Early days and all that, but JL would've still played Nacho at LB, Lucas at RB, not giving a minute to Vin, Reguillon etc. while these three changes alone has changed so much about the outlook of the team, he really had lost the plot.
Seriously impressed with the two full backs. Hungry and effective on both ends. At the very least, it should fire a light under the starters' asses. I personally think Ordiozolla should be the starter, he has a great engine, and is great defensively. The midfield was really good today. Solari plays a double pivot with the third midfielder really close, which is a big adjustment from JL. The RW/LW players are also dropping back defensively and helping out. Bale to me is still non existent. When Vincius comes on, you see how much more dangerous the team becomes with our direct play. . Also, a small point, I have a soft spot for Javi Sanchez. He seems like he has a future with the big club, or at least a first division club.
I don't think it would be wise to give Solari the job based on Melilla, Valladolid and Plzen. It looks like he's going to get the job at least to the end of the year. I feel defensively we are an absolute shambles. A decent team would have scored 5 today. I didn't like the team at all today despite the result.
We have lost all season against similar opponents to the latter two. No one is giving Solari anything based on three games, the market is simply non-existent re managers. Why not give Solari until the end of the season, if there are no realistic alternatives? Do you have a suggestion?
Finally got to watch the game, ok performance, defending still a bit of a shambles, but the opposition’s was far worse, happy for the win, the points and the clean sheet, hopefully the goals and the win builds more confidence, finally Lucas, works hard, get’s himself into great positions and still making unbelievably rubbish final decisions over and over again, a player that won me over but absolutely not in good form at the minute, no one particularly outstanding IMO, just a good team win against opponents we should win against
To me when a team like Real Madrid has to start Lucas , it says a lot about the rest of the team. He is a Villareal player at best. Times have changed.
Watched the replay again. I agree with the commentators. There's absolutely no reason why Ramos elbow should be anywhere near that guy's face running across him That's very lucky cause the moment a red spots it, it's a sending off.
Tiki taka isn't dead, but pointless possession gameplay comprising of sideways passing is. Both Man city and Barça are still playing purest form of tikitaka out there and are crushing the opponents. Barça scored one of the goals in clasíco that had >30 passes and involved touch by each of the outfield player. That's tikitaka. What JL made us to believe was something else. Or we could just wait patiently to see how this team performs against some quality opponents instead of forming opinions based on lucky wins against Mellila Plzen or Valladolid. Don't take it in wrong sense but Plzen were extremely shit TBH.
It may be a red card scenario but discussing it again, 15 minutes later, when we just scored our third is ridiculous.
He was being discussed here after his good pre season. There were doubts about his aggression in defence and violent tackles.