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[Coupé It]

Real Madrid fans disillusioned by summer transfer policy


ESPN FC's Sid Lowe analyses the moves Real Madrid have made in the transfer window, which have been unpopular with some of their star players.
Real Madrid fans believe that their team is in a weaker position to challenge for the La Liga title this season, despite spending an estimated 117.5 million euros on new players this summer, according to the results of a poll in Spanish sports daily AS.

The Los Blancos board brought in James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and Keylor Navas following their impressive performances at the World Cup, while they also negotiated a deadline day loan move for Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez.

However, the departures of Angel Di Maria to Manchester United and Xabi Alonso to Bayern Munich, players who were influential to the Spanish club's "Decima" [10th] Champions League triumph last season, have left fans puzzled and disconcerted.

An emphatic 79 percent of respondents voted "no" when asked by AS on Monday: "Does Real Madrid have a better or worse template than last season?"

Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested that he does not completely agree with the transfer business done by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez this summer and that sentiment seems to have rubbed off on the club's supporters, who have been disappointed by the start to the new season.


Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his concerns over the club's decision to allow Di Maria and Alonso to depart.
Real Madrid lost the Spanish supercopa to city rivals Atletico, while they surrendered a two-goal lead at the weekend to suffer their first league loss of the season at the hands of Real Sociedad.

The reaction of the club's fanbase represents a huge contrast to last summer when fans applauded the arrival of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti and the subsequent signings of eight players, including Gareth Bale and European under-21 champions Asier Illarramendi, Isco and Daniel Carvajal.

Ancelotti has admitted that he is under pressure to turn things around quickly at the Santiago Bernabeu, especially with the impending visit of Atletico after the international break.

"Something must change and will change," he said. "It's my responsibility."

 

[champcruthik]

lol first time i ever heard of cristiano was when my girlfriend at the time had him as her phone wallpaper and myspace layout

Ex had Reggie Bush back in the MySpace days.

City.....easily.

Please tell me why.

 

[Kimchi Papi]

As a Barca fan, I hope Madrid falls apart but realistically they'll be fine. It's funny how in sports journalism one loss results in the sky falling. I guess people expect more bcs Madrid (& other big clubs like Barca) spends a ton of dough in the transfer market. No one is giving Sociedad credit for playing really well. I've also heard people say if Xabi still at Madrid, Sociedad wouldn't have scored as much but that's BS. Drew Brees & his Sociedad side would've still scored fine.

 

[champcruthik]

As a Barca fan, I hope Madrid falls apart but realistically they'll be fine. It's funny how in sports journalism one loss results in the sky falling. I guess people expect more bcs Madrid (& other big clubs like Barca) spends a ton of dough in the transfer market. No one is giving Sociedad credit for playing really well. I've also heard people say if Xabi still at Madrid, Sociedad wouldn't have scored as much but that's BS. Drew Brees & his Sociedad side would've still scored fine.

It's more how you lose than the final result. Can't think of an easy remedy from Ancelotti to address the RB position. Flipping Coentrao to the right-side isn't even ideal, when he's a left-dominant player.

If Khedira's injury is severe, who can man the pivot. Luka and Kroos are great at passing and creating offense, but which holding mid is making rash, imposing challenges that send a message? Nobody to man-mark Lio. Writing is on the wall, and it's problematic.

 

[mastamind89]

