Village Idiot

If you were a fan of Captain Tsubasa, this is a downright awesome homage to Diego Forlán in the style of that anime Suárez' cameo

I saw it too when they aired it a few weeks ago. Was with some friends that gave fuck all about football and they were glued to the screen. That's how tragic/powerful that stuff is.

From Guardiola to Big Sam, now that'll be a culture shock for the lad... He's mostly another Dos Santos, minus the drinking part (allegedly).

3 goals and 7 assists in 15 starts for us, not far off devastating iyam. Better than Zidane

So, hum, I open this Capello Index site and the first thing I see is they have Forlán as being a Spanish national and not having scored in his last game.

Gomez? That Gomez who hasn't scored more than 2 goals last season? Well, maybe they need him to model for the new shirt, or something like that. Can't imagine Mourinho to want to sign him, really can't. It's their cover, even, with a - probably made up - quote from Mou. http://estaticos01.marca.com/imagenes/2010/07/17/g1707.jpg

Hahah let's start comparing Zidane, Xavi, Figo and throw in Messi for good measure I give up, I mean for me Xavi is a brilliant player but he has not even been acknowledge as the best player of the year, let alone his generation. How can he even be considered as one of the legends like Zidane. It seems to me that most of those who are putting him on this pedestal as to be equivalent to the likes of Zidane are Barca/Spanish fans. Such blatant biasness gives very little credence to such views. I will just say that if you ask an average football fan without any affiliation to any of Barcelona, Madrid, Spain or France, I'm confident that most would say that Zidane is the better player. Fwiw, (and for the final time like ) I never actually said that Xavi is a better player than Zidane (I don't think he is), what I actually said was I think he is more useful to a team than Zidane. What's the difference? s***, I promised myself not to stir up this more

Marca reporting today that Mou wants to sign Mario Gómez They have been linked with half the German NT, mind, although so far it was just the good ones.

"Sport" headlines the signing of Adriano with this amusing photo of Adriano and Alves together http://www.sport.es/vivo/recursos/fotos/foto_445/foto_445719_CAS.jpg

Betis' sale has been blocked by the judge due to Lopera's many irregularities. Fun to be a Betis fan...

Actually thought that many times

Pretty sure he broke his leg or something in Spain, and still had hamstring issues over there too - unless this was irony. Not irony at all, 30+ games pretty much every season since he broke out into Atlético's starting XI. Maybe the fact that he's been playing so much since he was 17 has worn out his body, mind.

My Manc friend has sent this to me: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Reserves-news/2010/July/Elite-Squad-fixtures-released WTF If the reserves are the Elite Squad what does that make the first team, then?

Zlatan has announced his return to the Swedish NT. That was a short retirement, guess he couldn't be arsed to play the summer friendlies.

Don't worry, I'm genetically uncapable of saying anything nice of Figo, even though the fucking cunt was horribly class

I don't know, I think Messi really isn't one of the best players of all time, unlike lots of non-Barça fans. For Real Madrid, I actually think Figo did more for the team too, judas cunt.

I just love arguing about football, forgive me Regarding Xavi/Messi, I do think that Messi sits on the throne that Xavi builds.

What about his thoughball for Torres in the Euro 2008 Final, or his pin point cross to Messi in the Champions League Final? Frankly you don't have a clue what you're talking about and should quit while you're behind. Well that would simply mean that he was unable to reproduce his Barcelona form for this World Cup (at least in terms of assist). This again puts the comparison with Zidane into perspective who had no problems reproducing his Madrid form for France. Aye, France 2002 was a smash after he had won the CL with Real. Funnily he had a shit season at club level in 2006 before carrying France to the final. Again, this wonderful Madrid form that people talk about made him win a grand total of two trophies in 5 seasons there. I know it's a team game, but if people keep bringing out how he turned in at big moments, etc... surely I can say how after winning the CL in 2002 he failed to help Madrid progress from the friggin first knockout round for the remainder of his career? That he has lost more European (3) finals that he has won (1)? Fine, you can ignore me because of my colors, but I do think Zidane is overrated. Wonderful player sure, but not even the best player of his time.

Well they are rolling in it since Beckham's insurance money has kicked in. They probably think they need another star player on inflated wages. Big mistake. If they just stick with Buddle and Donovan they'll walk it to being champions. This is their last chance too, since Donovan is almost certainly off to Everton in January on a free. Can they have so many DPs in their books? I know that Donovan isn't one, but Donovan+Becks+Ronaldinho = two bags of crisps for the rest of the squad as the wage cap kicks in.

Not yet. But he will be sold. I can see him going for next to no money nearing the end of the window a la Gudjohnsen.

I'm trying to think of a player that would be a a good replacement for Toure. There's really none available on the market that are as good as Yaya, maybe Mascherano? Whatever happens it seems a step down imo. Touré barely played last season. For whatever reason Guardiola prefers Busquets (who is better than most people think, though), so we won't sign a Mascherano type that can't sit on the bench.

Maxwell is a bit shaky defensively. I'd have loved to get a new starting leftback (Abidal is great for us but his fitness is a concern), but that will have to wait, and with Adriano we get both an RB and LB backups.

I hope we do sign somebody to replace Touré indeed, there are no names mentioned but the Adriano signing came out of the blue without the press ever picking on it so I'm confident it's being addressed. We are likely to promote Bartra, so we'd be with Puyol/Piqué/Milito/Bartra as CBs if Márquez ends up leaving. Dos Santos, Alcántara, Fontàs and Muniesa are also candidates and will be assessed by Guardiola during preseason.

Yeah, he's not great, but he is solid and won't be a starter in any position (Abidal on the left and Alves on the right). But Puyol just doesn't have the legs anymore to deputize at the RB and he'll also provide cover on the left (we have been both without Abidal and Maxwell a few times last season due to Abidal's fitness).

Xavi had 14 assists in the league alone this season, 20 the one before that... mr 5 yard pass my arse. I have seen him giving through balls week in week out that destroyed entire defences with a single touch.