The silly season has started at Real Madrid. With Perez back in charge we are likely to enter another ‘galacticos’ era. The question that needs to be answered is whether the first such era was such a great success that it needs to be done again.
Kaka
The multi-million pound signing of Kaka from Milan may be the first of several big name arrivals. Many reports suggest that Valencia’s David Villa may be next and there is much talk about Xabi Alonso, Franck Ribery and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Whilst a team containing the above named players and Arjen Robben would certainly be exciting to watch, one wonders whether it would be any more exciting or more importantly, successful, than their old team containing Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Ronaldo, Owen, Figo, etc.
Defensive
Surely anyone with the smallest amount of football knowledge can see that Real’s problems are almost entirely in the defensive third of the pitch. Anyone who saw Liverpool and Barcelona waltz through the Madrid defence at will knows that the back four needs a total overhaul.
The problem with Perez is that buying tough, high quality defenders is not a particularly sexy business. He would obviously prefer to buy the likes of Kaka and show him off to the fans rather than saying, “Look, I’ve spent a couple of million on this ugly defender who will kick people, tackle people and the head the ball away and ensure that we don’t concede too many goals.â€Â
It is a well known phrase that great sides are built on solid defences. It is certainly true that without a great defence, a team is unlikely to achieve sustainable success.
Successful
Look at the recently successful teams. The great Milan team had the likes of Cafu, Maldini and Nesta. Manchester United with Vidic, Ferdinand and Evra. Liverpool had great success with Carragher and Hypia. Chelsea has reached a European final and five semi-finals with the likes of Terry, Carvalho and Cole. Even an attack minded team like Barcelona have had great defenders such as Puyol and Marquez and usually a defensive midfielder to help to protect them.
The Real Madrid defence is simply not strong enough and doesn’t contain defenders with anything like the pedigree that is possessed by the players I have talked about. It may be that Perez will finance the purchase of some defensive players but his past record and his initial moves this time around suggest that the area of the team that is weakest features pretty low down on his list of priorities.
Conceded
During the season 2008-09 Real Madrid scored eighty-three league goals. That was the second highest in the league and doesn’t seem to be a problem for them. However, they conceded fifty-two. Tenth placed Espanyol, twelfth placed Racing Santander and fifteenth placed Osasuna all conceded less goals. It doesn’t take a genius to work out where the problem is, does it?
The fact is that Real Madrid could buy Kaka, Ribery, Villa and Cristiano Ronaldo, but unless they significantly strengthen at the back, they will still not achieve European success. Barcelona played very attack minded football in the season just finished but Chelsea showed in their Champions League games with them that however great the attacking prowess of the opposition, good teams can defend well. Even great attacking sides will not totally roll over other good teams. Barcelona kept things very tight at the back as well. That is something the current Madrid side cannot do.
Neutral
4-3 victories at home are no good in the Champions League. It may be great to watch for the neutral and it may be an absolute privilege to be present at one of those types of game, but the Real Madrid faithful crave and desire success. They want to be entertained, but entertainment without success will never ultimately satisfy the fans.
Would Real Madrid fans be happy with winning the La Liga and Champions League double by winning every game 1-0? You bet they would.
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
