Re: Our next number 9 - thread

by Adit Tue 23 Oct - 10:07:06

What we are lacking is a goal scorer .we conceded similar number of goals against shit teams last season but we were able to massively out score them. This time the problem is we don't have any goal scoring threats and icardi would solve that issue at least. Counter pressing, lack of width etc are other big problems but not addressing them doesn't mean we shouldn't solve the goal scoring problem.

by Valkyrja Tue 23 Oct - 10:24:03

First and foremost we need two wingers who can beat a man at pace, then a Benzema replacement and a Modric replacement. How is benzema supposed to score if we can't get the ball into the box more than 3 times a game ?

by Adit Tue 23 Oct - 10:38:09

But are you sure Benzema will score? His cf play is very limited and we definitely need a goal scorer as a cf now that CR is gone.

by sportsczy Tue 23 Oct - 11:30:46

Chance creation is the problem... last year, finishing sucked for 4 months to start but we were creating a massive number of chances every game (on par or better than all our great seasons). This season, we don't even look dangerous.

Before anyone can score, you need scoring opportunities. That needs to get fixed first.

I can't remember the stat exactly... but come the winter break last season, we were averaging 20+ shots and 9+ clear scoring opportunities a game. The problem was that our combined strikers had an efficiency of 8% or something ridiculous like that. This season, Benz is hitting on 5 of 23 shots (not enough shots), Bale is at 4 of 40 and Mariano is 1 of 9. 10 out of 72 is 14% roughly, which is about average (15% combined is where you want to be at minimum with the main scorer at 20% or more). The problem isn't efficiency really... it's the 72 shots by our main goalscorers in 12 official games. That's 6 per game combined and I'm almost certain that they're creating 2-3 clear chances per game max. That's putrid.

Our chance creation is shit. Didn's start out that way... but the last 6-7 games we've fallen off a cliff.

by The Demon of Carthage Tue 23 Oct - 13:46:23

Valkyrja wrote:
The Demon of Carthage wrote:That's your opinion. But most of us are sick and tired of Benzema and we would welcome any improvement on him because continuing with him is absolutely unacceptable.

It's also ironic to me that you would be completely opposed to signing Icardi when you have quite possibly the worst CF out of any CL contender. Although to be fair, we are no longer a CL contender.

You are in no position to be picky. You already have the worst.

We clearly don't have do sign any scrub because of your baffled opinion on Benzema. Rather wait for a good fit than panic buy an average striker.

Seriously, don't quote someone to say something completely nonsensical. I'm usually open to all views, but I can't take seriously anybody who claims that Benzema is any good.

You're calling Icardi average and a scrub. What does that make the joke for a CF you already have?

If Madrid told Inter right now they would like to make a straight Benzema-Icardi swap, the Italians would tell them to go eff themselves.

And panic buy? lool, he should've been replaced two seasons ago. This wouldn't be a panic buy, this would be a buy that was long-overdue.

by Mamad Tue 23 Oct - 14:28:42

Benzema played a huuuuge part in our last 3 CL titles. he is good. actually i can say with confidence that Benzema is a big game player.

by Mamad Tue 23 Oct - 14:29:31

You want to sign Higuain V2? OK. he'll get benched by Benzema too.

by Valkyrja Tue 23 Oct - 14:36:17

The Demon of Carthage wrote:
Valkyrja wrote:
The Demon of Carthage wrote:That's your opinion. But most of us are sick and tired of Benzema and we would welcome any improvement on him because continuing with him is absolutely unacceptable.

It's also ironic to me that you would be completely opposed to signing Icardi when you have quite possibly the worst CF out of any CL contender. Although to be fair, we are no longer a CL contender.

You are in no position to be picky. You already have the worst.

We clearly don't have do sign any scrub because of your baffled opinion on Benzema. Rather wait for a good fit than panic buy an average striker.

Seriously, don't quote someone to say something completely nonsensical. I'm usually open to all views, but I can't take seriously anybody who claims that Benzema is any good.

You're calling Icardi average and a scrub. What does that make the joke for a CF you already have?

