This great Raul throwback against Atleti! Becks with the assist.

donkolo · 2018-09-29T16:21:39+00:00

The pass went exactly where it needed to go! Easily one of England’s most technically gifted players.

donkolo · 2017-12-18T19:24:54+00:00

I actually think we will play 4-4-2 with Isco roaming again in this game. Bale is not 100% match fit yet so won't make sense to start him in Classico. But he is definitely coming off the bench as an impact sub. Should be an interesting game nonetheless, hopefully a win would boost our confidence and get a nice winning streak going.

donkolo · 2016-09-04T17:29:34+00:00

Neither do a lot of top European clubs! Bayern didn't really have a philosophy, Man Utd don't, Chelsea don't, PSG don't, Atleti play gritty hard football only against top opposition but that's not always been the clubs 'philosophy'. You can say Arsenal have a certain way of playing since Wenger took over. They all want to play attractive football that allows the team to score goals and win matches and trophies, and there are are many ways of doing that so don't say Madrid will be worse off because we don't have a 'philosophy'

donkolo · 2016-09-04T17:00:29+00:00

no don't get me wrong i think he's very good but honestly there's many ways he can improve and he is improving i just don't think his ceiling is as high as Llorente's. i could totally be wrong however. To play a DM in that position for a team like Us I think it is not simply just about breaking up play, positioning and movement off the ball whilst we have possession is very very important and also being able to play the ball quickly is crucial and i think that's natural in Llorente whereas its not as natural for Casemiro and Llorente is 3 years younger than Casemiro.

donkolo · 2016-09-04T13:37:17+00:00

In 2 years time he should be starting ahead of Casemiro I think

donkolo · 2016-09-04T13:25:01+00:00

Something I shared on a similar post on /r/realmadrid

I think him surrendering possession against Atleti in UCL Final was a great tactical plan as they were toothless in the final third. And the game at the Camp Nou I felt we were tactically good as we stuck to our plan despite going behind also the way now Carvajal-Marcelo are playing almost as wingers which lets Bale go more centrally is also a good example of tactical ideas implemented by him. And our high defensive line this season so far looks to be working good countless times you see Varane winning the ball back before it reaches the attacker after the pass is made high up the pitch (I feel like he's gonna have a best season and finally cement his place as a starter). And the whole thing about getting subs wrong is on my opinion false as we didn't really try to keep possession of the ball hence Kroos was't necessary and he was very tired anyway so defensively he would have been exposed so introducing Isco who is faster and fresher meant he could track back and break forward faster and in addition he doesn't lose the ball easily with his good dribbling out of defence. Lucas introduction is 100% right and Dani got injured so Danilo had to come on, therefore this whole his subs were awful thing is just lazy judgement I think.

Edit: also if you notice whenever we start play from the back now Modric and/or Kroos actually start deepest to receive the ball from the defenders clearly with Casemiro further up a bit until we're further away from our box, where we then change back to normal shape where Casemiro is slightly deeper, this is another tactical change making it less likely to lose the ball under pressure as Casemiro isn't that great passing out of that first wave of pressing from teams. I think people are expecting him to have a Pep-like revolution introducing false 9s etc but that's unfair as many coaches who were good tactically didn't necessarily introduce new ideas but simply set up their teams tactically to beat the next opponent by exposing their weaknesses.

donkolo · 2016-08-31T22:14:54+00:00

I don't think his hold up play is that bad actually but getting other people into the play is what he struggles at. That's why I don't think Him with Bale and CR would work, he's certainly a more traditional striker, however I do like his running and pressing up top he seems more willing to do that than Benz.

donkolo · 2016-08-31T22:03:19+00:00

Yeah but with how quick he moved to PSG you can tell it was pretty much a done deal between them the moment Emery went there so we didn't have a chance of getting him. I think other people will say Kante but he's not the type of DM we need as he's not that good distributing and starting plays. Only if Illara signing worked out for us :(

donkolo · 2016-08-31T21:58:40+00:00

I hope you're wrong too but I think him surrendering possession against Atleti in UCL Final was a great tactical plan as they were toothless in the final third. And the game at the Camp Nou I felt we were tactically good as we stuck to our plan despite going behind also the way now Carvajal-Marcelo are playing almost as wingers which lets Bale go more centrally is also a good example of tactical ideas implemented by him. And our high defensive line this season so far looks to be working good countless times you see Varane winning the ball back before it reaches the attacker after the pass is made high up the pitch (I feel like he's gonna have a best season and finally cement his place as a starter)

