The email address.Xabi Alonso | Real Madrid Manager | Sack Watch
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The email address.I never had an opinion on them either way until I really went into our history a good few years ago now. Reading about it, watching classic games of the holy trinity, etc, and reading about how much they helped us post Munich made me warm to them. They even offered us their European Cup that year! We obviously declined but what a gesture. Not to mention all the friendlies they arranged with us and of course offering us Di Stefano on loan to help the rebuild.
Yup, class act that was.
He's on a hiding to nothing there. They've gone from having an amazing team to having amazing players but big egos who all play in similar positions.
Mbappe plays better from the left where Vinny Junior plays, Bellingham has been shoe horned into the ten role for the last couple of years. It worked for half a season but for me he looks uncomfortable there. Valverdi, Camavinga and Toucheme all top draw in their positions but not creative enough.
I'd hate to manage Bellingham, for me looking at him he's a nightmare to deal with. Every attribute he has screams out to be a central midfielder, which was his original position. He's a complete force of nature though, he's opinionated, disrespectful to teammates and has a family PR team behind him that make Rabiots mum seem nice and respectful.
Mbappe plays better from the left where Vinny Junior plays, Bellingham has been shoe horned into the ten role for the last couple of years. It worked for half a season but for me he looks uncomfortable there. Valverdi, Camavinga and Toucheme all top draw in their positions but not creative enough.
I'd hate to manage Bellingham, for me looking at him he's a nightmare to deal with. Every attribute he has screams out to be a central midfielder, which was his original position. He's a complete force of nature though, he's opinionated, disrespectful to teammates and has a family PR team behind him that make Rabiots mum seem nice and respectful.
Bellingham isn't a central midfielder. He can play there, but he's like Lampard/Gerrard - he's neutered in midfield. And he's not a great passer either
He's an attacking midfielder, which is why he had the best season of his career playing as one
what Xabi did tactically at leverkusen is irrelevant in Madrid and was irrelevant to him getting the job in the first place, was my point. He was hired because he showed to be a good manager in Leverkusen, a winner, as you say, plus he's Xabi Alonso, he's one of ours
what he does from here will be interesting. He has more credit than any other Madrid manager I can remember other than Mourinho, and hasn't been shy in taking full advantage so far...which makes the choices he made for this match even harder to understand honestly
The é has thrown multiple people off where their mails never arrived its a good thing you noticed it but sources say perez only reply to jersey sponsors, super league committee, and cristiano ronaldo.
I disagree.
Yeah this is complete bullshite mate
Florentino doesn't reply to Cristiano, he replies to Mourinho. Wrong portuguese there
I can't claim to have an intimate knowledge of the psyche of Madrid's fanbase so I take your word for it but for what it's worth i think unless he changes his modus operandi or Madrid finally crack down on playr influence he's bound for failure sooner or later.
Every manager will fail sooner or later, everywhere, unless they quit first. Xabi knows the club and knows the job
For the idea people had of Xabi (tactical, familiar with the club, with a bit of a “Mourinho” edge) the team doesn't look "worked". He had 2 serious games and concede 9 goals.
Is he playing Tchouameni out of conviction?
Guler super star rol is here to stay?
Let’s see if he doesn’t burn out.
There’s something about the midfield that doesn’t quite fit for me. I even wonder if he’ll end up calling up Pitarch from Real Madrid B.
On the positive side, the signings have been good, Mastantuono has adapted surprisingly well to being thrown into the mix and Mbappé is in a state of grace.
Is he playing Tchouameni out of conviction?
Guler super star rol is here to stay?
Let’s see if he doesn’t burn out.
There’s something about the midfield that doesn’t quite fit for me. I even wonder if he’ll end up calling up Pitarch from Real Madrid B.
On the positive side, the signings have been good, Mastantuono has adapted surprisingly well to being thrown into the mix and Mbappé is in a state of grace.
Alonso needs a true number 6 in this team who can dictate the tempo ala Rodri. Why they didn't go for Angelo Stiller is beyond me (even Kroos said so)..
