Deportivo Preview and “Striker Search”

By: Corey | October 27th, 2007

Which should I do first, the preview of this weekends game, which has been moved from Saturday to Sunday by the Spanish FA because of the dispute between the two television companies that have rights to La Liga. Both companies blow and they need to get their act together so we can start watching some football!

Anyways, poor Depor had to shell out 36,000 extra quid for the change in flights and hotel arrangements, which also means they have one less day to prepare for their midweek game. Not fair to Depor, but this is how the world works, screw the little guy. Although one would figure if Real was traveling to Coruna that the game would have been moved also, such is the clout of the two television stations in Spain right now.

My first bit of FIFA 08 music, enjoy!

Alright, first there was a report in AS that Barca are considering selling Xavi Hernandez. AS is usualy full of shit when it comes to all things Barca, but even if this one is made up, it makes sense. Yaya Toure, Deco and Iniesta are all the need, Xavi to me doesnt offer as much as any of those three, so a sale is possible, but only to make room for another player, Cesc Fab anyone?

Striker Search?
Then there was this report that Real are after Karim Benzema, Lyon’s 19 year old striker. Although I think Samir Nasri is the best bet, Benzema has now proven himself to be just as sure a thing. Hatem Ben Arfa likewise. Everyone is after these three and Jeremy Menez, the next crop of French talent, except these guys have way more potential then anything ive ever seen. The likelihood of Real buying Benzema this summer is 0. I repeat, 0.

Jean Michel “Mimi” Auluas will not sell off his prized assests unless they want to leave, which is something neither want to do because they are young and need first team football, something they have a better chance at with Lyon then with Real. If Benzema stops scoring, he will be replaced by Fred, and if Ben Arfa stops stepping over and elastico-ing then sure enough Kim Kallstrom will appear on the left again. These two along with Nasri are smart guys, they need more time to develop before they move on, so dont believe the news, not for another 2 years atleast a.k.a. dont listen to Marca.

Here are some comments by Robinho, who went from zero to hero (got a cliche in, HAYOO!) with a stellar second half performance against Olympiakos. I guess all is forgotten with his partying and needing 40 condoms, but I doubt Julio Baptista will get off the hook as easily, see he never gets a chance to play:

“With Schuster I can play at my highest level. I know that he has real faith in me and he lets me play more where I like,” he said.

“Capello had a different style, more defensive. He liked all the players to apply pressure, even the forwards.

“Schuster likes us to keep the ball and remain patient when in possession. That is the style that suits me best.

“With Capello there were times when I had to drop back a lot to mark and when I was on the attack in one against one situations I was not as strong.

“With Schuster, things are better for me because I do not have so many other duties and I am fresher going forward.

So sick, I cant even begin to comprehend how to do that, im still trying to do the elastico at full speed

“It was a good performance, but I am not happy with that. I am pleased, but I have to think about the larger scheme of things,” he explained.

“I have to remember I have improved and then in the next came play just as well, if not better.

“I am improving an every game is a story in itself. If the move requires stepovers then I do them, but only responsibly and I always look for a way to goal.”

Ok, well then two things here. If you dont have to defend obviously you will attack better…duh. Second, drinking before you go back to your club and use 40 condom in one night is not the best way to get ready for a match. I mean, I usually get drunk and use a few condoms before I go home, but thats more because im suppose to do that, but the night before I return to school I dont, I usually curl up with a good book and a warm fire. Oh who am I kidding, I have a beer in my hand whenever I can. Keep on keepin on Robinho.

Next is Fernando Gago, a.k.a. im not as good as Ruben De La Red, saying he wants more playing time, or just his run in the first team to continue. With Diarra healthy again I cant see it, your lack of a physical presence is what hurts you the most. That and your passing, off the ball movement, reading off the game and tackling is way below where it should be, you should have been sold as oppossed to Ruben. Bahh, anyone think that Gago is that girl that you have on the side cause your not a huge fan, but you can go to her if need be, and she will always bug you about more “playing time” but you ignore her cause you have your eye on the prize, the tall brunette at the bar buying a Rolling Rock (second favorite beer). Im beginning to think Gago is that girl, and that a player yet to be determined is the brunetter with the RR.

