I love the fact that he is so direct. He had a brilliant one-touch feathered pass to Ronaldo that Aranzubia made a big save on. Robinho appears to be a true difference maker. I don't think he look incredibly rusty. Maybe a little anxious on a couple of plays, a step out of sync on others, but not bad. I think he misplayed his position on one or two attempts to trap someone offsides, but he was not bad in my opinion - very unlucky, but not bad.
I was in class so I couldn't watch the game, but from what I am reading in tomorrow's Spanish press, Woodgate played UTTERLY HORRIBLE. I mean like really really bad by a normal standard. Now, I think, and most posters agree, that you can't judge him by a normal standard, and that it can obviously only get better from here, but still, he is far from match-worthy yet.
Woah his performance wasn't terrible by any means, like someone already said, he was just really really unlucky today. But you'll form an opinion when you watch it for yourself.
Fair enough. But four different newspapers and several radio journalists said he played badly. And what looks like bad luck might actually be rustiness/lack of game reflexes and so on. In any case, I don't hold him against him at all, so it's not too important, but it'll take time before he makes truly positive contributions.
The thing we have to remember, people, is that Woody's performance was just as bad as we would have expected from Samuel. It's obvious that all 3 of Woody's grave errors were clumsy mistakes from someone that was trying to do too much considering he hasn't played a single game in a year and a half. So, for the time being, that's what I am attributing his performance to. Samuel... he made just as ugly mistakes but never had an injury like Woody's to attribute it to. Don't forget how many red cards, penalties, and own goals samuel had last year. Heck, if for the rest of the season we can survive on Helguera, Ramos, and Woody and both make up for Samuel's loss and avoid having Pavon play, then we will be just fine. Minus Samuel and Pavon, addition by subtration.
I also don't forget that in the whole of last year we conceded 4 goals in set pieces, and after one month of this season we are at 6 and counting. I mean, Samuel would have had to concede six penalties a month to compensate for this.
Just got home from work, watched the game today and boy what a performance by beckham and Raul, now all you Raul and beckham haters must swallow your words, hahahahah see what happens when you underestimate someone. Woody…bad performance but I still have hope on the guy, remember he will learn from his mistakes.
Raul and Beckham just outworked Bilbao. I think Salgado should get some props...the guy really was making fools of some Bilbao players on the right. Its obvious that both Graveson and Garcia can't play at the same time. You need at at least one mid in the middle with distribution ability. Becks was all over the place, he was actually more in the center of the park than on the far right. I have always thought Becks looks better in the middle for Real, shifting wide for crosses at opportune times and NOT just sitting on the wing. Raul and Robinho seems to be taking care of the wings for alot of the 2nd half with Salgado and Carlos making runs. Players who played VERY well in my books...Raul, Becks, Salgado. Robinho played ok but lost way too many balls, and R.Carlos played well but seemed to be caught a few times upfield. Graveson and Ronaldo were just bad.
I dont think Woodgate played bad at all if you take away the red card and the own goal. The rest of the match he played well except for a play or two you could tell he was nervous and tried to force the ball into tough spots. If you take away the red card and own goal, and consider it was his first game in so long, I think he did well. Raul really impressed me today. Hes much better when he plays attacking midfield rather thank forward. Robindo did good I though.. great goal and he should have had an assist also but ronaldo didnt do well with it. Becks did great with the free kicks and crosses.. really great. My player of the match. Ronaldo was a little off form and seemed to lack motivation.. he should have finished the one pass from robinho. But, he came through in the end with the pass to raul for the sure goal. GUTI GUTI GUTI. I think Guti seriously needs to be starting.. he is always trying to create opportunities and he does. What a great pass to set up the goal. He plays with a lot of energy and desire, many of our guys dont.
