How You Like Me Now? - The Karim Benzema Thread

I know we are Real Madrid and challenge all fronts, but with a 1-0 heading into the second leg? We haven't been this close to a final in a very long time.

I'd give Morata the start, he deserves one.

I'd also start Illara, Casemiro, Modric, Cristiano and Isco. In defense, I'd give Coentrao and Carvajal a rest (Nacho, Marcelo).

I'd sub in Bale, Di Maria (Modric, Isco) and another for Isco. All around the 60th or so minute.

 

This is when Jese and Khedira would have been ideal

I wouldn't change the team too much. Only play one of Bale/Ronaldo with the other on the bench. Maybe rest one out of Xabi/Modric with Illarra/Casemiro. Rest the starting LB for the Bayern game. And then use the bench to rest players if we build a lead. It will be deflating to go into the next Bayern match after a defeat that ends the league for us.

 

Thought the same thing when I was scratching my head trying to figure out how to rest these guys while not throwing La Liga away. Those two, especially Jese are sorely missed.

I think we need a massive resting of players. They ran their skin off today and they will need to in another 6 days. They need more time to recuperate and full matches won't help.

 

yep, I'd rest Dani, Coentrao, Xabi, Benz, ADM and Pepe. Nacho, Varane, Marcelo, Morata, Illara and Casemiro will do just fine filling in. Bring Xabi and Benz on around 65 minutes if we're struggling.

 

My hope is that Cristiano and Bale are each healthy enough to play 45'. Cristiano in particular - he didn't look 100% physically today, but he also looked like he was shaking off a bit of rust, and it'd be nice to see him get a goal this weekend.

 

You must be new here. I've been saying the same thing over and over since bale arrived. Don't waste your breath.

 

He has been MOTY for this team. An integral part of this team. Without him creating in the final third this team would not be as fun to watch.

 

With the way this team played on Wednesday, I highly doubt that Ancelotti is going to play both Ronaldo/Bale at once in Germany. 50/50 split would be my bet, both this weekend and in the CL.

 

Haters gonna hate, but Mr. Champions League does it again. 5 goals and 5 assists in 9 matches.

​

 

I am officially a Madrista. Card is in the mail. Those that are still hating on Benzy should have just gave me the card.

Best season in Madrid and there is still hate. As an official Madrista, who spends their hard earned dollar in support of the club, I can officially tell you guys to stop hating on our boy.


(not my card but it is coming)

 

The way he has been missing tap ins recently, he deserves some credits for scoring that one.

Well done Karim.

 

So the problem with Benzy is missing tap ins?

Lets just say he made all those tap ins, it would put him near 30 goals plus all those assists and link ups. So if he makes all those tap ins, you guys would call him the greatest striker today right?

...but because he is not making those tap ins, now we resort to calling him a bum?

The common ground here? Benzy is not the greatest striker today but he is one fantastic player. Unfortunately, I have to hear people say he sucks and he is no good. Please put that Madrista card in the paper shredder.

 

Who called him a bum?

He DID miss similar chances this season (and before), that's a fact. It was good to see him focused 100% on that goal.

 

I've been wondering where to get a Madrista card. Do you buy those online from Nigeria or in the city of Madr itself?

 

You can buy them on the team's website. I was going to wait till my trip to Europe and purchase it at the Bernabeu.

I haven't received mine yet so I don't know what they look like but looking forward to some discounts.

 

Whoosh!

 

Or you know, we could instead give him credit for helping start the counter attack when he passed the ball inside our own half to Isco, who then passed it to Ronaldo, who then passed to Coentrao: who then passed it in front of goal to Benzema, who had run all the way from our own half, lost his man and gotten in a great position to send the ball.

or we could just ignore all of that and just call it a "tap in".

 

100% agreed. The most impressive thing about that entire sequence was Benzema running.

 

Wow, he passed the ball in our own half to Isco AND ran all the way from our half!. That's a Ballon D'or move. What is that move called anyway? Pre-pre-assist? Grand Pres-assist? He didn't lose his man btw, that man chose to go for a tackle leaving Benzema uncovered.

It was nothing more than a tap in by a great play from Ronaldo and Coentrao. No need to give Benzema more/less credit than he deserves for a simple tap in.

No one is trying to criticize him. Stop being so defensive.

 

I don't agree about fantastic, he had a good stretch of games followed by 7-8 games without scoring, he wasn't that bad in those games though.

But he does need rest. We need him fresh vs Bayern, especially for pressuring.