Back 4: Real Madrid vs Manchester City

Posted by Borris Becker on Mar 17, 2010 in Real Madrid Football Club | 0 comments

Real Madrid won their 8th consecutive match the league thanks to some fantastic goals by Cristiano Ronaldo (his free kick did take a slight deflection but who cares) and a hatrick by Gonzalo Higuain (after his Lyon miss, I only want to punch him) but along with that, Barcelona also won their home game against ten men Valencia. Lionel Messi produced some of the most magical form of football ever seen and even lead to some people saying that he is way way better than the current competition. He scored 3 goals, 3 individual goal which he made and scored himself from nothing.

I would be surprised if anyone else but Messi gets the next FIFA player of the year award because the 3 goals he scored that night against Valencia alone should give anyone ample proof that he is the best attacking player in the world. Anyway, coming back to the topic (if there is one).

On the weekend I was watching a little bit of English Premier League. It was Manchester City vs Sunderland I think and I noticed something. I noticed that the back four of Manchester City, ON PAPER in my opinion, is more stable than of Real Madrid. Let me explain by comparing the back four of Manchester City with that of current Real Madrid line up which played against Valldolid on the weekend (Real Madrid won the math, 1-4 by the way).

Right Back

Arbeloa vs Micheal Richards

Well, I think the choice is pretty simple. Micheal Richards is better than Arbeloa in every department of the game except may be vision for the game and Arbeloa gets that point only because he is half a decade older than Richards. Richards is fast, young, powerful and good in the air, something which Real Madrid’s defense has always lacked and most of all he can go forward and help out the attack WITHOUT compromising his defensive duties.

Wayne Bridge (or Sylvinho) vs Marcelo

I think this should be a draw. Bridge is far more experienced plus, sensible when it comes to attacking the guy on the other side of the field while Marcelo plays like a free spirit, save for the last game Marcelo has rarely shown positional sense or the ability to predict what the attacker’s next move is. Marcelo was once touted as the next Roberto Carlos but clearly he does not have that pace or strength nor that powerful shoot. His left is way way more wayward then his uncle’s (presumably Roberto Carlos).

Manchester City also have the choice of playing Lescott over there, normally he plays as a central defender but can also play on the left. He should also be considered better than Marcelo simply because lescott is more consistent and determined than Marcelo.

Sergio Ramos vs Kompany (or Vieira if needed, Zabaleta)

Sergio Ramos wins this one all over. He is younger than both, faster, stronger, is better at going forward, better at defending . Not to mention that Sergio Ramos has the dribbling skills or a pure winger and a finishing touch of a low quality striker (and I mean that in a positive sense) which means that he can score goals from the air and as well as from his feet which is a rarity now a days. He can also take free kicks but when one has C.Ronaldo to take free kicks in your time, who would want a right back to take instead.

Raul Albiol vs Kolo Toure

I would go with Kolo Toure here. Toure is again tall and extremely powerful. I have not seen him getting knocked off the ball. When he was at Arsenal, he really was one of the top 5 defenders in Europe. He could shoot from distance and took penalties as well. Had a good header on him and had pace which is again, not readily found in central defenders.

So there was my view on Real Madrid’s defense. This is also one of the reason why Real Madrid fail when it comes to playing in Europe. Elite teams do take advantage of weaknesses and apart from Sergio Ramos, they exploit every other defender in Real Madrid’s line up. So instead of chasing all the Rooney’s (not saying he should not be bought) and the Gerrard’s (he would be a wonderful signing), I think we should concentrate of signing world class defenders.

The name of Ashley Cole is being brought up and I think that would be a wonderful signing as Ashley cole also has everything a left back should have but his age is a little bit something to worry about, he is not the youngest out there. I would rather go with Lahm or Evra (if Manchester United let him go without making a mess which they always do), one other player that has always caught my attention is Gael Clichy, he would also be a good choice better than cole I think plus Arsenal are not known to ask for astronomical prices when it comes to selling unlike Manchester United, hope this gets into the heads of Florentino Perez’s management.

What do you guys think? Do we need attackers or defenders or what? I am waiting and ready to listen to what you have to say. So come on because I am all ears now and waiting.!! HALA MADRID

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