Real Madrid (A) Post Match Thread

[Palerider]

Still gutted but we need to keep our perspective. City and Bayern Munich under Pep conceded stacks of goals in the latter stages of the CL so I don't think it's the players at fault, it's the system. The problem, of course, is that the system works fine in domestic football (although we outplayed Liverpool twice in the PL and only got a draw each time so perhaps the system falls down against the sides with good attacks). Pep needs to compromise his principles slightly against the better sides and use proper full backs who can defend. Also, we need more pace. It was noticeable that we dominated when Real had their old man midfield in place but soon as they brought on players with youth and pace we struggled. All in all though we need evolution not revolution.

 

[Claytop]

Replace KDB with JWP?

Christ.

 

[dobingsdobber]

How did all those players do in the CL for us, out of interest?

How have all the current players done for us in the CL,out of interest?

 

[Lavinda Past]

You have question marks over pretty much all our team. Makes you wonder how we even make the top 6 every season never mind winning the hardest league in the world nearly every season.

Nothing lasts for ever Vincent. There's a big cliff looming. We've got to plan long term, particularly for life after Pep.

 

[Moorland Blue]

I think we have to be a bit careful in our analysis that blames our players. Ancelotti's use of subs was brilliant, he took off the older players and brought on his younger squad members (especially Rodrygo) who were all full of energy, quick and clever at a time when we were starting to look tired. Pep has frequently said he likes to work with a small squad but I think he's paid the price for that in two ways - tiredness towards the end of a long season and too big a gap between the main squad and the youngsters. Real have the advantage that in their league they have many games where they can blood younger players. In the prem that is much trickier. For me the answer lies in the fact that we don't convert enough chances in the big games in Europe (possibly in The Prem too). Perhaps the 'false 9' game is too knackering for forward players in a full season? We'll know if its different next year with Haaland. Win the league and I'm happy. Champs League? Get to the last 8 in the knockout and hope we don't get 4 of the most knackering games possible and don't miss chances!! Come on City!

 

[Vicious111]

I thought the way we dealt with PSG last season was real evidence of our ability to compete at the highest level. We riled them up, Ferny got Di Maria sent off and then we drew the fouls and saw the game out.

But whilst we were right to push for the second goal we needed to then just play keep ball and get the ball down their half of the pitch. All night long that long ball was causing us problems though. We didn't seem comfortable with it. Then in the 2nd half of ET once they were ahead Militao (who is absolutely shite at football) just kept going down "injured" then miraculously would come back on before going down again. It was a masterclass. That's what we needed. It's the standard tactic used. If Real had have been ahead they'd have been doing it from the 70th minute, if not sooner. We needed someone with the experience of Fernandinho to just slow the play down.

When they got the first goal someone should have pretended they had cramp to allow our players to reset and take a breath. The ref would have added more time on for them, but it could have given us the chance to communicate and get back into shape. You wonder if Ake could have come on instead - the majority of their goals in this competition have been from crosses so having someone who is currently dominant in the air would have been a good option...

Hit the nail on the head. The referee seemed happy to continously stop the game though. Any competent referee would have continued play or made them leave the pitch.

Why we didn't do this, make a foul. Do fucking something to frustrate them and slow the game down is bong boggling.

 

[ShaunMCFC]

Having had half a day to reflect, I’m still positively fuming, can’t believe we’ve scored 5 goals in a semi final and gone out!

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

How have all the current players done for us in the CL,out of interest?

That wasn't the claim. Why would players who used to play for us and have their own pretty poor moments in Europe come in and sort this team out?

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

I'm sure we're just not destined to win it!

Pep should watch minutes 85-100 today and should realise that all our problems exist in that timeframe. First of all, it was a semi-final and Real had either to take a beating lying down, at home or they would go for it which they did. What else was anyone expecting? I didn't expect to lose the game, but I expected a very nervy end.

I think the first goal pretty much came from our corner where we kind of messed it, passed it back to Cancelo who just lumped it into the box. It was a lazy ball when the obvious thing to do was to take a short corner, frustrate them, get a thrown in and wind the clock down. I'm sure they scored within 25s or so after it.

If I'm honest, and as I've said before, I never expect us to roar back once we get into this position. As good as the team is, we don't have individuals who can drag the team back up.

The problem we have is that we've seen - every year - that one goal conceded leads to 2 far too often. I hate to say it, but the team bottles it and I know that sounds daft when we've won PL after PL. However, look last night and there were NO leaders on the pitch after the first goal went in. We didn't regroup, we didn't have anyone shouting, we didn't get anyone trying to rally the team we just cracked and bottled it. Again. Liverpool, Spurs, Monaco, Lyon and now Real Madrid - this isn't a fluke, it's what we do in the CL. It's a pattern.

