I actually think Real will struggle to finish in the top four this season for a couple pf reasons. Mainly because they haven't found a replacement for D.Beckham, the man who created most of Madrid's goals via cross or free-kick. Typically they have ignored this fact completely, choosing instead to waste their time attempting impossible signings(most of them going for Kaka) and now they think A.Robben is the player needed. Why does Real think Robben is a priority? He would be another Robinho on the team and don't get me wrong he's a very talented player, but shouldn't Real Madrid focus more on the creative strenght of the team? With Guti as the only true creative player, although a great underrated player I think Real should at least have another creative talent on the team. That other creative talent could be Riquelme, a proven world class player and cheaper than not-so-good players. If Real could manage to sign both Robben and Riquelme then they would be serious contenders in any competition, because with Robinho and Robben keeping the oposition/defence busy then Riquelme would be free to do what he does best; cntrolling games, giving the killer pass, dominating the oponent and most importantly entertaining the madridistas. Not only would Riquelme make Real Madrid an interesting and attractive team, but he would also replace Beckham as the free-kick taker, this in my opinion is very important because most of the club's goals came from a Beckham free-kick.

Many can say Riquelme is overrated, that he can't handle the pressure, that he doesn't perform when surrounded by other stars, that he doesn't compare to Kaka, that he's slow or that he's a spoiled player, but I can tell you differently. The only flaw I see in Riquelme's game is that he doesn't perform that well when agressively man-marked, but when you mix him with players like Robben and Robinho the oposition can't afford to man-mark him. This is when Riquelme plays at his best, taking advantage of the space the oposition allows him and dictating the play. So finally Riquelme is the modern day Carlos Valderrama and it would be a shame if Real Madrid let's this oportunity slip by.

About Real's "creative strenght", it seems that R.Van Der Vaart is Schuster's new priority.

Van Der Vaart is a quality player, I've read they're going to make a 15 mill. Euro bid for the player so if the transfer does materialize I think the player will do well at Madrid. But I still think Riquelme would do better for Madrid, I've got my reasons. Mainly because in my opinion Riquelme is somewhat similar to Z.Zidane, so i think he can play Zidane's role better than Van Der Vaart or Robinho, plus he can replace Beckham as the free-kick taker(don't know if Van Der Vaart can do it as well). And you know the madridistas have been looking for someone to suceed Zidane as playmaker, Robinho was suposed to fill Zidane's boots but he doesn't play like Zidane and the madridistas realized that after one season. They wanted a player similar to Zidane and in my opinion Riquelme is the most similar player to Zidane; they are both slow, great dribblers, great passers, very elegant and dependant of their superior technique. But it looks like Schuster has already choosed Van Der Vaart for the playmaker role.

Even if Real sign Van Der Vaart, i don't get why there hasn't been any formal offers for Riquelme. He as acomplished more than Van Der Vaart as far as i know; Copa Libertadores, Argentine league titles, south american player of the year award, semi-final finish in "The" Champions League... and he played a better World Cup  than both Ronaldinho and Kaka. He also was the best player of this year's Copa America, so i don't get why no one has shown more interest.

I don't get it either, I mean maybe Riquelme is a little spoiled but he's still is a great player. About Riquelme's acomplishments; La Copa Libertadores and La Copa America are two underrated tournaments and I supose European clubs overlook that he has performed great in both of them. But there's not a convincing explanation to why no formal offers have been made to Riquelme by any team, my only explanation is plain stupidity. Anyway what do you or anybody that cares think about the future of Real Madrid, are they title contenders or not? 

i think schuster still wants robben. and im sure he'll get him. jose dusnt want robben as he now as malouda and j.cole who can play on the left. i'll welcome robben at real.

They should sign Robben because they're going to need him, but I think they still need a player like Van Der Vaart, Diego or Riquelme.

I would like to see a midfield made of: Gago, Riquelme, Robinho and Robben. On the front: Van Nistelrooy and Soldado. In the defence I don't know, maybe; Cannavaro, S.Ramos, Drenthe and Torres.

I believe Real Madrid lost their Chances of Being The great team they were be Selling Beckham the replacments they are using for him (players to send crosses) are miguel torres and ramos i dont belive neither one of them is qualified to replace bekcham

daniel alves would help but still they should be depending on cicinho and marcelo dispite being so young they are the replacements for cafu and r.Carlos In the Brazilian National Team...we have seen in the pre season games that real had failed in so near free kicks and failed to send any good crosses because of using m.torres and ramos

in the midfield the  should use 3 players in the same place and leave robinho to play freely and they should stop relying on raul.....and gago they have lots of good players and i bielive bringing qauresma is the perfect solution for them

In my opinion the only people that can make crosses or free-kicks as effectively as Beckham are; Riquelme, Figo, Juninho and Ronaldinho (I'm sure I forgot someone). Speaking of crosses, Joaquin is one fo the best at them and he proved it last season with all his assists for Morientes.

