Football Banter

I would say Madrid are similar to Barca but perhaps not as far down the line. Some of the big name players: Benzema, Kroos, Ramos, Marcelo, Bale are the wrong side of 30 & their better players under 30: Varane, Isco, Carvajal, Casemiro & Hazard are 27 at the youngest. Half the main players in the senior squad are past their peak, the other half are at it.

Whilst it is true that 3 of their young players were listed on FIFA's young player of the year award for 2019, they received a combined total of 4% of the vote, where as Barca's Ansu Fati was awarded 5% alone. I do not think these players are quite at the level to step into the shoes of the over 30s.

Madrid could definitely do with at least 5 good signings to replace their senior members

so how should British and English approach the CL/EL in the new season? After Man Utd fell short against Sevilla last night.
At least my prediction of both Manchester clubs being knocked out came true lol

(16-08-2020 23:57 )southsidestu Wrote:  I would say Madrid are similar to Barca but perhaps not as far down the line. Some of the big name players: Benzema, Kroos, Ramos, Marcelo, Bale are the wrong side of 30 & their better players under 30: Varane, Isco, Carvajal, Casemiro & Hazard are 27 at the youngest. Half the main players in the senior squad are past their peak, the other half are at it.

Whilst it is true that 3 of their young players were listed on FIFA's young player of the year award for 2019, they received a combined total of 4% of the vote, where as Barca's Ansu Fati was awarded 5% alone. I do not think these players are quite at the level to step into the shoes of the over 30s.

Madrid could definitely do with at least 5 good signings to replace their senior members

I don't think that vote proves much, other than the hype that surrounds any young player that comes through at Barça. Ansu Fati has hardly played in the first team so I don't see how he justifies that percentage of vote. I remember a few years ago, Bojan was going to be the new Messi and Geovani dos Santos the new Ronaldinho. Neither came close, it's all just hype.

Madrid has Valverde, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr who have got a lot of first team action under their belt. Then there's Odegaard who is coming back from loan and Ceballos and Reguilon who may be doing the same. Kubo just been loaned to Villarreal after a successful spell at Mallorca and Reinier going to Dortmund. Their plan is to bring in Mbappe a couple of years down the line too.

A lot of great young talent there already or on its way. Not to mention Hazard who has been very unlucky this season with injuries.

Mendy (and Reguilon) will replace Marcelo and Bale is already on his way out, he's hardly featured this season.

Seems FA are going to allow fans in to teams in National League North/South as part of the test events to get supporters back onto stadiums

Messi going to Man City?

^^

In related football news sky sports have sacked Charlie Nicolas, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier.


Soccer saturday will not be the same without them.

How did Paul Merson survive?

Merson has made no secret of his battles with alcoholism and depression so it probably wouldn't have looked too good if he had been sacked and replaced by somebody from the new woke agenda.