This is exactly what Mastantuono was in Trent's face about the other day. But Trent is not that guy, hes a faux midfielder, and Carvajal is too old to do that. I think Xabi knows this so the idea is to congest the right side and play more narrow, try to use Mastantuono linkup skills and Valverde/Bellingham runs to unzip small spaces, while on the left side to actually provide width and spacing and to release Vini and Carreras when defenders are drawn in to the right-center by Trent and Mastantuono combos and they can both switch the ball to the side. Asymmetric but in theory should work.
Yeah a 4222, with one of the playing slightly deeper than the other. I really like that type of system, and we see good performances usually as well. Carlo did it with Kroos, Modric, James, Isco. And then in 23/24. Zidane did it with Case, Kroos, Modric, Isco.
Good points. Any thoughts about Valverde being pushed to the right when Jude comes back and Franco probably hits the bench? Fede has experience playing on the right in the 2021/2022 CL run. I wonder if Xabi will push him out wider in attacking phases. Might help unclog the middle a bit. In the first few games it felt to me like Arda was crowded out a bit in the middle between Mbappe dropping to ask for it, Fede and Franco also asking for it....and now you add Jude to the mix.
Okay, so kinda assymetrical but also maybe something like this: Mbappe Vini Rorgygo ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Franco -----------------------------------------------Jude ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fed Carreras--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Trent Huijsen-----Militao
Yep, the "fight" with Pelé for the best ever has to be one the most forced rivalries in history. Completely different leagues. He's not even better than Messi.
Look I wasnt there but I think slavery was a terrible thing. Do you agree or you think you shouldnt have an opinion since you werent alive back then?
Is slavery such a terrible thing if the slaves think they are free? Honest question because you seem to think time travel would be necessary to witness slavery but aren't things like child trafficking, child sweatshops, etc., just modern day slavery and don't people try to make themselves feel better about it by claiming they are hoaxes or that the government shouldn't meddle in other countries or peoples affairs. Back on topic. Franco looks great in that #10 shirt, wonder if the club is going to regret rushing the decision and picking the wrong player. On the other hand, #10 with Argentina is way bigger than Madrid so I hopefully he doesn't feel too much pressure.
I can understand why one would feel like that, but the truth is that guys like him and Ganso may be intelligent and have vision and all that, but it takes more than that to make a player great. The guy accomplished almost nothing in his career.
It's a matter of perspective I guess. I have very fond memories of Riquelme at Villarreal, just like I have fond memories of Pablo Aimar. Some of those players were just a joy to watch and perhaps a product of their time. To me, they were great. To someone else, eternal promises. And to others, they were average players. Though the latter group I would consider a bit...you get the point, haha.
Perfect example of a player that went where he felt loved for what he is than try to make it work at places where he'd have to change that.
I am probably being hypocritical here because I was reading about Batistuta and he basically took a similar path, playing for smaller teams out of passion... and I simply love Batigol. He won Roma a scudetto though. Freaking legend.
Mario Gomez recently said the club wanted to sign him to "push Benzema" before he went to Italy and he said he passed because he didn't want to be in that situation. Riquelme looked so damn sad all the time. Like Gabriel Jesus does now, always on the verge of crying.
That would've been after Gomez won the treble with Bayern during the same season when Mandzukic pushed him out of the starting striker role, which had to feel harsh for someone who (all comps) had scored 80 goals the previous two seasons and then was so quickly cast aside. Also easy to forget I guess that he was still only 28 at the time, Gomez always looked like someone older than his age. So after that, being able to claim having won a CL and a treble (and only narrowly having missed a CL the previous season when he was still the starting #9), Gomez might've felt he had nothing further to prove at the top of the sport and left to play for a respectable club as a starter again. As luck had it, injuries derailed his Fiorentina (and rest of) career almost immediately. Had one great season in Turkey and a respectable '16-'17 season at Wolfsburg but nowhere near his previous levels. Does leave me curious the role he would've had here though. This was obviously with Higuaín's departure, I guess the closest we came to replacing the space in the depth chart was Morata's promotion. This was the La Decíma's squad and the arrival of the BBC so we weren't lacking for goal scoring.
There were so many interesting players this past 15 years. It's a shame CR and Messi completely stole the spotlight.
Nah. Riquelma at Boca Juniors was a boss, they played Real Madrid and AC Milan off the pitch back in those days. He lost his place to Ronaodinho, if not for that he most likely would have more titles. With Villareal he was showing he was right at that Galactico level, in retrospect the club the should have made moves for him instead of Beckham and made him the Zidane/Figo succesor.