The €30 Million Horror Show

Granted it was his first big game for the club, but on first impressions, class usually shines through and here it was a dark cloud that hung over the Bernabeu more so than anything else. When bombing forward with the ball, Pepe first seemed to be a reminder of Bayern’s Lucio, but when he stayed forward, leaving Cannavaro to defend against a dangerous and effective Sevilla attack, it clearly showed that he lacks the discipline to play in a top team.

The Real movement was very poor, which presented a lack of options to play the ball out of the defence, but when options were open he passed the ball either out of play or straight to the defence, with Sneijder, supposed to be providing an link throughout the team, virtually anonymous. The game passed Diarra by, a player more suited to perhaps a physical battle, not a common occurrence in Spain. The Midfield was too narrow, with Robinho, Drenthe, although he scored playing in each other’s space, allowing the Andalusian club to exploit the space with ease. A Kanoute hat-trick and Renato double sealed a convincing win over their title rivals.

The width came from the full backs, with Ramos capping an effective attacking performance with a goal, and this left Cannavaro playing against three men, with Drenthe always overlapping Robinho (in the second half, when he was moved back), and Ramos, practically the only effective outlet for the Madrid giants, and when that is the case, it is clear that the final outcome is not going to be great. While Alves was a force, with driving runs, the discipline of Poulsen and Renato covered their team-mate’s (a word not heard by the 11 footballers in the white shirts) place.

Eventually, his generally poor performance was worsened by a hand ball to clear the ball over the bar to concede a penalty and then a sending off. When Queiroz said he could have bought Pepe a number of years ago for €2 million, perhaps that value hasn’t risen, except through Calderon’s overindulgence in signing playing staff. Schuster has a huge job in overturning his side’s fortunes, and sorting the mental block of his players in not passing to one another quickly enough, after deciding that dribbling or a shot on goal is not possible. Schuster must build from the back in order to keep the vultures off his back. The return of his fellow countryman Metzelder will be crucial. However the link through the team, still hangs on Guti’s shoulders, who is a bit-part player, yet still turns the team’s game around in his substitute appearances. Sneijder will step into this role but the squad must remain the same for a team approach and spirit to be created.

Another sacking is imminent and a lack of continuity in Real’s play is evident, and with Calderon adopting this strategy of sack and hope, it appears that the Madrid club will not have a team (just 11 individuals) ready in time for the Madrid derby and first game of La Liga season.