It's time for Zidane to pick his midfield

Fans can argue over whether it's a blessing or a curse but Real Madrid have more than their fair share of top quality midfielders currently at coach Zinedine Zidane's disposal.The nine players battling for a spot in the centre of the park cannot be satisfied by either the 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 deployed by the Frenchman and his rotations mantra will now be tested to the max.Considered as the three first-choice midfielders are Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro, the first two among the best users of the ball in the world and without parallel at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.Tough tackler Casemiro had previously been managed without a natural replacement but Marcos Llorente's return from Alaves creates a newfound level of competition in the holding role, with the Spaniard also able to cover for a soon to be 32-year-old Modric.First, he'll have to get past Isco after the former Malaga man's storming end to the campaign in 2016/17 that earned him a long-term contract renewal and fan favourite status.Isco was previously unhappy with game time but his gain was Mateo Kovacic's loss and it's hard to see how the Croat can be promised many more minutes in the upcoming campaign, even if he does impress when given the chance.Then there are Spanish youth internationals Marco Asensio and the newly purchased Dani Ceballos, the former capable of performing in place of both the BBC attack and CMK midfield.Finally, in more ways than one, is James Rodriguez. Left to dwell on his future while accumulating a serious dearth of game time, the Colombian is embodying the very difficult task Zidane has given himself at Real Madrid.
source http://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2017/07/10/5962a6d546163f5f098b45bd.html