The Almighty Sergio Ramos Appreciation Thread

Showed them who's the best defender in the World

 

Best captain in the world.

Best captains (Ramos and Maecelo) in our recent history. There are no more "outsiders". No more complaints of clicks or groups who feel entitled.

This is truly a family.

The things Zidane, Cristiano, Ramos, Marcelo, Modric, etc do that we can't see is what makes this team so great. You think it is just chance that players come to this team and feel driven to work hard????

It isn't because of our history or name; it's because our megastars are the hardest workers setting an example of an atmosphere... environment which you must match or be casted away.

The way Ramos has embraced Florentino's "we are a club for all" mantera shows. The two previous captains had clicks and had issues consistently between players in the lockerroom. These guys are part of every grouping, lead from the front and by example and have their teammates respect.

Ramos and Marcelo have impacted Cristiano. Look at how much better a leader he has become! He truly is team first.

These two are the example of what it means to LEAD and sacrifice for Madrid. I hope those who follow their footsteps follow their example.

 

SR4. The King pic.twitter.com/hOOFtpBEq4

— Real Madrid Info ³⁵ (@RMadridInfo) June 4, 2017

 

I disagree with this, I think you'll find Raul was a very giving captain. He sat on the bench when his coach asked him to many times. Raul's records speak for themselves, and his dedication on the field is second to none. He was a fighter.

Saying all of this : I do agree that Sergio Ramos and Marcelo are great captains, but not necessarily better than their predecessors. All and all, even though I am less attached to this team, I have to give much of the credit to Zizou. He's not a master technician on the field, but off it he's simply the best.

 

I don't want to be disrespectful, but Raul only saw bench once we had the Galactico 2.0 project. Owen was benched throughout the season though Raul was performing horribly. Finally they had to drop Figo given Owen's amazing goals/minutes ratio. He was the Morata of that season. Raul got benched against Espanyol early on the season and Camacho had to resign that week after all the media/political drama. Fans were divided those years just like with Iker in his last season. Thankfully, Raul had a resurrection from 2006 onwards(highlight moment was Clasico goal in 2-0 win) after mediocre 2004-06 campaigns where he started most games despite poor return.

 

A player we didn't need ? I agree.

Look, I'm not trying to rewrite revisionist history - all I'm saying is Raul was a good captain and we won a lot with him. That's all. I do agree that Raul took some time to find his place after his knee injury, but his dedication on the field was second to none.

 

Agree completely, especially on the cliques and entitlement factors, these make a huge difference in a team setting I would imagine, the idea of leading by example ( hard work) cannot be underestimated either, not to mention his quality as a player and leader on the pitch, this is why I was happy for Sergio to be paid what he thought he deserved and for him to stay with us when he flirted with leaving

 

Great fighter? Yes.
Great player? Yes.
Dedication? Yes.
Work ethic? Yes.

While he was captain were we a completely divided mess of an entitled spoiled team, with cliques, dedication/work ethic issues and severe locker room problems?

Yes.


Btw, I wouldnt describe "giving" as sitting on the bench after extended periods of horrible form. That's part of the entitlement bullshit we had to deal with during those times. Half our problem then (and the complaint now about BBC) was how players who shouldn't start.... start. He was part of this issue.

 

I think it would be fair to say that Raul was a good captain, and some may even prefer his type of leadership. But it would be hard to argue that Ramos and Marcelo aren't exactly the type of captains this team needs right now (inclusive, hard working, big personalities).

It also is unfair to say that Morata wasn't needed this season. Not just unfair, untrue.

 

To be fair & consistent, I don't think he's a top-level striker. I was wrong when I said he was Soldado 2.0, but he's not that special. I really don't see it and was always surprised by people that say he's got this amazing future.

He's a hard-working kid that has decent skills, but let's not act like he isn't replaceable. He's what I like to call a tier 3 player.

Tier 1 - Superstar player that can walk into any team and become a worry for the opposition team

Tier 2 - A player that is either otherworldly with his skills or his consistency, or some very high standards of both

Tier 3 - A player that can effect a game at the highest level, but that cannot be expected to hold the mantle day in day out.

Tier 4 - A player that has some flashes, but cannot be expected to contribute at the highest level

Tier 5 - A player that cannot be expected to contribute at the highest level. Any positive contribution is either inflated or deemed lucky

When I was a scout that's the tier system that I used to use. At the level I was at, the highest I ever got to meet was a tier 2.

 

That's fine, and in some ways there I do agree with you, but this has very little if anything to do with your original statement.

 

We need a tier 3 striker on the team though, especially someone with Morata's grit and hard work. He has won us quite a few games this season, having someone like him come off the bench is crucial IMO. Mariano seems to have the same profile, and 70M seems to be very generous for Morata, but unless we get Mbappe this year, I really hope we hold on to Morata and give him more game time next year.

 

No, you will fine a united locker room which hated a bad fit of a manager.

Everybody knew Benitez wouldn't work except Florentino. He antagonized the players and ironically brought them together.

Even with Mourinho the locker room was hardly divided against each other.... they just grew to hate the manager, his bigger than club ego and the "me against the world" chariot it rode upon.

That is far different than Raul's day when the players were divided amongst each other, the manager, the president, etc. We were an absolute mess under Raul. Nightmare team.

We're a family under Ramos. There is a huge difference.

 

It's an easy deal to make I think. We need a striker and Morata's price is over inflated.

 

If Morata is a "tier 3", I guess "tier 2" strikers are Lewa and Suarez and "tier 1" is.... God himself?

The guy has everything a modern striker needs. Strength, positioning, pace, he knows how to handle one-on-ones, his finishing is astonishing. He is like 1.90, yet one of the fastest players of our squad. His goal/minutes ratio this season is only next to Messi's. Btw the inconsistency and "big game" issues are completely untrue. I don't remember him starting any important game this season (except that Sevilla game, he subbed of on 50 minutes), so, how can he prove if he is a big game player (or not)? After all he scored in two semis against us and the final against barca. I can't say he is bad on big games, he was just never given the chance.

 

Look at his body of work in Serie A. Did not score a lot. Higuain blew him out of the water with goals.

 

Spam alert.

 

Debate the following: in light of everything that's happened since, is minuto 93 the single greatest and most impactful moment in the club's history?

 

(limit the inquiry to on-pitch events)

 

I think the Pedja goal is certainly a strong candidate.

I think minuto 93 goes beyond La Decima, because I really believe that without La Decima the club probably ends up charting a very different course. Do we keep the manager and the same core of players together? That header is a big fork in the road for me. Just the value of the psychological advantage over Atleti having knocked them out the next 3 years afterwards can't be understated.