Real Madrid CF 2012/13

Calidad wrote:Higuain might be off to Juve? I like him, but he literally makes no impact in the CL. I find it confusing, but he has had about 40 games to do so now, and it just isn't happening.

I actually don't think Madrid have many problem areas in the squad. A bit of deadwood needs to be trimmed, but the balance is largely there. I personally wouldn't bring in anymore than 4 players (RB, CF, MF)

Sell Kaka/Higuain/Carvalho/Albiol/Arbeloa.

Bring back the young RB from Germany. Ramos + Varane as first choice CB's. Pepe as backup. I still believe that Marcelo is a MUCH better LB than Coentrao, and Madrid's attacking game suffers a lot without him. Coentrao's so called defensive superiority is hugely overstated. There is little in it, and Marcelo offers so much more going forwards, they're not even comparable. I'm not huge on Di Maria, but I don't think he needs to be replaced (yet). I like Modric. Alonso doesn't cut it at the very highest level anymore however. Sahin should have been given more of a chance, but I can't see him wanting to come back anymore.

I do think Jese Rodriguez should be promoted. Give him a chance, use as a squad roation player with Di Maria/Callejon

Jaime wrote:

Calidad wrote:Higuain might be off to Juve? I like him, but he literally makes no impact in the CL. I find it confusing, but he has had about 40 games to do so now, and it just isn't happening.

I actually don't think Madrid have many problem areas in the squad. A bit of deadwood needs to be trimmed, but the balance is largely there. I personally wouldn't bring in anymore than 4 players (RB, CF, MF)

Sell Kaka/Higuain/Carvalho/Albiol/Arbeloa.

Bring back the young RB from Germany. Ramos + Varane as first choice CB's. Pepe as backup. I still believe that Marcelo is a MUCH better LB than Coentrao, and Madrid's attacking game suffers a lot without him. Coentrao's so called defensive superiority is hugely overstated. There is little in it, and Marcelo offers so much more going forwards, they're not even comparable. I'm not huge on Di Maria, but I don't think he needs to be replaced (yet). I like Modric. Alonso doesn't cut it at the very highest level anymore however. Sahin should have been given more of a chance, but I can't see him wanting to come back anymore.


I do think Jese Rodriguez should be promoted. Give him a chance, use as a squad roation player with Di Maria/Callejon

You are still on the Sahin bandwagon????

Regarding Higuain, to say he makes no impact is of course absurd. Did you watch the first leg? His problem is he can't score himself. I don't know why. But he always makes an impact. He's not like some players (who will remain nameless) who you don't even hear their name mentioned because they spend most of the match hiding. His goalscoring record is deplorable and if you say that nobody can argue. No impact, well it's just bullshit.

Calidad wrote:

Jaime wrote:

Calidad wrote:Higuain might be off to Juve? I like him, but he literally makes no impact in the CL. I find it confusing, but he has had about 40 games to do so now, and it just isn't happening.

I actually don't think Madrid have many problem areas in the squad. A bit of deadwood needs to be trimmed, but the balance is largely there. I personally wouldn't bring in anymore than 4 players (RB, CF, MF)

Sell Kaka/Higuain/Carvalho/Albiol/Arbeloa.

Bring back the young RB from Germany. Ramos + Varane as first choice CB's. Pepe as backup. I still believe that Marcelo is a MUCH better LB than Coentrao, and Madrid's attacking game suffers a lot without him. Coentrao's so called defensive superiority is hugely overstated. There is little in it, and Marcelo offers so much more going forwards, they're not even comparable. I'm not huge on Di Maria, but I don't think he needs to be replaced (yet). I like Modric. Alonso doesn't cut it at the very highest level anymore however. Sahin should have been given more of a chance, but I can't see him wanting to come back anymore.


I do think Jese Rodriguez should be promoted. Give him a chance, use as a squad roation player with Di Maria/Callejon

You are still on the Sahin bandwagon????

Regarding Higuain, to say he makes no impact is of course absurd. Did you watch the first leg? His problem is he can't score himself. I don't know why. But he always makes an impact. He's not like some players (who will remain nameless) who you don't even hear their name mentioned because they spend most of the match hiding. His goalscoring record is deplorable and if you say that nobody can argue. No impact, well it's just bullshit.

I am of the impression that he should have been given than a handful of appearances. Why is that so baffling? In any event he is unllikely going to come back, so it's immaterial.

I don't think Higuain makes much of an impact. How many assists has he had in those 40 appearances? I'd be surprised if it totals over 10. I don't see him holding the ball up particularly well, his touch often fails him, and he doesn't have the blistering pace or strength to really cause the top sides much of a problem. More often than not, the only time I notice him is when he get's caught offside or misses a guilt edged chance. I actually really like Higuain, but Madrid want to win the CL and he isn't cutting it in the competition.

