The Best Start In 17 Years?

By: Corey | November 23rd, 2009

Shame On You Marca

Yes, we have had our best start since 1991-1992, yet it seems to have fallen on depth ears to many Real Madrid fans. Should we not be excited and optimistic that this team is making significant progress after the disasters of the club this time last year? Not if you read Marca, AS and the rest of the Spanish dailies on a regular basis (umm daily I guess). You would think we were in Atletico’s position, such has been the level of scrutiny of everything Manuel Pellegrini and his team do. Besides outrageously unrealistic expectations placed on the team after bringing in so many high priced players this summer, Real sit top of the league, within qualification of the next round of the Champions League.

A debacle at Alcorcon may have seemed like Armageddon to Marca, and certainly loosing to Sevilla away and Milan at home was grounds for a little bit of speculation, but the constant headlines of Pellegrini being fired etc etc has certainly done no harm to the spirit of the squad and the resolve of the coach. But as the podcast group speculated two weeks ago in our recording, there are clear signs that Marca explicitly has a campaing to get Pellegrini fired and cause havoc in the Real Madrid camp whenever it can. The outrageous headlines and stories the accompany lull periods like international breaks certainly highlight the point.

On the other hand, AS did some thinking for once and decided to lay out just what Pellegrini and this squad has accomplished so far this season. While I have been critical of some of the things Pellegrini has done this year, Id like to say I have been fairly positive, if not realistic when looking at the way the team has played and the results. What I did not ever consider is just how good the team has done historically. An excerpt from AS:

Manuel Pellegrini, technician of Real Madrid, questioned by the lack of style in the game and the fiasco copear before the Alcorcón, find in the numbers its better defense and after reaching the leadership in day 11, it presents/displays the best numbers in League of last the 17 years of the white club. The pírrico triumph of Real Madrid in the stage Santiago Bernabéu before the Racing of Santander (1-0), and the tie of Barcelona in San Mamés before the Athletic Club of Bilbao (1-1), turns to the madridista set in leader after the eleventh day, to one week to visit the Camp Nou in the first chapter of the classic one.

Real Madrid reaches 28 points of 33 possible ones, is the second goleador equipment of the category with 27 so many, two less than Barcelona, and the one that except so many fits, 8 (tied with Barcelona and Seville). The ligueros numbers of the white set in the last represent their better starting of competition 17 years. From season 1991-92, when it signed ten victories and a tie in the eleven first ligueros parties, it did not secure a so high average. This campaign, in three months of competition, the madridista set has only left points in its visits to Seville, where it lost 2-1, and to the Molinón, stage in which tied without goals before the Sporting de Gij’on. Since local it has gained everything what it has played in League in the stage Santiago Bernabéu.

Six parties and plenary session of victories with 18 so many to favor and four against. Iker Squares has left its door to zero in four of those six parties, and in it has done it to the total in seven of the eleven disputed days. In the last League conquered by Real Madrid, with Bernd Schuster like technician in season 2007-08, at this point of season they added 25 points, three less than at present, and the numbers of goals to favor and against also were worse (25 marked by 27 present ones, and 9 fitted by 8). With respect to the last League of Fabio Capello, campaign 2006-07, this Real Madrid has an improvement after eleven days of five points, has marked six so many and equals more in fitted goals. They are the numbers to which always Pellegrini in press conference is taken hold to defend its work over the game.

Id like to know what everyone thinks of the team’s performances this season so far, but also how people truly feel about the kind of ‘yellow journalism’ that is so prevalent at Marca and to an extent AS. I for one had a bit of a panic when we went down to Alcorcon, but with careful consideration you have to realize that a squad of reserves and bench players had one of the nights that makes football such an unpredictable sport. With the exit from the Kings Cup though, we will be completely focused on the two other titles still in play. Its still no excuse for the exit, but we must be focused on the future and consider the Kings Cup as a priority next season now.

This Real Madrid team is very good, and despite the existence of some dead wood, it will continue to improve the more it plays together and the tougher the challenge. Faith in Pellegrini and our players, despite the criticisms we have inbetween games, is the best way for fans to look at the squad. But I would like to know what you think about both the team’s performance so far, and the negative reporting that many of the Spanish dailies seem to have towards Real Madrid. Which is in sharp contrast to the ass-kissing that Marca had done in the summer when Perez began his spending spree.

Also, on Wednesday at 2:00 pm eastern time, stop by for a liveblog of the Zurich game. It will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Espanol for everyone in the US and Canada.