FromBelgium

Back from the theatre. I'll watch the game! May the best win.

Granted, pal! I'm off for my spine repair. Cheers! Enjoy the game. See ya all FB

Your are clear favourites for this one, but I hope we'll give you a game. Wish I could be there, but I'll be in hosp as of tomorrow.

Sorry for taking it to heart. I was pretty close to the ground and the sheer horror of it (and it was all unintentional, I repeat) made me shiver.

We are talking about a 25-odd year-old man with a wife and kids and whose life is in danger. A bit of respect wouldn't do anyone any harm, ALL footballing rivalry put aside. Very little compares to such a disaster, whether the bloke in question is called Mr. Whoever, Gerrard, or Soandso.

I went to the game. He was excellent in the 1st half as an air-traffic controller, a bit off-colour in the 2nd because our national coach is an absolute joke who negotiated his contract well and is too expensive to fire and he gave him too much of a defensive role, so Marouane wasn't able to use his potential to the full. Lovely assist though in a combination involving three guys playing on home turf (Fellaini-Witsel to block the defender- Defour to score). He had a goal rightfully disallowed for climbing on a defender, fell totally unintentionnally awkwardly on the Estonian lad who is still in hosp with a fractured skull. Got a warm send-off from the home crowd after the game. His biggest weakness: he doesn't turn short and quickly so it's hard for him to reorientate the game.

Apologies accepted. No grudge held.

An interesting quote from Standard manager: "If he'd been Romanian, he would have cost € 6 m. If he'd been French, he would have cost € 30 m. If he'd been from Real Madrid or Barcelona, he would have cost € 40 m"

Thanks lads. I'll check your fixtures and see if I can make it to a London game, in which case I'll ask you to sort out a ticket for me if you don't mind.

Except you smashed your transfer fee record for a Belgian lad. Are we that crap then? You are downright offensive and I won't have that. I think I behaved in a very friendly, respectful manner and I expect you to behave equally. Regards.

It will never happen for sheer economic reasons: how would anyone in their right minds inject tons of cash on such a small market? Three teams (Andershit, Bruges and Standard) have national sponsors with some relative international recognition. Smaller teams are sponsored by the pub down the road and that's all down to international TV coverage. Belgium is not very attractive, is it (except for food and beer, you'll grant me that )?

Bang on. However, Standard walking the league last season (1 defeat in 34 games, and that was on round 31 just after the title was mathematically secured as they made it hard for themselves with 4 consecutive draws) was also a one-shot. The thing is that the level of Belgian football has sunk so low that the team at the bottom of the table can beat anyone on their day, which makes it is still fun to watch somehow, but dear oh dear a mid-table game can de dreadful, a Fulham v. Boro type of thing. BTW, sorry if I'm boring you with Belgian football. Feels more and more like I'll have to make it to Goodison or to a London game with you guys if you don't mind. I'm having fun here! I'll remain a Saints faithful, though Those Bally, KK, Channon, Shearer and Le Tissier days have left their mark... Bring back the Dell days! OK, I'll get me coat.

Mind you, our league is not that competitive. We have Anderlecht, FC Bruges and Standard plus the odd Genk and Ghent as possible troublemakers. It's pretty much like Holland with Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV. Cercle Bruges in the top 5 last season was very much a one-shot. It's much tighter at the bottom of the table, which is fun as well.

In fact, Standard were last season's Belgian version of "you can't win anything with kids". Fellaini 20, Defour 20, Witsel 19, Goreux 21, Mulemo 22. I think the oldest player in the squad was 31. http://www.standard.be/fr/c_joueurs.php

Not what I meant, but you're always a rich man's poor and vice versa. So you can't really complain about Man C getting a lot of dosh out of nowhere when at the same time you buy a player for an amount worth of almost his club's annual budget. Does it put it in perspective?

His best place is central midfield, but just FORGET IT (for now, that is, we need another title this season)!

worth a couple of inches, isn't she?

Hands off!

Saying that after signing Fellaini from your next opponent in the waffa. Consistency anyone?

Down boy, down.

We fancy our chances, but you're favourites. Needless to say the absence of the big fella will have its importance (not making excuses in advance, but still). It would have been 50/50 with Fellaini in our ranks, really. His move has tipped the balance a bit in your favour. Main thing is that both sets of fans have fun. We have sold out our 2,800 allocation for Goodison. I'll only be able to watch both games on the box, but I'm thoroughly looking forward to it.

IF

Done my homework reading the Belgian press this morning. Fellaini confirms he would indeed have put club before money for this season if Liège had qualified for the CL but he got fed up with playing in Belgium, mainly because of referees (ED you'd never complain about yours if you saw ours). He thought he'd be elected footballer of the year last season and was bitterly disappointed. He decided he'd leave Belgium on that occasion. He firmly believes he can cut it in the Prem. € 90,000/month means he will earn 3.6 times as much. The initial transfer fee is € 20 m according to Standard's secretary general, with a sell on fee rising to € 5 m + bonuses (eg Standard will get extra money to make up for being eliminated by Everton in the waffa cup should that happen, appearances etc.). Everton had several bids to the tune of € 14-16 m rejected, but Moyes was really adamant and got his man in the end with an offer the club simply couldn't turn down. His English is piss poor but he will learn quickly. He doubts he'll ever see better fans than Liège's. Here are a few links if you can read French and Dutch, I don't really have the time to translate all these articles for you. http://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/articl...os-minimum.html http://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/articl...-tout-prix.html http://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/articl...-longtemps.html http://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/articl...t-pour-moi.html http://www.lesoir.be/sports/football/fella...03-634388.shtml http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.asp...ikelId=921VUQLJ http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/1285/Jupiler-Leag...opleveren.dhtml http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/949/Belgisch-Voet...ote-poort.dhtml And this final link just for the WAG... http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/949/Belgisch-Voet...AG-blijft.dhtml

I'll tell you this. I've been watching him since he was 14 as my nephew was playing alongside him and I can tell you that his work ethic and sheer will to prove himself will do Everton proud. I am not saying he will succeed because no-one can predict that, but you have signed one success-greedy of a lad. Believe me.

following you... what a ride!