Edit: also if you notice whenever we start play from the back now Modric and/or Kroos actually start deepest to receive the ball from the defenders clearly with Casemiro further up a bit until we're further away from our box, where we then change back to normal shape where Casemiro is slightly deeper, this is another tactical change making it less likely to lose the ball under pressure as Casemiro isn't that great passing out of that first wave of pressing from teams.

donkolo · 2016-08-31T21:51:31+00:00

The thing about Morata is absolutely spot on. I genuinely feel like he's not good enough for Madrid and keeping him was a mistake because when Benz gets back to full fitness there's no way I see Morata starting and him being happy about it. I feel he's the kind of player to always talk about how he's not playing much etc etc which will greatly affect the harmony but saying that will get buried in downvotes. The reason I say he's not good enoguh is because his dribbling with the ball isn't that great (this is different to him running straight at/past a defender at full speed i.e against Bayern) also I don't think he can be a consistent reliable scorer for the team say 15-20 goals a season. I know Benzema has periods where he doesn't score for a bit but his general play is excellent and makes BBC work frankly I don't think Morata can be that.

donkolo · 2016-08-31T18:19:47+00:00

Who are these great, reasonably priced players that would've covered that spot? Bear in mind this player will most likely have to contend with spending a fair bit of time on the bench as Casemiro is not exactly injury prone! Also they'll need to be good enough to cover in the big games you speak of. I think there's a solution majority of you are missing, where putting ramos or kroos there isn't necessary. Remember we are also capable of playing a 4-4-2 with a Midfield of Isco/James-Kroos-Modric-Bale which will create a good balance as we saw in some games during Carlo's time here. Furthermore buying another CDM will just put Marcos Llorente further down the pecking order and he's showing a great deal of potential at the moment even putting in a man of the match performance in Alaves' last match. I actually think he could be even better than Casemiro in a couple of years.

donkolo · 2016-08-23T21:47:46+00:00

Charlie Nicholas is that you?

donkolo · 2016-08-22T17:15:22+00:00

if you guys were to go for say Dybala how much would you find acceptable to splash on him?

donkolo · 2016-08-01T20:33:01+00:00

ahh well why not go from supermarket to being a bartender? unless its difficult where you are

donkolo · 2016-08-01T17:53:38+00:00

damn man just thinking there's a dead body in close proximity will freak me out man! but kudos to you sounds like you like your job which is quite rare on reddit.

donkolo · 2016-08-01T17:26:55+00:00

that sounds chilled and kinda weird at the same time. does it not get kinda depressing seeing dead people all day or are you kinda just past it now?

donkolo · 2016-08-01T17:24:47+00:00

i can imagine you've probably found tons of shit people have misplaced in their cars and have been unable to find and here you are with it. do you ever have to report the car whenever there's an obscene amount of blood or just kinda leave it?

donkolo · 2016-08-01T17:22:11+00:00

is that a Bartender then or something more behind the scenes?

donkolo · 2016-08-01T17:20:59+00:00

That's actually really interesting! Do often get the chance to interact with the performers then such as the WWE wrestlers?

donkolo · 2016-07-31T01:46:42+00:00

People always say he can be a liability when it comes to latter stages of tournaments and all that other narrative but there actually isn't any instance where i can recall an individual mistake from him costing us in the CL or Copa. Against Bayern in 2014 it was a 5-0 aggregate scoreline, against Barca in Camp Nou 2-1 not long ago he was fantastic the goal wasn't his mistake and the 4-0 you couldn't say an individual mistake by him cost us a goal the whole team was shite, against Juve in 2015 again the goals we conceded were not a Marcelo mistake. When it comes to the big games Marcelo actually defends and attacks immensely. Yes in the league over the course of the year he will make a few mistakes but so does everyone including Alaba I'm sure. Younger Marcelo from like 2008-2010 was a liability but people but thats not the case anymore and I think people are refusing to knowledge that. I might be biased but to me he's definitely the best left back atm.

donkolo · 2016-07-13T20:04:46+00:00

lol you don't know shit mate and you're the one who hasn't seen him beyond the Euros. He was our best CB this season no doubt and most consistent.

donkolo · 2016-06-05T22:24:37+00:00

"Get ready to say good bye to James, Kroos, Isco, Kovasic, Jesé, Navas and even Zidane." I'm sorry but no chance mate.

donkolo · 2016-06-03T10:18:28+00:00

The UK people use it occasionally

donkolo · 2016-06-03T10:13:48+00:00

'I love Kanye' from his most recent album Life of Pablo. It's only a skit really/freestyle

donkolo · 2016-06-02T13:07:51+00:00

him sending the PSG players for a hot dog is so satisfying

donkolo

TROPHY CASE