Copa del Rey: Mallorca Up Next

By: Corey | January 9th, 2008

Up next in this marathon schedule that is January is the Copa del Rey match against Mallorca. As we all know, we played them already this year and they gave us a run for our money at the Bernabeu. So I am not expected an easy win on the island tomorrow night. Here is the squad list that will travel to Palma de Mallorca:

SQUAD LIST:
Goalkeepers: Dudek and Codina.
Defenders: Ramos, Pepe, Salgado, Marcelo, and Torres.
Midfielders: Guti, Gago, Balboa, Sneijder, and Drenthe.
Forwards: Higuaín, Saviola, Robinho, and Raúl.
Not called up: Casillas, Robben, Baptista, Van Nistelrooy, Heinze, Cannavaro, Soldado, Metzelder, and Diarra (Cup of Nations duty)

You would assume because Soldado was not called up that he is off to Getafe, but actually he has a strained left thigh muscle, which is to bad because this type of game would have benefited him after playing so well in the last Copa match against Alicante. Robben as well has a strained back and left thigh and wont travel, proving the point that he is wafer that cracks when the wind blows.

Also, Metzelder must have some fierce warts if he is still out, while Heinze is out for 2 months with a muscle tear. Schuster may want to tell the lads to stretch the quads and hamstrings out a bit more before matches and do some conditioning, maybe some work in the pool.

As for a formation, the usual 4-2-2-2 should persist minus obviously Diarra for awhile, and with the competitive squad Mali has, expect them to go into the later rounds of the tournament. At the back, it appears Sergio Ramos will start in the center as the federation wont allow him to serve his suspension during this game but only during a league fixture. He will partner Pepe who probably isnt 100% but the slight strain he had wasnt that bad anyways, so lets all cross our fingers.

Salgado may get another run out on the right, with Torres on the left possibly, but I assume that Marcelo will start with Torres the utility man on the bench as usual. And that may be a good idea, because he may very well end up playing on the right or in the middle (!!) if Canna or Metz do not recover for the next game.

As for the midfield, we will see Gago and Guti in the center, one would hope Balboa on the right and Robinho on the left with Sneijder on the bench with Drenthe. Id expect the two Dutchmen to come on during the game though. Up front we should see Raul and Saviola with Hig’s on the bench, again hopefully we can bring him on to replace Raul so el Capitan doesnt get to tired. And hopefully we will be winning when he comes on, because the kid is skilled but cant hit the broad side of a barn for some reason.

Oh, and Dirty Dudek in goal, although yours truely wishes we saw more of Codina.

Mighty Mallorca

The islanders are a solid if unspectacular team under Gregory Manzano. if you search Real Mallorca in Google Images, you will see my site there with the picture above and the words “Mallorca lack real quality”. I just find that hilarious but also cool that my site comes up on google so often. Anyways, I already did a preview of the squad and I havent looked for a squad list yet, so just refer to the previous preview here: http://real.theoffside.com/team-news/weekend-preview-2.html It is pretty aplicabale still, I know Webo is injured and thats about it, my Mallorca team news knowledge is less then stellar. So draw up some schematics in your head as to how they will lineup, I will do mine based on there last league match against Barca:

————-Lux—————-
Varela–Navarro–Navarro–Nunes
Arango—Basinas–Jonas–Ibagaza
——-Pereyra—Guiza———-

Do remember, that alot of these players are interchangable, namely Ibagaza, Arango, Pereyra and Jonas all sort of float around in a spot. We may see Borja (ex-Castilla product) or Hector or Ramis in central defence. Maybe Moya in goal. I dont really know, but I will stick with that.

Bernadine remained rather coy but looked ravishing in his sport coats as he held his customary pre-match presser, and finally said some interesting stuff:

Bernd Schuster offered today’s press conference and made his intentions clear heading into Thursday’s Cup tie against Mallorca.

Do you plan on starting a similar lineup to the one we saw against Alicante?
It’s not going to be the same because this is a different opponent. We want to make progress in the Cup so we need to do a lot better than we did in other matches.

