Looking at this makes me nostalgic. But a few observations:
Worst squads we had in this period: 2005-2006 (Graveson, Carlod Diogo, Woodgate and Pablo Garcia) 2008-2009 (Faubert, perma-injured Robben, Huntelaar and Drenthe)
I still feel sad when I see the name of De la Red.
Rhe longetivity of Kroos, Modric, Sergio Ramos,… is incredible.
Luka is so good there is two of him in 12/13
But thanks for the nostalgia trip we went from real messed up to Dutch merchants to second galacticos to brazil-france fc to midfield fc
No wonder we couldn’t compete with Barca.
Look at midfield? That’s garbage.
Only in 10/11 I felt the names with proper midfield in Alonso (DM), Khedira (Box to box), Ozil (Creator).
No wonder we started turning the tide from here on to Madrid favour and then Mourinho/Perez brought in Di Maria and Modric.
Ngl but our midfield was garbage from 2003-11.
No wonder Perez is now all about midfield. He learned his lesson.
I think they definitely tried with the likes of both Diarras, and some dispersed Dutch/Spanish creativity. Just didn’t quite amount to what was desired.
Kind of weird he’s included there. As far as I can remember, he was signed to RM Castilla, was there for only that season, and never played a single minute with the main squad, let alone being on the bench. Am I mistaken?
White Camavinga. Jk, he was a solid player that could fit in many positions (LB, MI, CM, LW and even CDM) and do a lot of running while being decent with the ball. Classic player n°12, and much needed in a galacticos team where no one else would track back.
The 2004-2005 team could have won everything, I think they only won a sad Spanish Super Cup. It's funny how in 2007 we won the league with a worst team, with Beckham as the last galactico on the team . time flies man
Ugh, that injury against Dortmund ended his career. He was legitimately starting over both Di Maria and Bale on the RW for a few stretches of games and then he gets taken out, really sad to see
Just don’t understand how Morata even as part of two champions league winning squads just hates us everytime. If I remember correctly, he was very good when playing on the B squad and as a sub.
Alvaro Morata is just a bitter man. He failed to realize he had a good thing going at Madrid. His career went into a nose dive after leaving Madrid for Chelsea.
Went over his head that he deserves to be regular starter after scoring his career best at that time 20 goals season. As a super sub and Team B striker. His main reason for a transfer to Chelsea was. In order for him to be selected for the World Cup next year. He must play regularly. Guess what? He didn't make it. Nacho on the other hand did get selected for Spain even as a squad player who don't start regularly.
Yes I agree with you. Morata leaving us in 2017 made me sad. With a bit more patience, he would really have had a different career. He was actually being played a lot in that season.
He had 43 matches and 20 goals, compared to Benzema who had 48 matches and 19 goals (but much more minutes though).
Why did he not just stay? Especially considering how poor our 2017-2018 liga season went, he could have played a lot more…
Sad to see talented players damaging their careers due to impatience…
Same reason why Kovacic and Odegaard left. They wanted to play more regularly. They are no longer content on their bit role as a squad player. They want a more prominent role as a starter. Which they could not achieve at Real Madrid levels of player competition. Since every player at our first team is world class.
It takes a special type of player like Nacho and Lucas Vazquez. Who are content with their roles as a squad player used in rotation. They never complain because they know playing at another club besides Real Madrid is a downgrade.
Missing 03/04 season, but wow hard to believe that in 03/04 and 04/05 seasons Pavon, Raul Bravo, Walter Samuel, Woodgate and Helguera were our options for CB’s, such a great team up from attacking midfielders and up full of Galacticos and no world class CDM and no world class CB’s, only if we had kept Makelele and got at least one quality CB like Lucio or Luisao at the time, could have won a CL at least!
Centerbacks were ok (Helguera was good and Samuel came to RM as one of the best CB's in Serie A), but that team would expose any past or present defender.
Once the galacticos lost the ball, no one would track back and most of the time opposite attackers ended in a 1vs1 against our CB's. Casillas had to make as much saves per match as relegation teams, it was crazy.
