Daily Archives: March 11, 2022

Toni Kroos: Bayern’s former midfield star proving his class at Madrid

  By O-Posts Team | March 11, 2022 - 21:38 | , , ,
Leave a comment

Premier League Results

image
Premier League 2014/2015 scores, Football England
Premier League 2014/2015 results on FlashScores.co.uk have all the latest Premier League 2014/2015 scores, tables, fixtures and match information.

Premier League 2014/2015 scores, Football England - FlashScores.co.uk

It must have been a tough 2014 for Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos. A Bundesliga title, won in record time under new coach Pep Guardiola, a World Cup winners medal for Germany during the summer followed by a move to Real Madrid after being courted by almost all of Europe’s elite. At the age of 24, life must have seemed pretty good.

Of course, all of the success that Kroos enjoyed last year was a reflection of his incredible ability aligned with a desire to be as successful as he possibly can be. A wonderful midfield player with a range of passing very few can better.

Following on from their ‘la decima’ celebrations last May, Real Madrid surprisingly decided to sell both Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria. Both were instrumental in their success against city neighbours Atletico in the final and the departures of both were unexpected to say the least. However, the pursuit of Kroos had been on going for some time and with the chance to add one of Europe’s best midfielders Madrid had made up their mind.

Having developed through the Bayern youth set up, from the age of 16, playing for a big club with big expectations was nothing new to the German international. Indeed, at his press conference, he remarked that playing with the pressure at Madrid would be an even bigger challenge to the one he faced at Munich. It certainly seemed that the deal was going to be beneficial to both parties from the outset.

With an attacking array such as Real’s, there is a definite need to have someone to pull the strings. Over at bitter rivals Barcelona, they have had Xavi Hernandez conducting the play throughout their successful period a few seasons ago and the position has become an integral part of the modern game. The ability Kroos has to pick a pass and execute it perfectly is something that can only help the likes of Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo to score more regularly.

However, there were certainly some doubts about how good Real could be defensively without Alonso sitting in front of the back four. Throughout his time at Tottenham, Modric was never known as fantastic defensive player and Kroos’ game is based more around attacking than defending.

However, a good understanding appeared to be developing before Modric sustained an injury that would keep him out of the side. Despite this initial fear though, Madrid managed a winning streak of 22 games and demonstrated that their midfield was more than capable.

The start to 2015 has been somewhat indifferent for Real Madrid, but Kroos has remained consistent despite some of the players around him. It seems likely that the summer may bring some changes in personnel at the Bernabeu, but the German’s future looks incredibly secure.

At 24, he has been brought to the club to be the mainstay of the midfield for a decade and so far he has looked a very good buy.

 

Written by Andy Hunter

Follow Andy on Twitter @hunter67980

Like O-Posts on Facebook

You can also follow O-Posts on Twitter @OPosts

Real Madrid: The club have hit rock bottom, so it’s time for Ancelotti and co to step it up

  By O-Posts Team | March 11, 2022 - 18:17 | , ,
Leave a comment

Not so long ago, the Los Merengues went on a 22 match win streak which culminated in them lifting the club world cup trophy. Since the turn of the year, they have lost to Atletico, Valencia, Bilbao and lately Schalke which has led to lots of questions being asked. The biggest question right now is the form of Gareth Bale? The Welshman has been very poor since the European defending champions resumed hostilities for the new year and it is time to own up. Ancelotti has stuck to his guns that some players are untouchables in his team and that has angered a lot of Madridistas.

Carlo Ancelotti is undoubtedly one of the best coaches we have been fortunate to have in our sport, but his decision making or lack of it has been evident over the years. He may have won 3 European Cups but his record in domestic competitions leaves much to be desired. 3 league titles in 17 years is wretched and with Barcelona now calling the shots in Spain, if he doesn’t win La Liga this term and fails on the European front (defending the Champions League crown), his position will become untenable. Real and Florentino Perez have a history of sacking managers. Even the best are not safe. Something has to give.

The Italian tactician is a very lucky man, though. With Luka Modric back, the burden bore by Toni Kroos is now lighter as he has been a shadow of his dominant self for a few weeks now. Even without Itturraspe, Bilbao did well to stiffen the threat posed by the fantastic German maestro. With the Barcelona game only 11 days away, changes have to made in order to salvage a season which promised so much but is tending to end with the team going empty handed if you take away the Super Cup and the Club World Cup from the equation.

The Copa Del Rey was surrendered without a fight and the 4-0 demolition at the Vicente Calkderon left much to be desired. The B-B-C (Bale, Benzema and Cristiano) was so efficient in the early part of the season, but ‘BALE’ has become lightweight and it has greatly affected the potency of the fearsome trio.

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to prove the doubters wrong, but he will be aware that Leo Messi has risen to the challenge. 18 goals for the Argentine already and we are only in March. The Portuguese class act rose highest twice to become the highest goal scorer in European (UEFA) club competitions on Tuesday night but his brace (record equaling 20 of such with Messi in the Champions League) wasn’t enough to prevent Schalke and Leroy Sane from inflicting a first home defeat since September 2014.

It was also only the second time that the Whites had conceded 4 goals at home in the Champions League (the first being v Bayern in 2000). Something that hadn’t taken place in 15 years. No one predicted such an outcome but in football, impossible is nothing and it showed yet again to the astonishment of the majority at the Bernabeu.

Crisis talks may be too extreme but if the ship is to be steadied, drastic decisions must be taken and keeping Bale on the bench is one of them but then again, the man can just turn up on Sunday and bang a hat-trick vs Levante. Then, all will be forgiven and perhaps, forgotten. Iker Casillas has done so well to win back the critics and doubters from the last two seasons or thereabout until Schalke exposed his weaknesses again and tongues started wagging.