Good question. I still haven't seen the game yet (it's on its way) but it sounds like RM had a poor first half and really gelled in the 2nd half. Was this because of adaptation to the new formation or because of a lack of effort on the players part? In the 2nd half, was it the addition of Guti or the workrate of Raul and Beckham that propelled them to their win? The reason I'm asking these questions is because one Galactico and one big money signing sat out today. Was it the Guti effect? Was it the chemistry of the available players? Was it the new formation? I think - feel free to comment/criticize/add your own thoughts - the best use of our current roster could be: ----------------------------Casillas------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -----Salgado----------Woody-------Ramos----------RCarlos- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------Gravs/Garcia---------------------------- ---------------------------------------Guti----------------- --Becks-------------------------------------------Robinho-- --------------------------Raul------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------Ronaldo-------------------- OR ----------------------------Casillas------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -----Salgado----------Woody-------Ramos----------RCarlos- ------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------Guti--------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --Becks-------------------------------------------Robinho-- ---------------------------Zidane-------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------Raul--------------------------------- ---------------------------------Ronaldo-------------------- There's so much room for flexibility with these two lineups. Keep this latter offensive-minded lineup for the first half or until we're ahead comfortably. Then, replace Gravs/Garcia for Zidane as needed and Guti moves to AM. Raul or Ronaldo getting tired? Let's put in Baptista or one of the forwards from la cantera. You could also switch easily from the first lineup to the 2nd easily - sub off Guti for Zidane if needed. Is the other DM is fatigued? Throw in the spare! Helguera should pair up with a newbie for the next few games and we'll eventually work our way to the correct pairing, whether it's two newbies (and I'm including Meija) or Helguera and a newbie. Just not sure about who we have as subs for the wingers. Key points about the above formations: - flexible - Zidane does not play a full game - Guti gets his playing time and we benefit from his creativity - Raul gets to play a more offensive role - Gravs/Garcia will both get fairly equal playing time - Becks will be playing in position - Robinho will be a starter - the canteranos will get shots at playing as subs The only drawback I see is that Baptista will take over Owen's role from last year, which makes me wonder whether we should have saved our money and just kept him. Or does Baptista's playing style fit better? Anyway, just something to discuss. I'm also glad that Raul and Beckham had good games. Should tame the haters . . . at least for a little while.
Hmm. Missed the game, but happened to catch the highlights on CNN in the airport. Finally Raul has a good game. Was he up front in a 4-4-2 or a withdrawn forwardin a 4-2-3-1? Anyone? Also, Guti lovers, beware: since Guti had a spectacular game coming on as a sub, this means that the his next game (which he'll start) he'll play like absolute ********. Great pass on the third goal, though. That's stuff Gravesen could do once.
i think if we give guti a nice run of starts he will really shine. he may show some spotty form but other players have as well and still get to start. Guti can really change the game when its needed.
I see Baptista out of this formation. IMO Baptista's best role is when we are ahead which means the other team is forced to attack and leave spaces behind. In that case we can add Baptista to substitute one of the forwards (Ronaldo, Robinho, Raul). Maybe it is not the best use for 20M EURO but that's how I see it. I don't see Baptista as a CM when we are playing in tight spaces.
I agree, why I was so excited to see him come to RM. Note, though, that since the game against Cadiz, he hasn't had a similarly dominant performance. It could have just been Cadiz... but.. I don't think that is an accident. With the return of Zidane, I'm willing to bet we'll get a repeat performance. He ought to be able to spend much more time in and around the box, where he does most of his damage.. An interesting anomaly of the "magic square" strategy, is that Zidane's lack of speed and time he spends on the ball could actually be more of an asset - in allowing more people to flow into the box for Robinho to play off and for him to do all his tricks. (remember Robinho's pass to Helguera? ..Helguera???? I've not seen Helguera in that position in two seasons or more!) Perhaps this is no accident either.. I'm impatient for the next game!
I am looking forward to the first game when we will have all of our players available. Till now we haven't had this. First we didn't have Ramos, woodgate, and Robinho (although he played 20 min), then we didn't have ZZ, Ronaldo, then Baptista, Ramos, Helguera.
Are you speaking about a ply where Raul from the middle passed to Robinho in the right, then back to Roanldo in the middle? If it's that one, look at the difference between Raul, who took an eternity to control the ball and pass it and Robinho who just oriented his foot to make it a one touch control-and-pass to Ronaldo.
He's the Xabi Alonso type of player, thoug it's yet to be seen where his limits are. Soldado and him where the surprises of the preseason.
Me too!! I'm not sure if they will all gel instantly, but I won't be surprised if they do! It shouldn't be too far away... By the time our rematch with Lyon comes, in the Bernabeu, we ought to be more than ready. Can't wait!
He paired with Pablo, but Guti was allowed to roam the whole midfield and Pablo stayed always in front of the CBs. Becks and Robinho switched places. I understand your point of course, but what he techinically is doesn't matter anything. We call it President and it's that what he should be called; besides it's not as if the head of state has much power. How many times has he been "coming back" just to play powerlessly again next game? He played one good half against Serbia and then he was lackluster with us again until today. Sorry, but it will take a little bit more of regularity than another half to make me change my mind. That's yet to be seen. We won out of bollocks, with Beckham in an awkward position in the left, not out of a coherent play. Though I hope you are right, and this undoubtedly will boost morale.
Just watched the game. Rual is impressive and Robinho is just GREAT. BTW, who is the guy that came in for Raul? De La Red? I have never seen him play before....
De La Red is a promising young player. He is a 'pivote' that Sacchi and Luxemburgo really like. He and Javi García appear to be our top prospects in the center of the midfield.