TK's Tactical Preview - Real Madrid CF (home)

[Pureblood]

Welcome to the second edition of the Tactical Preview.  This week Real Madrid are in town for what has been billed as a mouthwatering clash between two giants of the European scene.  They say that the Scots are a wee bit psychic, and with yours truly having Scottish blood in him, who better to write a Tactical Preview?  Let's take a look through the crystal ball and see what we can expect from tonight's encounter.

 

History

 

Founded in 1902 with the King's blessing or some similar nonsense, these royal bastards have a rich history having won everything going a preposterous amount of times.  No article about Real is complete, it seems, without a mention of La Decima, which one has to write in italics in order to look a little bit cool and edgy.  "Decima" is literally Latin for "ten".  Yes, that's right, this lot have won twice as many European Cups as we have.  Alfredo Di Stefano and all that.  Insane.

 

Carlo Ancelotti

 

The Reds have the pleasure of renewing Champions League acquaintances with the very likable Carlo Ancelotti in this match.  Personally, he is my second most favourite Chelsea FC manager of all time (there was another chap I quite like who did a stint there).  Ancelotti needs no introduction and his track record speaks for itself.  He talks openly about how Real play in a similar way to Brendan Rodgers, thus:-

 

"4-4-2 is the best defensive formation that exists.  4-3-3 doesn't give the balance required and it's more difficult to pressure higher upfield.  Our intention is to defend with a 4-4-2 and attack with a 4-3-3."

 

So there you have it.  Real will have two banks of four when we attack and try to spring us with a 4-3-3 on the break/in possession.  In their last match against Levante James Rodriguez was charged with the responsibility of covering for Gareth Bale as the man who drops into a bank of four in midfield when Real lose the ball.  Word on the Web is that Isco will be the creative link between the midfield and attack.

 

Watching Real this season, it is terrifying how quickly they can break.  Fortunately for us Gareth Bale will be missing, but they more than coped at the weekend with a 5-0 thrashing of Levante.  The goals and threats come from all over the pitch; Benzema, Ronaldo, Rodriguez and absentee Bale have been causing havoc this season.  All of them are prepared to run with the ball at speed and they seem to be in great form following a sluggish start (they were defeated twice in La Liga at the start of the season, possibly due to World Cup hangovers).  Then there is the long range shooting of Kroos and Modric to contend with.

 

Finally, Real carry a substantial threat from set-pieces.  It will surely not have gone unnoticed by Ancelotti that we are poor in this area.  Anyone not expecting a serious threat from corners or free kicks in wide positions is kidding themselves, in my view. i have seen a few comments this week that they won't attack in the same way as QPR did.  Granted, that's obviously true, but they will not be afraid to put a few crosses in having scored from several corners this season already.  Benzema and Ronaldo will gobble up the headers if Mignolet and Liverpool's back four are in another generous mood.

 

Last Match

 

Real's last match in this competition was a modest 2-1 victory away to Ludogorets.  Ronaldo (from the spot) and Benzema were at it again.  They sit top of the group and are sound favourites to win it comfortably.  

 

Reasons to be Cheerful

 

Although Real have had an extra day's rest over us in preparation for the game, they may have one eye on this weekend's El Classico. Their squad is showing a few signs of strain with injuries to Bale and, so I've read, Ramos.  I also read a vicious rumour about a potential knock to Modric.  Maybe if we can get in their faces, set a high tempo and use the 12th man to our advantage the game will be more even than predicted?   Here's hoping so.  

 

Players to Watch

 

Isco Alcaron.  This chap had a good game against Levante.  If he plays he will be given licence to join the attacking three.

 

James Rodriguez.  Will be expected to drop in and help defensively when Real lose possession, as well as contribute going forward.  Will he be able to repeat his performance against Levante at Anfield?

 

 

Isco

 

 

 

 

James Rodriguez

 

 

 

2014 © TK421 - All Rights Reserved

 

[Jairzinho]

If our players show just 50% of the hunger, desire, quality, and desire of this preview then we're in for a treat. A suck treat.

