I was going off the post- testing out the Benzema/Morata partnership, so Bale and Ronaldo would both be on the wings.

I personally wouldn't test the Benzema/Morata partnership as they should rarely be on the pitch at the same time if everyone is fit.

the 442 is because Ronaldo wont be back for the supercup. Most likely it will very much look like a 433 with Morata playing on the left.

vanDEEZ wrote:I was going off the post- testing out the Benzema/Morata partnership, so Bale and Ronaldo would both be on the wings.

I personally wouldn't test the Benzema/Morata partnership as they should rarely be on the pitch at the same time if everyone is fit.

I disagree. Under zidane, bale and Ronaldo are putting defensive shifts every game. Ronaldo has turned into an engine player at times. And I'm shocked but that's how it is now.

FennecFox7 wrote:

vanDEEZ wrote:I was going off the post- testing out the Benzema/Morata partnership, so Bale and Ronaldo would both be on the wings.

I personally wouldn't test the Benzema/Morata partnership as they should rarely be on the pitch at the same time if everyone is fit.

I disagree. Under zidane, bale and Ronaldo are putting defensive shifts every game. Ronaldo has turned into an engine player at times. And I'm shocked but that's how it is now.

Looool my sides

Ronaldo only tracks back in big games Atleti, Barca, CL knockouts. Other than that he doesn't. Bale on the other hand tracks back every game and that's one thing we can thank ZZ for

Also deez, 442 is just for the supercup where Ronaldo and perhaps Kroos and/or Bale won't be entirely matchfit so may not start. It's probably going to be Isco on one wing and Lucas on the other. It will be tested against PSG who are more matchfit than us so it'll be interesting to see how that turns out. Benz/Morata is a proper striker partnership one is a SS and the other CF. I am confident they'll look good together

vanDEEZ wrote:

FennecFox7 wrote:

vanDEEZ wrote:I was going off the post- testing out the Benzema/Morata partnership, so Bale and Ronaldo would both be on the wings.

I personally wouldn't test the Benzema/Morata partnership as they should rarely be on the pitch at the same time if everyone is fit.

I disagree. Under zidane, bale and Ronaldo are putting defensive shifts every game. Ronaldo has turned into an engine player at times. And I'm shocked but that's how it is now.

Looool my sides

Let's give credit to where it's due. They have done a decent job at it. It remains to be seen if they can keep it up into next season however

@vandeez, when the whole squad returns, you cannot have morata and benzema up front with bale and cristiano on the flanks for multiple reasons; you'll end up restricting the midfield trio to a double pivot, probably modric and kroos, thus taking out the defensive spine in casemiro. even if you want one of modric/kroos with casemiro, its not defensive enough. two, if you're playing 2 CFs, then you need another cf on the bench, in the even one or even both get injured.

three, one of them may have issues with the position, considering cr hasn't been a typical winger in years, so one of them could end up  drifting to parts of the pitch they aren't comfortable with. four, morata has done little to nothing to be benching  guys like kroos, modrid or casemiro- who may not be a star, but as the only dm on our team (exclude benzema, i set myself up for that one), is very valuable

Morata is there to be a sub. Zidane has said he essentially replaces Jese in being able to replace any of BBC. It will be primarily Benz, but he has shown he can play the wing as well (that's coming from Zidane). He is playing along side Benz for the supercup, but that's because Ronaldo isn't there. They did say they would be playing a 4-4-2 for that game (and perhaps in the couple of US games they have before that). But saying Benz and Morata won't play together literally says you think there won't be injuries to either Bale or Ronaldo nor that they won't be spelled off occasionally. Also keep in mind that James and Lucas will see action up front as well.

that's not what i'm saying, hence i started my comment with "when the whole squad returns"; meaning this is a temporary move cos cron's not present and if the whole squad is available and fit to play, unless its some meaningless game like ucl games where we've qualified or top the group, or some kings cup game against a scrub, playing both up front is not realistic. when i make these points, i make them in the context of everyone being available and fit, and in games where we need max points.....in the event of injuries, suspensions, or things of that nature, we can play any formation based on the available players we have. but in must-win games with everybody fit and ready to go, NO, its unrealistic

I think BBC is the preferred and #1 setup.  No question.  I also feel that Vasquez should be given a shot at first sub if either Ronaldo or Bale go down given what he showed last year.  He earned it.  So Morata is really there to give Benz a blow.  But he will get opportunities imo because two of BBC get injured fairly regularly unfortunately.

As far as the midfield... still a lot of problems.  We have Casemiro-Kroos-Modric, which is fine.  But we don't have single other CM to back them up .  Kova, Isco and James are all AMs to me.  That needs to be addressed.

Defense is fine.  Keeping is fine.

Just need to figure out that midfield.

