Real Madrid need to get ready for a terrible season | It’s happening

[midnightmare]

They are taking too long to solve the interin manager problem, and it's taking the toll.

My guess is that they are getting NO's from a lot of managers.

OR they're in for Pochettino and finding Levy as much of a pain to deal with as everyone else? Real Madrid won't go for a half-baked option and I don't think Flo will go for Jose again despite the odd media story here and there. If Jose's sacking didn't make that clear, the bounce in form for United will be doing the trick, I reckon. It should be clear to Flo that opting for Jose again is just a terrible idea. If he's waiting for Poch, it will need to wait until the summer anyway.

Klopp will never leave Liverpool for Madrid. He loves being the underdog, having no responsibility or pressure to win anything and once he does actually win something it's considered a small miracle. It's very easy for him.

Agree. Klopp thrives on a situation where HE is the star and gets away with incompetence (albeit, at times), with a smile, laugh and a hug, while therefore not being taken on when he is a sore loser and grumbles about the referees. Won't get that at Real Madrid, so I don't see him considering the option.

 

[giorno]

There was no way Real Madrid could have competed with the insane prices of Neymar, Mbappe etc during the last few summers. Barcelona bought Dembele and Coutinho for prices well above their true worth and both are good players, but it remains to be seen if Dembele for 150m is really the smarter move than Vinicius for 50m.

Of course his biggest faults has been in appointing managers (Benitez, Julen, Solari...), even if Zidane was a home run no one could have seen coming.

We could and we did, Monaco accepted our €180m offer for Mbappé. It's the player who turned us down for PSG

And of course managers would be an issue with Florentino, a man who believes the manager's job is to do as little damage as possible

Scoring was an issue in the past 2 seasons, especially in the 1st stage of the season. The 2nd stage was easier because Ronnie would score 20-30 goals from January till May.

I wonder this season who will cover those 20-30 goals from Jan till May.

Scoring was an issue in the league in the first half of 17/18, and it's been an issue in the league in the first half of 18/19.

That's the million dollar question

 

[André Dominguez]

OR they're in for Pochettino and finding Levy as much of a pain to deal with as everyone else? Real Madrid won't go for a half-baked option and I don't think Flo will go for Jose again despite the odd media story here and there. If Jose's sacking didn't make that clear, the bounce in form for United will be doing the trick, I reckon. It should be clear to Flo that opting for Jose again is just a terrible idea. If he's waiting for Poch, it will need to wait until the summer anyway.

Going for Jose would be mental! But Florentino can be unpredictable at times.

 

[#07]

@giorno I think the issue with Florentino is not that he believes the manager must do as little as possible, its that he believes the manager must do everything he wants and often what he wants makes no sense.

Florentino wants his coach to play the cantera players but also to buy the big signings he brings in. He wants his coach to keep everyone in the squad happy, especially his big signings, but at the same time he wants his coach to be a disciplinarian than keeps the dressing room in check. He wants his coach to put out teams that play cohesive football, but at the same time he wants individuals indulged at the expense of any one system.

If it was up to Florentino Madrid would play 2-3-5 and yet Florentino would expect Madrid to keep clean sheets (and smash opposition teams at the same time). He must be a nightmare to work with.

 

[el3mel]

Just seen Bale and Benzema have only 11 goals together in league.

People thought Ronaldo prevented the rest to perform but it looks the opposite for me. Bale and Benzema are getting exposed to their true level now there's no Ronaldo to cover for their arses.

 

[Peyroteo]

Defensive transitions?

You can compare them to other players of similar performance on tackling and interception stats, they don't strike me particularly worse than any other midfield in the competition except Atletico, that play with 4 guys being paid to do that role.

Chance creation?

Kroos was the midfielder with most key passes, Modric being 9th. No other team has a midfield combo with two players on the top 10.
Modric is 27th in interceptions, only 0.1 below Rakitic who basically plays most games for that, and above holding midfielder specialists like Fajr, Pizarro, Wass, Lobotka or Borges.

