Village Idiot

Fun stat. In the last 7 years the CL has been won by either Barça or the team that has eliminated Barça.

That said, if we can shake the gloom off and win this weekend, I think we'll win the league now. Atlético and Madrid will have two more high-octane games right in the home stretch of the competition.

Congratulations to Atlético, I hope and wish they go all the way. Given that we were never going to win this thing, I guess it's best to go out soon instead of another season of papering over the cracks of our decline. Maybe the board will now address the deficiencies of our aging midfield and ridiculous defence and do some necessary signings in the summer. Oh wai--

Nah according to Spanish media its this.... I wouldn't assume our media have much of a clue.

Good to see Simeone is being cautious with Costa. I want him fit for winding up Brazilian crowds in the WC. Not too confident about tonight, the game is set up towards Atlètico's strengths. Let us come and counter - even though they are missing Costa.

They were engaged in a very bitter battle over control of the club, but this is ridiculous Was this the 2 families that owned the club a few years back? I read they used to argue over the future of the club and what caused Benitez to leave in 2004. Not exactly, that was Soler battling with the Roig family to take over the club. He ultimately took over the club and Benítez left. The feud with Soriano came afterwards, when Soler ultimately ran the club into the ground. He's considered to be the main culprit of Valencia's current predicament. And now he's allegedly kidnapper too

They were engaged in a very bitter battle over control of the club, but this is ridiculous

Valencia former president Juan Soler arrested in connection with a plot to kidnap Valencia former president Vicente Soriano

Saying goodbye to this thread until summer 2015. Have fun you lot!

We don't really "need" Deulofeu at this point. Pedro/Neymar/Alexis/Tello+Iniesta are good depth for our wings. Rather he spends another year on loan. Rafinha isn't really that great a prospect, we kept the wrong Alcántara brother. There's Samper, who's hit the ground running at Barça B, but this is his first year playing professional football.

With Pinto as GK, an aging midfield and no CBs? No.

Telling the man feeding the donkey that drags his cart with the uneven wooden wheels that the engine in his Murcielago is making an odd noise. No way we finish above third next season too, NO WAY. :anguish:

Oh man, I want to kill our board. The Thiago clause, the Neymar transfer, now this... what a bunch of muppets.

It's Groundhog Day for Cesc, he always starts the season very strongly yet fades after the New Year. He was slow both of mind and of body yesterday. Worst thing is that Atlético can park the bus now - something which they are very good at - and sneak one on the counter. Not really confident.

Ah well...

When you have people like Ronaldo and Bale at the sides, having a player like Benzema who's able to drop a bit deep and move the ball intelligently and create space is more useful than another all out striker that will score 1000 more goals, particularly when they don't play with a natural #10 anymore after selling Özil and Isco not featuring much.

I aim to please.

...and Diego Costa equalizes.

Atlético one down. Athletic are truly imperious at the San Mamés Barria.

Huge 3 points for us today. Gonna be a stellar day at work on Monday

Yessss

Neymar man, we've been swindled.

Today, in my opinion, is the toughest fixture we'll have until the season's finale against Atlético. There's nothing more in this world that Espanyol would like more than to crush our title hopes after we've been gifted a second wind this past week.

It's fine to have a forward player that doesn't do much defensively. The problem for Real is that in Cronaldo, Bale and Benzema they have three of those. Alexis and Pedro's biggest virtue, for example, is that they do put quite a shift besides a meaningful attacking contribution (both are having splendid seasons).

Madrid have a great squad indeed, certainly with bigger depth than ours. But once again their penchant for marquee names hurts them. Bale, for example, while certainly a great player, has to play by decree and it has shown in these two past games that it makes Real Madrid too top heavy and easily to break in midfield, as he doesn't track back and doesn't do much in creative areas.