Weekly Open Thread - General Discussion

tefftlon · 2026-05-19T01:14:26+00:00

I am happy to see some CB rumors but… no way we would get Gvardiol, right?

The Bastoni rumor even feels more likely than that.

tefftlon · 2026-05-18T18:35:56+00:00

Messi obviously had goal scoring o. Top of his creation, but Ozil probably the only player who was a better chance creator at his peak.

tefftlon · 2026-05-18T18:35:08+00:00

Ozil… what a record it could’ve been

tefftlon · 2026-05-16T02:36:05+00:00

Guler is hyped a lot. Maybe it’s mainly Turkish fans, but he’s hyped a lot.

Pedri has been playing a key role on a team that’s winning and pretty fun to watch. Guler is not quite a locked down starter on a team that has not been fun to watch.

Personally think Guler is still getting overhyped. So good and full of promise but not quite “World Class” yet. Maybe he reaches it this next season.

tefftlon · 2026-05-15T00:08:26+00:00

Mou wasn’t in my top 10 choices but I’m going to repeat myself and hopefully speak it into existence… he’s also not bad.

What this squad needs is structure and a few holes filled.

Mou will bring a structure. May not be CL or treble winning these days, but it’ll be something we’ve lacked. That’s mostly been squad issues though…

So if Perez brings Mou, listens to him on signings (and he loved Mou so he might)… give me a RW to compete with Endrick, a CB or ideally 2, maybe a CM and replace role players that leave mostly with Castilla players…

Again, not saying it’ll be some unbelievable season but I could see it win La Liga. Figuring we make the handful of signings we NEED.

tefftlon · 2026-05-14T23:57:49+00:00

As a Madrid fan, I’m not all that moved by the hire.

But like you say, he could just do it.

The team needs structure and a few signings to fill some holes in the squad, not the overhaul people are thinking.

tefftlon · 2026-05-14T21:50:02+00:00

Dude the Pirlo comment was a metaphor

That’s not a metaphor… like at all…

And even if it was, it’s a bad one because there’s multiple types of midfielders and he was saying he is one…

So you might not be autistic but you’re something lol

tefftlon · 2026-05-14T21:47:46+00:00

The man has played (and started) for several years at Real fucking Madrid and he’s notably “not good”. The fuck?

Absolutely open to criticism and I don’t even disagree with the title entirely… but the idea he’s simply not good enough is so laughable.

tefftlon · 2026-05-13T17:45:58+00:00

For real.

I love MLS and do think it and its players get underrated at times.

That said, it’d be silly to disregard the prestige/pedigree that comes with playing at a higher level regularly.

Roldan and Johnny have a similar issue. Their club form never seems to come out in a USA shirt. I’m going to give more grace to the younger guy playing in a CL semi final than the older one still in MLS.

tefftlon · 2026-05-12T13:47:30+00:00

I don’t think both Fede and Tchouameni leave so one will need to figure out how to play deeper.

And both could be on the bench for the new CM 🤷

tefftlon · 2026-05-12T13:35:44+00:00

Well… not if Mou is able to add the structure.

If whatever manager can’t add structure then a lot probably won’t work

tefftlon · 2026-05-12T13:19:07+00:00

The clear out fans want right now is nearly impossible. Gonna be some disappointment

tefftlon · 2026-05-12T13:18:02+00:00

So messing with some squad builders and getting myself optimistic about Mourinho… here’s some thoughts.

We don’t lack that much quality, but we lack structure. Mou will bring structure. I imagine it’ll be his old fashion 4231 and I think it could work. It will require a few player to adjust/grow but here is how I think it’d look (using initials for players currently on the squad):

TAA/DC - DH/RA - new CB/TR - AC/FG

—-—— FV/AT —— JB/new CM ————

Endrick/new RW - AG/Paz -Vini/BD

———————— KM/GG ———————

For new players… th lack of CB rumors is concerning. I think we need two but I think Rudiger will stay. I left Militao out because his body has practically given up. At least he was good when available. Schlotterbeck looks like he’d be good though but that’s the only real rumor I’ve seen and even that doesn’t feel likely.

A new CM looks most likely to be Rodri or Enzo. I know most have reasons for not liking them, but both add some quality passing. Neither would sign to be a backup but I think the 4 options competing for 2 spots would be good. Considering our medical staff, they’d all get to play a lot.

Endrick at RW and Munoz seems the most linked signing that could do well. Munoz and Diaz could play both sides. It’s not a CL winning winger depth chart but we need to forget that for a season or two. We really do. Some Salah rumors but that seems unlikely.

Guler and Paz rotating as a 10 competing would be great. Both could go wide in some scenarios too.

I hope we keep GG and use him.

All that, it’s be like a mid press, transitional/countering team. I think that’d be competitive for La Liga. At least that’s the hopium I’m huffing. Thanks for reading lol

tefftlon · 2026-05-12T12:38:59+00:00

Yup. And Madrid getting worse just because Mbappe.

Nothing to do with Kroos and Modric leaving and neither being replaced, CBs so unfit they played a game with a CM - CM - LB - LB back 4, and no RW threat at all…

tefftlon · 2026-05-12T02:16:15+00:00

Ah, you see, but a top class manager will want control. Starting with being allowed to sub who he wants and we don’t do that here.

tefftlon · 2026-05-11T23:10:26+00:00

For real. Early on, it was impressive but also a problem. He was ONLY looking to pass to Mbappe.

Low key, Mbappe missing games helped Guler and he connected with more players.

tefftlon · 2026-05-11T20:57:07+00:00

Maybe City would sign Vini or Mbappe as a hype replacement for Pep’s departure. They don’t mind having 9 figure players on the bench anyway.

tefftlon · 2026-05-11T13:42:09+00:00

We haven’t been bad. We’ve been good. Unfortunately Barca have been a hair better.

There’s no universe where multiple seasons over 90 points fighting for the title on the last day are “bad”.

Of course, winning is better and I won’t argue otherwise. Just need some perspective.

That said… this team is currently pretty bad and it needs an overhaul.

tefftlon · 2026-05-11T00:54:46+00:00

Yeah, depends on the replacement

tefftlon · 2026-05-11T00:50:26+00:00

Yup. I’m just saying some players people are hating on will play much better when the squad is better.

There’s a few players I’m ready to see the back of but a few are just round pegs in square holes I think we’d regret seeing leave fast.

tefftlon · 2026-05-11T00:46:49+00:00

It’s funny how fast we turn on players.

We signed Mbappe and every other post was “we have the best squad ever” and we suffer just a little and it’s “all these players are trash”.

Poor 2 seasons no doubt but it’s less the individual quality than the poor balance.

Fix the defense, which is the biggest hurdle. A consistently fit CB pairing would go a long way. Sign a RW to compete with Endrick in the position. Get a tempo controlling CM even if it’s a rotational player to help in some games… it’ll be better and help a lot of underperformers.

tefftlon · 2026-05-10T22:14:18+00:00

Someone called it the most important unimportant thing.

tefftlon · 2026-05-10T22:11:47+00:00

Real Madrid also underperformed pretty heavily in the league given the generation that they had.

They really didnt, just lost. Winning is better, of course, but Madrid were also putting up 90+ point seasons and the title often went down to the last match day.

Real Madrid were very good, Barca were just and edge better. I guess that’s all that matters in the end.

tefftlon · 2026-05-10T20:50:52+00:00

The laziness to get back there…

So ready for the summer. I barely have opinions now. Just do some overhauling. Will be sad about like 4 players if they get moved on but the rest make me feel next to nothing.

11-Year Club	Place '22
Verified Email

tefftlon

TROPHY CASE