La Liga 2016/17: Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid: 5 Talking Points

5. Do people on twitter ever watch football?

It’s everyone’s favourite thing, isn’t it? See a result and go online to vent your feelings about the manager, the player, the team doctor, anyone you can get your hands on. I specifically say “see a result” because I honestly don’t think most of those guys would have such strong negative opinions if they actually saw a match. Not watch a match with the pre-determined notion that you need something to tweet about, instead of actually studying the patterns of the game and trying to understand the subtle shifts in strategy that can lead to wholesale changes in terms of momentum.

Sample this:

a) he hasn’t cost Real Madrid La Liga... they have a game in hand, and they do face off with Barcelona at the Bernabeu (something Ronaldo can still very much influence)

b) he didn’t delay his shot because he thought it’d look better on the highlights reel. The ‘delay’ was caused by him rolling his studs over the ball in order to ensure it was kept away from the attentions of a sliding Diego Godin and Jan Oblak. The Savic block was just incredible defending. Period.

c) you’d think Cristiano Ronaldo would know a thing or two more about scoring a goddamn goal

or this:

which is supported by this:

Answering those “criticisms”–

a) terrible tactics? those tactics his team dominated the team that’s no.3 in the league for nearly 85 minutes. Hardly his fault his strikers weren’t in the best of form finishing wise, is it?

b) Subs... Nacho on for Pepe. Forced, can’t really do anything about it. Isco on for Kroos. Toni Kroos had been excellent, but with Atletico overwhelming midfield, Zidane had figured that he’d need a runner as an outlet in central midfield and figured the Iniesta-esque control of Isco, and the incredible thrust he usually gives to counter-attacks, would serve the purpose. Vazquez on for Bale.

This one was the most contested, not because Bale had been taken off, but because Vazquez had been introduced and not James Rodriguez, There are several points in the young Spaniard’s favour including the fact that he’s been in better form (for all of Rodriguez’s numbers this season, his overall play has been poor), he hasn’t punched a dugouts and he hasn’t ignored his coach when getting substituted. Most pertinently, though, Real Madrid were on the back foot, and were looking for an outlet – a man who could run with the ball down the wings, a man who had pace, a man who could serve as an outlet – on all three accounts, Vazquez beats James.

Now, I am not against people voicing their opinions, and in fact firmly believe that it is the diversity of opinions that so enrich the game we all love... but when one absolutely rubbishes things one may not totally understand (how seriously do you think of one of the game’s greatest playmakers doesn’t understand football tactics?) and instead do arm-chair punditry without atleast giving a cursory glance to any evidence there may be on the contrary, it can get a bit grating.