Village Idiot

Yes they do, like Spain.

Serie A is hugely popular overseas, second only to the Premiership I think. And aren't Italian club finances pretty fucked anyway?

To be honest I would be down with having cup winners in it. They would be actual champions of something for a change. Would also revitalize the cup competitions.

Aren't the name rights owned by some random rich guy? Also, can't see Red Bull allowing that after all the money they have thrown into the team and stadium. They'd probably end up with something ridiculous like Red Bull New York Cosmos. But yeah, they even play(ed) at the same stadium (shitty place for football, truth be said).

I hope to god that 39th game stuff is really dropped for good. It was a mockery of the fairness of a league competition.

Even if you entered the likes of Fulham or Bolton, there's absolutely no chance that you would lose your 4 spot allocation, imho.

Your "one final in 53 years" made me just check your honors list Brummie, for some reason I thought Aston Villa had won more stuff! (and I don't mean that disparagingly, always considered AV a classic English side). Still, you won an EC before us did! I think you have a shot at the cup, if Chelsea drops a bollock. But yeah, that Petrov goal smells of champions' luck.

Yeah, I meant the FA. We closed down our League Cup two decades ago for a reason.

I agree about giving a CL spot to the cup winner, I wish they would do that in Spain too although we don't have the same issues there (3rd and 4th spots are pretty open). However I can't see UEFA smiling at say, Pompey playing the CL (as cool as it would be for fans of small clubs that manage a good cup run).

What kind of playoff would that be though? Wembley games or home+away legs?

Probably wouldn't apply this season. Interesting idea, although we enter the usual "who deserves it more vs excitement" debate when playoffs are involved.

That one yes.

Muniesa at CB and Puyol RB, or maybe Bartra at RB. I guess Guardiola preferred two senior CBs to deal with Agüero and Forlán, but Reyes really ran us ragged tonight. Muniesa's highly rated and has played in a CL final already, so I think he would have copped better than poor Jeffren (guy's confidence is probably shot after tonight).

Well, some day we had to lose. Also, I worship the land that Guardiola steps on, but putting Jeffren at rigthback was a big big mistake. Guy's a winger, and the only time he's played there he was *woeful* against very poor opposition. Reyes ran circles around him tonight, and he was lucky not to be sent off since he made a lot of mistimed tackles. Rather he put an specialist there, even if he hasn't played games at the top level.

That fixture has only ended 0-0 once in 72 years. Last year we lost 4-3, and the goal average for the past decade is something ludicrous like 3 goals per game. It's going to be fun for a neutral (me, I'm going to suffer) I'm leaving now to catch it with a Real Madrid fan, Atlético fan and me. It's going to be a fun afternoon.

That would be American sports movie material.

What did he say?

Just take a look at Emile Heskey's scoring record, says it all really. Well, it's not like he starts for them every week. Agbonlahor is moderately prolific but they have only 32 goals this season, by far the lowest amount of the "top 7" (top 4+City/Villa/Spurs)

Brummie, Villa seem to have lot of trouble finding the back of the net. Do you think it's because of your striking options or the midfield? (midfield looks good on paper, but I haven't watched Villa that much this season).

Meh, 14$+taxes and shipping at Amazon. I should watch this, though. Will rummage through Ebay. EDIT: Bah, I'll just queue it on netflix.

A banana, I think. I see. I'm totally dumbfounded when one set of fans do that, as pretty much every team has black players in their squads.

What is it they threw to the Villa player? can't make it in the picture.

I caught the tail end of this game and he was impressive, fair play to him.

top post this Good post, but isn't Fulham bankrolled by Al-Fayed by significant amounts?

And Bilbao missed a pen to make it 2-2. Mental finish to that game.