Plethora; meaning: a surplus, an overabundance of something, to have many choices, an embarrassment, excess…

Attempting to bring trophies to the Bernabue for the first time since 2008, Jose “The Translator” Mourinho has quietly gone about bolstering his squad with the signings of Carvalho, Ozil, Canales, Khadeira and Leon.  The Madrid squad finally has a feeling of depth.

However, Mourinho might have a wee problem in his ever crowded midfield. At last count, there are 14 midfielders in the first team squad… too much of a good thing Mr Mourinho?

Let’s list them down shall we:

Gago, Diarra, Kaka (although his injury has made a hash of his “I’ll be the best player in the WORLD again” proclamations), Ronaldo, Lass Diarra, Granero, Alonso, Drenthe (who? Hehehe), Canales, Leon, Di Maria, Khadeira, Ozil and van Der Vaart.

We can have a whole football team with 3 subs with the midfielders at his disposal. I am foreseeing some (Dutch) discontent and many an unhappy player. Aside from Canales and Leon (who would actually walk into most of the La Liga sides) who really have age on their side, the rest would be fighting a battle to slot into 2 slots at most.

There would not be any question that Ronaldo will start when fit. Alonso would also be an automatic starter. Assuming Mourinho goes for the 4-2-3-1 formation; Alonso would be partnering Lass Diarra/Granero in midfield. That leaves another two slots for the 3 in the above formation. Attack would probably be Higuain. Benzema only when the Copa del Rey comes around.

So you have van der Vaart, Ozil, Di Maria, Canales, and maybe Leon (who impressed in pre-season) to fight for two slots.

I’d probably go for Ozil and Di Maria (Mourinho signings) with Canales and Leon (Spanish- they’re en vogue now aren’t they? Something about winning the World Cup?) as back-up.

This would leave van der Vaart going through his yearly I want first team football phases. He’ll probably stay and show up the others… he’s just made like that this van Der Vaart fellow…  

Gago, should just retire from football, while Drenthe should actually learn to play football. As for Khadeira, he’ll play a couple of alright games before being found out and goes back to Germany next season.