Real Madrid post match thread

I was too angry and pissed off last night to post, calmed down a bit but not much. Tbh Madrid probably deserved to win or at least draw considering the chances they created. Their front 3 and Bellingham were far too quick for us.


However, there were positives, especially the first half excluding the first 15 mins when we looked dangerous and threatened. Defensively in the 1st half we did well, but the injuries to both Grealish and Akanji hurt us and second half we struggled. What is apparent is both Gundogan and Kovacic can not play at an elite level anymore and Lewis is not a fb and never will be.
 
inbetween said:
I don't think it's a lack of quality, a lot of it comes from the upset in injuries at the back. I still do not understand why we have 5 central defenders and 50% of them are injured at any point in time.

We signed Khusanov because of these injuries but replacing Walker was more important than anything else so now we're doing the usual and having to reinvent the wheel.

You have to ask the question who is our best back 4? Anyone would probably say Gvardiol, Dias, Stones and Ake but that's 4 central defenders and at least 2 of them are injured every single game. We don't have a lack of quality but rather a lack of balance in the squad.
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If half those players are perpetually injured, that still constitutes a lack of quality, & it also exposes the lack of quality strength in depth.

I've lost count of the amount of times I've argued for proper specialist FB's & been hounded by those claiming we don't need them, as having 10 CB's covers us & that's Pep's way forward.

I see it as we got away with it for years, but now those chicken are coming home to roost. Again, this is all on Pep, & Txiki must also shoulder some of the blame.

We started the FB-less malarkey because of injury & form situations, but we never took the opportunity to seriously resolve these glaring issues when able, preferring to rely on 34 year old Walker & a succession of CB's converted to FB's.

Scenario: Imagine if Walker were still here but out with a long-term injury? If most see Lewis as a future No 8, this means we essentially had ONE 34 year old specialist FB at the club by design, which for an elite team is shocking imo.

Cancelo was the only recent previous FB & he left two years ago.
 
Keeper! said:
Agreed, this game is not over.

I could see the second leh been another goal fest, neither side can defend.
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In 2012 Chelsea somehow won the C/L with a horrible squad. We're currently not as bad as 2012 Chelsea - so yeah, in that sense, it's not over.

That said, it's extremely unlikely that we advance versus Madrid. 1-in-5 or thereabouts for me.
 
It is important not two conflate two different matters.

Last night we lost because of two entirely avoidable errors. Had the game finished on 80 minutes then we'd be rightly praising some very solid performances, the team set-up and response to enforced changes. Unfortunately errors were made, that are unrelated to recruitment and team selection on the night.

Clearly we need a few new players. January's window shows this is being addressed.
 
AndyP68 said:
It is important not two conflate two different matters.

Last night we lost because of two entirely avoidable errors. Had the game finished on 80 minutes then we'd be rightly praising some very solid performances, the team set-up and response to enforced changes. Unfortunately errors were made, that are unrelated to recruitment and team selection on the night.

Clearly we need a few new players. January's window shows this is being addressed.
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The other way of looking at this is that time-after-time we're incapable of controlling the game once having established a lead. Those little errors keep cropping up, over and over again.

We're in need of a massive rebuild - having failed to upgrade the squad to remain top level over the past 2 or 3 seasons - yes, we won the league the last 2 seasons - but meanwhile our players were aging, we didn't do enough in the transfer windows to replace them, and teams around us were getting better and better as we were getting worse and worse.

This season - I think we'll make top 4, and that we'll win no trophies - well, aside from the Community Shield. Next season, the rebuild continues - and thank goodness we have Pep.
 
I think Madrid planned for Lewis to start. When akanji was in the line up they had to change the game plan. As soon as Lewis came on at half time they went after him. Think he got done twice down the line at the start of the second half. Cant remember akanji being done like that they knew he was our weak link but pep can't see it
 
It
swinton blue said:
I think Madrid planned for Lewis to start. When akanji was in the line up they had to change the game plan. As soon as Lewis came on at half time they went after him. Think he got done twice down the line at the start of the second half. Cant remember akanji being done like that they knew he was our weak link but pep can't see it
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Was the fear in Lewis' face when coming on..he's a nice lad it seems but way oitof his depth..has an int cap too...Geoff Thomas style!
 
uwerosler28 said:
If the subs where Omar for Grealish and Kushanov for Akani we win that game
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Perhaps so. But losing Grealish (great for ball possession and control of the game), Akanji and Ake (great defenders), means that the game was inevitably going to be more open - and that favors a younger, more energetic Madrid.

