Village Idiot

You have plenty muslim footballers observing Ramadan, which certainly can't help their performance. Can't see why a Jewish manager can't observe Yom Kippur. Pretty usual in the USA for Jewish workers to take the day off for example.

They should have kept Voronin. He looked shit but scored from time to time as opposed to looking shit and not scoring.

the food in the Czech and Slovak republics is amazing Love goulash and dumplings. That Polish stuff sounds canny nice tbh. There was this Polish restaurant in Brooklyn Heights, boy did I cry when they closed it down. Just love food from that area.

I think that Polish dish looks delicious, reminds me of when I lived in the Czech Republic...

That baby room is stuff of nightmares.

Gerrard and Torres not starting for 'pool. Confident.

Cheeky reference to my one of my father's favourites: http://a1.phobos.apple.com/us/r30/Music/bd/ac/bc/mzi.vqenochb.170x170-75.jpg VI, whatever happened to that young Israeli, Assulin I think his name was. Is he still floating in the wilderness? Football can be cruel like this sometimes, I suppose. As far as I know, he's still without a team. He's injuried at the moment, though, so that probably hampered his prospects of getting a contract just yet. He was ill-advised, imho, holding up for an offer from a big club wasn't the wisest move, and he really ain't that good. I hear that ManCity want to trial him again once he comes back. Think he should really go somewhere else.

Baba, what's the new rank? Did you stage a coup?

Unrelated but does La Liga have such a fantasy league? There are a few, not as good and usually not free (usually they're a free to register and then they charge you for transfers). The yahoosports one is entirely free, but haven't played it in a few years: http://us.superliga.fantasysports.yahoo.com/football Really haven't found any FF game that beats the official PL one in simplicity and cleanliness.

That's a Xavi-esque assist count for his last two seasons at Blackburn if true. Mind, I recall him being everyfknwhere for that side. I think people don't remember just how good he was for them.

Lamps was a very slow starter last season, he didn't start to rack up really crazy points until the last third of the season.

If they remain trophyless he's more likely to sign for us next season. Not that me cheering for them or not won't make any difference, but poisons the joy of seeing them win a bit

Spurs are miles behind Real Madrid though. What was not good enough for them doesn't necessarily make him not good enough for Spurs. And I personally think he was more than adequate as backup and had some great performances last season.

If it wasn't for the Cesc thing I'd be cheering for Arsenal to win the PL, to be honest, play the right way.

They got some herb plague, going to relay it after this game.

I was starting to watch the PL back then, but to me Shearer in his Blackburn days is still untouchable. Not in any way an indictment of Drogba, who's fantastic.

IIRC He'll go to two more places.

It was announced down here a few days ago, although where he would go was obviously kept under wraps.

I used to dwell in a Bolton forum and they too complained about Nolan's fitness during his late years there.

Brilliant, and accurate. Fantastic

I was just reading a preview for the Madrid-Ajax game tonight and it says that Oleguer is the highest-paid Ajax player

I'm pretty sure Spanish is taught in Brazilian schools too. Wouldn't be that surprised if Sandro spoke it. On the other hand I can understand Brazilian/Portuguese people rather easily depending on their accent/speaking speed.

I always rated his workrate, mind, particularly in a team like Mallorca that was a pretty important quality. Plus his pace. But he's never been a player with good delivery. I remember him hitting one of the most hilariously soft penalties I have ever seen at Camp Nou. A penalty he won himself, though. Also to get back to the topic of the thread, I'm pretty damn sure Jonás was played on the centre ocasionally at Mallorca. Can't remember how he performed there, though. But a centremid with pace and good physicality (he was pretty big for a La Liga player) isn't a daft idea if you play counter.

He wasn't a rated player, he was a player that people expected to come good since he had all the same flaws in his game that he exhibits now but was young and new to Europe, but has obviously stagnated. As said, Güiza, Ibagaza and Valero were the top dogs at Mallorca at the time.

Hmmm - despite the fact that he was very highly rated in Spain, you know better? Eh? No. He had the same rep that he has with you lot. Flashy runs with no end product, although due to his age he was regarded as having potential to be good.