Real Madrid - A big club? (Warning: may contain dog pictures)

[Guest]

We really need Xabi to come out and either end this speculation or just tell us straight that he wants to go to Madrid. If he wanted to go I would not blame him tbh - he has given us 5 years of good service and a move back to his homeland to join the biggest club in Spain would be totally understandable at this stage of his life.

Personally I would be gutted if he left, but given our apparent financial problems, a 30m fee (not any less) would be wholly acceptable if it was all given to Rafa's transfer kitty.

Do you really believe that?

[Tee]

Do you really believe that?

Yes I do. Why?

[Guest]

Yes I do. Why?

Because they're NOT the biggest club in Spain at this point in time, rather they're a club in decline. How much money have they splashed during the last 5 years? Lots of it, still they haven't won much.

It's a mess of a club IMO. For a club of so much financial resources they haven't been able to bring much needed stability to the club, even though they've had their fair share of very good managers lately. Del Bosque, Schuster, Juande Ramos and now Pelligrini.

Trigger happy directors looking for instant success, based on political manoeuvres which you'll only see in Spain.

Ferguson is right (for once), they're a repulsive club.

[Craig_H]

Because they're NOT the biggest club in Spain at this point in time, rather they're a club in decline. How much money have they splashed during the last 5 years? Lots of it, still they haven't won much.

It's a mess of a club IMO. For a club of so much financial resources they haven't been able to bring much needed stability to the club, even though they've had their fair share of very good managers lately. Del Bosque, Schuster, Juande Ramos and now Pelligrini.

Trigger happy directors looking for instant success, based on political manoeuvres which you'll only see in Spain.

Ferguson is right (for once), they're a repulsive club.

They're still the biggest club, not only in Spain, but also in the world.

By your own logic and descriptions of a club in decline, that hasnt won much in the last few years, is no longer the most powerful or dominant club in its own league and is in a mess off the field, you could be describing LFC.

[Guest]

They're still the biggest club, not only in Spain, but also in the world.

By your own logic and descriptions of a club in decline, that hasnt won much in the last few years, is no longer the most powerful or dominant club in its own league and is in a mess off the field, you could be describing LFC.

But they've got the money and can do whatever they want with it, contrary to us. Come again.

[Tee]

They're still the biggest club, not only in Spain, but also in the world.

By your own logic and descriptions of a club in decline, that hasnt won much in the last few years, is no longer the most powerful or dominant club in its own league and is in a mess off the field, you could be describing LFC.

[Marky]

Who won la liga and the champions league? Barcelona

[DannyMan2006]

Who won la liga and the champions league? Barcelona

Barcelona are the best team in Spain, Real Madrid are the biggest.

So what would we do with this £35m then if we got it?

That's the problem. But we would have to hope that we brought in a mdifielder who could slot in and do as good a job. Maybe we would have to look at dropping Gerrard into CM and signing a front man.

Buy Barry.

Barry has joined Man City. This is official, been on the City and Villa websites, it has 100% happened. We will not be signing Barry as he is now a Man City player.

Next alternative?

[Craig_H]

But they've got the money and can do whatever they want with it, contrary to us. Come again.

Everything else you mentioned, including having splashed lots of money and won very little in the last few years, can describe us too.

The only difference is that they STILL have cash to spend, while we dont.

Yet you seemed to imply that they werent a massive club.

If they're not a massive club WITH all that cash they've got, what does it make a club with a similar list of problems, but without the cash riches - like us?

[Guest]

Everything else you mentioned, including having splashed lots of money and won very little in the last few years, can describe us too.

The only difference is that they STILL have cash to spend, while we dont.

Yet you seemed to imply that they werent a massive club.

If they're not a massive club WITH all that cash they've got, what does it make a club with a similar list of problems, but without the cash riches - like us?

We have nowhere near the same spending power. Absolutely nowhere near. They've bought Kaka for £56m FFS, and we can't even buy Barry for £12m.

[EwarWoo]

We have nowhere near the same spending power. Absolutely nowhere near. They've bought Kaka for £56m FFS, and we can't even buy Barry for £12m.

I don't quite get supposedly how the only difference between the 2 of us is they have more money yet we're a bigger club? Not sure what point you're trying to make or how?

[Guest]

I don't quite get supposedly how the only difference between the 2 of us is they have more money yet we're a bigger club? Not sure what point you're trying to make or how?

Ok, I'll try to explain it clearer. Based on the assumption (which does indeed happens to be true if I include the fact they can sign a £56m player and alternatively Club accounts which come out every year) that they are the 'richest' club in world football, the one with the most 'resources' available to them to buy the 'best' players.

Based on these facts, my point is:

• They aren't expected to be doing as badly as they are currently in their respective competitions.
• There is no excuse for their current failure on the pitch this season and the seasons before.
• They are managed by 'knee jerks' acting as president who use the 'easiest' of options of buying all the 'best and most recognizable' talent everywhere.
• All the above insults the capabilities of their scouting system and all relevant structure such as Young player development etc ...

Concisely, this means that all things being equal and with all those resources, they can't be classed as a great club as they should have had a clean sweep of trophies. You can excuse clubs punching above their weight, not those which can nitpick the best players around, yet still fail to produce a competitive team.

They've won 9 European cups yes, but that's in the past.

[Guest]

We're a bigger club maybe because we seem to be a team progressing in the right direction and doing things the right way, based on Rafa's blueprint.

On the negative side, the fact that we can't really compete financially and with us supporters being impatient and wanting instant success, this puts pressure on to 'burn the bridges' and try to be competitive as soon as possible. This is perfectly legitimate but we aren't going to outspend them soon right?

Barcelona has the right model and the one which every club in world football should espouse to, IMO. They have resources, though not unlimited and nowhere near as much as Real's, but they have had their philosophy for years and have stuck to it. Put money in young player development and ensure that the best players come through. This blueprint has been proved right from time to time.

Arsene Wenger is doing the same thing at Arsenal, and Rafa has started the same thing here, which is the only way to compete in the long term. Competing by having the most money isn't a viable solution, unless you've got sugar daddies spending money and buying the best on a shopping spree stroll.

[Neil Young]

Do you actually understand what the word "big" means?

[Guest]

Do you actually understand what the word "big" means?

Maybe not, maybe yes. It's all about exchanging ideas and opinions in the end.