Luka Jović

El Gato

Villarato!
Except you're presuming he didn't do it and making an excuse for Zidane for not employing meritocracy in a period where the first striker didn't play well enough to get nearly as many minutes as he did week to week. It's pretty clear why Benzema and Bale were in and out of the team. It's the same case over and over again, attachment to specific names, nepotism, 'his squad'. Even dropped Fede for several games and started Modrić + inserted Bale ahead of better performing players against City. Same mistakes different names, even more magnified regarding #9s.
 
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JamDav1982

Senior Member
Except you're presuming he didn't do it and making an excuse for Zidane for not employing meritocracy in a period where the first striker didn't play well enough to get nearly as many minutes as he did week to week. It's pretty clear why Benzema and Bale were in and out of the team. It's the same case over and over again, attachment to specific names, nepotism, 'his squad'. Even dropped Fede for several games and started Modrić + inserted Bale ahead of better performing players against City. Same mistakes different names, even more magnified regarding #9s.

Maybe the older players are bullies that create a shit atmosphere for new players.... like you claim for Barca.
 

JamDav1982

Senior Member
If Zidane/Real spend 250m on players that dont make much impact on first team and go out CL in last 16 for second year running and lose league to a Barca team in disarray..do you reckon Zidane would be on a shoogly peg?

How long would the CL wins last to appease Real fans for future seasons?

Actually do agree with Courtois that they have been better than Barca this year to be fair. Which in some ways makes it worse.
 

El Gato

Villarato!
This year they'll make an excuse for him with Hazard being stupidly unlucky with injuries. Which is a pretty decent one TBH. We played very well offensively as long as he was fit in that period between Mallorca and PSG games before Meunier crocked him. And we were visibly better when results got bad, still managing to bag a Clasico without him. Won't be enough of an argument if trophies don't follow when he returns tho.
If it continues with Hazard fit and no players making clear progress then Zidane could be out on the next string of bad results next season. Fortunately for him, as long as Vinicius and Rodrygo continue to be as good as they are at what they do, they may save his ass if the timing is right.
Except Zidane isn't helping himself at all when the main issue is scoring. He's going for half assed measures never fully going in with Rodrygo and being too obsessed with babysitting that French pussy upfront trying to get him to score again.

Otherwise Pochettino could be a go as soon as winter next season.
 
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JamDav1982

Senior Member
This year they'll make an excuse for him with Hazard being stupidly unlucky with injuries. Which is a pretty decent one TBH. We played very well offensively as long as he was fit in that period between Mallorca and PSG games before Meunier crocked him. And we were visibly better when results got bad, still managing to bag a Clasico without him. Won't be enough of an argument if trophies don't follow when he returns tho.
If it continues with Hazard fit and no players making clear progress then Zidane could be out on the next string of bad results next season. Fortunately for him, as long as Vinicius and Rodrygo continue to be as good as they are at what they do, they may save his ass if the timing is right.
Except Zidane isn't helping himself at all when the main issue is scoring. He's going for half assed measures never fully going in with Rodrygo and being too obsessed with babysitting that French pussy upfront trying to get him to score again.

Otherwise Pochettino could be a go as soon as winter next season.

Poch be the best choice but will by expensive to point of nearly impossible if Newcastle takeover goes ahead and get him in on long contract.

He could ask for a Real clause I suppose but even that wont be cheap.

Viniscuis Jr needs to show a lot more and he looks better on left where Hazard will play. Rodrygo not shown anything amazing yet but still young.

Real biggest obstacle will be replacing the old core same with Barca.

Used to be that El Classico has best players in world in their position. Now bar Messi dont think any player is that across the two teams. Big drop off.
 

El Gato

Villarato!
Has Poch even been in conversation for any team since sacking? Doubt he wants the Castle job where everything's uncertain. They're at the beginning of the sheikh curve, even City had to start with Mark Hughes and buying Robinhos rather than Mbappes. Not sure if Pochettino wants to build from that far down again and possibly never reap benefits if they don't get the transfers through. Wouldn't be very ambitious of him, maybe he likes the niche? But I'm guessing he knows it's time to progress and prove he's able to start from a different level.

