La Liga (Spanish League) Prediction Thread 2016/17

[Lucius]

5:1 without Messi! Wow, incredible. Suarez wasn't in best shape recently, but finally he turned beast mode on.
Real weren't that bad, especially in first part of second half, but they wasted chances to score. But on last 15 minutes they were literally demolished.
I think now it's only matter of time when we will see press release that Lopetegui was sacked. But I don't think he is main person to blame for bad results. I think it's mainly Florentino fault. Not only because he didn't bought replacement for Ronaldo. Real need more fresh blood in their squad. You can't win everything playing with same squad few years in the row.  
@LFC_Bitcoin, your table isn't accurate, Real is in 9th place now

I think that at this point it is not possible to replace a player like Ronaldo and a reason is simple, there is no such player on football market. Now we can see that he was the most important player of RM, a man who is certainly responsible for many successes of the club in the past few years. RM will have to make a complete reconstruction of the team and bring some big name to lead that team, and this is not something that can be done overnight.

This season will be very difficult for RM, maybe they will start to play better after a winter break - but for now things do not look good for them.

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[LTU_btc]

I think that at this point it is not possible to replace a player like Ronaldo and a reason is simple, there is no such player on football market. Now we can see that he was the most important player of RM, a man who is certainly responsible for many successes of the club in the past few years. RM will have to make a complete reconstruction of the team and bring some big name to lead that team, and this is not something that can be done overnight.

This season will be very difficult for RM, maybe they will start to play better after a winter break - but for now things do not look good for them.

Yeah, it's impossible to find equal replacement for Ronaldo. But my point that Real didn't bought anything in summer. I don't know why Perez didn't opened his wallet. It's obvious that they need not only replacement for Ronaldo, but also improve other positions. As others said, Benzema is a joke, Modric, Varane are in terrible form after World Cup, Kroos and Bale aren't playing as they should, Marcelo having problems with injuries. I'm not sure that Real can save this season, it's difficult to buy something in Winter. But after season they will need to rebuild squad and it requires serious investments. Press saying that Conte will replace Lopetegui in next day' let's see how he will improve Real situation.

[LFC_Bitcoin]

Hazard was/is the suitable Ronaldo replacement. I don’t know why Real didn’t take the plunge and bid big for him. They’re really suffering with no Ronaldo, it’s like somebody tore the spine out of them.

[Ewinsane]

We are talking about how horrible real Madrid has been and all and forgetting they are behind only 4 points from Barcelona and missing just 1 win , Barcelona has 5 wins and real Madrid has 4. 4 points is not that much of a big difference and could definitely close up in near future, I am not saying real Madrid will pass Barcelona but it is not that much of a big margin.

Also playing under 2 is really risky in this game because Barcelona has scored 23 goals and conceded 11 in just 9 games and real Madrid scored 13 and conceded 9 so both teams are playing with more than 1 goal conceded and definitely much higher than 1 goal scored. It means there is a huge chance both teams score more than 1 goals. I would definitely suggest there would be more than 2+ goals instead, just the opposite which means there will be plenty of goals to watch, without Messi it might be troublesome for Barcelona but they are still capable of scoring on this real Madrid that won only 1 of their last 5.

[dmamigo]

After the devastating match for Real Madrid, Lopetegui is going to be sacked. This had to happen, the loss just helped them finalize the administration decision. Still, there is loads of time to make the league table look good for them. Barcelona even being without Messi, played like a king of this season, Suarez might have earned some fans after tomorrow.

[LTU_btc]

https://www.realmadrid.com/noticias/2018/10/comunicado-oficial-7
It's official - Julen Lopetegui isn't Real Madrid manager anymore. Santiago Solari (reserve team coach) will replace him temporarry. It seems that Real still didn't reached agreement with Conte. There was some speculations in press that he want longer contract, he don't agree to sign contract just till the end of this season.

[Juggy777]

https://www.realmadrid.com/noticias/2018/10/comunicado-oficial-7
It's official - Julen Lopetegui isn't Real Madrid manager anymore. Santiago Solari (reserve team coach) will replace him temporarry. It seems that Real still didn't reached agreement with Conte. There was some speculations in press that he want longer contract, he don't agree to sign contract just till the end of this season.