Probable starting XI according to COPE


Cant wait

Isco and Kovacic are CMs . Isco played his best football with us in that LCM role. Even against city he gave that WC performance at LCM with Kroos behind him and Modric.

isco's an attacking midfielder. he made a name for himself playing am at malaga. and even in his first season here, the first couple of games where he was good, he played am. originally he's an am, t'was ancelotti who tried to turn him into seedorf by placing him in the cm role. and i'd hardly call the performance against city world class. i never saw kova play at inter, so i don't know his original position. But isco and james are definitely attacking midfielders forced to play the cm role

At Inter, the tried him everywhere. Played holding mid and looked about as good there as Kroos did... he was ok at CM... but he really shined when he was allowed to attack. He's got superior technique and speed (i thought it was Serie A; but he's genuinely fast).

So I don't know. Maybe he can become a better CM. But his best position at Inter was more of a attacking mid, although not to the extent that James and Isco were.

Valkyrja wrote:Isco and Kovacic are CMs . Isco played his best football with us in that LCM role. Even against city he gave that WC performance at LCM with Kroos behind him and Modric.

You know saying that doesn't make it true, every match plays he is motm yet continues to get bench after getting chances, he sucks at lcm, dribbling and leaving the mid behind after turning over the ball, is not decisive but reason to ride the bench for weeks under 3 different managers.

If isco wasn't so hyped in spain as the next iniesta, RM would have sold him like illarra fact.

Really impressed with Llorente and Odegaard this game. For those who dont think Llorente is first team quality i hope you're watching because he is awesome

Mariano is too haphazard. He needs to calm down

Also Kova isn't doing enough to convince ZZ he can stay. Like he is trying but just like against Las Palmas he makes a stupid pass without looking which results in a goal. That's the kind of thing he needs to root out from his game

@hala, I posted somethings about llorente and how I have always rated him high even when he debuted about 3 seasons ago. I still rate him high and I'm glad someone noticed him today. he is capable of playing the kroos role effectively if he is allowed to grow. he passes well, has a good view of d entire field, can maneuver is way out of trouble and he is confident.

as for odegaard, I tot he was too average, too light weight, just too average..I will loan him out for 2 seasons and then another 2 again.
Asensio was like a bully, he was way ahead of all of them...

enzo was fair. mariano was haphazard like you said. The left back was awfulll.

judging from the first match, I will keep llorente and asensio

to the match, the goals were just annoying and avoidable except the 3rd, it was a good piece of play.

we played 10 times better with the youths in second half. I particularly laud the speed with which they were passing and their movement out of tight spaces.

lastly, 442 should be disbanded worldwide. there should be a law against it. lacks width, defensive cover and creativity.

I cant make any conclusions out of that game. Llorente played well, but if you tell me he is first team ready based of that thwn we need to get rid of Nacho asap

@ shade, agree with all points besides Odegaard. Thought he was really good just a little lightweight so should go out on loan in order to bulk up alittle bit. The 2nd goal was just wtf, someone should have just taken him when he started running past all those players. I think the 442 can work but Kova is abit immature for that disciplined CM role, also our defenders were atrocious in the first half, now I expect that from Marcelo in a friendly but Danilo and Nacho were just horrendous

Want to see Llorente and Asensio from start next game with the starters. Want to see how they play with them. I know these are just friendlies but please no Danilo ffs

@mrnick
nah. I noticed the old heads were kind of sluggish..more like "lets warm up boys, its just a preseason". but we all know the youths play like its a final and put their all. The assessment only stands for the youth and not the entire team....

but I hate 442. I hope we can cook something up..

I really wish jese goes on loan or a morata sale and buy back, the potential is there. I strongly believe if he can catch up on lost time, he would be good enough to attract interest of all top clubs and become a permanent fixture in the national team.....

danilo will never make it in madrid...who scouted him...of all d transfer battles with barca, we won the wrong one.
they were all below average in the first half..
I'm loving psgs passing game

Missed the game I swear I read online that the game was tomorrow (Thursday)

But oh well I'll give it a watch despite the result

sportsczy wrote:At Inter, the tried him everywhere. Played holding mid and looked about as good there as Kroos did... he was ok at CM... but he really shined when he was allowed to attack. He's got superior technique and speed (i thought it was Serie A; but he's genuinely fast).

So I don't know. Maybe he can become a better CM. But his best position at Inter was more of a attacking mid, although not to the extent that James and Isco were.

That's not true sports. Even Robes said that he played his best football for inter in that regista role. He's really good at carrying the ball from deep.

I actually remember Robes saying that Kova was horrible playing low... pretty clearly actually.

There will be times where we must suffer defeat now in order to triumph later on. PSG did well to take their chances.

Well in the any case we still have plenty of time before the season starts.