Village Idiot

Worked wonderfully at Real Madrid. Was that sarcastic or real? Sarcastic. He was awful in that role. He was overrun by most midfields.

Worked wonderfully at Real Madrid. Becks would be a good signing only if this was the NFL and you could sub in a kicker for deadball situations only.

Wonder if he can play against us in the Europa league, if both teams get through. I know he's played CL for the Shakhtar this season, not sure of the ruling regarding cup tied or not. One player per team can be reregistered for a different European competition.

Won't help them avoid the Charybdis of relegation.

Neil will be Fake bid innit.

Since they implemented that "Deadline Day" feature in FM, I always imagine myself sitting at my car when the press come with those inane transfer questions, Redknapp-style.

Watching one of our sports channels; they blatantly had a canned "oh, how great Messi and Cronaldo were in the Clásico" fluff piece pre-edited and prepared for today and they are airing it despite both of them being rather shit yesterday Oh man, media

Also Lendorio said the boy begged to be sold because of the huge contract you were offering him. (take whatever Lendoiro says with a huge pinch of salt though)

Perusing news clips from the time apparently he wasn't even first choice for Depor anymore when you bought him. The fee I suppose it's explained by the fact that Lendoiro is a master at driving hard bargains.

Yes. He wasn't such a big prospect (just a "decent young player" in FM parlance), and Spanish players going to England and succeeding were rare at the time.

Nothing on this in the Spanish press, although the Clásico coverage is obliterating everything.

Well, I thought it was a cracking game tonight. Pity the scoreline was too tight; happens when you don't take your chances but Real also had theirs I guess. Looking forward the second tie.

Athletic can't catch a break; Amorebieta has refused their last extension offer and will leave the club on a Bosman. He's 6,4 if you're still looking for a tall CB that is actually good.

I don't recall any, unless there's some Argie-with-Italian-passport kind of thing.

Cassano, Cannavaro, Panucci... that might be it actually.

No, they need it more than us and I expect them to launch themselves at our throats. Particularly being the Bernabéu. Also Pinto. But I'm an oldskool Barça pessimist.

That's brilliant, made better by the fact I love Les Miz

I suddenly respect Altidore again, never thought that could possibly happen

They should just pass it between themselves to troll play-by-play commentators.

copying Gareth Bale I didn't notice the heart thing at the time, just the whole coming over to the fans from the other half and chest beating. The heart thing is ubiquitous, I wouldn't read it as copying Bale. http://www.fundaciondelcorazon.com/images/stories/boletines/antonio-lopez-imagen-dia-mundial-corazon-trabaja.jpg Just a few off my head from La Liga...

$$$$$ A bottom PL club can easily outspend most European clubs outside the elite.

Oh my...

La Liga has approved new financial rules. Details are still to emerge but apparently it will impose transfer bans to clubs that fail to balance their budgets.

All their players live in Moscow, don't they?