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"A survey by Marca."

Over who Real Madrid fans want most at the Bernabeu next year? Fairly surprising results, I didn't know English football got such coverage over there, it must be Michael Robinson.

1. Lampard 22.72%
2. Robinho 18.84%
3. Gerrard 12.86%
4. Adriano 10.00%
5. Henry 7.22%
6. Shevchenko 6.99%
7. Baptista 4.98%
8. Ibrahimovic 4.54%
9. Van Nistelrooy 4.23%
10. Rooney 3.86%

8 strikers? No Nesta? Odd...

Beckham gets a lot of unneccesary stick, nowadays. No matter what you say, there's no-one I'd rather have on the woing to belt balls into the box. Of course, there are better midfielders, but none of them can touch Beckham when it comes to putting a ball in.

AfroJoe wrote:
> They haven't often played with a three striker system, though.
> Ronaldo always seems to play, but Owen has had spells on the bench,
> whereas Raul hasn't been playing in his favoured role when Owen has
> started, but more as a left sided midfielder. So technically they are
> playing three strikers... but not AS three strikers.

Not from what I've seen. Admittedly he (Raul) has been playing a lot deeper since Owen's been given a starting place, but I don't often see Raul out on the left wing. Occasionally, but they all have to move around a bit otherwise it'd be foosball.

> Zidane should be central, though. But for some reason they've decided
> he plays better on the left, despite that decision being disagreed
> with by Zidane himself.

I think it's had more made out of it than was really there. But if they play Zidane centrally, who plays on the left? Solari? If they bring him in, while keeping Zidane, they'd need to drop someone, and that's a difficult decision. Raul is like a talisman for the club, and even though he's not scored too many this season (lowest scoring season for ten years apparently) he's still an excellent provider. In fact, he's just reached 250 Real Madrid goals, I think. Ronaldo has eight goals in the last five games, and Owen, well, he's Owen. He's only just got his place, he should have some time to add some furnishings and stuff.

> But ok, yeah, Lampard and Gerrard are needless as long as Real
> continue to play Beckham and Gravesen there, and Zidane out left.

Yeah, I could see why you would want Lampard over Beckham, because Lampard has those surging runs and scores a lot of goals. But Beckham is an absolute master crosser, and Real don't have a replacement in that department who measures up. So if they drop Beckham, their long ball game is nowhere near as good.

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Blank wrote:
> Not really - if you're going to play three stikers in the starting
> eleven, you need more than three in your squad. The only other one
> they have is Portillo, who couldn't even get into the Fiorentina team
> when he was on loan.

They haven't often played with a three striker system, though. Ronaldo always seems to play, but Owen has had spells on the bench, whereas Raul hasn't been playing in his favoured role when Owen has started, but more as a left sided midfielder. So technically they are playing three strikers... but not AS three strikers.

> But they're more central, whereas Zidane and Figo aren't. It looks
> like Joaquin is moving to Real, so he'd be more than adequate to
> replace Figo.

Zidane should be central, though. But for some reason they've decided he plays better on the left, despite that decision being disagreed with by Zidane himself.

But ok, yeah, Lampard and Gerrard are needless as long as Real continue to play Beckham and Gravesen there, and Zidane out left.

AfroJoe wrote:
> They don't need any more strikers. Ronaldo, Raul and Owen is clearly
> more than is really required up front.

Not really - if you're going to play three stikers in the starting eleven, you need more than three in your squad. The only other one they have is Portillo, who couldn't even get into the Fiorentina team when he was on loan.

> Whereas Zidane and Figo are getting past their best now, so Lampard
> or Gerrard would be the ideal type of replacement.

But they're more central, whereas Zidane and Figo aren't. It looks like Joaquin is moving to Real, so he'd be more than adequate to replace Figo.

> I didn't think any decisions made at Real Madrid involved reasoning,
> though...

It's true, Perez knows good business, but not good football.

Interesting reading.

Yeah, I reckon if anyone ends up getting Van Nistelrooy, it will probably be them. Just a random, useless signing, to go with Robinho, Raul, Ronaldo, Owen, whoever else.

I think the Baptista thing comes from him playing as a defensive midfielder for that Brazilian club he came from (Sao Paulo?), but since he's gone to Sevilla he's basically played up front.

Also, Figo to some Japanese club?

Even Spurs looks more likely than that.

You can see the reasoning behind the choice, though.

They don't need any more strikers. Ronaldo, Raul and Owen is clearly more than is really required up front.

Whereas Zidane and Figo are getting past their best now, so Lampard or Gerrard would be the ideal type of replacement.

I didn't think any decisions made at Real Madrid involved reasoning, though...

I'd have thought the Adders would've been comfortably top. Never really think of foreign nations caring about English football for some reason - I just assume they don't care.

He's actually a defensive midfielder in Football Manager. Looks a bit wrong when he's got 20 goals in 30 appearences to his name for the previous season, though. :-D

Suppose, he does take ALL their set pieces. But meh.

Yeah, attacking midfielder. Does a kind of Lampard job.