Villarreal vs Real Madrid Estadio El Madrigal 09-23-09 La Liga Matchday 4 20.00 CET Its the first real test for us although Villarreal only have 2 points so far. It is their worst start since 1998. We have lost at El Madrigal twice in the last 3 years. The last defeat was a 3-2 loss in which Rafa and Higuain scored for us while Pires, Cani and Capdevila scored for them. Villarreal drew at home with Mallorca on matchday 2. We will be without Xabi, Ruud and Pepe. Manny should know the ins and outs of this team. Let the bromance continue.
Could a mod please align the 2 shirts. They were lining up next to eachother in the preview but not now. Gracias.
Well, its a good time to play them thats for sure. I want to see us play a extra man in the middle ( Guti/Granero ) pushing Kaka & Ronaldo forward up playing off Higuain. Going to be interesting seeing what happens with Ramos & Arbeloa at RB, although I think Arbs will probly start as Ramos has yet to hit top fitness. Will be a headache for MP once both are fully fit & ready.
The last match against them was crazy.. I think higuain equalized in the 88th minute to make it 2-2 and capdevila scored in the 90th minute to seal a 3-2 victory.. I hope Higuain and Granero start this match.. BTW, back to that familiar feeling of seeing us at the top of the table after a looooooong time..
hoping to see this lineup: ----------------Casillas--------------- Arbeloa----Albiol----Garay------Drenthe -----Lass-----------------Guti-------- Kaka----------Granero-------------CR9 --------------Higuain/Benz------------ with Lass being a bit lethargic the last couple of games, and Xabi out, seems like Guti is needed in there. Gago is definitely not up to par for this right now. Additionally, Everytime Granero has come in, he has had an immediate positive impact on the game...extremely solid and very good at putting things up in the attack. Granero/Guti could try to combine to get the midfield going with Lass playing a bit more defensive in this game. Kaka/CR9 should be able to roam more and look for spaces, and have Higuain or Benz (one subbing for the other at some point to add fresh legs) move in the box.
ronaldo should get a rest and come in the last quarter hour or so. i think benzema will score. after his goal yesterday you could see how much more active he became.
Though Pelligrini could rest Kaka and have him come in the second half since he has started all games.
well yeah, dude deserves a bit of a rest. perhaps vdv can get some minutes eh? i would say guti to start and captain the team out but raul didn't play the entire match yesterday so i could see him starting ahead of benzema.
and I can see that too...sadly! Benzema is young and not in his preseason form, but he NEEDS minutes, and I think towards the end of the last game he got the monkey of his back and should be more relaxed and ready to roll. Raul has had a few chances (in the CL, and in the last game) and really didn't do much. Higuain should be the one starting, or at least coming in for Benz.
I'd bet my bottom dollar Raul will start on Wednesday just to take care of the business of breaking that league appearance record he now shares with Sanchis. I'd start Higuain up top with him and put Benzema on the bench. Then we can unleash Higuain and Benzema on Tenerife
im not real sure about guti playing DM. I'd rather see m. diarra play there. id like to see this formation: --------------------------------Casillas------------------------------ ---------Ramos----------Albiol----------Garay----------------Drenthe ---------------------------------Lass------------------------------ --------------------Granero----------------m.diarra-------------------- ---------------------------------Kaka------------------------------- -----------------------Ronaldo------------------------------------ --------------------------------------Higuain/Benzema----------------
like it with benz over higuain and maybe guti for granero. > double diarra will give us the platform to allow kaka and c9 the feedom and space to do their thing >the worst thing MP can do is drop Benz after he scored on sunday. he needs to find his rhythm now he has scored that all important 1st goal. >marcelo is a liability at LB. drenthe is a better option imho
I wouldnt play an untested Diarra against Villarreal at El Madrigal. What I would like to see is a three man midfied, like against Espanyol. Guti, Granero, and Lass would make a hard-working and creative midfield.
I personally think they've grown as defenders from the pre season and so far into the regular season. Still not world class of course but they're adequate from what I've seen. I'd say Drenthe is the better defender of the two due to his recovery tackles, I'd also say Drenthe is probably faster. Pellegrini can pick either for me. Arbeloa---Albiol---Garay---Drenthe ------------Lass----------------- -------------------Guti---------- ---Granero---Kaka-----CR9------ ---------------Higuain----------- -- Ramos in for Arbeloa or a CB at the 70th minute, if we're up. -- M. Diarra in for Guti if we're up by even one goal to lock things down. This should happen sometime in the second half. -- Once Kaka starts to get tired throw on either Higuain or Benzema (which ever one doesn't start) to partner the lone striker and switch to a 4-3-3.