Village Idiot

Aye, but they don't quite play the same way. Xavi plays more upfield, Iniesta in the right wing, etc... One of the things I noticed in Spain is how often players get on each others' toes while moving in attacking positions. That happens with most NTs, however. They will just never have the fluidity of a well drilled club side. England had very bad tactical movement for example, even Holland hasn't had bursts of great teamplay for most of the tournament. But Germany have some incredible teamplay.

The most baffling thing is that Germany hasn't had - on paper - a great squad since probably the mid-90s, and their players never quite excel at club level. Yet they have kept getting to the business end of most major tournaments, and they may well win this one. They somehow manage to play like a club side, with great tactical movement and solidness, while most other NTs are always much less sophisticated and organized (Spain for example just doesn't have the penetration of the Barcelona side even though they try to be the NT version of it).

Actually Yaya would probably be excellent as the "water carrier" or the more forward looking in a pair of two DMs. He really doesn't have the tactical discipline to play the holding role by himself, but his box-to-box qualities are great.

And Liverpool failed miserably with it, as I said. players/coaching >>>>>>> formation.

Espanyol were after him and seemed certain to land him a week ago. Can't compete with Porto of course.

As customary in any World Cup, the Spanish press has already linked half the German team to Barça and Madrid

Ballon d'Or and FIFA WPOTY will be fused into a single award: FIFA Ballon d'Or Up at Marca, trying to find a source in English http://www.marca.com/2010/07/05/futbol/futbol_internacional/1278333740.html

She's probably paid off and tied up by a million NDA's to be frank. Hopefully Cronaldo will end up as nuts as Michael Jackson, minus the kiddie fiddling part of course.

What I mean is that I never bought the "this or that formation is best" bollocks, or that tactics are that different once you're on the pitch and people start running. What matters is players ability to react and adapt to changing situations on the pitch, and the coaching to do so. 442, 433... it really matters little, football is not a game of subbuteo.

Wonder what they will pay when they get around to get a real big star.

People only seem to talk about Inter and Germany, but Liverpool reached the dizzying heights of 6th place with that formation. Formations are overrated. It's using the adequate players and good positional sense/coaching that makes the difference.

As if the likes of Uruguay, Spain or Holland wouldn't do a party of the same quality. Have you ever tried Dutch or Spanish beer? I have, some aren't bad, others not drinkable. But German beer (especially Bavarian beer) is the best in the world imo. It's summer so our party would be sangría-based tbh.

That's pretty wrong, especially the last part. You can mass manufacture great beer, it just doesn't appeal to the masses. I don't think you can choose ingredients, pay attention to fermentation etc... when you are trying to manufacture the same beer across 10+ plants all over the globe. That's why microbreweries are the best. Not denying that there are decent big breweries out there, but they pale when compared to a maker that will only have a small production.

You lot are really looking forward this season Pretty certain you'll stay up fwiw.

Personally think Heineken is despicable piss. Mainstream beers are mainstream because bland taste = appealing to a bigger amount of people. Plus the huge production necessary to distribute to all the globe comes at the expense of quality.

An oil tanker of salt.

Destination: Madrid, why o why I'm not surprised

Marca and Gazetta Dello Sport have started a petition to Joseph Blatter to adopt goal line and video technology. You can sign here. http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/mundial/sudafrica-2010/firmas.html

I thought it already belonged to them. Last time I was there, I spent an hour trying to find some Spanish nosh. It was all sausage, sauerkraut and kebabs. Okay, I'll throw Gibraltar in the deal too. I don't think that yours to give away. Was thinking of the fun the day they showed up at the door.

As if the likes of Uruguay, Spain or Holland wouldn't do a party of the same quality. Have you ever tried Dutch or Spanish beer? There's good Spanish beer, just not the mainstream brands.

I thought it already belonged to them. Last time I was there, I spent an hour trying to find some Spanish nosh. It was all sausage, sauerkraut and kebabs. Okay, I'll throw Gibraltar in the deal too.

C'mon surely we can arrange something, we'll give them Mallorca if they let us win.

First time in my life where I don't have to adopt another team at the business end of the WC

Arteta can pretty much play at the top level until he's 32. I think Ireland can become a very good player under good management (which I believe Moyes would provide), but presumably he's on some big wages since he signed a new contract recently. I'd probably stick with Arteta since he's proven to improve Everton significantly when he's on the pitch, but I can see an argument for the transfer.

What are they? £220,000 p/w i read. Jesus Christ no wonder he left. Makes me feel better Aren't they paying Boateng 85k p/w too?