Marcelo the best defender and dribbler at Real Madrid, statistically speaking....

Marcelo - Combined Total 3.2 Key Passes and Successful Dribbles per game

With 2.3 successful dribbles per game, the left-back leads the way for defenders in La Liga (Way ahead of second best Alves with 1.5). Not only that, he made more than any Real Madrid player, just pipping Cristiano Ronaldo on 2.2.

A more than respectable 0.9 key passes, but an understanding of Real’s set-up explains why that number is lower than it should be - he plays on the same flank as Ronaldo, who tends to take over in the attacking third. As a result, Marcelo made 0.4 crosses per game; rather than fire the ball in from out wide, his game is more about linking with Ronaldo down the flank. With 46.9 passes, only Alves saw more of the ball as an attacking full-back in La Liga, and Marcelo was third highest for passes for Madrid (in La Liga), behind Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos.

His shots per game (0.6) figure also suffers, ranking lower than Ramos on the opposite flank. Marcelo found the net on 3 occasions from his 32 appearances; however, his 4 assists could be improved upon, given his attacking capabilities.

Defensively, Marcelo was exceptional- with 3.4 tackles, he was second to Lassana Diarra for Madrid and his 3.7 interceptions was far and away the best for his club; his combined total of 7.1 tackles and interceptions. With 3 Man of the Match awards

The Madrid One wrote:in 2-3 years time, he will be the best lb in the world.

Crimson wrote:lol neg repped, someones jelly......

MARADONA>messi wrote:

The Madrid One wrote:in 2-3 years time, he will be the best lb in the world.

i can't really think of a lb better at the moment

Zealous wrote:We're simply not the same team when he's not playing.

It's amazing really, he gone from one of the worst players on the squad as a kid to one of the best players we've had in a while (No joke).

paperbackwriter wrote:I don't get peoples tactical complains about players, like for instance sportsczy blaming Marcelo for not going wide enough above. Or in other cases people lashing on Coentrao going more to the left as a midfielder. We have one of the most tactically strict and controlling coaches in the world. It's not like he put the players on the field and just watch what happens. Marcelo would not "crash the middle" if Mou considered it tactically bad. He loves to micromanage his teams. He do not allow tactical "mistakes" that are repeated over and over again.

So the only assumption we can make is that Mou actually want Marcelo to drift in. Which usually leads to freeing Ronaldo up from his usual double team defense further out on the left so he can get the ball and drift into the space created.

Similar with Coentrao, I actually think Mou have instructed Coentrao to drift left to interchange with Marcelo and Ronaldo. He's trying things out. Otherwise, if it's Coentraos natural tendency to go left, Mou will correct it.

The Madrid One wrote:

Crimson wrote:lol neg repped, someones jelly......

i was about to say that, and u got repped negatively more than once. dont worry +1

Doc wrote:

paperbackwriter wrote:I don't get peoples tactical complains about players, like for instance sportsczy blaming Marcelo for not going wide enough above. Or in other cases people lashing on Coentrao going more to the left as a midfielder. We have one of the most tactically strict and controlling coaches in the world. It's not like he put the players on the field and just watch what happens. Marcelo would not "crash the middle" if Mou considered it tactically bad. He loves to micromanage his teams. He do not allow tactical "mistakes" that are repeated over and over again.

So the only assumption we can make is that Mou actually want Marcelo to drift in. Which usually leads to freeing Ronaldo up from his usual double team defense further out on the left so he can get the ball and drift into the space created.

Similar with Coentrao, I actually think Mou have instructed Coentrao to drift left to interchange with Marcelo and Ronaldo. He's trying things out. Otherwise, if it's Coentraos natural tendency to go left, Mou will correct it.

Pretty much agree to this. +1 to you sir. Also, paperbackwriter as in the Beetles song?

hrealmadrid wrote:

The Madrid One wrote:

Crimson wrote:lol neg repped, someones jelly......

i was about to say that, and u got repped negatively more than once. dont worry +1

How come the rating system is no longer visible to me?

sportsczy wrote:Mou doesn't force people to play outside their talents. He tries to mold as long as the people progress. When he feels you're not progressing at all or fast enough... The hammer comes down. How extreme the hammer drops Mou depends on Mou's options.

His tactics adjust to his personnel. Must I remind everyone here that he had benched Marcelo last year and was clearly talking Arbeloa up at the end of February? Just like Benz, Marcelo has a lot to prove. Tons of talent... But by no means a final product.

Seems like you guys only want to hear how wonderful all our players are lol.

This thread was headed towards making Marcelo the greatest LB in the world. he's not. I think he's somehwere around #5 at best based on his end of the season form last year. He has wonderful talents... He could easily become the best at some point.

Immaculate_Mole wrote:He's still known as Mehcelo as far as iam concerned

Zealous wrote:That post is going to sound a bit weird when he makes the World XI at the FIFA Galla at the end of the year. LOL

You have a point but at the same time you gotta give credit where it's due. The kid had a great year last year.

I agree with you about the "we only want to hear good things about our players" point though