Village Idiot

As usual, I refer you to the guy in my avatar. http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/mar/17/rayo-vallecano-all-or-nothing-approach-sid-lowe

The sequence of events wouldn't make a iota of sense, though. 1) Ashley sanctions loaning out HBA to Hull, because Bruce wanted the player and Pardew didn't because of personal issues. 2) One game later, Ashley sacks Pardew after having backed him in his dispute with HBA. 3) Ashley gets Bruce, paying compensation (!!) 4) Now the manager that wanted HBA to play for him is managing Newcastle, while HBA is at Hull.

Yeah, the problem is that he's coming from the opposite lane and tries to cut time by U-turning, so he ends up coming at it at an awful angle and he stubbornly tries to turn, instead of reversing and just coming at it at a better angle.

I hope Vermaelen turns faster in the pitch than he does with his car... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx8J-P1RdRA#t=64

Is that thread title a real quote? Absolutely disgraceful Stick a fork in him, he's done.

Ah nice but he can't be crying. Lad had just scored two goals in half an hour, he was buzzing. I like that, to be honest. He's scored in the WC yet still gets giddy after having a good game in the league.

Ah, what a nice day.

According to the Spanish commentary, Atlético haven't scored with a shot from open play since April.

Speaking of clean sheets, until today the last time we had three clean sheets in a row was in 1994 Anyway, good on you brummie, hope you enjoy football this year after some rather unenjoyable years.

Loaning You're not going to see them again in your shirt, net effect is the same.

I really don't think your owner is going to sack Pardew just one game after backing him by transferring out two players he had antagonized.

Simeone's playing with two up top instead of Mandzukic on his own. Arda has been carrying a knock.

Casillas, Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Coentrao, Kroos, Modric, James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema. Moyá, Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Siqueira, Gabi, Tiago, Koke, Raúl García, Raúl Jiménez, Mandzukic. Despite speculation, Madrid without much changes from their Anoeta team, besides Isco making way for Ronaldo and Rodríguez moving to the hole as a result. Coentrao starts instead of Marcelo. Atleti starts without Arda, and Jiménez instead of Griezmann.

Anybody that travels all the way from Newcastle to Southampton to watch the team play deserves much better from club employees.

I think it's mandatory under PL rules, IIRC.

Gonna bust out a bottle of wine if you sack the guy. Time to push Paco Jémez again: http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/mar/17/rayo-vallecano-all-or-nothing-approach-sid-lowe

Man, the older he gets the more Beñat looks like Gattuso.

Flip, Neymar on the Catalan telly saying that he was tired after the international break, and that's why he didn't start. He's almost crying of joy

Pretty sad if your manager gets sacked just one week after forcing HBA away. Somebody needs to get a Tardis.

They haven't played that much together, either.

Messi and Neymar linking up

Quality assist by Messi, by the way, I love how he's dropping deep and spraying passes again, instead of trying to dribble everybody and frustrating himself, like he was becoming addicted to doing.

At least Barcelona gets twice as good with him on the pitch. Why was he on the bench today again? Still a bit unfit? Despite playing two 90minutes for Brazil? I think that's because he played 90 minutes twice for Brazil, at the other side of the world.

And here he is

And meanwhile, Neymar comes in. Shoots. Wide. Alba crosses to him in the box. Connects. Wide.