Real Madrid 2013 Pre-Season discussion

FalcaoPunch wrote:Ozil holds the ball way too long and tends to kill out build up plays or lose the ball due to being hesitant.

Good observation. He did this a lot in big matches last season and was very frustrating to watch. This become more apparent and worse when he moved to right. On top of it he also drains out pretty quickly and seems to be at receiving end when dealing with physically stronger players. Not sure what Benz & Ozil eat - One gets fat and the other gets drained quickly .

Ozil was OK last season and Kaka was not good enough to compete. This Season Ozil still can be OK as Isco will give a run for his money

FalcaoPunch wrote: If Isco and Ozil are both inconsistent then Kaka will start.

Our logic applies to everyone

If Isco and Ozil are both inconsistent , RM will not win anything this season.

Well then why would isco start ahead of ozil if he is not consistent? Dont be blinded by the dribbling. Isco tends to drift out of games quite often. I dont think either of the two should be competing for spot. They should be taking the burden off one another.

Since they both play a range of positions and neither is ideally going to start every game, I don't see it being a huge issue. Ozil drives the ball more effectively in open space, I think Carlo values that - so he might just be favored.

Against most teams we could afford to start with both, which I think we will occasionally. There's healthy competition right now, the kind that lends itself toward progressive rotation and skill development. Players competing for multiple positions, playing time won't be a huge issue.

Only Di Maria is really getting the short end, he'll likely be confined to one position and likely won't be starting.

On a side note , I watched the majority of the game and I thought Carvajal was fine to be honest. Nothing significant came down his side.

Rebaño Sagrado wrote:Well then why would isco start ahead of ozil if he is not consistent? Dont be blinded by the dribbling. Isco tends to drift out of games quite often. I dont think either of the two should be competing for spot. They should be taking the burden off one another.

Isco's dribbling is great. But I dont care for that.
I care for someone that is going to be in the CAM position needs to be able to dictate in the final third, hold the ball and keep the possession when needed, play the final ball, and not hesitant to take the opportunity when it presents itself.

I don't care if its Isco, Ozil, or Kaka. As long as someone does it when we need it the most.

I have a feeling that Di Maria is going to have a great season.

obviously the manager will be doing everything he can to get both isco and ozil on the pitch.

both are too good to be on the bench. ozil is a starter in my book, second on the team sheet after ronaldo.

but both can play together. my decision would be to bench benzema altogether and play ronaldo as a free running striker. with isco, ozil and di maria behind him. this combination would be great, at least on paper.

FalcaoPunch wrote:

Rebaño Sagrado wrote:Well then why would isco start ahead of ozil if he is not consistent? Dont be blinded by the dribbling. Isco tends to drift out of games quite often. I dont think either of the two should be competing for spot. They should be taking the burden off one another.

Isco's dribbling is great. But I dont care for that.
I care for someone that is going to be in the CAM position needs to be able to dictate in the final third, hold the ball and keep the possession when needed, play the final ball, and not hesitant to take the opportunity when it presents itself.

I don't care if its Isco, Ozil, or Kaka. As long as someone does it when we need it the most.

You're not going to get that ideal player out of either anytime soon. They both have relative strengths and weaknesses, maybe down the road one can bring it together, but that would require a great deal of effort. Out of curiosity, is there anyone today who you feel actually does all the things you outline consistently.

I think the player you're looking for is somewhat outdated. Asking a CAM to dictate play in the final third (I assume this means to distribute) is a bit difficult. Most teams these days play with two holding midfielders, so the space just isn't there for someone playing as close to goal as the conventional CAM does to impose himself on the game.

Players like Isco and Ozil are the norm, they drift into space and operate almost as quasi wingers because that's where the space is. The distribution and dictation is generally left to someone behind them.

That's also something that creates the inconsistency about which we complain. Less touches, less of a defined role. AM's in general are now more impact players than anything else.

Carvajal.   

Di Maria-Ozil-Isco-Ronaldo wouldn't work IMO. There's only one player who scores goals consistently, and we would face what Barca did this last 2 seasons, having only Messi as a goalscorer. Bale-Ozil-Isco-Ronaldo could work more likely.

we Need Bale!

I'm not convinced it actually was a 4-2-3-1 against Bournemouth, even thou the graphics showed it as such. It was rather a 4-2-2-2 with Isco and Özil behind Ronaldo and Benzema. With Isco instructed to drop deeper on the left so that Ronaldo could drift out on the wing while Özil pushed more forward making it into almost a 4-3-3 in effect.

Called up for the Lyon match:

REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST:
Goalkeepers: Diego Lopez, Adan and Jesus.
Defenders: Pepe, Carvajal, Mateos, Casado and Nacho.
Midfielders: Khedira, Ozil, Cheryshev, Di Maria, Isco, Illarra, Casemiro, Quini and Modric.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Morata.

Apparently Kaka has a specific training plan or something so he didn't travel. Coentrao family issues.

paperbackwriter wrote:I'm not convinced it actually was a 4-2-3-1 against Bournemouth, even thou the graphics showed it as such. It was rather a 4-2-2-2 with Isco and Özil behind Ronaldo and Benzema. With Isco instructed to drop deeper on the left so that Ronaldo could drift out on the wing while Özil pushed more forward making it into almost a 4-3-3 in effect.

I agree. It was a very weird formation. Ronaldo should just be converted to a CF ffs. Half of Madrid's issues will be solved. Isco on the wings is a waste. He always comes inside like Iniesta which means width HAS to be provided by Carvajal.

Kaka with a specific training plan?

What is Ancelloti doing? brining the old kaka back by increasing his sprinting power back? lol

Lineup vs Lyon:

Diego López; Carvajal, Pepe, Nacho, Cheryshev; Illarramendi, Isco; Di María, Özil, Cristiano y Benzema.

Illarammendi getting thrown under the bus with that line up

433 or 4141?

where the hell is di maria playing?

Looks like the midfield methink..

yeah ozil on the right wing