Perhaps of course this is all wrong, and you can show me footage or evidence of him making a big impact for Madrid in the CL.

Calidad wrote:I've just checked his stats. 8 goals + 4 assists in 48 CL appearances for Madrid. Big impact. I concede.

Jaime wrote:

Calidad wrote:

Jaime wrote:

Calidad wrote:Higuain might be off to Juve? I like him, but he literally makes no impact in the CL. I find it confusing, but he has had about 40 games to do so now, and it just isn't happening.

I actually don't think Madrid have many problem areas in the squad. A bit of deadwood needs to be trimmed, but the balance is largely there. I personally wouldn't bring in anymore than 4 players (RB, CF, MF)

Sell Kaka/Higuain/Carvalho/Albiol/Arbeloa.

Bring back the young RB from Germany. Ramos + Varane as first choice CB's. Pepe as backup. I still believe that Marcelo is a MUCH better LB than Coentrao, and Madrid's attacking game suffers a lot without him. Coentrao's so called defensive superiority is hugely overstated. There is little in it, and Marcelo offers so much more going forwards, they're not even comparable. I'm not huge on Di Maria, but I don't think he needs to be replaced (yet). I like Modric. Alonso doesn't cut it at the very highest level anymore however. Sahin should have been given more of a chance, but I can't see him wanting to come back anymore.


I do think Jese Rodriguez should be promoted. Give him a chance, use as a squad roation player with Di Maria/Callejon

You are still on the Sahin bandwagon????

Regarding Higuain, to say he makes no impact is of course absurd. Did you watch the first leg? His problem is he can't score himself. I don't know why. But he always makes an impact. He's not like some players (who will remain nameless) who you don't even hear their name mentioned because they spend most of the match hiding. His goalscoring record is deplorable and if you say that nobody can argue. No impact, well it's just bullshit.

I am of the impression that he should have been given than a handful of appearances. Why is that so baffling? In any event he is unllikely going to come back, so it's immaterial.

I don't think Higuain makes much of an impact. How many assists has he had in those 40 appearances? I'd be surprised if it totals over 10. I don't see him holding the ball up particularly well, his touch often fails him, and he doesn't have the blistering pace or strength to really cause the top sides much of a problem. More often than not, the only time I notice him is when he get's caught offside or misses a guilt edged chance. I actually really like Higuain, but Madrid want to win the CL and he isn't cutting it in the competition.

Perhaps of course this is all wrong, and you can show me footage or evidence of him making a big impact for Madrid in the CL.

You are wrong in most things related to Real Madrid.

Did you see the way he opened up the Dortmund defence to play Ozil in on Tuesday? You know the really big chance that Ozil fucked up? Exhibit A.

EMP wrote:

Jaime wrote:

Calidad wrote:

Jaime wrote:

Calidad wrote:Higuain might be off to Juve? I like him, but he literally makes no impact in the CL. I find it confusing, but he has had about 40 games to do so now, and it just isn't happening.

I actually don't think Madrid have many problem areas in the squad. A bit of deadwood needs to be trimmed, but the balance is largely there. I personally wouldn't bring in anymore than 4 players (RB, CF, MF)

Sell Kaka/Higuain/Carvalho/Albiol/Arbeloa.

Bring back the young RB from Germany. Ramos + Varane as first choice CB's. Pepe as backup. I still believe that Marcelo is a MUCH better LB than Coentrao, and Madrid's attacking game suffers a lot without him. Coentrao's so called defensive superiority is hugely overstated. There is little in it, and Marcelo offers so much more going forwards, they're not even comparable. I'm not huge on Di Maria, but I don't think he needs to be replaced (yet). I like Modric. Alonso doesn't cut it at the very highest level anymore however. Sahin should have been given more of a chance, but I can't see him wanting to come back anymore.


I do think Jese Rodriguez should be promoted. Give him a chance, use as a squad roation player with Di Maria/Callejon

You are still on the Sahin bandwagon????

Regarding Higuain, to say he makes no impact is of course absurd. Did you watch the first leg? His problem is he can't score himself. I don't know why. But he always makes an impact. He's not like some players (who will remain nameless) who you don't even hear their name mentioned because they spend most of the match hiding. His goalscoring record is deplorable and if you say that nobody can argue. No impact, well it's just bullshit.

I am of the impression that he should have been given than a handful of appearances. Why is that so baffling? In any event he is unllikely going to come back, so it's immaterial.

I don't think Higuain makes much of an impact. How many assists has he had in those 40 appearances? I'd be surprised if it totals over 10. I don't see him holding the ball up particularly well, his touch often fails him, and he doesn't have the blistering pace or strength to really cause the top sides much of a problem. More often than not, the only time I notice him is when he get's caught offside or misses a guilt edged chance. I actually really like Higuain, but Madrid want to win the CL and he isn't cutting it in the competition.

