I haven't read the entire thread, but are you arguing that Kroos is better than Pogba? If so, that is some good weed wherever you live. I honestly don't know what Kroos provides on the pitch, except that he's a good warrior/player. Actually, if there is one German who would look amazing in a Nazi uniform, I think Toni is that guy.
Before the WC, very few would argue Pogba is better than Kroos.
Pogba had a very good WC and deserved the praise and recognition. He was in a situation to succeed and he did so - in a system not unlike Mou's, but with better players.
Now, I'd say, it's fair to argue for both, for Kroos and for Pogba. Different players, but both absolute top tier midfielders.
I honestly don't know what Kroos provides on the pitch,
Without even concealing the high horse I'm riding on when I see these statements, a lot of people who are not that deep into football don't get it.
You are far from the only person to say "they don't know what Kroos provides on the pitch" and you are far from the only person to be, well, wrong.
Either he's the luckiest footballer in history and gets carried to numerous CLs, league titles and World Cups, or maybe, just maybe, you don't see what he does and the fault is with you.
On a slower day at work I'll even compile a tutorial as to why Kroos is so good, just for the people who "don't see it".
...
Madrid are in trouble, but Kroos is the last guy to blame. Zidane had tactical faults, but he played his midfield to perfection.
I'm just gonna repeat what I wrote the other day.
Zidane did brilliantly in 3/3 CLs and 2/3 La Ligas. His first year he almost caught up with Barca after Benitez was sacked, won the title the 2nd year, messed up the 3rd, happens. Yet still people somehow labeled him as a tactical noob or whatever.
For me, his tactics were underrated and his in-game changes were second to none, with a lot of changes in game deciding matches (not just substitutes, but identifying problem areas and adjusting - like swapping to 4-4-2 vs PSG at home etc.).
Well, for starters, he used his players correctly.
He played a very stretched system that, yes, sometimes made them look bad defensively, but it worked because it had absolute world class players at every position in defence and midfield, because they covered ground smartly, had the fastest CB pairing of all top teams, were press-immune thanks to Modric's ability to open passing lanes and Kroos' passing, they opened up quickly with vertical plays and exploiting empty pockets of space, and for me, they were very exciting to watch, as well as being very successful.
Casemiro was fantastic and used so smartly by ZZ. He was basically ignored in build up, he would push up and Modric and Kroos drop deep, and he would basically play 3rd CB if needed on defence.
Also, Cristiano Ronaldo meant, as Allegri says, that you basically start 1-0 up.
Under Lopetegui, so far... Casemiro is back to playing out from defense, and of course, he's struggling.
Modric, for some reason I cannot understand, plays much higher up the pitch, and although he's getting more chances to directly create scoring chances now, the resistance to press is basically gone from Real without him to counter it.
The most press-immune team of the last 5 years, the fastest-transitioning team of the last 5 years is now having problems transitioning from defence to attack against Bilbao and Sevilla. Sergio Ramos is playing like Sammer did for Borussia and Germany, expect Sammer went forward smartly and Ramos is just going up the pitch randomly.
TLDR; Zidane was criminally underrated for a manager who won so much and his football was open, fast - sometimes prone to defensive lapses - but exciting and sucessful.
Lopetegui-ball is slow, predictable, defensive but with the ball (tiki-taka without purpose, only 100% safe passes go forward) and, for a guy who watches every Madrid and Barca game, the biggest offense - incredibly dull and boring.
I'll add to that that the new Spanish boys just might not be all that, at least not yet.
They take too many touches on the ball and - for now - are the type of players to make you "win more" in games you're already winning, as opposed to actually win you the game (Asensio and Ceballos most of all).
Also, didn't help that their depth - a huge part of what made them so dominant in 16/17 - is gone.
....
Anyway, really pleased for Vlasic, he's still so young and now his career is back on track.
He's got the body of Rebic but with much more vision and technique, I love his potential, I hope he puts it all together.
