Santiago Bernabeu Trophy Review

By: Corey | August 25th, 2010

Mi Corazon

As usual for preseason games that I get to watch, I wrote down some of my thoughts on the match as it went on. Not a whole lot to discuss here though, as much like the previous friendlies this offseason, it was an uneventful, if not solid match. Read below:

- Well that was quick, Xabi spanking the base of the post with a shot form the edge of the box. Unlucky to not score there.

- Man, Sevilla are getting bu-fu-ed (say it all together…). Its a good thing that Valencia did not have to go through qualification too…

- I cannot wait for the season to start so I dont have to watch Real on this garbage streams anymore. GolTV and Ray’s hyperboles here I come on Sunday!

- Mourinho does not seem to mind surrendering possession. As labomba said a few posts back “10 draws will win you Serie A, but it wont do in La Liga”. So true, so true. If Mou really wants to adapt to Spanish football, the first thing to do is instruct your players to string more than three passes together and garner more than 50% possession, jeesh!

- Marcelo is slide in by Ozil (great pass), and the cross is on Pipita’s head and in the net, but Higuains went to early. He should have checked his run there, all his fault he was offside.

- Marcelo seems to be slowly learning the left back role. He will have to continue improving of course, but we should all expect better performances this season, and a return to the Brazilian fold will certainly help.

- Lass has done okay so far a right back, but if Arbeloa is left out in favor of Lass when Ramos is not at right back I will throw a fit.

- Xabi is pinging 40 yard passes all over the pitch. One to Canales on the right flank which sees the young man isolated, but he is unable to make anything of the chance.

- Canales gets a shot off after Ronaldo slide a pass in to Pipita who flicked the ball back to Sergio. Nice interplay, but the shot position was pretty tricky.

- I still do not like Ronaldo playing so centrally. Especially with Ozil and Canales as the attacking midfielders. There is no natural width when they both play, so why not use Ronaldo for that. You cannot jam the ball down the center every game, its to far predictable.

- Ozil has been quiet today. Dont be afraid to yell for the ball lad!

- Casillas with a strong punch in a crowded box. The marking was deplorable there, Casillas was surrounded by Penarol players. Why is this still a problem?

- Penarol’s players have great skill on the ball. They are showing up our lads right now.

- Khedira does not seem to mobile today. Instruction or reversion of playing style? Hmm…

- Higuain has barely touched the ball today. I dont see the difference between Pelle’s preseason and Mourinho’s right now. The same problems still exist and have not been addressed. How does a team score goals if the striker never gets any service, much less gets touches on the ball?

- Haha, what a cheap trick from Carvalho! He fell to the ground as a Penarol player ran by him and he reached out and grabbed his leg, pulling him down. He gets a yellow for that.

- Mourinho is taking notes on the same pad that I am! Wonder if our thoughts are similar?

- Toothless in front of goal is the best way to describe the first half. Someone shoot the ball besides Ronaldo!

I missed the second half as I had to go to a baseball game with my family. We were hosting a promotion for the family business and my presence was mandatory. Baseball may be boring, but two for Tuesdays helps, and it was a promotion night. I do not think I missed to much in the second half besides the two goals, which are below:

From your comments I see everyone was impressed with Di Maria’s play and Juanfran at right back. Great! I also see Gago left the field injured, and will be out 4-5 weeks, meaning it looks unlikely that we will sell Mahamadou Diarra now. Its also strange that we have so many injuries before the season has begun, a worrying trend. I am working on the Mallorca preview, the first of the season, and that should be up on Friday. Enjoy!

Some Related Real Madrid Posts:

Category: Team News

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Paddy

Diara will still be sold, i think
Hugo L

you didnt see the 2nd half... u might as well say you didnt see the game... 1st half was awful like always but after a little halftime talk with mourinho team looked much better like always lol

note: i saw di maria take a touch with his right foot for once! but it was only to cut it back to his left cause he couldnt shoot it with his right... does anyone take note of this di maria needs to learn how to use both feet if he wants to be a legitimate weapon or coaches and players will exploit him
Masterpin_9

what position does pedro leon play
Plyka_b

As usual the author of this blog can never say a negative word about the demi-god Higuain. Well, let me say what you should have: Higuain was HORRIBLE, absolutely DREADFUL. Please don't blame it on the rest of the team. As you saw when Benz came in the game, there was service. Higuain is just not on form at all. His mistakes cost us at least 2 goals.

