This is more or less a post focused on tactics.
Equilibrio - Estado en que se encuentra un cuerpo cuando las fuerzas que actúan sobre él se compensan y anulan mutuamente.
Equilibrio, equilibrio, equilibrio...A word that should be branded as Carlo Ancelotti's middle name; it was amongst the most common words you would hear him say along the season, specially around late 2013/early 2014. By the end of the season he and the team made it clear once and for all exactly what he was talking about.
Equilibrio is spanish for Equilibrium; a word that is synonymous with Balance, a word that finally became synonymous with Real Madrid as Carlo Ancelotti was able to tactically create a team which complimented it's own players' characteristics and which quite deservedly won La Decima and a possible Quintuple as a result.
Due to the fact that Real Madrid's forwards, more specifically Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, are more attuned to play vertical counter attacking football where space can be manipulated, what's likely to come with that is that the forwards won't help defend as a unit as it would happen with other teams which defend as a group of 9/10 rather than more or less 7 1/2. This then forces the team to rely on midfielders which can cover alot of ground and alot of space, to prevent dangerous openings to open up in the middle or in the flanks.
This is exactly where the 433 formation comes in.
Due to the squad's characteristics this is without a doubt, the most logical formation to use, a formation that becomes very potent when it has the right pieces. In the 433 you get an extra midfielder to play a role in defending. In the 433 you typically have one holding midfielder ( Alonso) and his role in the team is to shield the defense, organize the team at the back, and help with the circulation, something Alonso would be perfect at if it wasn't for his lack of speed.
Alonso's lack of speed though is alleviated with the help of the two midfielders beside him (Modric and Di Maria). Unlike in the 4231 where you have a double pivot of midfielders who tries to control things with the forwards helping in tracking back, because of our forwards' characteristics and also our midfield's, playing with that formation would be suicidal. With the 433 DI Maria and Modric play the "Inside Midfielder" role, where they focus on tracking back and helping create triangles and connections with the fullbacks and wingers, while defending the flanks with the full backs in order to avoid a 1v2 situation where the fullbacks are hurt by the lack of help. These inside midfielders also push forward in order to attack and help with circulation, penetration, etc.
More or less with the 433, the team is able to control the midfield with a Command center that is composed by two very athletic and talented midfielders which can do everything attacking wise and defensive wise, while helping make up for Alonso's lack of mobility with such characteristics. With these functions and this extra man in midfield, Madrid gain an advantage they didn't have before. Primarily an advantage in Control and Defense. Madrid became much more secure, much more balanced.
Carlo Ancelotti's Equilibrium arrived. And this was made perfectly clear in early 2014 where Madrid conceded only a handful of goals in about 2 months.
Real Madrid was also helped by the fact that Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, and Coentrao all had championship winning performances, supported by the midfield as Bale would help Carvajal defend the flank against overloads in the 442, and Di Maria would do the same with Coentrao while Modric and Alonso defended the center.
The 442 was also important because it showed that Gareth Bale is willing to defend as well as anyone if the team needs it, and in the tougher games Madrid switched between the 442 and the 433 as it had the players to pull of the championship winning schematics.
Having said this, a Conclusion can be made that the Madrid is forced to play a 433, a formation which as i have said before, is arguably among the most complete in football when able to be completed at full perfection. For Madrid to perfect it, they'd need a faster man than Alonso that can cover the defense, and for Bale and Ronaldo specially to defend very well and for the team to work a bit more together with lines closer to each other, other wise the change to 442 becomes a bit more necessary.
Thus thinking about the 14/15 season having given an overview of the tactical side of the team, here is the squad that i personally would accept having.
Goalkeepers
-Casillas, Lopez (Hoping they both perform to task)
Defenders
- An improved Carvajal, The prodigy Varane as starter, a Mature and Smart Pepe & Ramos, Coentrao in the big games, Marcelo to improve his defensive side if he wants a chance at starting big games, and Nacho as the very reliable handyman..Oh and of course..Arbeloa..
Midfielders
- Luka Modric which can defend, attack, dribble, break lines, he can do everything. This is why it is also important for Di Maria to remain as he has speed, vision, super left foot, eye for assists and goals, the most incredible work ethic, etc, if he were to leave ideally someone like Pogba or Vidal should join but we would lose what he offers in attack in 433 and as a winger in the 442. Rumors are amidst of James Rodriguez but to change Di Maria for him would be a disgrace as Di Maria already has it all and will only improve while James Rodriguez would have to learn and adapt and even then would likely not reach the same heights Di Maria could as our inside midfielder. Then we have an old Alonso which should only serve as a sub, Casemiro is going to be loaned/sold, Illarra might be loaned with the arrival with Kroos, Kroos is a slow player who needs to improve his defensive game and doesnt have the legs (speed) to play the intense and agile inside midfielder role that this team more or less asks for. If Isco keeps improving he could be just as good as Luka or Angel in those inside midfielder roles. I would purchase a Defensive Midfielder like Luiz Gustavo to cover for Kroos if hes not ready for the defensive Alonso role task, and line up a Modric-Luiz-Di Maria lineup in the tough games.
Then we have Benzema, Bale, Ronaldo, Isco and Di Maria can be their forward subs, with different options to cover in midfield, with Morata out and Jese out till late 2014 a forward that can serve as back up should be purchased
via s24.postimg.org
So all of the above is how the squad should look like and how our system of play should look like. This team has the ability and potential to improve in everything such as defending, attacking, pressing, possesion, etc. It has more or less proved to be a total football team as i refer to it. A team which can break down teams and also counter with great poise, but it can still improve. Since Kroos is slow and has to improve defensive wise i would not recommend to play Kroos too much as an inside midfielder unless he plays in the right side with Bale and Bale helps defend a bit more than usual in the 433, Modric would go on left or possibly play the Alonso role, although it would be good to have a Defensive Midfielder that can shield the defense.
A change to any other formation would more or less be ridiculous in my opinion, the way to move forward would be to renew DI Maria's contract, James would be a project and thus we would need Khedira to possibly stay incase we need him to play the inside midfielder role, and a Defensive Midfielder with more mobility to make up for James and Isco's progress.
If the right moves are made and everyone stays healthy, i expect Madrid to improve in basically everything, specially possession, intensity, and defensive schematics, to the point where the 442 is not needed as much and we can express our selves even better.
We should win both Super Cups, and the Club World Cup, in case of the Copa Del Rey worst case scenario would be to lose to the likely winner, we should win La Liga as Barcelona will be in transition, and Madrid will be more ready than last year. Madrid should atleast make the semi-finals of the CL with a good draw.
Hala Madrid.
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