that much-needed balance and depth in midfield has been restored.

how can you say that when beckham is on the pitch? :howler: :howler: :howler: :howler: :howler: :howler: :howler:

 

If both teams keep current form up to the game, i think we couldn't have asked for a better chance to score a good 2-0 win at home which will be a massive advantage for us going into the second leg....

Though the game is home, i would still rather see Gravy on the pitch for Guti.

 

how can you say that when beckham is on the pitch? :howler: :howler: :howler: :howler: :howler: :howler: :howler:

I don't know what your problem with Beckham is.

If he plays on the right, which he is doing, then we have perfect balance.

If we don't have balance, how have we managed to win 6 games in a row and close the gap to four points?

Your constant criticism of Beckham is getting tedious.

 

hmmm what a game it's going to be. Madrid have a strong attack, but Juve are the ones that understand the art of defending.

Anyway I think when we get going, we will get going, so if we score first, things gonna be easy. But more important is not to let juve counter (Gravy can prevent that). Anyway I'm coinfident Real will get past juve.

Besides Zizou will have somthing to prove, we all saw he getting angry (and score) in the last meeting in Turin after the booing by the Juve fans. So he will seek revenge. Plus Figo, R9, Raul and owen are made for big games. I think we should play with beckham, not because I love him so much (guti-gravy would be much better) but because we'll get plenty of free kicks. And he's been improving lately like the rest of the team.

 

I don't know what your problem with Beckham is.

If he plays on the right, which he is doing, then we have perfect balance.

If we don't have balance, how have we managed to win 6 games in a row and close the gap to four points?

Your constant criticism of Beckham is getting tedious.

I'm sorry, we have a perfect balance with beckham on the right?
the only way he can give a good pass from the right side is in the case he is not pressured by the other team, which in most cases he is, very easy to press on...
and even if he get a cross, who can head it in? ronaldo? raul? none of them are good headers (though raul is much better in that then ronaldo), so what is the use of his passes? better have figo there, someone who can dribble pass players and give a more accurate pass.
balance on the right? you'r kidding me... just look at the espanyol game and how the team looked better once beckham was off...

 

Nice preview El Fen :thmbup:

 

*Juventus are one of the most physical teams in the Uefa Champions League, with 114 fouls committed during the group phase.

I hate when they call it that. Just say what it is without trying to excuse it. Not the most physical. The dirtiest. Plain and simple.

 

I know this doesn't quite belong here. But to the many Solari fans here is a gift article I read today on him. It made me appreciate him too. I've never really seen him play.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=324311&cc=5901

 

Geeeez. When I clicked on the Real Madrid forum and saw that so soon the first thread on the list was 'UCL| Rd 16| 1st leg: Real Madrid CF vs Juventus FC. ' I got shivers down my spine.

I think the biggest decision here for Lux is who start, Gravesen or Guti. Even though we're playing Juve, we are still at home so i'm sure he'll go with Guti, I just hope it's the other way around in the return leg.

We should be able to knock off Juventus. But all it takes is one moment to knock us out from Nedved, Trezeguet or :star:Zlatan:star:


HALA MADRID

 

I hate when they call it that. Just say what it is without trying to excuse it. Not the most physical. The dirtiest. Plain and simple.

I was trying to be polite.

 

Should be a fun game for all to watch: "the generous but reckless" vs "the effective but dull". Two champions with opposite styles of play.

Juve really need Nedved back for this one and Real need to consider bolstering the defensive midfield positions. You may get away with 4 attacking midfielders against Osasuna, but not against Juve.

 

I thought Gravesen could play in the Champions' League? Everton wasn't in it.

 

Should be a fun game for all to watch: "the generous but reckless" vs "the effective but dull". Two champions with opposite styles of play.

Juve really need Nedved back for this one and Real need to consider bolstering the defensive midfield positions. You may get away with 4 attacking midfielders against Osasuna, but not against Juve.

you hit it on the spot.

 

Juve really need Nedved back for this one and Real need to consider bolstering the defensive midfield positions. You may get away with 4 attacking midfielders against Osasuna, but not against Juve.

