Village Idiot

That's quite the dropoff...

Alcácer having a medical in Barcelona.

With Asensio getting in there, Madrid certainly have a glut of attacking mids right now. Wouldn't surprise me if they got rid of one if the money's good.

Ter Stegen apparently had the most passes for a La Liga keeper since 2005-2006. Given that Beñat pass, he's obviously set to out-Valdés Valdés.

Well, if he's got to be Iniesta's replacement at least he's got his shot covered. Not bad from us, given this a pretty tough game to be facing this time of the season.

Mustafi and Pérez are both quite decent players, it's just that Arsenal really needs more than that.

This is probably our fault...

We were interested in Pérez before going for Alcácer. Although I'm also suspicious of players blossoming at this late age, truth is that Deportivo is his first gig at a proper team too.

We've bought Ajax's Cillessen to replace Bravo.

Good for Samper. Paco is probably the best manager for him at this point.

Benítez really puts a lot of emphasis on fitness. So I guess that he's taken a look at how crazy the C'ship calendar is, and wants a big squad to cope with it.

I take for granted that Janmaat doesn't want to be here, so that makes Yedlin automatically an upgrade.

Valencia are fucked this season. If they sell Alcácer that's all their best attacking players (Feghouli, Gomes, Alcácer) gone.

25 million for Johnny Evans, I can't even fathom the concept of that We still are caught up in the Alcácer transfer saga. Rumours of a deal around €30m. Valencia will be fucked though.

I thought it was actually a great game of football for the neutral. Better than most of the high-profile CL/EC games I have watched this year. Congrats

Yeah, there's no doubt that Bravo is the better one at this point. But keeping Ter Stegen is the best decision long term.

Pretty sure Ter Stegen will be first choice for both league and CL now. But we'll go for a more proven backup keeper than Masip, that's for sure. Alves might be too high profile for bench duty though.

I'm really gonna miss Bravo if true, he's been a rock in goal these past seasons. The reflex save he pulled yesterday when Mascherano cleared the ball and it bounced on Vitolo's (I think) back was simply amazing for example. I guess it's time we place our eggs in Ter Stegen's basket, though.

No talk of sending him out on loan? Would do him some going to a Villarreal, etc. Yeah, he's probably going on loan if we sign another backup striker.

He's looked sharp in this preseason. I've always thought that there's a pretty decent forward in him, he just needs confidence. A bit like Bojan.

Well, that was a pretty goal.

It will be a great signing if indeed we reach a deal. I think Alcácer fits our style like a glove and he has a high ceiling, imho. Samper rumored to go there on loan.

Marcelino's contract with Villarreal has been terminated, just a mere week before Villarreal's CL qualifier debut. Apparently it follows a row with key players and several disagreements with the board. He's a fantastic manager, but he seems to run into man management issues wherever he goes. I wish we hadn't appointed Lopetegui for Spain already...

Linked again with Real Madrid in "As".

Massively pumped for this. Bring it on