Village Idiot

Weren't those crazies "close to signing" Ronaldinho one year ago?

Marca claiming Real Madrid in talks with Mario Fernandes from Gremio for January. They are lacking bodies at RB so it makes sense. Is he any good? (Suppose Felipao may know him)

Every manager under the sun does it to be frank... "I never complain about referees BUT <insert complain>"

Go to hell Atlético.

Falcao with his 9th goal of the season. If Atlético had any actual shape of attacking gameplan, he would score loads. Tremendous finisher.

As I said on another thread, NUFC's long lost Spanish brother.

Fucking hell, trust Atlético to spoil what could have been a perfect weekend by gifting the scum an easy win. Surely Manzano to get the sack if this holds.

Good for Di María that he "underwent a growth spurt" in the first half, he can use the extra height. God bless google translate If Benzema wasn't so lethargic at times, he would easily be one of the top strikers in the world, athletically and technically, he has it all. Was secretly hoping they would give up on him too early and sell him.

One, fucking hell. They don't half kneejerk at Marca.

Aye, we also played our Copa del Rey first leg game already for the same reason. The team landed in Japan a few hours ago for that CWC malarkey/waste of everybody's time (cool patch to wear in our shirts if we win it, though).

It seems to me relegation is happening whether they accept it or not. Unless they sack Kean before January. I agree that Samba would be brilliant for you lot. Even if it's in the summer. Your owner seems to love free transfers so I hope he gets on it.

To be strange I was oddly confident, although for no apparent reason. Everybody was so convinced that we were going to be slaughtered, with all the Madrid media sharpening their knives... that somehow I was sure the team would answer. Crucial win for us all in all, they were in a formidable run and we have eroded their aura of invincibility. Plus it would have been almost game over if we went 9 points down in the table. Also great that our two signings this season have scored. Seems that for once we have got our transfers right.

Heh, MON has a squad number and all.

I suspect you're being ironic, as Stoke spend loads for a club their size.

You beat this lot at the Britannia, though. It's not that great of a system.

I remember Big Sam's Bolton and, despite all their reputation, still had people like Djorkaeff, Okocha and Anelka turning out in their shirt and playing central roles for the team. There was always some beauty mixed up with all the brawn. But Pulis seems completely repulsed with the idea of having an ounce of flair in his squad.

Needs Huth fouling someone in the box too.

Villarreal go one down at home against Real Sociedad. Oh dear. If this holds they drop into the relegation zone.

Ah, the Stoke test, the true benchmark of title winning sides...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/sunderland/8947206/Sunderlands-new-manager-Martin-ONeill-wants-team-to-play-the-Barcelona-way.html Really? Martin "Aim it to Heskey" O'Neill?

Saw this live when I was a kid

What's all those Barcelona references regarding Sunderland? I'm quite intrigued

Cute. I hope he makes it in England. Boy's talented and was getting his confidence back after those horrible injuries that stunted his development.

There was a big debate on RM's side about doing just that, dumping Özil (who's had a rather bad season so far) and starting a Khedira-Xabi-Lass midfield. In my opinion, when Madrid have gone more toe-to-toe against us was in the Supercopa without that overly defensive midfield, so I think it was the good call. They also have a couple of very good offensive subs in Kaká and Higuaín when some of the guys upfront tire. But they deflated quite quickly, which may have been due to tiredness or mentality, I'm still not sure.

Our buyback option for Romeu is an expensive one: €10m for this season and €15m in the next. I can't see us exercising it unless he becomes worldclass in the short run, plus he possibly won't be willing to come back given the 83436 midfielders in our books if he earns himself a place at Chelsea.