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La Liga Thread


Steve
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Ancelotti is irrelevant. I wasn't comparing his work to Ancelotti and Ancelotti was in his second season, not his first few months. Neither did he deal with this many injuries at the same time. Modric and Bale only recently came back. Ramos and Pepe have been taking turns on the sidelines.

It's not so much about Ancelotti and the work he did at Real Madrid but more to the point of how managers manage the squad when there's injuries. Every squad has them. You can't use that as an excuse, not with Real Madrid. They still have quality players even with some players out injured.

Right about Ronaldo. But I find it a bit of a non issue for Benitez as a manager. His team is scoring goals (highest scorers in the league). Cristiano will bounce back eventually, especially with his buddies returning.

Think Ronaldo isn't scoring (only 3 goals in last 8 league games; has scored in just 4 of 11 league matches) has more gotta do with Benitez not getting the best out of him than his buddies missing.

Leadership in the backline, as in the communicator. Pepe is not that player, Varane is 22. So yeah. They really haven't conceded that much though. Before the Sevilla game, they only conceded 4 goals in all competitions. First loss of the season as well.

That is because of Navas, who has bailed them out so many times this season. Even the lesser sides have found it easy to create chances against Benitez's Madrid. And even if Pepe, Varane etc aren't leaders, I would still expect them to take responsibility. They are far too experienced - especially Pepe - not to stand up and be counted when the going gets tough.

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It's not so much about Ancelotti and the work he did at Real Madrid but more to the point of how managers manage the squad when there's injuries. Every squad has them. You can't use that as an excuse, not with Real Madrid. They still have quality players even with some players out injured.

Think Ronaldo isn't scoring (only 3 goals in last 8 league games; has scored in just 4 of 11 league matches) has more gotta do with Benitez not getting the best out of him than his buddies missing.

That is because of Navas, who has bailed them out so many times this season. Even the lesser sides have found it easy to create chances against Benitez's Madrid. And even if Pepe, Varane etc aren't leaders, I would still expect them to take responsibility. They are far too experienced - especially Pepe - not to stand up and be counted when the going gets tough.

Some, yes. 4-6 starters out and having to move players out of their natural position, no. I don't care who the manager is. Chelsea could not even handle 2 or 3 key players out, and I mean 14/15 Chelsea. Their bench is not that good. Even Guardiola's Bayern level dropped quite substantially when they suffered key injuries last season (same goes for his first season).

Navas, Carvajal, Ramos, Marcelo out. That's your backline. Of course you'll struggle at the back.

Ronaldo went through a spell like this last season. He'll bounce back and it won't be because Benitez suddenly found a way to get the best out of him.

True, Navas has been excellent.

I still say give the man some real time. The performances aren't great but his record is good. Benitez did not come in as a saviour or revolutionary. Judging him after a few months and pointing fingers at him for certain factors already is silly. If Benitez is responsible for Ronaldo's form for example, is he also responsible for Navas', Marcelo's and Casemiro's (excellent) form? I say no.

I'd say this is going nowhere. Go be Jason somewhere else. Shoo, shoo.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Classico kicking off more or less the same time as City v Liverpool, looks like it maybe one on TV and the other on the iPad :eyebrows:

Just have to kick the wife out now.

But wait.....SKY are doing a split screen for both games :dance:

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Benitez showed no balls (or was forced to) - he played the best team on a paper, but..

good luck with playing with one player in terrible form (Ronaldo), three players after injuries (Benz, Bale, James) and Kross/Modric midfield against Barcelona. And to add Danilo disaster.. He should played with Casemiro, then maybe he would have some chances, but anyway Barcelona was great.

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Iniesta. Phenom.

Should've won a Ballon d'Or. Sad it's turned into a Golden Boot.

All-time great. One of the best ever.

Edt: Busquets is perfection. James is a stellar player. Benitez took him off even though he was Real's best player. For Isco as well, another AM. Idiotic move.

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