Village Idiot

Yeah, that's stupid. I hoped people would have learnt from the 2012 Euro semi.

All the - completely warranted - talk about our misery has kinda masked how terrible Atlético have been so far this season. This was the most convincing win we've had in a good while, even one man down they really didn't threaten our goal much. Anyway, pretty satisfying. Adama had a pretty good first half, Atlético couldn't deal with his physicality and his crosses were actually quite decent.

I don't know in the UK, but in Spain preventing a player with a senior contract from training with the first team squad will get you in trouble with the PFA.

He's a nice guy, but yeah, pretty weird!

Just met a mackem at work that says he hails from there. I was curious.

Random question. The town of Consett, does it lean mag or mackem?

By all accounts Zidane was never an easy going dude, but he did run a tight ship, and got people to buy in. Maybe if he doesn't win that first CL the wheels go off, but we'll never know. But his management of Real Madrid's dressing room - historically a powder keg - was imho his best quality as a manager. I'd say that he was right in pushing off Bale and Rodríguez. Bale's career at Real Madrid is underrated, but he no longer gave a damn at the time Zidane tried to get rid of him. Rodríguez was lazy.

Managing egos doesn't mean to be pals with every star. Being decisive and having the authority and respect to be able to cut out the rotten apples is a big part of the job. Rafa is too much of a wonk, in that regard.

You'll love to hear how our deal with PEA is structured, then. It was going to be a year and a half deal. Problem? Since we couldn't move Dembelé we didn't have enough wage cap. So instead he's signed for 3.5 years, with a provision to optionally buy him out in 2023. That way we are spreading the salary for 18 months of contract over 3 seasons and a half, and can fit him under the cap.

Aubameyang out-owemdingying Owemdingie and jetting to BCN unsolicited before loan talks broke down has made me day.

Running has never been the issue with him...

More eager to see if the Morata deal goes through. Yes, he's not the most proliphic striker around, but when your first choice is Luuk de Jong...

Yeah, definitely not a fan of this. As said, though, the fee is just to set up a swap with Trincao.

Dude is built like a shit brickhouse, and knows how to use that.

I reckon Diego Carlos would be great in the PL, but I hope Sevilla don't sell and they make a run for the league this season. They're just 4 points off Real Madrid, and we or Atlético are certainly not going to be in the mix.

Fati will probably have to go under the knife again after re-injuring his hamstring yesterday. SIGH.

Koke supported him very well. That Busquets-Koke-Pedri midfield was very well balanced.

Busquets is 33 and has been playing 50 games a season since he was 20. Hopefully Nico can take over.

I hate "honorable defeats" in football, but given where we're coming from, yesterday we played well and with a little more luck we would've won. Particularly after Pedri and Fati both came in. Time to end the grieving, new avatar it is.

Like somebody stripped the soul from his body. Maybe a change of scenery will help him, dunno.

Well, he's been more passive on the pitch this season, I feel like he's given up. But off the pitch, etc... he's always been a pro. Anyway, he seems Villa-bound at this point.

Our Managing Director said that any further transfer will indeed by contingent on freeing up enough wage cap.

He's a bag of hot air. My worry is that he will indeed put our non-existant money where his mouth is. That said, this time he's surrounded by rather sensible people that hopefully can stop him.

Lots of talk that Morata to Barça is very close to done. Presumably a swap for Griezmann (who's on loan at Atlético). We're not particularly flush with goalscoring talent, but dunno about this one...

We did, but La Liga refused.