Zinedine Iniesco

Madrid fan here, a bunch of shit has been thrown at Hazard for his first season but bottom line... he got a freaky injury against PSG in December and that's the ultimate catalyst for the season not going as well as it could have. With him healthy, Madrid would probably be well ahead in the league and who knows in the CL. Madrid needs two extra elite world class forwards to be back in the running for CL imo, Hazard prob has 2.5-3 elite years left.

There's no option to buy, Florentino Perez isn't stupid. I don't like what deals like these says about the club tbh. In regards to Kovacic, he seems like a good player who could possibly become great if he had any above average passing ability, which he doesn't really.

Coming from a Madrid fan, Morata is not considered by Madrid fans as anything special. We would never realistically consider him as a starter, only as a sub, but since the BBC is politically placed to play most games by Perez and since Zidane doesn't seem to like Morata all that much anyways, he's been noticeably ostracized. There's also the fact that Isco, Asensio, Kovacic, and Lucas are better options for multiple reasons as super subs and alternatives, so it's not that he doesn't play because he's terrible, it's not that. The belief going around is that the end of a cycle is coming at Madrid, BBC is coming to an end, Benzema's expiration date is here, he's turned sour, Bale is a fabricated myth that's often injured, and Mbappe is the future; James and Morata would then be used to collect 100 million euros or near that range that would be used in Mbappe operation (Mbappe is a Madridista and CR7 fan). Mbappe would be played as LF or CF interchangeably with Ronaldo while Benzema sits in the bench as a super sub, and Mbappe would probably have Galactico political privileges in the squad. Back to Morata, the good thing is that he is a hard worker, he will help defend, press, etc, he has an aerial presence, has great straight line speed, and will feel he has something to prove once he leaves Madrid permanently, once he gets playing to his maximum abilities he should be alright at the very least. Not elite but good. He is a bit stiff like a tree trunk though, so don't expect great agility when surrounded, or great ability to dribble himself out of problems. He can also pass and shoot quite well enough, but he's not particularly nimble or technically gifted. Adequate player if surrounded by a good team. Looking at current market situation, should cost Chelsea anywhere from 45ish to 55 million euros.

To those disparaging James arguably unfairly, this one's for you. James has largely been a "flop" in Madrid because Perez, as Football savy as he is... decided to purchase him without any truly justifiable grounds. Since BBC always plays in Madrid come hell or high water, James can't play in his best positions. There are some reasons that arguably come down to his attitude and work ethic, but that wasn't always a problem. When Bale got injured in late 2014 and Ancelotti played a 4222 with James and Isco on the sides, James was imperial. I remember his pressing and tracking back was very energetic, committed, and intelligent in movement, and the way he found passing lanes and looked and moved to become a passing option to his team mates was incredible, along with his passing itself. He was playing as a right midfielder of sorts. During his first year, especially the first half, James was impeccable in the sense that he was playing at the top of his abilities. Now, he has no real dribbling abilities (but he can handle the ball very well and has good agility), his right foot is non existant (and thus his left foot is extra prodigious to compensate) and can't beat players per say (he's not slow), but other than that he's very capable and can play RAM, CAM, LAM all very well. With Ancelotti he even played in a 433 as a LM competently. I suggest you look up his 14/15 matches against Atletico, Barcelona, Liverpool, Villareal, Granada for example to get a grip of how good he was everywhere.

I think Mourinho and Varane had a good relationship, and this is why Mourinho has maybe even called Varane to propose something to him, such as an automatic first team spot. But the only real doubt he has with Madrid i think, is the fact that he needs to know that he will start. He was injured in the beginning of 13/14 and when he came back the defense was set, so ideally 14/15 will be a fresh start for him, i'm pretty sure he understands this. He will probably talk with Ancelotti after the world cup. Option 1 - Madrid gives him reasonable monetary improvement with new contract and talks with Carlo to ensure a good progression for his career alongside his CL winning team mates. Option 2 - He says feck it and joins Chelsea. It might not be and at the same time might be as simple as that. Also, if Pogba joins, Benzema stays, and Zidane can't find club, even more reason to stay for him. Although Zidane will probably leave for a french club, and Benz might renew actually.

