Village Idiot

Wait, Spain won? We're supposedly shocking in women's football, how did that happen? This is the second time we qualify for the tournament in 16 years IIRC.

Heh? Apart from some head-scratching posting of tables that don't lead to anywhere (Barton a prozone fiend?) he's hardly saying anything too controversial there. I mean, it's a fairly lengthy and long-winded post to just say "he has to prove it in Europe", but he doesn't say he's shit or anything

They do not have a like-for-like understudy for Alonso, so they'll keep him. They are starting to have a bit too many players to keep everybody happy though.

He's just had his breakout season, it's ok.

They paid more for their Alonso replacement prospect that they did for the real thing.

"Barça's playbook: set piece tactics".

Boy has always dreamt of making it at Chelsea, hasn't he? According to himself at least.

Madrid have bought Illarramendi for €30m. Good signing, but a tad expensive. Long term Alonso replacement.

Think Mourinho will hit the ground running and walk it. Pellegrini doesn't know the league and will need more time to adapt. I don't even consider you challengers unless you sign a midfielder or two, actually. But I have done that countless years and you still won. But there was another Scotsman in charge.

Heh, I hope you're right about La Liga. I certainly aren't. Neymar (who we've just bought) will be a big boost but Xavi is on decline and Thiago is leaving for Munich (sorry). And we still haven't bought a CB. Munich have a new manager, no matter how brilliant he is, he's going to upset the applecart of a winning formula (he was talking about playing Martínez at CB yesterday). And BVB are having a great window despite the loss of Götze. For starters, I believe it'll be much closer than last season (not that it's hard) Possibly too son for Monaco, I'll give you that, but they are assembling a good enough team if they gel. I don't follow Serie A enough anymore to pass judgement, dunno how close other teams are to Juve nowadays. Most entertaining game I saw from us last year was a 4-5 away win against Depor. They had a go at us, they lost, they ultimately got relegated, all the time playing attacking football. And what a game of football that 4-5 was. I too get "excitement" watching us try to break down some team that parks the bus, since there's always something at stake for me, but I doubt neutrals do.

I should have fleshed out my post a bit more to be honest, but I agree with what you said earlier. All the top leagues in Europe are foregone conclusions next year IMO, except England and I honestly think it plays the more exciting brand of football. It's got the perfect mix of technique and brawn. Personally cannot wait for the new season. So hum, the Spanish league have 2 challengers, the French one 2, the German 2, and the English 3. Yeah, massive improvement. Exciting brand of football is a taste thing, I love the PL (heck, what I'm doing here otherwise?) but what I love about La Liga is that even the smaller sides go about trying to play a decent brand of football instead of going the Stoke or Norwich way to ensure survival.

I feel an urge to check out if there's been a winner of 3 different top tier continental cups. Given that we just signed Neymar.

Pretty impressive given you just signed Neymar. Sorry, I slipped. Won't happen again, we have just signed Neymar afterall.

Ronaldinho winning the Libertadores, what a legend

RSC to Málaga on a free, after spending this year on loan.

Does this make sense though? Surely making signings is either good or bad 100% dependent on who the player is? I'm jealous of their manager obviously... but there's nothing about their transfer strategy that suggests it's any better than ours at the moment. Exception being Michu if he keeps it up. He had to threaten to walk out to get that money as well, club were put over a barrel in public by Laudrup and caved in to his demand for more cash. Anyone think Pardew could get away with that? You'd either get more transfer funds or Pardew would be sacked, win-win

12m lands you at least two Villas.

Meh, I suppose I can take Thiago going to Bayern better than going to ManU, Pep's there afterall, which is a strong reason for him. Of course, there'll be all the hair pulling about "Pep's betrayed us!!!" for weeks, but I don't care much about that. Bayern Munich's manager should look after Bayern Munich's interest, not Barça's. Redcafe is in meltdown, so at least I'm entertained.

Chelsea loaned Oriol Romeu to Valencia.

Granero is a fairweather player. If spirits are high and the team is clicking, he's great. If not, he won't do anything to change it.

On the Thiago issue, if Pep can convince Robben and Ribery to play as wingbacks... Neuer Martínez Gustavo Robben Ribery Schweinsteiger Kross Shaquiri Thiago Götze Müller All midfielder/AM team

Pretty sure the remaining €40m didn't go to his father, alone. Personally I don't give a fuck where the money went once it's paid, but I certainly don't believe only €17m was paid in transfer, there's bound to be more stuff under the table that's not on that document. For example we signed a "collaboration agreement" with Santos giving us first choice to some of their talents, which smacks of a way to pay Santos extra without them having to share it with the third parties.

You never had a chance as soon as Bayern got involved, with Guardiola there.

Pretty sure Götze is going to be tried as a false 9 a la Messi. Muller is also a sure thing on the right and Ribery on the left. I think Thiago will be fighting for a place with Kroos (who for me is a better player) I think Müller fits the bill better. Götze screams so much "Iniesta role" that I can't get past him for that. Wouldn't surprise me they are waiting on Lewandowski though, he would fit perfectly as deep #9. Are BVB really going to make him stay for the year?