Village Idiot

Was at the game. Both Alexis and Cesc were bought to be what they were yesterday: our plan B. Cesc was never really intended as a Xavi's replacement (Thiago is groomed for that role) but as a more direct threat from midfield compared to Xavi and Iniesta, somebody that could provide goals from that line since none of our midfielders are too prolific. Alexis as somebody that can run at defences and create chances. Dunno if the lack of Messi on the pitch liberated them, but they have had games like that with Leo in the pitch, just never regularly enough (Cesc was imperious in the first months of the season, for example). Anyway, even if Mallorca are turboshit, it will be a good injection of morale before we play PSG without Messi. Was great to see Abidal back on the pitch, this also being Tito's first home game since he came back from his treatment. One of the great feel good moments of the season.

Yes.

Rodrigo has a lot of hype about him. I honestly didn't rate him much, but I have seen him play recently and his game is becoming much better. You can really see he's a class or two above U21 football.

To be frank everybody knows they received an inflated valuation just because of who they were. It's stupid to deny it but at the same time not too sure it can be legally acted upon. We tried to pull off the same trick with the Miniestadi land, mind, but we had honest politicians in the council

Would love to see top players in games that don't really matter and they can do whatever the hell they like with no consequences. Seeing players warming up on the pitch can be pretty cool at times but to see a full 90 minutes of no pressure, mess about football would be great. Aye, that's why preseason friendlies are such amazing football spectacles.

It's done like that in Spain. With erotic consequences.

Aye, usually 10 human days = 5 Messi days, but you never known.

Messi out for 10 days, will probably miss the second leg.

The only thing we need, is a little bit more gear when moving the ball, which we used to have and still appears in the odd game (Milan at home, Málaga away...)

Good enough. Put him in a plane and tell him he's man-marking Zlatan Ibrahimovic next week.

Gonna go cry on my Kluivert shirt. You meanies.

He had the choice of Newcastle. Fair enough have ambition but try and be a little bit realistic. Nee joking. 10 years ago... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deloitte_Football_Money_League#2002.E2.80.9303 No Barça.

The lure of Cabaye would of been too much to turn down even if you had come in for him I genuinely think that your whole recruiting policy is using the "recommend me a player to sign" on feature on Cabaye.

Wonder why couldn't we just have bought somebody like MYM, mind. Bah, I complain about the same thing every season and the staff ends up buying more midfielders.

Piqué only fit senior CB. Amazing. Brought it upon ourselves, mind.

They changed his training, food... even retrained his way of stepping... he has a lower center of gravity than when he started, for example. It did wonders for his injuries.

He had lots before 2008.

Hamstring. "Doesn't look too serious", but to be scanned tomorrow.

What a weirdass game. We should be beating this lot at home if god damn injuries aren't too bad. Mascherano's lookedugly though, and that means wee Bartra starting.

Spanish telly says he can't go. Fuck.

Why do Bayern have signed Pep again? They seem pretty damn fine as it is.

Apparently Beckham played in Xavi's European debut... 15 years ago. We're a bit rattled so far.

Wha--? Granted he'll score a FK or something now.

We were shitter two months ago actually. Our best form was around November-early January. We'll see what kind of effect Tito's return has, all that proxy manager shit did the team no good. I'm mostly worried about the patchwork defence. PSG aren't really a team, but any of those names can make something happen.

All the rats jumped ship pretty quickly when you went down.