They're not creative in a tiki-taka way, but they've been the most complete midfield trio of the world for the past 3 years, if you add Marcelo to their mixup they become even better. Modric can recycle possesion and drive forward like no other in Europe except Hazard, KDB and Messi while having a workrate none of the past 3 display. Kroos is a distance maestro that can pass it short like the best in the game right now and a long ball that, as you said, opens any opportunity for Real Madrid, be it different wing, same wing or center.

Nevermind that all of them can bomb you from 35m range finding goal, how many teams have the luxury of fielding a 3 men midfield that covers every aspect of the game?. They only suffer when the ball goes above them.



Rio, Carrick, Vidic, Evra, Giggs or Scholes were 6 years younger too, the fact that United managed to get back into title winning form and reach a UCL final adding Bebé, Smalling, Valencia and Chicharito once Ronaldo left might tells us that it's not so black or white about a single player being the key difference between being good or bad.

First thing to address might be what kind of signal sends to the squad selling Ronaldo and bringing Mariano, everyone in that locker room might've thought from the start that the team wasn't asking from them a lot this season, and maybe that their time to leave will come in the next 1/2 years with the president not interested on spending the proper money to give this roster another go.

I watch them play, I don't watch whoscored at the end of the season for shit stats. Kroos is the player with most key passes... I'm guessing 95% of them come from set pieces, he's not creative in the slightest in open play, neither is Modric. They get the ball back more than Rakitic because they play without the ball more often too. Lies, damned lies and statistics.

Giving me tackles and interception stats to prove that midfield is actually good at defensive transitions when they get run over on the counter nearly every game for I don't know how long is incredible stuff. I watch Modric, Kroos, Isco and Marcelo walking back when there's a dangerous play in every single match for fecks sake. They play as if they couldn't give less of a shit if they concede or not. How bad does it need to get before you see what everyone has seen already?? 5th place? Ajax knocking them out of the Champions League?

If you believe getting Hazard and Eriksen will fix things then good fecking luck to them

Madrid had a midfield and a forward line that were not meant to play together and won 3 CLs in 3 years because the forwards were the ones adapting to it. Casemiro-Kroos-Modric did not once cover every aspect of the game, they covered ONE aspect of the game and the propaganda machine around them pretended they were running the show. What's happening this season is nothing new at all and I guarantee you it's going to continue this way.

Rio, Carrick, Vidic, Evra, Giggs or Scholes were 6 years younger too, the fact that United managed to get back into title winning form and reach a UCL final adding Bebé, Smalling, Valencia and Chicharito once Ronaldo left might tells us that it's not so black or white about a single player being the key difference between being good or bad.

They played a weak Chelsea team, Schalke and Marseille on the way to the final... come on now, they were MUCH worse than the teams that made the final in 2008 and 2009. Title winning form? Chelsea and City got 71 points that season, there was 0 competition. Put Sevilla, Atletico and Barcelona there and they'd probably be fourth too. One year later they went out in the group stages to Basel and Benfica. They obviously didn't turn to shit but the difference between the last 3 Ronaldo years and the years after he left were pretty obvious.

 

[Peyroteo]

Just seen Bale and Benzema have only 11 goals together in league.

People thought Ronaldo prevented the rest to perform but it looks the opposite for me. Bale and Benzema are getting exposed to their true level now there's no Ronaldo to cover for their arses.

The fact that this was actually the most popular idea among football fans of what was happening at Real Madrid says it all about the delusional level of propaganda that's been around Madrid for years

 

[Mb194dc]

The fact that this was actually the most popular idea among football fans of what was happening at Real Madrid says it all about the delusional level of propaganda that's been around Madrid for years

Juventus are scoring less goals per game in Serie A than last year despite adding Ronaldo? 2.26 average last year and only 2.0 so far this year? Shouldn't it increase swapping Ronaldo For Higuaín? Dybala seems to be suffering this season.

