Village Idiot

I think it's way too much money, but he's just 23 afterall. Him and Iniesta would sort our central midfield for most of the next decade.

Barcelona press reporting we have upped our offer for Cesc to €50m.

Would be fun to play you lot in the semis.

Got mixed up since Stoke were after him too

Real Madrid just confirmed Kaká is out for 3-4 months.

He played wide right. Keane and Fowler got games up front ahead of him, as well as JFH and Viduka. I remember when he played a few games as a target man though, and he was dreadful. I think he was fine... mostly his workrate and pressing, his actuall goalscoring skills were always Heskeyesque.

Smith was playing the "make a nuisance of yourself" forward role, while Hasselbaink/Viduka were the out-and-out goalscorers. He was quite dynamic back at Leeds to be frank.

Looks like the Hércules case is going to be dismissed. Hércules president was tapped admitting to bribing rivals to ensure his team's promotion to First division while being investigated for real estate fraud. The judge investigating the case says he won't send the tapes to our sporting authorities since the tapping was only authorized in regards to the real estate case. He also says that match fixing isn't tyipfied as an offence in our laws (this was changed but won't take effect until the end of the year), so there's no crime to pursue.

How do the knockout stages work? Is there a draw? It's pretty likely we'll wind up 2n place in our group.

Actually I think Kaká played better in Istanbul, although 2007 was the best season overall for him. But his first half against the dippers was immense. *That* pass for Crespo's first (I think)

Mmmmm... should I pick up Cesc in the drafted FF league I play in? The other usual suspects are all taken. At least I would have a reason to be happy about if he doesn't sign.

Is he seriously saying "f***ing" and "jack s***" while writing in French?

Actually forgot about Canales. He might get more airtime than I expected if Kaká keeps on being a crook.

That chronic groin injury alone ensures he can't enjoy a full season at a top level anymore. Just realized Madrid have a glut of DMs now, but only him and Van der Vaart to cover for the "Zidane role". Bizarro world.

Kaká has left the Real Madrid squad hours before their first friendly. Rumor is that he's f***ed his knee and he's going to get an op. EDIT: "As" are confirming it. Probable meniscus tear. Man, he's got a shit luck with fitness.

Fiorentina. Several in Spain... from the top of my head CD Málaga, Burgos, Marbella, Granada 74... most of them refounded in some guise (Málaga CF even managed to eventually win back top flight status). CD Logroñés seems as good as dead too. Pretty sure quite a few less known clubs in Segunda B and below have gone under too.

Wish the Spanish revenue service had this kind of balls to be honest. La Liga clubs reportedly owe €600m in due taxes, but they are not going after the clubs since most of the smaller and medium ones would go the way of Pompey. Examples should be set, this money is owed to all the nation and it's not like we're swimming in budget surplus ffs.

I see what you did there.

Godín from Villarreal to Atlético has been finalised. €8m rising to €10m Canny transfer window for them so far: Godín, Mérida on a free, Filipe Luís... all very good business.

My friend's going to see that match. Was gutted when word got out that Messi wasn't going to play but that's cheered her up. Well, he's just came in. EDIT: And scored, your friend must be happy. EDIT2: A brace now.

I presume you won the UK leg of the competition to qualify for this? Since ManU are there as hosts. Well done then

34m for a player who hasn't made a single senior appearence? my ass That's the release fee he had while contracted to us. Not a real "valuation".

Manchester United 0 - FC Barcelona 3

So you see what preseason is really about: Messi has been forced to play today against a K-League team even though Guardiola had first said that he just wasn't ready yet (he's been training for just a couple days). The reason? A contract that states that Messi has to at least play 30min or Barça won't receive €2m for the friendly.

Our press reporting that Sevilla and Tottenham are interested in Hleb. Would be wonderful if we could somehow still squeeze a transfer fee for him.