Caption This! a.k.a. “Yes, we listen to folks.”

point conceded.

True, Jason, and Les Bleus are close to my heart. But the match was still in the balance, and when he was sent off, penalties were inevitable, and you had to like Italy's chances thanks to Buffon vs The Monkey.

You have to keep it together for the good of the side. You can head-butt the dude after the match.

Moment of stupidity?

i cheer everytime i see zidane headbutting materazzi.

not because i've always loved zidane, but because Materazzi is a cancer to the game.

He is a terrible human being who intentionally fouls and tries to hurt players.

I was f'n proud when Zizou shoved his head through him.

I'm sure i am not the only one.

I don't think that we're going to see Henry at his best this season, Zito. But I suspect that even though he is under contract for two more seasons, this will be his last as a full-time player for us.

Zidane was another one who was beginning to show signs. But his single-handed dragging of Les Bleus to the Cup final will always be the stuff of legend. A moment of stupidity has tarnished his legacy, however. Too bad.

I guess after a genius reaches their peak for 2-3 years, the decline is sharp. Well except King Henry and Zidane. Even R9 suffered and I love that man.

I agree with you about the talent aspect, Jim. Ronaldinho, who I will always think of as R10, was just spectacular. He is, as you said, the most talented player I have ever seen, which doesn't even take into account the joy that he brought to his effort.

But I think it's fair to compare his committment to doing the work necessary to maintain his tools (his body) to that of Puyol and Maldini. Yes, the latter two aren't genius level. But I can't help imagining what a fit, fully committed Ronaldinho would have added to our mix last season.

Despite the great football and the undoubted fact that he wouldn't have fitted into the Pep work rate philosophy, yes I'm missing Ronnie. Its not going too far to say that some of our passing and football last season was sheer poetry (thinking Iniesta's turn in the Madrid game here) but Ronaldinho is the most talented footballer I've ever seen bar none and i still find myself watching the occasional YouTube of his skills.

not being a genius myself - at anything - I find it hard to get into the mindset where you could squander talent like that but i don't think its fair to compare him to Puyol or Maldini. With all due respect to those, we are talking different level of ability. I can't think of many football geniuses who haven't squandered their talent to some extent ( maybe Zidane?)

I'll be really interested to watch Ronaldo and Kaka next season. I've a feeling their limitations will become obvious. In the longer term I'm hopeful that Messi will buck the trend and still be playing quality football at Barca in 8/9 years time but even then, in my opinion, his skills are still more limited than R10 at his peak.

I've seen all the AC Milan matches, Zito. I know he's trying, but he doesn't look fit to me. I see the plays, but I also see him walking around and making half-hearted efforts toward the ball. He still loses possession WAY too easily, and disappears. I wasn't even sure he was playing in the Boca match until he made a nice long pass to Pato (if I recall correctly).

One of the ESPN commentators was spot on when he said that his true position now might be close-lying playmaker, who sets up just outside the box and does his thing.

Don't forget that he blew off AC Milan's off-season fitness regimen, if you believe press reports.

I'm sure he's fine for them, and he seems to be what they want. My comment was purely in the context of what Guardiola would be demanding from him.

--And Corinne, the Eto'o stuff is fine. Why shouldn't it be? My comments are mostly in jest.

I must admit that if Pato and Borrielo were more competent strikers, Ronnie would have had like 4 assists.

Kxevin, come on, have you seen him this off-season? More importantly, this game against Boca? He's trying his hardest, he's fit, working hard and making beautiful plays, difference is, his strikers are ghosts. Don't put the man down when he's actually trying now, everyone in Milan has complimented him on his work effort this summer.

new post up, chicos. You got Hectored, lovelymofo

Ha, you guys are hilarious, worrying about being too vulgar. I take it you guys don't wonder over to the ONTD_football community on livejournal? The stuff here is totally tame in comparison.

Slightly off topic, I was trying to figure out how to do some nice face-painting myself for the Barça match on Saturday and I remembered how at the Festival of Books this past year, they were doing face painting on kids with colored pencils. So, I googled it, and turns out you can use water-soluble pencils for face painting. I just went out an bought some watercolor pencils and it totally works. You just dip the pencil in water and you can write whatever you want on your skin.

