logo and DC are trying to block it. Even as I love to bash big media companies as much as the next guy, DC aren't suing Valencia. This is how copyright law works, by the way; DC probably don't give a f*** about Valencia using that logo, but they have to be able to demonstrate a history of defending their copyright in case a real infringement arises.

That's his most probable destination given their money and ex-Barça people in their board, imho.

That makes no sense; he has no chance of getting games for the first team right now. Apparently will be loaned back to Strømsgodset or another La Liga club. Assume the clause is for when he actually ends up at Real. And when his contract runs out he'll probably won't be getting many games yet, he'll be maybe 21?

Wow. What makes you think that? It's just a feeling; he looks unmotivated and unhappy. I get the feeling that if he can't reignite his form again after two bad years (and thus leading us to trophies), he'll want to try pastures new.

By the way, I'm gonna leave this here so we can revisit it at the end of the season: I'm sure Messi will leave if we don't win anything that season.

That makes no sense; he has no chance of getting games for the first team right now.

I suppose he just got caped by his country.

Why the cape? Is he meant to be a superhero or just flamboyant?

When you look at the players who have left us recently, no one has amounted to much. If he stays here he'll start and be a legend. This is an annoying myth. I wouldn't know like, Cabaye not having a great time at PSG, Andy Carroll (nuff said) Demba Ba's big time move hardly worked out for him, Jose Enrique was doing alright for a spell but cant get in the team at Liverpool these days. Bit too early to tell on Debuchy. I'm probably missing loads like but they stick in my mind the most. All of them are now earning more money.

How much is ticketing and STs worth as a % of a club's turnover nowadays? Probably not that much given the monster TV deals and sponsorships going around. I know every penny counts, but lower ticket prices and thus more packed stadiums would probably be a positive for the clubs too.

He was in Real Madrid C until now, which means he wasn't deemed good enough. It's where they send all their second tier youth prospects that can later be sold to lesser teams or fill in at Real Madrid Castilla in a pinch. True prospects like Jesé or Carvajal never set foot at Real Madrid C.

I have to admit my only exposure to Garth Crooks are his often hilarious picks for team of the week.

Our president during most of the 80s-90s, Josep Lluís Núñez, has been jailed at age 83 for tax fraud. My dad had business with him in the 90s, and can vouch that he's a massive crook.

I think we've done 6 year contracts before. Sissoko was 6.5 when he joined if I remember correctly. Mmmmm... Just checked FIFA's regulations on this: http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/regulations_on_the_status_and_transfer_of_players_en_33410.pdf So I guess England allows longer contracts?

Max contract length is five years, pretty sure NUFC has gone for that, particularly with a young player.

Song is on loan from us, so he still has a Barça wage.

Not bad!

Toshack, Coleman and now Moyes. Quite strange for a European club to go down that route really. IIRC, the manager that's won more Spanish Cups is one Fred Pentland, an Englishman that managed Bilbao in the 20s and 30s.

Me neither, it's true that they have a story with British managers, though; Toshack was the last manager that won them things.