SirBalon

Not too into Maldonado?

The first pictures of Real Sociedad's New Anoeta Stadium have been released and it looks a beauty to be honest, although very similar to The Emirates. Construction starts in the summer and should be ready for the 2019/2020 season.

On the Zarco note, that's where you see the difference between the satellite bikes and the factory editions because he was stretched and had to burn rubber. But to those that understand motorcycle racing as I'm sure you do, this means he's a very good GP racer. They need to find balance on his bike so he doesn't stretch the rubber. Glad to see you using your accents!

This is a race, a proper motor race. A pity it's on at the same time as the Barça v Athletic game but got it on my computer to keep a side glance on it.

Pre being omitted from France squads due to the ongoing case with Valbuena, Benzema had been whistled and booed at the Stade de France for over three years. It's true in part that the refusal to sing La Marseillaise (the French national anthem) had much to do with the speedy disaffection growth towards Karim Benzema, but it was his lack of goals for France which were the main factor and here we're talking about a period back in the day where he was still scoring prolifically for Real Madrid. In France they were accusing him of being lazy and the reality of the matter and the manner in which Benzema plays can lead you to believe he is lazy. Infact he has many similarities with Arsenal and Germany's Mesut Özil in this sense because when you watch him live at the ground you do get the sense that he isn't all that bothered about things until the ball arrives at his feet. There is a big difference that has to be taken into account when comparing this particular detail with both Benzema and Özil, which is that one plays up front where you CAN (and most do) hang around and wait (Griezmann doesn't do this though) for the ball by maintaining yourself or searching for the most dangerous position by adjusting your runs in the expectancy of receiving the right ball to do damage whereas in Özil's case he's a midfielder and a midfielder that doesn't run and cover kilometres is a drag and a drain on his team for which they will suffer in major games. Where am I going with this? Well the reason I've added all that is because everything has a part to play in Benzema's slow decline and it has nothing to do with age in his case. All of these factors in many analysts opinions have suffocated his game and at the end of the day he is (or should be) a high end elite athlete... You can't play for clubs or survive at clubs of the stature of Real Madrid and be part of an obvious slow cooking decline. The reasons he's stayed at Real Madrid in recent years is (everyone is in agreement with it) because firstly he was the perfect worker and provider for Cristiano Ronaldo (Cristiano loves playing with him and he's been vocal about this) and then when Zinedine Zidane arrived as head coach, he has been protected because he's of Algerian decent which although sounding extreme, this is something that's well known especially after the leaked chat Zidane had with Álvaro Morata last summer before the young Spaniard made the decision to force his move elsewhere which ended up being Chelsea. When you change your game so radically from one thing to another, you end up becoming that. Benzema is a technical forward, one that has great ball skills coupled with good body strength which has served him well during his younger years. But all of this messing around and becoming submissive whilst also adding his personal issues off the field has turned him into the current example we have which unfortunately isn't good enough for Real Madrid and also his national side, France (this, even without the Valbuena issue). Benzema is human, and as a human being when you do something for too long, it becomes part of your nature.

Of course mate! MotoGP is the best and most genuine motor racing season in Motorsport mate... I was once religious about F1 too but that turned into nonsense and isn't for real anymore. Cant wait for it to get underway! Something tells me this is going to be another disputed season, probably the most ever. From what's being released on the grapevine, there are various bikes that can compete this season and not just the factory big boys!

I don't think it works that way in reference to elite players not wanting to listen to coaches that may have not won something yet. As a coach Zidane hadn't won anything when he took over although on that one we could easily go down the route of his status as one of the great players of all time. Even so, there's been various examples of coaches that haven't been great players or won much as a coach if anything and have gone onto do great deeds. on the Benzema note... You've answered your own question mate. His persistence (from wherever it's been generated) to feed Cristiano Ronaldo has in the end been his undoing and I would even go as far as to say (with exception of the Valbuena-Gate case), this affected his form for France too.

As things stand nobody knows what’s going yo happen at Real this summer. But you can be damn sure there’s going to be a revolution in terms of changes. They’re keeping their cards close to their chest without the press being able to ascertain what’s in the pipeline... This is a first in Spanish sports press investigation.