 

[Peyroteo]

Juventus are scoring less goals per game in Serie A than last year despite adding Ronaldo? 2.26 average last year and only 2.0 so far this year? Shouldn't it increase swapping Ronaldo For Higuaín? Dybala seems to be suffering this season.

Suffering? Dybala's been great. He's just playing deeper a bit more often.

Juventus don't have any problem scoring goals when they're actually trying to score, they scored in every single game this season. As soon as they're winning they just play more conservately.

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

Kroos is out for a few weeks.

 

[Vato]

Suffering? Dybala's been great. He's just playing deeper a bit more often.

Juventus don't have any problem scoring goals when they're actually trying to score, they scored in every single game this season. As soon as they're winning they just play more conservately.

So you're saying they could score more if they wanted? Hazard would suit that team perfectly it seems.

Anyway, I love how hard you're enjoying all this.

 

[spwd]

I don't even get the logic of replacing Ronaldo with nobody. Surely they had to bring in someone?

We should sell them Valencia

 

[Peyroteo]

So you're saying they could score more if they would? Hazard would suit that team perfectly it seems.

Anyway, I love how hard you're enjoying all this.

It's actually true for Juve though, they always stop attacking when they're winning. This season they've never gone without scoring and they've never scored more than 3 goals in a game. I bet you can look through football records and struggle to find a team with a record like that halfway through a season.

I'm enjoying it as far as it vindicates a lot of what I've been discussing here in the past few years, especially when it comes to Perez's decisions. I don't dislike Madrid though.

 

[Blackwidow]

Real never really went for ball possession what gave the team much more open situations in which the offensives could act with speed in bigger rooms. With less room Real always struggled - but the 3 up in front were always pretty good physically and if that did not work - it for sure helps if at set-pieces you have BBC, Varane, Ramos and Casemiro.

I think I would like to see stats how often the opener of a match for Real was either a cross or a set-piece in the recent seasons. After the opener it will be a lot easier - especially in La Liga where the goal difference is less important as the ranking between two teams with the same points depends on the direct duel.

 

[carvajal]

It's actually true for Juve though, they always stop attacking when they're winning. This season they've never gone without scoring and they've never scored more than 3 goals in a game. I bet you can look through football records and struggle to find a team with a record like that halfway through a season.

I'm enjoying it as far as it vindicates a lot of what I've been discussing here in the past few years, especially when it comes to Perez's decisions. I don't dislike Madrid though.

And many people share your opinion(I partially), that the club have deliberately self-destroyed but it is also true that you are quite installed in the idea that Madrid have money to spare.
Odriozola, Lunin, Odegaard, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Ceballos, Theo, Vallejo and Brahim for about 200 million.
The team had to be reinforced with elite players but 80/100 m€ suppose an excessive effort and more if the price is inflated.

 

[gaucho_10]

I'm enjoying it as far as it vindicates a lot of what I've been discussing here in the past few years, especially when it comes to Perez's decisions.

I'm surrounded with people who now finally feel vindicated. It happened after years of them telling me this and that, but year after year when that big game in May came along it was the same story and I got to laugh at their sour faces.

They are not vindicated and neither are you. After 4 CL's in 5 years it had to come to an end regardless of the squad management or club politics in general. Nothing lasts forever.
In fact it still hasn't come to an end but it's not looking peachy as we all can see.

Oh and regarding Perez and his decisions, I have a stat for you; 14 seasons im charge, 5 champions league titles won.

 

[Cait Sith]

Last season Madrid after 19 games had 35 points. So their "projected" total was 70 points as well.

They were always like this. Immense Zidane Voodoo magic + refereeing magic + last minute Ramos goals + Ronaldo turning it on in 3 games per year is the difference to all the other years.

Modric Ballon d'Or though. Laughing out loud.

 

[Peyroteo]

I'm surrounded with people who now finally feel vindicated. It happened after years of them telling me this and that, but year after year when that big game in May came along it was the same story and I got to laugh at their sour faces.

