Village Idiot

Xisco scored. Looks to me like he fouled the keeper though.

Some more details... 11 clubs are part of the "Liga Élite" (as it's informally known) agreement. No names are known at this point other than Barça and Madrid but I suppose it's mostly the top half clubs.

Surprised he hasn't been linked with bigger clubs yet.

There trying to force a decent fella to quit so they dont give him any money. If KK had a case for constructive dismissal, pretty sure Zola would on similar grounds too.

He's not all-powerful (he promised the 2006 WC to South Africa and didn't deliver), but Blatter has pretty openly said that 2018 is fixed for an European candidate. http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-wcup2018-blatter

http://www.barcaforum.com/forum.php It's a gloryhunter cove, but it's the major FCB forum in English. I personally avoid it

I've started a thread about it before (plug: http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php/topic,60604.30.html) - I think it shouldn't exist. It massively helps the bigger clubs imo and f***s over the careers of many young players. I see. As said in that thread, in Spain we have 25-man squads and the loan market is actually pretty small as a result. Clubs can't risk stockpiling players and find themselves with unhappy player without a squad number. Barça only have three first squad players on loan (and only one is a youth player), Madrid doesn't have any, etc... of course we have our B teams playing inside our league structure, which helps in giving youngsters competitive football. We also don't have that bullshit "emergency loan" system, which allows English clubs to get rid of surplus players after the transfer window deadline and thus encourages careless squad planning.

25 man squads should help a lot in reducing its abuse, I think.

Aren't you in america though? Would be a shambles if it all got rearranged for a bit more money, I agree. Well, I was speaking from the pov of people going to games. Plus it's likely I'll be heading back to the motherland this summer. And Minister, our current viewership is mostly in SA and the latino communities in countries like the USA. The PL doesn't have much of a graft over that audience, so the plan I guess is to keep those and attack the Asian markets which are currently dominated by the PL.

If they move my games to PL schedules I will totally hate it. For starters it conflicts with the Spanish lifestyle, since we eat, go out, etc... at different times than you (for example we are having lunch when the PL is playing) and then it ruins my football weekends where I can watch the different leagues in succession.

Well, details are hazy, is sort of breaking news. But around the things thrown around: - Full control of match scheduling. They want to move games to schedules more favorable to emerging markets like the Asian one (which I would hate). - Collective bargaining of TV rights (although money wouldn't be assigned equally but dependant on the audiences they pull, which would preserve Barça and Madrid's advantage). - Stricter financial control of clubs competing in the league. Mostly the word is that the top clubs have seen the writing on the wall for the league with what has been going on these past seasons (most Spanish clubs are technically bankrupt, and the lack of competitiveness has reduced TV audiences and international interest, etc...) and want to refloat the league to compete with the PL.

Several Spanish newspapers reporting today that Barça have started talks with Valencia regarding the transfer of Villa. Marca goes further away and says the move has been already agreed. I love Villa, but I wouldn't like to pay some huge sum for a 29 year old forward with Zlatan already in the squad, would prefer a younger striker.

There's a rumor going round, and reported by Marca today, that Primera División clubs have agreed to break away from La Liga and create a Spanish "Premier League". Barça and Madrid have apparently spearheaded the movement (despite our rivalry we actually go hand-in-hand in all the big-clubbish scheming). There's confimation that a meeting has been held today in Madrid between Laporta, Florentino and some other La Liga chairmen.

Does it really though? There are still going to be plenty (enough, probably even more) people buying them every season to warrant the money being put in to design them. People want new stuff. And if they don't like it all they have to wait is 12 months to buy the new one that they may like. La Liga teams have been switching kits every year for a while too.

WC final called off due to a waterlogged pitch

If you don't shoot yourselves in the foot (which you may do), I think you're favorites for 2018. There's this feeling you're due one after 1966 and losing the 2006 one. Several other big footballing nations have already had two world cups: Italy, Brazil, Germany, France... Of course if you push this "you owe us one" angle you'll lose, but that's my feeling.

Yeah, that's what I meant when I said "rich western nation" for 2018. There doesn't seem to be much competition for the 2022 spot. Korea and Japan are too close to 2022, Mexico withdrew, USA lacks adequate venues so Australia/Qatar have their chance imho.

They're flat pack stadiums apparently. They'll be able to be taken down piece by piece afterwards and moved to other countries where they can be used more regularly. I read they're only planning on keeping one stadium for the national team after it's finished. I see, you're right. http://blogs.forbes.com/sportsmoney/2010/04/qatar-boosts-fifa-world-cup-bid-with-plans-for-three-futuristic-stadiums/ I guess they have a chance, they'll get a rich western nation for 2018 after South Africa and Brazil, and go exotic again in 2022. South Korea and Japan are "too soon", probably, so Qatar has a decent chance with Blatter in there. Australia too. Haven't seen much noise from the Spanish bid, would love us to get it but doesn't seem likely. Still not sure what to think about the proposed Camp Nou renovation: http://phobos.xtec.cat/mvila257/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/camp-nou1.jpg

Just made me think of Kubilay Türkyilmaz

Absolutely mental stuff, not sure if I like it or I'm disgusted with the artificiality of it. I mean, Qatar has half the population of Barcelona, no fucking way those stadiums can be sustained by the local league, they'll just become pretty empty shells after the show is over and the sheiks have had their fun. Expecting Blatter to sell out, though. But the stadiums do look cool.

Gullit is a failure as a manager, but always struck to me as a honest, engaging bloke. Although I have heard claims that his stint at LA Galaxy was very cuntish.

Mascherano was at the right back.

The problem with Aquilani is that playing him forces Benítez to slot Gerrard back to DM or play with a single DM, and he would get an anaphylactic shock if he did. I think Aquilani/Gerrard playing as CM/AM would be a great combination. Very different styles, both very attacking.

Just the other day I was reading on Bradford so I knew that the Coral Windows was their stadium. Problem being I don't know where Bradford is

Now we have a problem. Since Atlético is playing both the UEFA and Spanish Cup finals, the only remaining date for the cup is past the deadline for international players joining their WC squads. Spanish FA being useless non-shocker.