Perhaps of course this is all wrong, and you can show me footage or evidence of him making a big impact for Madrid in the CL.

You are wrong in most things related to Real Madrid.

Did you see the way he opened up the Dortmund defence to play Ozil in on Tuesday? You know the really big chance that Ozil fucked up? Exhibit A.

And this raises an important issue. Impact, if measured in assists and goals alone, does not measure other indicators, such as secondary assists - the touch, pass, header that released a player to deliver the telling assist for the goal. It also doesn't measure the assists that should have been, such as the one Jaime mentioned. Why shouldn't those be included in measuring impact?

blutgraetsche wrote:Madrid can continue to hoard the world's best / most promising players and pay a billion or two while doing so, but they still won't win the CL without the proper management and stability at the club.

It's the age of new total football, the age of the collective attacking and defending. Barcelona started it while Bayern and Dortmund refined their very own interpretation of it (which is more flexible and less predictable IMHO). This kind of football needs managerial vision and patience, and Madrid lack both and have been lacking both for as far as I can remember. It'll take years to form such a team.

Higuain will leave Madrid this summer - Sanchez

The club's general manager has revealed the forward will likely move on before next season, with two strikers to be signed to complement Karim Benzema
Gonzalo Higuain is set to depart Real Madrid this summer, according to the club's general manager Jose Angel Sanchez.

The Argentina striker was coy to reporters when asked about his future at the club early last month, amid suggestions that president Florentino Perez is unconvinced by his form this season

And Sanchez has now indicated the 25-year-old will be sold to allow room for two further forwards to join Karim Benzema at Santiago Bernabeu.

"In a big club like Real Madrid, it is assumed there is space for two or three high-level No.9s. It was Benzema and Higuain. Higuain will go, Benzema will stay, and two others will arrive," Sanchez was quoted as saying by Le 10 Sport.

Madrid have been linked with a move for Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero throughout the current campaign, whilst they continue to be linked with a big-money bid for Tottenham star Gareth Bale, with director of football Zinedine Zidane claiming sides are unlikely to be put off by the Welshman's hefty price-tag.

Higuain has scored 15 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions for los Blancos this season.

Jaime wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:Madrid can continue to hoard the world's best / most promising players and pay a billion or two while doing so, but they still won't win the CL without the proper management and stability at the club.

It's the age of new total football, the age of the collective attacking and defending. Barcelona started it while Bayern and Dortmund refined their very own interpretation of it (which is more flexible and less predictable IMHO). This kind of football needs managerial vision and patience, and Madrid lack both and have been lacking both for as far as I can remember. It'll take years to form such a team.

And this was the one thing about Florentino bringing Jose that was somewhat enticing for me because it seemed that for once the manager would be given the time to develop a project. And you can like Jose's project more or less but in any case. Three years is longer than anyone since Del Bosque so from an institutional standpoint that seems to be a step forward.

I think it might be overstated a little all of this about a new age of football because I think the great teams down through the years have always had these elements. But there are certainly some managers that have a more modern take on it which is why someone like Laudrup is much more appealing than Ancelotti.

The biggest problem is that Florentino doesn't really understand any of this and will continue to throw big money and big names until we win the 10th. But he could be chasing it for a while longer.

Super Mourinho wrote:

Higuain will leave Madrid this summer - Sanchez

The club's general manager has revealed the forward will likely move on before next season, with two strikers to be signed to complement Karim Benzema
Gonzalo Higuain is set to depart Real Madrid this summer, according to the club's general manager Jose Angel Sanchez.

The Argentina striker was coy to reporters when asked about his future at the club early last month, amid suggestions that president Florentino Perez is unconvinced by his form this season

And Sanchez has now indicated the 25-year-old will be sold to allow room for two further forwards to join Karim Benzema at Santiago Bernabeu.

"In a big club like Real Madrid, it is assumed there is space for two or three high-level No.9s. It was Benzema and Higuain. Higuain will go, Benzema will stay, and two others will arrive," Sanchez was quoted as saying by Le 10 Sport.

Madrid have been linked with a move for Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero throughout the current campaign, whilst they continue to be linked with a big-money bid for Tottenham star Gareth Bale, with director of football Zinedine Zidane claiming sides are unlikely to be put off by the Welshman's hefty price-tag.

Higuain has scored 15 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions for los Blancos this season.

http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4682/transfer-zone/2013/05/02/3948412/higuain-will-leave-madrid-this-summer-sanchez?source=breakingnews&ICID=HP_BN_3

This was very predictable but I'm fine with it and I'm glad that they realize the importance of getting a striker. But we have to get this striker bit right. At the moment I can't see past Falcao or Cavani. Perez should wrap this one up early.

