Benzema/Berbatov/Huntelaar

GusHiddink

from what ive seen i have to say ruud was quicker than tevez...or at least equal. Am i wrong on this people?? I may be.

Ekeke

In different years Ruud was different speeds.

Tevez is not fast. But neither was Ruud when he left us.

charlenefan

I always thought Ruud was ridiculously slow for a top class striker, but again he very seldom choose to run with the ball

Sam#1

Errrm, for whatever reason (probably fitness and extra weight) Tevez has been a lot slower than he can be, although it looks like he's starting to regain that yard or two that's he lost.

So, yes I'd agree that Tevez at the moment is probably equal or slower than Ruud, but I think next season is when we will see his true pace (which is faster than Ruud), although he'll never be a typically fast player.

Plechazunga

Berbatov's definitely quicker than Tevez

He's also fucking amazing at football. I don't think anyone in the league has better control.

I have the same reservations as Sam though, 27 is getting on if we're paying top dollar, and I can't help thinking how great it would be to have a striker in front of Rooney who was really lightning.

RedNome

Can't be bothered with a big debate on this, but I do think Berbatov would be a great signing.

But whatever happens, happens, we have no idea what fergies got up his sleeve, or what's happened in the past or what he might know about the guy that we don't, there's lots of factors that go into making a good signing not just what we see on the pitch, so what will be will be.

GusHiddink

Interesting.

I agree with you ekeke...infact ruud was quicker and slower game to game!! No joke. Sometimes he looked relatively quick. others relatively slow.

The reality was somewhere in between. he was never ridiculously slow. Tevez looked much quicker at west ham than here so im not sure. maybe its me.

charlenefan

Once upon a time 27 was a footballers prime, now it's getting on

GusHiddink

so yep, im not nuts..tevez did seem quicker at west ham. particularly over short distances.

RedNome

The age is the only factor that is a negative for me, and surely the price should reflect this, I mean look how much we got for Ruud ffs.

Dippersripper

The reason I love him so much. His first touch is one of the best.

Sam#1

Yeah, I'd agree about the touch, best in the Prem.

I'd also agree with the bit about having a quick striker infront of Rooney.

RedNome

But as we keep hearing he isn't 100% fit.

Sam#1

Yep, he was. He was probably even faster at Boca and Corinthians.

Hopefully he'll get it back after a good Summer rest...

GusHiddink

I know!!.

Seriously though given his playing style not much will change for him between now and 33-35.

That pays for itself. best touch ive seen since zidane. Im not saying he's got the best touch around, but i have not seen anyone like him from the games ive seen anywhere.

Plechazunga

Ruud was quick when he first came, nothing spectacular but when he was through on goal they didn't catch him, he always seemed to have ages to pick his spot or round the keeper. Definitely quicker than Tevez, who does get caught if he's got too far to run.

Only getting on if you're paying 20+ million quid. I agree, 27-31 is often the peak for a footballer. But for that much cash you want either five years or more, or the chance of selling him on for nearly as much.

charlenefan

Well we all know that Real got a steal but we wanted Ruud gone, had we wanted to keep him I'm in no doubt we'd of got the near 30 million he was surely worth..... having said that is he really the same player these days? I don't think he is

Sam#1

Then again, Ruud had his moments of pace...

Ekeke

I've never thought of Tevez as a quick player, but I have to say he's looked slower than I had imagined since signing for us too.

He has played a lot of football, out of position and out of form at the beginning of the season when we had nobody else to play. Perhaps thats damaged him in terms of movement for the rest of the season and he'll come back a bit quicker next season with a decent rest and pre-season?

I'd like to think so anyway.

As for Ruud, I think its perhaps down to injuries and playing him when he wasnt fully fit. There are many occasions where Ruud was played even though he was suffering from a knock because quite simply, we couldnt do without him as he was such a focal point for our attack.

Some of his goals, like the goal he scored against Arsenal where he completely left Sol Campbell for dead, show there was a time when he had fantastic acceleration for a big guy.

But as we've said already, he didn't look anything like as fast when we let go of him.

charlenefan

This weren't bad either was it

Scholesy

I dont understand. Regarding Tevez...People say hes not as quick because of his troubles at the start of the season. That was nearly a year ago. From August, he has been training all the time, never injured so why has his pace not came back? I think that hell always stay at this speed and not get any faster.

Plechazunga

Maybe he's just lost a yard? Wouldn't be the first striker to do so at a fairly young age, look at Owen.

Plechazunga

Such a great finish that, took it so early, I've only really seen Henry do that apart from him in the PL.

Ekeke

Perhaps, but Owen lost it due to constant hamstring troubles and other injuries, didnt he?

What's done this to Tevez? Was it us playing him when he wasn't fit? I'd like an answer to that.

Sam#1

It's more to do with the fact that he's now been playing non stop football for 2 years. And in those 2 years he's played a World Cup, a Copa America, moved to a new country and team, saved them from relegation, and then joined another team and had to play virtually every game there. All that with no rest and no pre-seasons. To put it simply, the guy is exhausted.



What a goal.

Sam#1

See my above post.

Ekeke

So then he hasnt "lost a yard" its more "He's lost the will to live. Give the guy a break."