Comments on: Real Madrid 2-3 Werder Bremen

By: john

john — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:55:33 +0000

Good read on Metzelder, Corey, and I think you are implying what I ultimatly have decided: Metzelder has the skill to be a good Center back, but he just doesn’t fit with the system Schuster is using (i.e. pressing defense, attacking Left back, etc.). The good news is, I’m finally starting to put stock in Pepe. I think he’ll only improve, and figure out the system nicely.

By: Corey

Corey — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:10:09 +0000

Metzelder and Pepe were chosen for their height advantage, but also Canna and Heinze had knocks and were rested. The thing is, the height advantage was not that great, especially since Sanogo and Rosenborg have great speed as their main weapon, which neither Pepe nor Metz have in abundance. Sergio Ramos would have been better in the center with Metz, I think Pepe should have been on the bench. Metzelder is a positional player, he covers well, but especially on the third goal, he was left for dead by Pepe who charged up field to win a header that he didnt, and Metz, who had the whole center to cover, choose to wait for Sanogo, and Hunt, who was Marcelo’s man, was wide open. Metzelder looks good when the lines are close together and he is not to far upfield because he is slow, but he is strong in the air and in the tackle. Finding the right pairing is critical, and having Metzelder have to cover Marcelo’s ass when he runs forward is a big mistake by Schuster.

As for Gago, he had a bad game, he has not really had a great game yet for Madrid, only a couple good outings. Im beginning to loose patience, but we all know if he is sold to say Villareal he will blossom into a great midfielder. Its a shame we let De La Red go for him though, also Granero.

By: Elisa

Elisa — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:52:03 +0000

Metzhelder is just too plain slow and German play is no comparison to the speed of Spain. I am not convinced of Pepe either. We really need to get it together. And Gago makes some shocking mistakes. We need to calm down and focus on our defensive tactics.

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:29:24 +0000

I think Schuster chose Metzelder because he feared that Bremen could make their height advantage count.

By: Corey

Corey — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 01:15:21 +0000

Yes, Metzelder does seem a bit out of his depth, not the commanding presence he use to be, and when he played in Germany, Dortmun didnt hold a high line and have to deal with many counter attacks thus. I agree the two dont look compatable, but Heinze always worries me to with his stupid antics. Cannavaro has improved vastly since last year, he is definately are best central defender, and I would have to say that Sergio Ramos and Pepe for the Santander game with Torres on the right would be a good option. It would certainly be more solid the against Bremen.

By: john

john — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:39:46 +0000

The outcome of yesterday’s match can be explained pretty simply: No Cannavaro (recovering from injury), and Metzelder paired with Pepe. Heinze would have been a better choice next to Pepe, just based on experience, but wasn’t even on the bench (injured?). While Pepe is on the up and up, Metzelder is relatively awful. He has poor reads on attackers, slow reflexes, is just plain slow and can’t leg it back from the press to keep up with counters – for some reason every time I watch him I think of Big Bird, and in fact I think Big Bird might be a better alternative.

And just for the record: Both of Real’s goals were SICK!

By: Corey

Corey — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:37:15 +0000

Yeah, its always interesting to listen to whats going on when they are filming these clips.

And it is a little embarresing, but we need to come back down to earth and accept that we are not the best team in the Champions League and that our group is very competitive and Bremen, injuries withstanding, played us off the park for large portions of the game. Coming in to any game and expecting wo win because we are a higher caliber team just is not the right additude.

By: RealMadrid4ever

RealMadrid4ever — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:24:42 +0000

This is embarassing. Why is Real slipping all of a sudden? They are team of a higher caliber than Werde Bremen.

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:16:49 +0000

I like the ‘Woohoo!’ in the background after Sanogo scored Werder’s second goal.:-)