Malenko

I disagree about Pique. He was great at his peak in Barcelona and the vast majority of Barcelona fans wouldn't have traded him for anyone at the time. His ability to start plays from behind was great. There was never any need of an ugly kick ahead and both teams fighting to get possession of headed balls. Obviously at the moment it's risky to have him there but it wasn't always like that. You may not like his style, which is perfectly ok. Also, answering a previous post I don't think player's speed was ever really mandatory in Barça's style of play. You had to play it fast but while the ball's moving there's time to reach the place you need to be. There's no need to be Usain Bolt. Obviously Messi isn't slow and at his peak he was usually able to break those few ties when Iniesta and Xavi just didn't manage to get them chances through their passing, first touch and technique but for the most part it really wasn't needed much. I actually think the biggest problem with their current team is they aren't able to keep possession as they did before because their midfield just isn't that good. And even at their peak they were kinda slow getting it back when Busquets wasn't playing anyway, but since it didn't happen much they still won with relative ease. Opponents get a lot more possession these days and therefore more chances. Some of those, end up being goals (a lot of them if the opposing team is really good as it was the case yesterday). I understand their style isn't very popular n these boards from some posts I've read, but they do have many fans elsewhere. Most of them are really disappointed with how the last couple of seasons went and they've been really vocal about it. Most of them want a new chairman and a new coach. Bartomeu has been criticised for years and most fans weren't happy with Quique Setien's appointment. However, Barça's fans, for the most part, will hope their team is able to win playing that style. I can't see them ever being that happy winning the way Cristiano Ronaldo's Madrid won. Obviously I'm not saying they don't want to win - of course they do - but it just wouldn't be the same thing. Ugly wins, or rather what they consider ugly wins, are met with complaints from the fans. That rarely happens with Real Madrid's fans, mostly because they haven't really watched their matches anyway. I kid... but really...

I've noticed this before but it just happened once again in my game. I'm in a league you can only register 4 foreigners. I just started managing a team with 5 foreigners. I can't use one of them at all so I decided to transfer list him hoping to get something back when he leaves. Hopefully soon. He got upset so I have to try to calm him down because he has friends on the team. I have plenty of options to use but none of them is "I just happen to have too many foreigners". The closest option would be saying Your position is loaded so you won't be getting any playing time, but the problem is that's not true at all. He's still good and better than most in my team. It just so happens every other foreigner is better. They could fix this. It's been like this forever.

They were also kicked out 3-0 by Juventus in a game not too long ago. 2016? 2017?

I decided to check it out probably because you told me not to. Anyway, while those songs aren't there you get Hound Dog by Elvis and Stray Cat Strut by the Stray Cats. Good stuff. I guess Joan Jett just missed the mark by not making her songs a bit more pet themed.

I love Madness and Joan Jett is really cool. However, and while I don't expect it to be in the book, I like Bad Reputation so much more. I'm not a fan of I love rock 'n roll which I have heard way too many times. As for Madness, I love them but I could have easily picked 20 other songs I love. And I don't mean random album songs or obscure b-sides. I understand pretty much every song in the book is a single, and I could still have picked 20 alternatives. I don't even dislike the song but this one wouldn't have been my choice, regardless of how famous it is. I'm pretty sure it'll be their only song too. I don't know much about Split Enz but I like a song "I see red". This one is ok. Don't hate it. Don't love it.

Good set. I like every album from Killing Joke apart from Outside the Gate, which may be just a little too outside the gate for me. That's not to say I like every song in every album, but as a whole I like everything they released. As for Wardance, I like it a lot. Motorhead is a band that hasn't left my mp3 players ever since I got my first. Still love Ace of Spades as much as I did the first time I heard the song. I like almost everything from the Jam too. This song has a different feel to their early work indeed. But I still like it. Their last album is probably the only one I never listen to. Once in a Lifetime and Vienna are ok in my book. I actually like both bands - their early work at least. I like Ultravox first 2, both pre-Midge Ure. I'm well aware they became relevant with this album and the production was better but I liked it how it was beforehand. Midge Ure also played guitar on Visage and you can easily tell even if you didn't know about it. I did like the Rich Kids though. I like simple things. Talking Heads is different though. While they gradually changed their sound in the 80s, I still like Remain in Light. It's just the song itself that I don't care that much about. It gets played a lot in some places I go to, which may be part of the reason why... Not nearly as much as Road to Nowhere, but still... I don't know who Simon Diaz is, and I don't have much to say about him, but I'm sure he made people happy with his music in many countries. Good for him.

Also, Saric is playing really well off the bench.

I know they don't have many fans but the Suns are playing really well in post-covid NBA.

Parejo isn't leaving because he lacks skill or because he's expensive. Valencia's owner Peter Lim and his daughter hate him and he's banned from practice anyway. They wanted him out as soon as possible. Obviously Valencia's fans want Lim out instead but no can do...

I'd say revenge?

I would do 32 then. I'm not a fan of teams going through because of a combination of results in a different group that's got nothing to do with them, which is what happens when you have 24 teams. Some third placed teams go through while others won't. Also you may be in a group of 4, be destroyed by two of them and scrap a 1-0 win against the other. You have no business going through but you still go. If you're in the bottom half of your group, you're below average. Go home.

