Name Your Squad

Hey guys. Back again- it has been far too long. I have lurked the comments this past season and I am curious to see who you would want (realistically) in your starting XI, and subs for this upcoming season.

Same squad, nothing changing except for the bench.
Kovacic, james and arbeloa out, jese with a sale and buy-back clause
Asensio and morata in.

I would try to find backups for Marcelo and Benzema who are getting too comfortable in the starting line up, they will not improve themselves unless their place in the team are threatened by good players on the bench.

Fantasy:

------------------De Gea
-Carvajal---Varane---Ramos---Marcelo
------------------Weigl/DM
--------------Modric----Pogba
-------Bale---------------------Ronaldo
-------------------Lewa

Subs/Reserves: Navas, Danilo, Nacho, Pepe, backup LB, Casemiro, Isco, Jese, Vasquez, Morata/backup CF


Realistic:

------------------Navas
-Carvajal---Varane---Ramos---Marcelo
------------------Weigl/DM
--------------Modric----Kroos
-------Bale---------------------Ronaldo
-------------------Benz

Subs/Reserves: Navas, Danilo, Nacho, Pepe, backup LB, Casemiro, Isco, Jese, Vasquez, Morata/backup CF

Nacho is decent enough to replicate a carvajal on the left side, that's why I didn't include a back-up for the LB
That guy deserves to play.

@Pedram, that picture on your sig feels like a photoshop considering how this season has been. Everyday, the CL win feels like a dream to me. It's unbelievable

@Onyx
Wow! I would assume you are not a madridista for your goalkeeper selection.
Given his performance and what we are hoping and believe Zidane is trying to build here, players will be kept based on performance and not glamour.

As much as I want Pogba to replace Kroos, when I look at his end of season performance, I can't think of any player better than him for that position.

Its a tough call.
Kroos was godly towards the end of the season. He and Modric understand their positions so well, they look like prime xavi and Iniesta

DeGea or Navas
                           (Casilla)

Carvajal         Varane          Ramos      Marcelo
(Danilo)          (Pepe)          (Nacho)    (Rodriquez)

                            Kyrchowiak
                             (Casemiro)

         Modric                                 Pogba
         (Kovacic)                              (Isco)


Bale                         Lewandowski         Ronaldo
(Lucas)                     (Morata)             (Hazard)

@futbol_bill

How much did you sell Kroos and to whom?

How much did you buy Hazard and what did you promise him?

I'm not buying nor selling LOL. I'm a fan saying what may happen.

Put those questions to Zidane / Flo or Miguel Angel Diaz.

shadexticos wrote:@Onyx
Wow! I would assume you are not a madridista for your goalkeeper selection.
Given his performance and what we are hoping and believe Zidane is trying to build here, players will be kept based on performance and not glamour.

As much as I want Pogba to replace Kroos, when I look at his end of season performance, I can't think of any player better than him for that position.

Its a tough call.
Kroos was godly towards the end of the season. He and Modric understand their positions so well, they look like prime xavi and Iniesta

De Gea is more of a fantasy signing. I'm not fussed who we have have in goal. Both Navas and De Gea have proven to be great goalkeepers. If Perez wants his shiny new toy, then fair enough. It's a win win situation for the club with either one of the two goalkeepers.

@onyx, honestly de gea could just be as good as navas but I think we should start to show more respect for players. We should start embodying the values of the club in the way we treat our players.
Zidane's strength is man-management skills and the trust the players have in him. He makes them believe their selection is a function of their performance. Isco, james, lucas, jese, kovacic.

Bringing in de gea would be a detraction from that philosophy.
The players and fans love Keylor.

We should stop the practice of stocking our bench with players who are big and good enough to start in our team and other top teams, killing their progress.

James Rodriguez will never be content with being on the bench even if he realizes he will win 5 CL trophies as an impact player.
Higuain was never going to be okay with being a back-up to Benzema.
Same goes for Benzema.
Varane will never be comfortable with backing up Pepe and Ramos.
Hazard will never be comfortable as a ronaldo back-up

We need to scout for players with the Lucas mentality.

As for the DM position I would like Weigl, Matic or even Porto's Neves who just like Varane is mature beyond his age

Navas
Carvajal-Varane-Ramos-Marcelo
Modric-Casemiro-Pogba
Bale-Ronaldo-Griezmann

Subs: Pepe, Nacho, some LB, some keeper, another keeper, Isco, Asensio, Vasquez, Jese, Morata, some CM, someone else.

Isn't 'some CM' Kovacic ?

BTW, I think we should give Asensio another year on loan

Pretty much what Sports put, but i don't see Kroos leaving or Griezmann coming, but i guess i agree with the idea.

Sell James, Loan Kovacic, Loan Asensio.

