Lights and shadows in England
•
La Real exhibits part of its powers and weaknesses in the two friendlies on the island
• The danger and easy goal of Isak plus the exquisite performance of Näis, the best
• Worrying defensive problems and doubts with some crack, the worst
Isak sneaks between two Millwall players (Oscar Alonso Algote - Oscar Alonso Algote / RS)
BY: ANGEL LÓPEZ
https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/r ... terra.html
(Software translation from spanish)
07-27-2019
The Real was like the sky in London one day in July: rays of light covered by clouds and a shower coming. The British capital always has a lot to offer, but in some ways it disappoints. The
Txuri Urdin squad leaves lights and shadows in two games against a good Nottingham and a lazy Millwall, both second, in which they were not able to win and in which they conceded five goals.
Näis Djouahra's spillover and needle-drop football and the ease of unchecking, arming the leg and marking of
Alexander Isak feed an illusion that is not triggered by the serious weakness demonstrated by the Real in the defensive aspect, especially in the defense of the stopped ball and the aerial balls and the doubts that some of its most important players offer at the moment.
With Isak, here is another number ‘9’
It will be the League that dictates sentence, give and take reasons; but it seems that the Real has in Isak a diamond in the rough. The number ‘9’ is one of the sensations of the summer, because, although he has scored three goals to date, he has managed to generate numerous occasions due to his ability to free himself of defenders and search for spaces. Despite his big size, he has great foot work, goes down the field a lot to receive balla and constantly attacks free spaces. Against Millwall, he scored two very different good goals, provoked a penalty that was not whistled and he was close to doing a ‘hat trick’. It is smart, with great instinct.
Willian José has in him, a great rival for the position. Or ally?
Odegaard is missing filming and chemistry
It is to see him control the ball and scan the horizon and realize that he is a superior being, with a leather ball. But for the moment, except for an assistance to
Azpeitia,
Odegaard does not finish specifying everything good and daring he does on the field. It is evident that he handles much better when Imanol aligns him with the right-hand drive than the extreme, because when he smiles it is when the game flows from his boots. You may have to wait to see the best version of Odegaard, because you are still many miles away from interacting well with your attack colleagues, interpreting your movements and unchecking, having chemistry. Everything he tries distils talent, but almost nothing ends in success. For now.
Näis Djouahra has shouted for it
I would have had it much easier in previous summers, in which the Real accused an almost total lack of extremes, players with overflow from the outside, ‘legs’, as
Olabe says. In the year in which it stands out with two dazzling matches, the team is plagued by players of that profile, because it has been
Imanol's obsession with a view to strengthening the squad. The presence of
Portu, Barrenetxea, Oyarzabal and
Januzaj close the doors, but 10 years ago
Griezmann took the ax of his ambition and quality and knocked it down. Spectacular Näis, of the subsidiary, in the two games, breaking by speed stuck to the band and driving inwards, associating well with the rest. His great goal in Nottingham and the magical assistance to Isak in London, samples of his great work.
Illarra, the hand that rocks the cradle
Illarra traveled and played part time at Millwall. Good news, although for now your right adductor continues to raise certain doubts. He played well, perfectly synchronized with
Zurutuza, 45 minutes in The Den, but at a slow pace and without too aggressive opposition. The captain, key in this team, assumes that he will have to live with his ailment practically all season, that he will play with pain. And he is likely to be forced to stay out of the team many games for that damn injury. With
Zubeldia, Merino, Pardo and
Guevara his position is well covered, but in the best moments of the Real, when he offers his best version and submits the rival, it is almost always that of Illarra the hand that rocks the cradle.
The cracks are, but so far
The best news of the summer, even better than the proven quality of some of the signings, is that, at least on July 28 and less than two weeks after the English market closes, its most differential players remain in the Real. That is the blessing. The problem is that at the moment they are not close to their best version, which they did not fully embrace last year. Here the exception is
Mikel Oyarzabal, the best realist in the past year, who has not entered into the rotation of games so far. But at the moment a hierarchical Willian José has not been seen, who has only scored a penalty and against Lagun
