Open Thread: May 29, 2021

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: Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, YoSnail, Ezek Ix or NeRObutBlanco.

Raul has some notable supporters for the boss position

‘Real Madrid’s ‘wise men’ want Raul as coach’

A lot of names have been linked with the job, but a number of former Real Madrid icons want one of their own to take over. Following in Zidane’s footsteps of jumping to the first team from Castilla, Raul Gonzalez is the chosen one for Fernando Morientes, Predrag Mijatovic, Jorge Valdano and Alvaro Benito.

It’s time for the Managing Madrid commenters to step up. Who would you make Real Madrid manager right now, if it was your call?

Inter are reportedly asking 70 million euros for Achraf Hakimi

David Alaba has a great message up

He added in the replies:

I can’t wait to play my first match in the iconic white jerseys in front of all you fans in Madrid. I’m sure that this journey will be a successful one. Together with all madridistas. VAMOS!

Mbappe and Benzema looking like a killer connection

UEFA to drop away goals rule

The decision is still pending final approval from the executive committee, which includes PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Javier Tebas, but it looks to be all but done.

The rule has been in place in European competition for 56 years, but reports had circulated for some time that it was to be abolished.

And at a meeting on Friday, UEFA has taken the decision to scrap away goals - subject to executive committee approval.

The rule has led to some dramatic moments in European football down the years, the most recent high-profile instance was defending champions Bayern Munich being toppled by Paris Saint-Germain at the quarter-final stage of this season’s Champions League.

However, it has been felt for some time that away goals do not carry as much weight as when the rule was brought in - with the Times quoting a source as saying: “The view is that it is much easier to score an away goal now than it was in the Seventies and Eighties, when football was lower-scoring and stadiums were more hostile. There was less visibility surrounding a match in terms of refereeing, quality of the pitch and organisation, so home advantage is not so significant [now].”

‘Real Madrid implement 10 percent pay cut’

José Félix Díaz at MARCA reports:

Directors and main executives have seen their income reduced by 10 percent, as was agreed in face of the financial situation created by the pandemic.

The Real Madrid playing squad and staff have negotiated their own individual deals after an overall pay cut figure was rejected, and they are all now aware of their own personal reductions.