Penal Madrid

[Hamzah]

I still think Madrid can salvage a bit of the situation. They're going to have irreparable holes throughout the season, no fixing that so soon, but they can gain some balance still.

Firstly, IMO, they need to bump Ramos to RB and play Varane and Pepe at CB. That gives them a better backline to help with the rest of the team's imbalance. Then, play Coentrao instead of Marcelo at LB. I know Coentrao is always injured so this might be tough, but Coentrao is a more well rounded fullback than Marcelo, certainly better defensively. Pushing a bit forward so he helps more in midfield and tracks back on defense.

With Coentrao there as a wingback helping the midfield, you can now push James as a 10 where he is most comfortable and play Kroos and Modric deeper. Won't solve all the problems, but it's a start. Certainly better than Bale to midfield.

Something like:

I think that would be ripped apart. They should play 4-2-3-1 with James as a 10 and one of Kroos/Modric next to a defensive minded midfielder.

 

[Behrox]

This is our chance to have a manita evening again

6-2 wouldn't be too bad aswell

why not better it 6-0 :barca:

 

[Morten]

Running up and down doesn't cut it Bale might have played fullback but he was mediocre at best until he was played as a winger. You remember the Classico last year in which Iniesta scored? I'll give you one guess on who was marking the Don and fell asleep giving him a free run on goal which Messi saw and assisted with a through ball. You are seriously over-estimating the defensive prowess of the individuals of RM. As it stands defensively at least Di Maria >> Bale and Xabi > Kroos/Modric

Bale and Xabi > Kroos/Modric
Xabi used to be good defensively, and he still is to some extent, but is just to slow, and a liability against better teams, lack of tempo. I dont know why everyone here and their mothers think Modric is weak defensively, because of his stats in football manager/Fifa? I dont know, you tell me. He is a midfielder with great ability on the ball, but he is also press alot, winning the ball and is everywhere. Watch some more games, please. I would also put Kroos over Alonso as it is now.
I see you mention that Bale was mediocre before he was turned to a winger, might be true. But i guess you didnt know that in his last and best season for Spurs, he played as a number 10, not exactly a part of a 3 man midfield, but a more central role anyway.

 

[Sumlit]

Marca today with some Epic articles, truly epic.

First they unveil the inspiring: "Kroos, the German Xabi Alonso" http://www.marca.com/2014/09/09/futbol/equipos/real_madrid/1410274350.html

Then they follow it up with the genius: "Arbeloa's Derby" http://www.marca.com/2014/09/09/futbol/equipos/real_madrid/1410251004.html


Truly masterpieces of journalism.

 

[CuleLife4Life]

Lol at thinking Arbeloa can contribute to anything anymore.

And Kroos just doesn't seem comfortable in the Xabi role at RM. They're screwed anyway so they may as well just play Illaramendi.

 

[Raed]

Aside from the Di Maria for James transfer, the rest of the transfers were spot on, albiet, done improperly.

What Merten said about Xabi is very true, he definitely had his best days behind him now and his departure should have been accounted for way earlier, not suddenly like this. What makes the Xabi Alonso departure so absurd is the departure of Di Maria at the same time. That combination is absurd, not the departure of each individual, their combination. We would have absorbed the departure of one of them, at a time, then accommodated the departure of the other one but later.

Xabi had to go, Di Maria didn't. I wish Khedira did too, so we could bring in an actual DM to partner Modric and Kroos, because the player Ancelotti is looking for to replace Di Maria is Modric, but he needs liberation, which we cannot afford. Kroos, although not like for like a Di Maria would have balanced the team with a different skill set and Modric would have been the player running the ball the same way Di Maria did.

Look at the team holistically, not player for player. The Trident of Kroos Modric and say Vidal/Pogba or the like would be, in some ways better than Di Maria Modric and Xabi Alonso. Because remember, Xabi Alonso is past it. That trident is more mobile, better dribblers, with a lot less magic than Di Maria but also all can contribute in attack AND in defense as a unit. Whereas Di Maria and Modric were doing both attacking and defending but Xabi was stationary.

Also remember that Modric and Kroos can and do press, can do move, can and do defend, can and do attack, can and do have good to great technique. Also Kroos delivery is ridiculously good, especially on set pieces.

I am deeply saddened by the departure of Di Maria but what do we fans do now but move on? Nothing. It is what it is. I really like the Kroos signing, I thnk he brings a lot of balance to a team that has Ronaldo in it. I also think that Kroos and Modric can both jockey the Ronaldo/Bale trident very well, they can play to their strength.

