Time to step over Valencia
¡Hola!
El perfecto Domingo. The perfect Saturday. I had a good morning, a good lunch, a good siesta and a great workout. It all went so fuckin’ smooth. So smooth that I am wondering what’s in hold for me on Sunday. Whatever it is I am hoping it isn’t going affect either Espanyol’s win over Barcelona or our win over Valencia.
More on Valencia later but let us start with the one Cristiano Ronaldo, who seems to be having his periods right now. Couple of days back he decided to file a lawsuit against the buggers who went on air saying that Ronaldo partied both before and after the Clásico. He then went to Almería and scored an absolute peach of a goal that showed why he is still the best in the World. Yesterday he broke his own 10 seconds record in some training grid set up by his sponsors. After the event, while speaking to the press, he told them about a lot of things including his menstrual cycle but that is not of our concern. He spoke about the coach and his situation with the club and was quoted as saying:
We are very happy with the coach. I am also happy with my teammates. I don’t want to play with anyone else, although there are many talented players out there.
Just when we thought all is well at the club, Sky Sports reports that Ronaldo believes Jose Mourinho would be the ideal man to take charge at the Bernabeu. Speaking about Jose, Ronaldo has told Sky News:
He is a special coach. He has shown that he is one of the best in the world so maybe the people don’t like him because he is top, his character, he is a special person. I know him very well. I like him a lot – I know his character, he is a winning guy. This is why the people don’t like him. Madrid he’d change a lot – he’d buy new players, new coach.
With the menstrual cycle taking a toll on the 25-year-old, the player admits that the team are desperate to win silverware this season. He said:
We are out of the Champions League, the Copa del Rey,
so we are not very happy of course. We are still in the league to fight so it’s possible to win. We’ll be very frustrated if we don’t win anything. A team like Madrid has to win something every year.
I still believe we can improve in the next games, the next months, the next year, we’ll be much stronger than we are at the moment. So if we don’t win this season, definitely we will win next year.
Even though I am not sure how those comments mean that Ronaldo thinks that Jose Mourinho is the ideal manager for Real Madrid I too feel that Mourinho will do a lot of good if he were to be appointed. Of course he is a good manager – a proven winner as well. But not even he can guarantee us a treble in his first season in charge. Similarly, Arsene Wenger would be the ideal man to take charge of Castilla, whereas Wayne Rooney, Filipe Luis and David Silva are the ideal players to replace Pipita and Marcelo and whoever-plays-on-the-god-damned-left-wing in the starting line up. But this isn’t the ideal World. In an ideal world Barcelona would be facing Castilla in the Segunda Division. That isn’t happening, is it?
By saying that, I do not mean that Pellegrini is not good enough. He has done a splendid job. We’ve always remained in the title race for the league throughout the season. Cup defeats do happen. None of our previous managers since 2004 were able to take us past the last 16 in the Champions League in their first season. And before they could have another shot at it they were long gone. Pellegrini is not like anyone of them. He is clearly better. His credentials are known to all. He took a team like Villareal to the last four of the Champions League. He can hell even win the title with a team like ours. Just give him his fuckin’ time. We’ve spent a lot of money. Yes. But football isn’t a shop where you get your stuff as soon as you throw in the money. Patience is a virtue that we need. It is a virtue due to the lack of which Perez went through a miserable period earlier this decade. Hell I am tired of going through this again and again. Basically, we do not need Mourinho right now. At least one man agrees with me.
On to the game tomorrow and it is Valencia who are visiting the Bernabéu this Sunday in the 21:00 CET kick-off. And before I could do the pre-preview, the players themselves did it for me through several interviews across the media world. First I’ll start with Rafael van der Vaart who pointed out the fact that we generally perform well against Valencia on Bwin.com. But as important as our win is the Espanyol-Barcelona Derby which if in favor of us will do a lot of good. He pin-pointed that as well.
The match against Valencia will be difficult because they have great forwards, but we always play well against them. We are strong and we’ve lost just one home game this season. We fear no one at home.
