Official Modric joins Real Madrid

We needed an agile midfielder. Alonso and Khedira are too slow at times.

We play a transitional game, the ball spends very little time in midfield. therefore spaces open up which leave Xabi very very isolated in defensive situations where his particular strengths aren't utilized.

Khedira is merely a lazy remedy for this. He usually gets himself in ideal positions to force opposing midfildrs to move the ball laterally so that we don't get caught out on the the counter.

Modric can replace him, if everyone else chooses to accomodate his inclusion and do slightly more defensive work, which Mourinhio can probably mould into decent pressing game.

But it's not that simple because superstars don't just suddenly all agree to do defensive work.

Alonso would prefer a pressing system because it would allow him to use his positioning to cover up his physical deficiencies but that's not really feasible at the moment.

However we can get away with it against La Liga teams and some big teams.

What does Modric offers that Sahin dont ?

Versatility and possession keeping. Sahin and Modric both like to have ball on their feet all the time yet it is there to see for every one that Modric is better at keeping possession throw dribbling and one twos than Sahin who is also not bad at keeping the ball. Another thing is Modric can easily play semi- attacking midfielder role (kinda like Tony Kroos played for Bayern last year ) who can also drop deep and dictate play and out number the opposition midfield. Which Sahin cant, he cant play AM and is very similar to Xabi Alonso position wise.

^Not even remotely through.

Sahin is equally comfortable in different zones as Modric and he is fantastic at keeping posession, even with the ball at his feet. Since he has more vision and a much better final ball than Modric I would argue he would be better in an AM role than Modric as well.

People think he can't keep the ball because he runs wierd lol.

He is very comfortable with the ball at his feet the differences in mobility between him and Modric really isn't that much.

Can someone please cite the strikers Spurs have had since Modric came to the club?

That might answer why he doesn't have so many assists...

Le Samourai wrote:^Not even remotely through.

Sahin is equally comfortable in different zones as Modric and he is fantastic at keeping posession, even with the ball at his feet. Since he has more vision and a much better final ball than Modric I would argue he would be better in an AM role than Modric as well.

People think he can't keep the ball because he runs wierd lol.

He is very comfortable with the ball at his feet the differences in mobility between him and Modric really isn't that much.

Sahin has not played AM role while Modric has done it and i remember him owning Spains midfield last euro playing AM.

What makes you think Sahin is all of a sudden good enough to play AM role?

He dont have as good of dribbling technique as Modric nor does he has the pace or agility of a AM . It is the same case as some one proposing Scholes as a AM because he has great technique ,it cant be done.

You outlined a very specific AM role, that of Kroos for Bayern against us last year, where he played a withdrawn role focused primarily on distribution to the wings and incisive passing.

He didn't need dribbling technique or pace.

Guti didn't need dribbling technique or pace.

Does Cesc have dribbling technique or pace? Nah he doesn't. Neither does Lampard.

Ozil outdoes him in every category , be it agility , pace , dribbling, vision, final ball, so if you want a modern probing attack 10 there's 0 chance he will start over Ozil.

If you want and old fashioned distributor, I'm not sure Modric is better than Sahin regardless of whether he's played the position or not. He clearly has a better final ball and vision, and while Modric is slightly more elusive, it isn't as if Sahin is deficient at dribbling or any such categories.

Nope ,Sahin isnt as good as Modric on dribbling or agility. You said Sahin is comfortable playing in all the position as Modric with out any basis. Has he ever played AM ? has any manager going to play him there ? no.Guti,cesc and Kroos all had better agility than Sahin and has actually played that role successfully. Modric has actually owned the spain midfield in the last euros playing AM, Sahin who hasnt even played that role recently is not even in discussion.

Ozil isnt better than him in every category. Modric is miles better defender ,has better work rate and is more close to a CM ,while Ozil is a 10 and isnt good at dropping deep and helping the center midfielders.

Modric isn't much good in an AM role. Yeah he played well against Spain, very well. But the last couple seasons he's played a CM role and when he does play an AM role, he hasn't been convincing.

He can play there but it's certainly not optimal for Modric.

You're saying the same thing over and over again.

Sahin is more like Xavi than Xabi...he's comfortable in different zones on the pitch and is comfortable if pressured.

Yes...he hasn't actually played as 10 in a long time, but I don't see how it matters if you're outlining a specific role which he is well suited to play if necessary.

Anyway Agility FTW

GOOOOOOOOOOOO MODRC !!!!

even Almunia is not impressed

http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2012/08/28/3337257/modric-is-not-worth-42m-almunia-unimpressed-with-former

ill give two

Who said that this guy is overrated, must be a biased arsenal/barca fanboy. He is incredible and underrated.

The Bernabeu certainly likes him

Kizu wrote:Who said that this guy is overrated, must be a biased arsenal/barca fanboy. He is incredible and underrated.

Most mehdrid fans did before he joined Madrid

Great player. Glad we signed him.

ill admit i thought he was overrated but he really is fitting in perfectly, reminds me of how ozil started

yet to see him in a big match though, thats probably one of the last tests then ill fully approve.

granada, rayo and deportivo

maybe calm down a bit...?

so we should calm down because our new signing is doing well in every single appearance he has so far including Barca and Sevilla??

ok....

You guys really are clowns. Most of you were slagging the signing off just a month ago.

Mr Nick09 wrote:so we should calm down because our new signing is doing well in every single appearance he has so far including Barca and Sevilla??

ok....

in what world did he do well against sevilla? all i saw was a modric-shaped object in maduro's pocket