They are not vindicated and neither are you. After 4 CL's in 5 years it had to come to an end regardless of the squad management or club politics in general. Nothing lasts forever.
In fact it still hasn't come to an end but it's not looking peachy as we all can see.

Oh and regarding Perez and his decisions, I have a stat for you; 14 seasons im charge, 5 champions league titles won.

Perez has definitely made plenty of right decisions throughout his time as Madrid president, I never said the opposite. His management in the past 2 years has been awful though, he's been trying to make his own legacy bigger rather than making the legacy of Real Madrid bigger. And you and others will know I'm not saying this because the results have been crap recently, I've been saying this for a long time now and I started criticizing him here as soon as the summer of 2016/17 happened.

I hear a lot of Real Madrid fans saying what you're saying there: "After 4 CL's in 5 years it had to come to an end regardless of the squad management or club politics in general. Nothing lasts forever." but I strongly disagree with this. After 2016/17 you had a deep squad, full of different options, young players, money to spend... you were in an incredible position to built something that could have continued for years. If in 2016/17 you keep Pepe and sign Mbappe, you'd have been twice as good last season. Missing out on Mbappe due to not matching what PSG were paying him was a huge mistake, I said it as soon as it happened.

People can argue that Madrid didn't have the money for it but the fact is that the money they didn't spend then, they'll be forced to spend it now.

 

[Gasolin]

Perez has definitely made plenty of right decisions throughout his time as Madrid president, I never said the opposite. His management in the past 2 years has been awful though, he's been trying to make his own legacy bigger rather than making the legacy of Real Madrid bigger. And you and others will know I'm not saying this because the results have been crap recently, I've been saying this for a long time now and I started criticizing him here as soon as the summer of 2016/17 happened.

I hear a lot of Real Madrid fans saying what you're saying there: "After 4 CL's in 5 years it had to come to an end regardless of the squad management or club politics in general. Nothing lasts forever." but I strongly disagree with this. After 2016/17 you had a deep squad, full of different options, young players, money to spend... you were in an incredible position to built something that could have continued for years. If in 2016/17 you keep Pepe and sign Mbappe, you'd have been twice as good last season. Missing out on Mbappe due to not matching what PSG were paying him was a huge mistake, I said it as soon as it happened.

People can argue that Madrid didn't have the money for it but the fact is that the money they didn't spend then, they'll be forced to spend it now.

You're assuming the money is there to spend this time. We don't know for certain. Let's see what happens.

 

[Ishdalar]

I watch them play, I don't watch whoscored at the end of the season for shit stats. Kroos is the player with most key passes... I'm guessing 95% of them come from set pieces, he's not creative in the slightest in open play, neither is Modric. They get the ball back more than Rakitic because they play without the ball more often too. Lies, damned lies and statistics.

Giving me tackles and interception stats to prove that midfield is actually good at defensive transitions when they get run over on the counter nearly every game for I don't know how long is incredible stuff. I watch Modric, Kroos, Isco and Marcelo walking back when there's a dangerous play in every single match for fecks sake. They play as if they couldn't give less of a shit if they concede or not. How bad does it need to get before you see what everyone has seen already?? 5th place? Ajax knocking them out of the Champions League?

If you believe getting Hazard and Eriksen will fix things then good fecking luck to them

Madrid had a midfield and a forward line that were not meant to play together and won 3 CLs in 3 years because the forwards were the ones adapting to it. Casemiro-Kroos-Modric did not once cover every aspect of the game, they covered ONE aspect of the game and the propaganda machine around them pretended they were running the show. What's happening this season is nothing new at all and I guarantee you it's going to continue this way.



They played a weak Chelsea team, Schalke and Marseille on the way to the final... come on now, they were MUCH worse than the teams that made the final in 2008 and 2009. Title winning form? Chelsea and City got 71 points that season, there was 0 competition. Put Sevilla, Atletico and Barcelona there and they'd probably be fourth too. One year later they went out in the group stages to Basel and Benfica. They obviously didn't turn to shit but the difference between the last 3 Ronaldo years and the years after he left were pretty obvious.