Vinicius is 19. He shows enough for 19. He knows he needs to show more. If at least his assist numbers go up as the playing time goes up, be it in Real or somewhere on loan, then he's fine. He's resilient in the way that he doesn't care for mistakes, which will either make him or break him depending on natural development. Rodrygo is a better footballer, but a less assertive one.

Clasico will almost be better for it IMO. Dependent on fixture list and form. Less predictable. At least on paper.

Core to replace isn't that big a deal in terms of just skill and tactics, it's already begun. Kroos is 30 and has 3 years, Odegaard and others are in conversation for that, while Casemiro stays for another 5 years probably. It's the leadership and veteranship management, the meritocracy with new players that is the problem. Fede has to play every important game. So does Mendy in almost every case. Possibly Achraf ahead of Carvajal when he comes back and if he proves better. Same applies to Jović, but he needs more time. Rotation has not been good in the main place where rotation is key so that the goals come in all kinds of fixtures, the more and the less important ones. Strikers only get better when they play and score.
 
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JamDav1982

Senior Member
Has Poch even been in conversation for any team since sacking? Doubt he wants the Castle job where everything's uncertain. They're at the beginning of the sheikh curve, even City had to start with Mark Hughes and buying Robinhos rather than Mbappes. Not sure if Pochettino wants to build from that far down again and possibly never reap benefits if they don't get the transfers through. Wouldn't be very ambitious of him, maybe he likes the niche? But I'm guessing he knows it's time to progress and prove he's able to start from a different level.

Vinicius is 19. He shows enough for 19. He knows he needs to show more. If at least his assist numbers go up as the playing time goes up, be it in Real or somewhere on loan, then he's fine. He's resilient in the way that he doesn't care for mistakes, which will either make him or break him depending on natural development. Rodrygo is a better footballer, but a less assertive one.

Clasico will almost be better for it IMO. Dependent on fixture list and form. Less predictable. At least on paper.

Core to replace isn't that big a deal in terms of just skill and tactics, it's already begun. Kroos is 30 and has 3 years, Odegaard and others are in conversation for that, while Casemiro stays for another 5 years probably. It's the leadership and veteranship management, the meritocracy with new players that is the problem. Fede has to play every important game. So does Mendy in almost every case. Possibly Achraf ahead of Carvajal when he comes back and if he proves better. Same applies to Jović, but he needs more time. Rotation has not been good in the main place where rotation is key so that the goals come in all kinds of fixtures, the more and the less important ones. Strikers only get better when they play and score.

Poch been linked to both United and Newcastle.

Viniscus looks like one of those players it could click and he improves final ball and is up there with best in world or never really develops and is a raw talent but plenty time.

Likes of Odegaard is good but level of Real first time and amongst best in world... long way to go.

Of the youngsters only Valverde looks sure fire top player. Hakimi maybe as well but difficult to tell in that 343 formation as inflates attacking stats a bit.

Mendy needs to improve a lot going forward to be one of top full backs.
 

El Gato

Villarato!
United will stick with Solskjaer for a year or so, now that Maguire and Fernandes seem to be lifting the team for him. Especially if they finish top 4 if the season resumes.

Not too worried for our players. Mendy will play most games as long as he's solid with Reguilon likely playing 2nd fiddle down the line.
 

El Gato

Villarato!
Dude's so miserable sulking in Madrid he flew to Serbia and started climbing walls just to smile again. Gee. Somebody buy Matić already so he can talk to someone.
 

Morten

Senior Member
Its still too early to tell, but i really cant see Jovic making it here.
Benzema is still a decent enough striker, rarely injuried, Zidane likes his favorites, and i dont think Zidane is going anywhere regardless how this season finishes now.

Also, Jovic had some injury troubles, not quite fitting in, everything points to him being a flop, still time to turn things around though.
 

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