Not really when it comes to tasks. 4-3-3's how i see them have specific tasks for much of the game. A drop off doesn't mean true 4-3-3 at all. A midfielder in Hazard's place would have probably tracked the run. Defense was also quite stretched, to have an attacker defend a diagonal like that is a bit of a stretch.

I think one of the reasons Jose has stuck with the 4-2-3-1 is because you can have a more attacking counter setup, my point being that with a 4-3-3 you always have three midfielders, you have more midfield tools to pass, block, intercept, etc, with the 4-2-3-1 yes you can drop off but that also comes with a bit of a connotation that, that is not their main purpose, which is different with a 4-3-3. With 4-2-3-1 you can arguably notice the lack of forward tracking, something that was seen from hazard against atletico for example.

It is no doubt important to defend with 8 at the very least(important matches anyways), 4-2-3-1 implies a more complicated and less natural defensive scheme for attackers. 4-3-3 is prob the most fashionable formation atm as you have 3 midfielders which is one more that 4-2-3-1 while one of the three forwards can help from a little to alot depending on opponent.

It's not just about showing up "at the push of a button", the players obviously care and they give it their all, Atletico clearly defended very very well and did not make it easy on Real which were as noted, not as fresh as they were in encounters such as the Semi's. This is how football works. Whilst watching the match i knew that i was watching A Real Madrid that not only was not at it's most fresh, but an Atletico that was defending very well. Di Maria opened them up well with his individuality, as he has done plenty times before with other teams this season, he's a physical freak. Benzema barely made it into the final, he got injured and didn't even finish the last La Liga match, that is primarily why he was subbed out for Morata. So Benzema was not "obviously" going to be more ready, Costa's injury was more severe, but this doesn't translate to Benzema being inform at all. Same with Ronaldo who was expected to play last Liga match but was declared not fit just before it started, neither was at most fit, so it was not going to be easy to rip holes across the best Atletico side in history. Diego Costa was an important absence but he hasn't precisely been a dark horse against Madrid either, think he scored 1 goal against us in the 4 matches played before final. Bale had a bit of a shocker and both him and Iker would be crucified for their mistakes had we lost. (Which in a way signifies how the result was always more directly linked to our actions). At the same time if Bale had scored that one goal and had also had the one assist that comes to my mind, he'd be lauded as hero, and Iker would be looked upon as having done his job, so it's also a good reminder that the line between hero and villain is very very thin in football. Atletico were tired because they had to work hard to defend, in the end the team with more talent and momentum won. Diego Costa was actually a multi dimensional whammy for Simeone. The League season ended as a perfect trampoline to paddle when it comes to Atletico being tired and losing two of it's main players, but both teams were handicapped in their own way.

Third place is really more in part due to the last 3 matches given away for reasons already mentioned. The 2014 Madrid would have probably won the league. Real Madrid won the matches it had to win in the CL with the only slip pretty much being the match at dortmund, it was after that one that the 4-3-3/4-4-2, and the real cl winning side was able to be seen. The matches against Bayern and Barca after that dortmund match speak for them selves. Best Madrid since the Last Cl winning side. Atletico defended well and made it hard for us but they were only winning due to a Goalkeeper mistake, they were pretty poor in attack. Benzema and Ronaldo were not in shape, they were actually petty much doubts before the final, and Bale wasnt at his finest as he missed a very clear opportunity and also made bad decisions from which Madrid could have scored atleast one more. Khedira is also Khedira after all and was not fully fit. Carlo's subs were actually exactly what Madrid needed. Specially with Atletico on the ropes. Real Madrid played better, no doubt.

