Village Idiot

Casilla's so finished...

Still can't believe that's not an FM regen name.

Man, Pardew's on full 1984 mode lately. "We've always developed great young players" "We've played exciting football".

I didn't.

Brahimi looked like a headless chicken whenever I saw him turn out for Granada. But he played on the wing there, certainly not as a box-to-box midfielder.

:anguish::anguish::anguish::anguish: Why is this person writing single sentence paragraphs? Does he write children books? http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php/topic,95522.msg5115485.html#msg5115485 Ryder's an expert in this. I just read the link, jeeesus

Well, I'm not so sure about that; when Messi is at the top of his game everything goes through him, he's far more dominant than Ronaldo was. If you mean aesthetically, I can give you that, prime Ronaldo's runs towards goal had a majestic combination of power and technique - but that's in the eye of the beholder.

Is it some kind of trick question? Ronaldo wasn't better than Messi. I'd say 9 for the fat one, and 10 for Leo. On his best days Ronaldo would score a hattrick all by himself, on his best days Messi scores a hattrick all by himself and then assists a couple more.

Best football I've ever witnessed live until 2008. Our sound defeat at Athens diminished that side's standing and precipitated its demise, but that season was the best one we had under Cruyff. Saw them get beaten here in Göteborg that year ('94). That was the following season (1994-1995), the team was already in a steep decline by then. Laudrup had left for starters.

Best football I've ever witnessed live until 2008. Our sound defeat at Athens diminished that side's standing and precipitated its demise, but that season was the best one we had under Cruyff.

Really? I can't say I often see them, who's ahead of him that's so much better? I'm not saying that he doesn't deserve to be in it, just that he won't. Pastore and Verratti are ahead of him in playmaker roles, and that won't change in the short term.

Aye, he was absurd; surreal close control and would always do whatever he wanted with the ball, and put it wherever he wanted. Only his laziness prevented him from being at the very top, imho.

:anguish::anguish::anguish::anguish: Why is this person writing single sentence paragraphs? Does he write children books?

Cabayé was never going to get in PSG's starting XI, he should've known that already.

That was quick, what the hell happened? I was bummed when I learnt García had to quit because of health problems.

"he might be playing for us, but he hasn't actually signed, mwahaha!" Such a pointless ban. Needs to be a ban on all potential transfer activity. Actually no, we are just trying to woo him in order to convince him to sign for us in one year. He's still at his Norwegian club, and it's an official invitation, his club can refuse it.

http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php/topic,94045.msg5157442/topicseen.html#msg5157442 The forum for all your needs. I was sure people over here would've discussed him already

Apparently we have invited some Norwegian wonderkid called Martin Odegaard to Barcelona to meet our staff and facilities, with a view to sign him in one year once our ban expires. Anybody heard of him?

I think players like him or HBA in his time are deemed by Pardew as a "risk", instead of "tried and trusted" more physical players. AP is one of the most risk-adverse managers I have ever seen. Even people like Allardyce always made room for the likes of Djorkaeff or Okocha in his workmanlike teams.

I was just highlighting the lazy assumption that all African midfielders are cut from the same cloth Tiote and Toure are very different footballers.

To be honest, at his age he's looking at a last chance to jump to the next level of clubs and sign a big contract. I wouldn't be surprised if he wants to force a move.

Linked as Toure's replacement in Jan in the Daily Mail. I think they are in for a surprise if City intend to replace Toure with Tiote. Although I suspect it's just lazy journal(rac)ism: "scary black midfielder to replace another scary black midfielder".

Yeah I'm jesting you do. You don't buy young players and ruin them, more buy expensive crap players and discover they are crap That's our M.O. indeed We either sign youngsters for our youth teams, or the finished article for the senior squad; not much in between.

Dunno, we have a decent track record developing young players, I'd say. Rather he stays put in NUFC and has a great career at your place, anyway, no need to hurry and plan his move to big clubs already

I hope not; not only because I hate them, it would ruin his career.