Transfer Rumours | Tactics | Who to buy/sell etc

I was simply listing the Canteras on the club. Not to praise or put anyone down. I will agree that Lucas should never be a starter. But every club needs versatile bench players like Lucas and Nacho.

So it turns out Nacho is the only Cantera making a direct move from Castilla and that by the way was a promotion from a level 2 futbol to level 1, unlike today’s seemly permanent level 3 Castilla.

i know it’s very early to talk about next year, but given we are already out of Copa, face a real test in CL against City, I don’t assume any trophies this season, although la liga should be ours given how much Barca and Atleti have fallen off this year. But given this is year 1 in a rebuild, this is not a surprise.

I first have to acknowledge that I have largely been uninterested in this year’s team, even selling my season tickets, and thus I’m more interested in what next year’s team will be.

I’m already looking towards next year. I’m assuming the only new signings will be Mbappe and Van de Beek. As I said in copa del rey thread, the club should not keep the promising and developing kids, rather loan them out to get the playing time they need to develop. And then use veterans to fill the bench roles. I see the following changes for next year.

Changes I see for next year are;

Defense: returning Achraf taking Odriozola’s spot.

Midfield: gone Modric, James, possibly Isco, returning Odegaard, and completion of Van de Beek deal.

Front Line: sold Bale, Mariano, on loan Brahim,  possibly Asensio, Vinícius, and / or Rodrygo incoming Mbappe (yes I do think Perez will spend for him)

That leaves backups as Areola, Achraf, Militao, Nacho, Marcelo; Valverde, Van Beek, maybe Isco; Lucas, Jovic and plus whoever doesn't go out on loan between Asensio, Rodrygo or Vinicius.

I know people here don’t want guys like Nacho and Lucas nor Marcelo, but it’s better IMO to have someone experienced than a kid who is better off playing elsewhere developing.

That leaves a starting 11 as

Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Casemiro, Kroos, Odegaard; Mbappe, Benzema, Hazard

And bench as

Areola; Achraf, Militao, Nacho, Marcelo; Valverde, Van de Beek, maybe Isco; Lucas, Jovic, either Asensio, Rodrygo or Vinicius.

Or if they send out all of Isco, Asensio, Rodrygo and Vinicius , get some established veterans in place.

Benavente, if it goes the way I think, most of the backups are real competition to the starters, particularly in the midfield, so if Kroos is struggling then it’s Valverde. I don’t think there is any way Kroos leaves this summer. If Valverde can keep up his progression and as MTO says, finds another level, then he will be pushing for more and more minutes, not to mention Van de Beek. And if Isco does stay, he will also get regular minutes. So Although one can easily name a starting midfield, I see immense competition for minutes, which is for the better for the team.

The president of La Real is saying (or is it hoping) that Odegaard doesn’t return until summer 2021

Up front, it will be a different story, assuming Mbappe does come. There will be little minutes available for the backups unless there are injuries.

On defense, there is a notable drop off with the backups, with the possible exception of RB.
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Also keep in mind, next season will be year 2 of the rebuild i.e. Rome wasn’t built in a day! The major improvements will be Mbappe and Odegaard and yet they will in future need to deal with departures of Ramos, Benzema and to a lessor extent Marcelo.

Lunin?? He has just finally got some game action in last month for a level 2 futbol club that is 3rd last in liga heading for relegation!

He is no where ready to return.

Valkyrja wrote:All of Benzema Marcelo and Ramos will be here next season for sure.


As for ins and outs

Areola Odriozola Modric Isco James Vasquez Bale

Lunin Hakimi Reguilon DM* Fabian Odegaard Mbappe Richarlison

Loan Rodrygo vinicius Brahim reinier etc

* Backup for Casemiro - would go for someone like Villareal’s Zambo Anguissa

So let me get this straight as to what you are suggesting

Marcelo remains yet you want to bring back Reguilion as a 3rd LB?

You want Lunin returned to replace an established backup yet Lunin has hardly played in past 2 years and only got action for a 2nd level team headed for relegation!

You want Fabian yet he prefers Barca and Zidane has yet to accept a Spanish midfielder!

Sure looks like you haven’t spent a lot of time in any analysis of your proposal.