Not yet, but surely the mom of the next Messi.

well, I meant both but thanks Paddy.

So you are the secret woman who Ronaldo had a child with? lol

Eww! Not even drunk, drug and horny.

Wait, let me hold that image for a few seconds.




OK, I'm done

Truth is out so need to back off now. No wonder you can't stand him. Did he give you a messy face mask too? (do you like what I did there?) lol ewww

spot on, I like the cut of your gib

Aye, fair enough. I don't remember that one but I take your point. I've been to hundreds of games, never mind the ones watched on TV. Some of the most memorable have been of that ilk. Growing up west of London, I used to watch Brentford, Fulham, Reading a lot, all non-Premier League / old Div 1. Some great matches!

Re the 'ticky-tacky football', yeah you're right. I'm not a Barca fan but like most football followers I love to see them play the way they can play. The trouble is that (a bit like Arsenal) if the beautiful, fluent style isn't working there seems to be no Plan B. What they needed on Tuesday was someone on the pitch who could see that this wasn't working, and also with the resources to change it. That said, Barca were a whisker away from winning the tie with all the chances, but so be it.

As for the final, I agree that it could be good -- in a different way from an El Clasico might have been.

It's hard for the neutral to like Bayern too much but (for personal reasons) I can't stand Chelsea even more, so I'll be hoping the Germans whip them in the final.

Then you're also gonna dislike the Germans in the Euro Championships this summer as they are BayernLite - many of the starters are Bayern players...Why is it any harder for the neutral to like Bayern vs. any other team?

Barça was good until Mourinho started out in the Real Madrid.

Guardiola has resigned! What now for Barca?

To confirm his status as one of Europe's top managers, he now needs to take over a team that are presently struggling in their respective league and lead them to glory. Therefore, move upstairs Kenny Dalglish, you are the weakest link

I can't understand their outright refusal to try a few, low, long-range efforts on Cech. Low, hard shots invariably rebound off the keeper, and with so many people in and around the box, anything could have happened. Woould have been far more adventurous than the Messi-Iniesta-Alonso-Cuanca-Messi merry-go-round we were watching.

Yeh i`ve been to Craven Cottage,Elm and Griifin Park.Brentfords is special.

We must never forget the strength of the FL Pachydern,it is as every bit a part of the fantastic English football scene as the top division.
We must make sure it is not threatened too much or bullied (although it is) by egotistical and greedy foreign owned and foreign managed top division clubs.Too many of them do not have an understanding of the tradition of the FL (and beyond,5th,6th,7th tiers etc) or how thousands of fans love their club and have the dream of one day making the top.It does still happen!Eg Blackpool,Wigan Ath,Reading,Swansea,Hull City.The foreign managers/chairmen who say it would be a good idea to have `their`reserves in eg the 3rd or 4th tier are selfish,ignorant and have no respect for English football and its fans.
Football is about people.
Fair play to Wigan making the top,but eg Bradford City of the 4th tier are imo a `bigger club`,they have more fans for starters.
The English pyramid system is fantastic and it should be respected.

You are looking for a logical explanation for our football prejudices?

Liverpool are indeed having a rotten season (despite the very occasional diamond display, and getting to the FA Cup Final).

But Chelsea have the cash!

Will be interesting to see if Guardiola means what he says about needing a break from football. Of course, a cynic like me would observe that anyone wanting a break from football would fit in very well at Chelsea

Agreed. I found myself shouting "Shoot!" at the TV at the top of my voice.

Amazed that my neighbours didn't call the police to report a crazy gunman next door.

Sir, we are of a single mind on this one, Very nicely expressed. It's a noble sentiment that the great majority would support, but I do still fear for the game, and what it has become.

Much has been written on the subject but I've yet to find a more beautifully written and argued treatise than David Conn's superb "The Beautiful Game - Searching for the Soul of Football" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Beautifu...5698499&sr=8-1).

But we're getting away from the topic, so best not go into this here.

Cheers Pachyderm.
I`ve heard a fair bit about what goes on behind the scenes as i know some people in the game,three of em x directors.
`Ego and greed` are definately the two big problems.
I`ve noticed "The Beautiful Game" book before,now i`ll give it ago and so thanks for the tip.