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:Juve are said to be serious about Higuain.

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:

Jaime wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:Madrid can continue to hoard the world's best / most promising players and pay a billion or two while doing so, but they still won't win the CL without the proper management and stability at the club.

It's the age of new total football, the age of the collective attacking and defending. Barcelona started it while Bayern and Dortmund refined their very own interpretation of it (which is more flexible and less predictable IMHO). This kind of football needs managerial vision and patience, and Madrid lack both and have been lacking both for as far as I can remember. It'll take years to form such a team.

And this was the one thing about Florentino bringing Jose that was somewhat enticing for me because it seemed that for once the manager would be given the time to develop a project. And you can like Jose's project more or less but in any case. Three years is longer than anyone since Del Bosque so from an institutional standpoint that seems to be a step forward.

I think it might be overstated a little all of this about a new age of football because I think the great teams down through the years have always had these elements. But there are certainly some managers that have a more modern take on it which is why someone like Laudrup is much more appealing than Ancelotti.

The biggest problem is that Florentino doesn't really understand any of this and will continue to throw big money and big names until we win the 10th. But he could be chasing it for a while longer.

I don't know much about inner machinations at your club, but how much do you think Iberian rivalry played a part in this? In the press conference Jose also seemed to imply that he was leaving because of the media.

Super Mourinho wrote:Why is that bizarre. It makes perfect sense that we have 3 strikers at any given time in a one striker system. It is only a problem if we have 3 strikers of too high a quality where they all think they should start. If we got Suarez/Aguero+Benzema+Negredo that would be a fine variety of strikers.

blutgraetsche wrote:Ancelotti loves his 4-4-2. Won't happen.

Jaime wrote:

Super Mourinho wrote:Why is that bizarre. It makes perfect sense that we have 3 strikers at any given time in a one striker system. It is only a problem if we have 3 strikers of too high a quality where they all think they should start. If we got Suarez/Aguero+Benzema+Negredo that would be a fine variety of strikers.

I can see three strikers but not three big name strikers. Maybe I was reading more into it than that but if Florentino is going to buy two strikers it's probably not going to be Negredo. But maybe if Ancelotti is really coming, and he wants to play with two out and out strikers, you could get away with three top strikers.

But if you only play with one it seems like two plus a kid like Morata is more than sufficient.

Jaime wrote:

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:

Jaime wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:Madrid can continue to hoard the world's best / most promising players and pay a billion or two while doing so, but they still won't win the CL without the proper management and stability at the club.

It's the age of new total football, the age of the collective attacking and defending. Barcelona started it while Bayern and Dortmund refined their very own interpretation of it (which is more flexible and less predictable IMHO). This kind of football needs managerial vision and patience, and Madrid lack both and have been lacking both for as far as I can remember. It'll take years to form such a team.

And this was the one thing about Florentino bringing Jose that was somewhat enticing for me because it seemed that for once the manager would be given the time to develop a project. And you can like Jose's project more or less but in any case. Three years is longer than anyone since Del Bosque so from an institutional standpoint that seems to be a step forward.

I think it might be overstated a little all of this about a new age of football because I think the great teams down through the years have always had these elements. But there are certainly some managers that have a more modern take on it which is why someone like Laudrup is much more appealing than Ancelotti.

The biggest problem is that Florentino doesn't really understand any of this and will continue to throw big money and big names until we win the 10th. But he could be chasing it for a while longer.

I don't know much about inner machinations at your club, but how much do you think Iberian rivalry played a part in this? In the press conference Jose also seemed to imply that he was leaving because of the media.

For me, the bit about the media is greatly exaggerated by Jose. Sure there are some that don't like his football, I don't know that anyone genuinely hates him as a person apart from this guy from Marca called Serrano who really does seem to have something personal with him but nobody knows exactly why. But anyway, he said in England he was criticised when he deserved but also praised when he deserved it. I think it's been the same in Spain really. There are some that will never like his style of football or his antics. But if you lose 5-0 in the Camp Nou of course you are going to be blamed I don't care who you are! And there are plenty of pro-Mourinho in the press, notably guys like Roncero and Guasch. A lot of people think it's because Iker told his girlfriend to "leak" that there was a 'divorce' between some of the players and Jose. But that was old news by the time Carbonero actually said it an interview. Plenty of other sources had written about it even going back to last year. But to me this is one of the least likeable things about Jose. When it doesn't go his way, it's always somebody else's fault. It's the referee. It's the players. It's the media.

The Bald Prince wrote:PSG aren't just going to sell Veratti a year after they bought him. What bullshit.