Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad (1-4)
last match of the season

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have a lot to say but am too tired and feb up to say it, and this team is not worth it.

The 3 games against Mallorca, Murcia and Sociedad are the worst sequence I have seen in 13 years of following this club. Never have I seen such a lack of pride in the white shirt, it's history and what it means. I don't care what the reasons are, it's disrespectful towards the fans who give these players and the club so much, whose support helps the players live their galactico lifestyle. Players who are on my all-time favourite list like Raul, Ronaldo and Zizou make me cringe when I watch their lackadaisical, shambolic, self-parodying efforts.

last night was the final nail on the coffin. To play like that when Barca also lost broke my heart.
As far as I am concerned, they can sell the whole lot of them, including Raul. I know that they were tired and had lost confidnce, but I saw Ronaldo against France and it was not the same player. Except for Figo, the rest played at less than 50% of their ability. I want a manager with some steel and a team with some heart, and 2 balls where they need to be.

Pavon's marking and positional sense was spectacular as well... Jordi and Borja were equally brilliant. They all epitomised this anti-matter version of madrid, and get 10/10 for uselessness. We can blame Queiroz for not giving them chances but everytime they play I get more convinced, that except for Meija, raul Bravo and Juanfran, the current batch at the cantera are pure, unadulterated crap.

Originally Posted by TravisMinor_23
I know Ronaldo's goalscoring abilities. But he adds nothing to the rest of the team, and with Moro, Etoo, and Raul (along with Totti most likely) there I think that you have other serious options who provide more to a team aspect (which I think was one of Real's biggest problems this year).


I agree with most of your post but not this. It can be argued that it is Raul who has contributed nothing, Ronaldo has contributed 30 goals. Ronaldo also allows us to play with speed of the counter-attack, has greater ability to beat defenders, is more clinical before goal, and this season has created more opportunities for others than Raul. Also, he is not expected to "contribute", because this is what Ronaldo has always been (or at least since I have been following him in PSV), a pure goalscoring machine, his contribution is always goals, like Romario in the early 90's.

I love Raul... he and Hierro and Redondo are the ones that gave me back my pride in the team. But blaming and selling Ronaldo for Raul's problems is disingenous to say the least.

As to all the people clamouring for Morientes, remember that before he was sent off to Monaco, the majority of us felt he was not good enough to be a Real Madrid number 9. He was and is powerful, strong in the air, a fighter who at times looked world-class. But equally often he missed sitters (remember the match against Bayern at home in 2002?), was slow upfront, and in all his years here playing for the most attacking team in Spain, he never won Pichichi and his goalscoring rate was about half that of Ronaldo.

I also don't see how Totti and raul can play as forwards together, both have a phenomenal record playing as the support forward. Raul has proven this season that he cannot lead the line, Totti has never done it. Both of team are 15-20 goals per season (little more for raul) who will create the spaces and opportunities for a true poacher to score 25-30 goals (like Ronaldo).

If we really had any cojones we would sell Zidane and Figo and Beckham, and replace them with Solari and Joaquin on the wings, Totti and Raul rotating as support striker, Eto and Ronaldo rotating as frontman, Alonso and Helguera in the middle (with Totti replacing one of them when we can play a more attacking formation), with Samuel and Meija/Bravo/Mexes at the back.

I am sure this is a better and younger and fitter team than what we have now.

5 Madrid players who have under preformed this season
Written the day after valencia won the league and two days after a pathetic loss at home against Mallora

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5) Roberto Carlos: Still one of the better players but his most inconsistent season yet in a white shirt.

4) Zidane: Some moments that I will never forget (like the pirouette) but was rarely decisive and often disappeared from matches

3) Beckham: Actually I think he has overperformed. Just that he has shown that while he is a very good, very professional, very committed player he is a long way off from being one of the world's best. Also, he is clearly not the answer at defensive midfield.

2) Pavon: Remember 2-3 years ago when Perez said "We don't need Nesta because we have Pavon... he will be our Nesta"? What a joke. Is there a worse centre back in the whole league?

1) I think it's time to stop blaming Ronaldo for Raul's year. Remember Raul did not do this badly on Ronaldo's first season. We cannot pretend otherwise, our favourite has had his worst season ever, including his time with the youth team. In a year when he inherited the captaincy and was supposed to add leadership and responsibility, and step into Hierro's shoes, he went missing far too often and had far too little impact. The coach's unwillingness to rest him for a few matches or to ever substitute him did not help. Let's pray it's not permanent.