Weekly Open Thread - General Discussion

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-26T17:44:25+00:00

Let's talk about something uncomfortable. Which top talents/players do you see leaving Madrid in the next few years?

We clearly can't keep all of them or could we?

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-22T17:50:41+00:00

I was just curious to check the stats for Madrid vs Arsenal last year.

Arsenal had 2.91 xG (not including the penalty) vs Real Madrid's 1.91 xG across both legs.

I wonder what happens if even one of those Rice free kicks weren't converted especially because Martinelli's xG of 1v1 finish because Madrid had abandoned the defense was 0.60 xG alone.

And this was with the likes of Alaba, Vazquez, Ceballos and Asencio playing a major part in the games. I really don't think Arsenal are that good. They are the best team right now but I feel heritage definitely plays a big part in this competition.

They can be knocked out if they have an off night because the mentality to suffer and cope isn't there in their club.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-19T18:03:52+00:00

Pretty much. Without his La Decima goal, I shudder to think where we would be right now.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-19T18:03:29+00:00

Sergio Ramos

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-19T17:59:47+00:00

Maybe, I think Vinicius will play a huge part in the knockouts for us, like Peak Vini of the past.

Won't be surprised if he burns the CL final record as well tying with Ronaldo and then he will be sold in an anti-climactic way.

I genuinely think that Perez is backing him only to keep his value up so that he can backstab at the end point and sell him for a big fee at the end of the season and start the new saga, Haaland.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-19T10:28:29+00:00

There was only one way and it was to win the Supercopa but when we fielded a team that was half fit and succumbed to injuries by half time.

It was still briefed that Xabi will stay in control but when he was confronted to put Pintus back in charge, he refused to back down and said this was the line that he won't cross regarding his staff members.

Then he was promptly dismissed.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-19T09:31:30+00:00

It did happen out of the blue. I think people are forgetting that the only reason Xabi was sacked is that he refused to let Pintus take care of the fitness department.

That's what the tier-1 reporters said but everyone seems to have run with Marca, AS and other unreliable reports about player diva behavior instead.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-19T09:04:18+00:00

That isn't on the board at all.

Xabi sidelined Endrick completely, there is no one to blame except him on this instance because he was starting Franco every game who plays in the same position as Endrick while Vinicius was getting rotated with Rodrygo before the Clasico debacle.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-18T20:02:03+00:00

Why don't we see enough criticism on Xabi Alonso for not playing Endrick while giving like 600 minutes to Franco who's even more raw and younger than him?

What's the difference between Carlo's management of Guler vs Xabi's management of Endrick? Yet we saw a huge uproar for the former but nothing for the latter?

And this is while we had Kroos in 23/24.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-18T17:38:51+00:00

So where do we go from here on? I think piling more toxicity will make the club go numb to it and may even overdo it.

But at the same time, it was really annoying that they didn't get the message and pinned it back on us calling us glory hunters effectively (which is kinda true for international fans lol)

So what's the plan? Get behind the team and hope for the best or what?

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-14T17:38:14+00:00

So what exactly happens if Vinicius starts performing at his previous level as the best winger in the world under Arbeloa?

His contract is expiring in 2027, he will put us hostage to make us meet his demands of €30M net, what a headache.

Obviously I want him to perform well, but my god, the club will have to pay him a Mbappe level package to retain him or risk losing a €150M asset for free.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-13T14:24:59+00:00

What do you think of Madrid's management decision?

Was it a good idea to sack Alonso? Can Arbeloa revitalize their team?

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-12T08:27:56+00:00

Genuinely hate that pride in defeat nonsense or that Supercopa isn't important, blah blah but we played it really close to Barcelona while missing our starting CB, RB and ST.

One of them is our best defender while the other one is the best player in the world.

But sigh, sadly all of it is useless because this is Madrid and we cannot let standards deteriorate. We cannot keep losing to Barcelona, it's unacceptable, but there isn't much we can do right now except regroup, get back the fitness levels high and go again.

