Island Hopping

By: Corey | April 3rd, 2008

In what was the beginning of our plunge into mediocre form, we take on Mallorca at the Oni Estadi this Saturday at 4pm. If you remember, the last time we visited the island, we were handed a shockingly bad loss by Mallorca, the only bright spot being Higuain’s wondeful strike (yes, a clean shot that went in). This time around, we will be looking for vengeance and a further cushion on our lead over Vilarreal. If the game against Sevilla is anything to go by, then we should be very ready to take on Mallorca and win the game.

Of course, all teams play their best when Real comes to town. Its just how it goes, in England the little teams fear the big guys and often play not to loose, but in Spain, the little guys fear not Real or Barca, they simply look for the scalp. So we will have to be very aware that Mallorca wish to make it 3 for 4 this year over us, and our win was a shocking 4-3 comeback win full of Madridismo. Gregory Manzano, Mallorca’s under rated coach had this to say to Mallorca’s official site about the not so distant squabbles he and Bernadine had:

“We said a pair of words that are of two professionals who remain in the field. I with Bernardine Schuster do not have any problem. Seven days ago in Palm I congratulated to him by the good march of its equipment in Liga. Now, if it has something with me, it will be its problem ”

“I will receive to Schuster as to all my companions with a greeting and wishing a happy stay him in our wonderful island”,

Fair enough, I never like to get to much into these things, even though it adds some spice to the match. But since I just published the comments and agknowledged the squabble I guess I am just as guilty as the rest of the press! Now that we have a Mallorca blogger here on the Spanish Offside, we should definately ask the opinion of their fans about the upcoming game. But we shall not do a Roma fan impression and be uninformed assholes who argue everything to the death. If their will be banter, just as I have said before with regards to Barca or Atleti, keep it intelligent and poignant. Thank you.

This is not considered a must win for the Merengues, but it certainly would not hurt to string together two wins. Vilarreal are an inform team, much to the detriment of Barcelona, and we need to keep a decent lead or else risk being over turned before the finish line. We have 8 games remaining, 4 at home 4 away, including a vist from Barca. 18 points is needed atleast to secure the title, but I would much rather take all 24 points left on the table and call it a season.

Mallorca Team News:

Mallorca remain a dangerous team, with a few very potent attacking threats, although they lost Pereya to a late, late Russian transfer recently. This will be the second week in a row two of La Liga’s top marksmen square off. And Guiza is definately back in shape after injury and back in form for sure, single handedly picking apart a Valencia team that had in the previous match day got a win at the Bernabeu. He is also in strong consideration for the final squad for the EURO, a great accomplishment for something of a journey man striker. Although I think his socring abilities are undoubted, his selection over Raul still baffles me, regardless of my Real Madrid ties.

I have waxed lyrical about the Ibagaza-Arango show before, way back when we first met in October/Novemberish ? Whenever it was, these two are dangerous playmakers who score their fair share, each getting a goal in the aggregate loss to Mallorca in the Copa del Rey. Although the hype recently has been to applaud Gago for his improvements, with these two on the field, I worry he will be over run pretty quickly. Ibagaza and Arango are usually listed as wide players, but they tend to float much like Guti, so Sergio Ramos and Marcelo/Heinze will not always be able to pick them up, thus it is imperative that Gago is able to either cut their supply off or stop them before they penetrate the defense.

Speaking of their supply, it comes from a formidable midfield 3 of Basinas in the holding role, and Jonas and Nunes to either side. While both appear in wide positions often, they are to my estimation set up in the same type of formation we used against Sevilla, with the rotating three central midfielders and the roaming wide players, the only exception being they use one striker (did we count Higuain as a striker?). Such a dynamic and entertaing system seemed to baffle the lightweight Valencia midfield (lightweight because Maduro was withdrawn in the 26th through injury). Although it must be said Mallorca scored before this change was made, for the rest of the game Mallorca were smarter and more efficient with the ball, pegging another one on their hosts through Guiza.

This lightweight midfield I alluded to was Baraja in the center all by himself, with Silva, Mata and Arizmendi around him. So similar to Gago in the middle with Robben, Sneijder and Guti around him, we shall be careful not to repeat the mistake of Koeman. I am calling for Diarra in this game, whether it be for Gago or Guti. The double pivot makes sense to me because Diarra can jam up the middle while Gago man marks one of the playmakers. Sneijder has more expectation then, but we shall assume he can cope. Basinas is a tidy player, but not a world beater and I think Sneijder possess enough to get away from him and Nunes/Jonas.