The longtime Spanish number one responded like all greats do to prevent the likes of Sane and Howedes from scoring goals that would have certainly eliminated Real. What is glaring is that the capital club needs a new and better shot stopper. I am one of San Iker’s biggest fans but the truth has to be told without fear, sentiments or favour.

Ancelotti has faced some harsh criticisms over the last couple of weeks. The Schalke game must never happen again from now till the end of the season or else, a new sheriff will be introduced at the Bernabeu in no distant time. It is now or never Don Carlo. Set the ball rolling from Sunday. An immediate response is required and very vital.

 

Written by Ohireime Eboreime

Follow Ohis on Twitter @lordbaruda1987

Like O-Posts on Facebook

You can also follow O-Posts on Twitter @OPosts

Andrea Stramaccioni: Former Inter manager struggles under weight of expectation at Udinese

  By O-Posts Team | March 11, 2022 - 01:44 | , ,
Leave a comment

The past few weeks haven’t provided the smoothest of rides for Andrea Stramaccioni at Udinese, first blaming the anger and tension within his squad for a 0-1 loss to Lazio before losing his own calmness after a similar defeat to Cesena.  “I am furious and tomorrow there will be no day off. We’re going to all come in and train” he said,  “we have to get back on track and quickly reach 40 points to secure safety”.

The loss to Cesena required Udinese owner Giampaolo Pozzi to give Stramaccioni assurances that his job was safe, issuing a statement to deny reports that he had subjected his manager to an ultimatum. From being in the dizzy heights of 3rd after a 2-0 victory over Atalanta in October, a run of only 2 wins from the next 16 matches had left the Zebrette at risk of being dragged back into the relegation fight.

Strama and his men would remain 8 points clear of the bottom 3 in Serie A but for a club that had recently become accustomed to high-placed finishes under Francesco Guidolin, it would be understandable if Pozzo’s patience was beginning to wear thin.

Guidolin, who last summer relinquished his role as head coach to become a technical supervisor to the three clubs (Udinese, Watford and Granada) which are owned by the Pozzo family, was always going to be a tough act to follow after he guided the northern Italian club to the lofty reaches of fourth, third and then fifth in consecutive seasons between 2011 and 2013.

It was a miracle act, given Guidolin constantly had to rebuild his teams in the face of losing his star players, with the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Christian Zapata, Gokhan Inler, Kwadwo Asamoah, Mauricio Isla and Samir Handonovic all leave for big money fees, the majority of which were not reinvested into the side. After losing Juan Cuadrado to Fiorentina and Medhi Benatia to Roma in the summer of 2013, Guidolin’s golden touch diminished and Udinese would finish down in 13th the following season.

To replace Guidolin, Stramaccioni was a curious choice having been out of work for a year following his dismissal from Inter Milan in 2013. Successful spells as a youth coach at Roma then Inter would still be an appealing part of his C.V but for a 39 year old who could only boast an underwhelming campaign in charge of Inter as his experience of senior coaching, it would be a bold choice in replacing the hugely experienced Guidolin.

However he would be significantly backed, for the first time since 2004 Udinese would spend more than they recouped in transfer fees, outlaying a total of £22 million as Strama put his personal touch to squad renovation. Over 35 players would be moved on- not to mention the numerous loans which are utilised by the Pozzo family to boost their portfolio of clubs- for just a total of £8 million as Stramaccioni strived to trim the wage bill as well as clear the deadwood that had been behind Udinese’s struggles of the previous season.

Plus, of course, he would he be motivated by his own personal desire to show that Inter and owner Massimo Moratti, amidst steep transition during Strama’s time in charge, may have been hasty in sending him packing after just 14 months. On a personal level December’s 1-2 win over Inter, who still continue to falter under Roberto Mancini, in the San Siro would have been especially sweet.

Those moments however have been all too rare for Stramaccioni who, after starting brilliantly with 5 wins from his first 8 games in charge, has experienced that winning season in the 17 following games. The most recent of those victories, the 3-2 win over Torino at the weekend, was both huge for manager, who earned some relief from the pressure that appears to be building, and for the club who got their first win at the Stadio Fruili since October 26th.

The fall-out from the match saw Stramaccioni use the media to beg Antonio Di Natale to reconsider his decision to retire at the end of the season. The 37 year old would bag his tenth goal of the season in Sunday’s win and the importance he still carries to the squad would not be lost on Stramaccioni.

“He can’t be a player for 38 matches per season, but in 20 he still makes the difference” said the manager and that should be indicative enough as to where his side are going wrong. Di Natale is top-scorer with 10 (and leading assist-maker with 5) and only Cyril Thereau, who has never been prolific during his time in Italy, has come close to that tally with 8. From a lack of goals within the squad, only five teams in Serie A have scored less than Udinese’s 29 goals and they are still extremely reliant on Di Natale who is just months away from bringing an illustrious career to an end.

Comparisons with Guidolin are as inevitable as they unfortunate for Stramaccioni who is essentially in charge of a mid-table side that have had expectations altered by three sensational seasons under his predecessor. Though signings like Guilherme, Panagiotis Kone, Allan and Thereau have settled in reasonably well while the likes of Lucas Evangelista, Rodrigo Aguirre, Melker Hallberg and Agostino Camigliano were all acquired with the future clearly in mind.

The batch of talented teenagers are likely to thrive under Stramaccioni’s guidance and nurturing, whose work with youth development has never been doubted given his success at Inter.  Though they will all have to be afforded time and patience, much like the manager who aims to make this Udinese his own in the shadow of Guidolin.

 

Written by Adam Gray

Follow Adam on Twitter @AdamGray1250

Like O-Posts on Facebook

You can also follow O-Posts on Twitter @OPosts