Three Letters: 4 Jan 2025

To Whom It May Concern:

Juninho: If you only watch Real Madrid matches for the results, this isn’t the Daily Thread for you. Feel free to skip to the comments (aka the results). For everyone else, today will feature three simple letters regarding our match versus Valencia. They won’t be perfectly written (as time is of the essence) but they’ll be just right.

Welcome to The Daily Merengue — a blog where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name!

Shoutout to the Mods who do a fantastic job, Valyrian Steel, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho (“GOAT”).

Dear Carlo Ancelotti,

I’ll first admit that you’ve forgotten more football than I’ll ever know so perhaps this letter is futile to say the least. Perhaps my own flaws and inexperienced remarks are quite frankly nonsensical drivel that you should pay no heed to. However, at times in life, I’ve found it convincing to listen to those who see situations from outside my own perspective even if they haven’t lived the same fulfilling life. Perhaps there is some subtle beauty in a view that isn’t muddled by relationships, inner turmoils, or daily skepticism. Perhaps a view from outside the dressing room is truly what we all occasional need.

Under that premise, my letter to you just hopes to shed a little light on the at times overwhelming darkness that has often shrouded this season. I’d like to congratulate you on today’s win. Your choice of subs served us well in changing the monotony of our play. Luka Modric without defensive responsibilities (and limited minutes) is still a wonderful player and his late introduction was critical. Brahim’s tenacity for every 50/50 ball was crucial. Even Asencio’s brief cameo ensured that we maintained a victory. So raise my glass to you — Don Carlo.

Nevertheless, I’m still a bit wary of our persistent early game struggles. And let’s be genuine Don Carlo — this isn’t a 2025 issue. This was a 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021 issue. I’m concerned because our early game issues continue to be pervasive and our 2nd half solutions rarely become solidified habits. For example, Carlo — Ferland Mendy cannot start for this team. I’m rare to discuss effort when it comes to players but I’m frightened that there really is nothing much positive I can say about his performance. I witnessed lackadaisical defending and tracking devoid of any notion of urgency, and at some point, we need to admit that this isn’t the marauding LB that fortified our backline in 2019/2020. Time and injuries have caught up to this player. He offers little going forward and little going backwards, so it may behoove us to play Fran Garcia or Camavinga.

In an effort to avoid past repetition, such as a discussion on the ineffectiveness of our 1st half press and the necessity of Camavinga in our lineup, or the importance of developing more set-piece play (besides Fede hoofball) as well as build-up play (general hoofball) I’ll leave it at that.

Cheers,

J

Hey Jude,

I’ll be quick with this one because I sadly don’t have the time to properly honor you with acclaim but let me be clear — you are the leader of this team. Although you may not have received every award and accolade for a phenomenal introductory season (+ national team season); although you may not be on the front page for every final goal; although we as a community don’t seem to properly cherish every lung-bursting run and tackle as much as 1v1 dribbles; I’m here to tell you that you are the leader of this team. You are this team’s heart and soul. It was you who kept us afloat early season when your Madrid kit was as fresh as it could be. It was you who broke Barcelona hopes during El Clasicos. It was you who kept running and keeps running despite a bandaged shoulder, migraines from a lack of rest, and a consistently shifting role and responsibilities. It is you who keeps running and running and running and demanding that we as a team excel. I feel awful that this crown needs to be placed on the head of someone who is only 21:

Lead this team. We will only go as far as you pull us.

Cheers,

J

Dear Vini,

I get it. I — more than many who consistently watch and critique every run, dribble, shot, and word you say — get it. I’m not here to tell you that you need to change your attitude because I understand how they codify words like attitude for us but call the same behavior passion for others. I fully recognize how they applaud Gavi. And Vini, I’m not here to tell you that the entire world isn’t against you because I fully understand how on countless days and nights, it feels like all you have is yourself. Like there’s no one but us. I understand how at times it feels like no one is praying for you. No one is defending you. No one is there to offer an uplifting hand. No one seems to hear your desperate cries for help. Trust me, I get it. So I write to you not as an older brother but as an equal who bleeds just like you. A man who consistently asks if my own anger is justified. A man who at times lashes out, barks back, grits my teeth, and bites because that’s how we were raised. We were raised to be wolves in a world of men. A world that would never love us. A world that only seems to recognize power and fear.

So with that being said, Vini — all I ask (and I know this is a big ask) is that you don’t let this blinding rage consume you. And trust me, I’m only writing to you what I often try to say to myself. This isn’t a lecture. It’s a plea to a familiar face. It’s a plea to a man who has a platform and not only the talent but the willingness to speak unsaid truths — purposefully ignored truths. And it’s funny how often I feel like I’m just staring at a mirror…

Anyway, I say all this Vini because often they ignore the message because of the messenger. And I wish I had known that years ago, but the messenger is always more important than the message. Unfortunately, that’s all they see. And what they see is inevitably what they hear. Nothing else matters. Everything else is noise.

I firmly believe that you are meant to do more than just kick this damn ball and perhaps that’s why you’ll find the standards of this letter more than what should be required from a 24-year old like you. I acknowledge that this letter may be a bit unfair. You didn’t ask for this responsibility — it was given. I’m not sure that it was even what you wanted. I know it isn’t what I wanted lol. But we’re here now. We’re on a stage in front of a massive audience that for some reason listens. And yes, more than a few are hoping that we fail. But trust me, we won’t. We can’t fail because we were raised without a Plan B option. Plan B is death. The only thing that can stop you is yourself. Your anger is your greatest weapon but its the same match that may burn everything you’ve built.

Anyway, a suspension is likely coming plus a fine. Don’t take it to heart as sometimes I’ll admit a step back is actually refreshing. It allows you navigate back to a safe space or at least the safest space we’ll ever know.

Vini — I’m praying for you and maybe you’ll find some solace from someone finally saying “it’s us against the world.”

Sincerely,

Juninho

Honesty For the Lil Homie

“One of these lives, Imma make things right. With the wrongs I’ve done, that’s when I unite. With the Father, Son, ‘til then, I fight. Rain on me, put the blame on me. Got guilt, got hurt, got shame on me. Got six comments that’s aimed at me. Done every feature, DT, what’s fame to me? MM a game to me, where the bedroom at? Sleep, I ain’t never had affairs with that. What’s fair when the hearts and the words don’t reach? What’s fair when being funny don’t take things back? It’s rare when somebody take your dreams back. I care too much, wanna share too much, in my head too much. I shut down too, I ain’t there too much. I’m a complex soul, they layered me up. Then broke me down, and morality’s dust, I lack in trust. This time around, I trust myself. Please everybody else but myself. All else fails, I was myself. Outdone fear, outdone myself. This year, you better one yourself. Masks on the babies, mask on an opp. Wear masks in the neighborhood stores you shop. But a mask won’t hide who you are inside. Look around, the reality’s carved in lies. Wipe my ego, dodge my pride. Look myself in the mirror.”

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“If my words had form…They wouldn’t reach you standing in the dark.”