That rule was removed. It doesn’t apply anymore. We can buy whoever we want in January and play him in the CL, doesn’t matter if he played for another team in it this season already.
Winter mercato is not something we should care about for now. I don't think it will happen, but if we don't win against Bruges next round, we will need to be very careful.
442 is the ideal formation for us now but we cannot or will not do it regularly because we have 5 midfielders . Actually just 4 because James and Isco are AMs and something like 13 forwards . The squad balance is a complete joke
Been saying for years that Kroos should be used more up the pitch. The guy can shoot and he wouldn’t be such a liability defensively. But that would have him occupying the space that James or Isco would also in. I would actually like to see Isco played more as a wide forward, which is what he prefers, to interchange with James and Benz. What to do with Bale is still a conundrum though. He shows in flashes and I still don’t feel all that comfortable with the thought of him starting every week. I’d alternate him and at times bring him off the bench to run at tired defenses.
That would address his defensive frailty but he doesn't do nearly enough offensively to just that. No dribbles, no late runs, no direct passing or creativity, just a very rare shot.
Agreed, he would have to be much more assertive up there but I’m just thinking how we can minimize his defensive ineptitude.
I'm not sure it's possible, we just renewed him inspite of a decline in effort transcending a couple seasons. I'd bench him to be honest.
Toni Kroos v Levante- Touches: 93- Accurate passes: 79 (98%)- Key passes: 3 - Crosses (acc) : 2 (1) - Long balls (acc) : 9 (9) - Fouled: 1- Shots on target: 1- Shots blocked: 1- Duels won: 5- Tackles: 1#RMLiga pic.twitter.com/nkPa0vkHhv— TK (@TK8Pic) September 14, 2019 In one of the better games we played this season... When he the team struggles, he too struggles.
* Low energy * Low workrate * Midfield overrun * Lost ball multiple times * Little contribution in final third * Bad pass late resulting in third goal HEY GUYS LOOK AT HIS PASS%!!!1!
The team is struggling because our midfield couldn't handle PSG midfield which btw was anchored by a converted CB... That's not good enough. No triangles, no closing down the lines, no creativity, nothing.
His very high passing % is sometimes the problem though. He’s consistently getting figures and he’s consistently not assisting players from open play. The only midfielder who probably would need a 90%+ passing is our DM i.e just like you’d expect Busquets to have the highest in Barca. He doesn’t take risks, passing sideways and backwards. Zero energy. Isco, James and Modric will almost always have lower passing than him, but it’s because they contribute to our offense
That's good as long as it leads to opening up and creating space for our forwards. We have Hazard now and we can't get the ball to him in a good position. Dude has to come in our half and try and dribble out of it to make something happen. Ironically enough, these passes find Lucas Vazquez more often than Hazard/Bale.
Hazard didn't really engage in much of anything vs PSG. it's not going to be an "everybody else is at fault but him" season for him, at his price he should be one of the best players on the field.
The best thing being we are in dangerous spot centrally near opponents box, and what happens next? Usually slow ass cross, from the danger zone towards flanks which completely kills tempo, while opponents is sending fruit baskets to Real Madrid as a gesture of appreciation.
What makes it most irritating is we all know Carvajal ain't doing shit with that ball and he'll overlook a James run into the box for that pass for width.
But that corner flags fears our approach, we have a FB, a midfielder and a forward all ready to pounce.
Basic YS hating on our most consistent player cause he doesnt understand football and is salty that we didn't get Instagram Pogba.
Don't think so. Kroos is the best at what he does, but unfortunately what he does is not what we need most now and what fits with our system and current personnel. Maybe it is not his fault, maybe he has now options where to pass as there is no vertical movements from other players, but watching him slow down the tempo is a pain. And now he is becoming easier to dispossess also which didnt happen in the past
Surely. You like YS are also consistent on uneducated opinions and lacking understanding of the sport being discussed here. Been lurking long enough to know.