Girona v Real Madrid

Returning to the ground we got embarrassed at last season

Time to step up. We don't normally win our first couple of games of the season. If Lope wants to win the league he'll have to improve on ZZ

I hope Modric doesn't starr. He can start at home next week. He is still way off pace. But I fear that he'll start.

Probable line up:

Reports were saying Courtois to get his first start today. Honestly I’m not really sure. Apart from your line up I’d rather Asensio, Isco has been pretty bad since the WC.

I also rather prefer Asensio but I'd like to test out a false 9 formation tbh

Modric and Isco would more than likely start. Both has been off the boil but they need to get into some form as we need them clicking.

I would say this though, Isco looks like it's a form thing but Modric is moving like he really had his mind set on not being here.

fatigue is also a factor for Modric though, we played a long season all of the way to the UCL final with some battles vs juve and munich, then he played the world and ran the most out of all croatian players in multiples extra time games. And he is 32. I think he needs to recover fitness as well

I was gonna say. a lot of miles on those legs. I'm a bit worried about Varane too given this last season was his first injury-free one in a while, we win CL and then France wins the WC. Curious to see how his body handles it.

It's prudent to give Varane games off this season regularly and save him for the big ones if we can. Modric as well.

These guys were ressting up until the PSG game. That's when their season started tbh

This isn't the game to let returning players get fitness or try out a new goalie. We can do all that at home next weekend. We need these away wins badly this season. Barca and Atleti seems to be getting 3 points and clean sheets week in week out. Starting with a win we need a clean sheet too. If Marcelo is lazy, haul his ass off and put on Nacho

Hope Bale continues his great form. We need him scoring 20+ goals in the league this season

Mr Nick09 wrote:

#GironaRealMadrid 11 REAL MADRID

Keylor Navas, Carvajal, Nacho, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Casemiro, Kroos, Isco, Asensio, Bale y Benzema

— Carrusel Deportivo (@carrusel) August 26, 2018

Navas... pls

Makes sense not to start Courtois on such an hostile pitch such as Girona's. It's not a bad decision, Lopetegui is just delaying that situation.

I am glad he isn't thrusting Modric into the line up. Great decision

No more excuses for Isco. He needs to get his shit together

you guys realize that its the second game in la liga right? lol chill

Cool finish by Benzema, shame it was offside.

Navas and Casemiro looked awful there...

Lmao asensio is so ass

chad4401 wrote:Lmao asensio is so ass

Benzema hasn't made one right move all game

Are we back to playing cross it to Ronaldo and Bale Benzema and Ramos?

This 4231 with Casemiro and Isco driving too far forward does not look good

there are not enough options to bring the ball up from the defense, and on the break, positionally we are still weak against counter. 0 pressing to contain them.

Marcelo having a terrible game, positionally speaking, he is the n1 reason Girona is having such an easy time running down our left side.

I hope we never playplay 4231 again we cant even play out the back with it. And defensively we keep getting exposed. Need to go back to 433

We are playing 4231, they 4141, the team lacked compactness and more aggressive and structured pressing. As i mentioned in the tactics thread, 4231 hybrid from Spain i mentioned showed Xavi doing things that Isco is not doing here, he's too upfront, the team looks broken in half and too often it Girona's 4 midfielders are available to go at the defense and double pivot. Like i saw against Atletico, the players in front of our double pivot are to upfront and making questionable runs and positioning.

I hate to say it... but we're not that talented on the attack. Bale, Isco, Asensio and Benzema are overhyped. None of them make my top 10 list of forwards.

Messi
Ronaldo
Mbappe
Hazard
Suarez
Salah
Cavani
Lewandowski
Aguero
Griezmann
etc.

Isco is not a midfield general ala Xavi in terms of associating with the play and finding those pockets of space in midfield to advance the play.

So right now we have two midfielders who are not contributing anything to bringing the ball up in Isco and Casemiro. When Modric comes on, things will improve, but not even with Spain does Isco play this role.

We are talented just fine with the players we have lol,  i would suggest saving the post apocalyptic post for later in the season, not after the second game in august lol

i watched Griezmann and Suarez yesterday, and they were complete shit. dunno what that list is about.

So you would take one of of our forwards over Griezmann or Suarez?  Really?? Which one exactly?