We attend every Real Madrid game as press, and release an episode near-daily. Tactics, analytics, formations, transfers, history, Castilla, Femenino. Join the largest Real Madrid podcast on the planet.
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Om Arvind discuss:
Putting in multiple attackers don't equate to offensive production
Not taking Mallorca seriously enough
The midfield selection, and overall depth
Systemic issues far more concerning than individual performances
Good individual moments but a lack of attacking cohesion
Casemiro's performance
Vinicius's performance
Courtois's style of play
Alvaro Odriozola's performance + future
Paul Pogba / Eriksen (stemming from questions on the pod)
Marcos Llorente's decision to leave
The political situation in Cataluña
And a lot more
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84 min
877
Mike Goodman and the future of football analyti...
This episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast is in two parts.
Part one (Kiyan Sobhani, Mike Goodman)
What is the StatsBomb conference?
What is the 'right pass' in football from any given part of the pitch
Statistically, the best way to score a goal
Defensive setups -- how to break down low blocks
New metric: 'expected threat'
The eye-test / stats debate, and Kevin Durant logging on to Twitter to talk about 'feel'
Valuing the art of pressing
Where does Real Madrid rank among the best pressing teams?
Fatigue and its correlation with press
And more
Part two (Kiyan Sobhani, Lucas Navarette)
Clasico updates
From a footballing perspective, is it better for Real Madrid to play this game in October or December?
How worried should we be about Eden Hazard
Dani Ceballos's development
The "Ronaldo effect" and how to replace it
What's the starting XI if everyone is healthy and available (including the loanees)
Decisions decisions -- so many this summer
Where does Zidane see James and Isco if everyone is healthy?
Chances of winning the league
Jovic and Mariano playing time
Links with these midfielders: Fabian Ruiz, Christian Eriksen, Donny van de Beek
Should we be looking at these names or promoting from within
What is Martin Odegaard's best role? Kiyan spoke with one of Odegaard's coaches about this
And more
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102 min
878
James and Isco Together
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Om Arvind discuss:
- Real Madrid's 3 - 1 win over Barcelona in the 2014 - 2015 season
- How the 4-4-2 functioned that day
- Neymar's opening goal
- How Carlo Ancelotti had the team positioned in attack and defence, and his half-time adjustments
- The margin of error: Messi's crazy miss changed the outcome of the game completely
- Carlo's subs
- Carvajal and Marcelo at the top of their game
- Fede Valverde's sudden emergence after a disappointing loan spell at Deportivo la Coruña
- Individual mistakes, this season and in years' past
- Luka Jovic's playing time, and Karim Benzema's minutes
- How much should we push for Paul Pogba?
- And more.
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53 min
879
Granada Post-game
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Om Arvind discuss:
- Dani Carvajal as left back
- The roles of the wing-backs
- Gareth Bale's unreal OOTB pass
- Granada knocked off their game after the early goal
- Finally getting diverse scoring output outside of Benzema
- Eden Hazard's performance
- What James brings to the team offensively
- Fede Valverde's performance
- What's Fede's best role?
- Should Bale have had a penalty?
- Real Madrid's build-up
- Isco's return
- And more
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46 min
880
Thursday Real Madrid Mailbag
This episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast is in two parts:
Part One (Kiyan Sobhani, Lucas Navarrette):
- Home pressure
- How the Bernabeu reacts to what it sees on the pitch
- Why Zinedine Zidane 'persists' with Lucas Vazquez
- Luka Jovic minutes
- The importance of that point against Brugge
- Eden Hazard's slow start
- Revisiting Clarence Seedorf as a Real Madrid player
- And more
Part Two (Kiyan Sobhani, Philip Hammer):
- How we're feeling after a rollercoaster of a month
- How Philip became Madridista
- The summer of 2000
- Best memory from the past 20 years
- The 2011 Clasico brawl
- Is the Ramos Decima header the single greatest moment in club history?
- And more.
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58 min
881
Las Galácticas: Episode 2
It has been a few weeks since our first FC Tacón show, and things have started off in a complicated way. With a tough loss to FC Barcelona, the team looked lost. But with a comeback win, and with some new signings, things are not lost. So where do we go from here? Jess Houwen and Gabe Lezra are here to break down parts of the big storylines from Tacón's inaugural primera season--and why things might not be as bleak as the seam.
