Village Idiot

Real Madrid look very ordinary when Xabi Alonso isn't on the pitch. Lass/Khedira central midfield not going to create much apart from despair, so they are just bypassing it. They also miss Higuaín, Benzema is so lethargic...

I don't know but it looks like Mou's assistant has decked Bernabéu's delegate? Why would he do that, both are RM employees?

I know I'm a Barça fan and all that, but really how utter twats can Bernabéu fans be? They have one of the best squads in the world, beating numb La Liga teams left and right, but if they're not up 4-0 at half time, here come the boos.

He was good last season, admittedly. However he was a bit of a cunt this summer (he extended his contract with Almería and when better clubs came knocking he backpedalled and tried to have his contract expunged) and you can see his heart is just not in it anymore.

Bernabéu (timidly) booing at 35 minutes They are such mongs.

Who are their better players? I know they have FM legend Henok Goitom. Piatti is utterly brilliant on his day, pity his streaky (still young though). He is Messi lite, even if you squint a little they look the same. Left wing too, in case you want to boot Jonás. Diego Alves I also rate, despite the goal haul he's accruing. Gotiom is a bit shit for them.

Negredo, man, you were supposed to go and become a 20+ goals striker not a doofus.

I just laugh at people claiming last year that Cronaldo was more "complete" because he can score freekicks and heads the ball better. Football is more than just the finishing, man.

Almería, bar a couple players, are shit.

That's why I consider Cronaldo clearly behind Leo (I know, biased), he can fail to score and still be massively influential in the team's performance. Cronaldo is all about his goals.

Lots of tracking back and workrate in that front 4.

Okay, I'll do it while avoiding mentioning anything FC Barcelona related, which would be utterly boring and predictable (but true )

I don't know if I should vote on this

Actually we were s*** that season (we finished 3rd in La Liga and miles off the pace of Real Madrid), still don't get why defeating us in that tie is seen as such a crowning achievement (probably because of what we have achieved afterwards). And I do consider him a better manager than Wegner, much more clever and resourceful (or Wegner is just too stubborn). Just that as I neutral I personally care little who actually wins the trophies and just want to be entertained, something Wegner manages more than Ferguson.

Certainly prefer to watch Arsenal play than Manchester United, but Ferguson's sustained success is hard to argue against. I myself counted out ManU quite a few times these past seasons, but the way he is able to get the most of rather average squads (for the standard of an European top team), is astonishing.

Kaká back in training for Real Madrid. Wonder if Mou will get some form off him. He didn't seem to care much about Kaká in preseason but Canales is flopping so far and Özil is the best player in the world when playing teams with two-digit league placing, so he'll get a chance in the hole (Pellegrini actually played him a lot in the wing).

Watch La Liga instead. The Andalusians have been off so far, but Madrid-Sevilla games have all been crackers these past years. Málaga-Atlético should be pretty watchable too.

Incidentally, you can do much much worse than watching Villarreal play this season. Watched them prior to the derby and they were again fantastic. Nilmar's finish for their third

I see José Enrique can't spell Birmihnhgham either.

I buy every season's shirt, and I certainly won't be buying one next season, I think i'll just get the 2010-11 one again as it gets discounted when the Qatar foundation ones get released.

Ah fuck me, I'm drunk so I'll think I'll go troll some Espanyol forums in the most classless way imaginable.

I shudder to think how bitter I'd be if I were an Espanyol fan. Oh, they are very, *very* bitter. They even refuse to sell tickets to away fans for the derby.

Keep it up, that's the challenge. This is just December, we ain't won nothing yet.

:mackems: :mackems: This is how it feels to be dust under our boots, you bitters.