Official: Higuain joins Napoli

Stats also show that Matri is the best forward in Serie A tbh

That's like a goal/minute ratio or something for somebody who didn't get many minutes.


That's a much more misleading stat than 'goals scored'

Well i watch him week in and week out for last 6 years. He is a fantastic goal scorer in one on ones but he has chocked too much in CL big games. He also isnt a type of forward who can produce a goal out of nothing, very dependant on the service he receive.

I think both strikers will flourish when they move away from Madrid, or if Ronaldo moves away from Madrid.

I have seen Benzema at Lyon. I have seen Higuain when he played with Raul. Both showed potential to be World Class. Higuain is doing the right thing by going to Juve. Benzema should too.

RealGunner wrote:I think both strikers will flourish when they move away from Madrid, or if Ronaldo moves away from Madrid.

I have seen Benzema at Lyon. I have seen Higuain when he played with Raul. Both showed potential to be World Class. Higuain is doing the right thing by going to Juve. Benzema should too.

and who should be our forwad in your opinion?

Depends on who your next manager is. However even with a new manager, Ronaldo will still be the main player. At United, both Rooney and Tevez made Ronaldo the priority and let him play his game.

Benzema does the same, but some fans want to see him play more as a striker than to support Ronaldo in terms of creating space and playing on the flanks. I am not sure if Madrid fans will agree but Ronaldo always plays better when Benzema is playing with him. However that will not let Benzema be the striker he was destined to be. He may as well stay at Madrid but the criticism around him will not go away.

As for which striker Madrid should get. Someone who can support Ronaldo. Someone like Jovetic or Rooney. Maybe Lewa even.

Don't think any striker will be efficient when you have Ronaldo in the team.

ExtremistEnigma wrote:Don't think any striker will be efficient when you have Ronaldo in the team.

Exactly. Strikers have to arrange themselves round Ronaldo.

Madrid fans might be sick at this idea... But surely if you have Ronadlo (And possibly Bale) in your team then there's no point going after a big star striker.

Because no matter who that stirker is, they'll be playing second fiddle to the winger(s) and will never be able to justify the enormous price tag they will arrive for.


It would be better to find a hard working striker who has no problem in being a utility player.

Imagine playing as a CF with Bale and Ronaldo Ronaldo took over 400 shots for Madrid this year and Bale over 200 shots... the CF would be last in the buffet line and you have two sumo wrestlers that get to eat first

benzema is actually the perfect guy to thrive in between CR and Bale, if it ever happens.

Cristiano runs so much into central positions that a CF that sticks inside the box becomes utterly useless. benzema however is smart, he moves away from that area, does deeper or wide to allow CR to do what he does. Ronaldo does love to play with Benzema because of that, Higuain not so much. Benzema has formatted his game so much to enable ronaldo that he doesnt know how to lead the line anymore. Compare him to his lyon days vs united for example and the difference is monstrous.

Under the scenario that Benz stays, he should be viewed as a #10 or a SS... not a CF... and judged as such. I mean, he had 19 assists last year and 20 this year. If you're not going to be the primary or secondary goalscoring option, then being judged according to primary goalscorer expectations is a bit silly to me.

Having CR7 and Di Maria as the wingers will do nothing for a CF in terms of service. Di Maria is random and CR7 is looking to score himself. A lot of the inconsistency by our CFs this year is attributable to both Ozil and Di Maria being inconsistent. Those are the guys that put the food on the table for them and there wasn't much this year.

Mr Nick09 wrote:benzema is actually the perfect guy to thrive in between CR and Bale, if it ever happens.

Cristiano runs so much into central positions that a CF that sticks inside the box becomes utterly useless.

I was thinking about this - but I see one problem. Will the ball ever actually get to him? It really comes down to whether the others pass to him or not. As it is there's a pretty tangible reluctance to.

