Actually I just realised our game is now postponed against Barca.
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That’s good news. Acuña, Montiel, and Papu would all be out due to international duty.
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Do we know why it was postponed? I’m happy that we’ll have the Argentines back for the fixture, but I hate having to wait even longer for our next game.
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I have a gut feeling, this might be the season with our best chance to seriously challenge for the title.
If the Griezmann goes to Atleti, puts them as big favourites for me but not unbeatable.
Reason why I say this season is our best chance. Just think Real next season will be getting the Galácticos 2 together. Mbappe more than likely will sign for free. Honestly can see them going all out for Harland if his rumoured release clause is true. Even Lewandowski is rumoured to want this to be his last season for Bayern.
Even with money troubles, it’s scary the money real can find from them magic trees.
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It is our best chance, indeed - just like it was last season. However, we have not, just like the last season, matched up with the requirements to take advantage of this chance. Unfortunately, we don’t have the squad and the tactics to seriously challenge for the title this season. I’m very pessimistic this time, even more so than last season, but let’s see. We’ll have a much clearer picture by December, miracles can happen.
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I think we have a chance because we have a strong squad and depth in a lot of positions. Coupled with the fact the other big 3 are weaker than they ever been for many years now. I definitely see us in the title race for much of the season. Whether we win it is obviously tougher to do but being in the picture I can definitely see it.
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Problem is, we are not sure how Lope wants to play, we are missing many players so even the team doesn’t get time to gel in the way they should. When those players come back, it changes up again. So we will be struggling for a few weeks more. Even though we shouldn’t with our quality and the core we had for 2 years now. If we don’t develop more treat, It all will again all rise or fall on the matter if Lucky Lope gets some more wins in games we struggle if we don’t get those wins. We end 7th or so.
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I highly doubt we end outside the top 4 to be honest. Our squad is way stronger than the rest of the teams outside the top 3. We finished so far ahead of Villarreal and real soceidad last season. The same the season before too. That won’t just change overnight.
I feel very confident about 4th but it’s just whether we can take the next step we all crave for. Time will tell.
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Its not just about squad strength tho, its all about what you show on the pitch. Which is why if we don’t improve, we won’t get fourth. Especially if you are considering the strength in the league is getting closer, mostly because the top is plummeting. You can prepare yourselves for a rough season. I honestly think it’s easy the fall out of it this year. We have the quality to go for the title, but quality doesn’t equal performances.
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But as the transferwindows has closed. For those who want to drop a LaLiga prediction. I’ll put it up there shortly.
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Exactly - it’s the performances that count. But then again, where is that quality (even on paper) that allows us to go for the title?
Your main CB sub to DC and Kounde is Rekik. You have Kounde who will take some time to mentally recover from all this stupid drama, I’d be surprised if he starts vs. Barca. You don’t have pacey wingers except Ocampos to some extent - and you have the same tactics and issues from the last season. Literally no upgrade in anything whatsoever. We have more squad depth in overall but still lack depth in the CB compartment.
Villarreal will be tricky this season and the usual Atletico, RM, Barca will finish top 3-4 easily. The competition will be tougher than previous season as I expect Valencia in the mix too.
Very hard to predict from now though.
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Yeah your right, I just hope the squad depth pays off in the right way. But I haven’t seen teams make it the big teams as difficult as now. Really hard one to predict.
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Villarreal are inconsistent though. Only 3 draws so far and already trail us by 4 points.
I understand the slight doubts but overall you got to like our chances. We kept all our key players and added quality to the squad.
We have been very tough to beat under the lopetegui era and I hope that continues. Yes maybe we need to be a bit more exciting at times and less predictable but we still have the players to do that even without sarabia or Tecatito.
As long as kounde comes back with right attitude we in good shape. I mean we kept all our players and added six impressive signings.
I think we hoped for another signing or 2 but we were probably getting greedy. It’s only the centre back cover situation that’s a little confront but hard that this window has been successful and we have 7 points from 9 after all the disruptions.
Once things settle down and the players get used to match play and into their stride we will keep improving.
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The best covered position is definitely at GK. I’m thankful we have bodies to cover at fullback. We just have to see how well Montiel & Ludwig perform.
The obvious weakness is if one of DC or Kounde get injured, but there’s always Fernando. Delaney should also provide us with adequate cover.
Our midfield will depend on how well the Attacking Mids will play. I’m still shocked at how conservative Rakitic/Jordán play their passes. But once they’re convinced of the goalscoring ahead of them…
And as for the attack, we just need goals from others beside YEN. A lot rides on Ocampos returning to being a goal threat, so that defences have one more player to worry about. I think Papu & Óscar will bring danger regardless, so it’s up to the others to finish. Idrissi has been bringing the right attitude on the pitch so i hope we’ll see him grow. I already like what i see from Lamela & Rafa Mir, so it’ll be hard to do any worse than last season.
It’s Lopetegui’s 3rd year and the team still hasn’t been blown up. I could only be grateful. Now, can we at least witness some greatness?!
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Yes that’s best we got, would go the same, only thing for me is that Navas is showing more and more cracks so I wouldn’t even mind Montiel. But we will still need to see how that pans out.
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I’m confident we’ll finish at least 4th and stand a good chance of ending up in 3rd as I think Barca are the closest ‘big 3’ team to us. The two Madrid’s will be a tougher nut to crack, especially Atletico now they have Griezmann back.
Regarding the transfer window, I think it’s been a success. We’ve kept hold of all our key players and added quality with six new signings. That’s given us a lot of strength and depth other than in the centre back position where at least we’ve kept hold of Kounde. Yes maybe we hoped for one or two more but I’m happy with what we’ve got!
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Sevilla have been refused the request to postpone the game against Barca. It will be played Sat11th Sept at 21:00.
So we will be probably without at least Papu, Montiel & Acuna who are in the Argentina squad
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Unbelievable…
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Would’ve wanted Papu for this game, but mostly Acuña. He’s been integral in our big performances. I don’t expect much from Ludwig, especially this early in the season.
But the squad is deeper now. Nunca se rinde !
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