Village Idiot

Happy to see NUFC and Barça getting non-shit at the same time. The past 6 months of football have been ROUGH.

I hope we're smarter than that. We probably aren't. But we've been missing a true focal point of attack and he's it.

Fair enough. Why West Ham though?

We've been great tonight. I was kinda iffy on PEA but so far he's proving me wrong, same with Adama.

I know Valencia have been shite this season, but winning so comfortably at Mestalla makes me feel good. The team looks miles better than what it did a few months ago.

Not going to be with us, I'm afraid, unless he lowers his contract demands. The fact he didn't sign with anyone this January makes me believe nobody's offering him what he wants, though.

Both great finishes, particularly the first, happy to see he's still got it.

Dunno what to expect tonight. We're very much a work in progress. Brilliant at times, fragile and ordinary at others. Last time we played in the EL Gavi had not even been born. Heh.

Impeccable timing, but looks like our sponsorship deal with Spotify is confirmed €93m/year, incuding stadium naming rights. Only runs for 3 years, though. Gonna play some Neil Young while wearing my Iniesta shirt.

Yeah, that's stupid. I hoped people would have learnt from the 2012 Euro semi.

All the - completely warranted - talk about our misery has kinda masked how terrible Atlético have been so far this season. This was the most convincing win we've had in a good while, even one man down they really didn't threaten our goal much. Anyway, pretty satisfying. Adama had a pretty good first half, Atlético couldn't deal with his physicality and his crosses were actually quite decent.

I don't know in the UK, but in Spain preventing a player with a senior contract from training with the first team squad will get you in trouble with the PFA.

He's a nice guy, but yeah, pretty weird!

Just met a mackem at work that says he hails from there. I was curious.

Random question. The town of Consett, does it lean mag or mackem?

By all accounts Zidane was never an easy going dude, but he did run a tight ship, and got people to buy in. Maybe if he doesn't win that first CL the wheels go off, but we'll never know. But his management of Real Madrid's dressing room - historically a powder keg - was imho his best quality as a manager. I'd say that he was right in pushing off Bale and Rodríguez. Bale's career at Real Madrid is underrated, but he no longer gave a damn at the time Zidane tried to get rid of him. Rodríguez was lazy.

Managing egos doesn't mean to be pals with every star. Being decisive and having the authority and respect to be able to cut out the rotten apples is a big part of the job. Rafa is too much of a wonk, in that regard.

You'll love to hear how our deal with PEA is structured, then. It was going to be a year and a half deal. Problem? Since we couldn't move Dembelé we didn't have enough wage cap. So instead he's signed for 3.5 years, with a provision to optionally buy him out in 2023. That way we are spreading the salary for 18 months of contract over 3 seasons and a half, and can fit him under the cap.

Aubameyang out-owemdingying Owemdingie and jetting to BCN unsolicited before loan talks broke down has made me day.

Running has never been the issue with him...

More eager to see if the Morata deal goes through. Yes, he's not the most proliphic striker around, but when your first choice is Luuk de Jong...

Yeah, definitely not a fan of this. As said, though, the fee is just to set up a swap with Trincao.

Dude is built like a shit brickhouse, and knows how to use that.

I reckon Diego Carlos would be great in the PL, but I hope Sevilla don't sell and they make a run for the league this season. They're just 4 points off Real Madrid, and we or Atlético are certainly not going to be in the mix.

Fati will probably have to go under the knife again after re-injuring his hamstring yesterday. SIGH.