I feel bad for Julien he's lost two jobs in the space of 5 months now, and I feel the blame lies on Real Madrid players and board directors. If you see none of the stars of Real Madrid performed well, then they didn't even bother replacing Ronaldo which I felt was a very big mistake and eventually the head coach paid the price. I'm not sure whether Conte is the right man, as we have seen he doesn't deal good with egos and the boardroom. REAL Madrid are eyeing Poch, but I wonder will he give up the project at Tottenham which he has painstakingly built, there's also rumor their care taker coach may last till the season ends it'll interesting to see how it goes from now ahead.

[upsidedown75]

Seriously they haven't realized the team was doing so bad until now ? At least el Classico has that type of importance on peoples minds, they make things happen a lot faster. 5-1 is not a score to joke about, that is even without Messi but does this put any shadow on Messi's input on the team? We saw that without Ronaldo the team crumbles into nothingness and without Messi Barcelona is still Barcelona, do we start to think Ronaldo was better all along but Messi just played on the better team ?

I honestly don't think so because real Madrid at its current state is different from the time Ronaldo played and also the management is doing horrible (obvious from firing) which means real Madrid is much worse than how it was for the past 3 years even if Ronaldo was here.

[tomahawk9]

https://www.realmadrid.com/noticias/2018/10/comunicado-oficial-7
It's official - Julen Lopetegui isn't Real Madrid manager anymore. Santiago Solari (reserve team coach) will replace him temporarry. It seems that Real still didn't reached agreement with Conte. There was some speculations in press that he want longer contract, he don't agree to sign contract just till the end of this season.

About Conte, some people say that the board of directors and Florentino Perez don't want to sign Conte because of how Sergio Ramos, captain of the team, reacted to the rumours about Conte being the next manager (Ramos said something along the lines of: "you don't impose respect, you have to earn it", when refering to Conte as a manager).

Some other people are saying that the club doesn't want Conte because it'll stop the signing of Hazard, Real Madrid's primary target for the next transfer window (let's not forget that Hazard and Conte don't get along at all).

For now, I don't care about rumours, I just want to see what Solari can do with the team. We better win tomorrow against a low-tier team like Melilla in the league cup, or else there'll be blood on the streets.

[LTU_btc]

About Conte, some people say that the board of directors and Florentino Perez don't want to sign Conte because of how Sergio Ramos, captain of the team, reacted to the rumours about Conte being the next manager (Ramos said something along the lines of: "you don't impose respect, you have to earn it", when refering to Conte as a manager).

Some other people are saying that the club doesn't want Conte because it'll stop the signing of Hazard, Real Madrid's primary target for the next transfer window (let's not forget that Hazard and Conte don't get along at all).

For now, I don't care about rumours, I just want to see what Solari can do with the team. We better win tomorrow against a low-tier team like Melilla in the league cup, or else there'll be blood on the streets.

Yeah, I read news that Conte may not become new manager of Real Madrid. It will be really interesting to watch what Solari can do, it will be difficult job for him as he almost don't have experience. But anyway, despite terrible recent results, this seasons are still not ruined for Real - it's still early part of season and Real are just 7 points behind Barca and they are close to the next round of UCL.
Now I see that Pochettino is one of the main candidates to become new manager. But I'm not sure that he will leave Tottenham - he just signed new 5 year contract. There are also names of Roberto Martinez and Guti mentioned. And offcourse, Wenger is ready to take this job! (joke)

[tokeweed]

What do you guys (being La Liga fans) think of Mourinho's prospects of going back and manage Real next season? 

And lol at Roberto Martinez being considered.  I'm wondering how he got this far from Wigan to Everton to Belgium...  He prolly has a good agent.

[LTU_btc]

What do you guys (being La Liga fans) think of Mourinho's prospects of going back and manage Real next season? 

And lol at Roberto Martinez being considered.  I'm wondering how he got this far from Wigan to Everton to Belgium...  He prolly has a good agent.

I don't believe that Mou can return to Madrid. In my opinion his best times already in past, his tactics are outdated a bit and I don't think that he would be a good option for Real Madrid.
Well, first thing which came to my head when we talk about Martinez - Tottenham 9:1 Wigna result, I will never forget it . He really went far in his career. But I don't think it's strange that his name considered as one of options, especially after good World Cup with Belgian Red Devils.

[tokeweed]

^  I don't think his tactics are outdated.  It's just his approach to the beautiful game is more pragmatic.  I mean he won the EL, the League Cup and finished with the highest points since SAF left.

And yeah...  I didn't consider Martinez doing well at the World Cup.  But I don't think it's enough to get him the Real gig.