Carlo's work at Madrid has been Exceptional. He took a team that was drowned in controversy and brought calm into the team and club. With the players he was given, he was able to add a new layer of maturity (specially defensively) to Madrid. The season long tactical work consisted primarily of 1. Figuring out the correct formation 2. Improving team work and defensive mechanisms The mid point of this improvement/road was the 31 game undefeated streak that consisted of Madrid conceding around no more than 5 goals in about 2 months. This all Led to the final result, that being a strong 4-3-3/4-4-2 hybrid that beat Both Barcelona and Bayern 7-1 aggregate. This champions league trophy is definitely in great part due to Ancelotti's fantastic work at Madrid. The league was lost primarily because of the first half of the season, which is where Madrid was trying to find it's ground. There was then a dip with a draw against Atletico in league and loss to Barca but this led to Carlo and the team finding the last tweaks they needed. The last 3 or so league matches were "thrown away" for several reasons, but it can be argued that this bit of relaxation allowed Madrid for more energy for the final, which is one of the reasons everyone took it more easily during the last weeks of league. Next season will be the season where Real Madrid can truly be judged on league. Only improvements based on realistic transfer rumors i hear are Suarez and Pogba. Benzema, Morata, Khedira, Casemiro all out. Di Maria/Modric being untouchable, and Isco a Heir to their positions.

i hope u had a great birthday, flash i hope all the hugs u got resulted in a love rash but be wary you dont want your life to go in a dash what u do want is envelopes full of cash i bet u'd love that green mash chelsea might have lost today but theres always tomorrow theres no reason to live in sorrow thats a line you can borrow you only get one life make sure you give your self a high five as long as u breath there is no loss look at the sea of possibilities, go ahead take a dive swim flashy flashy swim, u know u the boss no one can catch you go at the speed of light as you keep growing u might even gain a little height imagine that sight keep thinking of the future, make sure it turns out bright face it with all your might be happy and let your soul soar like one of dem kites

I was playing around a little bit, but please, if i showed any viciousness it was probably seen in your eyes as far too much confidence, arrogance, and you cant tell me this place isnt filled with it, lol, afterall, behind these words u indeed talking to a human just like your self, maybe im talking so philosophically because im listening to benedict cumberbatch, ffs. Anyways, incase u didnt understand from my quick write up.. That 0-1 happened late last year when Carlo was still trying to find the right cards, building the lego death star, he had barely begun. Isco did not play the way he does now, we played in a 4-4-2 and we didnt do a good job with it at that time. This was when everyone was pointing fingers at madrid's defense and a few months later madrid went on a roll barely conceding, then carlo made tactical mistakes against barca, atletico, but he has learned and so has the team and everyone is performing at a very high level. http://www.zonalmarking.net/2013/09/30/real-madrid-0-1-atletico-madrid-diego-costa-leads-the-line-superbly-in-excellent-atleti-display/ Carlo and the team can go back and look at their mistakes but also at their victories and learn from them, this is why to me the 0-1 is irrelevant and the 2-2 was due to tactical mistakes but even then atletico needed a super goal from outside of the box, and another great shot from the left, and EVEN then barely held on in the end after we had also missed plenty of opportunities. The way i see it, madrid in theory both has plenty of stuff to study from, and also plenty of talent, equipment in their swiss army knife that atletico does not. Maybe we could have said atletico are warriors, but if recent showings say anything is that real madrid's men are vikings then, for how theyve looked super great in a defensive 4-4-2 and changed in attack to a 4-3-3. The madrid of late is not comparable to anything before the copa del rey. Things take their time to build, there is a saying that goes PERDER ES LO NORMAL it mean the normal thing is to lose, to win the team has to do exceptional work and thats precisely what madrid has done and what it needs.

Ima tell u why we will win sherlock u see we are taking la decima home we'll kill them in 90 mins keep an eye on the clock carlo is a real detective reminds me of holmes he's gonna make dem heads bounce he'll pull a trounce he wont have a bit of mercy not even an ounce his cognitive skills are reminiscent of dr house. << i suggest u go to google so u can browse if u pay close attention you will see we've been stinging our opponents like honey bees we beat both barca and bayern 6-0 aggregate we pound them so hard, to have babies they''ll need a surrogate carlo has fixed the team's issues finally got them to defend as eleven that is y we been slicing dem heads like honey melons everyone is confident, their energy is rising like a star they are setting a new bar playing the best footy madrid has seen in a decade this aint no crappy facade everyone is performing at their peak, working together, and carlo will have learned from his mistakes when he wins la decima he'll catch a well deserved break for all the bs headaches that the media can cause simeone will either sitback and counter or pressure like crazy incase of a sitback madrid has the ability to dig their balls into atleticos rack if they pressure we will counter it will look amazing