It is important for us Espanyol defeat Barcelona tonight. A derby is always important.
Like me, St.Iker too believes the team can win the league title. Unlike last season we came out of a Clásico with a hard fought victory against Almería at Almería which is something that even Barcelona couldn’t do. Casillas then spoke about Valencia, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses in an interview with AS:
Winning in Almeria was another step towards our goal to win the league title and take as many points as possible. We could have scored more goals, but I’m glad we took three points.
Valencia have fast, short and cheeky players we will have to watch out for. They have problems in defence, but the match will be complicated. We have to win.
And that brings us to team news, and the weakness in Valencia’s defense can be seen on their squad list as there are only three recognized defenders. Maduro and Alba will play in the back four but both started their careers in midfield. Villa, Silva, Mata and Banega will remain to be threats up ahead. All four are in fine form especially Silva who snatched a fine brace against Bilbao the same night we played Almería.
VALENCIA SQUAD LIST
GOALKEEPERS: César, Moyà.
DEFENDERS: Bruno, Alexis, Maduro, Marchena.
MIDFIELDERS: Albelda, Baraja, Éver, J. Alba, Vicente, Joaquín, Pablo, Mata, Domínguez.
FORWARDS: Zigic, Silva, Villa.
There is some good news for Real though. Following a clinical session conducted by Dr. Noronha and the Sanitas-Medical Services, and a magnetic resonance, it has been concluded that Pepe’s ACL is recovering in a satisfactory fashion. As planned, the player will now commence the last stage in the recovery process, which will focus on readapting and rejoining the team. Kaká, Raúl, Drenthe and Metzelder are still sidelined by their respective injuries. Albiol has been cleared to play against Valencia after the Appeals Committee turned over the yellow card the player received against Almería. Garay too returns from suspension.
REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST
GOALKEEPERS: Casillas, Dudek
DEFENDERS: Arbeloa, Ramos, Marcelo, Albiol, Garay
MIDFIELDERS: Gago, Diarra, Lass, Guti, Granero, Xabi Alonso, Van der Vaart
FORWARDS: Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain, Benzema, Juanfran
Pellegrini would ideally stick to the starting line up from midweek but I doubt if Guti will start so soon again considering his age. Granero has fallen out of favor not for the first time this season. With Garay’s return I think Marcelo will shift up the field especially considering the likes of Joaquín, Mata and Silva loving to play in the wings. I doubt if Benzema will start the game but will definitely come on at some point. Gago went off injured half way through the game midweek. Lass and Diarra are both fit and should play depending upon the Argentine’s fitness. I’m happy to see Gago back as first choice again I must say.
Probable Starting XI: Casillas, Ramos, Albiol, Garay, Arbeloa, Gago, Xabi Alonso, Marcelo, Van der Vaart, Ronaldo, Higuaín;
Prediction: Real Madrid 3-1 Valencia
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Just another Madridista
All days are not Saturdays – Valencia pre-preview
Time to step over Valencia
¡Hola!
El perfecto Domingo. The perfect Saturday. I had a good morning, a good lunch, a good siesta and a great workout. It all went so fuckin’ smooth. So smooth that I am wondering what’s in hold for me on Sunday. Whatever it is I am hoping it isn’t going affect either Espanyol’s win over Barcelona or our win over Valencia.
