Arbeola will miss this game due to his 5 collected yellows

 

---------Casillas----------
Ramos-Garay-Albiol-Marcelo
---------Xabi-------------
------Lass-----Granero----
---------Kaka-------------
------CR9------Higuain----

 

playing Ramos in this game ? Are you kidding me ? one more yellow and he is suspended against Sevilla

 

White Wash performance! Massive victory to keep the confidence flowing

 

Arbeloa is suspended...who do you want to play Lass?...I mean then people talk about overconfidence. Yes, we should win, it doesnt mean we will win if we dont show up ready to do damage....

 

ye, ramos should sit down this one.
Marcelo opening again...
Pellegrini should really not use him to prepare the team for the return Lyon game (He's suspended AFAIR).

 

Does nobody else remember what this stadium means to us and what our history there is, or am I the only one?

 

i thought exactly the same, josh. :scared:

 

 

...

 

Keep going.

7 more years back to go.

This is truly embarassing if Real Madrid fans don't know about this.

 

Yup I know exactly what you are talkingh about Josh....its a shame that some dont remember, bad Juju that stadium is, that's why I want the strongest possible lineup, now is not the time to drop points

 

we lost to them 2-0, and Varca won the league after we were leading the table...

 

Oh nooooo, you disclosed the huuuge secret!

I expect an easy win.

 

Porteros: Casillas y Dudek
Defensas: Sergio Ramos, Garay, Albiol, Metzelder, Marcelo y Marcos Alonso
Centrocampistas: Gago, Lass, Diarra, Xabi Alonso, Granero, Kaká, VdV, Mosquera.
Delanteros: Raúl, Cristiano e Higuaín.

 

I'd love to see VDV get a start. :thumbsup:

 

the team landed safely in the south of the island. The weather forecast is far from good, as the Canaries expect a serious storm. So if the game can be played is not sure yet.

 

Yeah, it's the same all over Spain, they're talking about the "perfect storm". Extremely heavy wind and rain, although in Tenerife will be mainly windy. Only the Mediterranean zone is more or less safe (still windy, but not that much).

 

Wont be an easy game but where there is Cristiano, there is hope roud:

 

Totally !!!

 

If we win, we'll be first for 15 minutes before the Barca game starts and we all know how that's gonna turn out (vs. Malaga at Camp Nou) but you never know, a surprise is possible.

 

VDV and Diarra need minutes before Lyon, hope they make an appearance.

 

Casillas
Ramos-Albiol-Garay-Marcelo
Xabi-M.Diarra
Kaka-Granero-Ronaldo
Higuain​

We should play this today. The two Diarras need some time before the CL second leg.

If we are up by two goals,

second half should be

Granero --> VDV
Xabi --> L.Diarra
Marcelo --> Marcos Alonso

Also, who was the last winger we had who could run with the ball and cross well? (Figo, I guess)

We seem to get either mediocre wingers or great fake wingers.

 

What are you last two guys talking about with getting Mahamadou minutes before the Lyon second leg?

We're a goal down in that tie and he was one of the worst players on the field in the first leg. Why would we need him to play in the Bernabeu, trying to come back from a defecit?

 

Regardless, he has been as important this season to us as Jerzy Dudek.

This is not the time to launch him into important games, we saw how out-of-sorts he was against Lyon. He couldn't keep up with anybody, didn't make any noteworthy tackles or break up plays. Lass hasn't been good either, mind you.

EDIT: I was as pumped up as everybody else when he was announced in the XI before the first leg. We all know how good he can be, but he has no form whatsoever this year and it shows. Not his fault, due to injuries and team selections, but still a valid point none the less.

We've looked fantastic in the rare moments we've had Lass and M.Diarra in the middle this season. Those two cover an unbelievable amount of ground and their tenacity ensures they do the work of three players. I am pretty sure it would work.

