Village Idiot

He's too good for Stoke, and consecuently has gone down the pecking order behind Rory Delap. Good shout. I also think Tuncay will want out of that place (warming the bench seeing the likes of Mamadi Sidibe and Kitson strutting around the pitch in front of him), but they paid a handsome sum for him and they'd probably want to recoup that.

Why & who are you typing that for? They have whacked in 42 goals in league goals it is not rocket science to say they are playing well together. I was more referring to the way they're linking up tbh. They aren't linking up at all man, the interplay between them is almost non-existent (which kinda goes with Madrid's playing style, they are extremely direct). They are both tremendously effective though. Cronaldo leads the shoots on goal stat in La Liga by a country mile, and he has only played 21 of 31. He doesn't do passing.

If Real Betis don't end up promoted (3 points adrift as we speak) I wonder if people like Emana and Odonkor are salvageable. Odonkor has been shit/injuried for a few years, but Emana was very good last season in a Nolan-esque role but with legs (11 goals from midfield for a relegated side). He'd be 28 next season which means he doesn't fit "the template", though.

Not either of them like, no more former players on principle. Need to look forward not backwards! Few others of that Wigan squad I'd take though. Begs the question, what second stints of players have been successful for your lot? Can't think of any former senior player returning to Barça and being successful again, for example (Stoichkov, De la Peña, bombed in their second stints). I always think that when it's over, it's over.

Really, really starting to think that Alonso is the most important player of Real Madrid. The difference in composure and organization when he's not in the pitch (like the Lyon defeat) is astounding. They are pretty much in lump it to Ronaldo mode now. Still they are going to beat Racing comfortably, mind.

Canales' playing for Racing. Wasn't expecting that, guy's been basically coasting since he signed for Madrid.

Ramos had been asking for a right winger. But surely they could have done better than somebody who was warming the subs bench of an average English team.

I think the only thing Real Madrid fans remember about Faubert is him taking a nap in the subs bench http://jamesdihinx.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/faubert.jpg

He was like that at Valencia too, people cried foul for him benching Aimar, selling Zahovic, Gerard and Mendieta and buying "who is that guy?" types like Mista, Curro Torres, Rufete or Marchena instead. But it worked for him there.

Long ball football and maybe a lucky draw at best?

Everton goes three behind Liverpool if these results stand.

Almería go one up against Mallorca, the scum one down against Getafe

Torres has an icepack on his leg. Benítez does some howlers but this was an injury sub.

Great story there oldtype Reminds me of when I lived in Madrid and went to a pub to watch the Barça - Madrid game, and Barça scored their first and I jumped automatically to celebrate, taking me one second to realize what I was doing and then going "GOOO--oh shit!!!!!"

No it's not, f***ing barca... Give him a break, The lad dosent even support Newcastle man Was this directed at me? Nah, me probably.

Meh, I know people have mentioned this but we shouldn't care one way or the other... the black cats? That's been one of thier various nick names for what.. like five years?... made up from an internet poll? ... that has no bearing on what colors they wear, or their club history... its typically sad they even felt the need to make a new nick name up really - what was wrong with the "makems" or "S*nderland" as they had been known for over a hundred years. Reminds me of them naming their ground after a stadium that already exists. Why try to borrow other glory when in fact S*nderland does have a history and past glory? It merely speaks to their massive inferiority complex. When I was a kid scout (only briefly!) one of the troops was named "the black cats" (mine was "the brave eagles", and there was a "wild wolves" too). Every time I hear Sunderland's self-appointed nickname it reminds me of that. Kids trying to sound cool.

Seems Zlatan is definitely out for Arsenal and a doubt against Madrid. Piqué too.

Most goals conceded in a season (42 Game Season): 100, Swindon Town (1993–94) Most goals conceded in a season (38 Game Season): 89, Derby County (2007–08) That Derby season was truly magic. Wonder if the fans would have taken the promotion had they known.

Good moment to repost this (for the very first Gomes bit): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M6dzxcNsNc

We did pretty much the same today. Strangely we played some of our best football of the season. Hope we hammer Arsenal, I'm quite fired up after they equalised last week.

Oh, I agree with that. Even if it happened it would be a freak result, unlike last year. Incidentally, Barça (and most surely Madrid tomorrow) has clinched second place, with 8 games to go. The side that wins the title will surely do it with a 90+ point tally, shattering the domestic record of 88. The second placed side will most surely beat the 88 point mark too. Ludicrous stuff.

Football doesn't work that way and you know it. The first game has little relevance to what can happen this weekend.

If Zlatan can't play against Arsenal at least today's brace will give the lad a boost indeed. Agree on the Madrid game (I just hate calling it el clásico, media-manufactured nicknames suck), although I'm afraid our weaknesses as a squad are very correspondent to their strengths this season (very direct and quick counterattacking). We'll see though.

Washington crossing the Delaware? You should teach History, man. I would start the WC warm-up/provocation mode myself, but I would get spammed with Nelsons and Roosevelts :-[

Interesting tidbit, Athletic's leftback Koikili was also a wrestler before joining them three years ago.