Village Idiot

Another midfielder they nicked from us

Every time he plays I can see his transfer fee rising by another million I really hope we can sign him.

Klasnic is really a mint player too. I had him for just a good finisher but has shown some bits of skill.

Looking at Villa's bench, I see that apart from Carew they don't really have much to try and shake up a game, do they?

Cruijff's dream team versus the modern day side would have been a good contest. Though Cruijff's team would pip them as far as I'm concerned. So would the Milan team of the same era and just before. Having watched both play (something I'm grateful for), I have my doubts. I'm sure Guardiola's team would top Cruyff's. It is physically superior to that one and I dare say it's more talented too. The fact that now we can play more foreigners than in the early 90s helps in concentrating more talent, and the fact we are amidst the best generation of Spanish footballers since the 1960s. You just can't compare Sergi Barjuan to Dani Alves, Bakero to Keita or Touré, and Xavi's better than Pep himself. Again, football is much more physical nowadays, even lightweight players like Iniesta or Xavi would be physically superior to their 1990s counterparts. But Guardiola's team is a spitting image of Cruyff's, just improved. Same tactic (with some adjustments), same kind of player movement... Guardiola learnt well. Regarding that Milan... I like the late 1980s better. It was probably the scariest combination of brawn and talent ever assembled. Mourinho's Chelsea tried to be that, I think, but didn't get there. I'd still say Cruijff's team. Mainly due to the fact Romario and Laudrup were two of my idols growing up. Laudrup was simply amazing, how he could create a goal out of simply nothing by slotting impossible balls through the opposition... canny stuff. Romario is the best goalscorer we ever had at the club in my lifetime (yes that includes Ronaldo), but he was too lazy. Still, such a joy to watch when he was in his prime. He was only a good work ethic short of being one of the best of all time in my opinion. Man, when I think I saw all these guys with my own eyes, god bless I still consider the Barça - Dinamo Kiev of 1994 as the best performance by a Barça team in my lifetime. If you can, check youtube for the highlights (not only the goals, I'm sure there's an extended video around).

On the opposite camp, I don't get how Diamanti isn't starting for Wham yet.

Cruijff's dream team versus the modern day side would have been a good contest. Though Cruijff's team would pip them as far as I'm concerned. So would the Milan team of the same era and just before. Having watched both play (something I'm grateful for), I have my doubts. I'm sure Guardiola's team would top Cruyff's. It is physically superior to that one and I dare say it's more talented too. The fact that now we can play more foreigners than in the early 90s helps in concentrating more talent, and the fact we are amidst the best generation of Spanish footballers since the 1960s. You just can't compare Sergi Barjuan to Dani Alves, Bakero to Keita or Touré, and Xavi's better than Pep himself. Again, football is much more physical nowadays, even lightweight players like Iniesta or Xavi would be physically superior to their 1990s counterparts. But Guardiola's team is a spitting image of Cruyff's, just improved. Same tactic (with some adjustments), same kind of player movement... Guardiola learnt well. Regarding that Milan... I like the late 1980s better. It was probably the scariest combination of brawn and talent ever assembled. Mourinho's Chelsea tried to be that, I think, but didn't get there.

Guti yesterday on the Spanish telly openly saying he wants to leave Madrid and would love to go to Inter.

agreed.....but then again its ken bates. Ken Bates vs Mike Ashley is like the irresistable force meeting the immovable object. Doug Ellis as the Special Referee?? Doug Ellis... didn't Villa win the EC and the league in the 2 years out of 40 that he wasn't running the club or something like that? EDIT: Yes, it Saturday night and I'm at home, BORED. Bear with me.

I have a couple friends from Sheffield that would have topped themselves had Bates taken over Sheff Wed.

The Lucas Oil is amazing, was there 3 years ago when I first came to the US. The Giants stadium in comparison is an ugly dump.

If England gets the World Cup (which honestly I don't see it happenning at this point), it would be a good opportunity to do this. Lots of stadiums get remodelled for world cups (Camp Nou was last expanded for 1982). I remember the second time I saw St James Park on the telly (I don't want to remember the first), for our CL game at your place in 2002. They showed an aerial shot and the commentator said that the stadium had been remodelled recently and I thought "oh, but they haven't finished yet". :-[

No....he's just bald. Well, that's what alopecia means, it's the same thing. Ones a medical issue and one's hereditary. Alopecia *is* the hereditary condition that makes males lose hair. The Charlton player must have some other thing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldness

No....he's just bald. Well, that's what alopecia means, it's the same thing.

In my opinion, provided the player doesn't put a hissy fit and stays focused, it will be bad business for Leeds selling him. 1,5m won't buy a proven replacement and it would jeopardize their promotion campaign. Better to just leave him go on a free with the team in the CCC if you ask me.

Except the 1-1 draw at San Siro and the fact they lost at home against Milan 2-3 after scoring first. Besides from the Milan games you're right! Damn, there goes my statistic! I'll leave it at "in league games" where I'm pretty sure I'm 100% right.

Has he even scored a goal from open play this season? So much for the Championship's top goalscorer.

Funny stat about Real Madrid this season: 1) If they scored first, they have always won the game 2) If the opposition scored first, they have always lost the game 3) All their draws have been 0-0 This is across all competitions.

Never happened in the story of La Liga, closest was Real Sociedad in the 80s, they lost game 37! We will lose at some point though, this is already our longest unbeaten stretch since the start of a championship.

This guy's strike rate is canny. I have to find a minutes/goal stat for him, although he's been more prolific in the cups. I think he should get a run of games attacking on the left in place of Henry. Thierry just hasn't been at it at all this season where as Pedro looks dangerous every time he's on the pitch. Guardiola is a confessed admirer of Henry (since before he joined Barça), so he cuts him a lot of slack. But I agree. We are fortunate with Pedro's emergence, given Henry's huge slump since last season.

Good to hear that Messi with the fourth, (and where's that wanking smilie again)

Messi gets his 100th goal for Barça, 3-0. Sevilla has 5 minutes to score a couple for Niel's bet.

Looks like the Barça - Sevilla referee has sent off one of the stewards.

This guy's strike rate is canny. I have to find a minutes/goal stat for him, although he's been more prolific in the cups.

Hell, Palop doing it again. He should have left Valencia way sooner than he did, he would have had a great career.