Chelsea unfortunately could not handle the team which Real has a record of 7-2 against, in the last 3 meetings. the men at the white house send you their greetings i can only imagine your current feelings Looks like mourinho just couldnt pull the right dealings. Meh its only natural mou is a creature of habbit its the fourth time in a row the real hunters shoot him down like a rabbit they get their knives and they jab it check tommorow on zonal marking for an explanation for the reasoning behind your lack of celebration mou must really hate these recurring manifestations they praise him for reaching easy semis with luxury teams but when it comes to THE battle he says bye bye to his dreams he just couldnt put on the jeans doesnt know how to match up his beans you know what this means? Mourinho is not as good as some might think he is no hit only miss he wont be drinking no champaigne today, only atletico's jizz

the thing with Madrid is that the win against Barcelona in the copa del rey was not simply a mickey mouse trophy, it was a win of the team, its final rebirth of the season after the debacle in la liga against barca and sevilla. Since specially the dortmund match, Isco has been showing he can indeed function deeper in the midfield with more defensive duties and midfield work, himself and the whole team have all been having 5 star games in the individual and in the team aspect of the situation. It is no coincidence that madrid have made their mark against the tiki taka empires with a 3 match aggregate of 6-0, which would be more if the players were ultra clinical, aka perfect, aka unrealistic. So Madrid and its players have realized like never before the importance of teamwork, no matter what game plan they have to unleash in the final, recent showings hint towards madrid being capable of anything as long as its tactics, players, are top notch, if "luck" is on their side then even better. The fact that Alonso will be missing from the final i personally dont feel will be a big deal. Illarramendi i trust can handle things, despite the signal iduna episode, i trust him, madrid can field a midfield with illarra, modric, di maria to more or less keep what theyve been rolling, or if parking the bus is done by other team, then isco would play instead of illarra and modric could be tried in alonso's role for the final. Madrid has the confidence, peace of mind, equipment, and momentum for it to be considered as pretty dangerous. Pepe and Ramos are playing the matches of their life, these men only need 90 more mins to reach the highest of dreams, they will go out with the ferocity of white tigers who havent eaten prime rib in 12 years. They have the talent to break down teams and the solidity to move up and down and counter. Weakspots? i dont know, maybe u can still point at the cbs, but if they continue on their recent strides, then u cant. This madrid finally defends as a team.

Would be a step down for Varane to move anywhere really. He's coming back from injury, anyone who expects him to be at full flight has unrealistic expectations. Perez is in his last term, can't see him going for any longer, he is gone in summer of 2017 when varane is barely turning 24, by then it is expected for Manolo Sanchis to step up in presidential race, madrid shall only improve as an institution in the near future. If Perez has kept the travesty that is pepe, then surely he will keep Varane who is by far one of the biggest talents this world has seen in quite some time.

