Village Idiot

I remember him appearing for Betis, seemed strong and pacey, although not much comfortable with the ball.

I'm still not sure they have Ansaldi and Coloccini positions right, although Coloccini has played several times as RB for the Argies. A midfield of Gago and Mascherano is a bit pish. But Maradona will never call back Riquelme.

Marca has updated the Spain - Argentina lineups: Casillas Ramos Piqué Puyol Capdevila X. Alonso Iniesta Xavi Cesc Silva Villa Messi Higuaín Di María Mascherano Gago M. Rodríguez Heinze Ansaldi De Michellis Coloccini Romero Del Bosque is doing something I'm afraid he would tempted to do at some point: cram all our shitload talented creative midfielders (Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc) in a single lineup. That's a pretty unbalanced side and I think we'd be beter off sacrificing at least one of them and use him as a supersub (I think Cesc is very fit to that role since he is the more direct player of the lot), and play somebody like Senna or even Busquets alongside them. But I guess a friendly is the best place to try it out.

Hulk is the probably the best nickname for a big centreforward ever, I hope he becomes world class like.

Yes, that result would leave the tie wide open for their home game.

I can see that... but would you invest in a player for half a season?

Every year there seems to be one of those 20+ goals a season striker in the Football League that completely falls flat when doing the stepup. Ebanks-Blake, Marlon King, Dave Kitson, your boy Chopra... even the fact that Ameobi seemed to score for fun until his injury should tell you something. I have seen Bedford play exactly twice, so I can't really comment much on him, but his goalscoring record doesn't really mean that much on that level.

I assume some rich oil sheik is paying both teams to play there. Barcelona and Madrid have played friendlies there for big $$$$$.

That's a pretty weak England lineup, didn't realize so many pulled out with injuries (or "injuries").

Dunno, I copied it from Marca who has it as "D. María" and I thought it was some locally-based CB I had never heard of before, but now I see it's Di María. So I guess it's a mistake from them.

Meh, just realized that it's actually Di María which suggests that Marca lineup is bonkers.

He played there for Depor, and has started there for Argentina on occasion, yes. Actually my Argentinian friends tell me he has a better shot at getting a spot as RB than in the central defense.

Rubin Kazan's right back

Pity I have too much work and won't be able to watch Spain - Argentina, the lineups Marca's displaying promise a cracking game: Reina Ramos Piqué Puyol Capdevila Iniesta Xavi X. Alonso Silva Villa Negredo Agüero Tévez Rodríguez Aimar Messi Mascherano Heinze Ansaldi De María Coloccini Romero That's one of the most sensible Argentina lineups I have seen Maradona put out there.

You a New Yorker too, Minister?

That's a damn nice shirt, pity I don't have 120$ to spend. Philadelphia's just a quick drive from where I am.

This is pretty funny/awful. Lampard injuried because the FA cheaps out on charter flights.

To be honest my experience with Celtic away fans is one of the best I have ever had with away support coming to Barcelona. Great guys that mixed with us and had lots of fun together during and after the match without causing any trouble. I concede that it might be different with English teams.

Spain's, also by Adidas and the laziest design I could ever think for Spain. I guess I can thank them for not putting in silliness like the black chest line we had in the qualification jersey. http://estaticos04.marca.com/albumes/2009/11/12/mejores_fotos_del_dia/1258061752_extras_albumes_0.jpg

Oh crap, Wegner apparently sniffing around Barça B winger Gai Assulin :frantic:

Are they as bad as Bilbao when it come to local identity? I know they dont share the same signing policies of them with Nihat, Kavacevic etc having played there rather than an exclusive basque club. It's probably as big as Bilbao's. They just don't have the same signing policies.

Don't forget that so many of them are injured Even Shola Ameobi! Jarque died at the begining of the season of a heart attack too... Hope he has a good recovery and that he can lead a normal life after this, those accidents can leave horrific sequels.

Stripped shirts, northern club, classy Spanish side that went from fighting for the league to getting relegated in a decade, chaotic ownership.

You're Real Sociedad.

Ah well, that's where Arsenal send some of their kids is it not? Vela springs to mind as having gone there when he needed his EU passport. Some? After Vela who else has popped across there? I can see by this link http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/arsenal-invite-salamanca-for-2009-emirates-cup/ that clubs have links but I cant remember any other players going there. They had someone else... a Brazilian. I think Arsenal failed to meet their loan obligations and that's why the agreement was broken. But memory's hazy (read about it on a paper a year ago or so)