Real Madrid post match thread

[Derek Parlane]

Hard to believe that 9 of last night starting 11 started against Inter in Istanbul

 

[Gray]

Bloody well shut of this pile of shite, concentrate on the FA Cup and hope we don't draw the Rags.

 

[ancoats]

Aguero may have another 5 years of playing in the City women's team

 

[paulchapo]

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.

It isn't rocket science our team has aged together. Such has been the intensity to stay at the top for so.long they've collectively hit a brick wall. Pep thought he could get one more season out of them and refresh in the summer but sadly that hasn't been the case. We've also been hindered by a huge amount of injuries meaning we can't ever play a settled side, especially in defence. Players are having to play patched up.

Bizarrely but for some inexplicable errors meaning we've thrown points away we'd be sitting higher in our own league.

No most of the players we signed I believe we've been following for a while. It wouldn't be fair to throw them in against Madrid.

 

[Realazio]

Im intrested to see what pep does on bernabeu, will he go all out attack and say fuck it YOLO, try for same like yesterday, or try something new?

 

[Dax777]

[/QUOTE]

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

It wasn't your press that was useful, rather it was the long bala against a high line

You guys are just as poor as us st pressing. You've always been poor at it. That's why we were better for most part of our engagement the last 4 years. Eben though you won most of them.

Sadly, this year we are equally as crappy at the press. Carlo was smart to drop your forward line and wait for the long balls.

I still think we will beat you and move on if Pep can get our of his own way and a few of our players come back healthy.

 

[YatesA]

Haaland gives 100% every game but you can see his disappointment when he’s let down time and again by our lacklustre awful error strewn defence and none existent midfield, Or he’s making runs behind the defence but the pass never arrives. Like you say it’s criminal to have such an incredibly talented player and not playing to his strengths. The passion he has for the club and supporters is amazing, if Pep or whoever comes in after him can’t make use of his talent I would rather he flourished elsewhere. Obviously not at a cartel club though.

This is another reason why kovacic is awful in the 6, man can't play a ball over the top to save himself. Any run is futile.

 

[Eaststander1]

Well, barring some sort of miracle happening when we go to the Bernabeu, that's almost certainly 'curtains' for City now, and this season we can't even say that it's been fun while it lasted ...... it's hard to take, but 'it is what it is', and in fairness to Real Madrid, they are a top, top side, with some superb players ... they are full of tricks, and one of two of their players are that 'slippery', they just 'ghost' past the opposition as if they aren't even there ... some of their passing is incredible, just so accurate, and before you know it they are in on goal .... Ancelotti has got quite some team there, and its difficult to look past them lifting this trophy again.

We had the chance at 2-1 up to really 'go for it', to push them back, and make it three, and at least give ourselves something tangible to defend when we go to the Bernabeu, but it just didn't happen, and, as usual, poor defending saw us capitulate right at the end, just so disappointing ..... so unless we can now somehow pull off something like a shock 2-0 win in Spain, we can forget all about this competition until next season .... providing, of course, that we can actually qualify for it!

 

[paulchapo]

Im intrested to see what pep does on bernabeu, will he go all out attack and say fuck it YOLO, try for same like yesterday, or try something new?

You just never know what may happen football is a funny old game as the late Jimmy Greaves used to say. Personally even if we okay really well and take the lead I think you will just have too much firepower for us. I fear a hiding, possibly 4/5-1.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Well, barring some sort of miracle happening when we go to the Bernabeu, that's almost certainly 'curtains' for City now, and this season we can't even say that it's been fun while it lasted ...... it's hard to take, but 'it is what it is', and in fairness to Real Madrid, they are a top, top side, with some superb players ... they are full of tricks, and one of two of their players ghost past the opposition as if they aren't even there ... some of their passing is incredible, just so accurate, and before you know it they are in on goal .... Ancelotti has got quite some team there, and its difficult to look past them lifting this trophy again.

We had the chance at 2-1 up to really 'go for it', to push them back, and make it three, and at least give ourselves something tangible to defend when we go to the Bernabeu, but it just didn't happen, and, as usual, poor defending saw us capitulate right at the end ..... so unless we can now somehow pull off something like a shock 2-0 win in Spain, we can forget all about this competition until next season .... providing, of course, that we can actually qualify for it!

Agree mostly.

Disagree with your praise of Madrid. Madrid are pretty shit - as top sides go. They're in the playoffs just like we are (unlike actual top sides).