Juve depends too much on Nedved imo and i can imagine, they will play an overall defensive game. If we start to pressure them right from the beginning we will score soon or later. It's way harder to defend for 90 minutes than attacking and trying to force the rival to play your game imo.

 

I don't know what your problem with Beckham is.

If he plays on the right, which he is doing, then we have perfect balance.

If we don't have balance, how have we managed to win 6 games in a row and close the gap to four points?

Your constant criticism of Beckham is getting tedious.

well said El Fenomeno :thumbsup:..he is obsessed with beckham.. :irritate: :stress: :thmbdown:

nice review..as u say we have almost perfect balance now..

 

4-0 juventus ..... after the horrible defeat RM will only focus on la liga and win it.

 

I have a feeling Real will come alive in the first game, simular to the Real-Manutd game in 02/03. With Zidane, Raul, Guti, Salgado, Solari and Owen in such good form, we can win both legs IMO.

 

Juventus is on a decline, while Real plays if not great, then efficient. Or atleast thats what the statistic said. We'll just have to wait and see, 'cause this one's up for a grab.

 

We will knock them the F*** out !

 

We will knock them the F*** out !

And like Friday there will be after game joints I pressume :stoned: :shades:

 

how has samuel been playing since luxe came on? his performance against juve will be key to real's chances.

 

With Real rising again as a team, the only advantage Juve have in this tie I feel is that they play the second leg at home. We CANNOT allow an away goal. One away goal and we might be ****ed. So there is no way I'd prefer Guti over Gravesen. Gravy all the way ! When needed he can go forward and join the attack, so no worries there that we lose substantially offensively if we play him instead of Guti. He is eligible isnt he ? Everton were not in Europe this season I believe ? Remember you can't play any European games. Not even qualifiers or UEFA Cup if you wanna play for another team in the UCL.

 

Basically domestics form may not be equal to their champion league form. Currently base on what we see however, it could be swinging to Madrid favour.

I would see this as a 50-50 thing.

There are a number of factor to consider

1.) Who will be at the starting up list. Will Beckham be playing on the right or will Figo do the job? Who will join Raul upfront? As For Juventus, the same thing goes too.

2.) Who can inspired his team to victory - Both Raul and Del Piero are consider the golden boys of their team. However, both of them had not been performing well this season. So It would take a lot from them to rise to the occasion and to inspire their team mates, encouraging them and to proof that nothing is impossible.

3.) Tactics - Will Madrid start off offensive or netural? Will Juventus play that kind of defensive game that saw them conceding only 1 goal for the champion league group game? What if Juventus decided to choose an attacking formation and tactics. This would have caught Madrid by surprises. We know that how weak Madrid defences can be at time. And what if Madrid start off patiently and catch Juventus on counterattack?

The possibility can go on and on.........

 

With Real rising again as a team, the only advantage Juve have in this tie I feel is that they play the second leg at home. We CANNOT allow an away goal. One away goal and we might be ****ed. So there is no way I'd prefer Guti over Gravesen. Gravy all the way ! When needed he can go forward and join the attack, so no worries there that we lose substantially offensively if we play him instead of Guti. He is eligible isnt he ? Everton were not in Europe this season I believe ? Remember you can't play any European games. Not even qualifiers or UEFA Cup if you wanna play for another team in the UCL.

why can't we enjoy both of them? why can't we bench beckham?
the classic formation for me is:
--------superman------------
salgado--helguera--samuel--RC
gravy-----guti
figo------------------zidan
----------raul---------------
---------ronaldo-------------

and if anyone have thoughts about juve coming and playing attacking football, he can forget about it.
like in all big occasions, they will hold everything back, defence with 10 people and go for very dangerous suprise attacks, which is one of the best way to "hurt" real madrid, and by "hurt" i'm not talking about winning the game, but "stealling" an away goal...

 

That might well be ideal actually sagyv, but I think thats unrealistic. If Luxemburgo shows he has the balls to do that, big up to him. In all honesty that would be my ideal formation. But in light of recent performances from Beckham, i think Beckham-Gravy-Zizou-Figo could be evry good as well.