Isco

[Ted Hughes]

I watched the presser live on TDP in Madrid. I'm just relaying what I saw and heard. He was saying that the Spain U21s shone and that Isco did above all others, adding that he'll be a great player in the future.

I keep replying to this but for some reason I can't post anymore in this thread.

If they all suddenly work, I'll be repeating myself like Leslie Nielsen in Airplane.

Anyway, try again, 'clears throat' ahem:

Ok fair enough I'll trust your version, ta. (If you are wrong, I shall insult you).

Woohoo, it worked.

[Blue Since 76]

B) I get to hang around hot art school freshmen in daily basis

Whatever floats your boat, but not my thang.

Maybe we need to get Chinners to add a HAB picture to the bollox for you?

[zuricity]

Lead singer of Wet Wet Wet mate.

Yeah , but can he sing ?

[zuricity]

Ah, the Will Hunting of the University of Arts, masquerading in real estate so he can pursue his real passion in the arts. NQDP can often be seen colouring in the pictures left on the corridor walls after dark. You are lucky man, Minnie Driver is quite a work of art herself, though not so much as Carlotta.

My uncle used to have a BL small car, would he count as a mini driver too ?

[I Just Blue Myself]

As for wonder kids, yes at 18, but by 21 most good players stand out. Very few develop after that point to be world class. Isco was many people's player of the U21 tournament, probably pipped by Thiago as he got the hat-trick in the final. That's more than just a media darling

Look at the list:

1978 - Vahid Halilhodžić - Yugoslavia
1980 - Anatoliy Demyanenko - Soviet Union
1982 - Rudi Völler - Germany
1984 - Mark Hateley - England
1986 - Manuel Sanchis - Spain
1988 - Laurent Blanc - France
1990 - Davor Šuker - Yugoslavia
1992 - Renato Buso - Italy
1994 - Luís Figo - Portugal
1996 - Fabio Cannavaro - Italy
1998 - Francesc Arnau - Spain
2000 - Andrea Pirlo - Italy
2002 - Petr Čech - Czech Republic
2004 - Alberto Gilardino - Italy
2006 - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - Netherlands
2007 - Royston Drenthe - Netherlands
2009 - Marcus Berg - Sweden
2011 - Juan Mata - Spain
2013 - Thiago Alcântara - Spain

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro ... den_Player

I'd say it's about 50/50 whether or not the best player at the Euro u21s becomes one of the best in the world.

I don't know what is the point you are trying to make with that list but honestly, considering it's STILL youth tournament we are talking about, that's pretty god damn impressive. In fact so impressive that I would take stab in the dark with any future U21 Euro Best Player in the future!

Forgetting Alcantra obviously, I'd say eight of them were among top 8 players in the world one time or another (Mata, Cech, Pirlo, Cannavaro, Figo, Suker, Blanc, Völler). 5 had at very least career you could describe prolific (Demyanenko, Hateley, Sanchis, Gilardino, Huntelaar ). Only 5 seemed to have flopped (Halihodcic, Buso, Arnau, Berg, Drenthe). 44% chance that we'd have genuine super star quality player, 28 % chance that we'd have serviceable squad member in our hands and 28% chance that we'd have a flop. I think that's as good odds as you are likely to get.

Oh, and Thiago is very much star in the making so I can't see him ending anywhere but top two groups.

Halilhodžić was one of the best strikers in the domestic league at the time, but like all players in former Yugoslavia he was only allowed to leave the country in his late twenties. He then went on to become the top scorer in the French league twice, winning the league with Nantes in his first season as a starter. Maybe not world class, but hardly a flop. His scoring record is very good overall (better than 1 in 2).

Also, he was 26 years old when he won that U21-tournament award. It was a bit like with the Olympics today, every team was allowed two players over the age of 21.

So, lists, eh.

[trueblue64]

BREAKING: Florentino Perez has just told @radionacional that Real Madrid have signed Isco, just need the medical examination.

[Wooders]

Ho hum - next!

[CTID Hants]

Ho hum - next!

You mean the picture of him at Ringway was a hoax then ;-)

[ruralblue]

Yeah , but can he sing ?

Not these days unless he's given up the smack! Marti Pellow that is not NQDP!

[dazby]

Well, how do you like them apples?

[Twobob]

Well, how do you like them apples?

Hope he fuckin chokes on them ...;-)

[Avalon]

I just hope he doesn't get many games and that we draw them in the group stages and beat them to show him he missed out.

[PeterParker]

Official to the rags of Spain, Real Madrid.

[john@staustell]

Official to the rags of Spain, Real Madrid.

[Original Dub]

Time to close this mofo.

http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/ ... Madrid.htm

I think we should stop following City.

They have let us down and we didn't deserve this torture.

[Nigels Tackle]

Official to the rags of Spain, Real Madrid.

good luck to him

in his shoes i'd have done exactly the same

[Green & Blue]

I have to say it's a disappointing outcome i thought his relationship with Pellegrini might just swing it for us.It's the first time in quite a while i have been really excited about a potential signing, oh well i suppose we will have to move on to the next target.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

I didn't want him anyway, he's rubbish.

[london blue 2]

I didn't want him anyway, he's rubbish.

Agreed, shit cunt

[Dronny]

I have to say it's a disappointing outcome i thought his relationship with Pellegrini might just swing it for us.It's the first time in quite a while i have been really excited about a potential signing, oh well i suppose we will have to move on to the next target.

Since Gerry Creaney maybe?