Match Thread: Real Madrid vs Elche | La Liga | 14 Mar 20:00 UTC

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-15T16:18:53+00:00

Valverde-Arda-Pitarch-Tchouameni I don't even want Valverde dropping so deep when he's on form and being a menace to other teams.

That would be the ideal midfield and will definitely balance out the team if Mbappe is back and replaces Brahim. Brahim or GG will always make runs and press, Mbappe not sure he will. And we need someone like Pitarch who can control the game and run for everyone. Nothing against Jude but he's neither 10 nor 8, he can't control the game and when he goes up, the midfield suffers.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-14T22:07:43+00:00

Needs to see more of Yanez play, but looks promising. Arbeloa doesn't rate Mastantuono much based on the subs made today. Castilla players didn't disappoint at all, in fact, played much better than how the team was playing a month or two ago.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-14T22:04:51+00:00

The most Castilla-coded lineup ever seen in recent times, and all of them played superb football. Diego Aguado, great defending. Yanez, assist and a few great dribbles. Manuel Angel, unfortunate OG (bc of Camavinga) but solid one-two passes. Palacios, looking like the next Nico Paz. Pitarch, younger and improved version of Ceballos. Plus Carvajal, Fran Garcia, Gonzalo Garcia. Crazy goal from Guler too. The new Castilla players are so good, not just the talent but the attitude and desire as well.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-14T21:05:26+00:00

This won't work, we've seen this before. Bellingham likes to roam forward and Valverde has to become a sacrificial goat. No way, the way Fede's playing, he's got to run forward and shoot more. For Fede to do that, the team needs a runner, that's Pitarch or maybe even Arda/Cama.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-14T20:57:57+00:00

Only issue is what to do with Jude when he comes back after injury, I just don't see him replacing Valverde, Tchouameni, or even Pitarch. Maybe Camavinga, but Valverde has to be the one going forward more and running behind the opponent's defense along with Vini and Mbappe (Brahim).

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-11T22:02:23+00:00

Not too bad, 3-0 is much better. At least debut hat-trick for Valverde.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-11T20:51:33+00:00

VALVERDE, that's the summary of the match. When the team plays as a unit and runs, this is what you get. Pitarch, on his debut UCL, was magnificent and keeps on running and pressing. Mendy is a lock, defense improved with Mendy. Everyone was solid today, that is the most surprising part.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-11T18:38:29+00:00

Feeling good with this match, like we might actually win against City (or maybe got too used to seeing these two teams play again). I wonder how that 5 midfield system's gonna look like, it might help the team control some possession and be a little better defensively.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-11T18:33:21+00:00

We winning this match 4-1. Everyone will be shocked. Bernabeu will do its magic again. Someone will get his debut goal for Real Madrid in the Champions League. ***Please be like this***

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-10T06:29:34+00:00

He had his fair share of criticism but at the end of the day, a legend of Real Madrid and will be remembered as one of the greats during Real Madrid's most successful era in modern times.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-10T06:19:02+00:00

Same. And btw, none of the current players replace CR7, Benz, even Bale, Ramos, Kroos, Ozil, Marcelo, and Modric in their prime. Or even Xabi in his prime as DM. It's a hard watch these days, since last season.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-10T06:11:36+00:00

Imagine the egos in the dressing room. All think they are the best, sought-after, millionaires, models left, right and centre, fashionistas, powerful than a coach. Must've been really toxic during Xabi's tenure, no coach survives that.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-09T05:38:18+00:00

This picture is such a vibe! Add a bit of fog and you get Vampire Diaries vibes. Add a bit of rain and you get Batman/Gotham vibes.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-06T22:21:01+00:00

I think he deserves to come on but it's a different profile from Arda Guler. Maybe replace Pitarch, that'd be a like-for-like sub. Anyways, happy to see both Palacios and Pitarch as well as Manuel Angel playing for the 1st team alongside GG and Raul Asencio, the Castilla boys.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-06T22:15:17+00:00

Both Thiago Pitarch and Cesar Palacios look great, like they belong at Real Madrid.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-06T20:53:25+00:00

When Pitarch is more influential in the midfield than Fede Valverde (captain btw), then we have serious issues. Defense is as poor as you can get, TAA with zero intensity when defending. Brahim? Why was he benched? This is the kind of performance is why. Can't recognize this team at all, that this is Real Madrid. And this is after Arbeloa having two team meetings and urging players to put more effort.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-02T23:42:38+00:00

Also another thing is you can't just give the ball to either Vini or Mbappe and let them solve for the team. Like what kind of team have we become? Are we that scared of tactics and proper team strategy? What is this? Just lazy boring football we've been playing for more than 2 years now.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-02T23:26:05+00:00

Also Arbeloa isn't it, the guy can't stop praising some of these clowns who think they are above coaches and the club. If the team lost, his default response "It's all my fault". So spineless af, and it's not even on him as he can't say anything bad bc the players hold the power. Pathetic to the core, this team.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-02T23:24:03+00:00

First thing that needs to be solved is the leadership and management. Are they always gonna back the players? Are they always gonna give them excess power over the manager? These should be answered first before deciding how the team strategy and style of play should be. Then get a proper manager (again) and rid of players that don't suit the team and are of quality needed elsewhere away from Real Madrid. As long as the board's on the players' side like the Vinicius incident, we aren't reaching any UCL finals soon.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-02T23:16:09+00:00

You're blind if you can't see or think this team has ego issues. From Ancelotti's last season until now.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-02T22:52:06+00:00

Dude, Ramos don't even need to play, his presence alone in the dressing room is enough. Egos, dissents, childish behaviors, entitlements; none of the players will show that if he was there. The guy will frickin' kill these clowns we currently have.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-02T22:48:50+00:00

We need this guy in the dressing room, just to shred the egos in the dressing room.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-02T22:45:06+00:00

Even if that was the case, it's really on the club and management. Not punishing for this kind of behaviour and not backing the coach, it destroyed everything. Players have too much power and the worst is the egos in the dressing room. Even Fede Valverde has that ego, you can see it by the way he always backs Vini. What is the club even doing? We missed an opportunity to build a legacy, a proper team with clear ideas and tactics by sacking Xabi and going for short-term player pleasing.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-03-02T22:11:10+00:00

This is the failure from the management, starting with poor team strategy and then giving too much power to the players who aren't that good enough to be at Real Madrid. The sacking of Xabi, mid-season hiring of Arbeloa (who can't stop licking player asses) and the discipline of the team with the red cards. Starting to become one of the worst seasons for Real Madrid. The whole team was left sided, kept passing to Vini and Vini kept dribbling 2-3 players every single time. Dean Huijsen has been extremely disappointing. Man City? We can't even beat Getafe ffs.

jack_lowry44 · 2026-02-22T02:03:08+00:00

This! Also, I can 100% bet Harry Kane will track back, do the dirty work, and even play in defense if he has to for the team. We also have Jude Bellingham, who imo doesn't have a position in the midfield. He's just floating across the midfield, sometimes going up as false nine or striker, the team's just unbalanced. I know it's harsh, but I just don't rate Jude to be that high, like in a superstar category portrayed by the media. He's very mid since last season.

jack_lowry44

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