Now I just gotta figure out what to write. I thought of "In Pep We Trust", but even tho I've got a giant face, I can't figure out a way to write it so its both visible enough and doesn't make me look crazy. I figure I'll just go instead with a més on one cheek and the number 8 on the other, in honor of Iniesta.

Any other suggestions?

I'd take Viera!

BUt is he really available for free? I didnt know that, I thought Tottenham want to "buy" him.

If for low salarry and massive bonus, I will welcome Viera. If he can play one month (january), then retire and take his annual salary. yeap.

New training pics: http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/sow...

aha i promised kxevin i wouldn't mention this guy again

but the second half of monaco vs inter is starting and eto'o is making his debut

http://www.rojadirecta.com/jus...
just in case there are ppl interested

Ineasta: Missed me?
Pep: Thank God you are back. If this young boys from the cantera played more games, I wouldve had to pull my eyes out next!

Inter fans would say "nah, this is too good to be true". Have you guys read how frustrated they are over there with him? He's a shadow if his former self. The guy just wont quit. His mind is still there but his body isn't.

I'm pretty sure every Inter fan wants Viera gone. And from what I've seen, all he will do is pickup cards. So, no for me.

I don't know about Viera. He's 33 years old and, on top of that, he's injury prone. Even if it's just for one season, it won't do any good if he's injured for most of it.

Besides, he was also left out of some important games by Mourinho. Surely, there's a reason for that...?

aha im so honoured

btw...i don't know if it's too late, but are we going to have a sylvinho tribute post? i still haven't forgotten about abuelo :) i heard something about corinthians being mildly interested but he's looking for a club in europe before considering a return to brazil

Hey, Vieira is available on a free. With Mascherano not being available until next summer (no way they sell him after selling Xabi Alonso), is he a one-season stopgap? I haven't seen him in a while, though, so I'm not sure if he still has what it takes to be a DM. Anyone?

YESSSS! A "Caption This!" Barca-style!

Pep: "Just smile and play along. There's a Madrid spy in the background watching us. Act natural"
Iniesta: "Yeah, I see 'em. The one wearing florescent orange right? It's worse than our old kit..."
Pep: "...Yeah, I remember that. It really did bring out your wonderful complexion though..."

Is anyone still missing Ronaldinho? He and Guardiola would have gotten along about as well as the cules and that person who showed up to the Ibra presentation wearing an EE polo shirt.

"Work?! Why? I make a nice long pass, do some tricks and off we go."

What's worst is that Ronaldinho still has the skills, clearly. But it takes a ton of heart to capitalize on those skills. It's part of what made Maldini so awesome. And Puyol. It's doing the work to make sure that you are at your best, day after day, week after week, month after month.

Iniesta: I like what you did with you hair.
Pep: You better like it. I'm going to get everyone to shave their head by the end of the season.

pitiful, they did PKs for 3rd place in an exhibition tournament. ugh.

Boca on penalties

Ballbeav: LOL

it was 1-1 but milan won is pens.(4-3)

who won milan-boca?

Corinne is the winner in my book. That even tops:

"I'm not letting you go until you tell me who put Nair in my Rogaine bottle!"

Pep: Does your hair ever grow?

haha! JC

What we need is a Farewell Caption-This Hleb Photo

...we probably all some captions ready even without seeing the pic!

...thanks for the Speeling corektion I-man...I was only one decimal place off!!(fn Google!)

Pep:-Hey, I have bought the best striker in the world for you guys.
Iniesta:- Oh, that dude who flops in big matches! Thanks!

Not again :P

tomatutomate, im with isaiah, nothing is really too far, for me...im wondering what some other folks might think about this thread, though.

it was also hard to avoid captions like:

"te lo hice bien anoche, verdad?"

"si, mister, pues, despues de tantas noches como muchacho, solito en mi cama, mirando tu foto..."

Now it is the European bunch who has to watch the match at weird hours!!
I think it is 4am GMT time...can anybody suggest a strong coffee? :-)

Was that too far? Sorry.

