Right now all of these siloed and disparate groups are pulling in different directions. If this club is to have any success that needs to change.

What say you Madridistas? Where are you at with everything right now?

I might post a video later, depending on responses.

There are clearly some players that are not aligned with the coaching staff and vice versa. The board has been obsessed with superstar names for far too long and has assembled an expensive, very talented, but ill fitting squad.

Madrid is still at the top of the table in La Liga and top 8 of the CL table. But this team has clearly shown signs of regression on the pitch and the technical area.

All these silos that in theory want the same thing (wins), but are actually disparate and also concerned with self preservation, money and power. If wins come, great. But it truly isn't the #1 priority for everyone in these silos.

Sports clubs are strange ecosystems. You have coaches, players, player and coach representation, operations, business, etc.

With both parties following through on their commitments and being open to receive critique when they fail in that regard. This is how trust is established.

This goes back to trust. Yes, the coach must earn it from players. But players also need to be willing and openminded. In any successful relationship, open/honest communication and compromise is essential.

Players, especially the best ones, know they are the rare commodity. It's much easier to sack a coach, than it is to move on from an elite high priced player.

Should players respect their coaches? Yes, of course. Should there be room for healthy debate and discussion? Yes. Striking that balance is extremely difficult.

But you must show them that what you're going to teach them will work AND that it is in their best interest AND the team's. This is not an easy task to pull off. Many try and fail at this for all sorts of reasons.

When you have tasted success doing things a certain way, it is very difficult to convince a player that they need to change or do something different. Players, and this is true of even the best players, want to be coached.

As for the players. When you reach the pinnacle of professional sports, there is a level of self belief, confidence, and arrogance they all possess to varying degrees.

Can it get better? Yes. Will it get better? I don't know. That depends on several factors, including the players.

Tactics are a small percentage of a manager's job. Particularly a manager at a big club. No club more than Real Madrid. For reasons none of us know, because we aren't there, this part of the job is proving extremely difficult.

First, Xabi Alonso is not doing himself any favors by failing to identify a trusted XI, sometimes showing too much tactical flexibility, and at others not showing enough. He is also clearly struggling to establish trust with several members of the squad.

But, as always, the issues and reasons are nuanced. There is a lot to look at and point to in Madrid right now.