Madrid's main problem, IMO, is that they're full of egotistic offensive players who are fantastically gifted but who can't follow directions from their manager to pitch in once the ball turns over.

Madrid is going to knock us out - and depending on whom they draw - they might advance further. But Madrid are totally shit on defense. They're very, very unlikely to win the C/L this year.

 

[Roachy]

Well, barring some sort of miracle happening when we go to the Bernabeu, that's almost certainly 'curtains' for City now, and this season we can't even say that it's been fun while it lasted ...... it's hard to take, but 'it is what it is', and in fairness to Real Madrid, they are a top, top side, with some superb players ... they are full of tricks, and one of two of their players ghost past the opposition as if they aren't even there ... some of their passing is incredible, just so accurate, and before you know it they are in on goal .... Ancelotti has got quite some team there, and its difficult to look past them lifting this trophy again.

We had the chance at 2-1 up to really 'go for it', to push them back, and make it three, and at least give ourselves something tangible to defend when we go to the Bernabeu, but it just didn't happen, and, as usual, poor defending saw us capitulate right at the end ..... so unless we can now somehow pull off something like a shock 2-0 win in Spain, we can forget all about this competition until next season .... providing, of course, that we can actually qualify for it!

Our CL campaign this season is like our PL form, if not worse. We've been slipshod from the start tbh. We started at home to Inter with a draw, who granted are a tidy side, and never really got going after that. It will take some doing to progress from here and I hope we give it a real go.

 

[bluegaz13]

Hard to believe that 9 of last night starting 11 started against Inter in Istanbul

They always say that you should change from a position of strength.

Although it wouldn't have been very palatable, the replacement of Walker, De Bruyne ( Gundogan left of his own free will) and maybe one of the injury prone defenders (Ake, Stones) should have started as soon as the final had finished.

There is no room for sentiment and to be fair we struggled to beat a poor United and Inter at the end of the season.....not forgetting the best display of football I have ever seen v Madrid at home.

Football is about fine margins and look at the state of our midfield approx 18 months later.

I feel as though Pep has lost the ruthlessness he previously had. (quite rightly Joe Hart is an example of this)

For whatever reason it feels as though he has to get a combination of De Bruyne, Bernardo, Gundogan and Kovacic either into the starting line up or bring them on into later in the game.

This has cost us big time this season unfortunately.

 

[eyalluvitt]

You just never know what may happen football is a funny old game as the late Jimmy Greaves used to say. Personally even if we okay really well and take the lead I think you will just have too much firepower for us. I fear a hiding, possibly 4/5-1.

I feel it will be PSG esq dry bumming without us going two ahead

 

[paulchapo]

I feel it will be PSG esq dry bumming without us going two ahead

Ha ha me too there is no other outcome possible this season.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

Well, barring some sort of miracle happening when we go to the Bernabeu, that's almost certainly 'curtains' for City now, and this season we can't even say that it's been fun while it lasted ...... it's hard to take, but 'it is what it is', and in fairness to Real Madrid, they are a top, top side, with some superb players ... one of two of their players just 'ghost' past the opposition as if they aren't even there ... some of their passing is just so accurate, and before you know it they are in on goal .... Ancelotti has got quite some team there, and its difficult to look past them lifting this trophy again.

We had the chance at 2-1 up to really 'go for it', to push them back, and make it three, and at least give ourselves something tangible to defend when we go to the Bernabeu, but it just didn't happen, and, as usual, poor defending saw us capitulate right at the end, just so disappointing ..... so unless we can now somehow pull off something like a shock 2-0 win in Spain, we can forget all about this competition until next season .... providing, of course, that we can actually qualify for it!

Madrid - a young, elite, athletic, world star galactico side with an elite coach who has won significantly fewer trophies than Pep in about twelve/thirteen years longer in coaching. They play in a much easier league - just ask Gareth Bale - so topping La Liga is nothing special. Taking that into account, why did they only finish eleventh in the CL league - no ifs, buts, maybes, wuddas, cuddas, shuddas, false positions? When the Madrid excitement dies down, they'll realise they're only one up against a side handing chances to them on a plate. Imagine the reverse if was the first leg - we go over there and get handed two goals on a plate. We'd be told in no uncertain terms that we were lucky. We'd be nervous about having a one goal lead - a two goal lead even. Will Madrid plan to face our old guard or will they anticipate changes. Either way, I always realistically expected us to go over there needing a win. I'm glass half full - the greatest out and out striker on the planet has stepped up his game recently, Phil looks to be close to the old normal, Gvardiol looking immense, Jack superb until the injury and John looking back to his best (injury permitting). Maybe time to put Jack in the middle because he'd run the show. If I was a Madrid fan, I'd be secretly very nervous about facing a team with Haaland in it - especially given our lack of form, which at some point, even with its ageing limitations, has to deliver a stellar performance at some point. Even during the dark days all those decades ago, we'd deliver one stellar performance a season.