More on Valencia later but let us start with the one Cristiano Ronaldo, who seems to be having his periods right now. Couple of days back he decided to file a lawsuit against the buggers who went on air saying that Ronaldo partied both before and after the Clásico. He then went to Almería and scored an absolute peach of a goal that showed why he is still the best in the World. Yesterday he broke his own 10 seconds record in some training grid set up by his sponsors. After the event, while speaking to the press, he told them about a lot of things including his menstrual cycle but that is not of our concern. He spoke about the coach and his situation with the club and was quoted as saying:
Just when we thought all is well at the club, Sky Sports reports that Ronaldo believes Jose Mourinho would be the ideal man to take charge at the Bernabeu. Speaking about Jose, Ronaldo has told Sky News:
With the menstrual cycle taking a toll on the 25-year-old, the player admits that the team are desperate to win silverware this season. He said:
Even though I am not sure how those comments mean that Ronaldo thinks that Jose Mourinho is the ideal manager for Real Madrid I too feel that Mourinho will do a lot of good if he were to be appointed. Of course he is a good manager – a proven winner as well. But not even he can guarantee us a treble in his first season in charge. Similarly, Arsene Wenger would be the ideal man to take charge of Castilla, whereas Wayne Rooney, Filipe Luis and David Silva are the ideal players to replace Pipita and Marcelo and whoever-plays-on-the-god-damned-left-wing in the starting line up. But this isn’t the ideal World. In an ideal world Barcelona would be facing Castilla in the Segunda Division. That isn’t happening, is it?
By saying that, I do not mean that Pellegrini is not good enough. He has done a splendid job. We’ve always remained in the title race for the league throughout the season. Cup defeats do happen. None of our previous managers since 2004 were able to take us past the last 16 in the Champions League in their first season. And before they could have another shot at it they were long gone. Pellegrini is not like anyone of them. He is clearly better. His credentials are known to all. He took a team like Villareal to the last four of the Champions League. He can hell even win the title with a team like ours. Just give him his fuckin’ time. We’ve spent a lot of money. Yes. But football isn’t a shop where you get your stuff as soon as you throw in the money. Patience is a virtue that we need. It is a virtue due to the lack of which Perez went through a miserable period earlier this decade. Hell I am tired of going through this again and again. Basically, we do not need Mourinho right now. At least one man agrees with me.
On to the game tomorrow and it is Valencia who are visiting the Bernabéu this Sunday in the 21:00 CET kick-off. And before I could do the pre-preview, the players themselves did it for me through several interviews across the media world. First I’ll start with Rafael van der Vaart who pointed out the fact that we generally perform well against Valencia on Bwin.com. But as important as our win is the Espanyol-Barcelona Derby which if in favor of us will do a lot of good. He pin-pointed that as well.
Like me, St.Iker too believes the team can win the league title. Unlike last season we came out of a Clásico with a hard fought victory against Almería at Almería which is something that even Barcelona couldn’t do. Casillas then spoke about Valencia, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses in an interview with AS:
VALENCIA SQUAD LIST
GOALKEEPERS: César, Moyà.
DEFENDERS: Bruno, Alexis, Maduro, Marchena.
MIDFIELDERS: Albelda, Baraja, Éver, J. Alba, Vicente, Joaquín, Pablo, Mata, Domínguez.
FORWARDS: Zigic, Silva, Villa.
REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST
GOALKEEPERS: Casillas, Dudek
DEFENDERS: Arbeloa, Ramos, Marcelo, Albiol, Garay
MIDFIELDERS: Gago, Diarra, Lass, Guti, Granero, Xabi Alonso, Van der Vaart
FORWARDS: Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain, Benzema, Juanfran
Pellegrini would ideally stick to the starting line up from midweek but I doubt if Guti will start so soon again considering his age. Granero has fallen out of favor not for the first time this season. With Garay’s return I think Marcelo will shift up the field especially considering the likes of Joaquín, Mata and Silva loving to play in the wings. I doubt if Benzema will start the game but will definitely come on at some point. Gago went off injured half way through the game midweek. Lass and Diarra are both fit and should play depending upon the Argentine’s fitness. I’m happy to see Gago back as first choice again I must say.
Probable Starting XI: Casillas, Ramos, Albiol, Garay, Arbeloa, Gago, Xabi Alonso, Marcelo, Van der Vaart, Ronaldo, Higuaín;
Prediction: Real Madrid 3-1 Valencia
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Share this:
April 17, 2010 | Categories: Comments, News, Pre-preview | Tags: Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas, José Mourinho, Rafael van der Vaart, Valencia CF | Leave A Comment »