Yep, obvious to see.
I think you can definitely play Bellingham in front of Valverde/Camavinga as a pair, a bit like Bruno's role in the first seasons here with almost complete license to run and pop up in weird positions/link stuff up. He's a weird player, really should be false 9 but you will never drop Mbappe.
That is a very relevant question.
My wild guess is that, wrong or right, Florentino and co. are trying to get someone in particular with that profile for next season. It fits with their policy this decade and explains why that role has not been filled yet.
Xabi Alonso basically needs himself. I don't think people realise how brilliant he was and he's such a humble guy he always downplays it.
Xabi Alonso was capable of playing in a two man midfield with Sami Khedira charging about the field around him, often leaving him to hold the fort as Madrid's fullbacks went forward. Yet, not only could he sweep up the mess, his on the ball ability and his range of passing was such that he was the valve through which all Madrid's attacking play started for many years. People who prize aethestics over anything just see him as a really good player. Xabi Alonso was better than basically any Spanish midfielder who has played in that role, including Rodri.
If Florentino has found the next Xabi Alonso then Madrid will be set for a long, long time.
It's not a secret we're trying to sign Rodri
This comes from an alleged issue with Valverde, who is not very willing to play as a full-back or on the wing. This already goes back to Carletto's time.
With Rodrygo there is also a story, I don’t know if it’s about frustration over playing time or wanting to play on the left
You’re right, but sometimes I resist admitting that this is the basic problem.
As for Rodri, that already seems to be ruled out? Not sure if he renewed.
Haven't watched any La Liga this season. I wonder how Alonso has them playing. From what I have read, when building from deep his leverkusen played 1-4-2-3-1, with one striker, two 10s, a right winger and no left winger. Having so many players deep let them overcome opposition pressing. Focusing so much on the right opened up space on the left for lb grimaldo to attack.
When building from the back with a high defence, they swapped to 1-3-2-5. I think they sometimes swapped to 1-2-3-5, pushing rb into midfield and ldm out to left.
When defending and putting some pressure on opponents, they swap to 1-5-2-3, with a high backline pushing opposition out wide. When putting high pressure on rivals, they go man to man.
I also read that at times he had all ten outfield played on one side of the field which sounds crazy. It is hard to picture him doing that at madrid.
When building from the back with a high defence, they swapped to 1-3-2-5. I think they sometimes swapped to 1-2-3-5, pushing rb into midfield and ldm out to left.
When defending and putting some pressure on opponents, they swap to 1-5-2-3, with a high backline pushing opposition out wide. When putting high pressure on rivals, they go man to man.
I also read that at times he had all ten outfield played on one side of the field which sounds crazy. It is hard to picture him doing that at madrid.
Today was the first time I watched them and I cannot tell if it's because Liverpool were actually good or not but Madrid were shocking
It was like watching us at our worst under over the last few years. Their defence was non existent and looked like conceding every second they didn't have the ball. But we're saved by a great keeper. They had 0 midfield and in attack they just looked lost and had no options/movements
I couldn't believe how bad they were
It was like watching us at our worst under over the last few years. Their defence was non existent and looked like conceding every second they didn't have the ball. But we're saved by a great keeper. They had 0 midfield and in attack they just looked lost and had no options/movements
I couldn't believe how bad they were
He didn't seem interested in exploiting Liverpool's weaknesses or even playing to his best players' strengths today. Such a timid display.
The only tactic they seemed to have was hit it wide to Vini, but he was useless. Bradley pocketed him.
Camavinga off the right - why?
Camavinga off the right - why?
They've been generally good this season, but that was a really poor performance.
Mbappe/Vini just don't mesh well together honestly. Not sure Vini will be there long-term.
Mbappe/Vini just don't mesh well together honestly. Not sure Vini will be there long-term.
