Back to Real Madrid I am down, Hell, I’ll even throw in Benzema and Cristiano to Chelsea to frustrate everyone.
This has been an absolutely maddening time for us (saw one of your RM posts earlier; I'm a lifelong fan and actually became an official member at the Bernabeu itself, which was probably my most memorable non-ND sports moment!) - back to back CL's, and 2017 was some of the best soccer I've seen w/r/t a fluid midfield that could move the ball around - but Los Merengues would struggle to score on an average intramural team the way we have been shooting the last few weeks. I hesitate to judge an absolute legend like Zidane after both his playing career & the CL rampage the last few years, but similar to ND football, I think the lack of depth has really hurt even if the starters are outstanding. We got incredibly spoiled having Morata & Ha-mez coming off the bench, and it likely wasn't sustainable to hang on to them forever, but I would have been very happy getting a guy like Auba who can fill in across the front line and McGyver on the wing if needed. Icardi could be another option since he isn't cap tied and CL is all we realistically have left, but I don't see him coming if Zidane is wedded to his fellow Frenchman up top. Looking forward, I am completely on board with moving Benz, bringing in someone like Kane as the newest Galactico, and getting Auba for a 2-4 year cover role. Cris has earned the right to move on if and when he wants, and if he went back to United, I would cheer for him there too.
this year is the total lack of fire and form that I have seen from key players. Marcelo has been an absolute mystery. Its not just the lack of tracking back and hustling on defense. All of his magic on offense is gone. He has no precision on passes. The samba magic to get by folks on the wing is gone. I would say some time on the bench would suit him but when you see Theo play in Copa he looks completely over matched. His cross notwithstanding he played an awful game yesterday. Where are the runs we saw last year at Alaves? Gone.
I do not know what to make of the year. People keep calling for transfers but will ZiZou play them? Marco can barely get any time. Ceballos, who I feel has impressed, cannot get any time other than Copa del Rey. Mayoral cannot get any time even when Benzema and Ronaldo struggle and Bale is out.
Only Isco continues to dazzle. I like what I have seen from Lucas Vasquez from time to time but that is not enough. A tough year for us my friend.
Awesome on the club membership. I finally got to go to the Bernabeu this year... the 2-2 game against Valencia...a lifelong dream of mine (I became a fan of Real at the beginning of Raul's career when I was in college).
That lack of intensity really jumped out to me too, and hopefully it's more like the Blackhawks wearing down after deep playoff runs and having 15 guys in the Olympics rather than a permanent change with age. I love Marcelo too, but he has seemed very off, and unfortunately the one guy who might be able to provide cover (Bale) has had bad luck with injuries too. Unfortunately agreed on the transfers too, as I think we have a conundrum where the BBC's seeming lock on the starting roles makes it unattractive to young guys like Mbappe (who idolized Zidane growing up) and Uncle Flo won't pony up $10mm for Sanchez. I think the league was lost weeks if not months ago (& hate to say it, but Valverde is better than I expected), but I can't count this team out for the CL with guys like CR7, Luka, Cyborg, and Bale, and it wouldn't surprise me if they turn it on once the music hits.
Glad you made it to the Berneabeu too, and you've actually done me one better as I was there during one of the international breaks. I had just seen Stamford Bridge the week before (missed the game by hours), which was a lot smaller than I thought but nice in its own way, but man oh man I felt like Rudy's dad when I walked into the SB. R9 is probably my favorite all-time player, but I am the exact same as you with Raul getting me hooked,
As we both know he is the key...he was masterclass on Sunday.
until they discovered he had a long-term ankle injury. Is Yao Ming available?