Village Idiot

Kaká has missed 12 games this season already due to his groin injury. Seems like Milan knew what they were doing, crafty c***s.

prediction VI? is iniesta back for this? He is. Dunno if he will start, though. The loss of Zlatan is a big blow. Without him and Henry being useless, Messi is the only credible goal threat we really have. 2-3 to us since I'm not supposed to predict us to lose

Tomorrow.

But it happens. I'm pretty sure Puskas would be mentioned in these lists had Hungary won the WC in 1954, for example. I mean, look at his club record!

I kinda agree, it probably shouldn't matter that much in terms of showcasing your ability (I do rate club football higher than international football) but it puts your name in the minds of people. Incidentally, do people consider Di Stéfano one of the greats outside Spain? He didn't even play in a WC.

They were linked with Villa recently, guess this rules that signing out. Seems SAF is Arsenaling a lot with his side recently? Buying a lot of prospects (Nani, Anderson, Smalling, Obertan, Diouf, Tosic...) and very few "Finished article" footballers (Berbatov, Tévez/Owen, not sure where to put Valencia)

One of the most exciting games I remember watching at the Camp Nou was a 0-0 draw that sent us to the CL final. Sometimes what's at stake matters more than how many goals are scored. My Atlético friends are delighted with their EL campaign and they couldn't care less how they got there. I reckon Liverpool will do them, sadly.

Atlético is going to bottle it against Liverpool, they got themselves an European final and somehow they will manage to claim this season as "successful". Imagine if they somehow scraped 4th.

Torres back to the Calderón, nice one.

Atlético goes through. So, is it another draw for the semis?

That was utter shambolic refereeing. Emery sent off for protesting, expecting a yellow for Zigic for having his shirt off

Massive bore the Atlético-Valencia game, by the way.

Martins on.

And Lucas makes me look like a fool, fair play to the lad Look the bright side, all the red scousers giving shit to the mancs because they lasted longer in Europe.

Rafa playing with two holding midfielders at home with a defeat in the first leg

Valencia and Atlético putting all the artillery on the pitch tonight. Mata, Joaquín, Silva, Villa and Pablo for Valencia in the same lineup

My Manc supporting friend told me today that "the away goals rule is stupid and should be done with", bless I personally think that it spices up cup ties nicely, as it motivates the away side to get a goal in the first leg and not just park the bus and try to get the business done at home.

I liked Boselli at the Club World Cup quite a bit, but that's all I have seen of him. He's been linked to Birmingham, who I assume you can still outmuscle? Otherwise, you can try with Messi's cousins http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanuel_Biancucchi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxi_Biancucchi

Goalscorers will always have the edge in these kind of awards and considerations, they are just the flashiest and most marketable footballers. Of all the players routinely cited in these lists, only Zidane wasn't a goalscorer (and still chipped in a few). And Beckenbauer (who doesn't make these lists that often).

Fair enough, I only say this out of the match reports I read back then, I'll bow to people that actually watched them play.

I still seethe with rage when I remember this headline: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1113507/The-best-players-world-Xavi--Ronaldo-crowned-king-football.html

Well, that's Patrick for you. Lazy, but his linkup play and ball retention was amongst the best in Europe. Not a great finisher despite his record with us (when you have the likes of Rivaldo and Xavi playing behind you, you need to be pretty useless to not end the season with at least 15). I think that the problem is that neither Bellamy and Kluivert were really strikers.

I know you're probably joking, but Ronaldo, do you think Rooney is better than Messi? No. I dont even think Rooney's better than Drogba. For all the talk of Rooney's über-season there's a big chance that Drogba will end up piping him to the top goalscorer award. thats down to goals alone. my opinion purely but rooney has been better than drogba overall this season...........................and messi is getting close to joining the cruyff's, pele's,beckenbaur's,maradona's of this world. I'm not that sure... Drogba's been a beast this season. Creating, defending, dragging his team out of dire straits... admittedly what Rooney has also done. Drogba is going to enter his twilight years, and injuries have prevented him from performing at this kind of level consistently, but this season I don't think it's so clear cut that Rooney's been better. Future is obviously Wayne's.

Kluivert Why didn't you keep him? Did he want to leave, or was it the club's decision? I followed him in the year he played for you and I thought he did reasonably well given the clueless managing.

I know you're probably joking, but Ronaldo, do you think Rooney is better than Messi? No. I dont even think Rooney's better than Drogba. For all the talk of Rooney's über-season there's a big chance that Drogba will end up piping him to the top goalscorer award.