1) There was absolutely NO REASON for Higuain to go offsides on the disallowed goal. This is pure lazyness. Higuain had everyone already beat and he would have had an easy tap in. Instead he goes offsides and the goal is disallowed. This is inexcusable.

2) When Higuain made his great run down the middle of the field, Ronaldo was screaming down his right side unmarked. There was a clear pass to Ronaldo which would have set him 1 on 1 vs the goalkeeper. Instead, Higuain attempts the ridiculous, to try and dribble through 4 people, and the ball is taken away. Reminds me of his horrendous mistake in the Lyon match where he again failed to PASS THE BALL for an easy goal.

Higuain, PLEASE PASS THE BALL!
Francisco Duque

Agree with you, in the last games he has been absent for large periods and when he got the ball, most of the times he didn't took the best option, maybe he is too obsessed with the pichichi thing... benz in the last games has done a better job, but I don't belive he will start ahead of Higuain
Paddy

thanks for noticing that. Benzema should start. with our current style of play we need a technically gifted attacker who can read the midfield play and adjust himself at the right position. Benz is better now! Hala Madrid
Meri

HORRIBLE, DREADFUL, HORRENDOUS,...
Actually I'm scared.Can't you just take it easy?
It's just preseason, you know.
Paddy

Preseason? wouldn't u be calling for the head of Mou if we had lost all the preseason matches?
Zizou

YEAH! Season is back, so the return of Corey and Bassams specialtys. :)

Marcelo will never improve be good enough for our LB imo. I'm waiting to see how long till Mou realises.

The biggest problem i had with this game is what Bassam said during the game, there was no off the ball movement. Benzema should have studies Raul hard, with his box movement, I really like us playing with 2 wingers, and i'm starting think that Di Maria/ Leon is the best for us, but not if Ronaldo and Benzema don't act like strikers. Raul should have stayed :)
Carliem

Watching the errant passes and bad service reminded me of why we need Kaka healthy as soon as possible. The youngsters all got talent but not the experience of Kaka.
Francisco Duque

Great article! Does anyone knows why mourinho said that he wanted to keep Mateos at the 1st team but right now he can't because of his age?
DyDy

if ur 23, ur not allowed to switch btwnn castilla and first team, u need to have a professional contract so that u can switch and after playin 10 games u can no longer go back to the youth>>but u wont take up space on the list of 25 registered so thats the advantage>>real is currently studyin giving him a professional contract based on AS article today upon mourinhos request
Francisco Duque

Thanks DyDy, it was every enlightening!
I'm glad that mourinho be counting on the canteranos, precisely because it is not typical of him, he usually prefers to work with ready-made and ripe players but as Valdano said ''he adapted quickly to the club'' that is, he knows how we as fans are desperate to see canteranos be successful at club, at least he's trying... Halla Madrid!
DyDy

http://www.as.com/futbol/artic...

This article explains it
RMFC

he's probably over 19 so he would take up a squad number and therefore we would have to drop a first teamer
Francisco Duque

Thanks for answering!
Do you rate him? I really didn't saw him play... who canterano do you guys think that should be added to the 1st team, based on pre-season appearances?
CS

Great write-up. Many good points...

As good as Di Maria has looked, I look at the price paid for Pedro Leon + Canales + Ozil.... is it still less than Di Maria?

Nonetheless, our midfield is extremely talented, and I think we have the depth to compete for the treble this season.
CS

Wow. was not expecting to get flamed like this.....

My comment was not against Di Maria.... quite the contrary. I think he is a player with great potential.

Rather, I think P.Leon was an absolute steal. I understand why Ozil was relatively cheap, but P.Leon has looked like a real find, one of the better performers of the pre-season.

