GatoLoco
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I know some players have long careers and can play relatively well at very advanced ages, but today Luka Modric played like a 29 year old, not like a 36 year old.
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Yes, it seems so for Mbappe at least.Right in time for the unveiling of Mbopp and Haaland I suppose?
Modric is the best midfielder of 21 century after Xavi,Iniesta and Pirlo.I know some players have long careers and can play relatively well at very advanced ages, but today Luka Modric played like a 29 year old, not like a 36 year old.
Id take Modric over Pirlo easy. I’d even go as far as saying he’s on par with Xavi & Iniesta who weren’t half this good at an advanced age as Modric is.Modric is the best midfielder of 21 century after Xavi,Iniesta and Pirlo.
Incredible that he went to Real for less than 50 million, while Pogba went to United for 100...even though Pogba kinda fecked up moving to a United in crisis, same is gonna happen to De Jong in Barca i feel, potential wasted joining clubs in crisis.
Moving to desperate big clubs in crisis always tarnish your reputation when things don't go well.
No, Real Madrid signed him five days before they signed Ronaldo, so there is no way he could have ever been a part of that transfer.A Perez favourite, if Fergie was serious he should have asked for him during the Ronnie transfer. And I wouldn't be surprised to find out he did.
It was just thinking out loud, as my embarrassing factual mistake highlighted below would attest. Benzema has my attention as just somebody who's getting some love these days. You've done an excellent job putting him into perspective.That's just hindsight 20/20. In the following years after Cristiano's departure from Man United, Rooney became a full-fledged world class striker while Benzema was a back-up to Higuain and Mourinho even called him a cat.
I'm sure you are the people being happy for missing out Benzema until Rooney fell off a cliff before he was 30.
No, Real Madrid signed him five days before they signed Ronaldo, so there is no way he could have ever been a part of that transfer.
As for Ancelotti, what he's done this season really is incredible. New defensive pairing, bringing out incredible seasons out of Modrić, Kroos, Benzema and most of the old guard, while helping Vinicius Junior become world class and also starting rebirth of Asensio.
Should he manage to also lift Rodrygo or integrate Camavinga, which is hard right now due to how well midfield trio plays, it could be his best stint in the career, when most of us considered him finished.
Apart from having won three Champions league titles which has so far eluded every big name, he is also on course to win all five major league titles. Spain is the last piece missing for him.
I quite liked the attack with Ronaldo, Benzema and Higuaín on the team. We were very stacked up front and the goals were spread in such a way we had a good balance. Once Higuaín left I always felt Benzema needed someone to compete the position in order to get the best of him, he always got a preferent treatment even after some very bad patches and while Higuain was underwhelming in the UCL he got the job done in the league against the lesser sides.Higuan left Real Madrid cause his performances in Championship League were rubbish, and the partnership Cristiano+Benzema proved to be better than Cristiano+Higuain, as Higuaín is inferior to Benzema as a playmaker.
Higuan was always rubbish in CL knock outs, even for Juventus and Napoli, not just Real Madrid....hell, even Morata did more for Juve in CL than Higuaín.
Prime Cristiano was great with anyone, he didn't need on a certain player to make him look good. But to counter your point Cristiano-Higuain were more productive than Cristiano-Benzema.Higuan left Real Madrid cause his performances in Championship League were rubbish, and the partnership Cristiano+Benzema proved to be better than Cristiano+Higuain, as Higuaín is inferior to Benzema as a playmaker.
Higuan was always rubbish in CL knock outs, even for Juventus and Napoli, not just Real Madrid....hell, even Morata did more for Juve in CL than Higuaín.
Benzema was far & away the best alternative Real Madrid had on the centre forward spot, even when he wasn't great in front of goal. It had nothing to do with "preferent treatment" or whatever the case maybe. Chicharito wasn't good enough and Morata was best suited coming off the bench.I quite liked the attack with Ronaldo, Benzema and Higuaín on the team. We were very stacked up front and the goals were spread in such a way we had a good balance. Once Higuaín left I always felt Benzema needed someone to compete the position in order to get the best of him, he always got a preferent treatment even after some very bad patches and while Higuain was underwhelming in the UCL he got the job done in the league against the lesser sides.
He's doing great now carrying our attack but I also think there would be no problem if we brought either Mbappe or Haaland to play alongside Benzema.
We still needed someone to rotate him for, I would had been glad keeping either Chicharito or Morata both were very useful and scored important goals for us. There have been quite a few seasons where we've fallen short to win the league just by a bit and it was very common for us to have Benzema and Cristiano playing every single game they were available the entire season only to have them completely exahusted in the last games.Benzema was far & away the best alternative Real Madrid had on the centre forward spot, even when he wasn't great in front of goal. It had nothing to do with "preferent treatment" or whatever the case maybe. Chicharito wasn't good enough and Morata was best suited coming off the bench.
Haaland and Benzema cannot coexist without the latter is moved to the bench. Mbappe is a non-factor, he can be used as an right inside forward alongside with Benzema & Vinicius up-front.
Gutting that I can't find a full match replay of Celta-Espanyol anywhere! Even though Espanyol lost, Darder seemed to have another brilliant game.
With it being the only Spanish game on last night, I was sure there would be something. Only thing I can find is one link on rojadirecta, which takes aaaaages.
Barcelona are so shit
Wouldn't blame them for that. The young players especially gavi looked brilliant through out the game2-2, 2 goals in 2 minutes for Elche, that's why you can't build a team on youngsters. There's talent but they just don't know how to control a game (and that's normal).
Barcelona controlled the game quite well.2-2, 2 goals in 2 minutes for Elche, that's why you can't build a team on youngsters. There's talent but they just don't know how to control a game (and that's normal).
I personally do not like his decision making, he loses many easy balls as in the first goal and then still defends the play very badly.Dembele would be such a monster if he was able to stay fit
I'm not saying they have a choice, I'm just saying it's unlikely it'll take them very far. And I'm not even talking about De Jong who looks totally uninterested when he's probably the best player of this team on paper. I don't know what's going on with him, he's such a great player when he's in tune.Barcelona controlled the game quite well.
The first goal came from a double error by Dembele, then E. García did not make a foul when he should and a goalkeeper who has not stopped a ball for 3 years
Gavi 10/10 goal and assist.
Abde great match today.
Jutgla very well, much better than Depay playing center forward.
Barcelona is building a team with the players they have, there is no money.
Young people are being the best but by a lot.
Yeah, it was a game to forget in general for Espanyol. However, from an individual pov, it seems like Darder played well. I'll probably try and get the game from rojadirecta just to see his performance.Yesterday Espanyol played a very bad game, to forget
Both but mostly the latterBarca highlights vs Elche - they looked like actual Barca (at least in midfield and attack). Xavi is improving them or opposition is terrible?
Since the middle of last year's season they are in free fall. Also this year a lot of money has been spent.Altetico have been absolute shit this season.
I think De Jong is very low morally.I'm not saying they have a choice, I'm just saying it's unlikely it'll take them very far. And I'm not even talking about De Jong who looks totally uninterested when he's probably the best player of this team on paper. I don't know what's going on with him, he's such a great player when he's in tune.
It's good to shine against Elche, the Seville game might tell a different story.
With that pace and dribbling he is unstoppable and he is also bigDembele would be such a monster if he was able to stay fit