ONTD FOOTBALL

The thing with Atlético was before Torres came back, it was all Simeone, iirc. If reporters had requests for the team, it would be for Simeone over the rest of the players. But with Torres back, in terms of press requests and such, it's all Torres now. In certain ways, getting Torres was a canny move for Simeone.

Yeah, I have a feeling once Gerrard and company settle in California with the weather, ability to move around, etc, that matter will be quietly dropped, tbh. The game play without Gerrard is getting smoother, although the lads try to be a bit too clever, but they're getting over that too. More killer instinct, less kitten instinct!

For van Gaal, it's widely accepted that he implements good systems, Bayern still use his techniques, same for Barcelona, et al. LvG is there to steady the ship, to institute protocols until United can find a manager that they want to do a Sir Alex in terms of living with the position.

Sneiderlin must be beaming, tbh. I think he got sat down and told that he'd be the one they'd build the team around. But the consensus is that Southampton might not be able to hold on to him come next season. It's not just position on the table, but the team profile as well? But if they get to Champions League action, I'm sure Sneiderlin will stay for a while. I just wish the Dutch coaches would stop whinging about England though - didn't they know what the job entailed before signing the dotted line?

In this sentence El Madrid lo utiliza para invocar la remontada (con ouija o sin ella) y el Atlético como ejemplo y recordatorio de lo que debe evitar.

So is it come back in this sense?

With DeGea - with the Spaniards, when they come to England, they all want to go back home eventually, especially if one of the big two teams come sniffing around. Also, his girlfriend doesn't like England much. It's an open secret that she wants him to come back to Spain.

I can't laugh at LvG and the whole philosophy thing, because LvG did say that his team was unbalanced, and did come into the season late (so he couldn't buy or pretrain as much as he wanted to). Also the way it is with LvG, he tend to establish new protocols that do stay in place after he leaves. It will be hilarious if Southampton finishes up top four though.

Idek re Southamptons kit and the armpit design myself? I know with their 2 kit, it's all dark blue with the yellow design in the armpit! :D

It just goes to show what sort of team Ferguson left behind though, because after Moyes and now LvG, they're still rebuilding.

Yeah, they do want to keep DeGea, but rumour has it his girlfriend doesn't like the UK and wants him back in Spain - and the Spanish players tend to find their way back home eventually, especially if one of the big two come sniffing around.

I think once Gerrard goes to Galaxy and gets bedded in, it will be fine. He'll feel that California sunshine, get a tan, Alex Gerrard will get a tan and highlights faster than you can sneeze, and once Gerrard realises that he can get out and about sans being accosted, he won't come back until he's well and ready. It won't be like a David Beckham thing when he tried to get out of his contract and drama with LA Galaxy. Gerrard is winding down as he should. Once he hits that American soil - he won't be coming back for a while - as he should!

The media like a narrative, tbh. It be like that sometimes. I can't see Gerrard coming back to the PL once he gets accustomed to the MLS.

Dortmund sounds... depressing. I can't say much about LFC, but we're looking a bit better - in that the lads seem to like each other, but there are a lot of things to SMH at.