Real Madrid Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

kinaldo

The amount of chances Madrid created at the weekend was ridiculous and really belied their mere 2 goal margin of victory.

Ronaldo and Kaká both could and probably should have had hat-tricks.

9 wins out of 9 at the Bernabeú this season though, and outscoring Barca too.

So far so good, ¡hala Madrid!

gimmick

I have to wonder about agendas on Sky. They figured that real have to be the happier side after the weekend exploits of both themselves and Barcelona. Real won 2-0 at home to Mallorca after what was said to be a great performance, and Barca win 0-5 away to Tenerife in what was said to be a poor performance. I would have thought Madrid might have the element of doubt there that they could not put away their chances while Barca would be delighted at such a big win after a suspect performance.

I dunno.

kinaldo

Higuaín to be sidelined for 3 weeks

Time for Benzemá to step up....

Slash/ED

gimmick wrote: »

I have to wonder about agendas on Sky. They figured that real have to be the happier side after the weekend exploits of both themselves and Barcelona. Real won 2-0 at home to Mallorca after what was said to be a great performance, and Barca win 0-5 away to Tenerife in what was said to be a poor performance. I would have thought Madrid might have the element of doubt there that they could not put away their chances while Barca would be delighted at such a big win after a suspect performance.

I dunno.

I've always felt they leaned more towards Real, especially Guillem Balague who supports Espanyol non coincidentally.

Higuain is a huge huge loss for Real, the man is a machine

gimmick

Huge loss. Great player. Single handedly kept Real in title contention last year. More important to Real than any brought in "Galactico" at the moment.

gimmick

Rather than carying this chat on in the CL thread, said I'd find this one.

It will be very interesting to see how Real respond to last night major setback. They were so confident of appearing in the final this year, and tbf, the way they have been playing in recently, not may would have bet against such.

Now that that is gone (:D), will the confidence be knocked out of them? I certainly hope so, but doubt it. They have one of the easiest games they could wish for to bounce back on Sunday against Valldolid, so they will probably trounce them.

One way or other though, last night confirmed that Pellegrini is gone at the end of the season. Graham Hunter was on SSN earlier saying that the man they want is Wenger and aere not even going to try look beyond him until he emphatically says NO.

Interesting times ahead.

kryogen

id expect a backlash from Madrid tbh, they are still going to win most games in La Liga, just too many good players not to, as pointed out by plenty of fans in the past, having Ronaldo in your team pretty much guarantees you a title challenge

Ush1

kryogen wrote: »

id expect a backlash from Madrid tbh, they are still going to win most games in La Liga, just too many good players not to, as pointed out by plenty of fans in the past, having Ronaldo in your team pretty much guarantees you a title challenge

Being Real Madrid does that. Most teams in La Liga are already beaten by them at the start of the season.

kryogen

oh i agree, most teams that turn up at the Bernabeau are beaten before the game kicks off

but it doesnt hurt having players in your team who can destroy weaker teams on their own

leninbenjamin

kryogen wrote: »

oh i agree, most teams that turn up at the Bernabeau are beaten before the game kicks off

but it doesnt hurt having players in your team who can destroy weaker teams on their own

Pity they can't destroy teams together. Then they'd be a force.

kryogen

leninbenjamin wrote: »

Pity they can't destroy teams together. Then they'd be a force.

they do, quite regularly

seriously lads, i hate defending them can people stop overreacting to last nights result?

on another night they woulod have won 6-0 with the chances they had

every team has a game where they just cant convert their chances now and then

im sure we all know what its like, maybe ye could look at their stats this season before making silly statements

they have never stopped being a force domestically

they have been shocking in europe for 6 years now

Ush1

kryogen wrote: »

they do, quite regularly

seriously lads, i hate defending them can people stop overreacting to last nights result?

on another night they woulod have won 6-0 with the chances they had

every team has a game where they just cant convert their chances now and then

im sure we all know what its like, maybe ye could look at their stats this season before making silly statements

they have never stopped being a force domestically

they have been shocking in europe for 6 years now

Easily could have been hammered, did anybody see Lisandros miss?

kryogen

that was at the end when Madrid were putting everyone forward

do you not see the difference?

