Real Madrid need to get ready for a terrible season | It’s happening

[Ishdalar]

They won the league twice in 9 years with Ronaldo there because their squad was worse than Barcelona's for pretty much every single one of those nine years. Should have won it once more, but small margins happen and they lost the title by 1-5 points a bunch of times.

Their squad wasn't worse than ours due to sheer talent, the philosophy of the club carried us in a bunch of league titles in the last decade.

Both squads had a generational star, tons of quality players that won titles with NT/other clubs and money to outspend the other 18 teams in La Liga. But only Barcelona has the weight of stepping into the pitch 52 games a year and blow away the other team with good football every single game.

Real didn't have that urgency in this era, they're built to win, that's how they're so competitive in UCL legs, they adapt to their rivals and overpower them in different ways, but when they look at La Liga they don't think "We should've played better vs Rayo instead of defending after we scored the second". Their players perform in line with how close they are in points to us. Sometimes we screw up and they're able to capitalize because they did "just enough" to be within distance, other times we don't screw up and end up with the title while they're dumbfounded thinking "if only we took seriously two more games..."

That's how a squad with Douglas, Bartra, Adriano, Mathieu, Aleix Vidal, Andre Gomes, Turan, Rafinha, Munir and Sandro as bench depth was able to beat another with Arbeloa, Danilo, Nacho, Pepe, James, Kovacic, Isco and Jesé.

It's not like they have to beat only Barcelona in a best of 38 games season, they face us two times a year and had a team capable enough of besting anyone in Spain, but the difference in mentality between "I have to get out and play how I'm supposed to play" vs "We're just 1 point behind the first, guess we can let go a little" is huge if you look at it from a 10 season perspective.

And now, with 4 UCL titles in their pocket and excuses to underperform (Zidane and Ronaldo gone) those same players that were slacking before success just want to avoid responsability.

 

[Peyroteo]

I do not know if he wanted Madrid to pay for everything, but the fact that the club ignored his complaints, possibly increased his anger over the issue of money / pride .
Aparently he expected more public support from the club, maybe a campaign #weareallMessi.

From today

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...al-madrid-president-florentino-perez-juventus

“I felt it inside the club, especially from the president, that they no longer considered me the same way that they did in the start,” he said. “In the first four or five years there, I had the feeling of being ‘Cristiano Ronaldo’. Less afterwards. The president looked at me through eyes that didn’t want to say the same thing, as if I was no longer indispensable to them, if you know what I mean.

“That’s what made me think about leaving. Sometimes I’d look at the news, where they were saying I was asking to leave. There was a bit of that, but the truth is that I always had the impression that the president would not hold me back. If it had all been about money, I’d have moved to China, where I would have earned five times as much than here [at Juventus] or at Real. I did not come to Juve for the money. I earned the same in Madrid, if not more. The difference is that, at Juve, they really wanted me. They told me that and made it clear. They showed me that.”

“He only ever looked at me as a business relationship. I know it. What he told me never came from the heart.”

“My decision to leave was not based on Zidane’s departure. That being the case, it’s one of those little things that made me feel a bit better in terms of what I thought of the situation at the club.”

 

[Deleted member 101472]

From today

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...al-madrid-president-florentino-perez-juventus

“I felt it inside the club, especially from the president, that they no longer considered me the same way that they did in the start,” he said. “In the first four or five years there, I had the feeling of being ‘Cristiano Ronaldo’. Less afterwards. The president looked at me through eyes that didn’t want to say the same thing, as if I was no longer indispensable to them, if you know what I mean.

“That’s what made me think about leaving. Sometimes I’d look at the news, where they were saying I was asking to leave. There was a bit of that, but the truth is that I always had the impression that the president would not hold me back. If it had all been about money, I’d have moved to China, where I would have earned five times as much than here [at Juventus] or at Real. I did not come to Juve for the money. I earned the same in Madrid, if not more. The difference is that, at Juve, they really wanted me. They told me that and made it clear. They showed me that.”

“He only ever looked at me as a business relationship. I know it. What he told me never came from the heart.”

“My decision to leave was not based on Zidane’s departure. That being the case, it’s one of those little things that made me feel a bit better in terms of what I thought of the situation at the club.”

Do you ever stop banging on about ronaldo

 

[The Purley King]

Spend big on which player is the question.

Unless they are planning a £400m splurge I don't see them coming back very quickly. Neymar, Mbappe, Hazard, Salah etc will all be £150m at the very least and over £200m for Neymar or Mbappe and that is making a huge assumption that PSG will even entertain the prospect of selling either. Will signing one of those players + maybe a couple of other £50m signings really make a huge difference?