If Madrid told Inter right now they would like to make a straight Benzema-Icardi swap, the Italians would tell them to go eff themselves.

And panic buy? lool, he should've been replaced two seasons ago. This wouldn't be a panic buy, this would be a buy that was long-overdue.

Everything about you has been screaming non-sense for at least 2 seasons. Why would I splash 100+ on a poacher (and not a RVN or sth like that) ? So when the next great striker emerges in 18/19 or 19/20 we splash another 200 on him, just to struggle getting rid of Icardi on huge wages, who, btw, is a Interista and has no qualm about coming here.

How's life without Zidane, btw ? Not a bad coach dat baldie I guess Laughing

by The Demon of Carthage Tue 23 Oct - 19:02:28

Your line of thinking is amazing. "There's no R9 out there so I'll just stick to the shitty striker I have until maybe, just maybe, another great CF comes to light. It doesn't matter if I wait a year, 2 or three, I'll not spend a dime until I see a Godly CF. Meanwhile, I'll keep fielding a finished CF and enjoy scoring once every full moon." You're something else Laughing

And to answer your question. Life is amazing without Zidane, and it sucks without Ronaldo. Zidane knew when to jump ship because he was struggling so bad even with Ronaldo, let alone without him. And he would be struggling just as much as Lopetegui if not more with the team we have right now. The fact that you're enable to see that, which is frankly a very easy thing to deduct, is testimony to how brilliant you are.

Enjoy the parallel universe you seem to be living in.

by sportsczy Tue 23 Oct - 19:22:23

I disagree with you DoC. Zidane is a very very pragmatic manager. He would have played a style to fit the players... Remember that Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Carvajal, Navas, Bale (of course), Casemiro and Modric were all injured for stretches to start last season. Remember Casilla being the GK, Ashraf at RB, Theo at LB... not mention Benzema and CR playing horribly???

That was our first half of last season. We had better players... eventually. They needed to get healthy and in form. Namely, CR. That's the only reason I say we had better players.

The bottom line is that Lope takes some of the blame as does Flo (for a lot of the blame). Reason I blame Lope is that it's not like he's sticking with a proven and winning formula (which is what Zidane did)... he's trying something revolutionary and, despite horrible results, won't change. Zidane experimented a lot early before finding his formule. Lope should do the same. If he tried a few things and they all didn't work... then it would be all on Flo.

Our squad is much better than our results so far.

by The Demon of Carthage Tue 23 Oct - 19:34:54

You forgot to mention that Zidane was relying heavily on crosses and individual brilliance to win games. Rarely did we score from open play.

Ronaldo is one of the best headers in the game and he knew exactly where to position himself to be at the end of those crosses. Zidane also knew that, that's why crossing was our go-to approach when we were having problems unlocking defenses.

That approach wouldn't work now because there's only ghosts at end of our crosses, and Zidane would have to find another approach to score goals. Given the sorry state our attack is at right now, I'm inclined to believe he would have a very hard time coming up with one.

Zidane is many things but he's not stupid sports. He knew the team won't stay elite without reinforcements and he was completely right. That's why he left.

by sportsczy Tue 23 Oct - 22:20:33

Yeah but I think he would have really set the team up NOT to give up goals first given that there wasn't much scoring threats. I think it's a bit naive to set us up with high line and trying to play champagne football with our current setup... lack of pragmatism.

by Vibe Tue 23 Oct - 22:28:08

Based on how much chances Icardi gets at Inter and how much he scores compared to how much chances a Real Madrid striker gets, he would score Ronaldo goals easy.

by Thimmy Tue 23 Oct - 22:36:45

Vibe wrote:Based on how much chances Icardi gets at Inter and how much he scores compared to how much chances a Real Madrid striker gets, he would score Ronaldo goals easy.

It seems to me that people are sceptical about what he provides besides scoring goals. A scepticism that is, of course, warranted since we have a wide range of more flexible options that are just waiting for us to be handpicked.

by The Demon of Carthage Tue 23 Oct - 22:40:55

Thimmy wrote:
Vibe wrote:Based on how much chances Icardi gets at Inter and how much he scores compared to how much chances a Real Madrid striker gets, he would score Ronaldo goals easy.