CR 7

Ush1 wrote: »

Easily could have been hammered, did anybody see Lisandros miss?

That was when they were chasing the game, if Higuain scored instead of hitting the post, and passed to Ronaldo for a tap in, instead of drawing a very good save from Lloris, Real would have won.

The problem is, getting knocked out at this stage might make them a better team, realising they aren't invincible.

Ush1

kryogen wrote: »

that was at the end when Madrid were putting everyone forward

do you not see the difference?

Did you not watch both legs?

Ush1

Park Ji Sung wrote: »

That was when they were chasing the game, if Higuain scored instead of hitting the post, and passed to Ronaldo for a tap in, instead of drawing a very good save from Lloris, Real would have won.

The problem is, getting knocked out at this stage might make them a better team, realising they aren't invincible.

Again, did you watch the first leg and Lyon had most possession in the entire 2nd half, not just the end.

Higuain was unlucky. But so was countless Lyon chances.

kryogen

its quite clear that any further discussion on this would be me banging my head off a wall so ill stop

congrats on getting through last night, delighted to see Madrid out of the competition

Ush1

Not to flog a dead horse. But read any post match interview with the players, they concede they were well beaten by the better team:

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2010/03/11/1827520/real-madrids-granero-arbeloa-admit-to-a-lack-of-cohesion-in

"The problem is that we didn't win it in the first half and in the second they surprised us with the tactical shift. They have had more control, more possession and were dominant in midfield. In the second half we stopped being a team. We have failed to endure or adapt to the new script but I appreciate the coach's decisions, the responsibility lies with the players."

- Arbeloa

dfx-

Wouldn't agree that most teams are beaten before they play...a few teams maybe like Xerez and Mallorca this season, but 'bigger teams' have done well regardless..

gimmick

At the Bernabeu, teams are beaten before the game starts. Look at Sevilla the other night - they had no belief whatsoever that they could win that game, despite being 2 up briefly. Teams seem to bend over and accept their fate there to some degree.

dfx-

If Real get one back, then yes they roll over. But a lot of teams across the world fold over with a 0-2 lead once one goal goes in. It's nothing to do with Real in particular.

Whereby teams give up before a ball is kicked is very rare even there.

Ush1

dfx- wrote: »

If Real get one back, then yes they roll over. But a lot of teams across the world fold over with a 0-2 lead once one goal goes in. It's nothing to do with Real in particular.

Whereby teams give up before a ball is kicked is very rare even there.

Well I don't agree at all. And the fact they do well domestically and have been very poor in the CL in recent years indicates this.

dfx-

Well obviously, the better quality defences will be able to hold out better. Lyon last night were just holding out. Doesn't mean that the other sides don't believe they can win. Their defence is just not as good.

There's not too many teams, perhaps even in the final stages CL, that could've coped with Real's momentum at 1-2 on Saturday night.

redout

Vanquished Real’s shirt sales fall behind Liverpool and Chelsea

Champions League evictees Real Madrid have more bad news to ponder this morning after kit suppliers Adidas revealed that its official replica shirts are being outsold by those of Chelsea and Liverpool. Meanwhile, home attendances have also fallen dramatically.

The Spanish giants, knocked out of Europe’s blue-riband tournament in the second round by French club Olympique Lyonnais last night, spent a record US$300 million last summer on big-name players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso, but are yet to see the expected returns on or off the pitch. Despite generating world-record revenues of US$548 million last season, the club borrowed US$206 million from Banco Santander and Caja Madrid to finance their spending spree.

Attendances at Real’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium have fallen 7.8 per cent this season, from an average of 73,157 to 67,461. This has been attributed to Spain’s worst recession in decades, with 19.5 per cent of the Spanish workforce currently unemployed. Adidas also put the discrepancy in shirts sales between Real and their Premier League counterparts - which comes in spite of Liverpool’s exit at the group stage of this year’s Champions League - down to a greater tendency among English fans to purchase replica shirts, though it will also raise questions about Real’s ability to compete commercially with English clubs.