@PortuBall Arsenal made a €16m offer + J. Campbell on loan for William Carvalho yesterday, but Sporting rejected it. They stand firm on €30m. [A Bola]
- Just €2m separated Joel Campbell from being a Benfica player today. Benfica offered €10m, but Arsenal wanted €12m. [O Jogo]
- Joel Campbell's agent Batica to O Jogo: "Benfica tried everything to get Joel, but Arsenal refused to let him go. We tried really hard."
- Porto was the biggest spenders in Portugal this window, as they spent €34m. Benfica 2nd with €30m spent, while Braga are 3rd with €17m.
- Porto bought players for €34m and sold for €68m this window. Benfica bought players for €30m, while selling players for €103m this summer.
- Porto's most expensive signings: Adrián (€11m), BM Indi (€7,7m), Brahimi (€6,5m). Benfica's: Samaris (€10m), Cristante (€6m), Talisca (€4m).
- Sporting's most expensive signings this summer: Ryan Gauld(€3,5m) and Simeon Slavchev(€2,5m). Both have yet to play for the first team.
- Sporting sold players for €28m and bought for €15m this summer.
- Sporting rejected a €6m offer from Trabzonspor for Islam Slimani last night. They want around €15m for the Algerian striker. [Record]
- Rolando refused to join Trabzonspor yesterday. Only interested in a move to Inter. Likely to spend the season at Porto's B team. [A Bola]
- Kelvin also refused to leave Porto yesterday. Évian and Académica interested to loan the player, but he'd rather stay at do Dragão. [A Bola]

 

[mastamind89]

 

[luisfigo]

lol first time i ever heard of cristiano was when my girlfriend at the time had him as her phone wallpaper and myspace layout

first time i ever heard of him was a week or two before the 04 euro cup.  I was visiting family in macau, a portuguese colony in china.  walked into a soccer shop saw a "Ronaldo" soccer jersey hanging on display and i thought to myself... "he's brazilian,  why the hell is there a portugal ronaldo jersey?  they must be stupid and fake as hell."  I was with my cousin and that jersey was exactly what he wanted to buy.  i ended up getting a figo but he tried his hardest to convince me to get the ronaldo one.  after watching the first few games of the tourny, i tried going back to the store but it was all sold out.  still on the hunt for it to this day.

 

[Coupé It]

@PortuBall Arsenal made a €16m offer + J. Campbell on loan for William Carvalho yesterday, but Sporting rejected it. They stand firm on €30m. [A Bola]
- Just €2m separated Joel Campbell from being a Benfica player today. Benfica offered €10m, but Arsenal wanted €12m. [O Jogo]
- Joel Campbell's agent Batica to O Jogo: "Benfica tried everything to get Joel, but Arsenal refused to let him go. We tried really hard."
- Porto was the biggest spenders in Portugal this window, as they spent €34m. Benfica 2nd with €30m spent, while Braga are 3rd with €17m.
- Porto bought players for €34m and sold for €68m this window. Benfica bought players for €30m, while selling players for €103m this summer.
- Porto's most expensive signings: Adrián (€11m), BM Indi (€7,7m), Brahimi (€6,5m). Benfica's: Samaris (€10m), Cristante (€6m), Talisca (€4m).
- Sporting's most expensive signings this summer: Ryan Gauld(€3,5m) and Simeon Slavchev(€2,5m). Both have yet to play for the first team.
- Sporting sold players for €28m and bought for €15m this summer.
- Sporting rejected a €6m offer from Trabzonspor for Islam Slimani last night. They want around €15m for the Algerian striker. [Record]
- Rolando refused to join Trabzonspor yesterday. Only interested in a move to Inter. Likely to spend the season at Porto's B team. [A Bola]
- Kelvin also refused to leave Porto yesterday. Évian and Académica interested to loan the player, but he'd rather stay at do Dragão. [A Bola]

Good stuff.

Arsenal, cheapskates.

Didn't realize Benfica made that much money.

 

[Kimchi Papi]

It's more how you lose than the final result. Can't think of an easy remedy from Ancelotti to address the RB position. Flipping Coentrao to the right-side isn't even ideal, when he's a left-dominant player.

If Khedira's injury is severe, who can man the pivot. Luka and Kroos are great at passing and creating offense, but which holding mid is making rash, imposing challenges that send a message? Nobody to man-mark Lio. Writing is on the wall, and it's problematic.

You don't like Carvajal for the RB position?

Most of the guys in here have written off Illarramendi in that holding role, but I think the kid will come around. Coming to a big club like Real has to be kind of jarring.

Prior to leaving Sociedad, Illarramendi played a pivotal role in helping the Basque club finish 4th & qualify for the CL which was the first time in 10 years. This is his time to step up.

 

[Thierry Henry]

That striker option list is so depressing if you're an Arsenal fan.

who are the options behind Jackson Martinez?

