No, Zizou.
Better striker for Real Madrid: Raul or Benzema?
- Thread starter tentan
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
I mean, c'mon the feck. Slightly above average. Honestly.
Raul is one of the most creative finishers you would ever see.
This idea that 15-20 years ago was some deep in the mists prehistoric era of football is just wild to me. Generational arrogance, Messi played in the era of Zidane who played in the era of Maradona who played in the era of Pele with massive overlap.
Two levels?? This is so disrespectful to Raul. Dear Lord!
Pele retired like 1/2 years into Maradona’s career tbf.
Although even that is crazy to me. Pele played in the 50’s, Maradona played in the 90’s, the idea their careers overlapped at all is mental.
It’s a fair question… but anyone needing to talk shit about Raul to make Benzema look good is a child.
Raul played alongside Zidane, Ronaldo and Figo and was never anything less than their equal. He was world class. To say otherwise is ridiculous.
In a modern day side, of course Benzema is the choice on any given day. But equally, were Raul 18 years old today, he’d probably have developed into a completely different player.
Raul played alongside Zidane, Ronaldo and Figo and was never anything less than their equal. He was world class. To say otherwise is ridiculous.
In a modern day side, of course Benzema is the choice on any given day. But equally, were Raul 18 years old today, he’d probably have developed into a completely different player.
To be fair, Raul was the best Spanish footballer of his generation, followed closely by Luis Enrique.
Wasn't Pelé playing for Brazil when he was 16-17 years old and retired in his 40s? He had a very long career.
My friend Raul did not play in the 50's. You can say this about Di Stefano or Pele not Raul.
Raul is as modern day player as Benzema.
L
If I have to give an opinion on Raul vs Benzema it's very difficult. Before 2018 I would have taken Raul any day of the week. After Ronaldo left Benzema has singlehandedly managed the RM offense. This is very impressive. It's difficult to chose now.
Pelé had to play that late and in america for big money because he was destitute at 30...
L o l, football hasn't changed that much since the early '90s.
I mean it has. Players are smarter than ever, because coaching has gotten significantly better. If you look at the greats even from Raul's era, their decision making was all over the place compared to what we see now. Even the likes of Zidane or Ronaldinho were at Bruno's level of decision making. And those were Zidane and Ronaldinho
Seriously? I think football has regressed in terms of coaching/tactics. Only Modric can compare to the likes of Nedved, Zidane, Pirlo, Xavi, or Laudrup.
Football has what in terms of what. Seriously???
Pirlo and Xavi played deeper, and where comparatively more unique then the others, for their roles. Nedved was a long shot merchant, Zidane and Laudrup wouldn't look that special as passers compared to a De Bruyne - not because they couldn't make the same passes but because they wouldn't - yet were really special for their eras. Players like Zidane or Laudrup were a lot more adventurous and wasteful, tried to do more by themselves because that's how football was back then. De Bruyne would look like an alien 20 years ago, like a perfect player
Ffs, Ajax 95 is probably better than any UCL champion after 2013.
Relative to the era, why not. Drop Brighton in '95 and they're better than 1970 Brazil
Lol! My point is that football in the Euro 96 is basically the same compared to the Euro2021, probably better.
In what way? Because the teams certainly are not. In absolute terms they'd get run off the pitch by teams playing at 4 times the pace while simultaneously being far better organized and consistently making better decisions
Only City plays like that.
Compared to '96? Everyone does
I dont recall Laudrup or Zidane being wasteful. Not like half of their stuff didnt come off. Recency bias towards De Bruyne imo.
Oh they weren't wasteful in that era. Only in comparison to today
Didn't Raul played as support striker?
Even for their era they were adventurous, I would add Di Baggio to your list.
One trick pony Raul?
Raul had more skill in his left nut than Inzhagi has in his whole body.They were about as adventurous for theie era as De Bruyne is now for example. Which in that era stood out for their good decision making. Now they'd look wasteful
Winger, attacking midfielder, second striker, shadow striker, support striker....he had quite the eclectic career role-wise
But De Bruyne is a very adventurous player, at least that's how I perceive him. It's not a problem because he can make it happen but a bit like Xavi some of their attempts are a bit daft.
He is. So was Zidane. But if you take a game from Zidane and compare with one from De Bruyne, De Bruyne would stand out for being far less adventurous and making consistently better decisions. Adventurous as in trying to force stuff, or insist on dribbling when an easier pass is there, etc...
