Village Idiot

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?

Noble occupation being a bartender, making people happy by giving them their booze.

Isn't he 1 in 2 for the last six games or so?

30 points with 4 to go. Cabaye 1/3 of it.

Endavant nois!

Platini in the upcoming UEFA meeting:

I remember how Di Natale scored just almost immediately after he was subbed in for Balotelli in our group game against Italy. Balo had been shocking. Really, the ratio of bad to good games I have seen from Balotelli doesn't suggest me he's worth the hassle.

http://estaticos03.marca.com/eventos/directo/2013/01/29/7258/images/mallorca_500x355.jpg

Brilliant interview in a Spanish TV with Valbuena, the goalie that conceded Messi's first senior goal. Apparently his teammates gave him stick for letting a wee kid score a double against him

For some reason, every time I skim this forum I read it as "Yoan Gourcuff", my heart skips a beat and I need to stop and read it again... am I the only one?