A cautionary note: I’m fine with all the Vinicius hype, praise and increasing (but justifiable) excitement just so long as people don’t send the world crashing down on an 18 year old kid if he were to have a string of subpar performances because even seasoned pros suffer that from time to time.— M•A•J (@Ultra_Suristic) January 10, 2019
With Bale injured and Lucas suspended, Vinicius is set to face his biggest test yet. On the road at Betis, who are currently only 4 points behind us and in 6th in the table, will be his toughest game yet. Throw him into the fire early. Let's see what the wonderboy can do.
Maybe play it safe for the first 60 minutes. Then go all out for the win and bring on Vinicius + (we've got nothing else).
I appreciate the cautionary note, but it will happen nonetheless. Vinicius will have his dip in form and he will get quite some negative attention on him, but the impressive part (at least that's how it seems) is that he's mentally quite strong. He's been a joy to watch these last few weeks. And the way he performed was seriously impressive. Plays without fear, good sign! I really believe we struck gold with this kid and we will have to do (and keep doing) our utmost best to accomodate him on and off the pitch.
Every player has this moment where he elevates his game from being a prospect to the next level. For me, I always remembered Higuain's goal against Espanyol. Against Real Sociedad, I thought VJ looked very different. I know It is only against Leganes, but I can feel that VJ is about to explore.
It's crazy that he just turned 18 in July and is making an impact in one of the top leagues already in a team with many quality players under performing. He has always played against higher age groups but manages to catch up to their level sooner rather than later. Made his Brazilian league debut at 16 and had an up and down season which was expected as players that age barely play at that level. And then he starts second season at only 17 and already was scoring like the best veteran players in Brazil. Aguero had a similar trajectory in Argentina and even he took a one full season at Atletico to adapt and didn't show a lot of superstar flashes in 2006-07. Vinicius looks like he belongs at this level already at 18 and don't think we have seen that many times in Spain. Raul did and so did Messi who already was Barca's best player in 2006-07 after an injury hit debut season and then started playing at all time great level by 2008-09. Raul and Aguero never reached that kind of trajectory obviously, but reached world class level soon after debuting at 18 year olds in La liga. Robinho came as 20-21 year old after dominating Brazil yet he took a lot of time to adapt to this level. And only showed potential like someone who can carry the team for six months in 2007-08 before getting injured and then Robben was our best player in the 2nd half . Vinicius looks like a far superior talent and can be a true superstar if he continues to lead a professional lifestyle.
Not since Raul has an 18-year-old wowed the Bernabeu like Vinicius Not many people are going to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu these days, but those who do are going to see Vinicius. Season ticket holders and those buying tickets on the day are leaving their house because they have to go see him. There are many reasons to stay at home right now, but then they think about the Brazilian and put on their gameday face. Real Madrid are going through a certain moment, but this kid has what the team lacks. There is excitement in his boots, just as there is in the eyes of the Real Madrid fans when they seem him playing like this at just 18 years of age. It might be an exaggeration or maybe it isn't, but nobody has had a similar impact since Raul at such an early age. This shirt doesn't respect anybody and makes the weak feel small, but Vinicius isn't that type. He has turned the Bernabeu pitch into a Brazilian beach. Julen Lopetegui closed the door on him because he was raw. With Santiago Solari, he has exploded. At times of crisis you take what you can, but Vinicius is more than that. He has broken down the door and promises a golden future of the highest order. Of course he has to grow, but he's already there in the here and now. Spoilsports will say that he doesn't score enough, but Raul also missed three huge chances away in Zaragoza when younger. When you push and push, they end up going in. The volley against Leganes will be remembered in the club museum as his first great goal, but others will remember the way he carried the team on his back. He did so last Sunday against Real Sociedad, when he tried to save the world as the apocalypse neared. The No.28 was there at a dark time, like Raul was. Real Madrid are being carried by a teenager and that's not ideal. But it's not a bad teenager to be led by. He has made an impact. https://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/opinion/2019/01/10/5c37173a268e3eba268b461e.html
So now the club will sit back and watch the media hype this kid in order to cover for its failures the past summers and this season's harsh disappointments. This will definitely end well.
I just wish he stays away from injuries. Would be wise to hire his own exclusive medical team plus physio.
Yeah, not really. But lets hope he keeps working hard and stays fully focused. A development trajectory is hard thing to predict, some peak earlier, others later, someone's potential gets underestimated, others gets overestimated. Vinicius is a very fast and technically competent player but he has a long way to go to reach the ability of a guy like Neymar for example. Hopefully giving him minutes will affect him only positively.
Robinho never became close to a finished project and was way too inconsistent even at 22. He was slower than Vinicius in terms of speed as well as style by hogging on to the ball with showoff dribbles rather than to beat defenders. He also got pushed around easily. I do believe Vinicius is a superior talent. Neymar is a different question altogether. Neymar's natural talent is closest to that of Messi among modern players, but he has fragile frame. Vinicus can gain an advantage by filling up his body in next 2-3 years while he also has the qualities to be technically good like CR7.
Robinho's inconsistency is a mental thing and therefore irrelevant to his level of pure talent. He was a magician with the ball. Its also false that he was hogging on the ball with showoff dribbles; he was beating defenders all over the place to create chances. Vinicius is not nearly as naturally talented with the ball as Robinho, but hopefully he can work on his shooting to offset that deficiency.
I get it. But its really over the top. The issue is that the majority of fans read that kind of bullshit (New King of Madrid...…. Really? WTF)...…… and the next game if he doesn't dribble past 2 defenders every time they will say...……… he's not all that. The game after when he doesn't score a goal while we are losing...… the narrative will be... bust!! This kind of hype creates unrealistic expectations.
AS: Vinicius had requested for Bale's number 11 immediately after joining Real Madrid from Flamengo & will continue to push for the shirt.LMAO— M•A•J (@Ultra_Suristic) January 11, 2019 Vinicius misses Real Madrid’s training session with the flu, questionable to face Betis https://t.co/tRFHqmEzaz pic.twitter.com/OMKG19ePdm— Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) January 11, 2019
Marca’s Cover | “Vinicius a doubt for the match in Villamarin due to strong flu.” pic.twitter.com/dVRbKicdQZ— Real Madrid Info ³⁶ (@RMadridInfo) January 12, 2019
I for one don't read blogs and media write-ups etc., as I don't necessarily care too much about these hype jobs. However, I do trust my own eyes and I already love this kid. He's a joy to watch and I'm genuinly excited to see him play. As I said, he will definitely hit a dip in form and will get hugely criticized (unfairly of course), but it is what it is. Happens with all youngsters. We should be careful with him. The talent is immense, the clubs needs to really assist the kid and his family as much as possible the coming years.
If Vini doesn’t make it then I guess we’d have no choice but to go with Brahim.....Benz.....Isco ? Just kidding Solari would find a way to bench Isco even we only had 10 players available.