Village Idiot

Regarding Llorente, Bilbao are amidst an election and I can't see the new president selling their crown jewel right after being sworn in. Incidentally the leading candidate has Marcelo Bielsa tied up for the Bilbao bench, what a change that would be.

No? Go on then? Only Ashley Cole and Evra are better in this league. That's not bad for what is probably the best league in the world. Cole, evra, enrique, ekotto, and baines are all comfortably better than him. Plus Marcelo, Abidal, Coentrao, André Santos, Filipe Luís... all of them I'd have before Clichy, and there's probably more in leagues I don't watch.

Clichy really isn't that great. He runs around a lot, which makes him look better than he is. Can't really cross, his positional sense isn't great, his distribution is spotty... ManCity could have done way better.

Juventus upped their Agüero offer to €40m according to La Gazzetta. What a signing it would be for Juve.

Coentrao in Madrid.

I've got a PSG training top that's just plain white with the logo in the centre of the chest, still one of my favourite football tops ever. Their logo is brilliant. Got the same design, still to this day the only non-Barça football shirt I own (apart from the ones from the youth teams I played in, of course)

Even if we don't sign him, Cesc won't be an Arsenal player next season. Every time I hear him, he hedges his words but looks like a man that has had enough.

Mourinho to unseat Casillas as team captain, according to Marca, as he prefers an outfield player to wear it. Casillas has been an excellent captain for them.

What a bore this Copa so far. Brazil didn't look a team at all, I know Dunga went way over the top with his rigidity, but every Brazilian player looked like he tried to win the game alone by himself yesterday.

It would be a disaster. Boy's talented, but has the grit of a tadpole.

And historically, Bilbao are a very big club, easily #3 in Spain. But they have slipped heavily since the Bosman ruling; it hurt them a lot due to their restrictive signing policy (everybody started signing a shitload foreigners while they stuck to overpriced Basques). I can see Llorente leaving, but I'm not sure he'd see Spurs as such a step-up without CL football.

Yes, but those are rather old quotes, from two weeks ago. They don't ask if he's relaxed at Arsenal, just in general.

Just read in "Marca" that the Daily Mail is linking you with a loan move for Canales. Hardly likely (Madrid doesn't do loans, just sales with buyback clauses).

They don't have a Basque-only policy, so no.

Yes, they have a very small pond to fish in, so they have to pay over the odds.

IIRC Llorente's wages are €2m net.

Llorente works great with wingers that love the box, like his partnership with Muniain at Bilbao. Bojan's not great on the right, since he's right-footed, and Bale looks to me like he is more comfortable from deep. I don't really know what's a "realistic" transfer target for you lot. Rossi should be getable money-wise, but I presume he'd rather play in the CL with Villarreal and hold out for a bigger team. Great finisher, extremely smart player, should develop a good rap with your midfield. Actually Rossi - Llorente - Bale doesn't look bad at all if you have a good RB (Rossi's excellent playing in the channels), but that would cost you €55m.

Are you planning on signing Llorente by the way? Great player, but not a goal machine.

That front three would give you 20 goals a season between them all. They don't fit each other well, imho.

If we defend the CL title, I'll drink my own piss. Is that how it works?

Damn, I want in in your sig Neil.

Absolutely no chance. He'd be good in a 4-4-2 or on the wing on a continental 4-3-3. Personally think his mobility would work very well against English defences though. Partnering Totti is a great fit, imho, if he gets his confidence back.

Bah, I wanted him to get a proper managing gig in a good league again.

He is a pretty good player actually. Very mobile, good finisher. His problem is his lack of mental strength. He needs confidence.

Youth caps don't lock players anymore though, don't they? Apparently he was past the deadline for switching eligibility. He's been in Spain squads since then (although he's not got a cap yet) so I guess he's locked now.