First of all I like to say Messi is a better player than Gomez...

The goalscoring form of Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez has been nothing short of remarkable over the last year or so. So much so that only Lionel Messi can claim to be more prolific amongst Europe's marksmen, says Idrisozet.(Thinking of changing my User name to Kratos, how can I do that..?)

One casualty of the row between Carlos Tevez and Manchester City over the last few weeks was the lack of attention, at least in England, paid to City's performance in that 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich. Short of one early penalty appeal that looked optimistic at best, the visitors rarely threatened and were undone by two opportunistic strikes by Mario Gomez.

Napoli also have a taste of Gomez medicine when he banged in Champions League fastest Hat-trick of all time.

While this is the season that Lionel Messi became the second-highest scorer in Barcelona's history, Gomez is writing his own records, and his Hat-trick against Napoli in Group of death put him top of CPL charts, while his goal against FC Augsburg puts him top of the Bundesliga charts and makes it 27 goals in his last 24 games in all competition this season. Messi has scored 21 in his last 22, but if you include the last five games of last season, in which Gomez scored another nine (compared to Messi's two), then there is a case for calling Gomez Europe's most prolific striker.

Considering he spent much of his first season in Munich on the bench, behind Ivica Olic and Miroslav Klose in the pecking order of Louis van Gaal's attacking side, it is some recovery from the striker once dubbed "Super Mario". Even his Germany career, which floundered after he missed a sitter in Germany's opening Euro 2008 match against Poland, is flourishing again and he scored in Germany's recent European qualifying wins over Turkey and Belgium.

But it is his club form that is striking fear into defences at the moment. Playing as the lone forward in Jupp Heynckes's 4-2-3-1 system, with Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos and Franck Ribery behind him (and Arjen Robben still to come back from injury), Gomez, still only 26, is proving that there is a role for an old-fashioned poacher in the modern game.

Betting.betfair.com's Jonathan Wilson, author of tactical history Book "Reinventing the Pyramid", has suggested that improvements in players' fitness has changed the demands on forwards, and required their reinvention as more all-round players. As he put it: "Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor are both battering-rams and goalscorers. A Thierry Henry or a Dimitar Berbatov is capable of dropping deep or pulling wide, as adept at playing the final ball as taking a chance. Somewhere in between are ranged Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Samuel Eto'o and Fernando Torres."

And yet Gomez, whose hold-up play is fine but rarely produces goals of beauty or magic, as those above might, is part of that dying breed: in the side just to score goals, just like Michael Owen and Filippo Inzaghi used to be. Both of those have seen their opportunities limited, partly because of their age but also due to the more fluid styles their teams play. Also this weekend, Paris Saint-Germain forward Kevin Gameiro scored a hat-trick of goals from inside the box for the French league leaders. After the game, he said he took inspiration from Inzaghi in learning the art of anticipation, and playing off a defender's shoulder.

Gomez said sometime ago that if Bayern can continue this form, they should win the Bundesliga. They are already five points clear of Dortmund, have conceded just 4 goals all as a result of individual defensive error, and new coach Heynckes has instilled a greater defensive ethic(But still the weakest position, with Players like Badstuber around) and a happier squad that under Van Gaal by rotating his players more. All this despite the fact there is a Robben-shaped problem looming as his injuries and general mood threaten to disrupt this term's tranquil progress.

With the league title, for which they are (1.18), looking a formality, and Gomez (1.25) to finish as the Bundesliga's top scorer.

Idrisozet wrote:While this is the season that Lionel Messi became the second-highest scorer in Barcelona's history, Gomez is writing his own records, and his Hat-trick against Napoli in Group of death put him top of CPL charts, while his goal against FC Augsburg puts him top of the Bundesliga charts and makes it 27 goals in his last 24 games in all competition this season. Messi has scored 21 in his last 22, but if you include the last five games of last season, in which Gomez scored another nine (compared to Messi's two), then there is a case for calling Gomez Europe's most prolific striker.

What's your sources? Messi has 23 goals@18 games this season in Barcelona, Gomez has 20 goals@18 games this season.

messi has 23 goals 13 assists in 18 games

It's troll bait guys.

Old-fashioned poacher... prolific... Germany.... did someone say "Klose"?

you spelt ronaldo wrong

Come on, he even started this post of by saying Messi is the better player, this is a legit thread, people.

Gomez is taller !! maybe this is where you want to end up :dance:

Comparing any player to Messi other than Ronaldo is a big fail. Both are from another planet.

If you're just talking about who's more prolific, it's actually totally legit, I mean we're not talking anything but scorer sheets here, and Gomez is on par with Ronaldo, only one behind Messi, in the UCL atm, and he's in the GROUP OF DEATH (tm) - so why not talk about it?

Gomez is not more prolific, but at least he's rich, famous and good looking

jiopsi wrote:

Idrisozet wrote:While this is the season that Lionel Messi became the second-highest scorer in Barcelona's history, Gomez is writing his own records, and his Hat-trick against Napoli in Group of death put him top of CPL charts, while his goal against FC Augsburg puts him top of the Bundesliga charts and makes it 27 goals in his last 24 games in all competition this season. Messi has scored 21 in his last 22, but if you include the last five games of last season, in which Gomez scored another nine (compared to Messi's two), then there is a case for calling Gomez Europe's most prolific striker.

What's your sources? Messi has 23 goals@18 games this season in Barcelona, Gomez has 20 goals@18 games this season.

Internationals, (all competition) excluding friendlies

VivaStPauli wrote:If you're just talking about who's more prolific, it's actually totally legit, I mean we're not talking anything but scorer sheets here, and Gomez is on par with Ronaldo, only one behind Messi, in the UCL atm, and he's in the GROUP OF DEATH (tm) - so why not talk about it?

Gomez and Messi have both score 5 goals in cpl, the only difference is that Messi has more playing time and his playing against very weak teams.

I know overall Messi is a much more better player but in terms of goalscoring ability why not compare him to Messi.

The post is about most prolific striker in Europe which Gomez legitimately have claim to, I dont know what these people are all bout, who can not pay better attention to a post.

This would have been on the Right back section if it was a comparism, it is more about who the most prolific
Goalscorer is at the moment

I am happy you got my point this time

Messi is not a striker!

white_star wrote:Messi is not a striker!

Thanks capitan obvious.