I don't care about a pre-season game. It really does not matter, at all. What matters is that players get to match fitness, new players settle in, etc. We have had pre-seasons where we won everything and went on to disappoint during the season and vice versa. The 0-4 is somewhat different, but we all saw how that worked out for the "we are back" folk. They were "back" for one game and we were there to collect La Liga and the CL when it mattered. Anyway, I really have no real interest in these pre-season games, those times have long gone. Can't wait for the season to start.
I agree with u, but Madrid take big risk with no 9 backup. MARCA also posted about it: Opinion: "El Real Madrid cometería otra vez un error imperdonable si no ficha un delantero" https://co.marca.com/claro/futbol-i...4bPA1vj7IcW-Inh1dWlCuoPt59KEdjkHPBeT6NEwqDk-E
While I agree that we need some reinforcements up front the bigger issue is that unless said 9 plays like Benzema we’ll continue to struggle in his absence because our problem isn’t just that he isn’t there to finish chances it’s that we almost create nothing when he isn’t there. Our “system” is pretty much resolves around Benzema himself, not just any 9 would be able to just jump in and make things tick, Carlo needs to work first and foremost on actually designing a scheme that’d allow us to create chances whether Benzema is playing or not then having another 9 would be relevant. It’s too early to tell if he’s actually doing that, but his “ i don’t tell these players what to do they’re experienced enough “ approach isn’t going to be helpful in that sense.
we cannot forever depend on Benzema to deliver the goals for us and transition need to happen it is better to plan it as a systematic rather than a chaotic transition when Benzema is retired or injured long term. also tactically we should have plan-b when Benzema even not injured fail to work for us that cannot be false -9 which we have failed abruptly earlier Sorry for some fan who thinks that benzema can play 50 games at 35 years age .
The next step Vini has to take now is being able to be the leader without Benzema. He easily gets double teamed and out of ideas without Benzema. Need him to start dragging the team to victories.
I'm wondering if some people enjoy life at all. I for one couldn't wait to see the team back, woke up way before 5 in the morning to do so but damn some people can't do anything else but be depressed and angry about it.
❗️| On Thursday, David Alaba talked Ancelotti he wants to keep playing at centre-back. On Friday, Ancelotti tried Rudiger at left back before the game vs Barcelona. Florentino Perez supports Ancelotti’s decision. @diarioas This was reported by @Santos_Relevo days ago! 🔝— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) July 25, 2022
It took us a season or more to learn to play without Ronaldo. Before then, we kept hearing the same thing. Fast forward, we did quite well for ourselves. We'll learn to play without Benz and the other legendary players we have too but we need to have patience and allow the rest of our youngsters to find their roles. I expect Vini to take the mantle from Benz when he slows down. Just needs to make that next leap in his development
If this is actually true then yet again, not surprised, this is exactly what i thought would happen, he hasn't been a LB for years and has led both ours and Bayern's defence to titles, IMO he's not needed at LB anyway but, that's another idea that only i have, also i don't necessarily see Rudiger as a huge upgrade as most seem to think, just....... taller I agree with this, it's why i noted earlier that our ability to score goals isn't just about having a body that people think is adequate upfront,
Oh good point. In the end it’s going to come down to whether you want Mendy or Militao on the field, and if Militao doesn’t clean things up that’s an easy decision.
Would be weird to sign Militao to an extension though, as we’ve reportedly just done, if the plan is to bench him.
He can't complain if it's due to poor form though. Except CL final, his last 2-3 months of 2021-22 season was very shaky. Varane lost starting spot to Pepe in 2015-16 when ZZ took over after starting 2014-15 season.
agreed, I saw some quotes for the CA's presser, really don't agree if he thinks Militao and Alaba are the best option at the back. They aren't, we need someone back there who is a little calmer and reliable. I think was why Ramos Varane worked so well, Ramos would commit and Varane would be a bit more measured and could compensate. The other take away is as you say, our attacking backups Asensio, Mariano and Hazard aren't good enough.
I think you can still be very high on his future but also send a message to the player that the competition is stiff with the quality we have at CB and LB and he’s going to need be at his best to be the presumptive starter.
Alaba looks absolutely lost on set pieces and crosses. He is not a CB, easily loses his mark. Hope this speculation is not true and Ancelloti's comments were just meant as a way not to hurt any player's pride.
It also doesnt make sense that our strongest and tallest header defensively is playing fullback. If its an issue of ball distribution from the back, Rudiger could do that as well.
Benzema took a hit in Real Madrid's last training session. Mendy seen leaving Real Madrid training with the physiotherapists. Carvajal still injured here we go…
Rudiger might have to sit on the bench and fight his way into the team, as should be the case, did we need reinforcement at the back, yes we did, but how do you just push out players that have won you a CL and La Liga title just last season, we conceded about 31 goals for the la liga season, this is not horrific by any means, coaches that are paid to do their jobs have started him as a CB for two of the biggest clubs in the world and seem to have no problem with him there, why would they, their teams have won, personally unlike most others here i'm not that sold on Rudiger as yet anyway so we'll see, i wish him the best, whatever happens i knew it would not be as straightforward as some thought to just push David back to the LB position, it did not make sense to me considering he was brought in to replace Sergio. the players are also humans, not robots. I have to ask, what exactly makes Rudiger automatically "our strongest" defender? looks? from some of what i am reading you'd think Rudiger joined a relegation team with a bunch of scrubs playing in defense
It’s something that should have been addressed last season, we were very fortunate in that Benzema was relatively injury free last season, we could be lucky again in that sense this season but I wouldn’t bank on it, he’s a year older and we’ll be playing more games it’s just irresponsible to not build a contingency plan.
What a stupid decision that would be. Alaba is not that convincing as a central defender and at the same time wasting Rudiger at the LB... Hope that this ends soon.