Village Idiot

IIRC Non-footballing costs are not included in the calculations. Also, owners can't buy businesses and add them to turnover, UEFA have a list of what is considered to be part of a club's turnover.

And u need good hands to manage them and to prevent clubs overstretching themselves ? Same as in the film business, studios pay the big bucks to actors, not the writers or directors. Ultimately it's the faces who sell tickets in the entertainment business (and that's what football is).

ManCity already a hair under Chelsea after just two seasons of oil money Wonder what Real Madrid's net is. They made the papers this summer after breaking €1000m in incoming transfers since Florentino first took over, but sales should temper that a bit.

That boy is surely a cunt, but is that an arrest-worthy offense?

No quotes, so I don't know how true it is: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Manchester-United-s-Dimitar-Berbatov-set-to-be-handed-new-175k-a-week-deal-as-reward-for-fine-form-article697437.html ManU put themselves into a corner when awarding Rooney those stupid wages, particularly given his performance this season. Can see people like Nani et al wanting some significant raises soon.

How is that beyond you? Batistuta isn't even top 100 for me. That'd be due to your strong Brazilian bias. He was an absolute goalscoring machine. If Shearer didn't play for us and wasn't a geordie, people wouldn't be choosing him ahead of Batistuta. My comment was aimed more at the people who have chosen teams based upon players that they've seen, as well. Well, I do rate him as a great striker, just not as good as the likes of Ronaldo/Van Basten/Romario at their peaks. I might be biased because of his relative lack of flair, mind, his game always revolved around effectiveness and simple choices.

The Scirea-Gentile partnership was like Jekyll and Hyde. What legends.

You might not rank them as the best all time but I don't see how Nesta + Maldini + Baresi could be controversial picks. Not controversial at all, Catenaccio rules Gentile, man, most unappropiately named footballer of all time

Love how almost everybody is picking Italian-based defences

Love Xavi, but I have more of a soft spot for Iniesta, ever since 2005 I have always been a fan of Iniesta. He gets less recognition than Xavi but is just an exceptional player. Also in top strikers you could mention the mexican striker Hugo Sanchez if you want beautiful goals and a lot of goals Andrés still has more years at the top than Xavi, the way his game has been progressing this season he will still have a lot to say. Fingers crossed. Regarding Hugo Sánchez, Butragueño and Míchel made that Real Madrid team tick (two great players that don't get talked about given the relatively barren era Madrid went through in Europe). Ridiculously effective striker though. Tormented my youth

It's fun to talk about though, love these kind of discussions myself and remembering some of the players people bring in.

Distinct lack of Spanish players in those lists, I guess our lack of international success until recently hurts us but Luís Suárez should get a shout (and hopefully Xavi when the dust settles).

Still fail to see who's going to put those crosses for him at Liverpool. Guess it will be winger shopping time in the summer.

Not with mine. Benched for versatility and Cafu's superior attacking nous to cover Messi drifting in. Gone for the team rather than the 11 best players though. Yeah same reason I had Cafú in front of him. Cafú was just better going forward and had scary pace. Probably should have had Nesta/Passarella in the back and put Maldini to the LB instead of Roberto Carlos for some balance. I also tried to make a team, hence dropping Zidane since I already had Maradona and wanted Xavi/Redondo to dictate the game. Didn't want too many "final ball" attacking midfielders. Also I see a lot of people dropping Maradona. I guess they really didn't see him play? Believe the hype, he was *that* good and more.

I read the Argentine Barca Academy is closing? Yes. To be honest we don't get much from these schools and they're expensive. Scouting networks are just more efficient. We are expanding our facilities in Barcelona and will focus training kids here.

Team Captain.

Only going with players I have seen play in my lifetime. Schmeichel Cafú - Baresi - Maldini - R. Carlos Xavi - Redondo - Maradona Messi - Ronaldo - Van Basten Sod it, I'm playing Van Basten on the wing. Otherwise Gullit goes there. Selected bench: Passarella Gentile Matthäeus Desailly Zidane (can't get ahead of Maradona, soz) Michael Laudrup Cronaldo Platini Zico Romario Van Basten

Hehe, I admit that I don't really keep track of our U12s, far too early to judge who's going to be hot and might as well play pregnant mothers. I mostly watch Cadetes (15 years) onwards. We have a bunch of Africans entering our system due to a partnership with Eto'o's foundation.

Ah shit, the guy in front of me in my FF league has Cech in goal.

I despise Cronaldo, but to deny he is in the running for the footballing altars would be stupid. Carried ManU and carries Real Madrid. If he wasn't so stupidly selfish he would be immense (or worse, who knows).

What's Chelsea's run-in compared to Spurs? I'm starting to fear they really might not make 4th at this rate.

Enzo Francescoli, El Príncipe. One of my favorite midfielders growing up. Pretty much carried Uruguay on the 80s to a few Copa America. Sócrates from Brazil, also one of my favorite midfielders of all time.

Camacho sacked two weeks after beating Real Madrid. Mendilibar the new coach (so pretty much business as usual for Osasuna)

Didn't know that. We even get ours on the telly...

Just went and watched my old VHS tape with all the goals he scored for us. Seeing a prime Guardiola assisting him over and over And yes, he scored his fair share of goals from outside the box. He scored all kind of goals, that's what was silly about him. Maybe not headers, though.