Village Idiot

Well, yesterday sucked. Milan were much better than Chelsea last year. We actually had a lot of chances in that tie and could have easily carried it on a different day. But we absolutely had nothing to show yesterday. Fair play to them, and hats off. Today sucks at work, btw, teaches me to work for a Madrid-based company

It's strange that not a single la Liga club has ever gone for him.

There's something to be said about being able to handle a big club environment. Pellegrini, for all his ability as manager, was devoured by the dressing room and club politics at Real Madrid. That's also a part of football, whether we like it or not. I don't think you could, say, put Curbishley in charge of ManU and be instantly a success. That said, Barça are pretty much managerless nowadays and walking the league (although our form has indeed declined since Vilanova left).

I agree with this, I respect Ferguson a lot in the way he's gone through the ups and downs at ManU, and been able to create winning side after winning side. I can't really think of many contemporary managers that have been able to create more than a successful cycle at the same club, once the players that provided that declined.

Wonder where he picked up that habit? Pretty sure our youth can develop into drunkards without English tutelage.

To Hatem or not to Hatem... he probably won't start just yet, will he?

There's lots of problems with using +/-1 in football. The main thing, apart from the fact that most players will complete the full game, is that the larger number of players makes it a bit iffy to make them as accountable for all phases of play as you can with hockey. Also the much lower scoring in football makes it harder to get a good enough sample. It's a fun statistic though. Must be my years living in the US but I do love yanktastic stats.

From Barça's official FB account: And the link leads you to the club's apparel store

It was Laporta who U-turned and blocked Mourinho's signing for Barça and appointed Pep instead, since he was afraid about his popularity after barely winning a motion of confidence (the only time where club politics ultimately turned out to be a positive thing). So I don't think Txiki or Soriano would be a factor there.

Catalonia's largest newspaper carries a full page article about the French invasion at NUFC in their sports pages. Not particularly insightful, although it claims you've also hired a French cook.

In terms of furthering you career, it's better to remain in Europe. At his age is a terrible move.

Just saw that Fran Mérida was sold by Hércules in the winter to Atlético Panaerense. His sixth club at age 22.His career is spiralling down pretty fast. Mate of mine who's from there told me he was commonly seen on the piss.

Nani looked like being worth that money a couple seasons ago. Still might.

I think they've just played 2-3 games since he went there, but I thought it funny. He wasn't even on the bench so I guess he's already injured.

Saw that Córdoba was on the telly and watched to see if Xisco played. Apparently he's yet to make a single appearance for them.

Great stuff

:lol: :lol: How good is he on goal? That might throw a spanner in that genius footballing plan. Knowing Milner if he was one and one with the keeper, he's beat him, go round in circle, beat him again, go and do it a 3rd time and lose it. It irritated me when he used to beat his man on the wing for us then he had to go back and beat him 3 more times before producing a cross. He still does it. I should have said "in goal"... I hate English prepositions; I always get them wrong...

:lol: :lol: How good is he on goal? That might throw a spanner in that genius footballing plan.

Not too well, although he's a bit of a square peg in their system. Real Madrid don't use a central playmaker.

Wait, "Interim manager"? He isn't even officially permanent manager?

Aye, makes no sense to have both players in the same squad. They're too similar and Ronaldo is just well, better. The last thing Madrid needs right now is less variety to their play. I think it really depends on who the fullbacks are, if Marcelo is fit and they get a RB who can actually contribute going forward i think it could work. CR and Bale are not going to provide much width if they continue to play as they are. You know what this means though? LET THE GREAT MADRID GARAGE SALE BEGIN ! Can see Di Maria being off for one and i know he's a diving cheat but i think he's a wonderful player. Doesn't matter. Real Madrid are already great exploiting space. Adding another player that's great at counterattacking will improve them just marginally, and not address the problems they are having when the opposition sits deep and gives them the ball. Modric was actually an attempt in that way, but so far he's not working. There's going to be a big garage sale this summer, according to most rumors. There's also elections at Real Madrid and Florentino will have to give the voters some sweets if the season ends up being a failure. For one I'll bet my right hand that at least one of Higuaín/Benzema will be sold.

Aye, makes no sense to have both players in the same squad. They're too similar and Ronaldo is just well, better. The last thing Madrid needs right now is less variety to their play.

Marca claiming that Real Madrid will offer "close to €60m" for Bale. Be my guest.

And regarding him not working hard anymore, that's true. But that's the reason he's able to play every f***ing game and I happily take the trade off. That's also been made possible since he moved to the center; with a 3-man midfield we don't need a workhorse upfront, but our wingers need to run a lot (which Pedro for example does a lot). While Messi was still a winger his workrate was great but so were his injuries.

Regarding Messi being a bit of a c***, it's not really that. He's just a bit of a savant; never talks to anybody (there are many photos of the squad celebrating in the plane back home after a big win while he's plugged to his PS), doesn't have many relations besides Mascherano and Pinto (one of the reasons we keep resigning the useless tosser), and has the social skills of an autistic boy that tries to be likeable because that's what he's supposed to do. Only thing he understands is a football. It's always been like that, ever wondered why he absolutely never does any pressers while every other Barça player does? He isn't very good dealing with people.