Village Idiot

I know, meant to edit that but you caught me first "rock bottom".

Lose against the top bottom, 7 days later, dispose of one of the best teams in the league. You're confusing like.

Zlatan has changed his version regarding Messi more often than I change socks though. Messi bothers me; I like the chorality that Martino has achieved with people like Pedro, Alexis, Neymar coming forward, but we need to get Messi involved and somehow isn't happening and he doesn't look comfortable at all.

Lush play by Neymar to create the goal by the way.

If Neil was watching our game, he'd probably describe this in-game incident as a goal.

Perfect spelling

Bit of a late bloomer to be frank. Could have made a case for him being in the Confed Cup though, his second half of the last season was terrific.

Ok, Diego Costa has come out and announced he'll play for Spain. Can't wait for the reactions of the Brazilian crowds. He's such a great heel.

considering what they spend and well the opposition in spain not exactly being numerous its not precisely ridiculous for them to have high expectations. The problem as always has been ridiculous decision making in the last 10 years and this is no more obvious than in the transfer market where players are bought not to fit in to some philosophy or if the head coach really wants him but because "Real Madrid must buy big names don't bother with minor details like do we actually need him in any fashion and can the money be better spend on some nobody defender or defensive midfielder they won't bring media attention!" There's only one man actually responsible for that, and fortunately they haven't noticed it yet and he's adored by their gullible fans. And he just amended the Real Madrid statutes so it's practically impossible to run against him - to a big round of applause and 90%+ support. Long may it continue.

Properly motivated, Benzema could be a star (and he was for Real Madrid in their title-winning season), but the guy has no mettle or drive whatsoever.

Funny though, these quotes seem over all the english-speaking press but can't find them anywhere in our media; suppose it was polite praise whem prompted by some english media, I guess.

WTF

You scored 44 out of a possible 60 Close but no cigar – YOU'RE A BIT OF A HIPSTER! You love a bit of tactical talk and wear your 1991-92 St Pauli away shirt with pride, but deep down there's part of you who prefers a cavorting mess of a 4-3 to a well-disciplined 0-0. You heathen, you. Still, you're well on your way to zen-like hipsterdom Show Answers | Try again Was a bit at a loss at the question where they asked you who'd you rather sign for your club and one of the answers was, hum, Messi.

I like that, works as a shortlist of the perceived world's best. Not only the top 5.

According to a German radio, our DOF flew to Germany yesterday to hold talks with 'Gladbach for Ter Stegen. Figure being thrown around is €10m.

Can't see any argument for Ronaldo winning it personally. Ribery or Robben should get it for what Bayern achieved, and even in pure stats territory Messi is above him and won more with his club. The coach list is a joke. No Simeone?

Interviews with players/managers and transfer exclusives, plus pushing club merchandise through the papers, which drive up their sales (do you do that in UK?). Madrid and Barça very effectively use those to beat their local press into submission. They certainly don't get any transfer exclusives, and the interviews consist almost entirely of Steven Taylor saying "We'll do it for the fans", no merchandising stuff. I can't see any benefit that the paper gets from it honestly, yes the NUFC coverage is a big selling point of the paper but real journalists shouldn't need interviews with players to manage decent coverage. I can't think of anything more boring than reading a local rag interview with a player. For sure, most interview pieces and similar are inane fluff, but a lot of people buy into them. Lazy journalism does sell. Ultimately, a big share of any club's support wants to read they are the best (even when they arent, or particularly when they aren't), and this kind of "journalism" serves that, and serves the club's board interests at the same time. And there's also the indirect bribes of flying journos with the players in away games, junkets, and other perks.

Interviews with players/managers and transfer exclusives, plus pushing club merchandise through the papers, which drive up their sales (do you do that in UK?). Madrid and Barça very effectively use those to beat their local press into submission.

Pretty sure Valdés has it done with Mónaco.

Off to get drunk and celebrate. Good luck in el Clásico de Norteumbría tomorrow

The stadium singing the anthem a capella, btw, goosebumps

Important win, despite Messi being clearly off-form and our fitness not really being great. Madrid were awful until the last stages of the game, wonder what whas Ancelotti thinking with that weird starting XI. Ramos in midfield

I think Real needed that type of player and have done for some time, but he, along with the other attackers don't really agree with Ancelotti's favoured narrow system. They'll sort it eventually, though. They already have the better version in Cronaldo. To me, they have way too similar players getting into each other's way. And lost people like Özil or Isco (who's not started today to make way for Bale) that fed him.

We're looking exhausted already. Damn.

A bunch of rich people striking over their tax rates. Man...