Village Idiot

You cunts got me addicted to this. Is there any relevance to your skill scores? Like, increasing them makes the phases easier. Got a quite ugly-looking lass.

In the UK the match sells itself maybe. In foreign countries its not that known derby to the common man i guess. So i think they put a little extra around to match to get more viewers. But i have to say its fun to see they guys in the studio talk so much about the match ,and it sounds like they genuinely love this derby. Aye, that's the case. When selling games to a foreign audience you have to put more stuff on the table to make them attractive to viewers, stuff that local fans already know/take for granted.

Yes, it is. It's not like they run page length articles on it (and the derby isn't featured as strongly as it used to be back in your heyday), but there's mention of the history between both cities in the previews of the games. This kind of stuff always spices up football derbies anyway, a good journalist will highlight it.

Our academy costs €25m per season IIRC, given that we get a decent chunk back from transfer fees of players that don't make the grade, plus the players we get (even if we don't get a world class footballer every year, guys like Cuenca or Tello are very useful squad players and save money), I think it's the most efficient thing we have going at the club. And yes, we tried to buy our way to success, but failed at it.

By the way, Johan Cruyff has been signed as "advisor" by Chivas Guadalajara, but apparently will have ample powers and work almost as DoF. Given the fracas at Ajax, I can't see this ending well...

Espanyol 1 - 2 Levante FT. Get in.

Isn't pep leaving at the end of the season regardless? He's stalling on the contract extension, but I'm pretty sure if he doesn't resign he'll take at least a year off. Reckon he's for the Spanish national job? Got a feeling it'll happen, always does in FM with Wenger heading to yourselves. It always happens in my games too I don't see Del Bosque leaving after the EC, even if we don't win it. He'll remain in charge until the next WC. But I do see Pep taking on a national job before a club job. He's always going on about how stressing a club job is, and his family would probably rather him take a part-timish job like a national side.

Isn't pep leaving at the end of the season regardless? He's stalling on the contract extension, but I'm pretty sure if he doesn't resign he'll take at least a year off.

"Marca" reporting that has offered €20m a year to Guardiola to manage Inter. Find that (the amount at least) hard to believe.

Nah, it's more the result of spending lots on players that didn't work: Zlatan, Henrique, Hleb, Keirrison, Chygrynsky, Cáceres... that's a combined cost of 150€+ that aren't even at the club anymore. When you look at our first XI, it's significantly cheaper than Madrid's. Thank godness we have a great youth setup, because our transfer record is pretty meh. However, I do challenge the fact that Madrid's squad is so much deeper than ours. Our injuries this season have been much worse and their squad would have rendered threadbare with the same amount. Not using it as an excuse or anything, injuries are part of the game, but after adquiring Alexis and Cesc I think our squad - when fully fit - is pretty good bar in defence.

Pablo Hernández? He is mint. And yet miles away from the national team. You're a sick joke. He's linked with a move away, could do way worse than switching Obertan for him. We were actually linked to him a while ago. I remember that. Personally I think he's very good and would adjust well to the PL. Anyway, great to see all 3 Spanish teams going through, I'm really looking forward to ManU - Athletic Club, the atmosphere at San Mamés will be immense. So far it's been a great season for Athletic and I hope they cap it up with a CL spot (we'll take the cup though, thanks).

Torres left out of the Spain squad. First time he doesn't make the squad while fit since 2006.

Read it a week ago. You know, the author of that article would have earnt my respect had he wrote this, say, 3 months ago instead of releasing it when we are 10 under.

I'm sick of seeing montages of his throw-ins in every preview of the game

Pablo Hernández? He is mint. And yet miles away from the national team. You're a sick joke. He's linked with a move away, could do way worse than switching Obertan for him.

Pablo Hernández? He is mint.

That's a pretty second-stringish lineup from Valencia too. Hope Emery isn't getting too overconfident. It's going to take a mighty fall to lose on 3rd in La Liga, they should be all over the EL. Very spirited start to Athletic - Loko.

Really looking forward to Athletic - Lokomotiv. A ManU - Athletic Club tie

Partying in Valencia is great, not a bad night out in any means. If it's probably going to be their last away game in Europe for a while, it can be worth the trip. Still surprised he isn't giving it a good go. But hey, Delap is in the squad.

Marca - who I do rate when they report on Real Madrid stuff - saying that Chelsea bid for Higuaín this winter window, and are set to try again this summer. The player refused the move but might be willing if he keeps being benched and Real Madrid bring another name #9 this summer.

CSKA are the first club not named "FC Barcelona" to not lose to Real Madrid since September. So kudos to them, really. They will get hammered at the Bernabéu, mind.

If have had this glaring suspicion - and it's a very subjective opinion and I'm totally talking out of my arse - that Wenger loathes to sign established players because he wants to take credit of unearthing a bunch of wonderkids and being the best manager evah by making a winning side out of them. Really, Arshavin and Rosicky are the only "name" players I can think he's signed since 2005 until this season, when he obviously entered panic mode and got Mertesacker, Gervinho and Arteta. Everything else have been hot prospects or relative unknowns from foreign leagues. Again it's just a very subjective opinion. He reminds of me playing FM and buying every regen with good potential I can lay my grubby hands in.

Like us, you mean? Don't think there's anything fundamentally wrong in Wenger's overall philosophy (as I said I think he has strong tacticalweaknesses, but I'm fine with his philosophy). If his transfer policy is guilty of anything is not ending up with good enough players to pull it off, and not recognising their inadequacies right off the bat. He has always had athleticism in his side: Walcott, Diaby, Clichy... I don't think he's neglected it, he's just got s*** players with it. And he's tried with different strikers over the years, Bendtner, Vela, Eduardo, Chamakh have failed, but the has bought them. If Adebayor hadn't left they would have an excellent partnership right now.

Only 2, Zenit and CSKA. Aye, somehow I still thought Kazan had made it too. Anyway, impressive. Wonder if all that oligarch money will prop up the Russian enough to compete at an European league in a consistent basis.

Had forgot they were already playing, damn Russian timezones. Never expected them to have any difficulty anyway. Is Russia actually the country with most teams in the first knockout (3)? Together with Italy, I suppose.