OPEN THREAD — Company Man: 28 Jan. 2026

Welcome to The Day by day Merengue — a spot the place you may be happy to debate all issues soccer. Don’t be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s within the title!

Shoutout to the Mods who do a incredible job, Valyrian Metal, Ezek XI, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho.

Author’s Prelude. Right this moment’s memo shall be extra conventional than most Juninho memos as there’s simply merely much less to say.

“I knew Kaspar intimately. He didn’t know the very first thing about me, however he wanted me. Twenty-year relationship. I used to be who he needed me to be. Simply inform them what they should hear to outlive the day. Make your self large in your life, Rob. They’ll fall in love with you.” – Clement

Firm Man. I feel everybody who’s employed or has been understands and has wrestled with the significance of being a “firm man.” Even on MM, I feel it at instances has been one thing I’ve wrestled with as a moderator / author. Whether or not it’s extra impactful and vital to strictly play the function that was given or to be authentically myself. Is it higher to simply mandate a masks of optimism to higher “facilitate dialogue” or is the higher function to be “a boogeyman” of kinds — saying what to be frank many aren’t allowed to say? Idk – you’ll all be a greater choose than me. However right now’s DT in remembrance of Jose Mourinho (who we’ll face right now within the CL) will merely be one other try for me to be me.

Yesterday’s Take. Yesterday, I considerably abruptly and passionately mentioned the next “Even when Arbeloa wins the double (La Liga / CL), I’d sack him…” And now that a while has handed, I’ve fortunately been in a position to higher clarify how I really feel or what I imply by this assertion. (Set off warning: when you solely care about outcomes then this probably isn’t the DT for you.)

Sack Arbeloa. Earlier than actually diving into this, I assume I’ll first have to persuade you all or not less than hope that we will come to an settlement on a story timeline. First, Carlo Ancelotti didn’t win a significant trophy (CL / CDR / La Liga) within the 24/25 season. Second, Carlo Ancelotti is a comparatively completely different supervisor than Xabi Alonso in terms of not solely techniques however persona. Third, the important thing gamers of the 24/25 season are nonetheless right here right now (key gamers outlined as Vini, Mbappe, Jude, Thibaut Courtois). Fourth, the gamers who have been injured for lengthy parts of final season are nonetheless injured (i.e., Militao, Mendy, Alaba, any RB, and so forth.). Fifth, Xabi Alonso had a falling out with a portion of the gamers (be happy to debate who precisely however it’s clear that Vini was one. We will debate Jude contemplating the timeframe of when his goodbye publish lastly arrived). Lastly, there has but to be a real main distinction so far between the Xabi period and the Arbeloa period moreover angle / dedication / work price of some. It hasn’t been a tactical shift.

I perceive the final portion stands out as the most tough to really persuade you all. And I probably might want to take an entire different DT to take action. However alas, I don’t have the time for this portion. Be happy to disagree within the feedback and possibly we will come to a mutual understanding at a later time. Simply please bear with me for the second and comply with my prepare of thought. Additionally please don’t remark saying what’s modified is just “off ball motion,” it’s not a large stretch for me to say a greater angle leads in the direction of gamers really operating.

My Reasoning. Okay, now that I’ve cemented that background. Sure, as M91 would name me an irrational course of oriented one who takes delight in sustainable outcomes greater than easy one-off affairs (insert analogy of man driving off cliff and discovering pot of gold), I’d fireplace Arbeloa (assuming there are zero tactical adjustments) even when he gained the double. Why? Due to the message preserving him would ship. Maintaining him would justify a player-led coup in opposition to an unlikeable supervisor. Maintaining him additional point out that possibly these gamers gave up on Carlo Ancelotti within the 24/25 season, when Carlo typically referred to as for extra depth in each aspect of the sport. Maintaining him would point out that this workforce of midfield misfits, missing Toni Kroos and a Joselu-type 9, can merely flip it on to win main trophies once they really feel appreciated or fairly frankly care to play at a high quality which meets Actual Madrid’s requirements. And I’m sorry, however that isn’t the management or dedication to RM as an establishment that I’d be comfy aligning with. I’m a fan of this membership not the gamers, and my worry with ratifying this haphazard strategy to participant dedication is that it will most of the time disrupt the unity of membership.

I’m unsure if I’m actually explaining how I really feel on this subject or if my phrases are reaching you wherever chances are you’ll be, so I’m going to strive a bit once more. Sorry if that is repetitive. I’m extraordinarily apprehensive that we’d be instructing these impressionable and younger gamers that when adversity comes their manner (whether or not particular person or collective), it’s acceptable for them to drop their depth with a purpose to carry upon a change of administration. Sure, this very a lot hinges on my remaining background level “There has but to be a real main distinction so far between the Xabi period and Arbeloa moreover angle…” But when issues stay in the identical constant movement, I can’t assist however really feel as if it will ring true. In some ways, this season may outline this new period of Madrid for years to return. In some ways, we’ve already cemented unhealthy habits. We’ve already showcased that it’s acceptable for star gamers to dispute with managers on substitutions on a worldwide stage to the purpose the place they scream “It’d be higher if I left Madrid.” We’ve arguably considerably showcased that gamers can probably decide and select what video games to play regardless of medical disapproval. And we’re approaching a stage the place we could also be showcasing that Actual Madrid greater than ever is actually a player-led membership.

And who is aware of? Possibly that’s not a horrible factor. The three-peat period staged a coup in opposition to Rafa Benitez and it labored. However idk if it will work on this occasion. Idk if these gamers or if RM as an establishment is rich sufficient to create such a large hole in expertise contemplating the Premier League’s income + oil cash. I’m unsure or not less than I’ve been making an attempt to advocate that 2026 is just not 2016. The world has modified. Soccer has modified. Successes of the previous are probably failures of right now. Idk.

Be happy to disagree with me on all of this. I’m nonetheless shaping my very own opinion on the topic and the place I’ll in the end land. My thoughts isn’t some binary code. However I’ll simply go away you lastly with this. For years, MM and Actual Madrid followers laughed at PSG and at instances Messi-led Barca. We laughed on the extravagant salaries. We laughed at Neymar’s non-public jet. We laughed at Messi making certain sure of his associates have been signed or renewed. We laughed at these “player-driven” golf equipment as a result of they weren’t like us. We had an establishment that may by no means cater to something however the good thing about the badge. That is the membership that offered Cristiano Ronaldo, refused to resume Sergio Ramos, despatched Iker Casillas packing in tears. That is the membership that offered DiMaria to Manchester United the identical summer time that he gained the CL MoTM award. We’re Actual Madrid and the trail to success is ruthless.

Properly…MM…who’re we now?

(Vital Disclaimer: Since lots of you’ll probably run with this in a disorganized and relentless vogue, please word that I’m nonetheless hoping for Arbeloa to achieve success. I’ve really all the time preferred him and adopted him because the Juvenil A supervisor. I hope he wins the double. Leaves and comes again — once we can really cherish his brilliance slightly than witness him as a well-dressed cheerleader).

“purchase the dip. quick VIX. f*ck bitcoin. And Hala Madrid.“