I think as good as Ronaldo is, he's halting the team quite a bit. And if Bale comes then


Might as well go 4-3-3 false 9 and have some random scrub who's just happy to be playing for Madrid between Ronnie and Bale. Because imagine the likes of Cavani getting repeatedly bypassed by each winger


Would make strikers ever so slightly raging.

sportsczy wrote:Under the scenario that Benz stays, he should be viewed as a #10 or a SS... not a CF... and judged as such. I mean, he had 19 assists last year and 20 this year. If you're not going to be the primary or secondary goalscoring option, then being judged according to primary goalscorer expectations is a bit silly to me.
.

I think there just needs to be some continuity and confidence. I mean, I look at Van Persie this season, apart from being a aerial threat - Benzema should be able to do most of the things he does.

I think it's not getting enough of the ball - but even if it isn't that - someone just needs to tell him to take the shot when he's in good positions. There are chances you see he struggles with, the ones where crosses come in or in the air....but the ones that really irk me is when we play it over the top or through and he takes 3-4 touches before shooting. He just needs to take those shots without thinking....shut down his brain for 3 seconds.

Doc wrote:In an ideal world, Higuain and Benzema would have made a nice partnership. That ideal world came crashing down the day Real Madrid signed Cristiano Ronaldo. Anyway, I'm a huge Higuain fan. I think his character, drive and talent scream Madridista and yes, that man is quite talented. However, as I've written on so many websites before, Real Madrid should have hired an on field psychiatrist or give him some rum to shot before a big game because his anxiety issues are most apparent.

With that being said, Benzema links with Ronaldo a lot better than Higuain. Why, because Cristiano is a vacuum that sucks up the majority of scoring chances and dear Gonzalo is an out and out striker. Not a CF, not a false 9. not a deep lying play making box to box left back goalie but a cold blooded striker who needs a good chunk of those scoring chances that Cristiano monopolizes for himself whether intentional or not.

Very good post.

Veterans from Real Madrid and Juventus will come face to face once again on Sunday for the annual Heart Classic match at the Santiago Bernabeu. On the same day, the two clubs will discuss the future of Gonzalo Higuain, Gazzetta dello Sport report.

Following his declarations after Saturday's league game against Osasuna , it Appears That The Pipa's spell at Madrid is at an end. Higuain confirmed the interest from Juve but it Appears That the two clubs are far from reaching an agreement for the player.

Juventus have offered Preferred 22 million euros for the striker but Madrid are standing firm and will not allow the striker to leave for less than 30 million.

Now it emerges That Higuain has dropped down the Italian club's list of Priorities. Juve are now focusing on prizing away Montenegrin Stevan Jovetic from Fiorentina and Negotiations are Reported to be at an advanced stage.

Jovetic Even if the deal goes through, the club is eager to bolster the team's attack with another top level striker.

30M, no chance.


25 is fair, but 30? Not a chance.

I think Madrid will let him go for €25 million. He's done his duty to the club and signed a contract extension against his will last season so that Madrid can earn some from his sale.

depends on who else is bidding. Higuain was asked to give a list of his 3 preferred clubs by Madrid and they can sell him to any of those 3. Rumors are that the list was Juventus, Arsenal and PSG. We'll see...

PsG have given off no intention of wanting him,

Arsenal are less likely to bid 30M than we are.


30m is too steep for an unhappy player coming off of a meh season.

PSG haven't said no or yes. They've said that, if Rooney refuses their bid, they would make an offer on Higuain. It's early in the mercato. Madrid have every incentive to wait unless they get their desired price.

Funny enough, Arsenal are waiting to see what happens with Jovetic and Rooney (lol) to make a first offer for Higuain.

Higuain is like 2nd or 3rd on everyone's list. It would be smart for Madrid to wait since there are more teams needing a top CF than top CFs available. My guess is that we will get our price.

He'll probably be off to Spurs in cash + P/E for Bale.

I think he will go to Juventus, but maybe only if Suarez stays at Liverpool

Cadena Ser saying Napoli are also interested in Higuain.

Be/\/ceCALI wrote:I think he will go to Juventus, but maybe only if Suarez stays at Liverpool

Suarez staying or leaving doesn't matter. Juventus can't afford Suarez.