LOL @ many of these fanboyish comments about mourinho and real im reading, but to each his own... Well Ryan, Varane is coming back from injury and isn't even near being 100 percent fit yet he did a very good job today imo. Other than a bit of a lack of speed in some situations can't see too much to blame him on, he is a top class talent, did a much better job than pepe who ended up commiting a challenge on fabregas that should have been called a penalty ffs, looool. He could have done better for Alexis goal but this is majority diego lopez's fault. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=humS1WU-jCU As for Carlo, Madrid is still in experimentation, considering what the situation in the club is atm it is understandable that madrid isn't playing amazingly, even then i feel madrid are a bit unlucky to lose today. I will wait till end of season to make a judgement on carlo, he has been very unimpressive thus far though and hes done plenty of mistakes in my book, already. There are things to sort out, players that have to gain form after injuries, tactics to be solved...Heck ronaldo might end up playing more centrally and this process has already started really, 90 percent of his goals this season have all come from positions where him playing @ the left is mostly irrelevant. I don't like carlo as a manager so far, he exudes no confidence, his personality as a whole is a let down in a way, and tactically he is not impressing, he should get a rompous sack by end of season if there is no definite improvement, if madrid gets eliminated out of all competitions early this will only be easier to happen. If madrid waits until next winter to fire him, madrid wouldnt be getting a new long term manager until almost 2 seasons from now lol. Carlo has till may, if madrid has no redeeming qualities and hes still manager by 14/15, then perez is am imbecile. Maybe id be more leniant with him but the guy has ostracized casemiro, keeps playing the joke of khedira, has taken so many minutes away from carvajal just to play arbeloa which has benefitted in no way (quite the opposite actually), keeps trying these lame two striker formations, after 3 months still has the team looking more or less clueless...Really if by may madrid sucks as much as it does now, theres no need for him to be in madrid, unimpressive in all ways, there are other managers with better personalities and very nice tactical ideas out there. EDIT: also talking about madrid, pogba is going to be put to sale next season and i believe that madrid do have a form of dibs on gundogan from dortmund, if carlo could find a way to play ronaldo elsewhere than on the left then it could be realistic to push isco to that position (or away from 3 midfield positions) and instead buy pogba and gundogan and play trio of them 2 with illarramendi, which would of course be monumental, but bale is a problem here...It could happen.. I think madrid gets pogba, barca gundogan. And madrid either move isco forward and play pogba modric illarra trio or bench modric, and buy new cf.

Canales was injury free for much of 10/11, was effectively ostracized by mourinho. Sahin was bought as if mourinho didnt even know who he was buying, all in all his decisions with Nuri rely along the fact that he didnt like the player. Nuri was ostracized completely for almost 5 months. Same with Mata, look at history, id say theres not much incentive from mou to play mata. Mourinho talks sht when he doesnt like a player. Has happened with Pepe, Pedro Leon, and Benzema for example.

He doesnt want to bother with players he doesnt like. He wants his team to start going towards HIS direction. Same thing happened in Madrid. Sergio Canales and Nuri Sahin are two prime examples. Everything else he might say is more likely than not, horse crap. He said the same thing when Barca scored 5 against Madrid. His excuse was that Madrid was still a young team. It takes a lot of fail to set up a team for failure like he did in that match. Mourinho excuses.

Ryan, from previous posts i thought you had a good understanding of what Mourinho was all about, in what world was is he ever going to make a more possession based team? You all also have to realize that Mourinho tends to lie, never take anything he says to face value, or what most people say for that matter. There has to be critical thinking involved. Judging from his attitude history, his history as a manager, his history as a tactician, many could see Juan Mata's departure as a very possible possibility before the season even started. http://www.zonalmarking.net/2013/09/17/new-managers-mourinho-at-chelsea/ The Conclusion is that the man is not going to build much of anything in chelsea. Mourinho likes his teams set up a certain way, his midfield atm @ chelsea has no comparison to what he had in his cl winning inter and pl winning chelsea. Juan Mata is as good as gone imo. Look at those teams lol. He had Drogba, Milito, Eto'o all during their best times as players. Lampard, Essien, Makalele, Carvalho, Terry lol Pandev, Sneijder, Cambiasso, Motta, That Zonal Marking is so spot on when it says that his mourinho job is more about implementing his old ideas. He is not going to adjust towards his players and change his way of playing, he is going to try to get his players to always play what he has in mind. Thats what he did in Madrid and he failed, time to see how it goes at chelsea, but he isnt winning a cl with that defense or midfield imo.

Like i heard someone else say, the league is a marathon not a sprint, and there are different circumstances surrounding different situations, have not been watching chelsea lately but ffs, there has to be patience, with a new coach or a clear change in tactics one should start making real judgements by late jan early feb.

From what i have read though, Petrov is now in remission, good for him, hope he recovers, this would make you think he's terminal.