Hopefully Woodgate is in top form and takes the starting CB spot along side Samuel. Helguera will sadly be demoted to fill in for Gravesen and the CB's (all this presuming Samuel stays and Gravesen is not replaced).
I dont know about that... Helguera has played better at the back than Samuel all season... I think that would be a bad assumption. I think it would be up in the air until they start practicing with each other.
Helguera hasn't played that well this year....but he is still >>>>>>>Samuel. If Woodgate is actually fit to play at some time in the future by some miracle then the likely pairing would be Helguera and Woodgate assuming they don't buy any more central backs.
i dont know. but perez continues to say that woodgate and samuel r going to be the best defenders in the world. he never said helguera + samuel or woodgate.
Most of what comes out of Perez's mouth is ************. For example, when he made that comment, he was referring to their play throughout THIS SEASON. That didn't quite turn out as expected.
This is all assuming that Woodgate comes back from injury and fits in perfectly with the defense. Since he has only ever played in the premiership and has ben inactive for a long time, at this point you can only speculate how he will perform in La liga. Just like Samuel, who was a solid defender in Serie A but hasnt been able to translate his form to la liga yet.
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/3560376 Real Madrid want to swap Michael Owen with Ruud van Nistelrooy next season. And according to the Daily Express and The Sun, Man Utd are actually considering this novel suggestion. Has there been any other reports of this rumor in other media? I don't think this player swap would benefit RM unless there was a starting spot available. I think RVN would probably not be happy unless he were playing all the time (just an opinion)
Perhaps this is a crazy rumour to keep the newspaper sales up. I rate the chances of it happening at 0.
i rate it as -1000. Come on, i doubt fergie would trade his best goal scorer over the last 5 seasons even if he has played a handful of games without scoring. This comming from a huge MO fan
Owen playing for Man Utd??? I'd say your raing of o is generous. If he was really concerned about getting enough playing time in the season leading up to the world cup (which I think is a reasonable concern in his case) I could see him accepting a transfer to Arsenal or Chelsea or even back to Liverpool, but now that Lux has changed things around a bit and made him a regular starter I don't think he'll want to go. Although the season has been rocky, he's been great individually and the team has made big strides since Lux came aboard and are even challenging for the title, something that seemed all but impossible at the New Year. I also don't see any evidence that Real wants to sell him.
there's been a lot of talk about players in the midfield and forward, but a reliable backup for Salgado has to be a top priority in the offseason. We just can't afford to have another situation like we did this year where we're going into a do or die game in the champion's league with the likes of raul bravo out of position. I've seen Kromkamp mentioned (he plays right fullback doesn't he?) but my choice would be Sevilla's Sergio Ramos. Great young player (iirc he's only 19) who was already called up to the full Spanish side when Salgado was injured, and who would eventually take the spot from Salgado as he matures and Salgado slows down with age. He would likely be expensive though as Sevilla wouldn't want the 'jewel' of their cantera to go, especially when they appear to be headed at least to the UEFA cup next season.
http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Page/0,7760,2483_423642,00.html this news comes as a relief to me
Rumor is that Madrid don't think Sergio Ramos is ready yet, and would like to let him play at his club for another season before trying to buy him or not. Manchester also want him apparently according to the ever trustworthy rumor mill.
What I don't get is why Real are not going to try and buy Requilme, he's spectacular. Infact none of the really big clubs have expressed interest in this player. Do you guys think that there is interest from Real, but they want to save face because they know Barca may not sell to them?
If he moved to RM next season, he won't be playing much. So it is better to loan him out somewhere. Hopefully, he won't be another Etoo.
Welcome back, Excape Goat! I don't kow why RM would want Ramos at this time, Salgado would force him to watch from the bench. And don't forget we will have Minambres as a back-up, too. If RM is going to splash money on a defender, then I say go for Kompany or Andrade.
This week's SkySports' Revista de la Liga had some interesting speculation about summer transfers. From the Barcelona perspective, they talked about von Bommel (very likely), Luque (likely) and Van Nistleroy (unlikely) being acquired. Apparently Cryuff has published a theory that RM is only playing Owen so that they can get a better price for him this summer. There are so many things wrong with this theory that I don't know where to begin. There was also discussion about RM getting van Nistleroy (unlikely) or Viera (unlikely) and thank heaven for that. As some of you may recall, last fall many predicted that RM would acquire von Bommel, but that seems to have cooled off. They seem awfully sure that Joaquin will be playing for RM next season, while I am not so sure. No mention of Robinho which surprised me.
Joaquin's plays RW, doesn't he? He's a talented player that would definitely benefit RM. But with Becks and Figo both there, does that signal they'll be both gone over the summer or will Joaquin end up riding the bench next season? It's already been problematic enough with 2 RWs...
I hope we get Daniele Bonera of Parma to solve the problem you're referring to. He's a central defender who could easily hold his own - and then some - with Samuel, Woodgate and Helguera. He can also slot in at right back when needed. He plays a solid Thuram-style fullback role, rather than the Salgado-style wingback role. Anyways, he's gotta be our man!
http://www.realmadrid.dk/news/article/default.asp?newsid=6379 Real Madrid move for AC Milan target Gilardino Provided by: Frank Henriksen AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani's admission that no talks have been held with Parma over striker Alberto Gilardino has fueled fresh speculation linking the youngster with Real Madrid. "We have never spoken with Parma about Gilardino," said Galliani on Saturday. "As we all know, Parma are up for sale and therefore cannot consider buying or selling any players." Gilardino is said to have agreed personal terms with Milan, but Parma's debts mean they will only sell to the highest bidder. Milan have baulked at Parma's £20 million demands - leaving the door open to Real Madrid. Real GM Arrigo Sacchi helped develop Gilardino while in charge at Parma and is said to have tabled a four-year contract offer to the striker's representatives worth £3.5 million-a-season.
Real Madrid wing ace Luis Figo is closer to a move to Inter Milan. Fresh contact has been made between Figo's representatives and Inter intermediaries after the Portuguese was dropped to the bench for Sunday's victory over Barcelona. Figo is a favourite of Inter supremo Massimo Moratti's, who is convinced the Portuguese can bring out the best in coach Roberto Mancini's rigid 4-4-2 system. Moratti has already told Real Madrid president Florentino Perez that he wants Figo, having registered his interest while the pair met at Ronaldo's wedding celebrations earlier this year. Perez is ready to grant Figo his request of a free transfer after the 32 year-old agreed not to sign for another Spanish club. Figo is also happy to take a major cut on his £2.5 million salary and is willing to accept the two-year, £1.4 million-a-season deal Inter are drawing up.
Figo will go on a free. Perez will just let him go because he has got his money back from signing him & if it wasn't for Figo the chances are he would not have been elected Real Madrid president so he should grant him that wish if he does want to leave.