Re: The Official Real Madrid Matchday Thread 24 - 25

[futbol_bill]

Looking better, but still no where near the level they should be at. Mbappe fails to impress yet again.

[futbol_bill]

They seem to be getting better as the game progresses. There was one good run with good interaction between Mbappe and Vini. Also Bellingham was setup for a good shot. Hopefully these are signs of what will come.

[halamadrid2]

Camavinga though

Think we've been alright. Not terrible and not great. We are doing much better defensively. The 442 is definitely the way forward

[halamadrid2]

Defensively not too bad but meh offensively again

[Pedram]

Oof that Carvajal injury looked frightening, potentially career-ending?

[halamadrid2]

I got shivers when he screamed in pain. Hoping it's not a tear

[halamadrid2]

In other words water is wet

Interesting that Vini has more high intensity press stats than Raphina

[halamadrid2]

That was difficult to watch

[halamadrid2]

Wonderful second half but the first half reminded me of our game against Ajax a few seasons ago. The aura amongst the players was exactly the same

[halamadrid2]

The big one coming up on Saturday. Rodrygo looks injured so I guess the formation is clear but the question is who'll start between Tchouaméni and Camavinga. I believe it shouldn't be up for discussion but Carlo seems to rate Tchouaméni highly.

We need to stop Raphina who seems to play like a man posessed. We get him under control and I believe we can win.

But we shouldn't let the second half cloud the absolute shit show that has been our season so far.

[futbol_bill]

Both Courtois and Rodrygo are going to miss the clasico.

Lunin while not as good as Courtois is a capable replacement.

I’m hoping Gūler is the replacement up front and he can use the performance to establish his role in starting 11.

[halamadrid2]

Guler is definitely not starting against Barca. We are probably going back to a 442 which is our best formation

[Jack Daniels]

How long is Brahim out again?

[halamadrid2]

Official: Real Madrid's squad list for the Clásico. pic.twitter.com/x38XDEexC1

— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) October 25, 2024

He is in the squad

[halamadrid2]

A defeat like this was coming. We have 0 discipline and Mbappe has terrible finishing. It has been like that all season. We thought the Lille game or the Dortmund first half were the wake up call but we haven't woken up.

Mendy's deal is due to expire next summer. So long, don't let the door hit you on your way out

Jude is in terrible form too.

The only positives in the team right now are Camavinga, Valverde and Vini.

The rest are so out of form I don't know if there's even any hope in them coming back

[Pedram]

Sell Tchouameni asap, what a disappointment.

[halamadrid2]

Thought all our players bar Camavinga were quite poor. The 2 goals killed us. Thank you Mendy

[futbol_bill]

A defeat like this was coming. We have 0 discipline and Mbappe has terrible finishing. It has been like that all season. We thought the Lille game or the Dortmund first half were the wake up call but we haven't woken up.

Mendy's deal is due to expire next summer. So long, don't let the door hit you on your way out

Jude is in terrible form too.

The only positives in the team right now are Camavinga, Valverde and Vini.

The rest are so out of form I don't know if there's even any hope in them coming back

Mendy just signed a new contract this summer!

Valverde although been our best player so far, but he sure wasn’t in game today. I put most of the blame on Mbappe today, there was no reason why he was off side so much. Look at lewa vs mbappe, one just goes straight towards goal not watching the defenders at all vs run laterally to ensure being onside and then head to goal. Basic stuff yet he doesn’t do it, over and over again. As far as finishing, Vini was also poor at that today. I disagree re comments about Cama, Bellingham and Tchouameni.

In defense, it was Militao, Lucas and Mendy. Also Lunin had a spell of poor distribution appearing to be rattled with pressure.

It’s puzzling how we can be this bad with basically same team as last year minus Kross (who most of you criticized) and plus the supposedly best player in world. At this rate we are winning nothing this year!

[titosantill]

this is officially a problem

[halamadrid2]

Tchouaméni, Mendy, Lucas, so many duds in this team. Incredible

If Carlo gets sacked he only has himself to blame for persisting with Tchouaméni. He is about 5 levels below RM quality

[titosantill]

i've been so busy of late its hard for me to catch games especially champions league games. Can anyone brief me, how garbage are we playing right now and what's really the problem?

[halamadrid2]

Well where do we start

Offensively:

We lack creativity. We have a midfield afraid to make mistakes so pass the ball to the guy next to him and so on meaning the opposition are allowed to regroup and we find it hard create chances. Our FBs give us no help offensively meaning we essentially rely on 40 yo Modric and Vini to create goalscoring chances. Arda and Endrick have stopped getting chances, both of those gave us something different.

Defensively

We have huge gaps everywhere, we are incapable of pressing as a team meaning teams only need 2-3 passes to get to our box. There are a few videos circulating online about our lack of pressing and covering for eachother as a team against Milan. It wasn't pretty. Players who are usually solid Defensively are either exhausted (Valverde) or straight up trash now (Mendy). So individually our players are doing really bad now. Which brings me to below:

Tibu and Lunin

Have no fault, have stopped us from conceding 10 goals each game.

Lucas

He is in over his head. But it's not his fault the Club refused to get a replacement for Dani.

Militao

Individual mistakes in nearly every game. Will give you a solid 7 every game but the partnership with Rudiger just isn't working. They are too similar. Need a Nacho in there.

Rudiger

Not nearly close to being as good as last season. Like Militao makes alot of Individual errors and is reckless. You only have to see the last Milan goal to see what Rüdiger's season has been like. Like I said I don't think he benefits from having Militao next to him. Both need a calmer presence next to them.

