The Open Thread/Daily Merengue is a place where you can discuss anything and everything related to football. Feel free to discuss the topics presented here, or start your very own discussions! The Open thread will be posted every day by one of the mods you’d totally treat to beers and fingerfood: Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, YoSnail, Ezek Ix or yours truly.

ANCELOTTI’S BACKUP TACTICS

Provided to you by Jesus Olmo. IYKYK

PSG COULD RESCIND RAMOS CONTRACT

The big news coming out of france isnt about Mbappe this time. Its PSG who according to Le Parisian, do not see releasing ramos from his contract as a dystopian scenario LOL. Anywyas, i’m indifferent. He’s made his bed, he can lay in it. Gotta give uncle flo his credit for being shrewd and ruthless by sticking with the contract deadline date and not bending for ramos. Anytime i hear talks about “oh x player can play till they’re 40” etc nonsense, its as if people think that injuries dont exist or because of the players current form, talent & latent abilities, it means tomorrow is guaranteed. Well father time has proved to be right time and again.

HIDDEN REPORT NO JUTSU

Anyone notice that we’ve entered a very auspicious time period where we don’t even post our players medical reports? any clue as to why our club has chosen to keep injuries a secret mystery these days? we hardly know the extent of any injury these days. We’re still working with the strange Sanitas and a questionable physio team that sometimes fail to properly diagnose injuries and recoveries. And an odd training regime that has seen more injuries stem from training than games in the last few years. Making Mou-era the most physically fit Madrid team in the last 10+ years (2011-2013). Peak Mou team wouldn’t have to try hard against KCM led Madrid over the course of 10 months.

DO MANAGERS CARE?

Its a dog eat dog world out here. Players dont hesitate to revolt and get managers sacked, same way managers dont hesitate to bench players for extended periods. Thereby stalling their career. look at VDB, ole could go his whole life with vdb rotting on the bench. Kovacic & Odegaard are best examples of not fully putting your career in a place where nothing is guaranteed from both manager and club.

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