Village Idiot

That would be my bet, Pedro usually does very well against Real Madrid and his workrate will be needed, plus Alexis has been getting sharper since he came back from injury. But Pep is hard to predict sometimes.

Villa isn't doing great. He's on 1 in 3, which isn't terrible for somebody playing on the wing but his confidence seems completely shot at the moment, fluffing chances he would usually put away with ease. He didn't play against Levante and there's a lot of talk that he will be dropped on Saturday in favor of Alexis, which would be huge for a player of his reputation. I wouldn't say his role or Messi's is to blame, he's had great games for Spain and Barça in this role, and he was playing there for our NT before signing for us. But he needs to pick himself up because until Alexis returned our forward line hasn't been producing when Messi hasn't, which I blame for some of the points we have dropped (although our midfield is being way more prolific than it used to be).

McLeish is an absolute disgrace like, I've watched your last 3 games and been appalled every time. It's stupid. You have some players capable of playing as well (N'Zog, Albrighton, Bannan, Agbon). I feel sorry for you brummie because it's been facepalm stuff whenever I've watched. Still don't understand why Lerner signed him in the first place. The appalling football Birmingham played was there for all to see, and it's not like it did that much good for them. In addition, it's not like Villa have shit players whose only hope is to play stoneage stuff, it's completely counter-productive.

Yeah, he's become the majority shareholder in addition to sponsoring the team through his vineyards. There's talk he will be named vice-president of the club, although it will be his dad who'll manage his interests there. Pretty classy move to help your boyhood team like that when they're in dire straits. Wonder what would happen if Albacete got promoted to Primera División (they won't), or if we met in La Copa. Iniesta would be playing a team he basically owns.

What a shameful behavior from somebody who wore the captain's armband, picking on a young player after a shaky game.

The VC is very ancient and it shows it, but as you say the location is excellent and right in the middle of Atlético territory. But the situation is pretty untenable, the city really needs to enlarge that road since it strangleholds all traffic into town at peak hours. I loved driving under the Vicente Calderón when going to work when I lived in Madrid though. But I think the new stadium is too big, and in a bad location for most of their fans. I'm fearing a Delle Alpi scenario. Athletic Club are scheduled to move into Nuevo San Mamés at some point during the 2013-2014 season. True, it's just a shame to see yet another iconic ground IMO become gentrified by a move (especially when it's not round the corner like some clubs like Athletic for example will be lucky to have) Have no idea why but the San Mames is one the grounds I want to go and watch in, need to get myself over pronto. It's a great stadium. Very old school, with the stands close to the pitch unlike the majority of Spanish stadia.

The VC is very ancient and it shows it, but as you say the location is excellent and right in the middle of Atlético territory. But the situation is pretty untenable, the city really needs to enlarge that road since it strangleholds all traffic into town at peak hours. I loved driving under the Vicente Calderón when going to work when I lived in Madrid though. But I think the new stadium is too big, and in a bad location for most of their fans. I'm fearing a Delle Alpi scenario. Athletic Club are scheduled to move into Nuevo San Mamés at some point during the 2013-2014 season.

The Madrid city council is funding it in exchange of the land of the Vicente Calderón, which the city needs in order to enlarge the road that runs through it (which is a major entrance into the city) http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/ESP/Vicente_Calderon_A2.jpg

The dressing room at 3:00 really looks overdone and impractical, like most dressing rooms I see in new stadiums nowadays. Nothing like sitting on a couch during team talks I guess.

Atlético de Madrid have released a video showing a virtual visit to their future stadium: Visita 3D al nuevo estadio del Atlético de Madrid Looks pretty imposing but I have my doubts they can fill the planned 70k seats, particularly since the Calderón is right at the centre of town but this one will be in the outskirts. The move is planned for 2015.

Lass is weird. Every transfer window he's rumored to be on the verge of being sold, and later he manages to earn playing time, only to be rumored to be on the verge of being sold in the next transfer window. But right now Madrid have no depth at RB with Ramos being deployed as CB, so they'll need him until the summer I think.

He's fallen out with Manzano, but he has too much talent to go to a "retirement" league yet. Would be a waste.

Galatasaray's president claims that they are "very close" to sign Reyes in January.

Iniesta had a storming 2011 indeed, personally I think he's been on the form of his life. The goal award is given through an internet vote, so that's why the nominees will always favor big name players.

Yeah, it's my favorite of the lot. Can think of several better goals than those three though.

Aye, 2011. My brain malfunctioned since it's given in January. And yes, like all awards it's flawed and has to be taken with a grain of salt, particularly with the weird voting system since they fused both awards.

They announced the finalists today, the ceremony will be held January 9th. Messi, Cronaldo and Xavi the three finalists of the award. I reckon that will be the order they'll finish. Guardiola, Mourinho and Ferguson the three candidates for best manager. Reckon that Pep will take it this year. Messi, Neymar and Rooney for best goal (you can check them here: http://www.fifa.com/ballondor/puskasaward/index.html?intcmp=promo_ballondor_puskasaward_en).

But, what about Sunderland?!? Just was too late for the gig as MoN had already wrapped it up. And extra day or two and Rafa would have been in there :-D Pity, he was linked with the Atlético job if Manzano ended up sacked, and I really would welcome him back into La Liga.

Completely agree. The disciplinary system badly needs more granularity. A couple weeks ago an Osasuna player got sent off for taking off his shirt and getting a soft yellow afterwards. You have to be thick of course, but it underlines how moronic the current penalty system can be.

"Watching" might be an overstatement.

I see Roma got 3 men sent off today. Dorty bassas. Class strip though Watching the highlights. Great save by Bojan.

Rondón equalizes for Málaga. Biggest mistake Pellegrini has done this season is benching him for RvN, who isn't fit for this level anymore.

Demichelis scores an OG for Real Sociedad. The gift that keeps on giving, unless you're an Argentina/Málaga fan.

He missed a treatment session? Okay, it's indiscipline, but hardly a "serious breach of contract".

Watching the Real Madrid B - Real Oviedo game in Segunda División B, and the away fans are singing "FC Barcelona" after going 1-3 up.