Of the team that started yesterday, the backbone of it is mostly the wrong side of 30 (Ramos, Modric, Benzema). Marcelo is 30, Bale is injury prone and you are left with the unspectacular elsewhere (although I think Varane & Kroos are great and Isco has his moments).

I think we might see Barcelona dominate now for a few years as its going to take a while for Real to rebuild.

What is going on with that Vinicius guy? Wasn't he €40m or something?

 

[Peyroteo]

Do you ever stop banging on about ronaldo

Sorry for causing you the trouble. I’ll try to stop discussing football with people on a forum made to discuss football with people.

Have a good day.

 

[Peyroteo]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Solari will be interim manager, he’ll manage the team vs Melilla and Valladolid, might make it all the way to the international break.

Conte is no longer an option.

 

[B & W]

Was Conte really that bad to work with? Chelsea players are just a bunch of primadonnas

I don't think Conte is that bad to work with, but I am sure he is bad if you don't work. This is probably why he had some troubles in the second year at Chelsea. And probably there are players who don't like to work too hard in Real Madrid, too.

 

[Daysleeper]

If Conte becomes manager then no way does Hazard go to Madrid

 

[GatoLoco]

Spend big on which player is the question.

That's a very good question.

I'm afraid we'll have to wait to find out. The only possibilities involving really great players I can think of would be only valid with a combination of big money + secret clauses + players in their last year of their contract.

For instance, two players who end their contract in 2020 are Hazard and Eriksen. That would reduce their potential fees so it would be possible to sign both of them for around 150 million combined, or even less. That covers Asensio's "disappointment" and Modric's decline. In case Barcelona hasn't agreed a contract with him, Adrien Rabiot would be even better, as he ends his contract in 2019.

The other possibilities for the forward positions are a big question mark because they will mostly depend on hypothetical secret clauses and big money, but in case they are possible Florentino could compensate the latter with the sales of Bale and Benzema.

For the future of the left back position, Achraf seems to be doing quite well at Dortmund, and he should have a buyout clause, plus he can play RB too. An extra CB shouldn't be too expensive.

The midfield, other than Modric, is very well covered imo. Kroos, Casemiro are world class, and Ceballos, Fede Valverde, Llorente are all very talented and have great potential. I wouldn't touch that part too much.

 

[Peyroteo]

It’s 100% going to end up being Wenger, isn’t it?

 

[GatoLoco]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Solari will be interim manager, he’ll manage the team vs Melilla and Valladolid, might make it all the way to the international break.

Conte is no longer an option.

Conte influencing Hazard's option too much? Might be the case.

 

[Casanova85]

Conte is exactly what Madrid currently needs: discipline, training, hard-work and Mou's 2010-13 tactics (solid-rock defending, pressure + ruthless counter-attacks). And a man with enough balls to confront the primadonnas without fear (Ramos, I'm looking at you).

Can't see them winning La Liga but if the project gels they are ChL favorites (as always).

 

[Valar Morghulis]

That's a very good question.

For instance, two players who end their contract in 2020 are Hazard and Eriksen. That would reduce their potential fees so it would be possible to sign both of them for around 150 million combined, or even less.

I highly doubt that

 

[CA1]

It's clear they want Mourinho.

 

[Peyroteo]

Conte influencing Hazard's option too much? Might be the case.

Either that or Conte’s situation with Chelsea is getting in the way.

That’s a very reliable source so it seems like it won’t be Conte. Who would you choose out of the other available managers?

 

[#07]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Solari will be interim manager, he’ll manage the team vs Melilla and Valladolid, might make it all the way to the international break.

Conte is no longer an option.

Mourinho to Madrid odds should be cut now.

 

[Kapardin]

Mourinho to Madrid odds should be cut now.

Hopefully. It is a better environment for both us (without Jose) and for Jose (with Madrid). He will only have Simeone as a major tactician to deal with, I reckon he can take Valverde on if Perez gets him a few big money signings. While Jose has declined in his man-management abilities, he can still work with an absolute top class squad brimming with experience to some success.

 

[GatoLoco]

Either that or Conte’s situation with Chelsea is getting in the way.

That’s a very reliable source so it seems like it won’t be Conte. Who would you choose out of the other available managers?

Unless there is a chance to take Capello or Lippi out of retirement, I fear there isn't anybody I find convincing enough. Without Conte I think Florentino will stick to Solari as much time as he can and will look for possibilities to make a huge renewal of the squad in the summer meanwhile.

His favorite option is Mourinho though, there is no doubt about that.

