El Flaco
Active member
[AS] Six keys to Real's disaster season: tours, doctors, Florentino, James...
1. A poor preseason
Many of the Madrid players have complained about their summer preparations, "We did more flying than training" as Modric put it, los blancos were in Australia and China, among other places, the players travelled more than 45,000 kms. Cristiano also complained about the summer preparations: "The pre-season wasn't good, too many trips", Carvajal agreeing.
Doctor Olmo
Real Madrid have had 21 injuries this season at the time of writing, many of those relapses, Pepe and Bale the obvious examples. The players are not happy with "doctor stretch" as they call him, Sergio Ramos particularly vocal about the faltering practice on the Madrid treatment table. In Bale's case, voices are increasing in volume that his recurrent injuries are down to Olmo's change in his treatment from the back-strengthening techniques he was following during Ancelotti's time to stretching, massage, and sand-pit work he's currently doing. He's already had four injuries this season. Keylor Navas, Modric, Pepe, Kovacic, James, Bale and Benzema have all experienced Olmo's ineffective methods this season.
3. Failed managerial decision: Ancelotti for Benítez
Florentino said adiós to Ancelotti, the man who brought the Décima back to the Bernabéu, and who was liked and respected by all the players. The changing-room heavyweights including Cristiano and Ramos were public about their desire to see him continue, but the club president wouldn't listen, bringing in Rafa Benítez. He inherited a difficult situation, players against him from the off, and he rattled too many cages. The bad vibes got worse and the situation became unsustainable, Florentino installing Zidane to calm the ship and stop the mutiny. 'Zidaneuphoria' has lasted only a month and a half however, as the spirit-raising appointment hasn't translated to points-raising results. The change coming half-way through the season has made it difficult for Zidane to get his ideas across.
4. No Director of Sport = a mismatched collection of playmakers
Real Madrid has no plan. That's obvious from the signings at the club which are led by Florentino inspired impulse-buys rather than any grand design. The squad is unbalanced, top heavy with creative players who want to play in the hole and few defensively-minded midfielders. In fact, the only one is Casemiro, all the others are attacking players shoehorned in to the 4-3-3 formed to the demands of the BBC. Real Madrid doesn't have a Sporting Director, which reveals the lack of structure and vision at the club. That makes it possible for Illarramendi to be bought for €40M and sold for €20M, or why there's no substitute for Marcelo when he's injured.
5. James from Ballon d'Or to barn door
A curious case, and a very significant one too. James cost €80M, was an essential part of the team last season, but has disappeared completely this season. It's like he's dragging himself around the pitch, yesterday the fans booed him roundly after he gave the ball away repeatedly and offered nothing going forward. His lowest ebb in the camisa blanca.
6. The heavyweights who weigh heavily on this season
Sergio Ramos has dropped his standards this season, perhaps at the start of the season due to that shoulder injury, but his dominance on the pitch has waned and he's scored only one goal so far this season, contributing much more in previous campaigns. Cristiano hasn't been himself either, he has the same goals per game average, 34 in 33, but has scored all those goals in 17 encounters and his performances away from home have deteriorated alarmingly. Against Roma he scored a chest-pounder, but he has failed to score in the majority of Real Madrid's most important matches this season. Out of the heavyweights, with Bale injured for 42% of the overall minutes so far, only Benzema, Marcelo and Modric have maintained their level.
http://en.as.com/en/2016/02/28/album/1456665864_823394.html#1456665864_823394_1456666988
Many of the Madrid players have complained about their summer preparations, "We did more flying than training" as Modric put it, los blancos were in Australia and China, among other places, the players travelled more than 45,000 kms. Cristiano also complained about the summer preparations: "The pre-season wasn't good, too many trips", Carvajal agreeing.
Doctor Olmo
Real Madrid have had 21 injuries this season at the time of writing, many of those relapses, Pepe and Bale the obvious examples. The players are not happy with "doctor stretch" as they call him, Sergio Ramos particularly vocal about the faltering practice on the Madrid treatment table. In Bale's case, voices are increasing in volume that his recurrent injuries are down to Olmo's change in his treatment from the back-strengthening techniques he was following during Ancelotti's time to stretching, massage, and sand-pit work he's currently doing. He's already had four injuries this season. Keylor Navas, Modric, Pepe, Kovacic, James, Bale and Benzema have all experienced Olmo's ineffective methods this season.
3. Failed managerial decision: Ancelotti for Benítez
Florentino said adiós to Ancelotti, the man who brought the Décima back to the Bernabéu, and who was liked and respected by all the players. The changing-room heavyweights including Cristiano and Ramos were public about their desire to see him continue, but the club president wouldn't listen, bringing in Rafa Benítez. He inherited a difficult situation, players against him from the off, and he rattled too many cages. The bad vibes got worse and the situation became unsustainable, Florentino installing Zidane to calm the ship and stop the mutiny. 'Zidaneuphoria' has lasted only a month and a half however, as the spirit-raising appointment hasn't translated to points-raising results. The change coming half-way through the season has made it difficult for Zidane to get his ideas across.
4. No Director of Sport = a mismatched collection of playmakers
Real Madrid has no plan. That's obvious from the signings at the club which are led by Florentino inspired impulse-buys rather than any grand design. The squad is unbalanced, top heavy with creative players who want to play in the hole and few defensively-minded midfielders. In fact, the only one is Casemiro, all the others are attacking players shoehorned in to the 4-3-3 formed to the demands of the BBC. Real Madrid doesn't have a Sporting Director, which reveals the lack of structure and vision at the club. That makes it possible for Illarramendi to be bought for €40M and sold for €20M, or why there's no substitute for Marcelo when he's injured.
5. James from Ballon d'Or to barn door
A curious case, and a very significant one too. James cost €80M, was an essential part of the team last season, but has disappeared completely this season. It's like he's dragging himself around the pitch, yesterday the fans booed him roundly after he gave the ball away repeatedly and offered nothing going forward. His lowest ebb in the camisa blanca.
6. The heavyweights who weigh heavily on this season
Sergio Ramos has dropped his standards this season, perhaps at the start of the season due to that shoulder injury, but his dominance on the pitch has waned and he's scored only one goal so far this season, contributing much more in previous campaigns. Cristiano hasn't been himself either, he has the same goals per game average, 34 in 33, but has scored all those goals in 17 encounters and his performances away from home have deteriorated alarmingly. Against Roma he scored a chest-pounder, but he has failed to score in the majority of Real Madrid's most important matches this season. Out of the heavyweights, with Bale injured for 42% of the overall minutes so far, only Benzema, Marcelo and Modric have maintained their level.
http://en.as.com/en/2016/02/28/album/1456665864_823394.html#1456665864_823394_1456666988
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