I always see it as a good way to get people in that world cup mood. Once the confed has started, there is always a buzz for the world cup.

that sid lowe article is class

i'm not really right wing tbh

i'm a pekkyist....a strange political doctrine that encompasses social equality (i hate snobbery and any form of class system. plus i despise the gulf in income between different ppl).
also i don't think much of religion and believe all schooling should be secular
but i also believe wimmin shouldnt be in the workplace and military service should be compulsory
plus i'm not all that sure about democracy either

Was just kidding peks.

Wump, when you look at the exhausting seasons Spain's top players have had to face, going the distance at the World Cup and the last two Euros and with their involvement deep into the business end of the CL and domestic cups in the past few years, it's no wonder that after 5 years in that vein players like Xavi should show fatigue.

The Confeds Cup comes across as being little more than an inconvenience, a series of glorified friendlies to the benefit of FIFA in which the players really don't have much to gain.

I get your point. I personally was a bit bemused to see Xavi picked for the tournament. It might just cost Spain the world cup. It was something that lacked any foresight or planning!

pekkyism...the new political doctrine for the masses

i think the confeds cup is daft too
those spanish players need a rest !
one full summer off...to rest

Are they obligated by any regulations to pick their best team?

I don't know, but it's the manager who has to decide which he considers his best team to be. I can't see FIFA being able to do anything about that.

Ftr, I don't expect Xavi to play too much of a part though.

I see a Messi benefit fraud immigrant etc article coming on. Might back track and detail what would have actually happened in certain events in football if Messi had paid tax. Certainly wouldn't have been able to afford those nice expensive boots. A hair cut you say? Seems to have had a few of those over the last few years.

In the meantime you might like to put a comment on my current article on the United board regarding the differences in character between the Argentine swindler and our Madeiran role model.

I don't really know much about the case to be honest.

Why should that stop you?

Anyway, afaik it's about the alleged use of offshore companies to dodge taxes. Not much more to it really.

Isn't the Italian taxman after Maradona too? Maybe Messi just wants to be as much like him as possible. Snort, snort.

I think it will turn out to be a case of being a bit of a díck rather than illegality.

Elections coming for Barca, any chance of Laporta being re-elected?

No idea how Barça fans feel about Laporta tbh.

He was a good president to begin with imo, but lost the plot after the first CL win and after that just got extremely lucky. Imo, getting Guardiola on board had more to do with desperation than actually knowing what he was doing. Well, I suppose that at least he listened to his sporting director, which is more than can be said of Flo.

La port a

I'm stuck in no man's land at the mo though - GoT season finished,

++++++++++++++++++

Likewise amigo. Haven't given Breaking Bad a go as i seem to have to much shows in my life, atm and i don't read as often as i should.

I'm normally so tired that even watching a TV series is an ordeal for my eyelids. I don't think I could manage more than 2 pages of reading. I had to rewatch 4 episodes of the latest season of GoT 'cause I couldn't stay awake.

Breaking Bad doesn't appeal to all tastes; the plot unfurls very slowly and it sometimes feels like nothing's happened for 2 or 3 episodes, but it's got an art house feel to it that I very much like.

I don't mind slow plots - heck i adore 'the wire' and 'Treme' and the grit of it all.

Oh, i feel incredibly so-so that i don't read as much as i should: so much classics (modern and old), biographies, even cooking books!

It is just a question of time and of course family life of sorts.

Took me a year of being nagged to watch Breaking Bad to give it a go and i'm very glad i did.

I didn't really notice the plot moving slowly because there's so much weird/funny stuff going on. You find yourself questioning who is really the sound guy and the unsound guy.

Is that your way of asking me to insist on you watching Winter's Bone?

I have seen Winter Bone and it is a tad macabre for my taste but it was fantastic: The leads (J.Lawrence and J.Hawke) both put in tour-de-Force performances.

Even Winter]s Bone is not as grim as Biutiful.

Alright guys

How do Madrid fans feel on the HUGE possibility that Ancelotti will be their next manager?

Hardly surprising Lawrence has since shot to fame. Such a great performance.

Hi LRF, has your transfers page died a death?

Life after Mourinho's going to be great whoever comes in.

I can't keep up with it IOAG mate, really sorry. Barely have enough time for JA606 + I've got a Fantasy League to run so it's not easy. Apologies all around. Thanks for the contribution however.

I'll post that on there now.

11,900.