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Good post from the tactical side of things and there are some factors you’ve written about that the media has echoed in Spain. But there’s more from some journalists that are very close to some of the Real Madrid players and they’re saying that Zidane doesn’t vary his game plan for each individual game and that the resistance training practically doesn’t exist. But don’t read too much into anything that may seem like they’re bitching about Zidane because they love him and they’re the ones that are keeping him in the job unequivocally and unanimously. Florentino Pérez has been hesitant to wield that axe he keeps in the top drawer in his office desk and due to the revolt that occured when Ancelotti (another they loved) was fired, he’s having to bite his tongue. The pressing is indeed terrible, the players want to win games in the first 10minutes because they’re anxious and the midfield is all over the place. Kroos, Modrić and Casemiro are awful this season with Marcelo being the worst of the lot and Ramos getting booked or being sent-off in record numbers (I think he’s already broken world records in that sense). Only Isco has been the shining light on amazing form before Asensio was strangely ostracised and having his confidence broken. Infact all the players brought in the summer are hardly getting a chance which is a far cry to how Zidane administered the whole squad last season especially the second half of the campaign where the “second string” were playing better quality football than the first XI but where all were winning games, sometimes well and sometimes in injury-time because not everything was roses by a long stretch last season and many forget this due to the fact they done the La Liga title and Champions League double. There’s a lot wrong there and the problem is that nobody knows who could be brought in. Florentino Pérez wants Pochettino but the Spurs coach won’t go yet. Apart from him the only option is to bring back Mourinho and THAT all the Barcelona fans are hoping will happen... That or Zidane being kept on.

It's because of they way Real play. They rarely really dominate the midfield/possession even against teams like leganes or alaves. A lot depends on the individual class of their players, like Ramos heading one in in extra time after a perfect cross/corner from Modric or Kroos. Casemiro is extremely important for the defense and when we played them under Tuchel, it looked like we countered their tactic perfectly. However Varane, Ramos and Nacho were killing Auba in the 1v1s and they even kept Dembele quiet. I suspect the training quality is really poor at Real atm. The pressing resistence is not bad, but by far not as good as it could be with all the quality in their squad. Their pressing on the other hand is really bad, maybe because not all players participate, probably because they don't practise it often enough. What RM were really good at is forcing goal against deep sitting opponents, especially when the opponent is one man down and parking the bus. RM know how to use the full width of the field and get shot on target from a crowded box. Imo their defense is underrated, too. They don't defend that well as a team, partly because of the bad pressing which I already mentioned, but Nacho, Varane, Casemiro, Ramos and Carvajal rarely lose the important duels. Anyway RM are now just 1 point a head of rank 5 with one fewer match played. Should they sack Zidane, who do you think are the most likely to replace him?

Weird week at work. Was my year anniversary of working there on Tuesday gone, my manager called me into a room absolutely fuming because the ops manager wanted to take me from his team and put me on to a brand new team because of the fact I am one of the more people people on the floor, without sound big headed. I get on great with my manager so obviously didn't want to leave his team and told him I would say no. Then soon after I got pulled into a meeting with the lady who'd be my new manager if I was to take the offer up and she was making me promises and assurances about future progress. I spent the full day talking to other manager, including those who have progressed quickly and I even spoke to the ops manager about being trained up to be a manager myself in the mid term. Ended up taking the offer up, much to the annoyance of my TM but it is a great opportunity. Not just that but I put in for a promotion recently and it looks likely that I will get that and I will find out next week. Over the last 4 weeks or so I have been doing coaching with new colleagues and taking training sessions as well so I have a bit of experience. The job I've put in for is pretty much all about that. Long gone are the days of work in security and being stood doing nothing but argue with people all day. Leaving that shite to work in an office based job which has good progression opportunities is the best decision I've made. P.S. There is probably a work thread, but I don't care so get fucked.

Sorry to hear that mate... Even though it might have been expected it's still something that hits quite hard when they finally go...

It was an animated bull with John Cena's voice, so couldn't and didn't.

Alright alright I'll put it this way, where you watching a reshowing of the old classic striptease and treating your body like an amusement park