First off I don't think Diarra had a good game against Lyon (certainly not by his standard), but he was far from the worst player on the pitch, that accolade goes to either Marcelo or Granero imo. Plus Xabi was as bad too imo. In the last 20 minutes or so of that match, Diarra and Ramos were the only two playing with heart, trying to push forward anyway they could. It is because of Diarra's infrequent appearances that I said he needs minutes, with Xabi out of the tie, it seems he is sure to get the start and hence required the minutes.

I also think that playing both Diarras with 4 forwards is very risky, it looks grand on paper, but would be only grand on the field if the 4 forwards had the clear understanding and commitment of covering each other defensively and aiding the midfield. For that reason, I would rather have VDV, Guti or Granero as a third midfielder. With Guti not playing for about 2 weeks now, it should be VDV/Grenaro.


And Josh, I remember your post about "Big Mama" in the Lyon thread, and remember thinking to myself that it had jinx material written all over it

Now please open the Lyon thread before someone beats you to it and jinxes us once again :scared:

 

Mahamadou is absolute class. If you don't play regularly it will affect your form. Yaya was also poor against Stuttgart for the same reason, but these are quality players. I've said for a long time now that we should start Lass and M.Diarra with Cristiano and Kaka on the flanks, Benzema and Higuain upfront. I am not sold on Alonso (who is finally showing good form), and the likes of Guti and Granero have never heard of consistency.

 

Mahamadou is absolute class. If you don't play regularly it will affect your form. Yaya was also poor against Stuttgart for the same reason, but these are quality players. I've said for a long time now that we should start Lass and M.Diarra with Cristiano and Kaka on the flanks, Benzema and Higuain upfront. I am not sold on Alonso (who is finally showing good form), and the likes of Guti and Granero have never heard of consistency.

Although that may seem like the logical solution on paper, it's quite clear it will never work out on the pitch. Who's going to pressure the opponents midfield? Ronaldo, Kaka,...?? Don't see it happening. You need true wingers to work a perfect 4-4-2. Just like Sevilla for example.

I agree though, that M. Diarra is crucial for breaking opponents play.

 

Regardless, he has been as important this season to us as Jerzy Dudek.

This is not the time to launch him into important games, we saw how out-of-sorts he was against Lyon. He couldn't keep up with anybody, didn't make any noteworthy tackles or break up plays. Lass hasn't been good either, mind you.

EDIT: I was as pumped up as everybody else when he was announced in the XI before the first leg. We all know how good he can be, but he has no form whatsoever this year and it shows. Not his fault, due to injuries and team selections, but still a valid point none the less.

 

There is no Xabi for the second leg right? Do we want to risk playing with just Lass (who is not in very good form) or giving Mohmadou some minutes this weekend and starting both?

 

Go attacking! It's not like Granero, VDV, or Guti don't do any tracking back or help defensively. 2 of those 3 alongside Lass and we're good. We need to attack and need creativity in the midfield. VDV and Guti in particular can provide that.

I'm more interested in VDV getting some minutes today so he can be ready for Lyon, not Big Mama.

 

Who was on the field with them? Just out of curiosity...

I'm not saying it would never ever work out. Football is a crazy sport, anything can happen. But a 2 man midfield with no added pressure, against the likes of Chelsea, Man Utd., Barca and other power houses is a risk. Maybe against the likes of Tenerife and Xerez you could switch to a 4-4-2. But not sticking to a line up and sysetm is also risky business.

 

Who was on the field with them? Just out of curiosity...

They only started together once, as far as I remember, and that was in the 6-0 win against Zaragoza. The four guys in front of them were Marcelo, Van der Vaart, Cristiano, and Higuain.

 

I dont even wanna think about this game.We will win big...


Cant wait to see the reveltion of this year tho.Alvaro Alfaro.Hes is the one that i am scared of...

 

Cant wait to see the reveltion of this year tho.Alvaro Alfaro.Hes is the one that i am scared of...

So scared that you don't even know his name! :eekani: