Yes that's true Mark, but don't forget that Real didn't replace him with someone with a better passing range, they 'replaced' him with strikers, in true idiotic Real fashion. I'd say that's more a reason why they stopped winning.
Well strikers and David Beckham. There was that great quote from Zidane at the time: "Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the entire engine?", not that NRC is our entire engine but he does keep us ticking.
Thing is Perez got one thing right. For the style he wants Real to play in, like all Madridistas want, Makelele is too limited. The problem was that he had - still has - no idea how to get that style. Makelele wouldn't have been required at Real if they had Busquets or Xabi Alonso at that time. They didn't.
I too have had that honour, Holtender, and it always seemed to me that there are no positional pidgeonholes for Xavi like you're saying there is for NRC. Maybe Busquets would be a better comparison, but even that's a little demeaning to him. NRC is decent, but limited. To get anywhere really proper we probably have to do a bit better.