[Ewinsane]

Real Madrid finally had the tune up game they needed. In order to make the players feel better about themselves real Madrid needs to win couple games in a row, if you make real Madrid play 5 games in a row and make the first game something easy like this and gradually face them with better and better teams than you will have a real Madrid that can fight with anyone and still come out top, that is the power of tune up games, it changes the emotions of the players and makes them realize they can beat anyone. However same happened with Madrid when they lost too many in a row, they somehow started to think they do not posses the bravado to win in any game anymore and lost each others chemistry.

You have to make them believe they can win again, it is obvious that the team is having a psychological issue and not talent, team is talented enough to win over almost anyone.

[tomahawk9]

What do you guys (being La Liga fans) think of Mourinho's prospects of going back and manage Real next season? 

Not gonna happen. The last thing the club needs is Mou dividing the locker room like he did last time with Casillas & co.

And lol at Roberto Martinez being considered.  I'm wondering how he got this far from Wigan to Everton to Belgium...  He prolly has a good agent.

I mean, he's a decent manager, right? Look what he did with Belgium. But the fact that the rumours have both Conte and Martinez as (possibly) the next RM manager, shows that the club, specifically, Florentino and friends, don't know really know exactly what they want as Conte and Martinez have completely different styles.

[Juggy777]

What do you guys (being La Liga fans) think of Mourinho's prospects of going back and manage Real next season? 

And lol at Roberto Martinez being considered.  I'm wondering how he got this far from Wigan to Everton to Belgium...  He prolly has a good agent.

I would say there's a possibility it might just happen Real Madrid President loves Mourinho, Hazard wishes to play with Mourinho and he wishes to play for Real Madrid, if Real Madrid sign Conte Hazard will never sign for them. Roberto is a decent chap, but I don't think he has what it takes to manage a club like Real Madrid.

^  I don't think his tactics are outdated.  It's just his approach to the beautiful game is more pragmatic.  I mean he won the EL, the League Cup and finished with the highest points since SAF left.

And yeah...  I didn't consider Martinez doing well at the World Cup.  But I don't think it's enough to get him the Real gig.

This is exactly what Real Madrid want they want a guy who's beaten Barcelona with his approach, now their CL love is over and they want to win the La Liga title and they know Mourinho can deliver it.

[voztata]

I am not too sure if Mourinho wants it though. I know people at that type of position loves a challenge but Mourinho is a manager who had great times there already, he is doing great in Manchester united right now which is basically the best job anyone can ever have, united kept sir Alex Ferguson for over 20 years at the club and if Mourinho wants to stay and tries hard than he has a chance to have one team for the rest of his life. Why would anyone want to put that in risk and go to a real Madrid team that is already 7 points behind Barcelona ? I think it would be career suicide for him. I know real Madrid would love to have him, hell there are very very few teams in the whooole world who wouldn't want Mourinho right now but it still doesn't make sense for Mourinho's eyes.

[cakravothy]

What do you guys (being La Liga fans) think of Mourinho's prospects of going back and manage Real next season? 

And lol at Roberto Martinez being considered.  I'm wondering how he got this far from Wigan to Everton to Belgium...  He prolly has a good agent.

i think very dificult mourinho back to real
because murinho not doing well in Manchester United
if back i think not mourinho but real want zinedine zidane can back

[LTU_btc]

Barca reached difficult win against Rayo Vallecano 3:2, despite that they were trailing 1:2 at 87 minute. And honestly, it's not deserved win, Barca allowed to Rayo to play their typical open football, but luckily Barca have ter Stegen who made several amazing saves again.
And it's not first time when Barca struggled against bottom table team - they previously lost to Leganes, played 1:1 with Athletic and Valencia, when they beat top teams like Real or Sevilla relatively easy. Lack of motivation or something else.
And I can't understand why Barca bought Malcom - they don't allow him to play even against weak teams. One Spanish journalist said that Valverde didn't needed him and he was bought only as revenge to Roma, but I don't want to believe in such conspiracy theories...

[aencarnaci]

With real Madrid winning their recent games I think they might get on the rise. Coaching changes plus games and wins combined to a new fresh look for Madrid team if you ask me. Still won't be enough to get the championship but I am pretty sure they have what it takes to finish the league at top 3 right now.

I know finishing top 3 doesn't seem like an accomplishment to many people here when it is about real Madrid but they were literally losing their games to a point where they were closer to regulation side than champions. That is why I think it is a great improvement for a team to improve from that level to top 3 even if it is real Madrid we are talking about. Working towards a goal chipping away slowly is still a great way to get better, no one needs to get better over night.