Village Idiot

It's a shame their team is being pawned off like this. Obviously not for you, like. It's hilarious. They are battling for a top 6 placing since god knows when, and what do they do? Sell half of their starting defenders in the January window. It's like they are scared of doing too well.

Ok, Espanyol have sold Vilà to Milan for €4m, and Víctor Ruíz to Napoli for €6m. Vilà's a decent player, think it's a bad move to go there so early though.

Roy Maakay was immense for Deportivo. Not underrated at all, at least around here. Tristán/Maakay, what a partnership back then.

His left peg is decent, but it's a waste to stick him there.

In less glamorous (but taller) news, Zigic heavily linked with a return to Racing Santander in our press. €500k loan fee with a €6m purchase option, if Racing's takeover is finished in time.

To be frank when Supply and demand. LFC were desperate, and Ajax knew it. To be frank Ajax have always asked big money for him. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6898265.ece

A couple south-american strikers coming from Holland did allright too. Still think €25m is a bit of a massive gamble, even if Suárez looks at least a decent player.

I really can't see both forming a good partnership, either.

Why has he not got gloves in the pic? Probably more comfortable without them on, there's no need to catch the ball in a pen shootout, just parry it. I don't know, harder to smother a ball without gloves. But it obviously worked for him. The thought that Darius Vassell played in an Euro quarter final

Didn't Martins manage so somehow be skint, too?

It's not who wanted to leave, it's who played and acted like they didn't want to be there. Martins was one of many. That's fair enough, I wasn't around following you back then so won't judge Martins' commitment (looked pants the few games I saw though).

nahh.. Jose has always been loyal Not really, there are quotes from that time of him saying that he wanted to move. Mostly because of the mess you were in, and the lack of ownership and manager. My point is that players jumping ship at the time is something that I wouldn't hold against them.

Even José Enrique wanted away back then, you really looked a downright mess during preseason 2009 so I wouldn't really fault players leaving.

He probably doesn't age as long as he's injuried. Like the portrait of Dorian Gray.

Diego Forlán has revealed that Atlético turned down a Real Madrid bid for him.

Ah, the good old reverse jinx

Dídac from Espanyol to Milan for €4m. Done deal. Víctor Ruiz from Espanyol to Napoli for €6m. Done deal too. That's the bitters selling their first choice CB and LB in a single day. They probably got scared they were doing too well and opted for going back to the safety of mediocrity

I was actually going to use Iniesta as an example tbh. Thanks for that Village. To be honest I generally agree that Spurs do a lot of noise but have little actual punch. But Modric isn't the problem at all, in my opinion. Kevin Davies has scored more than all your strikers put together!

You don't really need to rack up the goals and assists to be a great CM. Ask Andrés Iniesta before this season. It's about directing play.

Your GD is miles behind the top 4 teams. You have more problems than just an allegedly dodgy RB.

Qatar to offer crazy money to Pep for him to take over their NT until the 2022 WC. Word is they are about to table a €20m/year offer.

Nah, doesn't look like they store clips of their interviews in their site. Shitty Marca. I found some old transcripts from previous interviews he gave there, so maybe they'll post one tomorrow. Will check again.

I can only find a single quote in Marca's site, dunno if they intend to post a transcript or if the audio clip is available. "Do you think you could play at Barça?" "Even my dad could play at Barça and look good"

Apparently was interviewed today in Marca's radio station. Will see if I can find some quotes.

M. Diarra from Madrid to Monaco. Free.