Why doesn't Real sign D.Alves? He's way better than Cicinho and Drenthe. As I expected they are signing not-so-good players like W.Sneijder, they could've signed Van Der Vaart, Riquelme, Diego... but they end up signing Sneijder, and by the way what happened with Robben? It looks like they can't manage signing what they promised themselves. (at least Sneijder haves some experience)

I agree with you about Raúl, he was a great player years ago but now he's just average. His role shouldn't be as a starter because he could be much more effective as a sub. And Quaresma showed great potential this last season, but maybe La Liga doesn't favor his style of game, plus Real doesn't need Quaresma(they already have Robinho and maybe Robben in a couple of days).

i think real shoudve pushed for ballack more than robben, he wouldve been the ideal gap filler in midfield. Robben is still pretty much interesting as he will push robinho on the right where imo he is better suited. i also see madrid's season as being a tough one.

yet, the other top teams in la liga wont be far ahead of them, barca will concede goals, as usual. Their midfield will not be able to break down play, they will be incredible going forward, but too much pressure will be put on a defense that is always not the most solid in spain.

You're absolutely right my friend, Real should've pushed more for Ballack, and for Robben. But I think Ballack was going to stay in Chelsea anyway because; he didn't impress in his first season at london, he haves a ridiculous salary in Chelsea, he's not the kind of player that leaves a club with an underachiever status and he's thirsty to prove his worth.

They should've pushed more for Ballack the same way they should've made some kind of effort for Riquelme, instead they ended up signing W.Sneijder(not what the fans wanted). It doesn't look good for Madrid; Villarreal haves a strong squad, Valencia looks determined to ad Van Der Vaart to their already impressive team, Sevilla will probably perform like last season, and Barcelona have built the best team in Spain. I think Barcelona will be better in every position, and their defense will impress.

My guess is that Real Madrid will finish in 4th place and trophiless. 

I'm not so good at guessing, last season I said Real would finish in 3rd or 4th place and as you know they ended up champions. Anyway is Atl. Madrid the only one who remembers that it was Riquelme the one who carried Villarreal all the way to the Champions League semi-final? He got them through Man. Utd. and Inter Milan, not an easy task.

I remember when Villarreal reached that semi-final, everybody was talking about how great Riquelme was. A lot of people were interested in him, Real Madrid among others... Now on the other hand, when Roman is in the best position to be signed; no one makes an offer for Riquelme. It's amazing that clubs were willing to give more than 20mill.Euros for Riquelme almost two years ago, and now they aren't willing to pay a mere 11mill.Euros.

Madrid said they wanted c.ronaldo few months ago...

know they are not able to get him anymore

the most logic replacement for him is quaresma and they would still save money.....

instead of doing all these silly transfers they should have got like 2 decent players...

i bielive the only 2 good transfers were dudek and saviola........

Now that you mention it; Quaresma is the best cover for C.Ronaldo available, the other was Nani and he signed for Man. Utd. Anyways with the Robben signing coming to a close I think he would do better(get more playing time) at another club.

I agree with you about Real's signings; they weren't good, I mean Sneijder? what as Ajax accomplished lately? - Nothing but a couple of poor showings at the Champions League. They could've done much better with the signings, I'm truly dissapointed.

Real also sacrificed D.Alves's signing in order to sign Robben. Robben is a great player but he's constantly injured, on the other hand D.Alves is a world class consistent player who plays almost all games through the season. So maybe this is another example of Real's poor decisions.

I hope Atl. Madrid stops winning about Riquelme's cheap price and sign him. With Román they would have a dangerous team; Aguero, Simao, Forlán and Riquelme. Looks interesting, but Villarreal won't reduse the price because they know Atletico haves more than enough money to sign him(the money that came from F.Torres's signing), so if they wan't a team like that they will have to spend a little more.

What bothers me the most is that Riquelme will probably spend the next three months on the bench, regardless of how well he practices for Villarreal(Villarreal as managed Riquelme's situation very very poorly, after all the great performances he gave for them). This reality is almost funny, ridiculous...  one of the best players in the world cheearing Villarreal from the stands.