It seems to me that people are sceptical about what he provides besides scoring goals. A scepticism that is, of course, warranted since we have a wide range of more flexible options that are just waiting for us to be handpicked.

I love your sarcasm dude, always refreshing Very Happy

by sportsczy Tue 23 Oct - 22:42:37

I want Icardi lol. I want Ibra. I want Ben Yedder. I want Andre Silva... heck, i'd take Aubameyang.

We someone who can score.

by The Demon of Carthage Tue 23 Oct - 22:44:18

Forget score. Someone who can shoot would suffice at this point lol

by FennecFox7 Wed 24 Oct - 0:50:33

ben yedder would be an amazing option for us. why we got mariano and never went for him is beyond me. such a gifted and underrated player

by titosantill Wed 24 Oct - 1:21:46

You want chance creation? Then we need to start moving away from 4 3 3 , an attacking midfielder (not an amf masquerading as a cmf) may answer that. Modric kroos are great cmf's but creating in the final third constantly isnt their role. Sadly for flo he might have to spend a lot more of that money that he was saving. But i'm for a total reshuffle, even of the formation

by Varnagel Mon 30 May - 8:51:05

BUMP

Real Madrid knew what they were doing to keep Benzema despite the criticism.

Without Cristiano holding Benzema back, the latter instantly became a top 5 player in the world over the past 4 seasons. And now Benzema is the run-away favorite to win Ballon d'Or 2022

by Turok_TTZ Mon 30 May - 23:08:57

Seeing the beginning of this thread, I have to say, you lot had so many shit takes holy shit.

Nice to know my views and takes are not only consistent, but aged like wine. :coffee:

by Perucho21 Tue 31 May - 3:44:00

Enjoy my dear friends

futbol_bill wrote:

I can’t get over how you “experts” continually reject the likes of Morata or Higuain, maintaining there are not RM material yet the designated RM quality can’t hit the broad side of a barn door and then proclaiming their overall game (whatever the hell that is supposed to mean) makes up for the lack of goals.

The Demon of Carthage wrote:

Trust me, Kane will never wear the white of Madrid. And I would even go as far as to say that as long as we have Benzema, no decent striker will want to join us to play second fiddle to a talentless, lazy joke for a CF.

Doc wrote:Yeah, I don't buy the whole "Morata ain't Madrid quality" nonsense. It is that same shitty thinking that have us in this quandary in the first place. The young man very much is Madrid quality and had to prove it (off the bench numerous times) and yet, we sold him without any equal or greater replacement. Instead, we have a shitty French "striker" whose best days are long gone and a Welshman who can't even play 5 games in a row without getting injured.

sportsczy wrote:Yeah I really dislike Benzema's unworthy hold of the position now.... over a year in fact. When he was the most talented CF on the club, i supported him. He's clearly not Madrid quality anymore.

sportsczy wrote:Yeah i mean come on... you're complete shit and somehow you're being wronged by not being chosen by France NT? Nevermind the players ahead of you are Mbappe, Griezmann, Fekir, Dembele, Lacazette, Coman (who isn't any better btw; but at least he moves around lol), Martial (making a massive comeback), Thauvin, Giroud, etc. Honestly, which one would you drop for Benzema? NONE OF THEM.

He can f off.

The Demon of Carthage wrote:No, it'll be a domino effect if he leaves. He's the glue holding the BBC together. Benzema would get exposed (even more so than now) if Ronaldo leaves, and Bale...well, we wouldn't notice any difference because he would probably be in the treatment room nursing his injuries.

Mr Nick09 wrote:The banter when CR and Bale leave work but Benzema is still around like a cockroach surviving a nuclear blast

The Demon of Carthage wrote:Honestly, I don't know what to say or where to go from here. Truly, honestly, I'm speechless.

"Benzema has been very good and I will not ask for a striker". Right on, you brainless, happy-go-lucky joke for a manager.

