Real Madrid (H) - Tues 11th Feb, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

[PragueBlue]

Ederson

Akanji Stones Dias Gvardiol

Kovacic Gonzalez Bernardo

Foden Haaland Savinho

Wouldn't mind if Ake was in for Gvardiol. Either way it should still be a reasonably solid defence. We'd have a bit more energy and ball retention in CM with KDB in reserve if needed (though I'm pretty sure Guardiola will start him). A bit of threat from the wings too with Marmoush/Doku/Grealish to come on if needed.

We should be pretty unstoppable in the air with 4 CBs, Haaland and Gonzalez. I wonder if we'll try and utilise this aerial strength, particularly if RM have a weakened backline. If it isn't going to plan it might be worth putting Grealish or Doku on the left to win some free kicks and load the box with giants! Not really Guardiola's style though.

 

[Legal Alien]

We’ve suddenly loads of options to choose from tomorrow. Which 4 of our 5 brilliant defenders do we chose? Or will we even go Khuzanov from pace? Will he pick Nico. If so who misses out? Kova or Bernie or DeBryne or Foden or Marmoush or Savio or Doku? Grealish improving as well. Great problems to have. Personally I’d go
Eddy
Akanji Stones Dias Gvardiol
Kev Nico Kova Bernie
Phil Haaland
Kev and Phil interchanging and doubling up giving width and overloads on the right and Gvardiol high on the left. Bernie and Kova covering when Gvardiol pushes up with Bernie also helping to double up on overloads on the left. Their defence is seriously there for the taking.

Their defence is their weak point right now, so i would like to see us use the pace we have in the squad to run at them.

We need early balls for Erling to run onto and have Savinho (then bring on Marmoush) to run at their right back.

 

[Goater101]

Barca this season shown the way to beat Madrid. Pace in behind their back four

 

[supercity88]

Just seen there's quite a list of Real players a booking from suspension. Got to absolutely shithouse them tomorrow, if there is any club that deserves it then it's that lot. Bellingham, Modric, Camavinga, Tchouameni all a yellow from missing the second leg. Need to be all over the red, and targeting those players. With the issues they have, if we can get a couple to miss the second leg we will have a huge advantage.

 

[Penfold the Duke]

Can’t wait to be surrounded by phones tomorrow, any twat celebrates next to me if Madrid scores will end up at the bottom of level 3

Could someone not simply applaud an opponents good play, you know, like what one would do in cricket.

 

[PragueBlue]

What sort of lead do we think is defendable in the return leg? I think we'd need at least a three goal margin. Which will be a big ask.


Anyone who says 7-0 will either be banned or, alternatively, be forced to listen to S****s records for 24 hrs non stop.

Any kind of win would do me. We'd have a decent chance with a 1 or 2 goal lead.

 

[wattle]

Their defence is their weak point right now, so i would like to see us use the pace we have in the squad to run at them.

We need early balls for Erling to run onto and have Savinho (then bring on Marmoush) to run at their right back.

Yeh also a good plan. So many options now :)

 

[pavelsrnicek]

I can’t stand Real, they are the footballing embodiment of entitlement. Spent billions but bailed out by the state. Constantly protected, beneficiaries of countless favourable decisions on and off the pitch. The most entitled fans, I can sort of stomach local Madrid fans but everyone else is the most needy of glory hunters.

There’s no real mystique or mythology to them. They’re the Spanish establishment club, with Franco’s support and tons of money. They are incredibly successful but with buying expensive but in fairness good players their sole modus operandi.

Anyway on to tomorrow night, hopefully great atmosphere and proper performance. I’d love to see Haaland being fed properly and smashing a makeshift Real defence. We have the tools to hurt them but we need to pull out a performance. We may need a miraculous home debut from Nico to protect our back four. Here’s hoping.

 

[alexmcity]

Ederson

Akanji Stones Dias Gvardiol

Kovacic Gonzalez Bernardo

Foden Haaland Savinho

Wouldn't mind if Ake was in for Gvardiol. Either way it should still be a reasonably solid defence. We'd have a bit more energy and ball retention in CM with KDB in reserve if needed (though I'm pretty sure Guardiola will start him). A bit of threat from the wings too with Marmoush/Doku/Grealish to come on if needed.

We should be pretty unstoppable in the air with 4 CBs, Haaland and Gonzalez. I wonder if we'll try and utilise this aerial strength, particularly if RM have a weakened backline. If it isn't going to plan it might be worth putting Grealish or Doku on the left to win some free kicks and load the box with giants! Not really Guardiola's style though.

Think only Tchouameni is really tall, and I'm not sure he's good in the air. Set pieces might be vital.