I'll add another thing about Sarri and that is that he has never worked under the pressures of having to deliver trophies. He's never worked at that level because at Napoli the pressure is the hope of a city and a particular culture, a people that see themselves as unique. What I'm saying is that a job like Chelsea at this stage in his career could be one of two things, his road to ultimate glorification or ending up as just another coach that was overhyped. The pressure at Chelsea is something he knows nothing about.

I would be amazed if Sarri leaves Napoli but if he did and went there, he's another that hasn't got any issues with going public about what he wants if he feels he isn't getting it. He definitely has what I see as the right approach to football.

In relation to this and your team selection further up, what coach do you hope for because those types of players (like Hazard also) need a corageous coach that believes in an attacking game using improvisation and not so much a rigid disciplinarian approach.

Alonso has been getting a lot of plaudits all over Europe in recent weeks and after his excellent performance in the Champions League against Barcelona he's earned its! The thing is that he can only play in a 3 at the back which is why Conte went in for him.

I actually know a few people exactly like him... Hahahaha

That would be a very good side on paper although it would obviously be without Conte because just through pride he won't revert back to a 4-4-2 due to the criticism he's now getting on the 3 at the back. You're obviously up on what's going on in Madrid with Isco who is dying to leave and is causing all sorts of issues with Zidane and what not. But you do know that Isco would cost an absolute fortune that Hazard wouldn't cover. Any move by Isco isn't only a footballing one but also political. Abramović would really have to get to work now big time on that one! But if you were to get him, then you'd be getting a player that genuinely has the potential to be the best in the world in my personal opinion.

André Gomes last night came on for Sergio Busquets after the latter was complaining about a muscle problem... After André’s passionate and heartfelt interview for Panenka Magazine the Camp Nou responded in kind and emotionally by giving him a big reception and pushing him on during the minutes he was on for. André Gomes after the game thanked the fans for their support via his Twitter account.

Iniesta drowns Barça fans euphoria Andrés Iniesta was interviewed in on the way to the dressing room after tonight's Champions League victory against Chelsea at the Camp Nou where after analysing the game he left a dart in the hearts of the Barça faithful. There's been speculation in recent weeks that China has come calling with a ridiculous amount of money and that David Bekham has also been in touch asking him to join him in his adventure in the US. Plus he's got a hefty deal on the table from New York City FC since four months back... Well when the journalist asked Iniesta if he will be entertaining the offer, the Barcelona first captain said this; "It's true that I renewed my contract only a month ago but my future is uncertain due to my physical capabilities and what playing for a team like Barcelona requires every single day. I am looking at every option but what I do know is that whatever my future holds I will never be playing against Barcelona as I have always promised. The club will know my decision when I've made it and that decision will be made in the next couple of weeks."

At least there was no wallet pinching.

What’s the least amount of games it’s ever taken to win England’s top division (this also including before football was invented which is pre Premier League era)?

He goes on to say that he doesn't know why he's playing so badly and can't work out what happens to him on the pitch. But that he does know he isn't able to give what he knows he can and that all of this is bringing him down. He even goes onto say that he sometimes doesn't leave his home because he's strain of being pointed at.

I've been hearing today that when Arthur comes Barcelona may have to let Mina go or put him on loan for anything from 2 to 3 years due to the places available from outside Europe mate. He is a brilliant player and considering how much Barcelona have spent in recent times, I was surprised they went hell for leather to sign Arthur. Not only that because there were other giant European clubs seriously in for him but he was intent on coming to Barça which will surely endear the fans to him due to this. Barça are going to find it hard to hold onto him and I don't blame him if he forces a move because he's class.

Official from FC Barcelona's twitter account. @El_Loco

Very good mate!

The original Lucozades like the original flavour (that golden coloured one) or the Lemon, Orange etc... etc... Because they then went into a multitude of flavours I think have no resemblance at all to Gatorade mate. But the Lucozade isotonic drink that they made for sports men and women is very similar, but then again so are most isotonic drinks which I've always disliked and have never experienced any effect whatsoever in my energy levels where any different to any sugary drink. But the ones we're talking about has similarity mate.

Yeah, it’s Denis Suárez who got injured in the Copa Catalunya final against Espanyol mate.