I watch them play almost every match too, and Zidane, Florentino and 51% of Spain never or rarely complained about that midfield in the last 3 years, maybe you're seeing things in a totally different optic.

Sometimes they get destroyed at the counter?. Well why wouldn't them, Marcelo and Carvajal aren't really focused on defending counters, Ramos is a poor Rambo (watch his performance in the last World Cup with a high line) so they basically have to eat a lot of pitch, no way 2 class players like Kroos and Modric would be able to stop counters like a trio of Busquets, Casemiro and Kante, still they do a pretty good job.

Has been happening for ages at top Spanish level, Mourinho destroyed us with counters at Chelsea, Inter and Real, and a lot of other teams, it's just logical that the more you attack the more exposed you get at the back, if you can link dozens of games scoring then surely your tactics come at a risk.

 

[Peyroteo]

I watch them play almost every match too, and Zidane, Florentino and 51% of Spain never or rarely complained about that midfield in the last 3 years, maybe you're seeing things in a totally different optic.

Sometimes they get destroyed at the counter?. Well why wouldn't them, Marcelo and Carvajal aren't really focused on defending counters, Ramos is a poor Rambo (watch his performance in the last World Cup with a high line) so they basically have to eat a lot of pitch, no way 2 class players like Kroos and Modric would be able to stop counters like a trio of Busquets, Casemiro and Kante, still they do a pretty good job.

Has been happening for ages at top Spanish level, Mourinho destroyed us with counters at Chelsea, Inter and Real, and a lot of other teams, it's just logical that the more you attack the more exposed you get at the back, if you can link dozens of games scoring then surely your tactics come at a risk.

They aren't elite on either side of the pitch though, that's the problem. They're elite at a very simplistic role which is controlling the tempo of the game and even then they only really did it properly when they had Isco being part of the midfield.

It's not true that there haven't been critics of their performances either, I've read Madrid spanish forums in the past. The media blames the ones who sell the most papers and gives them the most clicks while getting no hate for it, it's pretty simple to know why Ronaldo and Benzema's relationship with the spanish media was the way it was.

Madrid has always been a team built on their forwards, the praise their midfield has been getting throughout the years has been completely insane. A few months in 2016-17 aside there's been nothing of spectacular about them. They haven't declined either, Modric might be a bit tired from the WC but he's still in great physical condition and Casemiro and Kroos are the same players they've been in the past 3 years. Kroos turned 29 4 days ago, are people really saying that he just suddenly turned to crap now? He was getting praised to the skies for the exact same performances he's now being criticized for, it's bonkers.

 

[podurban2]

They aren't elite on either side of the pitch though, that's the problem. They're elite at a very simplistic role which is controlling the tempo of the game and even then they only really did it properly when they had Isco being part of the midfield.

It's not true that there haven't been critics of their performances either, I've read Madrid spanish forums in the past. The media blames the ones who sell the most papers and gives them the most clicks while getting no hate for it, it's pretty simple to know why Ronaldo and Benzema's relationship with the spanish media was the way it was.

Madrid has always been a team built on their forwards, the praise their midfield has been getting throughout the years has been completely insane. A few months in 2016-17 aside there's been nothing of spectacular about them. They haven't declined either, Modric might be a bit tired from the WC but he's still in great physical condition and Casemiro and Kroos are the same players they've been in the past 3 years. Kroos turned 29 4 days ago, are people really saying that he just suddenly turned to crap now? He was getting praised to the skies for the exact same performances he's now being criticized for, it's bonkers.

Their midfield is still really good and right up there among the top. People just like to have a go at them now because the team is in awful form and the forward line is malnourished.

 

[VorZakone]

They just won 3 CL's in a row. How much fecking prize money is that? They must be loaded with money.

 

[JMack1234]

It shows what an average manager Zidane is doesn't it?..........

 

[SteveJ]

We should sell them Valencia

 

[Peyroteo]

It shows what an average manager Zidane is doesn't it?..........

