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November has arrived, and Real Madrid are clearly down in the doldrums. Los Blancos are 8 points behind Barcelona in La Liga - a deficit they have never previously overcome, while they also experienced a 1-3 humiliation at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Champions League.
Real Madrid look a far cry from the side that won the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League last season, and things need to change.
Here are 5 fixes Zinedine Zidane needs to make to get Real Madrid back on track:
#1 Have a word with Isco and Marco Asensio regarding Ronaldo
One of the most popular stats floating around the footballing universe recently is that Cristiano Ronaldo has the worst conversion rate among forwards in Europe's Top 5 leagues. He's thundered in 40 of them, and has only managed one league goal. However, there may be more to the eye than just a player in poor form.
Isco and Marco Asensio earned plenty of plaudits last season, and the praise seems to have gone to their head. The duo have opted to go for goal multiple times this season with a teammate, usually Ronaldo, in a better position. With the trend observed over multiple games, Ronaldo has responded with selfish play of his own, as he's now far more likely to shoot from unlikely positions than before.
The altruism of Karim Benzema works brilliantly for Cristiano Ronaldo, and Zidane needs to remind his novice superstars that Ronaldo is top-dog. Real Madrid won their trophies by playing as a team, and they need to return to that state as soon as possible.
#2 A more conservative defensive approach
It was startling to see the bravado with which Real Madrid players have been reacting to the losses against Girona and Tottenham. All of Sergio Ramos, Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo have come out and said that things are 'fine', 'there's no need to panic' and that Madrid were just unlucky.
No.
This reeks of denial of a side that seems to have inexplicably lost its swagger and confidence. Zinedine Zidane faces a tough test in his nascent managerial career - but the answer is already there - Madrid need to opt for a more conservative defensive style.
Fullbacks overlapping is a fundamental play for Madrid, and that can remain, but centrally, things are rather concerning. Whether he is under instructions or maybe he's become simply too big for his boots, but Casemiro needs to rein himself.
The defensive midfielder has been found much further up the pitch plenty of times this season, with the result that when the transition happens, Sergio Ramos is forced to get forward, and only Nacho/Varane can cover what is often two players in support for the attacking side. Most issues can be solved if Casemiro simply goes back to his defensive discipline of last season.
#3 A backup striker in the January transfer window
It's strange to think of a club as rich as Real Madrid having a thin squad, but that is precisely where they are, most notably in the central striker position. Borja Mayoral, for all of his effort and endeavour, is simply not good enough to be second-choice - especially at his age.
Karim Benzema's injury threw Zidane's well-settled team for a loop, with Ronaldo having to fill in in a position that he does well when he ends up in it, and not when he starts from there.
Timo Werner would be an ideal striker for Real Madrid, as Los Blancos could conceivably move for the young German in January. More than offering Karim Benzema rest, Werner would represent a player who would offer plenty of pace centrally, thus allowing Zidane's side to switch to another system when things are not going to plan.
#4 Use his backup midfield options
The Zinedine Zidane of last season was lauded for his skill at the rotation, but then again the Frenchman had the likes of James Rodriguez, Danilo and Alvaro Morata to call upon. This season, Achraf Hakimi and Borja Mayoral are Zidane's options as backup, so naturally, there is a reticence to rotate those positions.
What's rather baffling is Zidane's insistence on persisting with his admittedly excellent midfield combination of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Modric and Kroos in particular, have looked tired and off-the-pace of late.
Mateo Kovacic is injured, but Zidane would be really better off offering Dani Ceballos a chance to impress. The Spaniard already has won a game for Madrid this season, and has not seen a start since then. Ceballos would offer more energy in the middle of the park, and his freshness and eagerness to impress would result in Madrid being renewed in midfield.
Rotating Ceballos over the course of the season with Modric and Kroos would offer Los Blancos the chance to remain fresh when the business end of the season comes.
#5 Review one-dimensional style of play
A fullback overlaps and sends a cross into the box - with Ronaldo usually on hand to tap in or score with his head.
Madrid's style of play has become rather stale and predictable this season - opposition managers simply know that they have to cut out the diagonal pass played by Modric or Kroos to an overlapping fullback. Even if Marcelo or Hakimi send a cross in, sides are set up to clear the ball in the box with ease.
Ironically enough, Zidane made some crucial tactical changes at momentous parts of his career, such as in the second half against Bayern Munich in the first leg last season. He knows what it takes, and it a bit surprising to see that a side that was comfortable switching between 4-3-3, 4-4-2 (midfield diamond) and a 3-4-3 last season could look so one-dimensional.
The best place to solve things in on the training pitch, and Zidane knows what he needs to do.