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44 min
882
Atleti Post-game
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Ben Hayward discuss:
- The 'boring' derby which wasn't boring at all if you take a look at all the storylines
- Real Madrid's defense
- The lack of chances for both sides
- Zidane and Simeone's post-game quotes
- Should Hazard be in better shape?
- Toni Kroos's performance
- Fede Valverde starting over James
- The perhaps surprising xG numbers
- And more
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20 min
883
Sevilla Post-game
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Matt Wiltse discuss:
- The Sergio Ramos effect
- Why did this midfield perform better than against PSG?
- What the team did well defensively
- The team's pressing
- Eden Hazard's performance
- Zinedine Zidane's tactics
- What we can and can't criticize zidane for
- His big game performances
- Casemiro's performance
- Ferland Mendy's performance
- James Rodriguez's performance
- Karim Benzema's performance
- Who to rest against Osasuna before the Atleti game?
- Toni Kroos's 'intensity'
- What happens when Luka Modric, Isco, and Marcelo come back?
- CLEAN SHEET!
- And more
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48 min
884
PSG Post-game
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Eduardo Alvarez discuss:
- All the individual mistakes in the game, but also the systemic issues that fed it
- Does a change in personnel today actually change things?
- Lack of answers for PSG's solid defensive scheme and incisive offense
- The clear lack of depth in midfield
- James Rodriguez's role
- Guti planting seeds
- What could've been done differently?
- Toni Kroos's effort on defense
- The Dani Carvajal problem
- Imposing your tactics vs being reactive to your opponent
- Some...... Positives... ?
- Thibaut Courtois / Keylor Navas discussion
- Best places in Madrid to watch the game if you're not going to the stadium
- And more.
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49 min
885
Levante Post-game; Potential lineup against PSG
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Matt Wiltse discuss:
- The insane coverage Managing Madrid is doing right now
- The contrasting halves of football against Levante
- Zidane's subs
- Formations we saw throughout
- The outcry about the starting line-up
- Everyone's roles, and standout performers
- Carvajal and Casemiro as the engines in the first half
- Upcoming schedule
- An entire James Rodriguez swoon segment
- Our lineup against PSG
- The healthy competition (in certain positions) in the squad right now
- Vinicius Jr's performance
- Eden Hazard's performance
- Lucas Vazquez's sample size as a right-back
- And more.
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46 min
886
One of the most iconic games in Real Madrid his...
This episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast is in two parts.
Part One, 1960 European Cup Final (Kiyan Sobhani, Om Arvind, Matt Wiltse):
- The significance of the broadcast that night. The world finally saw the greatness of Real Madrid
- Alex Ferguson's comments about the game, as he was in attendance
- Formations in the final
- Di Stefano's role -- false 9 before it was cool
- An entire Di Stefano segment about his greatness
- Gento's legacy
- This team was perfect
- Miguel Munoz's man-management, and also being ahead of his time with his tactics
- Will Di Stefano's role ever exist again?
- Ferenc Puskas shooting on site
- Canario tribute
- Epic Puskas quote
- And more
Part Two, Mailbag (Kiyan Sobhani, Lucas Navarette)
- Marcelo vs Mendy
- How much fault does the medical staff have?
- Florentino and Raiola relationship
- Which young talents would we like to sign?
- Have our predictions changed at all?
- Lineups against Levante and PSG
- A question about taking cards (you'll understand when you listen)
- And more
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78 min
887
2000 UCL Title; Keylor's legacy; Defensive Issues
This Managing Madrid Podcast comes in two parts.
Part one, on the Champions League final against Valencia in 2000 (Kiyan Sobhani, Eduardo Alvarez, Matt Wiltse)
- Link to watch the game
- The atmosphere in Paris for the Champions League final
- The context of that game
- Claudio Lopez: Barca killer
- A bonkers lineup and formation from Del Bosque
- Tactical wrinkles of that chaotic system
- Roberto Carlos was an absolute freak that Valencia had no answer for
- Raul and Macca as central midfielders
- Macca's performance
- The first goal of the game, and Roberto Carlos's long-range free kick
- The TEKA shirt -- controversial, apparently
- Symbolic cameos from Manolo Sanchis and Fernando Hierro
- Baby Casillas
- Nicolas Anelka's weird legacy
- Ivan Helguera's massive performance, and how underrated he was in his peak
- Ivan Campo
- Fernando Redondo masterclass
- And more
Part two, mailbag (Kiyan Sobhani, Lucas Navarette)
- Injury updates
- Revisiting Ramos's mistake against Villarreal
- Potential lineup against Levante
- Can we relax? Or do we have good reason to be worried?