The figures throw into sharp relief the nature of the gamble Real has taken. The club spent more on transfers last summer than all twenty top-flight French clubs combined, yet was, in truth, comfortably beaten by France’s third-placed team over two games. Though Real drew level on points with arch-rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Saturday night, the Champions League is the competition by which the club measures its progress, and last night’s elimination was its sixth in a row at the first knock-out stage. These early exits take a financial toll: Real will miss out on the chance to earn a further US$82 million in sponsorship, prize money and television revenue.

Simon Chadwick, professor of sports business strategy and marketing at Coventry University Business School, warned Bloomberg of the “legitimate concerns” many hold that Real “will be unable to generate an acceptable return on their player-investment strategy.” Failure on the pitch, Chadwick said, “would seriously undermine Real Madrid’s business model.”

Real manager Manuel Pellegrini was unperturbed by the long-term financial consequences of last night’s defeat. “There is a serious misconception,” he said. “The project isn’t for a year, far from it.”

Still, with May’s Champions League final taking place at the Santiago Bernabeu, there is little doubt that this year was bigger than most.

SPM

Ush1

dfx- wrote: »

Well obviously, the better quality defences will be able to hold out better. Lyon last night were just holding out. Doesn't mean that the other sides don't believe they can win. Their defence is just not as good.

There's not too many teams, perhaps even in the final stages CL, that could've coped with Real's momentum at 1-2 on Saturday night.

Again, don't agree. Lyons defence has been worse than many years previous this season. Cris was never that good and they had Toulalan who is a midfielder alongside him.

Dragutinovic had a really bad game against them. And I think alot of teams would have coped with their momentum, but they did do well.

dfx-

It is still a lot better than Santander or Gijon or Malaga - for all that those teams do want to win..

Usually that these teams go into the lead to lose it means they are attacking Real..believing they are in the game until Real score as opposed to the Sunderlands, Spurs, Hulls and Wolves at Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge, for example. That is truly thinking you are beaten beforehand..

Ush1

dfx- wrote: »

It is still a lot better than Santander or Gijon or Malaga - for all that those teams do want to win..

I agree, but if you watch Madrid regular in La Liga, the respect they are payed by most teams is very obvious.

Ush1

dfx- wrote: »

It is still a lot better than Santander or Gijon or Malaga - for all that those teams do want to win..

Usually that these teams go into the lead to lose it means they are attacking Real..believing they are in the game until Real score as opposed to the Sunderlands, Spurs, Hulls and Wolves at Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge, for example. That is truly thinking you are beaten beforehand..

Well, it was either this season or last, Spurs were 0-2 up against United at OT. They got a peno which never was against them then capitulated 5-2. Just the way it goes, big teams influence big decisions and it just gets in the heads of certain teams and coaches.

gimmick

Real manager Manuel Pellegrini was unperturbed by the long-term financial consequences of last night’s defeat. “There is a serious misconception,” he said.

Course he is - it's not his problem come June 1st

gimmick

Excellent article here from Tim Stannard over at football365

Pérez Making Same Mistakes At Madrid
Posted 15/03/10 11:39
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Even by their own insane standards, the Real Madrid-aligned sports daily Marca found an unusual target to blame for the club's sixth successive exit from the Champions League last-16 stage.

Along with calling for the head of Manuel Pellegrini (of course), the paper stepped up their campaign to see Argentinean striker Gonzalo Higuaín booted out of the club too.

Although the forward was far from his best in the ties against Olympique Lyon - along with most of his team-mates - Higuaín was ripped into tiny pieces in the paper which has never attempted to hide its affiliation to Madrid's all-powerful, media-controlling, paranoid president Florentino Pérez.

The crime for which Higuaín was hung, drawn and quartered was failing to pass to Cristiano Ronaldo in one chance during Wednesday night's second leg 1-1 draw and hitting the post with another.

'Ronaldo is paying...for Higuaín not thinking of the team,' tutted Friday's edition that took time out to praise Ronaldo's famous sense of team spirit.

This was simply the continuation of a nasty, mean-spirited, politically-motivated campaign that has been running throughout the season and is at the beating heart of why Florentino Pérez - who is Marca's unofficial editor-in-chief - continues to mock the notion that Madrid is a 'club of gentlemen'.