 

[Fordyboy46]

Think only Tchouameni is really tall, and I'm not sure he's good in the air. Set pieces might be vital.

Lol, you mean our corners

 

[Realazio]

I can’t stand Real, they are the footballing embodiment of entitlement. Spent billions but bailed out by the state. Constantly protected, beneficiaries of countless favourable decisions on and off the pitch. The most entitled fans, I can sort of stomach local Madrid fans but everyone else is the most needy of glory hunters.

There’s no real mystique or mythology to them. They’re the Spanish establishment club, with Franco’s support and tons of money. They are incredibly successful but with buying expensive but in fairness good players their sole modus operandi.

Anyway on to tomorrow night, hopefully great atmosphere and proper performance. I’d love to see Haaland being fed properly and smashing a makeshift Real defence. We have the tools to hurt them but we need to pull out a performance. We may need a miraculous home debut from Nico to protect our back four. Here’s hoping.

Um, about franco thing, you might be wrong. Francos fav club was atletico madrid becouse it was a "militaristic" and "navy boys" theme and club. Real was always more like "kings club"..hence why some clubs in the spanish league got the "real" before their name from the King

Real didnt get bailed out by state, but by getting big credits in early 2000 and selling some ground in madrid for i will be honest "questionably high" price

 

[Macca3]

My daughter lives opposite The Lowry Hotel tonight- photos from tonight! I’ve asked her to set off the fireworks around 3am!!!!

 

[Gone for a Burton]

Khusanov has the pace and physicality to do a Walker impression but we might be asking way too much of him way too soon.

An old youngster, fast, aggressive, calm but confident with a face you can't read.

He's ready

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Pep should take VJ out for a pint whilst he's here.

Talk to him about his contract talks, unhappiness at RM, etc etc ...

 

[Realazio]

Pep should take VJ out for a pint whilst he's here.

Talk to him about his contract talks, unhappiness at RM, etc etc ...

There is still a chance vini might go to arabs...alot of money is involved, and he would get 1B for 5 years there...sure he would have to forget about any "glory" in champions league or whatever, but now honestly thats alot of money for anyone

 

[pavelsrnicek]

Um, about franco thing, you might be wrong. Francos fav club was atletico madrid becouse it was a "militaristic" and "navy boys" theme and club. Real was always more like "kings club"..hence why some clubs in the spanish league got the "real" before their name from the King

Real didnt get bailed out by state, but by getting big credits in early 2000 and selling some ground in madrid for i will be honest "questionably high" price

The training ground was local government, state bailout was this:

Spanish football clubs to repay tens of millions in illegal state subsidies

Real Madrid and FC Barcelona among teams Brussels finds guilty of unfair competition after receiving state finance

www.theguardian.com

And as for Franco:

General Franco, Real Madrid & the king: The history behind club's link to Spain's establishment | Goal.com

In order to gain a fuller understanding of how Real Madrid came to be viewed as the establishment class of Spanish football, one must become familiar with the history.

www.goal.com

 

[Mr. Shush]

Ederson
Akanji-Stones-Dias-Gvardiol
Nico
Savinho-Bernardo-Doku
Marmoush-Haaland

If what we're hearing is true about Valverde playing right back in place of Lucas Vasquez, then Doku needs to go after him. Militao and Rudiger are out. If we can handle the counters, I think we can take this.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

There is still a chance vini might go to arabs...alot of money is involved, and he would get 1B for 5 years there...sure he would have to forget about any "glory" in champions league or whatever, but now honestly thats alot of money for anyone

Yea, you're right but i can't think of a better team for him to join after RM than City.
A stint in the PL at City would be unbelievable.

He's absolute quality on the pitch.

 

[Realazio]

The training ground was local government, state bailout was this:

Spanish football clubs to repay tens of millions in illegal state subsidies

Real Madrid and FC Barcelona among teams Brussels finds guilty of unfair competition after receiving state finance

www.theguardian.com

And as for Franco:

General Franco, Real Madrid & the king: The history behind club's link to Spain's establishment | Goal.com

In order to gain a fuller understanding of how Real Madrid came to be viewed as the establishment class of Spanish football, one must become familiar with the history.

www.goal.com

Ground where from real madrid, they sold it to Madrid city for a think around 400M, that was alot during that time+ real got credit from some banks also in high numbers, thats how the first galacticos where created

about the franco thing, im sorry but i cannot take seriously goal.com posts as someone who knows alot more.

Franco did like real, but in a sense alot more than barca....

Barca gave problems to franco becouse as we all know Catalonia and spanish state are like a cat and dog

 

[Zenmanc]

It's funny how a few days ago everyone here had us buried vs. Real.