La Liga 2017/18 Superthread

dfx-

The supposed strength of Madrid was in their 'supporting cast'. Asensio, Isco, Kovacic etc. covering up the gaps, where the big names can play poorly and get by. Isco aside who really shouldn't be classed as a backup, I think those backups were vastly over-rated.

Now the same gaps aren't being covered.

Sweet Science

NIMAN wrote: »

How quickly Madrid have gone from different class to pants.

There must be something going on behind the scenes, in-fighting etc. Didn't I read recently that Ramos slagged off Ronaldo?

On the subject of Ronaldo, watching him last night he was a pale shadow of himself 12 months ago. Looked really slow and seems to have lost his touch. Perhaps harsh to judge him on that one game, but he has had some other very quiet games I've seen this season too. Madrid really need to plan for replacing him, and soon.

If I was them, I'd be going all out for Neymar.

Ronaldos goals in the Champions League paper over his decline over the last few years .

GavRedKing

NIMAN wrote: »

How quickly Madrid have gone from different class to pants.

There must be something going on behind the scenes, in-fighting etc. Didn't I read recently that Ramos slagged off Ronaldo?

On the subject of Ronaldo, watching him last night he was a pale shadow of himself 12 months ago. Looked really slow and seems to have lost his touch. Perhaps harsh to judge him on that one game, but he has had some other very quiet games I've seen this season too. Madrid really need to plan for replacing him, and soon.

If I was them, I'd be going all out for Neymar.

That wouldnt surprise me with Madrid, its a dressing room built on massive, massive egos, it would only take one incident to screw the whole thing up.

If they went after Neymar in the next 24months, PSG would be looking for probably half a billion to sell him.

I think Real will have to rely on unsettling players and hope they push for moves, its nearly impossible to turn down Barca or Real but everyone knows Real have to rebuild an ageing squad and theyre rich, they'll be taking to the cleaners by clubs.

MisterAnarchy

Sweet Science wrote: »

After the Spanish Super cup who could of predicted this . It was meant to be the other way around. Credit to Barca . Especially Messi, Ter Stegan and Umtiti . All having great seasons.

I think people got a bit carried away with their predictions of Reals future dominance ,some people were saying Real would win the league for the next 10 years .
I'm not sure whether they genuinely believed in Madrids quality or was it more due to a dislike of Barcelona .

Real only won the league last season by 3 points ,it went down to the last match .
Real won alot of matches ,especially in the first half of the season with late goals ,they had a great winning streak where they were very difficult to beat .
Zidane had instilled an unbelievable hunger for winning .

This season they are not getting those late winners that they were last season .

Barcelona's away form last season at the mid to lower table sides is what lost them the league and won it for Real.
Barcelona threw away points against inferior sides ,they have corrected that this season.

In the Champions league Madrid were extremely forutnate to get past Bayern thanks to some preferential refereeing decisions ,something they had benefiited greatly from in La Liga as well.
They dont seem to be getting as many decisions this season.

Real look a tired team ,their exertions over the last couple of years has drained them ,all those late winners, all the energy expended chasing wins ,they look burnt out.

Harry Palmr

Their front end is shagged, Ronaldo is going to be a massive mistake for some club with more money than sense when he moves, ditto Bale. Not sure what Benzema is notionally worth.

KERSPLAT!

Hazard and Icardi in the summer?

GavRedKing

I expect Hazard to go, either this summer or next.

His contract is up in 2020, so if he doesnt sign this year and Real do come knocking, Chelsea will be left with a huge dilemma, sell for an insane fee or lose him for free in 2020, where he'll be 29, turning 30 at the start of 2021.

I'd prefer Hazard to be signed onto an extension until 2022 but if iots between selling for a huge fee or lose him for free, I'd take the latter, dig in like Arsenal and let him leave.

Courtois did allude recently that its likely both would stay at Chelsea so theres hope yet.

irishman86

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Their front end is shagged, Ronaldo is going to be a massive mistake for some club with more money than sense when he moves, ditto Bale. Not sure what Benzema is notionally worth.