[cloggypop]

You misspelt psychotic as psychic.

[Hades]

Wonderful exclusive site content. I am hungry for more. 

[Pureblood]

I am knackered.

[Brigant Moloch]

just give it a break, you're completely clueless beyond Match of the Day level, don't write tactical previews etc., ta.

[s(k)aturation]

Wonderful exclusive site content. I am hungry for more. 

 

It's 11.41am here. I'm hungry too.

[ElishaScottBC]

I am knackered.

 

[TheFridge]

That ain't no tactical preview, instead of pointing out stuff about Madrid that every man and his dog knows what about an actual tactical preview?

 

Just for starters...

 

What are Madrids weaknesses and how can Liverpool exploit them?

 

How can Liverpool contain Madrids attacking threat?

 

 

 

Your ratings are good but this isn't.

[Section_31]

That ain't no tactical preview, instead of pointing out stuff about Madrid that every man and his dog knows what about an actual tactical preview?

 

Just for starters...

 

What are Madrids weaknesses and how can Liverpool exploit them?

 

How can Liverpool contain Madrids attacking threat?

 

 

 

Your ratings are good but this isn't.

It's a tactical preview not the Irwin Rommell thread. We can only contain Madrid by playing them during the siesta hours when they are all asleep.

[El Dangerous]

Someone slam TheFridge door on Brigant Moloch's head. Haters gon' hate. This has the elegance of a Jamie Redknapp soliloquy and the insight of Richard Keys' psychological report. You're the everyman for all occasions!

[Pureblood]

That ain't no tactical preview, instead of pointing out stuff about Madrid that every man and his dog knows what about an actual tactical preview?

 

Just for starters...

 

What are Madrids weaknesses and how can Liverpool exploit them?

 

How can Liverpool contain Madrids attacking threat?

 

Your ratings are good but this isn't.

I put "Tactical" in the title to wind people up. It works a treat. It's just a preview; something for my fans to read, a little taster ahead of the succulent main course.

[Stickman]

I no longer need to listen to Tony Gale, Cascarino nor Townsend now I have the TK match analysis.........

[Jairzinho]

just give it a break, you're completely clueless beyond Match of the Day level, don't write tactical previews etc., ta.

 

 

That ain't no tactical preview, instead of pointing out stuff about Madrid that every man and his dog knows what about an actual tactical preview?

 

Just for starters...

 

What are Madrids weaknesses and how can Liverpool exploit them?

 

How can Liverpool contain Madrids attacking threat?

 

 

 

Your ratings are good but this isn't.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KL_H-ed9OQ

[Major Tom]

Rebutting a view using Sam Allardyce?

 

Why not just quote the Daily Mail..

[Jairzinho]

...that was the point.

[Major Tom]

Oh.

 

I hate Sam Allardyce.

[Bjornebye]

Id rather Sam Allardyce did these threads

[xerxes]

Its only a matter of time before BFS gets the call from Madrid you know. Ancelotti is shitting it.

[setreal]

It's a tactical preview not the Irwin Rommell thread. We can only contain Madrid by playing them during the siesta hours when they are all asleep.

 

Yes! Also, as I understand from the preview, they seem to have some kind of king, most likely a monarchy. Surely that would mean they are easily fooled and we could maybe exploit that as well.

 

 

Oh wait...

[Rotpeter]

Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius.

[Chairman Meow]

just give it a break, you're completely clueless beyond Match of the Day level, don't write tactical previews etc., ta.

 

 

That ain't no tactical preview, instead of pointing out stuff about Madrid that every man and his dog knows what about an actual tactical preview?

 

Just for starters...

 

What are Madrids weaknesses and how can Liverpool exploit them?

 

How can Liverpool contain Madrids attacking threat?

 

 

 

Your ratings are good but this isn't.

 

[Russ Atmosphere]