You don't know if it'll be the last time. World cup formats change all the time. I hope it'll change again, although it's more likely it changes to 16 groups of 4 in the future, possibly even with two group stages, rather than going back to a previous format. It wouldn't be the first time they revert to a previously used format but I just can't see them doing that now. I was a fan of 32 teams at the world cup and 16 in the Euros. It was all so simple and logical. Every round the top half would go through, the bottom half wouldn't. No messy best third placed teams depending on results from other groups they didn't take part. No messy last days where you know in advance your opponent's score and therefore can cause a Germany Austria situation again. Unfortunately avoiding those situations doesn't seem to be a priority.

A couple weeks back, it was Back in Black 40 year anniversary and there was a radio special with interviews and they played all their songs from the album. The interviews were interesting since they mentioned the fact Scott died when they had already written the songs for him. Whoever came in would have to adjust to what was already written. Then Brian Johnson spoke about how the audition went and how he had been talking to the band members for a while while playing pool before telling them he was actually there for the audition. I'm sure some things weren't exactly the way they told them but it was a fun story regardless. Regarding their music I like most of their albums from the Bon Scott era - not every single song but in general - but I'm not really a fan of anything from Back in Black onwards. I'm well aware of it's reputation. I'm well aware many people in Hard Rock consider this album one of the best things ever done but it's not for me. It really gets me bored at times. I don't doubt it deserves a spot in the book, though. Pete Townshend song is ok. I've had a good time at his shows, solo and with the Who. Their records though... I'm not a big fan, and I did try. The only thing I really liked was that conceptually weird The Who Sell Out album and that one really doesn't sound much like most of what they did. I never looked into Dexy's Midnight Runners catalogue, so I only know a few of their singles. I actually like Come on Eileen although the first time I heard it many, many years ago, it was someone else's cover. This one is ok, although I wouldn't say I like it. Next one is two people who make music loved by many. I didn't skip it... today. Joy Division's is the one song I actually like n this set. As the eighties progress I'm sure this will be quite common, until the 90s, at least.

I'm surprised to see Adam and the Ants here but I'm even more surprised that this is the song they picked. I feel they have some 10 songs that got more airplay than this one. Personally I like it though. More than Antmusic or Prince Charming at least, and I expected both had a better shot at being featured in the book. I like Redemption Song a lot. One of the reasons being my dad used to play it to me on his acoustic guitar when I was a small child. Goosebumps. It was beautiful. You say anyone can enjoy it though it is tinged with sadness. It's more of a because than a though for me. It's a bit like saying the movie was good but a bit sad. I read too much into unimportant things but I never got that. I like this Joy Division song although I prefer Unknown Pleasures to what they did afterwards - wasn't much more anyway - and I'm surprised they picked this one. Which other songs have they included in the book so far? I also like this Stevie Wonder song. I know very very little about his work, to the point I didn't even know this was his. Regardless, as I said. I like it. I'm ok with the Korgis song but I feel I've heard way too much unintentionally to the point I'd be ok if this had been the last time. I believe I only know 2 of their songs - I don't really dislike the other one either and can't remember the title - because I never really looked for more, and probably still won't. As for Diana Ross's I'll leave it to be enjoyed by those who are able to appreciate this style. It's just not for me.

To be fair the whole album is kind of weird. The weirdest they've ever done, I'd say.

He also did No WTO Combo with people from Nirvana and Soundgarden and the Witch Trials with the Sound from London. Think synth-punk. He also did Tumor Circus with Steel Pole Bath Tub which may be more up your alley. Maybe you should check them out if you don't know them yet.

I actually own those albums with the Melvins but never heard his stuff with Sepultura or Napalm Death. I may need to check those out.

I'm aware and I know what you mean but usually if a song is massively overplayed in the punk circles you mention, it usually means you'll hear it in rock pubs on occasion. Like you say, you've heard Holiday in Cambodia despite not really listening to the genre.

I'm mostly amazed there are people who haven't heard California Uber Alles previously. Loving most of these songs. Keep those lists the way they are, please.

I'm a bit drunk but I'll be honest. For the first time in many "years" I don't like this selection. I like Elvis Costello though.

Not sure what you meant but Laurent won the first and third sets and De Schepper won the second, hence two sets to one.

Another good list with talking heads, joy division, the jam and the clash. I don't think I know the other 2 songs. I'll listen to them tomorrow.

My girlfriend loves X-Ray Spex. Once, we were kind of drunk in a bar and she started asking them to play one of their songs. They had no idea who she was talking about but eventually she went into the DJ booth herself and put it n the list. It was actually this song. Keep in mind this was a place that plays mostly whatever's on the billboard top 100 hits at the time. It took a while but when it finally played people were really confused. Anyway, another good set. Wouldn't be in my top 5 sets you've posted but enjoyable nonetheless.

I'd be very surprised if a fan made Real Madrid squad had Makelele. I think you can safely pick him for Chelsea.

Words can't start to express how much I love most of what you've been posting lately. I know it's just a phase though.