I doubt any reputed Spotting Director will choose Frimpong over TAA as RB. Frimpong is a weak defender as well while not close to TAA in terms of technical ability with the ball. Frimpong doesn't play in back 4 either. If Danilo and Odri signing has shown something, it's to go for the proven world class options than Frimpongs of the world.
*Sporting Best #9 TAA had at Liverpool was Firmino who had league stats of 9, 9, 5 goals from 2019-22. He's used to creating for world class wingers like Salah and Mane while we have Vini and Mbappe.
Apparently, Saudi willing to offer 3 year mega deals to Salah and VVD who are free agents next summer. Might help is with TAA chase if Pool lose key players like that. We have Jude as well who's pretty close with TAA.
Guy I know lives in Liverpool and is a Liverpool fan and very tuned in with them and he believes TAA will leave, he sent a text the next morning after the Carvajal injury that this surely means TAA is a Madrid player next season.
I really don’t understand your opposition to having fullbacks that can attack as if that’s a negative. Carvajal’s offense has been absolutely vital for us on the right flank going back to the BBC era. Dani has been available for switches and whipping essential crosses for us from the right side for a generation. Obviously we would all want fullbacks that are world class both ways, but feel free to point one out that’s a viable transfer target. Unless you’re suggesting we roll with just Lucas for a year instead, which would be absurd.
TAA is more than a long ball merchant. Been looking into what he'd be doing for us, and for me it makes it all the more crucial that the opposite fullback is defensively responsible enough to slot into a back three situationally.
You seem to have missed the part where I said, "at our thinnest position". Militao, Alaba, Rudiger, and Nacho at CB was very far from our thinnest position, so much so that people worried before the injuries that there would not be enough playing time for the first three. Rudiger then ended up the best CB of the CL season by many accounts. Do you think LV has a shot at best RB of the tournament this season?
It's time to welcome Sergio Ramos back. He and the club needs closure, he's been our best central defender for a decade. He should have a farewell like Kroos or Nacho. He could get into the squad rightaway and he will be very welcomed by his pals. Militao can play right fullback and so can Vallejo (if his form improves). Sergio could even help us with the attack in the end of games, since we miss Joselu. Even though there were some bad feelings when he left, now is the time to forgive
TAA can pass (I believe he'd be the best passer on the team) TAA can can slot into midfield when needed TAA is very good at shooting long distance TAA is set piece specialist. TAA would bring a lot to the table...he not just a cross merchant (a good one at that).
TAA is the worst defending fullback in Europe along with Clauss. Straight atrocious there. And his strength is crossing, not passing generally. TAA cannot play midfield at all as the Euro showed. I'd still take him but let's understand what we're getting. He's a pure wingback.
TAA has played in midfield many times when needed for Liverpool. Go and look. The fact it didn't work for England is because he was being asked to play in a pivot with Rice...No. We also had Marcelo who struggled defensively until his later years. TAA is only 24/25, as long as we have a structured defence where the other side slide back in defence and we have our DM doing their job, then I don't see a massive issue over his defensive ability right now.
If Tchouameni is playing at DM and Mendy at LB, there's no reason we cannot (in fact I would argue we *should*) have an aggressively attacking RB. Particularly if we have engines like Fede, Cama, Belli in midfield too.
🚨 Some youth Real Madrid players feel pessimistic about getting chances with the first team.The feeling around La Fabrica is that even during an injury crisis, Carlo Ancelotti will prefer experienced players over academy players. @Rodra10_97 pic.twitter.com/7fVH4lcMuI— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) October 7, 2024
I know Lucas had a great year last year, but we’ve still got another 29 Liga games, another potential 13 Champions League games, súper copa and copa del rey. Are we really going to count on him to start 40+ games and play full 90’s?
Reports that Valverde will share the RB spot. Edit: Valverde play at RB when we played Liverpool and was an absolute beast.
🚨 CONFIRMED: The intention of Real Madrid is NOT to sign any player after Carvajal's injury, neither now nor in the next winter market.They will be attentive and if the current situation worsens, perhaps they will reconsider this decision. @AranchaMOBILE, @MelchorRuizCope pic.twitter.com/YyA1Ulzabr— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 7, 2024 🚨 Real Madrid have full confidence in Lucas Vázquez.Apart from the sporting aspect, at Real Madrid they consider him key for the emotional management he performs in the locker room. @AranchaMOBILE, @MelchorRuizCope pic.twitter.com/wVyPi0V196— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 7, 2024 🚨 Fede Valverde is an option to replace Carvajal temporarily. @Rodra10_97 pic.twitter.com/Fo9qSXjt8E— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 7, 2024
4 CBs isn't thin in 2 CB starting system. You have some utopian standards. When did we ever have 5 CBs for 4 to be low standard? It was Pepe, Ramos, Varane and Nacho before. 4 CB depth is the standard.
TAA isn't Maldini in defense, but he isn't completely hopeless. I think if he create a system that covers for him in attack like we did with Marcelo, we would be OK if he came. A common pattern in our game is to try to attack from the left, VJ gets triple teamed so we switch the ball to the right to Dani. Offensively, our RB participates a lot in our attacks and having TAA who is a great crosser and passer would be a good asset. He has also played in the center before so we can have Fede overlap him and then he tucks in to the middle. Having a passer like him could be our Kroos replacement.
Whoever we go after in the summer, we can’t not sign someone in January, that would be negligence. If we don’t then I’d of course love to be wrong but it’s a completely unnecessary risk to take on, and Ramos obviously isn’t the solution!
As already said, we only had two healthy CBs in the entire squad last January and still decided "...nah". Can't underestimate Flo's stubbornness.