Raul?

[Maestro]

Hey, if I've peaked already then what's the point in carrying on...

You should be good to go in another half an hour.

[dirty_sanchez]

Raul is more or less the only Real player that works his socks off in every game. He may not be as good as he was a few years ago but to call him lazy just shows that you don't watch Real play that much.

The majority of the Real Madrid team is lazy. Raul is one of the worst offenders. I know I don't stay at home and watch every single match from every single team like you do, or claim to do, but you don't have to watch them that often to see what Real Madrid's primary problem is. They insist on playing players who are not up to the job for what essentially boils down to sentimental reasons. Players like Raul, Guti, Roberto Carlos, Raul Bravo, Robinho, Helguera etc, are all consistent under performers, and even some of their newer players like Cicinho, Emerson and Diarra are letting the side down.

Raul is the talisman of Real Madrid and has got away with not pulling his weight because of it. There have been all of these stories about the hold that he and some of the senior players at Madrid had over the dressing room, and I can quite believe that to be true. Raul is not cutting it at Real and hasn't for a long time. He peaked about 6 years ago.

[dirty_sanchez]

You should be good to go in another half an hour.

Wait, if I set myself easily achievable goals, I could better myself and aim for a peak in about 3 years. That would be better.

Step 1 - Make a cup of tea...

[AFII]

The majority of the Real Madrid team is lazy. Raul is one of the worst offenders. I know I don't stay at home and watch every single match from every single team like you do, or claim to do, but you don't have to watch them that often to see what Real Madrid's primary problem is. They insist on playing players who are not up to the job for what essentially boils down to sentimental reasons. Players like Raul, Guti, Roberto Carlos, Raul Bravo, Robinho, Helguera etc, are all consistent under performers, and even some of their newer players like Cicinho, Emerson and Diarra are letting the side down.

Raul is the talisman of Real Madrid and has got away with not pulling his weight because of it. There have been all of these stories about the hold that he and some of the senior players at Madrid had over the dressing room, and I can quite believe that to be true. Raul is not cutting it at Real and hasn't for a long time. He peaked about 6 years ago.

I don't think it's a secret that it's not the manager who have the final say in Reals dressing room. The rumour is that Reals President want to keep Capello but the players who decide things have said no. That is why Capello is still the manager for Real. He is still backed up by Calderon.

What people are forgetting is that Raul had a very difficult knee injury a few years ago and have not been the same player since then.

I would only take him on a free and a huge wage cut.

[dirty_sanchez]

But Raul would very likely still command a massive wage. I personally think he'd be a massive risk for us and I think we should be setting our sights higher. We've already got several "support strikers" to use Pro Evo terminology. We need a finisher and Raul hasn't been one of those for a while. Certainly not one of the calibre that we need anyway.

[REDSCOUSER]

Over the hill washed up player just like Morientes when he joined us, next please.

[anfieldanfield]

Over the hill washed up player just like Morientes when he joined us, next please.

Er, what ?

That's not the reason Morientes was ****e for us.

[dww]

But Raul would very likely still command a massive wage. I personally think he'd be a massive risk for us and I think we should be setting our sights higher. We've already got several "support strikers" to use Pro Evo terminology. We need a finisher and Raul hasn't been one of those for a while. Certainly not one of the calibre that we need anyway.

I have a suspicion that one of our summer signings will be a big name, against Rafas usual style, because that is what our new owners want. I think Raul might be a good compromise on that front - i.e. Rafa likes him, he has (or at least had) the talent and if the story produced by AFII is true would cost little.

It is a really interesting close season as no domestic players have shone in the way that yells that they would be a risk free transfer for the top 4. Yet ourselves, Chelsea and Arsenal could all be looking for two or three attacking players in the summer (although United can risk it with potential as they only really need to worry if Giggs/Scholes have problems next year). I guess the one player might be Berbatov, but his domestic record is impressive not blinding. In this climate I think we will have to take risks on at least some of our signings.

I think in the end we will have to try and get the best combination of three players rather than necissarily the best individual players.

[Darth Marty]

i genuinley cant believe theres so many people who wouldnt take Raul for 5 mill or less when hes a clinical striker and all ****ing year people have been saying "ohhh we need a clinical striker" not some **** who runs lots but who doesnt score!!! ffs, i understand team ethic but to win matches we must score more goals!! imho Raul can and will continue to score goals especially with stevie g in the team to supply. Honestly i think he could well turn out to be a genius signing.

[REDSCOUSER]

Er, what ?

That's not the reason Morientes was ****e for us.

disagree..he was good in a bad French league & 1 season wonder Monaco in the champs league..Morientes was always injured and did not settle well in Merseyside which lead to his form getting worse than what it was before he joined..ONE of Rafas worst signings.

[dirty_sanchez]

disagree..he was good in a bad French league & 1 season wonder Monaco in the champs league..Morientes was always injured and did not settle well in Merseyside which lead to his form getting worse than what it was before he joined..ONE of Rafas worst signings.

I completely disagree with pretty much every part of your post I'm afraid. Morientes was and is a great player. I haven't a clue about whether he settled on Merseyside or not, but I certainly don't think he was washed up. His problems were more to do with the pace of the English game. He just didn't seem to be able to fit into the team. On paper, he was a great signing and before he signed for us, I like a lot of people saw him as an ideal Premiership player. What we did was take one of the best headers of the ball in the world and put him into a side with no decent wingers.

I don't think his injury record had that much effect on him. He tried hard for us. He had some great games and some **** games, but to call him washed up is harsh. He's not been playing at all badly for Valencia.

[ningnangnong]

I'd be delighted if we signed Raul. Class player IMO, especially if he's on a free.

Worst result being he plays ****e, but we rake in a bit of peppermint on shirt sales.

[CAD]

On the other hand: Raul on a free. I'll take it

[desertscouser]

On a free it's an obvious no brainer. Let's be honest, we paid 6-7 million for Bellamy and over 10 million for Kuyt....would Raul be less prolific in front of goal than either of them?

I'm not a big fan of Raul's, he's definitely seen his best days but on a free it's a no brainer. We could then sell one of Crouch, Bellamy or Kuyt and use that cash to go for a real top quality striker.

[Jazzmaster]

We could then sell one of Crouch, Bellamy or Kuyt and use that cash to go for a real top quality striker.

So crouch isnt a top quality striker?????? Bellamy's the only one of those i'd even consider selling.