Village Idiot

Missed a chance of answering "absolutely" there ^

Mmmm... was expecting his goal to get a mention in Marca today, but no such luck.

That's one thing that Van Gaal has going for him. He is very tenacious and he always tries to bring that to his sides (which can or can't work depending on the player mentality). I remember very vividly how he pretty much called us "Spanish softies" after your 3-2 win at SJP.

2-1 ain't a bad result to bring to Old Trafford. Will depend on how serious Rooney's s injury is.

He scored for what is essentially the reserves of Levante. Playing in the equivalent of League 2 (or worse, since our League 1 equivalent is made up of 80 clubs)

The Spanish FPA has threatened with a strike for week 31 of La Liga (the Clásico one), if some of their labour demands are not met. They mostly demand better conditions for lower league players and some income redistribution to allow lesser clubs to survive (there's a growing number of small clubs defaulting in player payments).

For some reason I think it's going to be Leicester, which would be the least exciting choice as they're not particularly great, and not particularly new.

No chance of that, though. And, let's be honest, he's playing against very poor teams every week. Next year in the premiership will give him a better chance since the manager will also be open to try more personnel with the next major tournament two years away. Who is the current 1st choice left back for Spain? Capdevilla? I do doubt if Enrique would be called up, even if he is playing outstandingly well in the EPL as he is not at one of the "top" 4-5 clubs. Arteta never received a sniff of a call up when he was in top class form when the likes of Xavi/ Xabi Alonso were either injured/not in form etc and before Iniesta came on the scene even. I insist, Arteta has had to battle with Iniesta, Xavi, Alonso, Cesc, Senna... he didn't really come into his own as a player until he moved to Everton and all these players were by then firmly entrenched in Spain's XI. The left back spot, meanwhile, is arguably Spain's weakest position and much more open to José Enrique if he pulls it off in the EPL. Arteta should have got a cap at some point, though. I admit it seems you can't get a cap while playing in England if you don't play for Liverpool (four Spanish internationals last season). But he would have had a good chance of making the Confed Cup squad had he not been injuried. I'm still miffed that he never got a run for Barça. His sale raised quite a few eyebrows, but we were fucking broke at that time.

No chance of that, though. And, let's be honest, he's playing against very poor teams every week. Next year in the premiership will give him a better chance since the manager will also be open to try more personnel with the next major tournament two years away.

Our wage bill Reportedly it's 60% of our turnover which supposedly is healthy. But still. We also paid a HUGE amount of bonuses this year due to all the trophy wins, which I don't know if it's accounted for in that list.

If he played Etherington-Pugh-Faye-Lawrence Tuncay Fuller He could play some really good football. But i suppose he probably would get relegated trying that. On a side note, you in London Wednesday for the Arsenal match by any slight chance Village Idiot? We could hold hands skipping around Highbury. Hehe, I live in the US, I wish I could afford tickets for away CL games. Gonna hate miss the final if we make it. I need to get rich before May! Last CL game I have been in was the second leg against Milan in 2006, I flew in for that game after a really poor excuse to my employer but I can't afford that kind of extravagancy anymore! Massively looking forward to Wednesday, mind.

Boggles my mind the set of footballers that Tony Pulis has at his disposal and the dreck he serves up every week. People like Fuller, Lawrence, Tuncay are very talented and sometimes a joy to watch yet he plays Delap and Mama Sidibe every game they are fit for. But he's kept them up two seasons straight, so guess one can't argue.

Football paint thread material this ^

As hillarious as it would be to see them throw away promotion, I'd love to eventually have Leeds back in the premiership. They are a storied club with great following.

The thing with Shola, is that always that I have watched him he seems capable of doing great things, but seems to move and think in slow-motion. So he needs loads of time on the ball, which he gets in this division. Still, Zlatan-esque performance today.

hes been on all week. Link!

If Spanish kids are like English kids he'll have had plenty of practise in his youth. Yeah, we do the meat pile thing too.

You are 13 points up and they can only win 18 more. It's effectively over.

Get the champagne and the cider out, you're up.

Ameobi's backeel pass, ludicrous stuff man :lol: Howay José!

That was actually an awesome finish

Smart foul there, José.

Ameoby looks a bit chubby there.

The guy commenting on ESPN "46 thousand. They were expecting a few more but the rain has probably put off some. Softies." :lol:

José Enrique is so calm under pressure, I love that on a defender.