Benz has levelled Raul’s goal tally to take 2nd in the all time list* at 323 with a stronger goal per game ratio, and is first in the all time assist list for Madrid. Honours-wise it’s pretty close too, really. Benzema’s 4 La Liga’s and 5 CL’s vs Raul’s 6 La Liga’s and 3 CL’s.
* = Ronaldo bagged 450 in 9 years, ffs. Not an amount that will toppled any time soon.
* = Ronaldo bagged 450 in 9 years, ffs. Not an amount that will toppled any time soon.
Agreed but I would still say that Zidane was extremely adventurous and was often just disrespectful, I used to not like him for that reason. It's only now that I appreciate the fact that he was having fun in a way that didn't disturb his teams.
‘Modern’ was a descriptor for the here and now. He played a different kind of football. A good measure would be to say the ‘Modern’ game we watch now is one without ‘proper’ wingers, and no Number 10’s. Not much time has passed, but a lot has changed.
Raul would have been the worlds best False 9, for example. But the game changes. He is a modern day player, but he played a different game. Perhaps the existence of Müller proves me wrong. But Raul would be a square peg in a game full of round holes if you cut and pasted him across a decade or so.
Then you can't really see the ways in which the game has changed technically and tactically and the players have become total machines. Anyway, the joy of football is that it's competitive within the players playing at the time, so there we are.
Certainly I know who I'd want at CF and it's Benzema.
People overrating 2010s football like crazy.
Marcelo over Roberto Carlos and Modric over the Madrid Zidane for sure
Carlos was one of those that was kind of underrated and overrated at the same time.
Personally, I think he was better than Ashley Cole, a player who is universally accepted as being close to perfect. Cole was better than Marcelo.
Few would take Marcelo over Carlos, but he’s still an exceptional full back.
During his 96-03 peak,I only remember RC struggling v Figo, when he was a Barca player.
Aye, and Figo had everyone on toast at some point. The era of one on one winger vs full back battles in close to every match was so exciting. I miss it.
The cartoonish thighs & ridiculously low percentage free kicks from miles away, detracted away from how complete a player he was. Super Quick, great tackler, crossing ability, huge engine. He often owned the entire left side of the pitch in many games. Marcelo is Carlos-lite.
Great post.
only just spotted this thread as I had a wee break but some of the takes are horrendous. As SAF said, Raul was the one striker from opposition that he wished he could sign every year.
‘Raul is so difficult to play against when he starts taking up the positions he did tonight,’ said Ferguson
" ‘Real Madrid have bought some great players over the last few years but, at the moment, Raul is the best in the world.
‘Raul is so difficult to play against when he starts taking up the positions he did tonight,’ said Ferguson
" ‘Real Madrid have bought some great players over the last few years but, at the moment, Raul is the best in the world.
You never saw him play.
overrated how? he's been Champions League top scorer 3x, Scored 25+ goals 5 seasons straight (Thierry Henry did this 5 consecutive seasons also), Uefa forward of the year 3 times (Sheva, Henry, Shearer, Ronaldo, Batistuta, Crespo, Vieri, Del Piero, Inzaghi, Yorke, Cole, Rivaldo, Kluivert, Trezeguet were all active)
neither does Eto'o
Raul was deployed as an AM, Winger for a portion of his games. Benzema always played forward.
from 1999-2003 he was top 5 forward in the world, runners up balon d'or, 3rd world player of the year, multiple times CL top scorer, made Euro team of the tournament, scored 25+ for 5 straight seasons playing partly as a support striker.
you never saw him play. He was a skilful forward who could play in the hole, attacking midfield and the wing. thanks for confirming what I suspected.
again, clearly never saw him play.
Finally a good analysis
For a 9 season stretch Raul scored more than 20 goals in 8 of them, Benzema managed this for 7 seasons out of a 9 stretch. Why is Ronaldo a factor and Morientes/Ruud not factors in Raul's scoring accomplishments?
Benzema had a 9 goal and 12 goal seasons too. Raul's bad run came after nearly a decade of excellence. Bit harsh that.
what was that one trick? Asking for a friend
its insane in here. I am surprised by the opinions.More like people underrating Raul
Benzema is better, but Raul was fecking phenomenal
Some posts here are borderline criminal
FACTS