11th August: Quick thoughts after the Asia Tour:
- The English media and I were clearly watching two separate sets of matches. They kept going on and on about how impressive Beckham was but to me he really was not that hot. He can still drop a ball on a penny, and he does distribute well, but I did not think he was any better than supposed fringe players Solari and Guti. He may have exceeded a lot of people's expectations but unless he improves his tackling and his ability to get past people he will not live up to the hype in my eyes. Work-rate, crossing and free kicks won't make him a Galactico.
- Ronaldo is not match-fit but he is still the Phenomenon. This year, we won't need to wait till one-third of the season is over before he starts firing on all seasons. I think Van Neisteroy keeps getting better but Ronaldo is still THE MAN, and unless he's injured I'm sure he will be the Pichichi this year
- Zidane is God. Of that there is no doubt.
- Portillo and El Moro both look like high quality forwards even though they did miss some sitters. I doubt if there is place for both on this team unless Quireoz plans to rotate his squad in a big way, not just for Copa Del Rey. I love the runs that Portillo makes and the positions he takes in the box... pure predatory instincts. He still needs to work cohesively with the others but that will only happen if he plays regularly with them, which he does not at this stage. Also, his dribbling skills need some more developing. At this stage Morientes still looks the better player.
- Celades is the opposite of Zidane. He is just c r a p!
- Macca looks to be on his way out. That's the only explanation for Celades playing ahead of him.
- Guti and Solari were hugely impressive. Guti's vision, distribution, involvement and work-rate were better than I have ever seen. I am convinced that his best position is behind the strikers in central midfield. We should definitely keep him in the squad not just because he is from the Cantera but because he will be a great sub to have on the bench. Solari looks to have rediscovered the speed, dribbling and shooting that made him one of the best players of the 2001-02 season. I was disappointed with him last season, he was good but he lacked the spark... now he looks like being back to being a match-winner.
- Cambiasso is not ready to be a single pivot when Makalele is injured
- Roberto Carlos is a machine, and I say this in the most complimentary way. No one else can dream of being this fit in pre-season. One of the best players as usual.
- Raul was born to captain this team
The best squad against Betis if we must have a single-pivot diamond formation:
Casillas
Salgado-Pavon-Helguera-Roberto Carlos
Figo-Makalele-Zidane-Solari
Raul
Ronaldo
7th August: On Valdano's statement that Madrid don't need to spend really big money on a defenfer because Pavon and Helguera are good enough. Pavon is ready to step up and become one of Europe's top defenders
Agree to some degree. I think they make a good team and the only way Pavon will get better is by playing more games. I also believe Helguera is one of the 3 most versatile defensive players in Europe (like Zanetti), someone who is a good central defender and an excellent defensive midfield pivot.
But at the same time, I feel that the cover that we get has to be at least at that level, not someone who drops the level appreciably, as was the case with Hierro last year. That's why I'm not so excited about the Luisao idea. It's no point buying someone who is a squad player, we might as well stick to the cantera in that case.
The best solution, that gets us a strong defence, strong midfield and lets Pavon improve would have been to buy anyone from Mexes/Lucio/Marquez/Milto/Chivu, ideally someone with some pace, and let Helguera play alongside Makalele as a double pivot. That way we have the most balanced side possible.
A side that will not ge overrun in midfield, that will win balls for Figo and Zidane to create for Raul and Ronaldo, that allows Salgado and Roberto Carlos to get forward without fear of giving away cheap goals. Also, a side that let's Pavon and the new guy develop an understanding safe in the knowledge that 2 of Europe's best defensive pivots are protecting them.
At the same time pavon keeps getting better and more experienced while Guti gets decent midfield opportunities as a sub (and he is a lot better as a creative midfielder than as a forward).
But no, we've gone and bought Goldenballs (who I do feel is quite a good player actually, definitely Top 25 in the world, but no more) and so the system is all screwed and all my plans for developing pavon while still having some steel in the side are out of the window.
