CL Real Madrid at home Tuesday 4th Nov 8pm

[Doc_Piptorious]

The midfield battle could be mouth watering stuff.


Grav and and hugely in form Szobo vs a very much in form Tchouameni and Guler with Bellingham roaming.

Do wonder if they might drop Guler and move Valverde from RB to the centre or keep Valverde at RB and put Camavinga in the centre.

They might even put Camavinga at LB, Valverde at RB and the other three in the middle so they can overload on pace and physicality.


Crazy levels of physicality no matter what options they go with in the middle.


Have a feeling that Rodrygo might come back into the team for them at RW over Mastantuono.

The feckers even have serious pace at CB with Militao back to his best.

[Cerbie]

So, is there a chance they will play Trent?

If he thought some of the reaction he got last season was bad, I suspect this could be next level, even if he is just a sub. "The traitor on the bench" instead of "the Scouser in the team"...

[Doc_Piptorious]

So, is there a chance they will play Trent?

If he thought some of the reaction he got last season was bad, I suspect this could be next level, even if he is just a sub. "The traitor on the bench" instead of "the Scouser in the team"...

Think if Alonso wants to play Valverde in the middle, then we might see TAA at RB. Alonso does have players with the energy, pace and tenacity needed to cover TAA.

TBH I would prefer to see TAA starting at RB than Valverde. The latter is a great player in the middle, but he is utterly dogged when he is used at RB and will be putting in as hard a shift in the 90th minutes as in the first. Also very good at both over and under lapping and backing up the RW ahead of him.

The ideal scenario for me would be TAA starting at RB and Chiesa stating on the LW for us. Not going to happen of course but feel Chiesa's workrate and skillset would give TAA fits and curtail his passing ability.


Think it is a fascinating match up though. This Real Madrid team are far more fluid than the one we faced last season and the midfield and defence are working very very well as one unit. Plus up front Mbappe is in great form with 18 goals from the last 14 games I think.

For every scenario that one could envision for us getting a win over them, you could argue a very realistic chance of them beating us handily.

Even though we are at home, I don't see it as a 50/50 game. Real have to be favourites based on form and this will be, imo of course, a tougher game than the one against City.

[BigChief]

Well they're not long ball merchants so we have a good chance. Man City, on the other hand, will ****in do us big time with their get it to the big lad Pulisball.

Madrid is a free hit game anyway. Good experience for Bradley and Kerkez without worrying about the outcome.

[Norbs]

So, is there a chance they will play Trent?

If he thought some of the reaction he got last season was bad, I suspect this could be next level, even if he is just a sub. "The traitor on the bench" instead of "the Scouser in the team"...

He's a little pitch, he'll want to punish us

[rudedog]

He's a little pitch, he'll want to punish us

Eh, punish us for what? Letting him waltz out the door on a free transfer?

[Buzzo]

Curtis back in training. Isak still out.

[Cerbie]

Think if Alonso wants to play Valverde in the middle, then we might see TAA at RB. Alonso does have players with the energy, pace and tenacity needed to cover TAA.

TBH I would prefer to see TAA starting at RB than Valverde. The latter is a great player in the middle, but he is utterly dogged when he is used at RB and will be putting in as hard a shift in the 90th minutes as in the first. Also very good at both over and under lapping and backing up the RW ahead of him.

The ideal scenario for me would be TAA starting at RB and Chiesa stating on the LW for us. Not going to happen of course but feel Chiesa's workrate and skillset would give TAA fits and curtail his passing ability.


Think it is a fascinating match up though. This Real Madrid team are far more fluid than the one we faced last season and the midfield and defence are working very very well as one unit. Plus up front Mbappe is in great form with 18 goals from the last 14 games I think.

For every scenario that one could envision for us getting a win over them, you could argue a very realistic chance of them beating us handily.

Even though we are at home, I don't see it as a 50/50 game. Real have to be favourites based on form and this will be, imo of course, a tougher game than the one against City.

we are underdogs - hopefully that will help get the crowd going early on and we can build some confidence from that.

Fede is a good shout for the left, but also it could be the type of gme where Wirtz might get some luck on that side too. Gakpo will want to cut inside all the time and RM know that. Even a case for Rio late in the 2nd half to tear him a new one.

[vlahka]

We had to face psg after we won every game. So lets lose a few this time.

[Buzzo]

I’d go:

Mama

Bradley Ibou Virgil Robbo

Grav Macca Szob

Mo Hugo Flo

[Sus]

Think if Alonso wants to play Valverde in the middle, then we might see TAA at RB. Alonso does have players with the energy, pace and tenacity needed to cover TAA.

TBH I would prefer to see TAA starting at RB than Valverde. The latter is a great player in the middle, but he is utterly dogged when he is used at RB and will be putting in as hard a shift in the 90th minutes as in the first. Also very good at both over and under lapping and backing up the RW ahead of him.

The ideal scenario for me would be TAA starting at RB and Chiesa stating on the LW for us. Not going to happen of course but feel Chiesa's workrate and skillset would give TAA fits and curtail his passing ability.


Think it is a fascinating match up though. This Real Madrid team are far more fluid than the one we faced last season and the midfield and defence are working very very well as one unit. Plus up front Mbappe is in great form with 18 goals from the last 14 games I think.

For every scenario that one could envision for us getting a win over them, you could argue a very realistic chance of them beating us handily.

Even though we are at home, I don't see it as a 50/50 game. Real have to be favourites based on form and this will be, imo of course, a tougher game than the one against City.

This is a good summary.

Real feel like a team in transition at the moment, which is weird to say for a team clear at the top of La Liga. They were solid and dogged against Barcelona, but got pummelled by Atletico, and in other games have been very fluid going forward.

And there are now regular stories of certain primadonnas being unhappy with Alonso's tactics and man management.

This is a big game for them as well, so maybe none of that will matter, but hopefully it might play into our hands a little - at the very least there should be some space on the right for Salah, given primadonna #1 Vinicus Jr doesn't really track back

[peterbread]

I’d go:

Mama

Bradley Ibou Virgil Robbo

Grav Macca Szob

Mo Hugo Flo

European games are perfect for Wirtz right now now and playing off the left might suit him better. We need that strong midfield three which gives the defence more protection. Dom, Mo and Bradley work well together down the right and I’d love to see Alexis, Wirtz and Robertson combine down the left. It seems to suit how they all play and make the team more balanced.

[Scratch]

I’d go:

Mama

Bradley Ibou Virgil Robbo

Grav Macca Szob

Mo Hugo Flo

I feel Robbo can't do consecutive matches without a drop in energy tho, so maybe save him for the City game and see if Kerkez can be a bit more composed both on and off the ball.

[Cerbie]

I feel Robbo can't do consecutive matches without a drop in energy tho, so maybe save him for the City game and see if Kerkez can be a bit more composed both on and off the ball.

I thought he did well Palace to Villa. Playing another 90 tomorrow might be a game too far though.

[Le Chef]

I don't think he trust Bradley - Would not be surprised to see Slob at RB and Jones alongside Macca and Grav, I do think there is a question over Mo, does Slot have the bollocks to drop him from this one ?