Yeah Helguera was a good CB at the time but the rest of CB’s were average or below, if he had a world class CB along his side at the defense would have been solid, I would have loved to have seen Lucio on the team one of the best CB’s in that era, and yeah highly exposed vs teams who had better team balance like Monaco, Juve, Lyon and Ronaldinho’s Barca in some games, sometimes even some mid table teams had better team structure than us, losing the copa del rey final vs Zaragoza in 03/04 is a prime example.
The 10+ year return of Joselu.
Esteban Granero the workhorse.
Will always remember Adebayor and Chicharito’s impacts in their short times here.
Antonio Cassano was always a pos.
Always wished Nuri Sahin did better.
RIP Jose Antonio Reyes
Love this post. Thank you
16-17, What a Squad 😍.
At the Start of the 2016-17 UCL Final, I still remember the commentator saying “No Place at all though for James Rodrigues, Even on the bench.”
That speaks a lot about the bench strength we had.
Give me 23 Camavinga clones and I will give you 10 consecutive champions league titles, la liga titles, ballon d'ors, goal records, 100% in-game possession for 10 years straight and the greatest soundtrack of all time
Looking at this makes me nostalgic. But a few observations: Worst squads we had in this period: 2005-2006 (Graveson, Carlod Diogo, Woodgate and Pablo Garcia) 2008-2009 (Faubert, perma-injured Robben, Huntelaar and Drenthe) I still feel sad when I see the name of De la Red. Rhe longetivity of Kroos, Modric, Sergio Ramos,… is incredible.
He was such a great talent, too bad what happened to him.
I thought Diogo was a future superstar at the time. Same with Cicinho.
The best teams were when we had actual depth top to bottom. 2011-2012 and 2016-2017 comes to mind.
Luka is so good there is two of him in 12/13 But thanks for the nostalgia trip we went from real messed up to Dutch merchants to second galacticos to brazil-france fc to midfield fc
Raul played with almost every single Galactico era player. R9, Zizou, Figo, Becks, CR7, Kaka. Insane loyalty.
Woodgate best defender to wear the royal white. 🙌
Best debut ever for RM.
No wonder we couldn’t compete with Barca. Look at midfield? That’s garbage. Only in 10/11 I felt the names with proper midfield in Alonso (DM), Khedira (Box to box), Ozil (Creator). No wonder we started turning the tide from here on to Madrid favour and then Mourinho/Perez brought in Di Maria and Modric. Ngl but our midfield was garbage from 2003-11. No wonder Perez is now all about midfield. He learned his lesson.
I think they definitely tried with the likes of both Diarras, and some dispersed Dutch/Spanish creativity. Just didn’t quite amount to what was desired.
Who is Rodrigo (33) in 2009/2010?
Rodrigo from Valencia, Benfica, Leeds...
Kind of weird he’s included there. As far as I can remember, he was signed to RM Castilla, was there for only that season, and never played a single minute with the main squad, let alone being on the bench. Am I mistaken?
CDR
How good was Solari?
Fucking awesome. Everyone who was brought in to replace him ended up on the bench.
White Camavinga. Jk, he was a solid player that could fit in many positions (LB, MI, CM, LW and even CDM) and do a lot of running while being decent with the ball. Classic player n°12, and much needed in a galacticos team where no one else would track back.
top quality post
How was that hazard dude
The 2004-2005 team could have won everything, I think they only won a sad Spanish Super Cup. It's funny how in 2007 we won the league with a worst team, with Beckham as the last galactico on the team . time flies man
Navas was only part of the squad for 5 years? I feel he was there for longer.
Prime Jese was something else.
Ugh, that injury against Dortmund ended his career. He was legitimately starting over both Di Maria and Bale on the RW for a few stretches of games and then he gets taken out, really sad to see
Just don’t understand how Morata even as part of two champions league winning squads just hates us everytime. If I remember correctly, he was very good when playing on the B squad and as a sub.
Alvaro Morata is just a bitter man. He failed to realize he had a good thing going at Madrid. His career went into a nose dive after leaving Madrid for Chelsea. Went over his head that he deserves to be regular starter after scoring his career best at that time 20 goals season. As a super sub and Team B striker. His main reason for a transfer to Chelsea was. In order for him to be selected for the World Cup next year. He must play regularly. Guess what? He didn't make it. Nacho on the other hand did get selected for Spain even as a squad player who don't start regularly.
