Last year Barca went from a DISTANT 3rd in La Liga to dominating the league and playing for the Champions League title. They didn't spend ridiculously over the summer, they found the right fit to run the team and spent wisely in key positions. Madrid doesn't need to spend hundreds of millions of Euro to contend next year. They have options to bring back quality players like Negredo for as little as 3m Euro, and have assets that can generate options in the transfer market if they're smart. So you'll notice that not one of my steps has anything to do with buying big name players. To get the proper results, it likely won't happen in a year, but by the 2010-2011 season, Real should be competing on the biggest stages.
- When you've got rats in the kitchen you call the exterminator. Getting rid of Calderon, Balouda and Mijatovic was absolutely critical. As the saying goes: "You lie down with dogs, you wake up with fleas".
- Pick a coach and stick with him. No need to rush in to a decision. Take your time, choose carefully and commit. It's been 7 years since Madrid last lifted the only trophy that matters, and since than there have been 5 men who have tried to lead Los Blancos, not one has made it past the first knock out round.
- Commit to a style. Capello got canned after winning La Liga because his brand of football wasn't "attractive enough". I'd rather win ugly than lose pretty. Ramos was criticized for Madrid's style of play in the midst of an incredible streak of 52 out of 54 possible points. As soon as he tried to play attacking soccer against a far superior Barca squad, they got annihilated. Chelsea's gameplan in the first leg of the semis against Barca set soccer back half a century, but many felt it demonstrated Hiddink's brilliance for not trying to go head to head against Barca's firepower. This isn't to say that Madrid can't or shouldn't strive to play beautiful football, but there are plenty of ways to skin a cat.
- Enough already of the Cristiano Ronaldo obsession--He's not coming, and even if he was, we'd pay too much. He's like the hot chick in high school. She looks great when she's with someone else, her skills are world reknowned, but she's more trouble than she's worth once she's yours.
- Pass the Dutchie to the left hand side--Is there a bigger underachiever in the global game than the Oranje? All the talent in the world, they typically play an attractive brand of football, but what do they have to show for it? Via con dios Ruud, Robben, Van der Vaart, Drenthe and Sneijder. Huntelaar is a keeper.
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Good blog and all good points. I do think you will get Cristiano eventually and you will end up overpaying for him.
I would also definitely get rid of the Dutchmen (with the execption of Huntelaar only because he was recently purchased, and not that I'm high on him...because I am not). Some are old in the tooth and the rest are overpaid.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN
Brooklyn, NY
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Negredo will only come back if he can play. I think he's declared that he won't be a third or fourth striker for Madrid. If they can clear up some space in front of him then by all means bring Negredo back.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN
Brooklyn, NY
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If Raul is half the player I think he is, he'll make this season his swan song and go out when there is still some gas in the tank rather than embarrass himself. Hopefully part of the farewell tour will be him gracefully stepping aside and mentoring the younger players.
Depending on what the summer holds, I wouldn't mind seeing them give Higuain some time as an attacking midfielder behind Negredo and Huntelaar. He's the most mobile and versatile one of the bunch and I don't think he needs to be limited to playing in the box. I don't think we need to buy a bunch of big name strikers. What we need to help the offense are midfielders and wings who can draw defenders and than deliver a useful ball that the strikers can actually do something with. The midfield was horrible this year.
PootieTang: Got 9?
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I meant to say that Raul should make next season his swan song. Let him go out with a respectable team.
PootieTang: Got 9?
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the dutch are makin the quarters for sure and im pickin em for the semis in south africa, they learned from the euros...drenthe is the only one i think they should get rid of...was getting all these dutch dudes in response to capello not playing attractive football?
Pawn
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Ruud was already there, but Drenthe, Sneijder, Robben and Van der Vaart were all Schuster's pick ups. I get the Sneijder and Robben signings, they at least made sense. Didn't work out well, but I can't blame Schuster for those. Van der Vaart I blame on Calderon. After falling flat in their pusuit of CR7 and both Villa and Silva in the 11th hour, Van der Vaart was the consolation prize. Drenthe gets alot of criticism, from me included, but he could probably be decent if they loan him out for a season or two, get some confidence and regular playing time. He has all of the physical tools, just emotionally immature.
PootieTang: Got 9?
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