Village Idiot

Why bid? Who are you going to steal the march on by bidding now? Clubs know he's available, they know what value Newcastle have for him, and what value they have internally with their own club. Why worry about that player you know is available, and has a set price now? Go look at other targets, that guy is going to be there in the mean time. If a club bids for him, match their bid, no need to worry. The player wants to move, the club he's at are aware of that, so why spend your time worrying about that club? As soon as 1 club enters talks, or bids, other clubs will probably come in and match it. In the meantime, they'll be looking at 'less available' players, and spending their resources/time trying to work a deal. Enrique is a deal on the table, that just needs your stamp. Potentially interested clubs will know that time is in their favour too, if he doesn't sign he'll walk next summer for owt and are aware NUFC will probably have to settle for a knockdown price the closer we get to the window's closure.

I have only seen him linked a couple times in one of our papers, I'd say there's no genuine interest from us but we are in the market for a LB.

José Enrique would be #2 LB for us, and given the amount of games Abidal will probably spend at CB next season, see a fair amount of football.

I thought he had been a bit of a success at Villa, his name was timidly thrown around for a Spain callup the season before the WC.

Footballers are such f***ing arseholes. I understand he's just being sincere and we should not expect footballers to bleed the club's colors, but he's been the fan's favorite for a few years, at least show some respect for the Atlético crowd. Anyway, in the same interview he opens the door for coming to England, something that hadn't been the case until now.

Agüero going all Torres on Atletico saying "it's just the place where he works and he's not a fan". Cold as fuck.

We used to go to UK often in preseason to play British sides, now it's all USA/Asia for cash and "brand expansion".

After the season Arteta just had a move would probably suit both player & club tbh. He's also got a young son now. Can't see Bilbao being able to pay a high enough transfer fee though? Mind you, I'd love nothing more than for him to stay here and get his form back because he's a class act. Athletic have already forked €10m for Herrera, can't see them offering double figures for any more players this season, unless they lose one of their big guns (Martínez or Llorente)

Aye, keeping company with the Spanish squad will put him off the CL I just think he feels playing in Europe would help him getting a call up, but if he got that call this season then he would be happy. Even better if come the end of the season we are in a Euro spot, if its not money that's the issue then I can't see why he would leave. I get the feeling he'd be lucky to get a call up while playing outside of Spain tbh He would if he played for any of your top 4/Liverpool.

Oh, forgot about Aduritz, they have been linked with a move for him too. They don't really have a backup CF worth a damn.

A midfield of Herrera-Martínez with Gurpegi kicking people in the gnads behind them is pretty

He's probably looking to get sold to a more stable club. Thing is, can't see anybody buying him in Spain since he's shit.

Arteta is Real Sociedad through and through too, can't really see him trading Everton for them (Xabi Alonso too).

Well, they had already signed Ander Herrera, who's the antithesis of the cliched Basque centremid and is a very talented player. They have been linked with Del Horno (who would be a waste, in my opinion) and even Arteta (although this reeks of somebody just looking up Basque players in FM). They might also Real Sociedad for Xabi Prieto, who'd suit a Bielsa side well, and they have bought their players in the past.

Castillo and Aurtenetxe will be their LBs I guess. He says that there will be new signings, hope somebody has told him he can't sign non-Basques!

Bielsa got the Athletic job?!?! wtf, that's gonna be a dramatic change in style isn't it? Can they afford to put 7 on the transfer list with the limited amount of Basque players out there? Only Koikili was a regular from the transfer-listed, Balenziaga was a bit of a prospect too but guess Bielsa didn't rate him. And yes, that's going to be a U-turn from their usual style. It's either going to be magnificent or suicidal.

Bielsa came, saw and conquered. First day on the job and has already put seven Athletic players on the transfer list.

Pierre Webó, possibly one of the worst finishers I have seen starting for a La Liga team, has gone on strike because he wants an improved contract.

Everton and QPR have asked for Canales on loan, according to "As", although they say Luís Enrique's Roma are favorites (would suit Canales better, imho).

€40m for Sneijder didn't make much sense given the way Ferguson has behaved in the transfer market these past years.

Stop being so positive annoyance disapproval disdain It should be expected that once the season gets going there will be on average 3-6 injured players out for each game, and on top of that you will have suspensions for those who play regularly. It's not negative to factor this into your expectations, and it's not bad luck or poor medical staff when it happens, it's part of modern football where players are pushed to their limits in training and in games week in week out. On average the injuries & suspensions will be scattered around the positions, and around how important the players are. You can only count yourself "unlucky" if you have more injuries than normal for a significant period, or if the injuries are more concentrated in one area of your squad or on your best players. Basing your targets for the season on having a largely first choice XI every week is completely unrealistic and doomed to disappointment. Works for us!

There were lot of rumors to that effect during his loan spell at Racing, cited as one of the reasons managers there didn't pick him despite a disabled 10 year old being more threatening than the strikers Racing had at the time. There was even talk that he feigned injury to avoid reserve games.

The Madrid press consider the Neymar deal a given after the Copa América is finished. Apparently the only stumbling block is that Santos want to keep him until the CWC.

Your midfield looks great to be honest, it's hard to see even an average striker not putting away a few of the chances you should be creating.

Capdevila has been promised he'd be let go on a free, actually.