Bo Benn

The little I've seen on Valencia (ie playing us and a mere handful of other games) I'd say he is a good player and wouldn't have mind it if he had signed for us. Owen is relatively risk-free for them and I can't see Obertan as one immediately supposed to walk into the first team. The later they find real replacement for the players they've lost the better for us. A simile as good as any As much as I hope Ryan to come good for us his problem seems to go beyond not having enough rest during last summer. He had a whole season to prove his worth and simply didn't. If anything he was better at the first half of the season than later on. Aye, but a stupid way to go about it if you want to make sure to have a decent start of the season. Rafa brought in relatively little changes to the side last summer and I'm sure it helped us get off the starting blocks properly as opposed to many other campaigns of recent years.

Could be just me, but this has to be the slowest summer transfer-wise in a while. The GJ purchase seemed to move on very smoothly (because we paid s***loads for him?) There's no Barry/Alonso drama... I'm totally convinced both Xabi and Masch will stay. Only one lingering right now is Arbeloa by the looks of things. And as much as I like the player, and I really do, it seems to be down to him if he wants to leave or not. And I'm sure we'll be able cope without him and get a decent replacement. Also I take it we're awaiting bids for the likes of Babel, Voronin and perhaps Dossena. But that has been on the cards for a while now. Calm before the storm?

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Aurelio is injured again? Passed me by this has.

White one (if it is the real deal) should be our first choice away jersey imo. Not the black one.

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Aaah... the good old 'plinging' on the screen as soon as there were a goal somewhere in the PL or (the old, but not THAT old) div 1 during the Saturday English game. Remember us having this drinking game where we had a shot every time a score came through before going out on Saturdays, two shots for each sending off which also showed and special rules for own goals and Port Vale for some reason On one such Saturday there was an abnormal amount of goals in many games, with two matches in particular ending something like 6-4 and 5-3. I'm afraid I was very, very drunk..

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My impression is that it is gradually changing. The 94 WC could just as well had an effect, only it has taken some time for it to be noticeable. The game seems pretty popular there to me. Most people seems to have an opinion about the big clubs in Europe or on the national sides. Bloke commenting on the game over here yesterday claimed football is now the biggest sport in the US among precollege kids. Not sure about the accuracy about that statement but still. Agree by Tosh's comments it is only about time until colleges pick up on the sport proper and then we will notice a big change in quality and quantity of US footballers.