Village Idiot

Funniest thing, all of our current crop of homegrown wonders were scouted/signed under a board that ended up being chased out of town (and rightly so). !! there is hope! When did Carroll actually burst into scene? Four years ago or something? (I remember him being a substitute in a UEFA cup game). This policy needs years to actually reap results as youngsters are scouted and developed. I really don't think Ashley wants to be here that long.

Obinna was intermittently brilliant at Málaga, very intermittently though.

I'd love it if somehow he tricked some foreign club into signing him. The culture shock could be legendary.

Loony transfer rumor of the day: City to bid €100m for Iniesta http://tinyurl.com/2aska5g

Funniest thing, all of our current crop of homegrown wonders were scouted/signed under a board that ended up being chased out of town (and rightly so).

They already have a couple Real Madrid trainees keeping the bench warm (Canales is way better though), dunno why he would want to go there. A La Liga loan would be much better for him.

Just found out the Inter game is shown live this afternoon. I wonder if I should watch for the potential train wreck (and I admit I haven't seen Inter play this season since the European Supercup).

Hey, VI, how do you think Antoine Griezmann will do at Real Sociadad? Few times I've seen him, he's looked very promising. I'll admit I was was wrong in my first post. Thought Hines would be good after seeing him last season. Noble and Colison will stay where they are. Yeah, he's very promising and already one of Real Sociedad's key players. Very fun player to watch too.

That's an amazing atmosphere for a youth game, class

21st?

Always been a fan, but was great this weekend: Pablo Piatti.

Just saw an interview with Almería keeper Diego Alves, one of the best goalies in La Liga who has 9 penalties stopped out of the last 16. The guy revealed how he painfully researches every attacking player of the opposition team and his quirks and tendencies, he went into detail on how Kanouté runs and tends to shoot. Top pro, wonder how many keepers actually do that

We've always been at war with Eastasia. We've always loved José Enrique.

that's really out of order, Benzema is a really talented young player you just needs faith and confidence shown in him but when i see him play lately he looks s*** scared of making a mistake and is always looking towards the bench in fear of Jose. Mourinho is an amazing manager but thats a souness-like comment there. He doesn't care, he's getting a new striker in a couple of weeks anyway. He backpedalled later, saying that when he said "playing with the cat" he meant playing with a 451 since he only had a striker, and was less aggressive than the 442 "dog" tactic. Also, last ITK infro from the Madrid rags say that the board has told Mou there won't be another striker, unless Higuaín's injury is more serious than expected.

The few games I have seen of you this season I have liked this guy a lot. A lot of these physically gifted DMs sometimes try too hard to be the hero player chasing the ball all over the pitch just because they can (hello Diarra, hello Touré Yaya, hello Palacios), or running forward when in possession. This dude just goes about his business, very Makelele-like. Sits in midfield, wins ball, lays it off. Simple. Love how he keeps possession for your team in a delicate area.

Guti's video drunken punching people in the street was glorious http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qozZfkGKd3Y

Uh? Didn't know FC Barcelona had a vote in the FIFA ex committee Guardiola had close ties with the bid though.

Really not sure Fat Sam will go to Wham. I don't think he will risk a relegation, probably will wait out for a spot in something more midtableish.

These owners seem utter mentalists.

"a worldwide brand"

If you're looking for a patch until June, you could, but I really wouldn't go around signing 30+ year old strikers, with both currently having not very good seasons. Atlético are monumentally broke, if you offered money for Forlán they would sell. He's 31 and at some point they have to cash in. Nilmar or Rossi would be better punts. Villarreal are hardly awash with money (they are the size of a Wigan afterall) and Rossi has been making sounds of wanting to jump a level.

Cronaldo and David López's strikes this weekend made me realize we were going through a FK goal drought in La Liga. I checked some stats and sure enough, only 9 freekick goals have been scored so far this season. I also get the impression that there aren't that many FK goals in the Premiership either... am I wrong or are we going through a drought of great specialists?

I rate Manuel Fernandes, but Emery is a weird animal. He's a bit MONesque in regard that if you get in his naughty list, you won't see much on the pitch. As for under the radar La Liga strikers... Nelson Valdez, I'd say. Osvaldo is also doing well for Espanyol, despite their ultradefensive setup, he's been a danger and has a great sense for finding space. Not sure either are good enough for where you want to go though. Trezeguet is also doing wonderfully well, but he's old and I guess he couldn't cope in a more physical league.

There are no figures mentioned in the articles in the Spanish press. I haven't seen nothing on the Almeida transfer apart from a Marca article, but the Fernandes and Simao ones are confirmed (Simao had 6 months remaining so he costed a pittance for sure). Valencia have long been trying to get rid of Fernandes too. EDIT: Updated info on Fernandes, apparently it's a loan with a purchase option.

Benzema on his way out then? No, Higuaín is injuried and it may be long term. Mou already said in preseason that he wanted 3 strikers in the squad anyway. But depending on the stature of the signing he would drop to third choice.