Mendy

Defending was supposed to be his strongest side. Hasn't been a good defender for ages and with 0 offensive help. This guy is close to useless. Need an upgrade like yesterday. For this seadon Fran needs to become the starter.

Valverde

Started the season excellently. But this last month has been horrendous. I give this guy a pass because there is nobody in this team that runs and covers and tracks back as well as him without complaining about the rest of the lazy asses.

Tchouaméni

Don't let the door hit you on your way out

Modric

I won't blame him. He is just far too old. We are having to put him on the teamsheet because of the lack of creativity from the rest of the midfield

Camavinga

Our brightest talent in midfield somehow not a permanent fixture on the teamsheet. Shame on you Carlo. Can be abit careless and picks up needless yellow cards but he is head and shoulders above our other midfielders in overall talent.

Bellingham

Where do I start with this guy. Is so bloody obsessed with scoring he has created less chances than pretty much all our midfielders. If you want to know why we are so bad offensively start paying attention to what this guy does on the pitch which is just throwing his hands up in the air when he doesn't get a ball near the box but can't make a throughball to save his life. To his defence he's been shafted to other positions sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right which can't be easy for him. He played in his preferred position against Milan. No change in his performance. I always wondered how our players would react when we weren't in permanent honeymoon like we were last season and this guys attitude towards his teammates stinks. Yuck

Vini

Is not playing as well as he did last season but is very effective which has been a criticism of his I.e. even if you or the team arent playing well you've got to be effective and he has been very effective. Leads our team in chances created (or Modric I am not sure), assists, goals, progressive carries you name it. He is trying but he's obviously not playing as well as last season and that could also be due to how bad the team has been. He's unlucky we are playing so bad but can see him dominating when we play eell. His defensive hustle has been so and so but that indifference when Tchouaméni gave him a hospital ball against Milan was pathetic and reminds me of what he did vs Atleti in the Copa where he did exactly the same thing when Molina nabbed the ball infront of him after a pass from Mendy and which Atleti scored from. Also needs to improve but clearly not the problem right now.

Rodrygo

Our best offensive players in terms of offensive play and defensively but after a few nagging injuries has lost his spot to allow us to be more solid defensively and to allow Jude to play in his favoured position behind the front 2. Needs to add goals and assists to become a starter imo but I'd try him instead of Mbappe. What have we got to lose

Mbappe

Started the season making alot of runs and trying to make himself open for passes. Gradually that became worse as our midfielders couldn't play an offensive ball to save their lives meaning he probably lost that motivation. But Individually he isn't giving us anything different. He is superior off the ball runner than the other attackers and is alot faster. But I didn't know his technique was so bad. I'll give it to him that n9 isn't his favoured position but the guy shoots on sight, doesn't matter whether he has a shot or if its better to pass. Always shoot shoot shoot. Defensively he isn't even involved at all but we knew that right from his time at QSG. Right now this guy is a net negative. Probably should start Rodrygo ahead of him for the moment until he gets his shit together. I can see him getting booed for his lack of defensive effort if we continue spiralling.

Carlo

He was dealt a bad hand by the club so I feel really sorry for him but it's unforgivable that he persists with certain players that everyone can see should not be starting. I don't think he should be sacked even if we go trophyless this season.

[Clutch]

I said it before but mbappe hasn't been himself since the WC final

[Myesyats]

If Carlo is truly that great of a manager he should be able to fix it! Bench Mbappe if you have to I dont care.

But it is indeed Florentino's fault for pursuing the frenchman so obsessively after he rejected you earlier, and with no regard to how it will affect team cohesion + ignoring other positions

But why is Carlo not using guler at all?

[halamadrid2]

It's well known that it is Carlo's son with the tactics and Carlo the motivator. Right now he isn't able to motivate this team enough because there is noone that defends like he wants them. In spurts you'll see players run around aimlessly trying to press while the rest of the team sits back then you'll have those same players who just bust their asses so much not cover for one another.

It's not pretty to see us defend right now.

I don't think we'll magically be able to defend like we did last season if we keep Mbappe on the bench because I don't think he's the only problem right now defensively. But it'll be a start at least.

I also don't think Jude should have an untouchable status on the team or at least have a Henry treatment to take his ego down a notch. You either want to score and become a FT striker or improve your creativity. Can't afford to have two Valverdes on the team. Someone needs to be able to create.

That's where Arda comes into the picture. He is the only one besides Modric who is really creative but he won't develop if his ass is permanently stuck to the bench. It's difficult to say why Arda isn't playing but I think unlike Xavi, Carlo goes back to his seniors when he is up against the wall. Hence why Modric starts and not Cama or Arda.

But Carlo has been absolutely screwed by the club. A CB, CM and CF left or retired and he got a LW and two teenagers as replacements. We all knew the club was about to screw up a winning formula by getting Mbappe and that's exactly what's happened.

I just hope Carlo gets to stay even if we fall 20 points behind Barca. It's not entirely his fault we are in this predicament. Everyone from top to bottom have a share in this situation so the last thing we need is to sack the guy who has been very good up until this season

[Cyborg]

Arda Guler has to start.

Guler playing won't be the reason the team wins or loses but it's crazy to see a team starving for attacking invention and imagination leaving a player with those qualities on the bench.

Benching Mbappe isn't the solution. Definitely.

The system is the problem and what role Bellingham plays.

There are enough good players in the squad and the youth team to win games.

If Ancelotti doesn't try something new this weekend or doesn't get a good result, he's gone.

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