Village Idiot

"forward Rafael Van der Vaart" aye, looks like a researched article.

Indeed, we'll never know but Vincento Del Bosque may well have saved Zlatans Barca career. Nobody such as Jeffron or another youth graduate who could make the step up? Don't really rate Jeffren myself. Decent player mind, but looks like mid-table La Liga material. Currently we don't have any forwards that look to step up just yet, just midfielders (Thiago, Dos Santos) and defenders (Bartra, Muniesa). Assulin looked like an amazing prospect two years ago but he's stalled since then and it looks like we are letting him go.

Four semis? That's the same record as Spain then.

After seeing Villa's performances on the wing for Spain, if we keep Zlatan I'll consider us sorted. Maybe we'd need one more body but can be some promising fellow instead of a high profile signing. Villa - Zlatan - Messi (Pedro/Iniesta)-(Bojan)-(Pedro)

Most of that debt comes from the mismanagement during the Gaspart era in 2000-2004. We went from no debt to €200m in that time iirc. True that Laporta has been spending freely as of late, however, Rosell has openly said he's going to be more conservative.

We have been linked with a €20m move for Özil these past days. Probably just random linking with any high-performer in the WC, but it's been reported by a variety of sources in Spain and it's true we are in the market for a winger.

I never understood why Hodgson got this terrible rep, after what amounted to just a bad half season with Blackburn. Compared to the ease managers like, say, Dowie are given chance after chance...

I don't think we have ever had so many members of the Spanish squad playing (or having spent a significant part of their careers) abroad. I think people like Torres, Arbeloa, Piqué and Cesc have improved immensely from the experience

That was quick from Dave, almost superhuman.

That's the great thing about La Liga, you can tune in to teams like Tenerife, Almería, Málaga, etc... and they play some darn entertaining stuff, while their PL equivalents go the way of Stoke. Incidentally my favorite non-Barça game of the season was the Fulham 3 - ManU 0. Fulham played some magnificent stuff that day. The pace and tempo of a PL team with the precision of a continental one. They shat over ManU from great height.

Cruyff bashing Brazil: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/804264/ce/uk/&cc=5901?ver=us Legend

Incidentally Yayá's transfer deal with City has fallen through and they'll have to restart talks with the new board. Apparently the deal we had expired on the 28th.

I don't know, Liverpool are obviously broke and in threat of losing their few stalwart players, but this is probably Hodgson's last chance to manage a big English club and I fancy him to make the most of it, not just plugging along.

Barry and Bridge stick out like sore thumbs. They've signed Boateng though so Bridge wont be starting. Still think their defence isnt to the standard of the rest of their team like. 50m defence at that

To be honest I could easily become obsessed with her too.

Well, there's some returns. Players that don't make the grade are sold to other clubs, even the ones that leave because they don't have pro contracts (Arsenal ) still command tribunal fees that cut down the yearly costs.

FWIW Barça's academy costs us €15m a year to run. It isn't that much for a club our size tbh.

Excellent article - it shows how a club funded academy can look long term (one big sale funds several years of production) and control the player development if they truely believe in the process and peak the players at older ages, compared to the US Pay-to-Play process where the parents and in control and demand short term results with each seasons results. We have a very similar, although less radical, setup. Which is to be expected given the Dutch influence in our club. It helps we are the absolute biggest fish in Catalonia so every boy dreams of playing for us and we don't have the competition of an Ajax, PSV etc... in the same area. Surely your lot could eventually do something similar in the northeast. You pretty much have that area for yourselves, although not being a local I might be wrong.

Wouldn't surprise me if he went to Madrid. They do lack a leftback, and Mou has worked with him before.

Messi plays deeper for Argentina than he does for Barça. He's been their most creative player since Verón has been quite shit and Pastore can't get a game either.

Surely that bridge is burnt? Such a waste of talent.

Is it me or are City close to have a better squad than ManU if they complete the Touré signing? Apart from that Mexican fella they have done fuck all in the transfer market and the lot of Giggs/Scholes/Rio are going to be yet another year older. Rooney doesn't repeat this year's performance and they are fucked. I'd put my dislike for City aside for a season if they were to finish above them next season. So fun.

The problem with Alonso is that even though he's quality he's always been a square peg in Spain's system. I'd rather take him out and put Silva/Cesc, putting Xavi in the middle of the park, or playing him in the Busquets position against weak opposition that will bunker down. Now he's usurped Xavi's spot which just doesn't make much sense.

Do you prefer him or Busquets as a player? Touré is way better going forward, Busquets is actually better defensively. So I'd want both and start Touré since most teams will play 10 behind ball against us.

The new Barça president is apparently making a last ditch effort to convince Touré of staying. Guardiola to meet with the player.