 

[GatoLoco]

I highly doubt that

Why?

 

[Ishdalar]

Unless there is a chance to take Capello or Lippi out of retirement, I fear there isn't anybody I find convincing enough. Without Conte I think Florentino will stick to Solari as much time as he can and will look for possibilities to make a huge renewal of the squad in the summer meanwhile.

His favorite option is Mourinho though, there is no doubt about that.

I don't think Mourinho is an option as most of the squad base that remains from his era were the ones most opposed to him.

Maybe Karanka might start seeing his name thrown around to se if it sticks, if the fanbase look happy with it that could mean Solari for a couple of weeks and then Karanka until May.

 

[Valar Morghulis]

Why?

If Hazard or Eriksen come available for £75million each (or less) which I don't expect despite the contract lengths, due to the stubborness of both clubs, then bidding wars will definitely ensue. Madrid would not pick either up easily imo.

 

[fergieisold]

Pefect, absolutely perfect. Odds have been shortened on Conte being appointed in the next 48 hours.

Yeh it is kinda funny but the route for De Gea to Real has just opened up.

 

[Cassidy]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Solari will be interim manager, he’ll manage the team vs Melilla and Valladolid, might make it all the way to the international break.

Conte is no longer an option.

What????

 

[B20]

Conte speaks about his players needing to suffer to win games. He'll never be a good fit for Madrid

 

[Peyroteo]

Conte speaks about his players needing to suffer to win games. He'll never be a good fit for Madrid

That was one of the trademark Zidane phrases during press conferences actually. Before big games he always said the team needed to be ready to suffer.

https://en.as.com/en/2018/03/05/football/1520274775_401292.amp.html

https://amp.sport-english.com/en/ne...e-knew-how-to-suffer-without-the-ball-6784787

https://m.sport24.co.za/Soccer/ChampionsLeague/in-football-you-have-to-suffer-zidane-20180502

I agree with what you’re saying though, Conte at Madrid would eventually end badly. Short term he’d be great though.

 

[kouroux]

They bought Courtois instead of another CB or a striker

 

[peridigm]

Mourinho to Madrid odds should be cut now.

Please take him Perez. You know you want him.

 

[giorno]

We've yet to sack Julen.......

 

[Peyroteo]

We've yet to sack Julen.......

There will be a meeting during the afternoon, he’ll be sacked tonight.

 

[#07]

They bought Courtois instead of another CB or a striker

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[duffer]

Spend big on which player is the question.

Victor Moses, Morata and Bakayoko for £100 million.

 

[carvajal]

Apparently Madrid offer a contract until june that could be extended 2 more years but he wants 2 years from the beginning.
It seems to be a minor problem, but the sudden doubts about his character (Ramos?) are not a good sign.
I would be happy with Solari.Roberto Martínez seems impossible

 

[charlenefan]

LVG is still available

 

[RedDevil@84]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

It is such an unfair and cruel world. Hope his toddler knows that now.

 

[Vato]

Well, they'd just be big favourites to win the Champions League instead of having no chance at all.

quoted

 

[Adam-Utd]

Apparently Madrid offer a contract until june that could be extended 2 more years but he wants 2 years from the beginning.
It seems to be a minor problem, but the sudden doubts about his character (Ramos?) are not a good sign.
I would be happy with Solari.Roberto Martínez seems impossible

You'll be happy with that surely

 

[Kapardin]

Apparently Madrid offer a contract until june that could be extended 2 more years but he wants 2 years from the beginning.
It seems to be a minor problem, but the sudden doubts about his character (Ramos?) are not a good sign.
I would be happy with Solari.Roberto Martínez seems impossible

That would certainly be insulting for a coach of the calibre of Conte. I can see why he would reject it. Perez maybe adopting a cautious approach to save himself from huge pay-offs resulting from managerial sackings.

 

[The Purley King]

It's clear they want Mourinho.

Lets hope so. I'm sure Madrid has nicer hotels than the Lowry he can stay in.......

 

[B20]

Apparently Madrid offer a contract until june that could be extended 2 more years but he wants 2 years from the beginning.
It seems to be a minor problem, but the sudden doubts about his character (Ramos?) are not a good sign.
I would be happy with Solari.Roberto Martínez seems impossible

An interim contract is an insult to someone of contes caliber. He should be expecting and demanding more than that. You don't offer guys with his CV temp jobs.

 

[Vato]

What I find baffling is that Ceballos didn't get a single minute yesterday while he was outstanding the last few times on the pitch. Asensio and Vazquez must know some real fecking good black magic or something.