@ Barton being the captain of QPR

 

[Coupé It]

who are the options behind Jackson Martinez?

Some guys you never heard of who are still better than Arsenal's three strikers.

 

[tomdiginson]

who are the options behind Jackson Martinez?

Rodrigo from Benefica would be a good pickup as well as Lavezzi and since Wegner loves french players he could have went after Lacazette. Btw what happened to Giovinco ? I was hoping Liverpool would have went after him.

 

[Thierry Henry]

who are the options behind Jackson Martinez?

Some guys you never heard of who are still better than Arsenal's three strikers.

who are the options behind Jackson Martinez?

Rodrigo from Benefica would be a good pickup as well as Lavezzi and since Wegner loves french players he could have went after Lacazette. Btw what happened to Giovinco ? I was hoping Liverpool would have went after him.

Rodrigo is on loan at Valencia

by the way Rodrigo, Thiago & Rafa Alcantara are cousins

 

[mastamind89]

@PortuBall Arsenal made a €16m offer + J. Campbell on loan for William Carvalho yesterday, but Sporting rejected it. They stand firm on €30m. [A Bola]
- Just €2m separated Joel Campbell from being a Benfica player today. Benfica offered €10m, but Arsenal wanted €12m. [O Jogo]
- Joel Campbell's agent Batica to O Jogo: "Benfica tried everything to get Joel, but Arsenal refused to let him go. We tried really hard."

Good stuff.

Arsenal, cheapskates.

Didn't realize Benfica made that much money.

I also heard that Arsenal offered them 24m and they didn't want to go higher than that. I also here that they offered 24m but wanted to pay it in two installments. The latter I find hard to believe since we have the cash. I also heard that Sporting wanted 24m and 2 or 3 players on loan. But regardless

I was shocked to see that about Benfica

 

[mastamind89]

who are the options behind Jackson Martinez?

Some guys you never heard of who are still better than Arsenal's three strikers.

)

I imagine that none of them are Portuguese if that's the case

who are the options behind Jackson Martinez?

Rodrigo from Benefica would be a good pickup as well as Lavezzi and since Wegner loves french players he could have went after Lacazette. Btw what happened to Giovinco ? I was hoping Liverpool would have went after him.

Lyon was never going to sell Lacazette. Especially since Gomis left this summer. The other young strikers they have, haven't found their footing yet. Le Toon got rejected twice I think. I would love to see Laca at Arsenal. I can see him and Ben Wissin Yeder moving next summer.

I'm not sure what happened to Giovinco, idk if there was anything there. Could have been from the simple fact that Wenger was in Italy, well along those lines. I did see a tweet saying that Giovinco's agent said that he hasn't received any offers or anything. Isn't he more of a secondary striker?

There was also a rumor that Wenger was going to make a bid for Destro. I'm sure there was nothing there either, except for the fact that AW was in Rome
I know Roma would give Destro a hefty price tag.

 

[champcruthik]

You don't like Carvajal for the RB position?

Most of the guys in here have written off Illarramendi in that holding role, but I think the kid will come around. Coming to a big club like Real has to be kind of jarring.

Prior to leaving Sociedad, Illarramendi played a pivotal role in helping the Basque club finish 4th & qualify for the CL which was the first time in 10 years. This is his time to step up.

Carvajal is adequate getting forward, but he gets caught out often and exposed in defense. At 22, he has time and the future to improve but RM's window is always now. He's the weak link on an otherwise strong, near elite club.

Yep, Illarra's the likely expected candidate to fill Xabi Alonso's shoes long-term. His first campaign at the Bernabeu was not promising, nothing like his '12 campaign that was such a difference-maker for Sociedad. It's a big ask, but for the money he was paid, not unwarranted.

 

[vtotheinay]

hmmmm the question is do i transfer rooney for falcao in fantasy?