Yeah I think hes an excellent coach and what he achieved with Leverkusen was incredible. I think he’s actually made quite a good start with Madrid too. I think is a bit of an outlier, every team has their off nights and every manager has their off nights. That was poor from them though no question, especially when you consider how bad the scousers are right now.
Should be sacked for touching that Anfield shit in the tunnel.
Real hierarchy, probably doesn't like that.
Real hierarchy, probably doesn't like that.
Based on the number of free headers they gave Liverpool, they would concede five against Arsenal.
I have not watched Madrid alot this season ,but the few I have watched them it seems that the team has balance issues,he might have to bench one their star players to achieve this,I don't know if the Madrid hierachy will like that.
Please Madrid fans on Caf,what's your take on Alonso as your manager and the performance in general?
Please Madrid fans on Caf,what's your take on Alonso as your manager and the performance in general?
Am i missing something here? Top of the league? Sack watch?
Modern football init
Not sure I think this Real Madrid team is all that. Not compared to former teams anyway.
From Pepe, Ramos, Casemiro, Kroos and Modric to Hujisen, Militato, Tchouameni, Bellingham and Camavinga? Talented boys, but not leaders.
From Pepe, Ramos, Casemiro, Kroos and Modric to Hujisen, Militato, Tchouameni, Bellingham and Camavinga? Talented boys, but not leaders.
Nah, just Real Madrid.
It's Real Madrid.
In La Liga Real will win most games because of the individual quality they have... its these kinds of games where they will be tested.
They completely lacked creativity, the balance felt off. In the 75th minute.. 1-0 down and they had no one in the box. Its all rely on the individual brilliance with them.
They completely lacked creativity, the balance felt off. In the 75th minute.. 1-0 down and they had no one in the box. Its all rely on the individual brilliance with them.
No intensity, still massive tactical issues with the team, not helped by a still poorly constructed squad, but so far I don't see his stamp on the team. It's still the same it was with Ancelotti, just in a seemingly good year, which isn't a bad thing btw, but performances like yesterdays or the derby will happen every once in a while
Real test will be how well the team responds when it's do or die
Real test will be how well the team responds when it's do or die
I dont understand how the squad is poorly constructed? They signed 3 players in the backline, RB,LB, CB so its not the same as last season.
They have 2 CDM's in Tchouameni, Cammavinga
Have box to box player in Valverde, creative midfielders in Arda Guler, Jude. Wingers such as Vini (I dont rate him at all), Rodrygo, Mastantuno and CF such as Endrick and Mbappe.
Thats not to add all the other squad players Madrid have that are good players too.
we're trying to convert a 20 year old attacking midfielder into a Kroos/Modric type of CM during the season while having NO plan B, this is the big one
The attack is also poorly assembled, and not particularly defensive minded which is a real problem out of possession, though the bigger issue is the inability to attack compact low blocks because we have nobody who likes to occupy the box
The age profile of several players doesn't really fit with a team that wants to win everything this season, either
Yes, other than Huijsen's age relative to the burden being placed on him, it's fine. We've been unlucky with injuries here. I'd question trusting Carvajal's body to hold up, but honestly I don't think signing 2 RBs in this window just in case made much sense
Camavinga is no CDM, and as for Tchouameni, I hear United want a CDM, interested??? Please give us a lot of money for this chancer
Arda is the only truly creative player we have and we're shoehorning him deeper because we have no other real options. Mastantuono is 18. Endrick is 19. Neither appear ready yet. Vini and Mbappé continue to be a poor fit
The players are good, they're just poorly assembled
My browser runs into issues quoting your message individually, so I have to reply at once, apologies.
Didn't Alonso want a stiller type profile? That is the profile Madrid are missing. Whilst I think Valverde is a top player, I get he can do a job at RB, I would prefer him in CM because he is a combative player... you can hide players at RB.
I agree the ages are not ideal but Madrid have paid alot of money for these players...I think the issue is that the big name ego players, dont suit playing with each other.
With Tchouameni.... no thanks, I do not want any player that thinks they are too big for us or on big wages. We are happy signings lower PL club players who will give it their all.