Just two weeks before, Marca's director Eduardo Inda responded to widespread praise for the striker's performances by writing that the 22-year-old would only be considered great, 'when he scores a decisive goal in the Champions League final, in el Clásico or in the final in Johannesburg on the 11th July'.

From all these damning accusations, those unfamiliar with life in la Liga would assume that Higuaín was footballing deadwood, a dunce, an overpriced flop, like Karim Benzema and Kaká, for example, two of Pérez' show ponies brought in over the summer.

Instead, the Argentine international will be leading the line for his country in the World Cup, was Madrid's top league scorer last season with 22 strikes, is the club's top scorer in the league this season with 19 goals in 16 starts, is loved by the fans for his hard work and attitude and has a habit of scoring vital, comic-book great goals when the side is in ten shades of s**t.

But all this is of no interest to Florentino due to three major issues.

The first is that Higuaín is making his own import Karim Benzema look very poor indeed, especially as the brooding Frenchman vanished without trace into the club's treatment rooms some time ago.

The second is that Gonzalo's seven-letter surname doesn't sell enough shirts - a serious offence in itself.

But the third is the most heinous of all for Higuaín: the international was signed by Madrid's presidential predecessor and sworn enemy, Ramón Calderón.

The last Galactico project failed dismally as President Pérez was all-controlling and would not allow any of his many, many coaches to drop under-performing superstars to the bench, no matter how indifferent their form. This created a poisonous atmosphere in the dressing room between the Galactico Zidanes and the journeyman Pavónes.

To an extent, this policy still remains as seen by the fact that the (Calderón signed) Rafael Van der Vaart has spent much of the season on the bench, only to replace Kaká - and be considerably more effective - when the €68m Brazilian is injured.

Another area where Pérez still just doesn't get it is the idea of letting his coach do the coaching.

During the summer, Manuel Pellegrini claimed that Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder would play crucial roles in his tactical plans for the season ahead.

Both were swiftly sold for the simple reason that they were star signings of the Ancien Régime. Pérez' prickly ego easily won the battle over pragmatism.

If Florentino happened to be the owner of Real Madrid then all this would fine and dandy. If he paid all the bills, then he could do what he wanted, no matter how unhinged. But one of the construction magnate's biggest tricks has been to be convince the world that he is and he can.

Pérez is supposed to act in the best interests of the club and its owner-members and not himself. But in this all-important aspect, the president is failing once again.

All Florentino managed over the summer was to win the presidency by being the only candidate who could afford to stand and pull political favours to persuade banks to fund the insane summer spending at a time when hundreds of thousands of businesses all over Spain were desperate for the cash too.

Whilst sporting director Jorge Valdano is quite right to say that Madrid's latest project is a five-year one, a good €100m of the members' money could have been saved by keeping Robben, Sneijder and Spanish international striker Alvaro Negredo and not splurging on Kaká, Benzema and the really-not-up-to-the-job Esteban Granero.

However, that would have significantly reduced the amount of times that Florentino could have stood in front of the adoring masses of the Bernabe, over the summer unveiling his footballing trinkets.

Pérez has been considerably less visible in recent days in the wake of another Champions League exit with Marca claiming that his silence is 'his best weapon'.

Instead, gushing editorials have appeared in the paper disassociating Mr President for the latest disaster including Saturday's back-page butt-lick which lists seven reasons why Florentino was completely blameless.

As well as much grovelling, solutions have also been sought to fix Madrid's ongoing Champions League glitch.

But rather than the answer being patient planning and consistency both on the field and on the bench, the Madridista press have been calling for the signings of Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fabregas, David Silva, Frank Ribery and David Villa in an uncanny impression of the "I want that one" character from Little Britain.

Despite Real Madrid responding to Wednesday's crushing blow in Europe with a 4-1 away win over a tremendously violent Valladolid, it was yet another bitter night for Madrid's presidential bigwig.

The victory saw a hat-trick for Gonzalo Higuaín - the international striker who only scores in unimportant games against unimportant teams.

One of those goals came from a headed pass from Ronaldo allowing Marca to note that the Portuguese player was the spirit of teamwork whilst castigating his forward partner for celebrating his strikes in what appeared to be an angry manner.