- Why do we loan players to teams that don't play them?
- Keylor Navas's legacy
- If the midfield trio done?
- The unfair criticism Varane gets
- The art of giving out the right contracts without overpaying older players
- And more
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74 min
888
Villarreal Post-game
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Om Arvind discuss:
- The infinite BeIn ads
- Zidane and Casemiro's post-game quotes
- What the xG told us
- The team's tactics, and crossing game-plan
- Casemiro's role
- Gareth Bale's performance
- The variety of schemes we've already seen in the opening three games
- Toni Kroos's role and performance
- Ferland Mendy's perforamnce
- Which loanees we could've used in the squad
- Zidane's tactics compared to that of other elite managers
- And more.
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76 min
889
Benzema / Jovic Debate
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Lucas Navarette discuss:
- Bruno Fernandes
- Isco's injury
- Real Madrid's midfield depth
- How we'd like the team to lineup
- Not closing out games
- Casemiro's legacy in the club's history, and his ranking among the club's best ever DMs
- The Benzema / Jovic debate
- Neymar's off-field issues
- Would we take Jose Mourinho back>
- The Bernabeu crowd, and how much it really affects players
- 4-2-3-1
- And more
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42 min
890
Valladolid Post-game
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Gabe Lezra discuss:
- Real Madrid's first half, and the standouts among the team
- Schematic changes, and the dominoes of Zidane's formation shift in the second half
- What happened when James and Isco left the pitch
- The case for Jovic coming in much earlier
- Vinicius Jr's performance
- Breaking down Valladolid's goal
- Real Madrid's xG
- The Carvajal criticism
- More Jovic talk, and why the team needs a goalscoring presence like him on the pitch
- An assessment of James Rodriguez
- How to achieve peak Zidane-ball
- And more
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44 min
891
Manita over Barca in 1995; Kubo to Mallorca; Ke...
This episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast comes in two parts.
Part One (Kiyan Sobhani, Eduardo Alvarez)
- Real Madrid 5 - 0 Barcelona, 1995. Link to watch the game.
- The context and build-up (stemming for three years) to the game
- Four players who played for both teams appeared that night
- Barcelona's offense completely shrivelling. They were paralyzed.
- The decline of Johan Cruyff's dream
- Laudrup, absolute patridazo
- Jorge Valdano's pressing scheme
- An assessment of Raul's first season
- The frenetic pace of the game
- The Hierro - Sanchis dyad
- Luis Milla vs Fernando Redondo (a huge discussion at the time)
- Amavisva!
- Bam Bam! A monster game and season from Ivan Zamorano
- The fans' reaction to Stoichkov's red card just before half time.
- Martin Vazquez's role
- The importance of an attacker's ability to defend
- The Bernabeu's demands, but also their appreciation
- Sergio Busquets's dad was a terrible goalkeeper
- And more.
Part Two (Kiyan Sobhani, Lucas Navarette)
- Takefusa Kubo's loan move to Mallorca
- The latest Keylor Navas update
- Who would Courtois's backup be?
- How true is the report of Real Madrid's mega offer to PSG?
- Fabrica XI from the past 30 years
- Javier Portillo
- Martin Odegaard / Guti player comp
- Odegaard vs Kubo this weekend
- An evaluation of Lassana Diarra's Real Madrid career
- Will we see Xabi Alonso manage Real Madrid?
- Raul's ability as a coach
- System-specific players
- And more.
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98 min
892
Celta Post-game
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Om Arvind discuss:
- Thoughts on the starting XI
- Modric's red card somehow being the turning point
- Celta Vigo were right there until the Kroos golazo
- The brilliance of all three Real Madrid goals
- The tactics throughout the game
- Gareth Bale's performance
- Vinicius Jr's performance
- Van de Beek update + the final Real Madrid squad
- Will we see James and Isco together?
- Any lowkey DMs on the market?
- Predictions: MVP, top goalscorer, most assists, unsung heroes, trophies
- Lack of a tactical identity: A strength or a weakness?
- And more.
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68 min
893
Ben Hayward, on the ongoing Neymar saga, and th...
