Atlas Lion

Plain and Stupid? Relying on foregin players rather than producing our own youth and represening the club, national team, and premier league as an actual domestic league, keeping it's tradition rather than relying on modern football philosophy and other leagues/clubs?

Mata may not be fast, but he does indeed have a great first acceleration. Something every Spaniard seems to have. Hence, why I stated in this day in age, it's very beneficial having athleticism. However, most of Bale's goals have been him running past his opponent to score. Something to be very limited. If you take away that pace, what other criteria would he have then? it's an attribute you work hard to achieve, it it not something impossible. Mata's attributes define something he was born with, natural ability he has worked on to enhance his overall game. Agree to disagree. I've just never been convinced by players who have shown to rely heavily on pace in which was his standout ability.

Mata doesn't over rely on any quality that he has. He's a great finisher, has great acceleration, great passer, great awareness, and great control. Abilities that are much more difficult and are based solely on football reasons, natural ability that he was born and raised with into enhancing and becoming the player he is today. There's a mass difference between creativity and athleticism in regards to a footballer. One criteria, defines a players footballing ability, the other, defines a players athletic ability. One is something you are born with, the other, something you train on. Torres is an example of a a player that thrived on getting passed players, but once lost his pace, soon looked very average and his overall mentality soon lost his confidence.

TBH, take away Bale's pace, what is he left with? He's a great finisher, but then again, some of the reasoning behind almost half of his goals was down to his ability to out pace his opponent. He is an extremely athletic individual, something a player needs to have in this day of age in Football, but I feel he over relies so much on his pace and his physic. Bale is a better athlete, Mata is a better footballer

Very good Read. Sure, we are buying top young talents so we can eventually blossom them, but at the same time, I can't stop but feeling that the Premier League is losing it's identity and tradition, thus leaving many clubs in England going after players in different countries. To put into perspective, clubs like Dortmund, Sociedad, Bilbao, Valencia, etc, clubs that actually put in work to where they be now, then come massive clubs buying out some of their player's release clauses, In all honesty, Modern football for some, has become a dream come true, for other's, it has become much more of a business which leads leagues and clubs losing it's identity.

-------------Lukaku------------ Hazard-------------------Mata ------Oscar---DeBryune----- ------------Essien-------------- Cole--------------------Ivanovic ---------Terry---Luiz------------ --------------Cech-----------------

Fair point. Just feel that we can't rely on the old guards for long, our young blood need as much experience as they can get to blossom.

Even if we do purchase Rooney, I can put 100 quid down that we will be facing the same issues in terms of distribution. In some extent, Torres was right about our midfield and it's incapability of handling transition under pressure. Both Lukaku and Torres were isolated up top and we had to rely on hoof or the occasional counter attack. Our build up play was slow and patient (something I found quite liked) but when it came to the final third or working through the middle, our midfielders couldn't cope with the pressure. DeBryune and Van Ginkel I blame no part, considering they are both raw and young talents. Lampard is being played out of position and certainly isn't getting any younger. Mikel shows brilliance than fades away and Ramires lacks the one ability we probably need the most from him, which is distribution. My Opinion is that we go into the season with a 4-3-3 with Van Ginkel/Oscar, DeBryune, and Essien into the midfield. Especially against top sides. I feel Ramires and Lampard would be most effective against sides that park the bus against us. Mikel is a mystery for now

Was there a happy ending afterwards?

And that was exactly the case. Yesterday's match was just in reality a training session and testing certain aspects. The fact Madrid went into this match with some personal vendetta against Mourinho is bar none hilarious ,

That I am inadequate

I remember pre-season 2007/08. Ronaldo was exactly the same kind of player. Got passed players, but his execution was off. Several months later, he ended the season with 40+ goals, a Premier League title and A European Cup. All he needs to do is work on certain aspects and have confidence, which I am sure Mourinho is trying to instill.

Not taking a jab at you, but one must truly understand the significance of a holding midfielder's ability. Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Illarramendi, Toulalan, Yaya Toure, etc. Players that have the ability to be aware of their surroundings and to successfully lead a transition under enormous pressure, picking out the right pass and to dictate the tempo of their team's overall play. They play a significant importance to the squad, much more than the striker imo. I will go out on a limb and actually rate Carrick among the likes of Busquets and Yaya Toure. I've been watching Carrick since West Ham and the player he has developed into has been outstanding. His composure, passing ability, awareness, and movement off the ball is sheer class and there is no other in England who can match his quality in that aspect. He has been bar none United's best and most consistent player and to truly understand the role he is in and to actually watch him week in week out, you will realize just how much quality he has. Criminally underrated player

I find myself awkwardly agreeing with the fact that Carrick is a sublime player and truly underrated for quite some time. More instrumental to United's title last season than RVP imo

Think we'll be fighting for second. Can only see City winning it and us winning the odd cup

Diego Costa? Negredo? Llorente? The reason they scored against Madrid was down to the fact they were supplied beautifully by players who could lead a transition under pressure. Something we either lack or have players inexperienced in doing so, IE Van Ginkel and DeBryune. Not too bothered from this result tbh, just a training session and what's laughable is how Madrid treated it. Fielding a starting 11 with rarely any subs until the final minutes. We were testing players and Mourinho was studying certain aspects. One thing we all know, is that Mourinho always has the last laugh.

Hazard definitely needs to work on his composure in his shots, once he masters that, he could become absolutely unstoppable

Result of fatigue, as well as ball watching. Mentality aspect and focus goes right out the window. But that is what pre-season and training is for.

Even though this is pre-season, I feel that the more we face top teams throughout the season that pressure our double pivot, the end product will be just the same. Juventus, Manchester city, Shakhtar, etc. Think we should change the formation

What could Torres do? Or Lukaku? We are facing the same issues we have faced last season, our pivot lacking a proper transition to our attackers, thus having our players constantly dealing with longballs. As beneficial Ramires is in the attack, he cannot lead a transition properly under pressure and Van Ginkel is far to inexperienced. This is our transition season though, plenty of things to work on.

Disappointing to see our strikers so isolated and our players ball watching. Still need to work on things but that is what pre-season is for

Can't even keep possession without kicking it long

any good streams?

Delay?

Can't really like one thing about this current Madrid side, even with Jose managing them .Just glad he left