Are you worried about your banged up defense?
It’s been our most injured line all season. We have a lot of forwards and don’t have problems there or in the midfield. We’ve had bad luck with out back line. Pepe, Heinze… it’s too much time for us. They can’t play three or four consecutive matches together. We have Torres, Cannavaro… to hold down the fort, but let’s hope things change a little in the second half of the season. I don’t want to forget about Metzelder either.

Have you thought about calling up a youth teamer?
No.

Does Diarra’s departure affect your plans?
No. We’d rather have him here with us, but we knew he had to leave. We just have to be organized this month, and we’ve had time to take care of it. We’ve got Gago, so we’re covered in that position. It’s like this summer’s Eurocup. We were ready for his departure. Gago is going to play several matches back to back and I have faith in him. I know we won’t be let down in that position.

Real Madrid receives more shots on goal than any other team.
Why don’t you take five minutes to think about how many shots we get off. We’re the team that has taken the most shots in several of the matches we have played. It shouldn’t matter much because we’re an offensive team and we haven’t conceded many goals. I’d like to know how many shots we have taken.

Will Robben go to Mallorca?
Wasn’t the training session behind closed doors? He had a little problem during the workout. He’s questionable, but I hope it’s not serious enough to keep him from playing. It appears that it’s not bad enough to leave him here.

Have you thought about Soldado possibly leaving?
We’re still counting on him. It’s a shame that he suffered a small tear which will keep him sidelined for a few days. We haven’t had a change of heart and have no reason to let him go. I know several teams would love to have him, but it’s up to him and the club.

So there won’t be any signings or players leaving?
I am sure there will be no signings. We don’t do anything out of the ordinary and have a clear idea of what we want.

Is Guti solely responsible for not being a starter?
The situation has changed. He was an unquestionable starter until he sat out a match after seeing a red card. He had to be replaced and that’s where we stand. I see him starting down the road, so nothing has changed in that regard. I don’t see him a as reserve, but rather being on the team and playing good matches. What matters is that this team works whether he plays or not. We can’t depend on just one player. We can’t be a team that way. We need him just as much as we need other players. My opinion of Guti has not changed.

Eto’o has another week with Barcelona before leaving for the African Cup.
It’s a position problem. Eto’o is the King of Cameroon, but Diarra isn’t the King of Mali yet. Eto’o is much more important to his country than Diarra or Kanouté are to Mali. He’s got a good relationship with the King, who has more of a say than the manager.

Don’t you find it unfair?
I understand it now. Managers want their players from day one, and they have a good team that may do very well. I understand that the manager wants his players now and not once the competition is underway. I would also make a big push, but we also have out own concerns. We just have to accept it.

You said the team is like a family. Is that the key to success?
“This works because we work as a team. We all work for the same goal, and that’s why we are where we are.

You also said that you can relate to the situation Ronaldinho is currently experiencing in Barcelona.
In a broad way. Many important players have been in that same position, and oddly enough they’ve exited through the back door. It’s a strange matter. We didn’t deserve it. He doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment. I remember my situation as well as that of some of my teammates there.

It sounds like you’re speaking with resentment.
Which isn’t the case. I left at the right time. After eight good years you reach a point where you get tired of one thing or another. It’s only natural, but there are better and more respectable ways to let a player go.

Would you call up a youth team player? Schuster: NO. Thats lovely, its bullshit too. Dumbass, we have a beat up defense and using the guys that are beat up all the time only means further injury or fatigue down the stretch. With no new arrivals expected this summer, why not use youth teamers. Atleast a warm body or two in the squad…

He gaves some interesting bits on Etoo, Dinho, Guti, his depature from Barca and hs thoughts on Soldado. Looks like he doesnt want him to leave, me either.

I expect a narrow win, maybe 1-0. An away win is all we need for this tie. The game is on at 4pm eastern time and you should be able to find it on livefooty, but I doubt it will be on GolTV or Setanta, but maybe. HALA MADRID!