But the difference is that we actually had a settled spine of the team which wasn't in doubt, you don't. Which existing players are certain starters? Casillas, Ramos (?), M. Diarra....are there any others? Quite frankly there are doubts over so many futures that you really need a complete overhaul but that can't and won't happen overnight. The lack of a long term vision since Sanz was president has done a lot of damage to RMCF in my opinion, despite the league successes.
We got to a CL semi last year. We had a very good foundation in place and just added to it, I don't see the same solid foundations in Madrid as we had...everyone knew (even Beast said it) that if we got rid of the egos in the squad we had the foundation of a top team, Xavi, Yaya, Iniesta, Puyol, Marquez, Messi, Henry, even Valdes and Eto'o...all top players and a solid foundation.
You guys have Higuain, Lass, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas...possibly Huntelaar and Pepe at a big stretch...You guys are in worse overall shape than we were this time last summer.
Barca didn't reach this level in one day and you don't expect any team to reach that same level in one year as well..
As CA & Warik pointed out they had the same core in the last 5- 6 years.. you add some names on the way and those players improved their quality and talent over the years and the additions gave them another perspective and ability to maneuver ..
Valdes-Puyol-Marquez-Xavi-Iniesta - Eto'o .. that's 6 out of 11.. along came Messi that's 7 out of 11 players .. some good subs like Milito-Pique... another dimension to Dinho in the form of Henry ..
as i said it's not FM2009 so don't expect to buy the best 11 in the world to suddenly compete with Barca..
when Capello took over he had some of the of the old team as starters (Iker-Ramos-Helguera-Carlos-Becks-Robinho-Raul..) it's football
5 or 6 players is the right amount.. the fans want flair not trophies .. that's why most of the polls had Wenger on top and Carlo & Jose trailing at the bottom
who he brings it doesn't matter cause it's Valdano & Zidane who will pick but it does matter which positions ..there is no doubt in anyone who watch the liga even cule's that Perez will seek Quality players
integrate in the team then build a system then expect the system to make sense in no less then 6 month .. so playing catch up is again an unrealistic view if you want it to happen in the first year
the improvement will occur in the Champions league IMO but it's down to many factors..
the first one is making other teams worried about our attacking threat instead of them taking it easy and coming to Iker like we saw .. Pique is a great player he proved it.. but i think there is plenty of game when Barca defense & keeper we're no tested due to
1- the team fears the attacking trio and 2 midfield magician
2- they never had the ball to attack in the first place...
now this is what they should look for in the next team...5-6 is an excellent amount of new players and judging by the acclaimed quality of those 5 or 6 it maybe too much
the base of the team should be Iker-Ramos-Pepe---Lass -Robben (when you have other alternatives to attack you can afford one selfish players especially if u did buy CR who is not the best unselfish player in the lot ) -Higuain
some may take Robben and add Huntelaar (but he is still not settled yet .. but i think spending pre-season will do him good under a new coach ) ..
good point made, i won't/can't argue with that. however, i actually do believe, that your success is basically down to the fact, that you have functioning system, a playing system/identity/playing culture you're sticking to for years now. i'm not interested in wether your meantioned foundation building players are better than the ones the would remain at madrid...cause tbh, the key is the system/identity/playing culture. that's why IMO your foundation building players could succed the way they did and that's where real mainly have to catch up.
regarding all the rumors...i think pérez will use the dutchies and players that are out very wise to lower the prices. for examples
- ribéry: cash + VDV or sneijder. maybe even robben might be interesting for bayern after losing their left winger. VDV/sneijder to replace ballack (they never really found a replacement and are still looking. that's why they wanted diego) and robben to cover ribéry.
- c. ronaldo: cash + huntelaar or sneijder.
- kaka': cash + sneijder (replace kaka') or m. diarra or both
- the valencia players (villa, silva, albiol): cash + saviola or negredo and/or VDV (we all recall the mess of valencia wanting him and he wanting to join valencia)
- xabi alonso: cash + plus heinze (apperently already a done deal) or robben
so far, it looks probable that kaka' and xabi alonso are done deals. PROBABLE!!! i just hope that robben gets sold, better said replaced by ribéry once c. ronaldo is signed, since i agree with beast on that matter. ONE selfish player can be afforded. that would be c. ronaldo if he joins, which is likely judging by the way pérez has talked about both kaka' and c. ronaldo.
beast, you meantioned several times that you had the feeling pérez could move for dinho...ever had the feeling pérez could move for beckham again???
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it's his playing style i hate. so predictable and one dimensional...i can actually feel the hate rise up in me every time i watch him play the way he plays.