And that'' not surprising considering the treatment that Higuaín has received in the press during the week - treatment that Manuel Pellegrini claimed badly affected him.

"'Pipa' was feeling down but he's got personality," claimed the Real Madrid coach after the win which sees Madrid top of the table on goal difference to a Messi-inspired Barcelona, although the end-of-season places will be decided on a head-to-head basis.

Jorge Valdano, who has the job of controlling his president's tantrums, claims that Madrid are keen to keep his young countryman at the club for life. However, they are going about it in a very half-hearted way.

Higuaín is currently on a deal which sees him on €1.5m a year until 2013, but he has rejected renewal offers which would reportedly see the striker on €2.5m. And that's not too surprising considering Benzema is on €8.5m.

The expected departure of the international over the summer could be a win-win situation for everyone except for Real Madrid supporters who have grown rather fond of their talisman, despite the attempts to smear him in Spain's most-read newspaper.

Florentino can rid himself of tainted goods he considers to be an embarrassment to himself and his own prize players and Higuaín can find himself a club where he will be respected for being the fantastic player that he is.

Any transfer - with Manchester City the strong favourites to sign him up - would simply show why Real Madrid are continuing to get it wrong where it matters most.

For the all-powerful club president, it will always be Florentino first and football second.

The treatment of Higuain is beyond belief. He is a really top class player which any team would love to have. Personally I hope he does feck off, preferably to Barca, but that won't happen.

JPA

Selling Higuaín would surely be the stupidest thing Perez could do or has ever done?

dreamers75

gimmick wrote: »

Excellent article here from Tim Stannard over at football365



The treatment of Higuain is beyond belief. He is a really top class player which any team would love to have. Personally I hope he does feck off, preferably to Barca, but that won't happen.

They could get Coventry to sign him ?

Pro. F

gimmick wrote: »

Excellent article here from Tim Stannard over at football365



The treatment of Higuain is beyond belief. He is a really top class player which any team would love to have. Personally I hope he does feck off, preferably to Barca, but that won't happen.

Holy crap. The things that go on at Real leave me gaping in disbelief. Higuaín is a fantastic player, he really is and the fans love him. And yet the club will still treat him like this :eek:

Tbh it's great for the rest of Europe that Real are such a shambles. If they were anyway sensibly run then they would have total domination every year.

I'd love United to sign Higuaín in the summer but it's not going to happen.

HalloweenJack

JPA wrote: »

Selling Higuaín would surely be the stupidest thing Perez could do or has ever done?

Selling Makelele was pretty stupid too.

I agree that the treatment of Higuaín is shocking. He missed a few chances in the Lyon game, granted, but that doesn't mean he's a failure. He's their top scorer and he can even come off the bench and knock them in, unlike the overhyped Benzema. The last two season he's been one of the best finishers in the world. He's an amazing talent and he has a very good attitude. He deserves to be treated a lot better.

everdead.ie

Where could he even go if they wanted to sell him i'm sure Real would want him to go abroad

Ush1

everdead.ie wrote: »

Where could he even go if they wanted to sell him i'm sure Real would want him to go abroad

I'm sure Man. City and Little Argentina(Inter) would take a gander.

Vanbis

Pro. F wrote: »

I'd love United to sign Higuaín in the summer but it's not going to happen.

I'd love to see him at Manutd along with Gago who i think is a super player also. I think he has being treated very badly and alot finger pointing after the Lyon game. I don't think he was the only one who missed changes and without his goals this season i dont think Real would top either.

Lets wait and see after El Clásico between Real and Barca what they say

Pro. F

Vanbis wrote: »

I think he has being treated very badly and alot finger pointing after the Lyon game. I don't think he was the only one who missed changes and without his goals this season i dont think Real would top either.

Putting the blame on Higuaín for the defeat to Lyon is just stupid alright. I wouldn't even bother trying to argue against it, it's just silly Real politics.

Ush1

If they think blaming their top scorer for missing a chance covers the woeful inadequacies of their performance for about 70-80 percent of the 2 legs against Lyon, then they are more than deluded.

eZe^

Vanbis wrote: »

along with Gago who i think is a super player also.