Ronaldos will move to the states where he will be the best player into his forties
He is still in the top two players in the world if that was the angle you were going for.
Bale just scored twice, i would put the blame more on the midfield than the forwards

irishman86

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

Hazard and Icardi in the summer?

Wont be Icardi, he said he wouldnt play there plus he was a youth player at Barca

KERSPLAT!

irishman86 wrote: »

Ronaldos will move to the states where he will be the best player into his forties
He is still in the top two players in the world if that was the angle you were going for.
Bale just scored twice, i would put the blame more on the midfield than the forwards

Hmmmm, I think those two goals are papering over the cracks for Bale. Not nearly at the level he was before IMO. Injuries not helping at all.

irishman86

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

Hmmmm, I think those two goals are papering over the cracks for Bale. Not nearly at the level he was before IMO. Injuries not helping at all.

Well off course, but a strange time to have a dig when he played decently and got two goals
Give him a run in the team without injury and he will be dominant again
For me the biggest culprits in form this season has been Ramos/Casemiro/Kroos
Casemiro seems to have lost that what got him into the team in the first place

KERSPLAT!

Kroos and Casimiro, Casemiro in particular, were two I thought have been playing well!

Rekop dog

For me their biggest problem has been motivation. Happens to all great sides eventually. Winning back to back Champions leagues was such a massive achievement and psychological hurdle for any side to overcome that it kinda leaves a "how to we top that" attitude the year after. Their passing isn't as snappy, they're not closing down fast enough, they're basically a yard short this year and that comes down to hunger and not wanting it enough.

Whereas Barca players and staff had to hear themselves being wildly dismissed at the start of the season by media and pundits, all the talk was of Real superiority and the biggest gap between sides in some time. Their motivation writes itself.

irishman86

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

Kroos and Casimiro, Casemiro in particular, were two I thought have been playing well!

I guess we see it very differently :pac:
Casemiro for me has got very sloppy on the ball and Kroos doesnt have the same control as last year
I think they have gotten comfortable with the fact Zidane isnt going to drop them
In reality Ceballos & Isco should be getting a lot more game time
I've been a massive defender of Benzema but hes been awful this season (i think he needs a move) and should be dropped for Isco if Zidane feels Bale has to play

GavRedKing

Its been mentioned for sometime now but I reckon Ronaldo isnt far off becoming an out and out number 9, as it stands, hes basically playing up there with Benzema anyway but if Real were to tweak the system by dropping Benzema and deploying Ronaldo own his own in a #9 role, he'd still score 30-40 goals a year.

I cant remember how it was, Graham Hunter or Sid Lowe, but they mentioned that the time is approaching where Real may consider that offering Ronaldo contract extensions and raises are not economically viable.

ebbsy

dfx- wrote: »

The supposed strength of Madrid was in their 'supporting cast'. Asensio, Isco, Kovacic etc. covering up the gaps, where the big names can play poorly and get by. Isco aside who really shouldn't be classed as a backup, I think those backups were vastly over-rated.

Now the same gaps aren't being covered.

Why was'nt he played in the Classico.

Rekop dog

Probably game of the day in Europe coming up here. Bit of pressure on Zizu now. I expect a big performance today.

Turtwig

Considering Barca have their annual drop points at Sociadad coming up Real have to win.

irishman86

Turtwig wrote: »

Considering Barca have their annual drop points at Sociadad coming up Real have to win.

Remember the days of Nihat and Kovačević

irishman86

Dangerous position time for Ronaldo to put it a mile over the bar :pac:

irishman86

How does the ref miss that penalty on Ronaldo

irishman86

That could be Zidane done
Bad miss from the lines man aswell for the offside on the goal

The Floyd p

Madrid really are dreadful, it's amazing.

GavRedKing

I love seeing Madrid lose

irishman86

The Floyd p wrote: »

Madrid really are dreadful, it's amazing.