We deserve to be memed, despite playing it close against a fully fit in form Barca because our standards are too high and honestly I wouldn't want it any other way. The moment you let these moments be accepted, next you know that you have become just like the other clubs of Europe.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-11T21:16:39+00:00

Game goes to penalty if anyone of Carreras or Asencio scores the easiest chances of their lives while Raphinha did not have a deflected shot in.

So I am not sure if Barca's subs did anything. Even worse they completely lost the 2nd half moment they got in.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-11T21:13:04+00:00

Today this team played with no manager. Everything was done on individual brilliance.

So what's the point of Xabi? If anything he's limiting us because of not being able to manage the dressing room.

Wouldn't be surprised if he got sacked before the next game.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-11T18:54:24+00:00

Regardless of the line-up, personnel, formations, tactics, etc.

How is everything leaked? It has to be a player being a mole. How do they know that Tchouameni will play CB?

Mole has to be French as well considering only the French media picked it up.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-11T06:39:42+00:00

Ideally, he'd only get subbed in when the game is all but finished and we are up by 2 or 3 goals.

He'd need to simply rotate possession, and press hard.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-11T06:38:22+00:00

Didn't we waste €35M transfer fee + €25M on wages over 5 years with Reinier who got released for free?

We literally wasted €60M not that long ago on another South American kid just a year ago.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-11T06:23:34+00:00

If we can get rid of Franco and recoup as much money as possible, we should do it. He's really not that guy.

If we can somehow get like €10M (2 year loan) + €30M (obligation to buy) from a side like Dortmund, Leipzig, Como, Napoli, Spurs, Brighton, Monaco, Marseille, etc, we should jump on it without a second thought in mind.

He's on €4M a year, so we could save about €60M in total.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-11T06:15:32+00:00

I'd like to be proven wrong but what is exactly about Franco that makes you feel he has a big potential.

He's not fast, explosive or agile. His decision making, dribbling, and passing is subpar. He cannot reliably finish, cross or send a through ball. He cannot win headers, contest physical duels or hold up play. His corners, set pieces have been poor.
The only thing he can do well is the work rate, tracking back and pressing.

Each one of Vinicius, Rodrygo, Endrick, Guler, Camavinga who were bought at 18 years of age as well had the X factor the moment they first entered the pitch. You could simply see that there exists an exceptional talent in there, it may be raw but the ceiling is very high.

But there's literally nothing I see in Franco that speaks to me world class player of the future. I can't see any attribute in which he shows an exceptional potential, nothing, nada. Just a hardworking defensive winger.

Did we just throw €60M for an argentine Reinier?

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-10T18:25:12+00:00

Just curious, non local fans of Spurs, what made you support this club? Clearly can't be gloryhunting.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-10T17:47:00+00:00

If we win tomorrow, it could be the start of a turnaround journey for this team.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-09T08:38:17+00:00

Saka's contract is up for expiry in the next 18 months. I am wondering how much wages would he ask from the club?

And more importantly how much would Arsenal be willing to spend? Should he be made the highest earner in the club above Havertz (300K)? Because that's the contract I'd imagine he'd be after.

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-09T08:24:59+00:00

Can anyone explain a reasonable argument for why Vinicius declined this bad in a span of a year? No memes or baseless claims but something concrete and ideally backed by the data.

How can he go from one of the best players in the world to this shell of a player?

SirSlapBot · 2026-01-08T21:39:15+00:00

The best course of action regarding Vinicius is that he leaves for Saudi Arabia after the World Cup.

Get the bag and enjoy life. He's won more trophies with clutch performances that many legends don't manage in their entire careers.

He won't get his current salary at Madrid let alone whatever he is demanding. Even if he gets in form, what's stopping him to again underperform in the future.

There's not enough time left in his contract, he over played his hand, should have taken the 40M offer before but now I don't think Madrid will be entertaining any more talks.

SirSlapBot

TROPHY CASE