 

[slamcity]

lol first time i ever heard of cristiano was when my girlfriend at the time had him as her phone wallpaper and myspace layout

Yooo

I remember those days. All the girls would have one of these pics up on their myspace with some corny song like Cassie Me & U, and the next day, all the fellas on the pitch would have on those gold Nike Vapors and tape their ankles and run around on their tiptoes thinking it made them faster like Ronny or something

View media item 1163312View media item 1163313
To this day though, I still think that Euro 2004 Portugal kit was fly as all hell though

 

[Coupé It]

I imagine that none of them are Portuguese if that's the case

Ouch

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

That Hurt

View media item 1163488

 

[JJ Goon]

To the people asking about Rooney and Ronaldo, They are still good friends, and apparently still text \ call each other once in a while

 

[Coupé It]

To the people asking about Rooney and Ronaldo, They are still good friends, and apparently still text \ call each other once in a while

Oh, I forgot Prettyboy.

Here's your present.

View media item 1163542

 

[eiddyfouw]

With all of this Ronaldo talk...it's only right...




I remember watching this live on TV

 

[Coupé It]

With all of this Ronaldo talk...it's only right...




I remember watching this live on TV

I don't remember this time at all, was probably a lil bit too young. Wasn't even sure if the States had BPL rights. I have watched it on YouTube plenty tho, I posted it before I think.

Has there ever been a more mysterious foreigner who came into a club at 18 years old with that much cockiness? Lol. What was going thru your mind when you were watching Eiddy?

 

[eiddyfouw]

With all of this Ronaldo talk...it's only right...

I remember watching this live on TV

I don't remember this time at all, was probably a lil bit too young. Wasn't even sure if the States had BPL rights. I have watched it on YouTube plenty tho, I posted it before I think.

Has there ever been a more mysterious foreigner who came into a club at 18 years old with that much cockiness? Lol. What was going thru your mind when you were watching Eiddy?

A lot of the big name foreigners like King Eric, already had some sort of name. Eric wasn't exactly shooting the lights out at Leeds, but by the time he arrived he had under 10 goals, and I believe there was a hatrick (or maybe 2 in there) that comprised of that talley.

Ronaldo on the other hand, was a unique situation. Some random teenager, coming from some club in Portugal (I can only imagine the hype if he came from Brazil at that time), and before he even played his first match, his girl was yackin something foolish about how he'll be better than Beckham if I recall (she ain't eem lyin ), but there was this mystique around him, while everyone tried to figure out what the hype was about. We all just wanted to see his debut, what could he actually do. And to be honest, the moment he stepped out onto the pitch, we knew, there was something special about him. For a debut, at 18, he did very very well.

Granted in his early days he often over used his step-overs etc, but we all chalked that up to youth, and we all figured most importantly, his confidence was VERY high.

It's going to be a bit of a strange comparison, but bear with me for a second, look at a player like Ben Arfa, he's a player who when his confidence is up, he'll do this:





But when his confidence is low, he'll disappear completely. A lot of us knew that Ronaldo was over using those step-overs, and dove a bit more than he should, but that was fine, cause we just wanted him to keep up his confidence because it was clear from day one he had all the tools already.

 

[Sinner]

With all of this Ronaldo talk...it's only right...

I remember watching this live on TV

Man, that was a fun time... didn't have social media or Youtube at the time so had no idea who the kid was!  After that, there was so much buzz whenever he came on... kinda felt the same buzz when Adnan came on last season.  Hopefully, there'll be more of that...

first time i ever heard of him was a week or two before the 04 euro cup.  I was visiting family in macau, a portuguese colony in china.  walked into a soccer shop saw a "Ronaldo" soccer jersey hanging on display and i thought to myself... "he's brazilian,  why the hell is there a portugal ronaldo jersey?  they must be stupid and fake as hell."  I was with my cousin and that jersey was exactly what he wanted to buy.  i ended up getting a figo but he tried his hardest to convince me to get the ronaldo one.  after watching the first few games of the tourny, i tried going back to the store but it was all sold out.  still on the hunt for it to this day.

I got to see Figo & Portugal play in Macau back in '02 (I think)... right before the JPN/KOR World Cup.  Obvs Ronaldo wasn't in the picture back then... 

Damn, that was a long time ago... damn, I feel old.