Alexinho, I believe the game is at 11 pm EST.

Question: When is the LA game EST?

Ah Man, Isaiah. I was kidding. Unless its going to have tactical analysis of why such a skilled player flopped, and things of that sort.

jason, i think you just did the farewell-hleb post. lol.

Jason, actually there's a post headed your way sometime this afternoon on just that.

these captions are having less and less to do with the photo, and more and more to do with iniesta's sister...lol.

yeah, tomatutomate, that was over the top.

the women on this blog are gonna hate us. please know im not a misogynist pig.

Isaiah. When are we getting our Hleb Tribute post. Where we can celebrate his time with us, and all his achievements.

HAHA... i think i'll stop there.

"Hey Pep, ever seen 'Taxi Driver'?"

BTW, i hear Deportivo La Coruna wants them some Gio dos Santos. Something about Zaragoza or Mallorca having a buy-back clause on Lafita. and gio being the perfect replacement.

I hope this is true because I don't want to see him in the Coca-Cola championship this season.

Plus, he seems to be the only player in the Mexico squad capable of playmaking. So we need him to get some top-flight footy.

Oh crap, tomatutomate going where ballbeav wouldn't.

Wow. Watching Milan v. Boca Jrs.

Ronaldinho still has the best first touch, ball control, and ball retention ability in the world. And the inventiveness...

but man, his work rate isn't up to snuff.

I guess work rate counts for alot.

ouch, my little cousin just asked me why Ronaldinho left Barca. i had to beat around the bush, as i couldn't bring myself to say "We didn't want him anymore"

Iniesta: hey pep what happened to you?
Pep: well you know how I fine you guys when younguys come late to practice?
Iniesta: is this what happens to you when you come late to a meeting with Laporta?
Pep: no this is what happens to me when I "come" early with your sister!

Note: Would further like to add that the G-14 have been disbanded since 2008.

*meant to say the various national FAs in Europe rather than European FAs.

Jason's Goal.com quote of the day

"Sergio Busquets has praised his Swedish club colleague, indicating that he hopes the new striker will emulate his efforts from previous seasons at the Camp Nou."

In Hectors words:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Goal.com"

Regarding the ACN issue: It is in winter months because it is very hot in the summer months in many parts of Africa.

The G-14 and the European FA have talked to both UEFA and FIFA about it numerous times. And FIFA has tried to work something out and negotiate with the CAF but they refuse to adjust because of the weather issue.

Furthermore another bone of contention has always been that it is held every 2 years and not every 4. Again on this issue the CAF refuses to move because they think that having it every 2 years is very important for the development of African football as it attracts alot of crowds to the host nation and helps them develop their facilities.

Personally, I find it extremely annoying and absolutely hate the CAF which is filled by idiot who refuse to even come to the table and logically discuss things. But there's hardly anything we can do so might as well acept it and plan for it.

Hope this helps.

Nice documentary on Zlatan (in 5 parts):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Iniesta: "Nice shirt Pep, did you lose a bet?"
Pep: "Yes I did. I bet that you would come back with a tan. I obviously lost"

IceMel, nice one! (but it's spelled Kowalczyk)

I agree with ballbeav, more photos are in demand.

Quote of the day (with apologizes to Pep)
"I had said to Andres I'll shave my head,arms and legs if Fox Soccer started to show Champions league matches"

-Pep Guardiola, FC Barcelona coach, when asked about his recent conversation with FC Barcelona player Andres Iniesta.

Pep: "Many players at Barca have had bad haircuts. Messi, Alves, you, and now me."
Iniesta: "Let's give Ibra a mullet"
Pep: "DEAL!"

alright, we need more photos to caption.

"Yeah, Andres, no more Cold Play. This year on the bus it's Eddie Kowalchik and Live."

"I heard you talking shit about my hair Ghostface, what's that, what does Ghostface mean? Well who's laughin now, BIOOOOTCH!!!"

Ballbeav: hahaha
Mast: lol good to have an offside one...
Isaiah: Nice!

Pep, referring to the last-minute Stamford Bridge goal: "I will never bet against you scoring from a long-range shot"

Iniesta: "Sorry Boss, but my sister needed customers..."

