When he did touch the ball, he did much more with it than Bellingham.
All I saw was sideways passes. That's it. The very few times he tried to do more than that, he lost the ball very easily.
Musiala did not see alot of the ball but when he did, he was definitely much better. Eg He played a part in the build up to the goal.
Firstly, Zidane is overrated; he was very inconsistent but he showed up with moments (eg volley vs Leverkusen) or performances (,eg vs Brazil in 2006) in the biggest games and was very nice to watch almost like a ballerina. These big game contributions are what got him his recognition; the ballond'or/Fifa award in 1998 was for his 2 goals in the world cup (R9 was easily the bpitw), the FIFA award in 2000 was for his standout tournament that was Euro 2000 and the FIFA award in 2003 was really for nothing really.
Tbf, those 2 games from Bellingham vs Barcelona weren't great at all but like many of Ronaldo’s games, the other things do get forgotten if he scores; Cristiano regularly stunk up vs Bayern but still manage hattricks and the rest was forgotten. Prime Messi is the one who has had consistently great performances with or without goals. Neymar had the ability but not the mindset.
Reading some of the responses in the thread, I think the problem us that a lot of people haven't watched him that much and only started watching him in these last few CL games when he hasn't been playing that well. His form has dipped in the latter part of the season, perhaps due to fatigue or the lingering effects of an injury.
Those crazy criticism, used to happen back then too. Don't doubt it, I remember it all too well
to be fair, pirlo one was justified.
The simple answer is: by playing a different role. Early in the season when he had his incredible scoring form Real played a 442-diamond/433 hybrid system with Bellingham as a "9.5" between two wide forwards.
It the unnecessary hyping up of players that gets me. It tends to happen alot with English and Brazilian footballers.
Mbappe, are you sure?
This is a myth.
I think it’s his mentality that sets him apart, he’s almost a throw back, he would of been just fine in a changing room with Keane, scholes, giggs, beckham.. a dying breed in the modern game
Rather than a distinction between those particular games vs City and Bayern and La Liga games in general I would make one between 2023 and 2024, no matter the competition.
Everyone who scores a lot for his respective position will be overhyped, IMO. But Bellingham was excellent at the start of the season and to be fair I think he still plays very well. I think it is a testament to the maturing process he's been through at Madrid that he's not always trying the audacious and risky choices in order to create something but can also play a more quiet and complementary role. His bottom level is higher than it used to be for Dortmund. The goals will return eventually, goal streaks are sometimes a bit patchy.
That's the thing. Zidane was consistent and he had a high floor, the only issue is that he always gave the impression that he could elevate his game on command which is why I believe some people when to this extreme and suggest that he was ghosting through seasons, we take for granted his base level. A similar thing has been done with Iniesta.
The guy absolutely demolished the league and was THE reason we won it and in such fashion. The hype was more than justified. Until 2 months ago he'd been the best player in the world and it wasn't close
Agreed. I lived in Spain for several years and it was the same there. It’s not English nature to do that, it’s human nature.
French media are at both extremes, they hype up everyone as the next Zidane, that's not really true for Saivet but Marvin Martin or Camel Meriem are funny examples for that. But they will also absolutely shit on you at the first opportunity especially if you are french, in general they don't care as much about foreigners in good or bad.
I wasn’t even thinking about football when it comes to French sports media and it’s chauvinism tbh.
The rewriting of his season has been fascinating to watch, especially so when there wasn't a peep out of these same people when he was running rampage and looking like a comic book character.
That part isn't a thing and the insinuation is annoying.
Do you watch cycling on French channels? Cause I mostly did (mainly due to the fact that back then Eurosport streams weren't a thing so had to get some dodgy stream in french)
Of course I watch french channels, i'm french. And read what you just wrote you do realize that Team Sky did cheat multiple times and that their data were suspiscious which has led to an inquiry from the british parliament and investigations from the UKAD?
For his position and the hype people don't exactly expect goals, they expect creativity, control of games, and a driving force from midfield. Goals would be a bonus. The truth is he hasn't played like a great midfielder that he is hyped to be. In the first half of the season, the goals (as goals always do) papered over everything else.
Neymar and Messi were given rough treatment by the French press. On the contrary, Mbappe has got relatively favourable treatment this season and last season despite being below par.
Froome 2013 was about 5 years before the UKAD claims that surfaced with Freeman during his time in BC. I'm sorry but how is it professional at all for commentators to make things like this?
About the bolded part how? You do realize that all the cases make a lot of noise in France especially when it comes to french riders or teams?Froome 2013 was about 5 years before the UKAD claims that surfaced with Freeman during his time in BC. I'm sorry but how is it professional at all for commentators to make things like this?
Could you imagine Sky Sports accusing footballers of being geared up live during a match? Can you imagine Carlton Kirby doing the same on Eurosport?
Alaphilippe in 2019 was hailed as a hero, with only fringe cycling fans throwing up the question of, "how does a puncheur do well on long Alpine climbs".
Actually, I think everyone in cycling is doping, I just find it absolutely remarkable that the likes of Jalabert, Virenque, etc have the gall to accuse anyone of doping.
Actually, I do think that French media tends to ignore their own riders doping stuff. Groupama FDJ are treated like angels from their DS made a few open anti-doping statements.
The likes of AG2R have had some pretty dodgy DS' and doctors over the years but the likes of Bardet have gotten a free pass.
When French Media release things like this, where, by pure co-incidence all the non-french riders are considered the most suspicious and the French ones are the least, it's hard not to think there's a lot of bias here. Jalabert being mid tier on that list is insane when he was proved to be cheating by the French Senate investigation and him at his peak was like Peter Sagan and Nairo Quintana combined.
My point isn't that French media only accuse others of doping when their rider loses, it's they just seem to accuse other riders of doping/cheating if they're just really performing well - > Like the Boonen/Cancellara example you posted.
You used 2019 Juju as an example, sorry but the majority of the doping allegations were thrown towards his biggest competitor during the spring/ardennes classics - namely Fuglsang, despite alaphilippe consistently beating him. Alaphilippe clapping everyone race after race is fine, but Fuglsang being able to come close? Doping.
nobody like him. Pogacar the closest thing which is why everyone loves himRE bolded: Yes, I even mentioned that in my post above.
I mean, Il Pirate was a legend. He was absolutely loved by most cycling fans.Everyone in that graph was doping, let's be honest. Banning doping in cycling hasn't made sense since at least thr early 90s
Also Pantani
It's clearly an attempt to downplay French riders doping - I mean all of those got busted. Why is Froome, getting busted for Salbutamol after this graph was made, somehow a worse doper or "more suspicious" than Fignon who was on Ampethamines and god knows what, or Voeckler who was on a full fledged Europacar EPO program that resulted in their team getting suspended?
On your bike then!
