Spanish Football thread

[kooljack9]

Real can do a lot better if they play in this formation:

With Diarra and Emerson both playing, then it is too defensive. They need someone such as Beckham for the long balls to Ronaldo or Vannistelrooy and maybe Robinho as a starting player for more attacking options.

 

[m_vaughan]

Helguera sucks as a defender and Reyes is naturally a left winger who sometimes plays on the right. Apart from that the formation is good.

------------------Casillas-----------------
--Ramos----Cannavaro---Bravo----Carlos--
-----------Beckham-----Diarra------------
------------------Guti--------------------
------Raul-----------------Reyes----------
-------------RVN/Ronaldo-----------------

 

[Hariz]

Both formations are good imo but Madrid really lack in the defensive department. They play either a too defensive or a too attacking formation. They need to find the balance there.
Bravo and Helguera both suck as central defenders and Madrid need to take some actions for that position, Cannavaro really needs a sound partner and Ramos is certainly not providing that security.

 

[usy]

My favourite team of Spain has been for more then a decade Barcelona. And they seem to have their squad, compared to previous season, intact. So they're one of the favourites. Now I hope they will strenghten themselves with some players with the relegated Italian clubs.

They can't kick a ball without Ronaldinho, and Et'o wins nearly all games for them.

 

[Hariz]

They can't kick a ball without Ronaldinho, and Et'o wins nearly all games for them.

Well I would'nt say that, they play as a team and are dangerous because of their combinations. No one can win the Champions League with only one player. Deco is their playmaker and Ronaldinho is that "one touch of brilliance" player, who can rip you apart on his day. They are very good defensively and almost the entire team scores goals

 

[m_vaughan]

Yeah though I do agree they look completely different with Ronaldinho and Eto'o in the team (and in form). But even without them they are still a good side and have other class players like Giuly, Marquez, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Edmilson, Gudjohnsen, Saviola,......well the list is endless.

 

[Hariz]

Leaving aside Barca, who does think that Raul is coming back to own self again. He is quick, takes on defenders and is scoring again. It is great news for Real imo. I have been a really big fan of Raul over the years and when he is flowing he really scores some beautiful goals. Hope he overtakes Shevchenko in the overall european goals ranking.

 

[m_vaughan]

Leaving aside Barca, who does think that Raul is coming back to own self again. He is quick, takes on defenders and is scoring again. It is great news for Real imo. I have been a really big fan of Raul over the years and when he is flowing he really scores some beautiful goals. Hope he overtakes Shevchenko in the overall european goals ranking.

Sheva has played in fewer game but Raul has scored as well as created for Real. Yes he has shown his golden touch in recent games and I hope he can continue it. Credit must go to Capello for getting the best out of him. However his role is no longer of an out and out striker. Nowdays Raul plays pretty much in midfield and creates a lot of the chances for the forwards (RVN/Ronaldo/Cassano).

But yeah, Raul is still one of the very few natural goalscorers in modern day football.

 

[m_vaughan]

Spain vs Sweden. Aragones continues to surprise people by dropping a number of crucial players. Raul, Joaquin and Pernia get the axe now. Joaquin's teammate at Valencia, Angulo and Deportivo's Capdevilla are in the squad though. Aragones has also hinted at a change in style meaning Spain might play a less attacking and possession football. Hence we might hit on the counter more now.

This would be my team against Sweden
-------------------Casillas-------------------
--S Ramos---C Puyol----P Ibanez----A Lopez--
---------------David Aldelda-----------------
--Angulo-------------------------Reyes-----
------------------Xavi---------------------
-------F Torres----------D Villa-------------

Squad-
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool).

Defenders: Antonio Lopez (Atletico Madrid), Pablo Ibanez (Atletico Madrid), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Juanito (Real Betis), Joan Capdevila (Deportivo Coruna), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Jose Antonio Reyes (Real Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Luis Garcia (Liverpool), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), David Albelda (Valencia), Miguel Angel Angulo (Valencia)

Forwards: Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid), David Villa (Valencia)

 

[usy]

How much is Casillas worth, he'z been with Madrid for quite a bit now.

 

[m_vaughan]

Though terribly out of form at the moment, Casillas is rated one of the finest in the world today.

I dont think Madrid would even consider selling him.

 

[Hariz]

Sweden will be a tough nut to crack for the Spaniards, who have won both their opening games after losing the friendly to Germany . Good formation, although for me a certain Raul is still absent from the spanish attack. I would play Xavi in place of Albelda and put in a more attacking Luis Garcia/ Iniesta on his place. And isn't Angulo a forward ?

 

[m_vaughan]

He can play forward, but is naturally a right winger.

With a dodgy defence, a defensive midfielder who can win possession as well, is crucial for Spain. Albelda and Alonso both do that job well. Btw, Reyes has been pulled out due to a knee injury and has been replaced by Sevilla's Puerta.

 

[Hariz]

Well Madrid record their first defeat of the season losing 1-0 to away to Getafe. They looked nothing like a team, with many changes in the defense. Ronaldo came on in the 2nd half just to get booked twice and get suspended for the game against Barca.

 

[m_vaughan]

It was probably the worst display of football ever shown by Real Madrid. They were doing NOTHING.

I think all those chances were made due to the midweek Champions League game and the next weekend's El Classico.