Iniesta: Pep, you seriously gotta take a look at yourself in the mirror before you go to work.
Pep: The Future Is Now!
Iniesta: Touché.

Pep (wispering): "You've got any drugs man?"
iniesta: "Yeah, I can get you some hector pills. But you might be interested in a new flavor on the market: kxevin pills. They'll cost you extra though"

I emailed you, eklavya.

ok, handiwork. hand work. dont make me spell it out.

Bad taste is generally welcome anywhere I go, ballbeav. What's to apologize for? I made light of children with terminal illnesses in my first post.

I must be looking like an Idiot but I still don't get it.

And, i apologize for the bad taste.

problem is, i dont know how to make accent marks over the vowels. that changes the whole meaning.

no no. if you care....

"they told me your sister is good at "handicrafts." (this is a double meaning, in central america at least). i went to see her, very excited. but all she did was ruin my shirt. i was imagining something else."

They told me that your sister is very good for the 'handicrafts.' I went to see it, well excited. but alone I ruin me the undershirt. imagined me another thing.
-ballbeav

Copied and translated by freetranslation.com

ballbeav wins the "Guardiola is a creep" contest.

Dude...

What?

"me dijeron que tu hermana es muy buena para las 'manualidades.' fui a verla, bien excitado. pero solo me arruino la camiseta. me imaginaba otra cosa."

Haha that was good thinking Sumit!
Why the hell didn't anyone think of this before when we had no signing.It would have been great then..but then again we wouldn't have had this pic.

no, i win the caption contest. sorry.

hleb to stutttgarrttt. for at least 1 season. its official

http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web...

Wow Iniesta's sister is getting it from all angles. lol!

Pep: Iniesta, you should think about shaving your head.
Iniesta: I dont know what my parents or my girlfriend will think. I will talk to them and let you know tomorrow.
Pep: It will improve your heading capability.
Iniesta: In that case I will come back in half an hour with my head shaven!
Pep: Deal!
Iniesta: Deal!

Mine is the best cause it has bold.
Beat y'all anytime
MUAHAHAHAHHA
lol :D

ballbeav, I've been trying to think of something to go with that shirt "design" for a while...well done.

pep: "yeah, i had your sister sew some shit on my shirt. i should have known from your haircuts that 'dexterity' is not her middle name."

Pep: Hey Andres, how is your recovery going?
Iniesta: I'm doing fine...but why are you copying me hairstyle?Did you go to me sister's saloon?
Pep *grabs hand* : This stays between us,ok?
Iniesta: Yes, yes Don Guardiola, you can trust me.Now please let me hand go.

Now we know how Ibrahimovich got his left hand fractured

Nice one, Corrine!

"The conspiracy for world domination: How it all started!"

"And in a rare moment, Andres Iniesta was the one who looked like he had just seen a ghost"

Iniesta: "Have you got the same hairdo in the basement as in the head"?

Pep: "Duh! Is your skin colour the same as the trainig kit one?"

Mast, I imagine that there are different league seasons depending on where on the continent they're taking place. Northern/Saharan Africa has a very different climate at different times than does South Africa or most of the rest of Subsaharan Africa.

I'm sure that kirsten is right about SA's domestic season, but I would caution against saying it's true for the rest of Africa as well without a few more examples, especially considering we were told that SA's season was changed to fit the World Cup schedule just a year or two ago.

that was great luka! :D

on the ACN subject of last thread:

I thought it was in Januari cause the afrcian leagues start in spring and end in fall, but that's not correct we were told. It used to be that way but they changed it to accomodate the world cup. So WHY is the ACN (still) in the middle of the european AND the african leageas' seasons and not at the end of it?
Searching for logic..

Oh good, I forgot to refresh before saying that. Stupid me.

Iniesta: Oh my god, it's Sean Patrick Flannery!

Man, I took that one OT. Come on, people, no way can I win with an absolutely crass line. Can I?

Pep: Mini Me, is that chocolate on your lips?!
Iniesta: Scott (Et'o) gave it to me as a parting gift. He also said to give you this *kicks Pep in the groin*