I said the other week that Ederson needs a kick up the arse and last night we saw him absolutely unaware of Rodrygo. I think he needs to go back to basics and focus on being a goalkeeper for a bit. Ederson revolutionised keeping in England, but now every keeper is passing out from the back just like he does. I think he is becoming a bit lazy and - like others have said - he is almost becoming Bravo like in that he rarely 'wins' the game with saves.

I've said many times that I don't rate Cancelo as he just can't defend. It's really as simple as that, we might as well try Gundogan, Palmer or Bernardo at left back (or right back) if we play him. He's a fantastic player, providing it's not in defence. We have to find another Walker from somewhere - someone who is a defender first with pace and physical power. Walker and Zinchenko are our best full backs but we can improve on Zinchenko.

As I've said before, think back to the team that won the first PL and think how you would pick a captain from Kompany, De Jong, Barry, Tevez, Zaba or Yaya. We lack captains on the pitch. Other than Fernandinho (going) and Dias, there's no one is there? No one who's got that visceral determination. I think if we had a Kompany last night, we'd have gone through.

I thought Bernardo, Gundogan, Rodri and Grealish were superb and they didn't deserve to lose at all.

So many people are saying we need a striker, but it's not just that. If we'd have signed Haaland (or Kane) and they've bagged 5 goals over 2 games yet we let in 6 it's pointless. We need leaders on the pitch who can cope with a goal going in. The team need to be able to hunker down and take it for 10 minutes at a time and I really had hoped we'd have learnt something from our last trip to Madrid. As soon as they went ahead it was cramp this, injury that, rolling about and the rest. We learnt nothing, again.

I really don't know what else we can do, but if we keep conceding fast, sloppy goals then we will never win it. We can't keep shipping in 4+ goals over 2 legs. I do think Pep has to have a look at the mental performance of some of those players last night and think about freshening the squad. Football isn't just about passing, it's about determination, aggression, attitude, pace and sheer power sometimes and I whilst I love watching this team, a sprinkling of those attributes from back to front wouldn't go amiss.

I'm just really disappointed in the collapse - again - last night. To lose a game within 10 minutes or so is absolutely criminal.

It's a good summary and argument this mate. I think your first line sums it up really - 10m years ago we came from no chance to win the league and there is a certain symmetry with it happening to us a decade later. The difference is we were pummelling QPR but could not find a way until very late whereas last night, there was little real threat or sustained pressure. Up to 88 minutes I think most fans would think like I did that tis is a job well done, good subs and we look likely to finish the game at any time. Then out of absolutely nowhere........
I am so proud of MCFC under Pep and the way we play but I don't really buy the argument over lack of determination, lack of aggression etc. They were there in abundance at Athletico and as for leadership, I do get what you mean an respect that but I don't think it would have made much difference last night. It was a freak result. Ederson gave away possession own the field after the first but that was a good % move in my view given their energy and there's only 5 mins left - what happened after that was a fluke goal.
With Pep you get that contradiction don't you of "flawed perfection" and I for one am happy to fully buy into it. We have no God given right to win trophies but we have been regaled with trophies, beautiful football great moments, players, winning runs etc and a few fuck ups - but the crucial point is we are always there.
Onto individuals, yes Cancelo is mercurial and that would always be a risk and as said before he gave the ball away and was lax on goal one. As was Ederson - way too slow for the first goal. He needs to sharpen up quickly.
If we can get Pep to stay and bring in Haaland as well as Alvarez that's very good. But the recruitment policy needs to address weaknesses and Pep needs to use younger players much more. Young Palmer seems a rare talent to me.
A real issue with recruitment for me is the seeming need to always buy "world class" players or fans saying so and so isn't good enough for us when in fact they probably are. People like James Milner were really good squad players for us to have as is Zinch, not world beating but good enough, committed, hard working and rarely injured. We need more of that type of player in the squad and to get them when they are relatively cheap.
Hopefully the squad can ahve a good rest this summer but will end up knackered due to the WC in November but I would like to see the linger term plan given Mahrez, Gundogan, Kevin are all getting older and if its true there is no CDM purchase planned then that is a worry.
Finally, like everyone else I was just dumbstruck last night after being so happy but I remember feeling a bit bewildered after the first leg and now realise why - we should have won it by at least 2 if not 3 goals. Our attacking play was brilliant.
Anyway, let's win the league now!

 

[ChelseaBlue]

Just 10 mins crazy football which knocked you guys that was it. Pep did look as down as I've ever seen him in a post interview.