Village Idiot

It was that move that ruined him, he got it in his peak and I've no idea what happened, his career at the top level was effectively over at 27 or so, and for a player that should have got better with age in theory then I don't think we ever saw the best in him. He was good in his loan spell at us. Not a world beater but got progressively better as the season went on and he was just a victim of how truly awful that year was for Barça. We still tried to buy him on the cheap, mind, but Boro of all clubs outbid us

The Nolan incident isn't nearly that much. I have seen several players half-wrestling with the keeper for the ball after a goal that got scot free. The ball isn't actually in play, so unless there's real nastiness (which there wasn't) it should be a yellow *tops*

IIRC one of the reasons Zaragoza sold him is that he failed to get one and they needed his non-EU player roster spot for Suazo. that would be surprising considering it`s piss easy to get a Spanish passport for Latin American players (2 years residence IIRC) . He was there for 6 years ....but fair enough if what you say is correct. He went on loan to Stuttgart right after he accrued the mandatory two years, and wasn't able to start the process until he returned to Zaragoza (must reside in Spain, and I suspect that leave might have even "resetted" the clock - I'm not that familiar with the law). Also I suspect he was due a bonus if he achieved it (pretty common in Spain to pay a bonus to a player when he gets an EU passport) and Zaragoza don't have a pot to piss on. Found out he does indeed have a Spanish passport....at least according to his agent. "During his time with Dortmund and Zaragoza, a host of Premier League clubs were very keen to get him, but at that time he could not get a work permit and he did not have European citizenship. "Now that has changed and he is available on free transfer. He has many good options in England. "The player also has offers to return to Germany and Spain, but he didn't want to finish his career having not played in England and sees now as the ideal time to fulfil that. "He is keen to get the deal done, but there is not the urgency like some deals as he can sign outside the window." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6704074,00.html Fair enough, I checked and he still didn't have it when Zaragoza sold him, but he was expected to get it "soon". I suppose he managed to get one in the interim despite living in Brazil.

You mean you can't wait to see Messi and Pedro destroy him, like they do pretty much every other fullback in the world? Didn't necessarily mean "our" wingers, Ribery had him in his pocket last season and his frustration led to that idiotic sending off. Cronaldo would laugh all the way to Van Der Sar's goal too.

All is not lost. Somebody needs to send Shakira the link to that photoblog of Piqué looking like a moron.

Has to be shopped surely?

Puyol Puyol's WAG is the hot chick to the left, btw, why didn't I try more seriously to become a pro footballer...

http://estaticos02.marca.com/imagenes/2011/02/07/futbol/equipos/barcelona/1297036473_extras_noticia_foton_7_0.jpg

Really? isn't she as old as his Mum? Edit: No she's not..f***ing hell seemed to be around for ages and yet still 34.. And probably as short as his knee. But I'd do her.

Just noticed that Betis are succeeding in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, as they have lost 3 in 3 and surrendered the first spot to Rayo and can fall off automatic promotion if Celta wins. Ideally I want Betis/Celta to get promoted. Get out of there Rayo FFS.

Piqué has confirmed his relationship with Shakira. Lucky cunt.

Probably to dismiss accusations to his own player, to be frank.

Neville didn't "retire early" at all, he was well past his expiry date. Rafael is too raw. Has potential but f***s up pretty often. Personally think good wingers will expose him badly, particularly in the CL.

http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/uefaorg/Clublicensing/01/50/09/12/1500912_DOWNLOAD.pdf

UEFA have also a rule within FFP that regulates "related parties" sponsorships, in order to keep them within "market prices". How effective will that be (we ourselves just got paid €30m a season for sponsorship, so 'market price' is very subjective) leaves to be said.

where did he move to again for big money, Lazio or something? yeah googled it, Lazio it was We loaned him back later for an awful spell. The problem is that he tried too hard, always looking for a killer ball or the wonder goal and he didn't track back (well, he tried, but his defensive positioning was atrocious). When he moved to Espanyol and out of the spotlight, I think he finally relaxed and just played football. He was immense for them, he and Tamudo carried that team for most of the mid 2000s and he even got a few Spain caps out of it.

Iván de la Peña. Remade his career at Espanyol but always felt he was destined to bigger things than being king of a frog pond. He was overhyped beyond belief when he first broke out from our youth teams and he just couldn't handle it. As naturally talented as Xavi or Iniesta.

He never managed to stay consistently on the pitch without doing something stupid or fucking up his knee. We rated him, but finally got tired to wait. We probably didn't have a role for him after Rijkaard changed our tactics too.

He was always either injuried, banned or getting in fights when he played for us, I gave up on him entirely.

Still can't believe Thiago Motta has earned a decent footballing career.

Google makes me feel so smart

This, indeed, says he signed a 3 year contract in summer 2009 http://af.reuters.com/article/idAFJOE56L05G20090722

Henderson headlining the "Upcoming Player to Watch" section in the major Barcelona sports rag.

I know, but he's never hanged around with Villa/Mata/Albelda which is why they are sitting together. I'll try to find a better photo.

http://estaticos.marca.com/marcador/futbol/2010_11/primera/jornada_22/val_her/images/valencia4_300x196.jpg Think you're just paranoid, there's no reason he'd be sitting with them anyway.