VanDeezNuts wrote:Someone needs to sit him down and show him all of the statistics. How few goals he has, how few assists he has, his crap shot/goal ratio and just force him to watch Benz film this season.

Please some one just make him sane.

halamadrid2 wrote:When top strikers like Suarez have an awful season they score 7-10 goals in half a season. Benz scores two last season we survived because Ronaldo went on a scoring run when it mattered. Casemiro had more goal than Benz in the knockout games last season and he's a freaking DM. I gave up on him 8 seasons ago, I don't expect much from him these days. Only to go out there and not to stand in the way of shots and in offside positions. Dude comes down into our half, plays a mid-crossfield ball that goes straight to an opposition just on the top of our box. Useless doesn't do him justice, he is atrocious

The Demon of Carthage wrote:urban, Alexis would be great in this team. Unfortunately, we have a brainless, nepotist manager who doesn't want to buy anyone, and completely shuts down anyone who may threaten his pal and countryman Benzema's place in this team, even though he knows as well as everybody else that Benzema has become a complete and utter waste of skin at this point.

I mean, sweet Jesus, the uncanny ability of the Frenchman to flank clear-cut, one-on-one chances has become legendary at this point. Add to that the fact that he doesn't press or defend or link-up with his teammates well, and what you've got left? A 81-kg-worth-of-nothing lazy amateur taking up a valuable spot in the starting eleven and contributing with nothing.

Then, you have the manager who, in defiance of logic, god and all things holy, comes out and basically pulls his middle finger to the world by saying "I'll defend him to the death" which is code for "Fck you, he'll play no matter how atrocious he is".

Honestly, If I were Alexis, I wouldn't even consider joining Madrid. Why would he join a team only to be relegated to the bench for someone who doesn't have as much talent in his entire body as Alexis' little toe?

titosantill wrote:so cos of benzema's two goals we should assume he'll give us numbers next season? lol the goals saved us, but i think flo has seen enough...i highly doubt they were enough to save his undisputed starter spot for next season. this is almost a repeat of last season. my main thing is we need a sure starter to get us numbers in all competitions, not just wait until the semis for heroics.

Adit wrote:It isn't even about CR anymore... Benzema is not just elite when it come to proper CF play. No shot in target in 5 games and this time no CR to blame.

The Demon of Carthage wrote:That's your opinion. But most of us are sick and tired of Benzema and we would welcome any improvement on him because continuing with him is absolutely unacceptable.

It's also ironic to me that you would be completely opposed to signing Icardi when you have quite possibly the worst CF out of any CL contender. Although to be fair, we are no longer a CL contender.

You are in no position to be picky. You already have the worst.

Adit wrote:It isn't even about CR anymore... Benzema is not just elite when it come to proper CF play. No shot in target in 5 games and this time no CR to blame.

sportsczy wrote:I want Icardi lol. I want Ibra. I want Ben Yedder. I want Andre Silva... heck, i'd take Aubameyang.

We someone who can score.

by FennecFox7 Tue 31 May - 3:48:14

Ben yedder still such an underrated player, he would be very good back up, and he’s way better then mariano and jovic.

I really just wanted a good Cf incase Benzema got injured.. never wanted him booted out.

by sportsczy Tue 31 May - 5:25:57

Well he was complete shit for 2 years there... and really, I couldn't support him after he interjected himself in a bribery scam on Valbuena during a NT break. He can say what he wants; that's a ban-able offense. He's lucky that Deschamps needed him last year. If Nkunku or someone else had burst onto the scene earlier, he would still be banned and no rational person could blame Deschamps.

by Perucho21 Tue 31 May - 5:32:36

Admittedly I was beginning to lose all faith I had on Benz in 17/18 season. Criticism was definitely deserved.

I still did laugh at these comments. Some very over dramatic

Andre Silva rofl

by The Demon of Carthage Tue 31 May - 7:23:33

The criticism was deserved back then, just like the praise is deserved right now. If anything, it proves that we are no haters and that our opinion is solely predicated on his performances.

He was shit back then and he's amazing now.

Surely you don't need to have a superior IQ to understand this, right?

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