Careful there, you don't want to be labeled EA playing hipster who wants players that are not good enough for Madrid (aka not famous) Baleba is a bit too similar to Tchou imo. Wharton on the other hand would be perfect, but he would cost 60+ million. Other players could do just as good a job for half the price. And this is not only about finances, the more you pay for a player, the bigger the expectations from him, but also for himself. Much harder to bench a 60 million player than a 30 million one.
Yeah, Rodrygo is not looking good on any graphs this season. I also use squawka comparison matrix for a more detailed overview. You can compare up to 5 players simultaneously, chose which stat you want, which competition etc. Thing is, Rodrygo is not taking nearly as many shots as other wingers. This is, in my opinion, due to him not having a decent left foot. 5 of his 6 league goals this season came from inside the box cause he prefers to worm inside the box and find spaces there for an easier shot with his right. When he receives the ball, nobody thinks he'll do a Robben/Bale - cut in and shoot. This lack of danger is not great when the team is trying to stretch the defense. Defenders wait for him to come in or pass the ball. He offers other options, but you can't help but wonder what would happen if we had a player there with that type of a threat. He shines in passing at over 90% and in keeping the possession, but In LaLiga he has completed a grand total of 12 long passes all season and 1 through ball. Most of his passes are short lateral passes so his key passes are far below what the other top wingers get. I don't know if we'll be seeing the trident much in the new season and the upcoming CWC, and even if Rodrygo leaves I don't think getting another right footed left winger like Nico Williams will be the answer to our problems. I'd even dare to say I doubt it.
Marca and AS are saying that the club is all in on signing a midfielder this summer. Please be Stiller.
I don't know where Nico Williams is going to play here. I don't need to go into VJ. Can he play as the left wingback in front the 3 central defenders? That position remains one of the weaker spots. Xabi Alonso enjoys using Firmpong to charge toward the baseline. However, TAA is not that type of a fullback. He is more of Grimaldo on the right. So his attacking fullback in Madrid will be on the left. Williams can be our Frimpong on the left while TAA becomes Grimaldo on the right. VJ will then occupy in front of Williams, but I do find that idea strange. VJ also needs a fullback to cover his back, not another wing forward on that side of the field. Carreras might be a better option of he joins. I supposed that Williams can play on the right forward in front of TAA, but i don't know how effective he is on that side. Besides, we only have 3 starting forward positions. Mbappe and VJ will likely take two positions. I believe the third forward should not be another wing forward. I meant that Xabi might want his "Witrz" in Madrid. Even if he does not bring the real Witrz to Madrid, he already has Bellingham, Guler or Paz (if he returns) on the team. So, Williams will fall down the dept chart since he is not a playmaker or a false 9.
I think Jude would be able to play a left-sided version of Frimpong’s role. He’s obviously not as quick as Frimpong, but his dribbling, playmaking, tackling, and finishing abilities would all be useful in that role; and I think the “Frimpong role” is advanced enough up the field to satisfy Jude. If Liverpool is taking the real Wirtz, Paz might just be the next best option for the “Wirtz role”. I can’t think of any better realistically attainable young 10s than him.
Why are people entertaining the Nico Williams stories..... I mean even if they were true, my educated guess would never let me believe they were, until he was literally playing for us. Like either they are false or for the first time I say someone in higher management is really dropping the ball.
Wirtz to Liverpool Reinders to Man City Vitinha won’t come Macalister? Stiler ? What options do we have ?
Shutting the club down. I think its best you find a new club to support. Its over for Madrid. Its been fun dominating club football.
Nico Williams is an affordable replacement if Rodrygo joins Arsenal. Biggest complication could be for his family though if he joins RM from Athletic Bilbao. I am not too fussed about LW/RW thing because there are players who can play on either side like Bale, Raphinha etc. Williams played as RW all through youth teams and with Athletic Bilbao until 2023. Downside of Nico signing for me would be 4-3-3 system while I prefer as 4 man midfield for with another hardworking playmaker. Not 100% sold on Stiller as press resistant due to him being so one footed, but hardworking player with good passing range. Won't mind Stiller + Paz/Franco if Rodrygo leaves.
Saw some Spanish Madridistas suggesting Javier Guerra from Valencia as CM signing. Had an impressive game against Betis yesterday apparently. Almost joined Atletico for 25 ME last summer, but they scrapped the deal when Gallagher said yes to joining them. Lim looking to cash in again this summer.
I don't know, I haven't really followed him. But other than Stiller I think a great DLP option would be Nicolo Rovella. He's very competent defensively too.
Feels a similar profile to what we already have in the squad. I guess if Modric and Ceballos are moving on, why not.
I fail to see why TAA who is as attacking as a RWB would be will be deployed as less of an attacking role on whoever the inferior attacking fullback is on the left.
This also indirectly shows the differences between the Italian and German league, because Rovella has a very similar skillset but hes used in a more rigid and conservative way tactically, which is common for the double pivot in Italy unlike Germany where one of them usually has more freedom.
He isn’t the kind of fullback who constantly pushes forward to the byline. Instead, he plays more like a playmaking fullback, similar to Junior from Brazil’s 1982 World Cup team. Grimaldo is another example of this type of player. He was seen once in the area near the baseline in three videos I just provided. His crosses are mainly early crosses from the corner of the box.
If Valencia would be willing to sell at that price then it might be a shout for a Ceballos replacement. Guerra’s stats across the board are pretty average though but he’s young, tall and a bit of an all out action mid.
I follow Lazio occasionally and I can say Rovella would be a good fit. Let's see whom the club is going to sign or if they're going to trust Camavinga and Tchouameni.
Fede type of player, not Fede quality player. We basically need a Ceballos with higher IQ and more defensive ability.
Ceballos doesn't lack IQ or ability. He's just too fancy for grind work. If you watch him on tape you can see he notices everything, just rarely makes the effort.
Ceballos is not a slacker, but his instincts can be often wrong and he loses concentration, both on offense and defense. Thats what I mean by lacking IQ. He might be another victim of Carloball lack of structure and too much freedom, so I'd keep him now that Modric is gone.