Looks very silly getting rid of Pepe now

elefant

The Floyd p wrote: »

Madrid really are dreadful, it's amazing.

It would be gas if they dropped out of the top 4. The hysteria.

Rekop dog

Couldn't get a good stream for it. Were the white hanky's out?

irishman86

Rekop dog wrote: »

Couldn't get a good stream for it. Were the white hanky's out?

Didnt notice them tbh
Its funny they idolise Zidane so i presume they will wait till PSG game for that

chopperbyrne

Think that could be the nail in the coffin for Zidane.

irishguitarlad

GavRedKing wrote: »

I love seeing Madrid lose

It's fantastic, in the papers here in Spain they have like 13 pages dedicated to them. Their fans are also not very nice, remember watching betis in a bar and insults were disgusting. Also on television they have about 30 minutes everyday dedicated to madrid on the sports news. Its a great feeling when they lose. I am loving this season.

NIMAN

Has there ever been a team that has gone from 'all conquering' to absolute muck in such a short space of time?

Last year they were saying how this Madrid team would dominate for years to come. Guys like Asensio was having buy out clauses of 500mill put on him, everyone was raving.......now 6 months later they are awful to watch.

As usual with Madrid, there has to be issues behind the scenes. The cliques must be in full flow. Said it already, PSG are going to take them to the cleaners if they play like this in both the CL legs.

I think its time to shift a load of players there. Far too many there too long.

Ronaldo, Ramos, Marcelo, Benzema, Bale would all be gone asap if I was in charge.

Rekop dog

They need to make a statement and buy Kane for a world record fee.

NIMAN

Not sure I'd pay a WR fee for Kane. You mean more than 225 million that Neymar went for? That would be madness imho.

But I think he'd be a great fit at Madrid. As long as they build the team around him. Ronnie would have to go. He's gone downhill very quickly this season, but as long as he's there the team would have to play to him. It need a clean break from him and his influence.

Rekop dog

He's younger and better than Neymar so by today's crazy markets standard I think he's worth more.

NIMAN

Just reading Roanldo's stats there, and from the last 94 shots at goal, he has scored 4 times.

I don't like stats but that is shocking.

The Floyd p

NIMAN wrote: »

Just reading Roanldo's stats there, and from the last 94 shots at goal, he has scored 4 times.

I don't like stats but that is shocking.

It's not falling for him at all. You can't carry him and Benzema in your XI. Bale has looked quite good, when he's actually fit though.

The team just don't seem to have the desire to push themselves this season. Their best performances have been in the CL, maybe it's the glamour of the competition that appeals to so many of them. Either way that front 3 needs shaking up in the summr, trying to take Kane and Poch from Spurs would be a shout!

irishguitarlad

How many chances did levante need against vigo to score a goal. They could be there until 12 o clock tonight and wouldn't score.

Esse85

Was really impressed with how Valencia moved the ball around last night, exciting team to watch with many skilful players, both goals they scored were the luckiest you'll see all season. Deportivo missed a chance in the 6 yard box in injury time to make it a draw.

Mars Bar

Some dive from Rakitic resulting in Sociadad's second goal being disallowed.

KERSPLAT!

Just sticking it on now

Esse85

2-0 Sociedad

Mars Bar

Fortunate but they deserve it after Rakitic earlier!

KERSPLAT!

Nice ball over the top. Barca in trouble

Esse85

2-1
Paulinho pulls one back.

Mars Bar

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

Nice ball over the top. Barca in trouble

Back in it now.

Sociedad's forwards having been timing their runs very well tonight.

Esse85

Outstanding from Suarez

KERSPLAT!

Nice...

Rekop dog

Esse85 wrote: »

Outstanding from Suarez

Miss hit pass imo

ERG89

https://twitter.com/fcb_OneTouch/status/952645783102267392


Reminds me of a goal Eto'o got against Panathinaikos a few years back.

MisterAnarchy

Another good goal by Suarez, he looks like he could be rediscovering his form after a dreadful 2017.