As for Mallorca’s defense, they have conceded 42 this year which can be considered average, they possess some La Liga vets but they never overly convince me of being solid. If we could draw them out of their deep, zonal like play they could break easily. Hector was played against Valencia, and I think he may be the weak point for Mallorca at left back. Likewise, Fernando Navarro has never convinced me, while Ivan Ramis is a young gun. Varela is the only player I think has true quality for the defense. But of course, Manzano could use Molinero in place of Hector, while Sergio Ballestros could come in to one of the center back positions, although I believe he remains injured.

And of course Miguel Moya, one of the better young keepers in the league, has stolen the starting jersey from German Lux, and he is a very agile shop stopper. Hard and low is as usual the game here.

Injuries are as follows: Vivar Dordao is out for awhile, and it looks like Gonzalo Castro and Lio Scaloni will miss the match too.

There is not a team sheet out yet, but when there is I will post it here:

EDIT TEAM SHEET:

Moyà, Lux, Ramis, F. Navarro, Basinas, Varela, Borja, Webó, Ibagaza, Tuni, Güiza, Molinero, Nunes, D. Navarro, Arango, Trejo, Jonás y Héctor.

Ballestros returns, I expect to see him in the center with Navarro, while Hector may get the start after his good performance against Valencia.

Real Team News:

The only injuries we have are Ruud and Metz, with Pepe and Guti training with the group today, Schuster has practically a full squad to pick from, which means the likes of Salgado, Balboa and Soldado will be left in Madrid. The main questions for the selection this Saturday is will the midfield trio continue and who plays on the left wing, Robben or Robinho?

Brain busters I know, but it remains to be seen what Schusters intentions are for this match. Will be throw out the three man midfield he had against Sevilla and risk being over ran by a powerful Mallorca midfield? Will he continue to start the ineffective Arjen Robben over Robinho? Will Higuain continue to play even though he cant hit the broad side of the barn? Will Jill and Suzy make up after fighting for Stone’s affection? We will see on As The Madridismo World Turns!!!

As for an expected lineup, I do not really know. Its pretty variable given that its an away game, and I cant really make up my mind as to who I want to see where. So I will let everyone else give me their expected lineup and we can go from there.

No matter who lines up, we need to defend well in the center of the park, be it center backs or center midfield. The fullbacks will only have to deal with the occasional midfielder drifting out wide or an overlap, so they will be free to attack. Heinze takes that threat away on the left, so maybe Marcelo is a better option. Ibagaza commented that it was important to ‘mantain possession in the middle of the park’ and thats exactly what Mallorca worked on in training this week.

So we will have to be very active in breaking up plays and counter attacking. Or we simply must hold on to the ball all the time, im talking 70-30 possession in our favor. The name of the game here is efficiency. High passing efficiency, high possession amounts and a solid finish ratio will win this game, as Mallorca will certainly come at us. Finishing chances is not Higuain’s game, so lets hope he is on the bench in favor of say Saviola, who has been terrible but is a natural finisher. But that seems a bit of a boast for a guy who has featured less than even Soldado.

All in all, I expect a win, 2-1 for the good guys. Im hoping Raul shows up Guiza just like he did Fabiano, and also I would be extatic if Pepe played the entire game without injury.

EDIT TEAM SHEET:

CONVOCATORIA:

Porteros: Casillas y Codina.

Defensas: Pepe, Ramos, Cannavaro, Marcelo, Heinze y Torres.

Centrocampistas: Diarra, Gago, Guti, Baptista, Sneijder y Robben.

Delanteros: Higuaín, Saviola, Robinho y Raúl.

No convocados: Soldado, Drenthe, Balboa, Dudek, Salgado, Metzelder y Van Nistelrooy.

Bernadine:

Bernd was questioned on whether he would shake Manzano’s hand:

“Of course I will. Gregorio is a friend and a good colleague and it is only the press that are making something more of all this as we prepare for the game,” he continued.

“I would not ignore anyone and in Son Moix I will wish him luck. I think he is a good person. We should not make too much of all this.”

“If one knows how to treat someone then they will be treated in the same way. I am like I am, a transparent person. If people look at me face-to-face and speak to me they will se that,” he said.

“I do not want to deceive anyone. When I am happy I can accept almost anything, but when I am not I do not know how to disconnect.”

“I am trying to change. I know that I have to change my image. In the last two press conferences, against Valencia and Sevilla, nobody had any complaints.

“There are certain journalists that are trying to make me say something or provoke a reaction and I know that from their look or the tone of the question.

“When we lose I am the first one to feel responsible. I spend ten minutes in the changing room before heading down to the press room where people start to look to exploit me.

