Transfer Rumours | Tactics | Who to buy/sell etc

futbol_bill wrote:You raise some important points, Cyborg. Bottom line whether it’s a new coach or Zidane, several things need to happen, if the club wants to remain in contention. But first and foremost, we all, including Perez, need to recognize we, as well as all Spanish clubs, are in a down cycle and there are very limited funds available.

Basically that means there can’t be a wholesale shedding of veterans rather they have to be fazed out, much depending on availability of transfer funds.

The reality is we don’t have any valued players to sell, like they did last summer to raise significant funds for transfers. The best we can hope for is someone taking Bale off the roster and a stadium sponsorship deal, although that likely is a year away.

They also need to recognize the whole youth movement has not worked out well. They need a coach to play and develop what talent we have and should not have any of this talent on squad that coach will not play, rather those guys need to leant out for development, and if not in any way in club’s plans should be sold.

And the coach needs to ease off the constant reliance on the veteran players.

Also Perez needs to acknowledge that trophies should not be his number 1 priority, rather an acknowledged planned approach to improve over a 2 or 3 year period.

Which all of this means then is between Perez and Flo, they need a fairly drastic changed approach. And if it is not going to be Zidane, then the new coach has to have the capability to implement such a plan.

They also need to improve scouting, to identify good players that don’t demand the ridiculous transfer fees.

And finally, please bear in mind that coaches normally at Madrid, do not get a say in transfers (in or out). Only Mourinho and Zidane had this influence in that past 30 years!! (I.e. not just under Perez). A new coach can express opinions, but they don’t have any final say.

My reading of what likely is going to happen is as follows;

They will try to get Mbappe, possibly offering Vinicius in return. That would leave Hazard (ugh), Benzema and Mbappe leaving Rodrygo, Vinicius or Asensio with a returning Jovic as reserves. Any possible offers to Haaland will have to wait a year, if he still will be available.

I don’t expect much change in midfield except I want coach to fully rotate all 6 transitioning away from the veterans. The six I expect are Modric, Kroos, Casemiro, Valverde, Odegaard returning and Blanco promoted.

On defense, There will be a departure of one of Ramos or Varane. My money is on Ramos staying for another year. There will be the addition of Adaba.
I think they will promote Miguel to backup Mendy and they might renew Lucas to backup Carvajal.
Goal remains the same with Courtois / Lunin

That means departure of  Marcelo, Odriozola, Varane, Isco, Mariano and possibly one of Asensio or Vinicius. Hazard as well if there are any decent offers for him.
And hopefully someone takes Bale on in a loan for his final contract year.

Doc wrote:Also, Atleti didn't need Haaland, Mbappe or Sancho to win a title, they just needed a manager/coaching staff who knew what the hell he/they were doing (they also had Barcelona gift them a world class striker too but that is another thing).

Doc wrote:I've always gotten the impression Zidane (and most French managers apparently) are very stubborn as to what their personnel should be. If they do not have this particular set of players, it's difficult for them to adjust their already designed blueprint.

I'm not sure if Zidane is the right manager for an approach where he cannot get exactly what he needs.

sportsczy wrote:

Doc wrote:I've always gotten the impression Zidane (and most French managers apparently) are very stubborn as to what their personnel should be. If they do not have this particular set of players, it's difficult for them to adjust their already designed blueprint.

I'm not sure if Zidane is the right manager for an approach where he cannot get exactly what he needs.

It's more about team concept over individualism.

DD and Zidane want the players (all of them) to sacrifice for the good of the team. If you do anything that goes against the "group", they will ostracize you.

They will build a style that fits the best players and everyone else needs to fall in line and the job. Undisciplined players, which happens to be the younger ones who think they're the next pele, will not do well. Entitled players will not do well.

Some would call it stubborn. Others call it dogmatic. I just think that DD and Zidane were formed in the 90s Serie A and that's just how they learned how to win.