LILLE vs REAL MADRID | UEFA Champions League - League Phase Match #2 | 02.10.24 | 21:00 CET

Everyone is too depressed.

 

I half-assed one from my phone in 5 mins. Actually looking forward to this one.

 

I used to think the same thing about CR7 and the team. Seemed like watching a video on repeat doing the same thing over and over, playing the odds knowing that it would produce a goal in 1/10 attempts against most teams. But with little to no variance those tactics didn't work against the Barca's and Bayern's of the world who weren't going to make mistakes, give up possession, etc.

Bale comes along and suddenly it's a 1, 2 punch with him and Ronaldo and teams couldn't know from which direction they were going to get hit. I still think we could have put Di Maria there or kept Robben for that role, but what was sorely needed was a counter punch coming from the RW too keep defense honest, but as long as the idea was to force feed Ronaldo that never happened.