Village Idiot

My brother used to play basketball in the youth team of one of Spain's biggest clubs, they had two identical twins on the squad: one was s*** and the other not. He told me that once the good one was sent off and they just swapped shirts inside the dressing room and came back to play pretending to be his brother. Wonder if the Da Silvas could do the same if one was banned for a sending off/yellow cards.

On contract with Porto? Forget about it, they will price him as if he were the next Cronaldo

The very first English friend I had was a guy called Joseph from Newcastle, something like 10 years ago. He was a massive, massive Given fan, and since I was the goalie in the college team he'd try to have me take him as my inspiration ("Man, you should have seen what Given has done this week!). From that point on for me Given = Newcastle. I wonder what does he think now, haven't heard of him in a while. Maybe he shot himself.

The point is, that - apart from some very small exceptions - one manager can't just step up to the top level without learning this trade. That can either mean starting in the lower leagues and then go up the scale or spend time as assistant manager/coach to an established manager. Capello, Mourinho... spent quite some time as assistants even if they managed at the top from the beginning.

"Milwall Lionesses" Share a lot of the ones mentioned, I'll add "defenders raising their arm every time the other team attempts a through ball". Just do your job and run back, tosser.

:-[

His manager said last week that he is very interested on becoming a manager. That would be ace. He'd be more nailed on to manage Real than Shearer is to manage us. He comes across as pretty inarticulate in interviews, so here's hoping he'll be pants. Is he still getting into the team on merit these days? Or is it his "off the field leader" status that gets him picked all the time? He has a huge clout in the local press etc... so there's a lot of pressure to get him picked. Let's be honest here, he's not useless, just shouldn't be a starter anymore on a team that wants to be at the absolute top. Pellegrini has had an uphill battle with the media this season, as he is benching him pretty often.

We don't need to man-mark Faustino Asprilla.

Ferguson managed a couple clubs in Scottish Division 2, I'm sure. Of all the top managers nowadays, Mourinho spent a lot of time apprenticing with Robson and managed our youth team (in Spain's 3rd tier) for a full year, Capello was assistant for quite a few years before taking over Milan, Guardiola managed in the 4th tier, Benítez managed in the Spanish 3rd and 2nd flights... top managers just don't get top jobs by the time they get their coaching badges.

Like Ince? Or any other League 2 manager that would get totally bumraped after a move to the Premiership? It's not the way to go, at all. If you're gonna be a top manager you start at the top. There are lots of very successful managers that started low. Ferguson for example. And there are few that haven't spent at least a decent time of apprenticeship as assistants.

Look at it the other way, you can have the talent of a Sunday league player and get toured all over Europe and play against the top players in the continent.

Capdevila, Pernía, Antonio López, Arbeloa (out of position) are the names in the mix. Capdevila's current first choice.

You picked a good game in terms of Enrique showing his quality. Against joke opposition. If he plays like that in the EPL he's definitely Spain material though (our current LBs aren't really anything special)

I really need to see more of him playing in the top flight really. He looked like somebody that could end up in a red shirt when playing for Villarreal, but he only was first choice there for half a season, and I didn't watch any of your games last year (actually, I think the Sheffield Utd game was the first time I have watched Newcastle since Roeder was sacked).

He seems a top pro. Didn't really follow him much before I came to this place, but now I'll be rooting for him to get that cap while playing for you.

He's Spanish and is a Newcastle defender. Pretty much the criteria. He isn't that rated in Spain either. I remember in an interview earlier this season, he was asked who did he think is the best player for Spain's LB, and the journalist was surprised when he answered "I think I can be that player" and refused to give any other name. Went up in my estimation with that answer, by the way

His manager said last week that he is very interested on becoming a manager. That would be ace. He'd be more nailed on to manage Real than Shearer is to manage us. He comes across as pretty inarticulate in interviews, so here's hoping he'll be pants.

6-8 Van Persie weeks = 3 months regular time, though. Arsenal still look allright even with the injuries, but they probably are one injury in the defence away of being a bit f***ed.

I just read a bit on the Spanish press reporting the Tamudo links and I found a charming bit from the "Sport" journalist: "Newcastle is not playing in the Premier this year, they are in the Championship, but they are a classic side and they will go straight back up" Nothing on Tamudo coming from local sources, though.

His manager said last week that he is very interested on becoming a manager. That would be ace.

The Championship? Surely. He's one of those players that really don't have any quantifiable qualities (he isn't fast, he doesn't dribble, he isn't a lethal finisher) but has always performed during his career. So if he adapts he'd set this alight, but he'd be probably too old for the Premier. Mind, Tamudo was quality in his prime, Rangers' dropping his signing for spare change in 2000 because of some bollocks problems with his medical is something that always makes me laugh.

5 years too late. Stay away.

Pulis is a weird manager. Buys Tuncay for a good sum and then doesn't give him a sniff of playing time (last week's sub after 6 minutes was hillarious), and then loans out Kitson who had started well the season.

Touré Yayas agent (who's a bit mental) has said he'll try to get him out of Barcelona given the little play time he's had this season.

I think Diego Capel is massively overrated. Here, a photography of him from the Telegraph as he makes a run on the wing: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/00981/faceless-football_981128i.jpg