Comments on: Real’s old guard behind title charge http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/01/28/reals-old-guard-behind-title-charge/ World Soccer views and news Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:57:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Breaking away | Real Madrid http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/01/28/reals-old-guard-behind-title-charge/#comment-336645 Breaking away | Real Madrid Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:42:31 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/01/28/reals-old-guard-behind-title-charge/#comment-336645 [...] Simon Baskett, over at Reuters, argues that Real’s successes this season are largely due to the ‘old guard’ and that the new signings have not yet made a significant contribution. [...] [...] Simon Baskett, over at Reuters, argues that Real’s successes this season are largely due to the ‘old guard’ and that the new signings have not yet made a significant contribution. [...]

]]> By: Simon Baskett http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/01/28/reals-old-guard-behind-title-charge/#comment-335524 Simon Baskett Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:25:38 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/01/28/reals-old-guard-behind-title-charge/#comment-335524 Spot on Gonzalo. I agree that the key rivals are all going through some form of crisis and that has made Real´s job easier. But whatever way you look at it the team´s revival over the past two years has been a major achievement and this season´s statistics make for undeniably impressive reading. Spot on Gonzalo. I agree that the key rivals are all going through some form of crisis and that has made Real´s job easier. But whatever way you look at it the team´s revival over the past two years has been a major achievement and this season´s statistics make for undeniably impressive reading.

]]> By: Gonzalo http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/01/28/reals-old-guard-behind-title-charge/#comment-335518 Gonzalo Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:55:21 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/01/28/reals-old-guard-behind-title-charge/#comment-335518 Actually, I think it's a combination of all three: Schuster has definitely brought the best out of Robinho, a player sadly stigmatised by Capello for much of the season for being "led astray" by the likes of Ronaldo. The incident earlier in the year following a Brazil game, which Schuster decided to pretty much ignore, gave the player a much needed boost when the press were sharpening their knives. Raúl is sporadically showing flashes of his form and even Guti is less irregular (for him) than customary. Capello's legacy wasn't a particularly solid defence (Casillas is still reponsible for much of the bacon saving heroics). He did leave, however, a core of players with a degree of self-belief that had been lacking for the best part of three years. Schuster has harnessed that and, if possible enhanced it. How, I don't honestly know. Finally, I think the rest of the top sides in the league have been going through some sort of identity crisis. In Valencia's case, mostly self-inflicted. Sevilla stumbled following the death of Antonio Puerta and the departure of Juande Ramos. They have shown some flashes of the form that brought them back to back UEFA cups and may yet recover in time to give a good accounting of themselves in the Champions League. Barcelona are, I think, still reeling psychologically from throwing the league title away last season and the subsequent accusations of complacency that have attached to some of their key players in previous seasons, especially Ronaldinho. Their fall hasn't been as spectacular as Real's in 2003-2004, but it seems some sort of renewal is necessary to give them the confidence they need. Atlético are, well, Atlético. Actually, I think it’s a combination of all three: Schuster has definitely brought the best out of Robinho, a player sadly stigmatised by Capello for much of the season for being “led astray” by the likes of Ronaldo. The incident earlier in the year following a Brazil game, which Schuster decided to pretty much ignore, gave the player a much needed boost when the press were sharpening their knives. Raúl is sporadically showing flashes of his form and even Guti is less irregular (for him) than customary.

Capello’s legacy wasn’t a particularly solid defence (Casillas is still reponsible for much of the bacon saving heroics). He did leave, however, a core of players with a degree of self-belief that had been lacking for the best part of three years. Schuster has harnessed that and, if possible enhanced it. How, I don’t honestly know.

Finally, I think the rest of the top sides in the league have been going through some sort of identity crisis. In Valencia’s case, mostly self-inflicted. Sevilla stumbled following the death of Antonio Puerta and the departure of Juande Ramos. They have shown some flashes of the form that brought them back to back UEFA cups and may yet recover in time to give a good accounting of themselves in the Champions League. Barcelona are, I think, still reeling psychologically from throwing the league title away last season and the subsequent accusations of complacency that have attached to some of their key players in previous seasons, especially Ronaldinho. Their fall hasn’t been as spectacular as Real’s in 2003-2004, but it seems some sort of renewal is necessary to give them the confidence they need. Atlético are, well, Atlético.

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