Re: Real Madrid vs Barcelona

by The Demon of Carthage Mon Nov 16, 2015 10:54 pm

Adit wrote:This James was not fit drama by benitez is to ensure that he has an excuse to bench him for the Clasico. James know this and he countered this tactics by going public.

Now why would Benitez try to bench his sole creative player? Here is the thing. He wants to play a 3 man midfield of Kroos-casemiro-modric. Now there is only 3 spot remaining for 4 star players.

Benitez knows Real needs a CF badly so Benzema is safe. He also can never drop CR so he is also safe.Now it is between Bale and James . That is a tough situation, how can u exclude either of them? What can you possibly say as excuse? Bale came back early so leaving him out will piss him off.Also there is the price tag problem and British media coverage..so the easier excuse is for James despite him being fit..Benitez simply chose to side with Bale here.

I absolutely agree with you. James was available but Rafa is defensive-minded and prefers playing Casemiro over James.

I thought we got rid of this cowardly approach when we disposed of Mourinho. I really, really hope Rafa will change his tactics very, very soon.

by FalcaoPunch Tue Nov 17, 2015 4:42 pm

Has Rafa lost control of the dressing room?
There aren't a lot of people happy with Benitez and again it could all be bullshit rumors to sell papers but once you start seeing the stuff players are saying such as James to the public or Ronaldo to Ramos about playing too back... you start to wonder.

Benitez has tried twice already this season to find an excuse to not play James and its failed miserably.

by The Demon of Carthage Tue Nov 17, 2015 5:44 pm

FalcaoPunch wrote:Has Rafa lost control of the dressing room?
There aren't a lot of people happy with Benitez and again it could all be bullshit rumors to sell papers but once you start seeing the stuff players are saying such as James to the public or Ronaldo to Ramos about playing too back... you start to wonder.

Benitez has tried twice already this season to find an excuse to not play James and its failed miserably.

If he loses against Barça, he'll lose control of the dressing room that's for sure.

So far only James and Ronaldo seem unhappy. The first because he was benched even though he was fit, and the latter because he's being played out of position and he's become uninterested.

Jesé also voiced his frustration publicly through his agent for lack of playing time.

It can all go away if Rafa wins and keeps on winning, and abandons this cowardly defensive approach which many players, especially Ronaldo, do not like it. If he doesn't, he won't last a year...and Carlo will be watching from the stands with a smirk on his face.

by Mr Nick09 Tue Nov 17, 2015 6:56 pm

Benitez is paying for his inability to communicate to his players the ideas that he has, and its festering problems with key players that will be the end of him in a few months if he is not careful...

How do you even get James to throw darts at you in the press? James of all people. When its ramos i understand, he is a knuckle head. Cristiano i understand he speaks out all the time. But James? You really must suck at communication. I can understand that you want to be careful with your guy, that u try to protect him, but James did not take it that way, or at least he did not understand.

Bottom line its creating a divide that only success and victory can save. I dont think he is convincing his player with his explanations for now

by sportsczy Tue Nov 17, 2015 7:24 pm

It started with Benz complaining and he's not one to complain publicly ever either... it's worrisome.

by The Demon of Carthage Tue Nov 17, 2015 9:45 pm

http://www.marca.com/en/2015/11/17/en/football/real_madrid/1447792841.html

I hope they talk some sense into him. We can't continue like this - Score one goal and then retreat to protect the lead.

by halamadrid2 Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:22 pm

Navas may play the Clasico as he is back in full training. We dont have a single injured player now Shocked

by The Demon of Carthage Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:44 pm

Benzema isn't fully fit and he's still a doubt for the clasico.

by halamadrid2 Wed Nov 18, 2015 9:20 pm

Apparently he too joined the group so although he might not start he is currently fully fit and able to join his teammates in training

by sportsczy Wed Nov 18, 2015 9:26 pm

Yeah he trained today.

by LeVersacci Thu Nov 19, 2015 10:34 pm

No one got injured during the break? Miracle.

by The Demon of Carthage Fri Nov 20, 2015 3:07 pm

Should we start plotting Rafa's assassination in case he chooses Danilo over Carvajal and benches James tomorrow? Somebody bring me Oswald.

by halamadrid2 Fri Nov 20, 2015 7:08 pm

He better fcking not start Danilo

by titosantill Sat Nov 21, 2015 1:54 am

yeah i'd be really upset if danilo played, especially after that fiasco against sevilla. but i have a stinking feeling rafa will play him for whatever reason...btw any news on if marcelo will play?

by Clutch Sat Nov 21, 2015 1:58 am

If Danilo plays Neymar is going to have a field day

by halamadrid2 Sat Nov 21, 2015 8:50 am

Marcelo has been training with the team for nearly a week and a half. Id be surprised if he didnt play

by Eneide Sat Nov 21, 2015 1:29 pm

Marca is reporting that Benitez will start Isco over James. Damn it

by halamadrid2 Sat Nov 21, 2015 3:10 pm

Both should play together in an ideal world but Isco is better at ball retention than James and we will probably need that more with Bale back and Ronaldo in this form. For me i couldnt give a rats arse who starts between Isco and James because you could make a case for both starting. But Marcelo, Carvajal and Benzema they are a must. Without they i dont think we can beat Barca

Oh and Rafa is a fool if he starts Ramos. I can bet any money he will need to be subbed out midway through the game and thats just wasting a valuable sub

by FalcaoPunch Sat Nov 21, 2015 5:56 pm

4-4-2

Just have Casemiro in there.

Right now it's so disorganized it's like a 4-2-4
Danilo so bad

by titosantill Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:00 pm

this team is extremely ordinary

by sportsczy Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:05 pm

Rafa failed tactically big time here... you can't play Barca with only two true CMs. it's been proven over and over and over again. Isco should be there instead of James if you were going to go the attacking route. He's better at playing the midfield role.

by Perucho21 Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:12 pm

Benitez satisfying majority of madrid fans. There you go James and Benzema starting despite the former not playing in months and the latter just returning from Injury.

Casemiro needs to start these type of games, but then Benitez would be criticized for defensive approach

Our fan base suck. And so does Danilo. Complete waste of 30 million

by sportsczy Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:13 pm

Since when does a manager have to listen to the fan base? Nothing to do with the fans. If Rafa put this lineup out because of fan pressure, he needs to go now.

by titosantill Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:17 pm

we need a destroyer but if he benched kroos, people wud complain and say he's defensive....imo as a team we're not as good nor as dynamic as we think we are. its not solely rafa's fault, we can blame tactics all we want, but who on our team can make something out of nothing when the team is looking jaded? that's what i want to see in the second half, for someone to pick up the mantle and say "*bleep* it, i'm going at them regardless". but we don't have that, we didn't have it last season neither. we look extremely ordinary regardless of the million tactics one can employ

by The Demon of Carthage Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:20 pm

I didn't watch the first half. Did Rafa really choose Danilo over Carvajal? rofl

by FalcaoPunch Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:36 pm

Benitez Out trending on Twitter.

James out and Marcelo out?
Bale and Danilo still on the pitch.

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