How good would Real be if they replaced CR7 with

[Next Coming]

I think he goes to PSG this summer and Real Madrid make Santos an offer they can't refuse.

[Man of Steel]

Ronaldo apparently telling sources he wants a move back but if RM comes close to selling, Perez will probably be up for re-election.

I'd much rather RM have Hazard than Neymar, not sure if I'm alone in this. Apparently he'd rather have RM as well. Give him a few years to really hit his stride and I'm sure it'll happen. Hell I was sure we were going to bring him in when Zidane scouted him but it was clearly not the time to bring a 21 year old prospect over.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... nteke.html

[5DOM]

I wouldn't be surprised if Hazard moves to Real at some point, but I doubt it will before his contract runs out in 5-6 years. Roman doesn't need the money. Exception would be if we can get someone better than Hazard

[Blank_Name]

Financially I know Madrid is managed well, and I'm sure Barcelona is doing fine also. It helps that between the two of them they take 65% of the TV revenue of the league which I'm sure will change sooner rather than later, as its effects are leading to a financial deterioration of the rest of the domestic league (a couple clubs have gone bankrupt in recent years). I know the tax rules are changing as well, so teams are becoming more financially handicapped when they hand out ridiculous contracts for the "unbuyable" players (Messi and Ronaldo for sure, as well as some of the tier 2 stars looking to negotiate new contracts).

As for Spain's dominance, I see them falling off a little bit in terms of pure football talent in the next few years, this seems to be their golden era we are seeing right now. I'd put money on Germany having the next surge of talent, the young crop coming out of that country right now is ridiculously talented. Belgium's also got a great group of players growing.

Right now Barcelona have two of the finest Spanish players in Xavi and Iniesta, but the younger star players (Silva, Mata, Garcia, Martinez, Isco) are either currently at a club outside of Spain or on the verge of a move to a club outside of Spain, and success at those clubs will likely see them remain at those clubs for years. I personally can't see any of those players leaving for Barcelona any time soon. People seem infatuated with Barcelona's current youth grown squad but it was not too long ago that their best players were transfers like Ronaldinho from PSG, (missing out on Beckham to Madrid was a close one), Zlatan from Inter, Eto'o from Mallorca, Marquez from Monaco, Figo from Sporting.. I could go on. Point is Barcelona is enjoying a period in which a large number of their youth teamers blossomed into star talents whereas the current young spanish talent is coming from other places, and likely won't have the same affinity for Barcelona that guys like Fabregas, Alba, and Pique had which brought them back to Barcelona.

Thank you for the insightful response luisnani

Indeed that is very interesting that because Spain is currently without a doubt the most desired football recruiting ground, no longer can Barcelona dominate the field. And as you pointed out with the nostalgia Fabregas, Alba and Pique held towards Barcelona, when guys like Xavi, Puyol, Casillas, and Villa joined the Spanish national team there were No trophies. Now the obstacles and challenges are different like dominating other leagues.

Agreed on Germanys potential. It will be interesting to keep an eye on Die Mannschaft as Germany and thus their National team continues to become more muli-raced. German discipline combined with athletic diversity is a scary thought

[cgf]

La Liga clubs often don't pay their players on time or what they've promised so I don't think it's really the most desired football recruiting ground anymore. The EPL is probably the most desired because they pay well and on time with the Bundesliga and possibly even the RPL behind them.

[Blank_Name]

La Liga clubs often don't pay their players on time or what they've promised so I don't think it's really the most desired football recruiting ground anymore. The EPL is probably the most desired because they pay well and on time with the Bundesliga and possibly even the RPL behind them.

Agreed. I didn't mean the Spanish domestic leagues recruiting ability but instead how being a Spanish born player has certain prestige, currently more than Brazilian, Italian and German

Sent from my SGH-T879 using Tapatalk 2

[ardee]

I think if Ronaldo actually leaves, we should look at Dortmund. Gotze actually looks like he can be in that Ronaldo/Messi/Zidane category. Reus is better right now though... Either one would work. Plus Falcao, sell Higuain, patch up the defense, and it's as good as one could expect.

[Blank_Name]

I think if Ronaldo actually leaves, we should look at Dortmund. Gotze actually looks like he can be in that Ronaldo/Messi/Zidane category. Reus is better right now though... Either one would work. Plus Falcao, sell Higuain, patch up the defense, and it's as good as one could expect.

Gotze is more like Ozil than Ronaldo. Not sure you would be replacing Ronaldo's scoring without adding a second player

[cgf]

Eh, Goetze's a lot more like Injesta than Ozil. He's a much better goal scorer n great playmaker in his own right, but he doesn't touch Ozil's passing ability n movement. Plus I can't help but see him at Barca when he leaves in 4-5 years.

[Man of Steel]

Gotze is more like Ozil than Ronaldo. Not sure you would be replacing Ronaldo's scoring without adding a second player

This. The scoring drought created from the removal of CR from this team is a big one, without him we'd be doing significantly worse in La Liga this season. Gotze, Hazard, and Neymar are often brought up wrt this team but RM's policy is to buy them once they've become more established, especially with the team in this state.

Since so many people always criticize Madrid for it's lack of quality cantaneros I've always loved to entertain the idea of bringing Mata back, though he seems firmly entrenched at CFC. I'd love to do something like CR for Mata + cash, sell Higuain and Kaka, and buy Falcao at the end of the year.

Iker
Arbeloa- Ramos- Pepe- Marcelo
Modric- Khedira
Di Maria- Ozil- Mata
Falcao

Of course this will never happen, as Mou seems set on Bale for whatever reason. Not sure how he fits into the plans with CR still here, but who knows what that man has planned these days.

[and1GS]

Ya...they aren't getting Bale. Not for another season and 15+ mill more pounds than they're currently offering. Levy is very shrewd about these things.

[Man of Steel]

Sounds good. Real don't spend big money to fill a position that's already occupied, and Spurs keep their star. Everyone wins.

[and1GS]

With you there.

FWIW I don't think Real would be any better if they got Bale as a replacement, they'd probably be much worse as I don't see him succeeding in La Liga. He's a lot about pace in open areas and fast breaking down the middle. From what I've seen that counter-attacking style isn't as big a focus in Spanish football.

[Man of Steel]

Agreed. From what i've heard he's just not as good on the right wing and his pace, finishing, and crossing from the left wing are his best skills (and we've got CR for that). May seem kind of redundant but I think Bale would benefit immensely from bulking up a little bit the way Ronaldo did. Ronaldo may have been more creative on the ball but bulking apparently helped him cope a little better with the rough tackles when he was running full speed. If it continues to be an issue for Bale then a move out of the Premier league seems likely.

Mourinho has been really keen on Bale since last year so either he knows something about Ronaldo leaving that the rest of us don't, or it's just another Galactico signing.

[Man of Steel]

Not sure if any of you speak portuguese/spanish but if you watch this video, when Ronaldo runs up to the bench, Mourinho clearly says filho da puta. Not sure who it was directed at (seems to be the reff), but wow. He's been sent off for similar words before.
http://www.marca.com/2013/01/07/en/foot ... 76526.html

[and1GS]

Yeesh, whatever he's saying Mourinho looks pissed in that video...

[J-Mezzy]

Yeah that was weird. He should be happy that he scored lol. I don't know why he would be calling the ref or anyone SOB right after scoring a goal

[and1GS]

I thought he was cursing at Ronaldo, but obviously I don't speak Portuguese so I was very confused.