Real Madrid eventually overcomes valiant Elche - thanks to the Referee

Watching  the first half one might have thought that Elche are the favourites - the Galacticos and  Real Madrid were the minions.

Again Mr. Ancelotti- I have said this time and again, but you continue to turn a deaf ear:-

1. Sergio Ramos should have been sent off - had the Referee not been kind to Real Madrid. I have said this over and over again, Ramos is going to get Real Madrid into serious trouble by being sent off. He plays a very rough and dangerous game. You cannot put your team in danger by being so stupid.

2. Why is Ramos the Captain when he continually attracts yellow cards setting a bad example to the youngsters? If he cannot tackle legally he should be benched. It seems he gets a yellow card every single match.

3. Albeloa - how many times did he cross the ball - ONCE. He takes the ball up to the oppositions area and then passes the ball back. Please see the TV replays. Its awful. Terrible waste of an attacking move if you have to go back when you are in opponents area.

4. Passing the ball back when there is no opponent near you - see how many times the ball was passed back when taking the ball forward would have been the most logical thing to do. See the TV replays.

5. What is Khedira and Albeloa doing in the team? Benzema is atleast trying today - but he should also be benched.

6. The Madrid defence and midfield are weak - letting Elche do whatever they want - attack freely down Madrid's left flank.

7. Had it not been for Diego Lopez, Real Madrid would have been 2-0 down going into the break.

8. You don't have a genuine right winger.

9. The left flank is where all the attacks are coming through - the same every game.

Mr. Ancelotti, you belittled Ozil during the week, but your words will come back to haunt you. There are very few players of Ozil's caliber in Real Madrid.

I hope you throw the book at those highly overrated and overpaid players. They do not do our REAL MADRID BADGE and COLOUR  proud.

We are worried how Real Madrid will score, or will they score or can they score?

For us Madridistas, we have to suffer during every match. Our defence is porous. Our midfield lacks creativity and the forwards are not getting the right passes or crosses or through balls. Goals are like gold dust - very few and very precious.

The second half started and within a few minutes Ronaldo was brought down outside the Elche area and he converted from  the free kick. The free kick went through the barrier; in fact I think the Madrid players moved away and the ball went through the gap into the near post bouncing just as it went in.

After the goal, Madrid played indifferent football. Nothing happened. It was all Elche - they were trying their best to score a goal. They shots at Diego Lopez's goal - reminding me of the old saying - if you don't shoot or take a shot, you will not score a goal.

Elche's perseverance finally paid off when during extra time they stretched the Madrid's defence and the Ghanian forward headed home a beautiful, nicely constructed goal. A good move - free flowing - nice to watch.

As time was ticking way, Madrid was awarded a corner and from the corner- a penalty. It seemed like Pepe was held and brought down in the area. It was perhaps a fair decision for Madrid but a cruel one for Elche.

Ronaldo converted from the penalty spot.

Madrid came away with the 3 points.

But well done Elche you deserve more. You left your hearts out on the field.

We the Real Madrid fans salute you.    

You played well, you played with passion and you gave it your all.

What more can you do?

 

Arsenal come away with 3 points thanks to Ozil, Ramsay and the Referee

Ozil on his debut showed what a brilliant creative player he is.
My only concern is that besides Giroud, Arsenal does not have quality strikers to capitalize on Ozil's creative passes.
Look at Walcott. He missed two clear opportunities of goal - both created by Ozil.
It could be that Ozil may become frustrated playing with such poor quality strikers.Arsenal were clearly the better side but they had good fortune when the Referee - Atkinson disallowed a Sunderland goal and did not play the advantage.
It is sad when you see referee's of " a certain standard" make a complete hash of things. And the funny thing is - it always favours the stronger and better teams.
Ramsay was a stand out player for Arsenal scoring two goals and Gardner for Sunderland was active in the second half.

 

Referee awards Spurs the 3 points

Spurs were lucky that the Referee awarded them a penalty from what appears to be a dive from Townsend in the Swansea penalty area. And Roberto Soldado did the rest.
Although Spurs created a few more chances of goal than did Swansea, they never really threatened Vrom in goal for the Welsh side. The only real chance of a Spurs goal came in the first half when Paulino took a thundering shot from about 4 yards out. I don't know between Williams and Vrom Swansea managed to keep the ball out of the net.
However to be fair, Spurs were denied a penalty in the first half when the Referee gave a freekick to Spurs just outside the box when the foul was clearly committed by Shelby inside the box.
Swansea played much better in the second half and the substitutes (Spaniards and Wilfried) that Michael Laudrup brought on, played some good football but without anything to show for it.
Looking at Spurs, I think Bale is glad to be out of there.
Townsend's speed was impressive and Vrom of Swansea were my Men of the Match.
Soldado did not make any impression and had it not been for his penalty kick, we would have thought that he was on the bench!!