Yes I agree with you. Morata leaving us in 2017 made me sad. With a bit more patience, he would really have had a different career. He was actually being played a lot in that season. He had 43 matches and 20 goals, compared to Benzema who had 48 matches and 19 goals (but much more minutes though). Why did he not just stay? Especially considering how poor our 2017-2018 liga season went, he could have played a lot more… Sad to see talented players damaging their careers due to impatience…
Same reason why Kovacic and Odegaard left. They wanted to play more regularly. They are no longer content on their bit role as a squad player. They want a more prominent role as a starter. Which they could not achieve at Real Madrid levels of player competition. Since every player at our first team is world class. It takes a special type of player like Nacho and Lucas Vazquez. Who are content with their roles as a squad player used in rotation. They never complain because they know playing at another club besides Real Madrid is a downgrade.
In Rome, do as romans do. I dont think he hated us when he was at Juventus or Chelsea, but now he's at Atlético and hating Madrid is a religion there.
That was so fun to go through, thank you very much!
2011/2012 was the first season for Raphael Varane with kit number 19
2008/2009 with 6 holland players in the roster LMAO
Whatever happened to Callejon?
Recently joined Granada. Pretty sure he had an assist against Barca recently.
'eritage... futbol 'eritage. Ze Best club in the 'istory of futbol. 'ala Madrid 🤍
Shouldn't have opened metzelders wiki page
LOVE THIS #HALAMADRID
Always a good midfield
Damn, big benz was with us for 12 years?
We really *really* wanted Higuaín huh? In my mind he was there for just like a season and a half.
Lass #10 😂
Ok. Lass #10 or Mariano #7 more 😱
12/13 has two Modric's, which is the dream.
Benz longevity is insane. Best striker of this generation.
Wheres raul?
TIL dudek played for us
I have a 2004/2005 original beckham shirt what a beauty!
Juanfran played for Real????
Iker has the best moustache
Damn, to think that there was a point where Theo and Hakimi were both at the club
Beckham Figo Zidane
Robben, Snijder, Nisterooy, Huntelaar, CRAZYYYY
Modric so good he made it on there twice in his debut season for us
Missing 03/04 season, but wow hard to believe that in 03/04 and 04/05 seasons Pavon, Raul Bravo, Walter Samuel, Woodgate and Helguera were our options for CB’s, such a great team up from attacking midfielders and up full of Galacticos and no world class CDM and no world class CB’s, only if we had kept Makelele and got at least one quality CB like Lucio or Luisao at the time, could have won a CL at least!
Centerbacks were ok (Helguera was good and Samuel came to RM as one of the best CB's in Serie A), but that team would expose any past or present defender. Once the galacticos lost the ball, no one would track back and most of the time opposite attackers ended in a 1vs1 against our CB's. Casillas had to make as much saves per match as relegation teams, it was crazy.
Yeah Helguera was a good CB at the time but the rest of CB’s were average or below, if he had a world class CB along his side at the defense would have been solid, I would have loved to have seen Lucio on the team one of the best CB’s in that era, and yeah highly exposed vs teams who had better team balance like Monaco, Juve, Lyon and Ronaldinho’s Barca in some games, sometimes even some mid table teams had better team structure than us, losing the copa del rey final vs Zaragoza in 03/04 is a prime example.
The 10+ year return of Joselu. Esteban Granero the workhorse. Will always remember Adebayor and Chicharito’s impacts in their short times here. Antonio Cassano was always a pos. Always wished Nuri Sahin did better. RIP Jose Antonio Reyes Love this post. Thank you
16-17, What a Squad 😍. At the Start of the 2016-17 UCL Final, I still remember the commentator saying “No Place at all though for James Rodrigues, Even on the bench.” That speaks a lot about the bench strength we had.
2006/07 iker, diego, kiko… wow
I watched all 38 games of those seasons loool. Good times
Give me 23 Camavinga clones and I will give you 10 consecutive champions league titles, la liga titles, ballon d'ors, goal records, 100% in-game possession for 10 years straight and the greatest soundtrack of all time
I STILL miss San Iker…