'It's easy to win with those players, anyone could do it'

 

[InfiniteBoredom]

The OP was prophetic. Remember people saying he was knee jerking.

People had no way of knowing they would literally replace Ronaldo with Mariano though.

The consensus was that there’d be a drop off, and they wouldn’t have won the CL again, but invest in 2 elite attackers and they’ll compete in the league and look set for the next few years. We obviously have no way of knowing though since they ended up doing what they did.

 

[Christie]

It's actually true for Juve though, they always stop attacking when they're winning. This season they've never gone without scoring and they've never scored more than 3 goals in a game. I bet you can look through football records and struggle to find a team with a record like that halfway through a season.

I'm enjoying it as far as it vindicates a lot of what I've been discussing here in the past few years, especially when it comes to Perez's decisions. I don't dislike Madrid though.

Sounds like the perfect Mourinho team.

You want us to sign their manager?

 

[Pyro19]

'It's easy to win with those players, anyone could do it'

"I've watched madrid very closely, anybody could win when you have a midfield trio of Modric, Kroos and Casemiro and Ronaldo upfront. Zidane is an average manager who lucked out for 3 CL's in a row"

Kinda insane that only 6 months back people on this very forum were in unison that Zidane had nothing to do with Madrid's success and was carried by the team. now that he has left, the midfield trio is suddenly "nothing special"and Ramos is a poor man's rambo

 

[Christie]

"I've watched madrid very closely, anybody could win when you have a midfield trio of Modric, Kroos and Casemiro and Ronaldo upfront. Zidane is an average manager who lucked out for 3 CL's in a row"

Kinda insane that only 6 months back people on this very forum were in unison that Zidane had nothing to do with Madrid's success and was carried by the team. now that he has left, the midfield trio is suddenly "nothing special"and Ramos is a poor man's rambo

Zidane is just as shit in the league as now.

The difference is that the guy up front scoring in the CL is now gone.

 

[simonhch]

Of course you are going to struggle when you sell Ronaldo and replace him with Mariano. Some points in response to the back and forth in this thread.

1. The midfield was, and is, fantastic. Maybe not everyone is in great form, but football can be cyclical.

2. Hunger naturally slips after so many trophies in a cycle. We’ve seen this time and time again across generations. There needs to be some renewal.

3. The argument that the team would potentially improve with Ronaldo gone was only valid if the club replaced the departing player of another player of exceptionally high quality. The argument being a more team orientated individual would help the other high quality players contribute more. We can surely recognise that football teams can often be more than the sum of their parts.

4. It is perfectly feasible that Madrid could have replaced Ronaldo with Mbappe, Neymar or Salah, and actually improved in some aspects. What would obviously have not worked is not replacing Ronaldo. Which is what they did.

5. Given the enormous success Madrid have had, and two talismanic figures leaving the club, this is probably a necessary transition period. But if people think they aren’t going to come roaring back next season with a vengeance, they are in for a rude awakening. Bringing in a quality coach, and probably three top signings to refresh the squad, and they’ll be one of the best teams in the world again. Frankly, with the addition of a midfielder to rotate with and eventually replace Modric, and two forwards to replace Ronaldo and Benzema, they will be fearsome again.

 

[midnightmare]

Going for Jose would be mental! But Florentino can be unpredictable at times.

Don’t think he will though. He’s unpredictable but when it comes to managerial appointments, I genuinely struggle to recollect him appointing an external manager who’s coming off the back of as monumental a failure as Jose’s.

 

[Kapardin]

Don’t think he will though. He’s unpredictable but when it comes to managerial appointments, I genuinely struggle to recollect him appointing an external manager who’s coming off the back of as monumental a failure as Jose’s.

Well, I actually think he will. He considers Mourinho's time at Madrid as a success of sorts, having won the league against Pep's Barca and established Madrid as a CL powerhouse. He is bound to think that Mourinho can work better with top players.

