How Will Real Madrid Function Without Higuain?

Since taking over at the Santiago Bernabeu, despite a monumental slip-up against Barcelona, everything has been going rosy for Jose Mourinho. He has implemented a 4-2-3-1 system which the team have adapted to with ease. As the season has progressed, so have Real, who are playing some of the best football in the league; an added bonus for president Florentino Perez, who after sacking Manuel Pellegrini, accepted that winning is the most important policy. The Portuguese coach however has not been one for rotation, and after finding a first X1 he can trust, has been reluctant to alter the first team players. However a back injury to the ever reliable Gonzalo Higuain has left Mourinho in a dilemma. How will he replace the Argentine?

For the past three seasons Higuain has cemented the poacher spot in the team, and a return of 63 goals in his last 101 games had made it difficult for Karim Benzema to displace him. Higuain has mastered how to play the role. He has the ability to hold the ball up to bring others into play, he drifts out to the wings to create space for Cristiano Ronaldo to drive through the centre and also has the persistence of playing on the shoulder of the last man, which helps to stretch the oppositions defence, freeing space for Madrid to squeeze forward.

Benzema and Kaka have a Real Madrid lifeline.

Forget Özil And Di Maria, Canales Could Be The Best Buy

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had a bright idea when he was elected in 2000. He could build the best squad in the world if they followed some simple procedures. In principal the theory sounded perfect. You would spend enormous sums of money on the best footballers such as Ronaldo (€39 million), Zinedine Zidane (€75 million), David Beckham (€35 million) or Luis Figo (€45 million).

The big names would equal revenue, so television deals and merchandise would enhance because these household names would be attractive, especially in the untapped markets of American and Asia, and eventually that large transfer fee would be recouped. Finally players from the Castilla would be promoted, such as Alvaro Mejia and Francisco Pavon, meaning the beliefs of Real Madrid are installed into the team, they would not cause problems if they were not playing consistently and they would not be heavy contributors to the wage bill.

Canales Is Whetting Madrids Appetite

Silva Can Take Manchester City To The Promise Land

The flirtatious affair with English football, which has seen the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool battle for his signature over the past couple of years has finally been concluded. The unlimited budget of oil rich Manchester City has acquired a player that they could have only dreamed of four years ago.

Born in Arguineguín, a town in the Canary Islands, David Silva was signed to Valencia CF at the age of 14, a club which not only had him on their books, but also his father who is currently part of the stadium security. His development was fast, at the age of 17 he was already playing first team football on loan to SD Eibar, but it was the following season at Celta Vigo when Los Che realised they had a prodigy. After joining the newly promoted side it only took two substitute appearances before he was integral to their sixth place finish, resulting in UEFA Cup football the following season.

Silva Is All Smiles Ahead Of His Move To Eastlands