Ancelotti wants to play Isco in the false 9 position, but he can play Isco in the Iniesta role in that 4-3-3/4-4-2 offensive/defensive formation like he did in the CL, and move Modric back as the DM because he tackles hard. He is a much more mobile player to Xabi but with a lot less discipline in that role.

Then you have the case of Illaremendi, Khedira, James, and it really is just a clusterfuck organization but it is not bad signing at all, with Ronaldo probably departing next year (I hope so), it wouldn't be very horrible with the talent at hand. It just could have been done a lot better.

oh well...

 

[Ode to Django]

Aside from the Di Maria for James transfer, the rest of the transfers were spot on, albiet, done improperly.

What Merten said about Xabi is very true, he definitely had his best days behind him now and his departure should have been accounted for way earlier, not suddenly like this. What makes the Xabi Alonso departure so absurd is the departure of Di Maria at the same time. That combination is absurd, not the departure of each individual, their combination. We would have absorbed the departure of one of them, at a time, then accommodated the departure of the other one but later.

Xabi had to go, Di Maria didn't. I wish Khedira did too, so we could bring in an actual DM to partner Modric and Kroos, because the player Ancelotti is looking for to replace Di Maria is Modric, but he needs liberation, which we cannot afford. Kroos, although not like for like a Di Maria would have balanced the team with a different skill set and Modric would have been the player running the ball the same way Di Maria did.

Look at the team holistically, not player for player. The Trident of Kroos Modric and say Vidal/Pogba or the like would be, in some ways better than Di Maria Modric and Xabi Alonso. Because remember, Xabi Alonso is past it. That trident is more mobile, better dribblers, with a lot less magic than Di Maria but also all can contribute in attack AND in defense as a unit. Whereas Di Maria and Modric were doing both attacking and defending but Xabi was stationary.

Also remember that Modric and Kroos can and do press, can do move, can and do defend, can and do attack, can and do have good to great technique. Also Kroos delivery is ridiculously good, especially on set pieces.

I am deeply saddened by the departure of Di Maria but what do we fans do now but move on? Nothing. It is what it is. I really like the Kroos signing, I thnk he brings a lot of balance to a team that has Ronaldo in it. I also think that Kroos and Modric can both jockey the Ronaldo/Bale trident very well, they can play to their strength.

Ancelotti wants to play Isco in the false 9 position, but he can play Isco in the Iniesta role in that 4-3-3/4-4-2 offensive/defensive formation like he did in the CL, and move Modric back as the DM because he tackles hard. He is a much more mobile player to Xabi but with a lot less discipline in that role.

Then you have the case of Illaremendi, Khedira, James, and it really is just a clusterfuck organization but it is not bad signing at all, with Ronaldo probably departing next year (I hope so), it wouldn't be very horrible with the talent at hand. It just could have been done a lot better.

oh well...

You've won the #10 you can afford to have a bad season or two. Even with a bad season still get champions league, nailed on.

It could be worse

 

[Deco 20]

oh well...

100% agreed. Getting Kroos for Xabi is certainly an upgrade, both in the short term but especially in the long term. Trading Di María for James is a riskier move as he might not fit into a midfield trio, atleast from the get-go. And the wings will be occupied unless one of the front 3 is out injured. He could work very well as a #10 though, assuming that the defensive midfield partnership can handle the defensive work needed.

All in all, I think the team will be quite good when the new signings settle in. The only real issue is how you'll organize that central midfield.

 

[Raed]

100% agreed. Getting Kroos for Xabi is certainly an upgrade, both in the short term but especially in the long term. Trading Di María for James is a riskier move as he might not fit into a midfield trio, atleast from the get-go. And the wings will be occupied unless one of the front 3 is out injured. He could work very well as a #10 though, assuming that the defensive midfield partnership can handle the defensive work needed.

All in all, I think the team will be quite good when the new signings settle in. The only real issue is how you'll organize that central midfield.

6. Khedira
8. Kroos
19. Modric
23. Isco
24. Illarramendi

It will never look the same without Di Maria and Xabi Alonso but we need someone better than Khedira or Illarramendi needs to really, really step it up. Also, James hasn't earned his spot, and he is getting started in the position that is only suited for either Di Maria or Ronaldo. What Carlo said about James needing to adapt to play a little behind worries me.

 

[Irish_Cules]

6. Khedira
8. Kroos
19. Modric
23. Isco
24. Illarramendi

It will never look the same without Di Maria and Xabi Alonso but we need someone better than Khedira or Illarramendi needs to really, really step it up. Also, James hasn't earned his spot, and he is getting started in the position that is only suited for either Di Maria or Ronaldo. What Carlo said about James needing to adapt to play a little behind worries me.

Kheidira had knee surgery this morning. It's not the same knee as last year and but it doesn't say if it'll keep him out for long.