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Ben Hayward discuss:
- The Neymar saga, thoroughly
- What was it about PSG that Neymar wants to leave now?
- How much do Barcelona need Neymar?
- How does having all four of Griezmann, Neymar, Suarez, and Messi affect Barcelona's tactics?
- Comparing them to the Galacticos
- How does that theoretical Barcelona team fare against Europe's elite?
- How badly is Neymar needed at Real Madrid?
- How would Rodrygo and Vinicius cope with taking a backseat to Neymar?
- How realistic is Real Madrid as a landing spot
- Florentino's drive to sign Neymar
- And more.
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35 min
894
Roma Post-game
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Om Arvind discuss:
- Another assessment of the 3-5-2
- How much will we see it this season?
- Should Jesus Vallejo been kept?
- An alternate explanation of Zidane's use of this formation
- Concerns abotu Real Madrid's offense
- The team's brilliance but lack of consistency
- The performances of the substitutes
- Kiyan and Om's altering views on whether Neymar is needed or not -- a back and forth
- And more.
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55 min
895
Neymar rumours, Kubo to Valladolid, 3-5-2
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Matt Wiltse discuss:
- The 3-5-2
- Marcelo the big winner of this formation
- Thoughts on the Benzema - Isco - Hazard trio
- Eder Militao's performance
- What happened in the second half? What changed?
- Fede Valverde's performance
- How often will we see the 3-5-2
- Takefusa Kubo to Valladolid
- Neymar rumours: The reported deal, would we take him? Why or why not?
- Pros and cons of going to the USA or Asia for preseason
- Which three unattainable players would we sign?
- Isco's performance against Salzburg
- And more.
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47 min
896
Donny Van de Beek
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Matt Wiltse discuss:
- Our thoughts on the win over Fenerbahce
- The disorganized press
- Defense on the flanks
- Mariano Diaz's cameo
- Donny Van de Beek: How does he fit? Does his signing affect the pursuit of Paul Pogba? How does this affect Isco? Does he start?
- Upside: Brahim Diaz vs Marco Asensio
- Barcelona kicking themselves over Takefuso Kubo
- How much does Casemiro's return actually solve?
- Can Eden Hazard become a leader?
- And more.
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49 min
897
Las Galácticas: Episode 1
Jess Houwen and Emilee Woods join Gabe Lezra to discuss the origins and backstory of the team that will become Real Madrid CF, and what the future holds.
So, who is Tacón? And why are they the team Real Madrid chose? And what's going on with all of this?
Let's look back and enjoy a fantastic World Cup this summer, which has kickstarted European women's game.
But let's to the future and talk about everything we've seen up until now--and who Florentino might bring in as his first Galácticas.
So, from Jess, Gabe and Emilee--enjoy!
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69 min
898
Live from New York
This episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast was recorded in New York City, in front of a live audience at the Playwright Irish Pub. We discussed what it was like to be at the 7 - 3 loss at Metlife, what's happening with James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale, Zinedine Zidane's connection with certain players, how to 'solve' some of the team's problems, and so much more.
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78 min
899
James in limbo
Link to purchase tickets to our live podcast in New York
This episode if brought to you by Hotel Riu New York Times Square
This episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast comes in two parts.
Part one (Kiyan Sobhani, David Amoyal)
- Napoli's stance on James Rodriguez
- How much has Cristiano Ronaldo moved the needle for Juventus?
- How does Maurizio Sarri change things for Juve?
- The nightmare that is FedEX field, and Marco Asensio's injury
- Why the Icardi / Wanda / Napoli trifecta makes sense
Part two (Kiyan Sobhani, Jeremy Beren)
- What Diego Simeone has experimented with so far in the preseason
- How Kieran Trippier and Joao Felix have looked
- Marcos Llorente's red card
- What should we expect to see on Friday?
- Does Real reconsider moving James now that Asensio is injured?
- The insane ongoing Griezmann saga
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49 min
900
Arsenal Preview; Dani Ceballos Fit
Link to buy tickets to our live podcast in New York
This episode is brought to you by Hotel Riu New York Times Square
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Travis King discuss:
- Arsenal vs Real Madrid in 2007
- Where does Dani Ceballos fit at Arsenal?
- What to expect from Arsenal in tonight's preseason match
- Ozil's first game against Real Madrid since his departure
- And more
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