Village Idiot

I was also a big fan of his dad. One of the best DMs we had in La Liga. It's also great that Thiago has chosen to play for Spain (at U-19 level at least).

Thiago, Dos Santos and Fontàs have been promoted to Barça's first team. This means that we'll buy a DM since Oriol Romeu (who was tipped to take that position) will remain another year at Barça B. Probably rules out a move for Özil too (Dos Santos and Thiago play central midfield). I love Thiago Alcántara, can't wait to see him play more regularly. Madrid rumored to be after a #9 after Mou (rightly) complained about their depth in that position (only Pipita and Benzema, if you don't count CR7/9). Maybe they shouldn't have sold Rodrigo then...

zinaldo, are you Ben Arfa?

He would revitalize Newcastle's gambling industry though. I swear he kept our casino in business all by himself.

He won't score 10 goals. He will be everywhere on the pitch (although not always where he should be). He didn't grab games by their neck at Barça but it wasn't his job there, I reckon he has the character to do so if necessary. And he's better than that lot. Pablo Ibañez is past it.

Camoranesi

Real Madrid just passed €1000m in gross spend since Florentino took over back in 2000. Here's a nifty table with it broken down by season and player, for your amusement: http://estaticos01.marca.com/imagenes/2010/08/09/futbol/equipos/real_madrid/1281330797_extras_noticia_foton_7_2.jpg

MLS is the standard of a European "second tier quality" league tbh. i.e. Scando leagues, Scottish league, Ukrainian league and so on. IMO. It's Henry that's playing cack. I'm aware of what standard the MLS is, to say its second tier quality is generous, perhaps the top players are, but teams overall, not too sure. Ljungberg had his one decent game a season today. I watch the MLS almost every round due to being a nocturnal b******, and I also watch the odd random European league match-up from time to time because, well, it's football. Combined with watching the Scando leagues often I'd no doubt say the better MLS teams would slide in easily. The lesser teams would probably struggle. The issue with the MLS and overall player quality is that they have very small squads in the first place, which usually means a mixture of say, 30% good players and 70% filler. I dare say you know all this already, but yeah. On topic though, Henry have been nothing but shocking since he came over IMO. He should boss the league even on the decline. Henry retired the day he won the CL, imho. Never seen such a vertical decline from one season to another. And yes, main problem of the MLS is that they have expanded too quick and talent is way too diluted, so squads are full of cack that degrade the standard of the league. Should get better over time, though, of they manage to fix their youth system and start paying decent wages to squad players.

We are in talks with Bremen regarding Özil, although Guardiola will make a decision once he gets back from China. He seems to prefer just to use our youngsters and wait on Cesc. Özil looked a bit unconsistant in the WC, but I liked his pace and energy. When you take Messi out of the side we are quite one-paced sometimes.

Personally I'm hesitant about this guy, he hasn't managed to stay at any club without stirring up trouble. That said, if you sign him I hope it turns out well for you.

Think Gibbs will peep Clichy for the starting spot this season? Always thought Gael is massively overrated. Think of the CBs you could have bought with €40m, Ash!

Just saw Arsenal lost 5-6 against Legia Varsovia... was it some gimmick game or what?

Cool, had just seen the result in the competitions website Can't wait for these kids to come through, still a few years away tho

10th, I would say they are weaker this year though.

Sulejmani on loan at West Ham. I love him, hope he can pick up his career (even though it's bad for your interests)

Image 5. The number 15 is the guy on the left: http://www.manchesterunitedpremiercup.com/photo-gallery/2010/team-activities-87 Incidentally so we can have a positive ID for #6, if you were able to get a good look at him the boy in photos 2 and 3 is Sergi Samper.

Yep, that one. Guessing Sandro is white? As milk The only other black player from that age group I'm familiar with is Edwelle, who has short curly hair and is stockier. Has to be either Epkolo or Ondoa

The black boy? Don't recognize him. Can't be Sandro Ramírez though!

Incidentally Dongou was adquired through Eto'o's foundation for Cameroonian footballers.

Yeah, Dongou has usually played centreforward in our youth teams. If #15 is Sandro Ramírez (a forward) he also has some hype on him, was scouted in the same tournament in the Canary Islands where we found Pedro. Sadly it doesn't look like the final is broadcast here in Spain.

He impressed me and many others, including coaches and scouts, massively. He will be a world-class player, mark my words. Hope the Arsenal scout was out for a coffee when we played You shouldn't have any problem keeping hold of him, can't see why he'd want to leave as he's destined to be in and around your first team squad in the next couple of years. I know there was definitely a Chelsea scout there and a Blackburn one. I heard a couple of other guys with cockney accents who seemed to be scouts too. I'm fairly certain we had a scout there too which I'm pleased about, would have been criminal not to. I realise I've set myself up for a massive fall here by the way, bigging him up way too much but I think it's worthy. He's going to have a shitter tomorrow now though and I'll look like a right t***. Wouldn't mean much, the Messi-Piqué-Fàbregas squad didn't manage to win the trophy afterall! But thanks for the appraisal, I have heard a lot about him but seeing a neutral dishing out this kind of praise is always exciting.

He impressed me and many others, including coaches and scouts, massively. He will be a world-class player, mark my words. Hope the Arsenal scout was out for a coffee when we played

What, the Championship already started? Mental league

He's supposedly one of the best centremids in our U-17 setup so if he impressed you it should be him.

Grrr... for the life of me can't find the squad we sent. I suppose the likes of Samper, Pol García, Pol Ballesté, Toral, Dongou, Ebwelle, Riera, Baldé are there, but dunno who's wearing #6. Your squad was as follows: Pol Ballesté Hector Bellerin Roger Riera Pol Garcia Alejandro Grimaldo Sergi Samper Keita Balde Pau Belana Huguet Jean Marie Dongou Jon Miquel Toral Alain Richard Edwelle E. Godswill Ekpolo Joseph Ondoa Simon Colina Sandro Ramirez Ivan Romano The number 6 sat in front of the back four if that helps? Might be Sergi Samper, plays there and is highly rated.