Besides, as Mourinho says:

"I'm terrible at picking teams," he said. "I always choose teams that are in big trouble, as you would say back in England. Inter was in big trouble, Real Madrid was in big trouble and Manchester United is in big trouble -- in other words, always in big trouble.

He can continue this narrative of being Football Jesus at Madrid, especially if he is appointed midseason while they are in 5th.

 

[cheeky_backheel]

Don’t think he will though. He’s unpredictable but when it comes to managerial appointments, I genuinely struggle to recollect him appointing an external manager who’s coming off the back of as monumental a failure as Jose’s.

Mourinho suits what Perez wants to do.

He intends to overhaul the squad this summer and the bad season is the perfect excuse to initiate it. He would also need a manager that is capable of sidelining and/or forcing out any old hand that survives the summer, while also shielding Perez from the brunt of the blame - Mourinho fits the profile like a glove

 

[Patrick08]

Mourinho suits what Perez wants to do.

He intends to overhaul the squad this summer and the bad season is the perfect excuse to initiate it. He would also need a manager that is capable of sidelining and/or forcing out any old hand that survives the summer, while also shielding Perez from the brunt of the blame - Mourinho fits the profile like a glove

And wants him to work with all the youth talents they just signed . I don't think so.

I think a serious fight for pochh is on.

 

[LoveFootball]

It'd be mental if they go for Mourinho after what happened at his last 3 clubs, basically a suicidal move. If United couldn't change Mourinho, then no one can. And his methods are getting exposed in this modern football.

But God how I'm enjoying watching Madrid struggle. It'd be a joy to see them play in EL next season with Mourinho parking the bus to protect a 1-0 lead against the like of Trancoizorg FC.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Well, I actually think he will. He considers Mourinho's time at Madrid as a success of sorts, having won the league against Pep's Barca and established Madrid as a CL powerhouse. He is bound to think that Mourinho can work better with top players.

Besides, as Mourinho says:



He can continue this narrative of being Football Jesus at Madrid, especially if he is appointed midseason while they are in 5th.

He really said that about Inter? He joined Inter after Calciopoli weakened their rivals.

 

[Red14Devil9]

Real will likely have one of the worst seasons in their history, right after having one of the best in their history. They made a big mistake by selling Ronaldo and even bigger by not replacing him. They had it coming thanks to Perez and his big ego.

 

[InfiniteBoredom]

He really said that about Inter? He joined Inter after Calciopoli weakened their rivals.

And Mancini did a double the year before didn’t he?

 

[LoveFootball]

Of course you are going to struggle when you sell Ronaldo and replace him with Mariano. Some points in response to the back and forth in this thread.

1. The midfield was, and is, fantastic. Maybe not everyone is in great form, but football can be cyclical.

2. Hunger naturally slips after so many trophies in a cycle. We’ve seen this time and time again across generations. There needs to be some renewal.

3. The argument that the team would potentially improve with Ronaldo gone was only valid if the club replaced the departing player of another player of exceptionally high quality. The argument being a more team orientated individual would help the other high quality players contribute more. We can surely recognise that football teams can often be more than the sum of their parts.

4. It is perfectly feasible that Madrid could have replaced Ronaldo with Mbappe, Neymar or Salah, and actually improved in some aspects. What would obviously have not worked is not replacing Ronaldo. Which is what they did.

5. Given the enormous success Madrid have had, and two talismanic figures leaving the club, this is probably a necessary transition period. But if people think they aren’t going to come roaring back next season with a vengeance, they are in for a rude awakening. Bringing in a quality coach, and probably three top signings to refresh the squad, and they’ll be one of the best teams in the world again. Frankly, with the addition of a midfielder to rotate with and eventually replace Modric, and two forwards to replace Ronaldo and Benzema, they will be fearsome again.

You're talking as if it easy to do it. The transition period can be as ruthless as the situation they are in now. It is not that easy to get a new competent manager then replace 4 or 6 key members of the team and become automatically competitive. They are risking to go in a similar period like between 2004-2010 and things are differents as it's more difficult to get top players now than it was back then. Good luck to them.