Oh dear lord! Real would almost pay you to take him off their hands at this stage. He's like the halfway house between Lucas and Anderson. Horrible really, although he is still developing.

Ush1

eZe^ wrote: »

Oh dear lord! Real would almost pay you to take him off their hands at this stage. He's like the halfway house between Lucas and Anderson. Horrible really, although he is still developing.

Real shame. I remember watching him for Boca and thinking wow, this guy is some player, but he just hasn't kicked on at Real Madrid at all. At Boca he was like Roy Keane with skills.

keane2097

People are waaaay too quick to write off youngsters who don't become world beaters in their first couple of seasons imo.

kinaldo

My eyes are still red from last week's CL exit, still can't quite believe it. I even have a good chance of getting tickets for the final, what an anti-climax that would be.

Not sure what's up with Madrid's treatment of Higuaín considering he's averaged about a goal about every 70 minutes this season, makes me so mad.

I'll take Sevilla or Barca for the CL now, Real for the league and Atlético for the Europa and Copa del Rey.

¡Viva España!

Vanbis

eZe^ wrote: »

Oh dear lord! Real would almost pay you to take him off their hands at this stage. He's like the halfway house between Lucas and Anderson. Horrible really, although he is still developing.

Whenever i saw him play i was always impressed with him and his first season at Real he looked a really good player. If they wanna give him away from free then id like Fergie to take a gamble and get rid of Carrick, can't be much worse

HalloweenJack

kinaldo wrote: »

My eyes are still red from last week's CL exit, still can't quite believe it. I even have a good chance of getting tickets for the final, what an anti-climax that would be.

Not sure what's up with Madrid's treatment of Higuaín considering he's averaged about a goal about every 70 minutes this season, makes me so mad.

I'll take Sevilla or Barca for the CL now, Real for the league and Atlético for the Europa and Copa del Rey.

¡Viva España!

I'm sorry but...are you a Real fan who actually wants Barca and Atleti to win something?

kinaldo

HalloweenJack wrote: »

I'm sorry but...are you a Real fan who actually wants Barca and Atleti to win something?

For 15 years.

Newcaslte fan.

Real sympathiser.

Barca/Atléti/Sevilla/Valencia etc. admirer.

eZe^

kinaldo wrote: »

My eyes are still red from last week's CL exit, still can't quite believe it. I even have a good chance of getting tickets for the final, what an anti-climax that would be.

Not sure what's up with Madrid's treatment of Higuaín considering he's averaged about a goal about every 70 minutes this season, makes me so mad.

I'll take Sevilla or Barca for the CL now, Real for the league and Atlético for the Europa and Copa del Rey.

¡Viva España!

This may be the only year that I'd pick winning the CL over the league. Imagine winning the CL in the Santiago Bernabeu, after Real Madrid's Galactico MKII project failed to win the coveted 10th trophy in their own back yard.

Headshot

eZe^ wrote: »

This may be the only year that I'd pick winning the CL over the league. Imagine winning the CL in the Santiago Bernabeu, after Real Madrid's Galactico MKII project failed to win the coveted 10th trophy in their own back yard.

now that would be fuc'king lovely or Man utd picking up the trophy while Ronaldo looks on

I can dream

kinaldo

eZe^ wrote: »

This may be the only year that I'd pick winning the CL over the league. Imagine winning the CL in the Santiago Bernabeu, after Real Madrid's Galactico MKII project failed to win the coveted 10th trophy in their own back yard.

I'll settle for la liga alright but la décima is the dream. The only silver lining in not winning it this year at the Bernabéu is also not losing it at the Bernabéu, particularly to Barca.

I reckon the CL should always be Barca's number one target, considering their years of underachievement in Europe. Also, if they win it this year they'll equal Real's impressive but often overlooked 3 CLs in 5 season (98-02).

gimmick

Haha, the Sun is reporting today that Real want to buy Rooney for £90m with a 5 year deal amounting to €60m AND they also want Fabio Capello back as manager.

I shall be taking that with a huge lump of salt.

Even if it were true that Real were thinking of it, why would Capello go back after being sacked twice for just winning the league twice in his 2 seasons there.

Nutjob of a club.