And loan Jese too. That boi is not growing.At this rate of development, we would stil be calling him a youngster/starlet when he is 26

realistically:




Fantasy though:




I'm fine with current team as is though. had Zidane taken over instead of Rafa from the beginning, we would have won the league.

It's funny that those who have Pogba in their line up wants Kroos sold.. Not even on the bench. That is probably because they fear over time Kroos will take back his place. Kroos is the best passer and match controller in our team. Only one who has the ability to dictate the pace of the play. When Pogba gets tired of becoming CRs defensive half that's when we start looking clueless defensively. Kroos and Modric are ultimate team players, they look good when you play a team game and their roles are limited to defending only when you play an individual game which we played under Zidane so far.

If Zidane is smart he will implement a team game next season. If he is looking to bring more individualists then Pogba fits the bill but I think this team is actually suffering from individualists and needs balancing.

Why are you assuming that Pogba is an individualist when he plays for a team like Juventus and actually is a team player. That's essentially how juve built their squad.

Pogbas best skills are all individuals skills. Dribbling,athletism and shooting. He is not a player like Kroos or Verrati who can see next three moves before he Makes the first move. He is a very instinctive player, which why he is dribbling alot and also getting dispossessed alot. Shoots and tries the final pass alot. I don't know how to word it but Xavi said similar thing when asked about Pogba joining Barca. Only place I think Pogba will be remotely successful is the DM position here in Madrid. That is because he has good ball keeping skills and also good defense. That would be such a waste of his abilities though. Infact he is more suited for a free role or an SS than a midfielder with responsible.

Turok_TTZ wrote:realistically:




Fantasy though:




I'm fine with current team as is though. had Zidane taken over instead of Rafa from the beginning, we would have won the league.

So, your fantasy is a team with Layun (who the hell is that ) instead of Marcelo and Griezmann instead of Cristiano Ronaldo ?

You're confusing having individual skill within a team concept to being an individualist...

Adit wrote:Pogbas best skills are all individuals skills. Dribbling,athletism and shooting. He is not a player like Kroos or Verrati who can see next three moves before he Makes the first move. He is a very instinctive player, which why he is dribbling alot and also getting dispossessed alot. Shoots and tries the final pass alot. I don't know how to word it but Xavi said similar thing when asked about Pogba joining Barca. Only place I think Pogba will be remotely successful is the DM position here in Madrid. That is because he has good ball keeping skills and also good defense. That would be such a waste of his abilities though. Infact he is more suited for a free role or an SS than a midfielder with responsible.

You forget that building a team is about balancing strength and weaknesses, having players that compliment each other and can bring you something extra.

If we already have on one side of the pitch someone like Modric or Kroos, that sees the game 2-3 moves in advance, that will set and control the tempo, then why do we need to have two players like that in midfield? Pogba has strength our midfielders dont have, he plays in transition vertical, and he actually shoots, gets in the box and tries to break lines with his runs. That's valuable.

Even at their best barca's midfield had two players doing completely different things. Xavi was controlling the tempo and Iniesta was running fullsteam forward. They would balance each other

Valkyrja wrote:

Turok_TTZ wrote:realistically:




Fantasy though:




I'm fine with current team as is though. had Zidane taken over instead of Rafa from the beginning, we would have won the league.

So, your fantasy is a team with Layun (who the hell is that ) instead of Marcelo and Griezmann instead of Cristiano Ronaldo ?

watch more football and maybe you would know. Actually runs back to defend and knows how to deliver a cross into the box. freaking incompetents these days. especially with the current fullback/wingback market being so thin as it is.

CR7 is getting old and I am not sure how long he will be able to sustain performances. rather not take risk. see how I have martial instead of Benz? same reason.

was actually thinking putting pogba in for modric or kroos but... Couldn't decide. There are variables that modric and kroos contribute to that Pogba can't do. Modric may be getting old but he is still a world class midfielder. And the excellence that is Toni Kroos cannot be benched or sold either. rather not fix what aint broken.

Turok_TTZ wrote:

Valkyrja wrote:

Turok_TTZ wrote:realistically:




Fantasy though:




I'm fine with current team as is though. had Zidane taken over instead of Rafa from the beginning, we would have won the league.

So, your fantasy is a team with Layun (who the hell is that ) instead of Marcelo and Griezmann instead of Cristiano Ronaldo ?

watch more football and maybe you would know. Actually runs back to defend and knows how to deliver a cross into the box. freaking incompetents these days. especially with the current fullback/wingback market being so thin as it is.

CR7 is getting old and I am not sure how long he will be able to sustain performances. rather not take risk. see how I have martial instead of Benz? same reason.

was actually thinking putting pogba in for modric or kroos but... Couldn't decide. There are variables that modric and kroos contribute to that Pogba can't do. Modric may be getting old but he is still a world class midfielder. And the excellence that is Toni Kroos cannot be benched or sold either. rather not fix what aint broken.

Might as well put Hugo Sanchez there so he could convert dem crosses