Your midfield would be exceptional if it had a specialist defensive mid in there. I think the lack of one could seriously hamper the team. Having said that I didn't think Alonso was up to the task towards the end of last season and you still won the Champions League.

 

[Luftstalag14]

Aside from the Di Maria for James transfer, the rest of the transfers were spot on, albiet, done improperly.

What Merten said about Xabi is very true, he definitely had his best days behind him now and his departure should have been accounted for way earlier, not suddenly like this. What makes the Xabi Alonso departure so absurd is the departure of Di Maria at the same time. That combination is absurd, not the departure of each individual, their combination. We would have absorbed the departure of one of them, at a time, then accommodated the departure of the other one but later.

Xabi had to go, Di Maria didn't. I wish Khedira did too, so we could bring in an actual DM to partner Modric and Kroos, because the player Ancelotti is looking for to replace Di Maria is Modric, but he needs liberation, which we cannot afford. Kroos, although not like for like a Di Maria would have balanced the team with a different skill set and Modric would have been the player running the ball the same way Di Maria did.

Look at the team holistically, not player for player. The Trident of Kroos Modric and say Vidal/Pogba or the like would be, in some ways better than Di Maria Modric and Xabi Alonso. Because remember, Xabi Alonso is past it. That trident is more mobile, better dribblers, with a lot less magic than Di Maria but also all can contribute in attack AND in defense as a unit. Whereas Di Maria and Modric were doing both attacking and defending but Xabi was stationary.

Also remember that Modric and Kroos can and do press, can do move, can and do defend, can and do attack, can and do have good to great technique. Also Kroos delivery is ridiculously good, especially on set pieces.

I am deeply saddened by the departure of Di Maria but what do we fans do now but move on? Nothing. It is what it is. I really like the Kroos signing, I thnk he brings a lot of balance to a team that has Ronaldo in it. I also think that Kroos and Modric can both jockey the Ronaldo/Bale trident very well, they can play to their strength.

Ancelotti wants to play Isco in the false 9 position, but he can play Isco in the Iniesta role in that 4-3-3/4-4-2 offensive/defensive formation like he did in the CL, and move Modric back as the DM because he tackles hard. He is a much more mobile player to Xabi but with a lot less discipline in that role.

Then you have the case of Illaremendi, Khedira, James, and it really is just a clusterfuck organization but it is not bad signing at all, with Ronaldo probably departing next year (I hope so), it wouldn't be very horrible with the talent at hand. It just could have been done a lot better.

oh well...

I agree, things at Bernabeu are not as gloomy as many make them out to be. You have two issues as far as what I can see (1) lacking a solid and long-term CDM solution, a hole you can plug as early as January 2015 and (2) forming cohesiveness from all the star signings, which I expect will take place given more time.

Still our No.1 enemy, a very formidable force to be reckoned with.

 

[Behrox]

Bale and Xabi > Kroos/Modric

You got it wrong Bale and Di Maria are compared separately while Xabi, Kroos and Modric are separate although I can understand the confusion

 

[Raed]

Kheidira had knee surgery this morning. It's not the same knee as last year and but it doesn't say if it'll keep him out for long.

Your midfield would be exceptional if it had a specialist defensive mid in there. I think the lack of one could seriously hamper the team. Having said that I didn't think Alonso was up to the task towards the end of last season and you still won the Champions League.

I don't want to dampen the mood on the CL but there is a reason why we won the CL. The team had a lot of depth, loaded with talent, but the biggest turning point was that first game against Bayern, where we won 1-0. It was the first time we had perfected the 4 4 2 in defense and 4 3 3 in offense. The 1-0 win was brilliant. We controlled the match in midfield with Isco and Di Maria, and they both defended extremely well which prompted Carlo to say that the players needed to sacrfice themselves.

The two matches against Dortmund were brilliant also but we lost the second match 2-0 and we didn't have the 4 3 3 / 4 4 2 hybrid perfected. Then the Sergio Ramos header came, from a set piece. That is when Bayern got destroyed, they had a huge mountain to climb, and then another set piece goal. Not from open play, but set pieces.

Then we won without Alonso when Isco and Marcelo came on against Atletico. Also from a set piece. By Sergio Ramos. A bit lucky but well deserved I think.

Alonso was crucial to the team but he didn't have the legs to do it all over again, which is exactly what we will try to do. Go for the CL, and become the first team to win back to back.

 

[Morten]

Of course its a bit of luck, CL has always been about luck and making the moments count. That doesnt mean its not deserved, but you often need to be lucky in this competition.

 

[Egert]

So read that if Ronaldo leaves Real next summer then Real is ready to bid 75M for Hazard.