Village Idiot

Yes, but they have been riding on Soldado's form. They completely depend on him for goals.

Nope, should be a great tie. All of Sevilla/Valencia/Real Madrid/Barcelona/Málaga are on the same side of the draw, by the way, we could get a "surprise" finalist as the other side has a bunch of Segunda/Segunda B teams and no heavyweights other than Athletic Club.

When the possible alternatives are 'slow and always likely to concede a penalty' and 'incapable of winning a header or marking anyone', I'll take two ball-playing centre halves. Anyway, just because he can play the ball doesn't mean he has to- lumping it is still allowed. To be frank, even us do the "athletic CB/technical CB" pairing. It just works if both players complement each other. We were linked with Vertonghen earlier this summer, and I like to watch Ajax games anyway, and so far he hasn't impressed me defensively. Decent positioning but a bit slow, he seems vulnerable to mobile forwards and he's tall but thin as a matchstick, so easily outmuscled. He sprays the ball around very, very well though. To be frank I think he'd probably be best as a DM in the Busquets mould.

First time I see this smilie. Awful Spanish, but funnier because of it Regarding your year, as an outside observer I think it's been good. I don't think many of you (I didn't) would have expected a 7th place at this time, given the lack of investment and apparent contempt of your board. The signings have been made on a (relative) shoestring, but they have been astute for the most part, and you have the seeds of a pretty good squad if you add to it while keeping what you have. Despite your current crisis, I think you have reasons to be optimistic on the mid-term. NUFC are on the up.

I haven't heard anybody using the Spanish equivalent of the word "coloured" in general conversation since the 1990s apart from elder "I'm not really racist BUT..." people. Here too it was - as Mick said - some weird PC way of not just saying "black", but nowadays it sounds too patronizing/colonial. I suppose if somebody used it on-air there would be an uncomfortable silence and the co-host would try to swiftly change subject, but unless it was an important program/anchor there wouldn't be consequences. And still, can't see anybody getting fired out of it.

Spoke to soon, Real Madrid-Málaga and FC Barcelona - Osasuna, setting up a potential quarter final Clásico the 18th and 25th of February. Rest of the draw: Valencia - Sevilla Real Sociedad - Mallorca Córdoba - Espanyol Alcorcón - Levante Albacete - Athletic Mirandés - Racing

Copa draw tomorrow. I'm willing to bet "chance" will make it so Barça and Real Madrid don't potentially meet until at least a semi-final.

The commentators claimed odds were 1.02 right before kickoff. Was pretty emotional to see Marc Pedraza turning up for them. His dad was the first Masia graduate to break into the senior team and died earlier this year.

And Raúl Tamudo used to rape me at FIFA, too.

With Villa's injury and the new 3 CB thingy it'd be pretty possible for you to play a full XI of them in a big game. Should do it for the lolz. Surely you don't hate Espanyol that much? Is it not more pity than genuine hatred? I have tried to feel some pity/sympathy for them, but they do really make it hard with all the bitterness. Next game will be the third year in a row Barça fans are barred from buying tickets for the derby despite the lack of incidents, out of pure spite. Their board have refused our invitation to come to the Camp Nou for the home derby since god knows when citing grievances that you could dig up alongside the Rosetta stone. They really make it hard. They have no ambition as a club, their only reason to live is to try to get points off us, and claim that we lost the league because of them. The derby is their cup final, and know what? In two weeks they still won't fill that shiny new stadium. And what the hell, a derby is always a derby.

Aye, and Hospitalet had quite a few of them too. It felt bad at times doing that to our neighbors (would love to make it to our *other* neighbors in two weeks' time, mind)

Ridiculous game tonight, glad I finally went L'Hospitalet are a third tier side, but one of the best in that division, I wasn't expecting so many goals. Our biggest win in 30 years apparently. Tello's second, what a finish.

They just promoted their B team manager. Teaches me to trust Marca.

RCD Espanyol have presented their accounts in front of their general assembly, and they need to sell players before June to balance the books. "Nobody is off-limits". They do have some quite decent players in their books, so you're welcome to weaken them. Jordi Amat is a pretty good CB prospect (international at all youth levels), Márquez/Verdú quite good mids (Verdú in particular is a great playmaker). Their strikers are a pile of crap, though.

Manzano sacked. 49th manager in 24 years (when the current owners took over). Ridiculous? Yes it is.

Racing have entered administration, which is actually helluva good news for them since means that crook Ali Seyd has lost control. Manzano amusingly not sacked yet (word is they just can't afford the payout and are trying to reach a deal).

Villarreal set to start talks with Claude Puel, according to "Marca".

Any word on their next manager? Rijkaard was rumoured and I'd absolutely love that.

Yes, all those 3 are pretty in the shit. Still surprising results, they all lost at home! Roig is still at Villarreal. He's been trying to balance the numbers these past seasons (which has meant sales every season, although until now they had coped quite well).

Lots of giantkilling tonight: Villarreal, Zaragoza, Atleti out to Segunda B teams. Garrido's been sacked from Villarreal.

Throughout the years i've followed them, watched loads of their games, hoped they win, dissapointed if they lose.......i now realise that they are just born losers. No matter what manager they bring in, it will probably still go tits up. Their chairman sort of confirmed they are going for Simeone. That should appease the fans (he is idolized there) and protect the board's arses for the next six months. And then it will start again.

Atlético culminate the disaster, 0-1 to Albacete full time.

How can a Spanish word be offensive on England by itself? Surely it's the intent he had with it (that again, I think it was a racist, or at least a disrespectful one).

As a Spanish speaker, I can tell you that it doesn't mean that. The usage by Suárez is probably racist (you just don't go around black people calling them repeatedly "black boy"), but the term on itself is merely descriptive, not a slur.

Everybody just saying that the players are "haciendo la cama" ("making the bed") for Manzano, aka letting themselves go to get him sacked. Disgraceful performance even if not intended. I'd be furious if I was an Atlético fan, and only a bit of that would be because of Manzano. Even if managed by a gerbil Atlético should beat Albacete.