I agree with you though - I'd have preferred Omar and Kushanov over Kovacic and Lewis (why on earth Lewis is even in our C/L squad atm is beyond me - he's a disaster on defense and doesn't do much on offense - albeit he's tidy on the ball when not pressed).

2nd leg at Madrid where we need to score - I really hope that Omar starts.
 
bondsman said:
Stones ran the game in midfield. Not saying Gonzalez shouldn’t start but Kovacic is turd him and rico for that third goal highlight that AGAIN. Stones in midfield protecting the back four was working to say it wasn’t is a crick
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He mostly passed back and sideways. Never saw the advantageous runs in front of him and a few of his cross field balls were short.

Sure he had possession for a while in the middle because Real sucks just like us at closing anyone down.
 
Dax777 said:
He mostly passed back and sodeway. Never saw the advantageous runs. Sure he had possession for a while because Real sucks just like us at closing anyone down.
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I wish we did high press more than 10 mins at the start of the game. Not sure if our players ignored it, or carlo said otherwise, but with your high line at the start , our high press and longer balls in space we could maybe scored

Im not sure what was the idea of pep having that high line
 
paulchapo said:
No I get the first bit it's been a problem all season. It's the Aguero part for me I thought was disrespectful, I've not seen the quote. Bear in mind you're on a City supporters forum.
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Well its been all over the internet yesterday since he said it.

Its a bold thing to say
 
Realazio said:
I wish we did high press more than 10 mins at the start of the game. Not sure if our players ignored it, or carlo said otherwise, but with your high line at the start , our high press and longer balls in space we could maybe scored

Im not sure what was the idea of pep having that high line
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The high line has served us well for nine years as our trophy count and our demolition of your club two seasons ago proved. Even last season you rode your luck with an unprecedented defensive showing against us. This season I agree I s not working due to a lack of pace and individual errors.
 
paulchapo said:
The high line has served us well for nine years as our trophy count and our demolition of your club two seasons ago proved. Even last season you rode your luck with an unprecedented defensive showing against us. This season I agree I s not working due to a lack of pace and individual errors.
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Well, i think its that pep dont wanna adapt, he wants to still force his way regardless of what team he has and in what shape

The difference is, carlo is ok to adapt to the opponent. You where better than us last year, but carlo was fine for all the real sitting behind the ball waiting for an counter. Keep in mind, you will see very rarely real do that.

You have some fast fowards, whats stopping pep to play defensive on the counter instead of trying to play from the back, high press etc etc
 
Realazio said:
Well, i think its that pep dont wanna adapt, he wants to still force his way regardless of what team he has and in what shape

The difference is, carlo is ok to adapt to the opponent. You where better than us last year, but carlo was fine for all the real sitting behind the ball waiting for an counter. Keep in mind, you will see very rarely real do that.

You have some fast fowards, whats stopping pep to play defensive on the counter instead of trying to play from the back, high press etc etc
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It's a mystery to us at times but his methods have served him well for so.long he fully believes in them. Time will tell whether his tactics will prove outdated as Mourinho's did.
 
From what i saw lately, alot of teams started doing the same...mid full of engines that can run for days, attack fast and hope for solid defence, and play somewhat a defensive counter. Thats basicly real also, since kroos left beside ceballos and modric we dont have a "true" playmaker, so i guess the idea is to have a middle thats ball winning oriented while the attack waits on the counter.

From what i saw, it looks like some of your players are really tired, or lost confidence and pep dont know what to do.

Beside nice and the foward i think the winter transfer was more like a panic buying, but than, those same players are sitting on the bench while the old guard is trying to do something.
 
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