Game Preview

This is a pivotal game for Real. They can prove that loosing to Espnayol was a fluke and that the Olympiakos comeback is just putting them in the right direction. Or it could show that they got lucky against Olympiakos, partly because I rubbed my little Budhha statues bellys and used by good juju to will them into a win. Either way, its expected they win, especially as Deportivo has been all over the place this year. 1 win and a draw in the last 5 is not good for a team that was challenging for the title not to long ago, and to be honest the whole Depor roster is a mystery to me, most of the players are obscure in name to the max, with Andres Guardado and Julien De Guzman the only one I know of.

Real Madrid Team News

Injury wise its all the same as the Olympiakos game, with Pepe still out but Canna and Diarra listed as “day-to-day” or more specifically its a game day decision. You know what I hate, how every other player in the EPL has a last second fitness test before a game. What the hell is a fitness test, why is it done at the last second, and who the hell cares? With Pepe and Canna possibly out, Sergio Ramos will continue in the center with Metz, Marcelo on the right and for dear mercy use Torres, Salgado was horrific against Olympiakos. Diarra may be pushed to start as Deportivo will have a more physical and strong central midfield pairing the Olympiakos did which means a Guti-Gago partnership would be paper thin. But he was left off the team sheet so Rock-Paper-Scissors it is (Hayooo again!).

Now here is the thing, Robinho was excellent so start him on the left. Dont start Sneijder, leave him on the bench with Gago. Start Balboa. Just do it. Trust me, the kids got the goods. If need be you can switch Robinho to the right and sub Sneijder in for Balboa, but make a bold move Schuster, it should pay off. Higuain is decent on the wing but he doesn grasp the role, plays more like a third strike. Baptista could technically play there, but he doesnt have the pace to run the flank. Go with Balboa, you wont regret it.

With that being said, here is the starting 11 I want to see but wont:

————-Casillas——————
Torres—–SR——-Metz——Marcelo
Balboa—–Gago—–Guti—–Robinho
———-RVN——-Raul————-

Bench: Codina! (I despise Dudek, but he will be on the bench none-the-less), Salgado, Gago, Drenthe, Sneijder, Hig’s and Soldado.

But as we have seen before, Schuster does not read my page, so he will most likely not have Balboa on the right, although he may make the bench. And seeing as how Diarra and Canna are out, we have only 2 fit center backs and no physical presence in the center of the pitch:

Goalkeepers: Casillas & Dudek.
Defenders: Salgado, Ramos, Marcelo, Metzelder & Torres.
Midfielders: Gago, Guti, Balboa, Sneijder, Robinho & Higuain.
Forwards: Soldado, Saviola, Baptista, Van Nistelrooy & Raúl.

So Sneijder will probably start so that theres a augmented three man midfield with Robinho further forward on the right and Marcelo having the license to attack. Also, maybe Soldado will get a good amount of time of the bench since RVN has looked tired recently.

Deportivo La Coruna Team News

Depor got ripped for 4 last weekend by Valencia, so the three man defense is probably scraped. Coloccini and Kasmirski will start in the center, with Manuel Pablo’s excellent bald head in tandem with the under the radar ex-Sevilal youngster Barragan on the flanks. Expect 2 holding players in the middle and Verdu (Ver-who? Hayoo!) in front of them. Id say Juan Rodriguez and the Canuck De Guzman, with Sergio and Guardado on the flanks.
Who starts up top is a mystery, they rotate that spot alot, id go with Riki though.

Expect lots of counter attacking and playing the ball through Guardado, he is their main weapon. Depor are better on the road then at home, so the Bernabeu should not faze them much. If Schuster uses Balboa and Robinho then we can stretch them and Guti can probe through the middle enough to create. If he goes with Sneijder we will again see a dull match where the predatory instincts of Raul and RVN will see us win or lose.

3-0 Real, Robinho, Raul, Sergio Ramos. In no way are those guarentess, dont take them to your bookie.