Village Idiot

We have signed Adriano from Sevilla for €10m. Great signing actually, we needed this kind of utility man to plug some holes (RB backup, LB backup, RW backup). Pity we didn't go after Filipe Luis like rumoured these past few days, but would have cost a few more million.

To be honest, I think Silva could have used one more year in Spain, at the tail end of the very season he looked like he was developing some directness into his game that was very nice, but the move to England may come slightly soon. We'll see. No doubt about the players they are buying this season, certainly a step above the lot they got last year (bar Tévez). They will compete for the title soon, just not this season I think.

Tall call for the title just yet, I think. Squad has to gel and they keep buying themselves a new team every season.

Barça's accounts are being audited (regular procedure after a change in the presidency), and the results will be reported in a couple weeks or so, so we'll see exactly what our financial health is. Our finacial vice-president says that we still have €50m for signings (taking into account sales and purchases so far), which probably rules Cesc out. But net spending figures like the ones in the past years are simply unsustainable.

Yes, go to Arsenal!

Spain's squad looks pretty good. Great to see Thiago Alcántara has seemingly chosen Spain

Stuttgart denied that earlier today. Marca are reporting it as a done deal, to be announced officially tomorrow. We'll see. Khedira is going to be a star, I believe.

Aduriz signed for Valencia for €4m. Aduriz/Soldado can't replace Silva/Villa, but it's still pretty good value and decent enough if Soldado keeps progressing. Khedira to Real Madrid for €10m. Shit, that's a good signing.

Raul and Guti gone now, two of Madrid's players that have been there as long as i can remember. Going to be weird this. Have I missed something? Has Raul left? If so, when? And who has he joined? Linked with Schalke, plus Mou has more or less told him not to bother showing up for training.

Not saying he is better since they are completely different players as I said from the start. But certainly I consider them in the same bracket of greatness. Also think Zidane is overrated due to his performances in finals, incidentally. He wasn't that influential over a season. Zidane was awesome, but most Madrid people consider him in the same bracket as Maradona, Cruyff et al which is absolutely daft.

Banks have approved the €150m loan to Barça, details will be made available tomorrow.

Not his fault that he doesn't need to? Plus for all the talk about Zidane growing in big games, Xavi was simply immense in the EC 2008 and CL 2009 finals. But I guess if you don't score it doesn't count.

Then yes, Zidane was flashier and a more stylish footballer than Xavi. Again, different players. Although I have seen Xavi do 360º turns too

david may has many more medals than alan shearer. Xavi has been a cornerstone of the teams he's won those medals with.

One in three last season, nice for a winger.

Nothing in the Spanish press regarding Hernández today.

They are usually drawn mid-July, so should be fairly soon.

He's finished, he'll still look like a superstar in that league and protect his "brand" that way, instead of looking like a lame duck in some European league.

Zidane only won two major titles in 5 years at Madrid. Xavi has a bigger trophy cabinet actually.

Puyol has retired from the Spanish NT. Best way to do it

Spain lead the Total Shots stat, however. I presume half of them are Xabi Alonso sending the ball a mile over the bar from 40 yards, though. EDIT: Just checked and we also lead the shots on goal stat, but Argentina has a better average.

Xavi ain't a #10, very different players. Xavi can't do what Zidane did, but certainly Zidane couldn't do what Xavi does either.

I also checked Diario As (same conglomerate as Ser) and can't find anything there either. Might get updated in the morning, though.

Pablo Hernández is immense, no way you can afford him, to be frank. Source is Cadena Ser... I'll do some research.