I get about 60 views a day, or just under 2,000 a month, so clearly I’ve a way to go. It is good, however, to get things off your chest in a forum where people can agree or disagree, but generally in a constructive way.

Soldado has been woefully underused given the effort that was made to keep him over the summer. I honestly don’t get what Schuster has been doing here. But then, I’m basing this on his performances for Osasuna last year; maybe he just doesn’t cut it in training with the others; he didn’t take the few chances he had in the Copa del Rey.

I’d also like to add my congrats on a great set of articles – wish I had the time myself!

His major fault lies in the fact that he let De la Red go, but this season he has proven to be much better then Gago. Gago has come along since Diarra has been away, but I still think De la Red leaving was a huge error. His other fault lies in not using Balboa and Soldado, who would be starters in other La Liga teams. Sub appearances at the least would be good, both players have tremendous potential and I would like them to get more time. If not, sell them so they dont stagnate.

To give Capello credit, he was good about taking advantage of our youth talents, giving Torres a good handful of starts, and De la Red a few chances as well. In a sense, this is one valid critisism I have of Schuster’s summer transfers. Yes, I defended them at the time by pointing out the length of the season, combined with all of the tournaments Madrid would be competing in, arguing that the more players the merrier – the depth would come to our rescue (I never imagined that they would actualy touch the bottom of that squad, but hey, it happened). However, when Capello needed that depth (which the all-the-sudden tight fisted tandem of Bert and Ernie – I mean, er, Mijatovich and Calderon – wouldn’t allow him) he tapped the youth squad. To me, this is a great way of introducing these kids – go to them when you need them. It’s a great gauge of how they’ll handle the pressure of playing in the Primera, and the added pressure that the Bernabeu brings to that. I’d like to see more of that, and it would be good way of arriving at the decision, when the summer comes, of whether we should seek finished products from elsewhere, or move up a youth player for the spot. Notice that one position we didn’t look to build in depth last summer was Right Back, and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t because we had faith in mighty Michel Salgado. Now Torres is giving Marcelo competition at Left Back.

Lastly, and I think someone’s already pointed out, but it bears repeating: when you bring a kid up through the youth system and then move him into the Primera side he tends to stay with you – for life. Think Guti, Puyol, Raul, and let’s pray Casillas. It at least takes a formidable bid to tear them away: think Beckham. Man, are my comments getting long lately.