 

[IrishBlueSince92]

Just been on Twitter.

We may have got beaten but at least none of the Madrid players walked over our club crest on a carpet in the tunnel area.
Doesn't make it as bad now.

 

[youngbob]

Hard to believe that 9 of last night starting 11 started against Inter in Istanbul

Yeah this is the key thing for me. The last meaningful game of every other season (or every third season) should see huge differences in the XI. Ours probably won't this year for the first time in ages.

Last meaningful game of the season in 2010 (vs Spurs) and 2012 (vs QPR)

Fulop
Zabaleta, K. Toure, Kompany, Bridge
A. Johnson, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy
Tevez, Adebayor

Hart
Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy
David Silva, Yaya Toure, Barry, Nasri
Tevez, Aguero

7 changes.

Then the last meaningful game of the 13/14 season:

Hart
Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov
David Silva, Yaya Toure, J Garcia, Nasri
Aguero, Dzeko

5 changes.

Then...

The last meaningful game of the 2017/18 season (vs Spurs)

Ederson
Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Delph
David Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne
Sterling, Jesus, Sane

Last meaningful game of the 20/21 season (vs Chelsea):

Ederson
Walker, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko
Foden, Gundogan, David Silva
Sterling, De Bruyne, Mahrez

5 changes.

Last meaningful game of the 2022/23 season (vs Inter)

Ederson
Akanji, Stones, Dias, Ake
Rodri
De Bruyne, Gundogan
Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish

7 changes.

And last night 2024/25 (vs Real Madrid):

Ederson
Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol
Stones
De Bruyne, Bernardo
Savinho, Haaland, Grealish

2 changes.

Think it's obvious what the issue is.

 

[GoatersLeftShin]

The scoreline flattered us. We lost 2-3 but the chances they had were far better and more of them. On another day we would have been beat 2-6 if they had their shooting boots on.

Yet again it's another European capitulation to go with the other Real game, Liverpool, Monaco, Lyon, Spurs etc. We just don't learn anything from these games. The space we handed to Vinicius, Mbappe and Bellingham was laughable. They are 3 of the best players in the world and we barely knew where these fuckers were even when they were strolling into our penalty area.

I felt sorry for Lewis as he had a new one ripped but surely it was better to pack the defence at 2-1 and give yourself something in the return leg. Real would've done that. Barcelona would've done that. Liverpool would've done that etc etc. Blackpool would've done that.

This season isn't all about injuries, the whole setup of the team is off. It's been found out. The top teams are taking the best bits of Peps game and blending it with Klopps and adding ina level of pace and power that leaves us looking sooooo old and slow. The games moved on from pure possession based football. The sheer pace and power of Real was a total contrast to us. As an aside, I would love to see Vinicius at City he is a superb player

This season is a write off and I think we're better off playing the new lads who've joined and sadly getting used to the idea that some legends will have to leave in summer.

Sadly I know we will pitch up at the Bernabeu and try to play this plodding style of football and get beat.

 

[East Level 2]

A few more comments on last night:
Sergio's balls are safe. Real didn't beat us; we beat ourselves. - Yet again.
Before the game most City fans thought we needed to win by at least two goals to stand a chance of progressing. With that in mind it made sense to go for a third rather than shutting up shop. That doesn't excuse the individual errors but explains why we just didn't settle for the win.
So what do we do at the Bernard Bowl? Go for it and risk being caught on the break, or sit back and wait to see what happens. I have a horrible feeling some at the club (including fans) would settle for a tame 0-0 rather than making any attempt to win the tie.
Out is out. So why not go for it?

 

[GoatersLeftShin]

We also need to look at Eserson in summer as well. For every good save he makes he drips huge clangers. He's not too draw any more and most keepers can play with their feet now, thanks to the way he trail blazed that part of the game!