P.Leon and Canales look like the real future of this team. Nothing against Di Maria or Ozil, but Leon & Canales have a bright young future, both for Real Madrid and for the Spanish National team.
WorstPosterOnRMFB

canales and Leon look like the 'real" future of this team but not Ozil and Di Maria ? how is that ?
Zizou

yer agree CS, Leon buy of the summer :), Canales was bought in January so doesn't count.
DyDy

I think It is WAAYYY to early to say who is the buy of the summer...preseason granero looked like the signing of the summer,,first 2 games kaka was the best,,middle of the season arbeloa looked like the most important siging at the end of the season it was no doubt cristiano(33 goals 12 assist) and Xabi(gives the team balance week in week out) i agree that leon looks good so far but lets not get ahead of ourselves...Carvalho's siging is being underrated bcuz he's a defender perhaps,,where would we be had we not sign him after all these injuries and his experience, his positioning make him a better partner to pepe and he will help us in the CL we cant be a young team all the way,,the defense line needs experience players, we dont want certain mistakes that young players such as garay can make..Albiol will learn a lot from him so will Mateos
Zizou

ok signing of the pre season :)
Francisco Duque

Like I said before, the critics of today are the fans of tomorrow, it happened with the CR7 and eventually will happen with Di Maria. And stop with this stupidity of always comparing the amounts paid for the players ... get over with! Just support the players of your team as a whole, this is not tennis or golf, this is a team sport, and that team is Real Madrid, not that player or this player... Halla Madrid!
Paddy

Francisco I am your biggest fan now
Francisco Duque

Belive me, this is a hell of a compliment!
WorstPosterOnRMFB

and there is a reason for that , Ozil was on the last of his contract or else he would have cost more than Di Maria , Canales is 19 and wasnt as highly rated as the argie , Leon is cheap because of the good relationship we have with Getafe
anyways are we going to bring this price tag thing up everytime the guy plays well ? he is 22 and has the potential to be a big big player so where is the problem ?
RMFC

10 million was his buy out clause
WorstPosterOnRMFB

yea true
Marttynz_007

i think is more....
Meri

Di Maria's goal was just great, be ready to see more tricks.
Guest

What the hell was up with Cristiano? Di Maria was awesome, i'm fine with the money we paid for him now. Juanfran was great too.
evo

question about the game - what position did Ozil play in? where did Canales play when they were both on the pitch?
DyDy

they interchanged but canales started in the middle and ozil on the right
labomba

Agree entirely Corey, lots of parallels with Pelle's preseason fumblings, I am still none the wiser as to who will consitute the starting XI and where they will play and worryingly, neither are the players. Also the defending in the box, if that's the one thing I'd have betted money on that Mourinho would meticulously sort out would be dead ball defending.
You didn't mention the Madrid Talk podcast which Itunes seemed to have found for me, will you be contributing to that?
Corey

If Adam invites me too, but he has taken a different direction so we will see. I will be starting a new podcast shortly for the site. Stay tuned.
ROD

Marcelo is improving in that position but we have to take into account the opponent madrid was playing is not exactly a litmus test of the competition but I always knew that M.Diarra was going to be the one to leave and it was nice to see VDV score.
Paddy

I think we have to trust Marcelo . the guy has improved seriously in defence. we need to trust him. with time he will be the best
DyDy

i think even with gago out diarra still gets sold, we have khedira/xabi/lass/and now granero is being used as a CM..Diarra is no longer the player he was he keeps getting injured so he doesnt get continuous playin time and that hurts his quality when he's on the pitch, his cycle has ended
Corey

Unfortunately you are right, as Valdano has intimated that Diarra is the first one out to the press. I will be sad to see him go.....
Kaushik

nice job! yeah even i felt that marcelo is improving. di maria's goal was lovely, so playing one of leon/dimaria regularly is going to be a headache for mourinho, but as people say its a good headache to have. that said, enough with the preseason, can't wait for the liga to start, and its finally going to be back on TV in my country after we missed out last year thanks to rights, tv channels, money and what not.

PS have a request corey, Is it worth having a post for every game where we discuss the game as and when it happens? Otherwise the review/preview posts get flooded with comments and i think a seperate posts can make for better reading. Thanks
Corey

What I am going to do is have a liveblog when I am free, and a blank post for match comments if not.
Kaushik

that sounds good mate