In the Ajax game we will likely be without:

Pepe, Marcelo, Carvalho, Coentrao...

What will our defense be? Arbeloa - Varane - Ramos - ?

And is Varane even signed up for CL football?

Arbeloa-----Ramos------Varane-----Nacho

Lass(lol)----Ramos----Varane----Arbeloa

or Nacho??

If it is probable that we will only have these players available then I am pretty nervous as well.

Then again, our midfield should dominate theirs so its unlikely that they are going to get at our back four much anyway.

Just need to keep an eye on Sulejmani, quite a tricky customer.

Honestly its not a great Ajax side, they've lost key players Suarez, Emanuelson amongst others- they do have a pretty decent back four themselves though.

All in all, worried about our lack of available defenders, but not worried about Ajax's attack either.

Carvajal-Ramos-Varane-Arby

Nacho is not signed up for UCL if I am correct
or maybe Mendes

Well, to be honest, this Ajax side is much better than last years, so I am worried (and very conflicted lol). Suarez might be gone, but Ajax has gotten a lot of young talent all at once that is looking quite good.

I also don't think Nacho is signed up for CL.

Stupid Marcelo and his stupid red card.

Varane-Albiol CBs and Ramos-Arbeloa FBs if Carvalho is still hurt. Otherwise, Varane-Carvalho.

We'll be fine defensively.

As always, midfield transition will be the name of the game on attack. If we struggle again and are forced to bring Ozil back and push Benz to AM/SS, we will struggle again offensively. Too many guys playing low and not enough people in the box as a result. Of course, it would make too much sense to play Higuain instead of Di Maria to help with the box presence...

OH! I completely forgot about Albiol!

My worries are over.

Remember, we have Khedira back. That makes a huge difference. Against Ajax, we should survive Albiol lol. Varane is having a heck of a time with either Carvalho or Albiol... he needs to cover 1.5x his usual territory.

Guiltybystander wrote:OH! I completely forgot about Albiol!

My worries are over.

Same here LOL.

Albiol is not that bad. I never quite get all the antipathy against him - only time he *bleep* up was against Barcelona and once in a while against other clubs, but he is overall quite solid, also for Spain.

Also, these guys are classier - I rather not have them give Ajax players season-ending injuries like a reckless Pepe rage can do.

I actually don't like Pepe at all, if I am very honest.
I know he is good and the most solid defender, but he is a lunatic.

Ajax 2, Madrid 0

Heard it here first

Ramos-----Albiol-----Varane-----Arbeloa

that is expected one from mou. though i dont feel i wanna see albiol next to varane, he will blame it all on him lol.

Derailed! Any mention of Albiol in any thread immediately diverts it to an,

ALBITROLL

Varane is under 21 so he doesn't need to be registered to play.

Arbeloa-Varane-Ramos-Nacho

Mou better start with this one

we have lots of choices for the right side if both Ramos and Arbeloa are injured but not for the left, so its time to test our youngsters

also nacho doesnt need to be registered cuz he is under 21 and a youth teamer, whcih u can play in CL.

Yuri Yukuv wrote:Ajax 2, Madrid 0

Heard it here first

Reverse jinx? My prediction 2-0 for us

You want us to lose

Zealous wrote:You want us to lose

Yuri's writing style mislead me It's a home game so 2-0

Oh cool

Anyway as far as defence is concerned I think we'll be OK if the rest of the team (especially the attack) carry the game.

Im very confident that defense will be okay for ajax game,my only concern was carvalho,he isnt playing right?.

not sure about carvalho... know he's out for the weekend. Depends if his concussion clears come sunday. In US sports, they require that a player participate in two regular practices without incidents to get cleared to come back from a concussion. It makes sense. No reason why madrid wouldn't do the same.