If I was American I'd find someone to sue
- The English media and I were clearly watching two separate sets of matches. They kept going on and on about how impressive Beckham was but to me he really was not that hot. He can still drop a ball on a penny, and he does distribute well, but I did not think he was any better than supposed fringe players Solari and Guti. He may have exceeded a lot of people's expectations but unless he improves his tackling and his ability to get past people he will not live up to the hype in my eyes. Work-rate, crossing and free kicks won't make him a Galactico.
- Ronaldo is not match-fit but he is still the Phenomenon. This year, we won't need to wait till one-third of the season is over before he starts firing on all seasons. I think Van Neisteroy keeps getting better but Ronaldo is still THE MAN, and unless he's injured I'm sure he will be the Pichichi this year
- Zidane is God. Of that there is no doubt.
- Portillo and El Moro both look like high quality forwards even though they did miss some sitters. I doubt if there is place for both on this team unless Quireoz plans to rotate his squad in a big way, not just for Copa Del Rey. I love the runs that Portillo makes and the positions he takes in the box... pure predatory instincts. He still needs to work cohesively with the others but that will only happen if he plays regularly with them, which he does not at this stage. Also, his dribbling skills need some more developing. At this stage Morientes still looks the better player.
- Celades is the opposite of Zidane. He is just c r a p!
- Macca looks to be on his way out. That's the only explanation for Celades playing ahead of him.
- Guti and Solari were hugely impressive. Guti's vision, distribution, involvement and work-rate were better than I have ever seen. I am convinced that his best position is behind the strikers in central midfield. We should definitely keep him in the squad not just because he is from the Cantera but because he will be a great sub to have on the bench. Solari looks to have rediscovered the speed, dribbling and shooting that made him one of the best players of the 2001-02 season. I was disappointed with him last season, he was good but he lacked the spark... now he looks like being back to being a match-winner.
- Cambiasso is not ready to be a single pivot when Makalele is injured
- Roberto Carlos is a machine, and I say this in the most complimentary way. No one else can dream of being this fit in pre-season. One of the best players as usual.
- Raul was born to captain this team
The best squad against Betis if we must have a single-pivot diamond formation:
Casillas
Salgado-Pavon-Helguera-Roberto Carlos
Figo-Makalele-Zidane-Solari
Raul
Ronaldo
7th August: On Valdano's statement that Madrid don't need to spend really big money on a defenfer because Pavon and Helguera are good enough. Pavon is ready to step up and become one of Europe's top defenders
Agree to some degree. I think they make a good team and the only way Pavon will get better is by playing more games. I also believe Helguera is one of the 3 most versatile defensive players in Europe (like Zanetti), someone who is a good central defender and an excellent defensive midfield pivot.
But at the same time, I feel that the cover that we get has to be at least at that level, not someone who drops the level appreciably, as was the case with Hierro last year. That's why I'm not so excited about the Luisao idea. It's no point buying someone who is a squad player, we might as well stick to the cantera in that case.
The best solution, that gets us a strong defence, strong midfield and lets Pavon improve would have been to buy anyone from Mexes/Lucio/Marquez/Milto/Chivu, ideally someone with some pace, and let Helguera play alongside Makalele as a double pivot. That way we have the most balanced side possible.
A side that will not ge overrun in midfield, that will win balls for Figo and Zidane to create for Raul and Ronaldo, that allows Salgado and Roberto Carlos to get forward without fear of giving away cheap goals. Also, a side that let's Pavon and the new guy develop an understanding safe in the knowledge that 2 of Europe's best defensive pivots are protecting them.
At the same time pavon keeps getting better and more experienced while Guti gets decent midfield opportunities as a sub (and he is a lot better as a creative midfielder than as a forward).
But no, we've gone and bought Goldenballs (who I do feel is quite a good player actually, definitely Top 25 in the world, but no more) and so the system is all screwed and all my plans for developing pavon while still having some steel in the side are out of the window.
If I was American I'd find someone to sue
posted by Anirban Blah at 12:13 am
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