Village Idiot

When they have been indeed fouled, they are not cheating.

And that's a big reason why players dive/playact. If you try to stay on your feet, even when fouled, most of the time you won't be given the freekick.

Gave them their first silverware in 15 years, might as well be. In hindsight, he should have left in the summer after his amazing season, when it was rumored that Atlético might want to cash in.

"As" reporting that Florentino Pérez has met with Marotta from Juve. Apparently they are interested in Benzema and Lass, and possibly Higuaín. Chiellini and Amauri would have been offered in part-exchange deals.

Adebayor would be good for Spurs if you knew he would keep his head screwed on the whole season. Still think they would need a more pacey striker alongside him.

Probably more because of the bad karma he's accrued over the last year that the incident on itself, which is very hazy. Probably deserves a slap, and would feel better about it if it weren't a) on the verge of a CL final b) instigated by RM staff bitterly watching every single frame of our games to find something to prevent us from winning this. They put complains about 8 of our players + Pep Guardiola for assorted petty incidents.

Kilbane... why, Neil, why?

Pretty sure ManU or Chelsea wouldn't like to be paired with Real Madrid in the group stage, instead of some French team or a second tier team from Italy/Spain/Germany

Real Madrid will most likely be in pot 2 again, too. That's going to be a fun draw.

Think the Manchesters/Chelsea/Arsenal will keep them locked down, personally. Can't fathom the spending spree this summer now that City have secured CL football.

Still think it's a mistake to keep Dalglish long term. But I guess his success made this extension sort of mandatory.

We inherited a huge debt from the board in the 2000s, we were very unsuccessful during those years and threw money at it every season with some mental deals. The largest part of our debt was accrued during those years. The last board did well at the beginning but lost his way a bit towards the end (see the Zlatan deal), also we were hit with a huge tax fine (€40m) for some dodgy behavior by our board in the 1990s. That said, I'm not hugely worried about our mid-term stability, particularly after throwing the towel and getting an sponsor (€35m a year will make a big difference to our bottom line) but probably will affect us in the transfer market. Can't see us making more than one marquee signing this summer. Also, he's not been linked to us, but the player I'd love us to sign the most is Kun Agüero. Think he'd fit us as a glove.

By the way, Forlán had a run in with his manager yesterday, can't really see him staying in the summer, even if they sign Luís Enrique as manager.

Any names who you would like? Of the ones we've been linked to, Neymar would be... interesting. Sometimes I feel we lack that additional bite in the last third that Henry gave us in the treble year, somebody that defences are terrified of apart from Messi. I also want Cesc though, and there's no money for them both. We need to ready ourselves to replace Xavi, whose fitness hasn't been the best this year although he can go for a bit yet, but will need more rest. Same with Puyol hence another CB, although we haven't been linked to one yet. We have also been linked with Pastore (he's been linked to Madrid, but don't think he'll go there after RM buying Sahin and possibly Altintop), who doesn't really float my boat.

Well, Villa is a striker even if he's on the wing. To be frank, Guardiola's replicating Cruyff's tactic before the signing of Romario, we didn't play a striker then, with Laudrup coming from deep and Stoichkov and either Goiko or Txiki cutting inside.

More like a forward that can play in the wing. Pretty much what Pedro/Villa do. Also a CB or two. If there's enough money (doubtful) get Cesc to ready him as Xavi's understudy. We've been linked to a crapload of players, nothing solid so far.

Really can't see it happening. He's vice-captain and pretty much our football ambassador, he really enjoys what we do and says so at every opportunity. Also would be a strange signing for City, he would need quite some time to develop the understanding he has with the Barça players and at his age would offer little to City.

Talk smack of a Brazilian player and Felipao91 appears. It's like a summoning ritual.

Yes, they were. Was just looking at who's keeping goal for the perceived best teams of the moment. Also, don't want to hit a sore spot but... how much did you get from moneybags ManCity for Given? I rest my case (I'll give you he was old, though)

Apart from the Buffon deal I really can't recall this kind of money being splashed for a keeper. If you go and look most top teams got their keepers either for free or pretty cheap. Valdés: 0 Casillas: 0 Van der Sar: 2m Cech: 7m Julio Cesar: 2,5m There's actually quite a bit of good keepers out there, and you essentially only need one.

The winter window during the Championship season was a quite good one, imho.

Goal.com saying Bayern are on the verge to agree a €18m fee rising to €25m for Neuer. That's utter crazy money for a goalie.

Ok, looking towards the FA Cup final, it's like a pit fight between Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot to me. Can't wish any of those two teams lifting a single trophy. Guess I'll slightly favor ManCity since it will force the ManU fans to shut up with that stupid "43 years - fuck all!" song.

Kaká seems to have a game where he seems to be back, followed by a bunch of anonymous performances, to be frank. He followed that Valencia performance with the defeat at Zaragoza and being completely invisible in the second leg of the CL.