Pepe:

Are you fit to play against Mallorca?
I am fine. It was just a bruise I got while playing against Valencia. I am fine now.
You haven’t played on a regular basis due to injury, but people love you when you do play.
I am extremely grateful because playing for Real Madrid and gaining peoples’ confidence isn’t easy. All that matters now is that we’re first and closing in on winning the league.

Did you feel fit to play against Greece before you took the pitch?
Like I said, I was hurt while playing against Valencia. I spoke to the doctors and they told me it was a bruised tibia. I followed the treatment they recommended and that’s why I played with the national team. The pain then came back, but I am fine now.

Some club members think it’s the players who didn’t participate with the team during the preseason who are getting injured the most. This summer you will be able to participate, so do you think it will result in fewer injuries?
Honestly, I have never been injured this frequently. Very rarely was I hurt with Porto. I don’t think I had a bad preseason. Football players aren’t machines and we can get hurt. Missing matches isn’t fun, but that’s life. We have to continue working hard in order to avoid future injuries.

So you think next year you won’t get injured as often?
I do because this year everything was new to me. Next year should be better. I won’t get hurt as often and I’ll see more playing time.

In your last press conference you criticised Kun Agüero for saying he was happy when you were eliminated, but Higuaín said the same thing the other day.
After Agüero said what he did, I said I was upset that a ‘co-worker’ would say he is happy because we were eliminated. Higuaín said he would feel happy, and that’s what upsets me. He’s a teammate. I have my opinion and he has his.

Would you like to see a Spanish team win the Champions League?
I do. It would be good for Spain and for Spaniards. When a country has a lot of its teams playing in the Champions League it just makes its football that much greater. That’s why it’s good for the Spanish League.

Would you have liked to see Benfica with the UEFA?
Of course. It would be great for Portugal. They were a rival last season and I would have loved it.

You play Mallorca on Saturday, the same team that eliminated you from the Copa. Is there any sense of revenge?
It’s just another match that we must win. We need to be focused, but revenge isn’t the idea. This is the league, and it’s a lot different than the Copa del Rey. We have to defeat Mallorca if we want to be league champions.

Are you jealous of other teams still in the Champions League?
It’s a shame we’re no longer in it, but the competition we have now is all that matters. We should only be thinking about the league, and we’re going to fight hard for it.

Did you see the Manchester match the other day and your compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo? It appears as if Real Madrid are going to make another push for him.
There are a ton of signings every day, but we have a good squad and it’s up to the club to decide once the season ends.

Is Cristiano Ronaldo the best player in the world right now?
He’s mentally and physically strong, he’s an important player for his club, and he scores a lot, and that’s why I believe he’s the best in the world right now.

What does it mean to you when you hear that Real Madrid will not sign any defenders next year?
That they are pleased. It’s hard to concentrate when the press speaks about four or five new signings every day. The club hasn’t said anything, and we know nothing is true. I have faith in Real Madrid and they speak to us and tell us to remain calm. That’s why what the press says has no bearing.

But Schuster has asked for two or three new players for next season.
Yes, but not now. Wait until the league ends to discuss it. We don’t need anyone now except our injured players. We’ll see what the future holds.

Can so much talk about signings make you lose focus?
No because we don’t talk about it. It’s just you. We are calm and confident.

Ibagaza:

Ariel has commented to mass media that are at a good moment of form and also it has assured that the key to be able to win to Madrid is “to control the ball”.

After a training session in which a special interest in maintaining the ball in the center of the field has been seen, Ibagaza has affirmed that to train that facet it is important because “in the long run, the great ones end up having the possession and if we did not play with the ball, it becomes very difficult to win. For that reason we must try to clear the ball to them and to play the con to advance to us in the marker “. Since Saturday they will receive the leader of the classification, the Argentinean has requested “concentration in all the lines” besides to assure that “we will play with the desperation of Madrid”.

Ibagaza emphasized that “were many players who Saturday will not be but anyway, any player of Madrid can roll to you at any time”.

Borja Valero:

“Soccer is not mathematical, just as we can lose with the last one we can win to first. Now they touched three very difficult rivals to us but we have begun and we hoped very well to follow equal “. It recognizes that “after being 11 years it would enchant to me there to play” clarifying that now “what less it matters to me are to demonstrate things to Madrid but to demonstrate them to the Majorca”.

With respect to if it sees champion from league Madrid, affirms that “I hope that if. If I must choose between Madrid or Barça, I prefer to Madrid because there am been long time and I have the white heart there, but if it is by us are going it to have complicated so that we are going away it to put very difficult ”

With respect to as of both joint one is better, it affirms that “we are at our better moment of soccer after the other day, but they have returned to take moral and safe that they come with many desire, but Madrid is not doing its better east soccer year”.

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