Village Idiot

Sorry if Giggs but the Japan-Italy game was absolutely amazing. This tournament might have a point in the fact that teams don't give a fuck and are more carefree than in the real thing next year.

Personally I think we'll score less than Nigeria, we tend to switch off in games against minor opposition after getting a comfortable lead.

How can you deal with watching the Bills Mike? And NUFC on top of that? I'd be on prozac.

I see you're giving into the Pozzo hive mind.

When under the knife for a groin injury after the season ended. I do think the same regarding playing with just one DMC (we were just so much more dynamic going forward without the huge gap between Xavi and the front 3 we usually have), but there's a reason Spain had conceded 3 goals in 2 major tournaments until yesterday.

Didn't know we are playing in the Championship next season. Yeah, don't think even Kinnear's superpowers are so strong.

Utter crap for Barca but can't stop scoring for Spain, don't really get it myself. Utter crap? Exaggeration much? 12 goals in his last 2 seasons says it isn't..... even VI has said he's been rubbish for 2 years. Don't look at the amount of goals, he's been nowhere near good enough to be starting for them week in week out fair enough, but if he had been utter crap I wouldn't be having this discussion with you because they wouldn't have called him up to the national team. You know full well that Spain's call ups are hugely political and if you don't play for Madrid and Barca you have to be playing ridiculously well to get into the team. Look at Fabregas before he joined Barca, he was never starting but since then he's always in the XI. Besides it doesn't matter what his performances for Barca are, just like it never mattered when Klose was at Bayern doing nothing. He performs for his country for what ever reason so he will always get called no matter how poorly he plays for Barca. That's not really true. People like Arbeloa, Alonso or Albiol were regulars before being signed by Real Madrid (actually they were signed because of how few Spain internationals they had in their books, something they used to take pride in). Same with Villa, Alba, etc... it's only natural that the best Spanish players end up in the top 2 Spanish teams, particularly with the financial disparity in La Liga. Fàbregas started playing when Barça used him in a role compatible with Xavi/Iniesta (I don't think it's the best for him) and Del Bosque took a page from it. Thing about Del Bosque is that he's incredibly conservative, he has his men and that's it. In a way he's right in the way he tries to create a club atmosphere in the national squad, but we could use some freshening up in some quarters. That's why you don't see the likes of Mata or Martínez breaking into the starting XI. He's only changed personnel when forced by age (Puyol/Marchena) or when they became so useless there wasn't another choice (Torres).

Saw the game, it was magnificent drama. Sending offs, a missed penalty in ET. Great watch for a neutral, if gutting for Las Palmas. Girona beat Alcorcón comfortably and will square off against Almería. I think Almería are the better team, but there's always hope

Luna isn't that big of a prospect. Cheap cover? I'm not aware of who Villa have at leftback.

Personally think this is masterstroke by Ashley to make Pardew look less bad in comparison.

Is he still owed stuff from when he last worked for you? Only remotely rational reason why I could imagine your board employing him again.

Arsenal bid €30m for Higuaín, according to Marca.

Fucking livid, and I didn't even follow you when he was last in charge

Isco pisses this level from such a great height it's ridiculous, he should be in Brazil. I'm gonna hate it when he signs for Real Madrid like.

I have come to believe that he's fucking immortal. Probably collects severed heads too.

Summer competition = nobody will give a shit. There's already a host of summer tournaments featuring a number of big European teams in them, and I can't see why this one would fare better.

Tasty group for us, we should get out but some potentially cracking games against those teams.

We don't care enough about the tournament to not fuck up at some point, I just hope it's against somebody decent (just NOT Italy) and not an embarrassment like last time against the US. Teams like Tahití have a place in these tournaments, otherwise we might as well pick 20 European teams+Argentina/Brazil+couple of outsiders for the World Cups. Wonder who they will score their first flukey goal against, which will be news around the world. I bet it's against us.

Well, I'm actually looking forward this now.

Pellegrini to City confirmed. Toulalan to Atlético close to done, according to Spain's Cadena Cope. Joaquín to Fiorentina done deal too. Málaga's fire sale on full force.

Sergio Ballesteros reportedly decked Pepe in Real Madrid's dressing room. Plus myriad of other incidents; he's great at performing the intimidating c*** role.

Reacted the same. Every time the fee inches a little bit, so I guess it's all good for Celta

Pfeh, was excited about "Tata" Martino coming to La Liga, but I guess it's too soon for him to leave Newell's.

Finally been able to track the news down. He was released from hospital this morning after scans didn't show any head injury. UEFA has admitted 9th-placed () Sevilla into the EL, although CAS has still to rule on Rayo after upholding Málaga's ban.

Only 36! That's 18 in MLS years. 37 next month actually He didn't even cut it in Liga Adelante anymore, bar the occasional FK. His legs fell to pieces years ago.