Sometimes I think games would be better without refs. In playground football you wouldn't even try to appeal.
La Liga - 2014/15
- Thread starter jojojo
- Start date
Not played for 2 weeks during internationals.
I am only 21. Everton playing as they are just makes me feel that way.
And suddenly Chicharito scores only from the outside of the box!
Chicharito balls it up.
Right, but he didn't play for a similar amount before the World Cup didn't he? He's made one hell of a magical recovery from that terrible tendonitis he was apparently suffering from...
4th goal for Ronaldo. That's 7 goals in 3 days for him.
Ronaldo with his 4th, great assist Bale.
He's a feckin animal.
See, awsome finisher, but no doubt there will be people saying he's the best of all time right now because he's blown up his stats again. Wasn't even the best player on the pitch tonight. Four great finishes, Isco was the stand out player though.
That's 7 in 2 for him now, mental!
18 goals in the last 3 games. Not too bad.
Are you guys playing a 4-4-2 with Ronaldo and Bale up front?
Carlo out!
433 with him on the wing, but he's everywhere really.
The guy is unreal. Even if two were penalties (tbf they were the finest examples of penalties you can find).
Alright, Whoscored had it wrong then!
Hernandez was gash in his cameo.
The spanish fans are probably saying things like "Hernandez needs some time to adjust to La Liga tempo..."
Ronaldo is probably going to outscore Messi this season, but I'm not sure whether he will get more goals and assists.
Some might argue that 20 goals + 30 assists is better than 40 goals + 0 assist.
Funny thing is, Messi's probably been the best player so far this season in La Liga, he's contributed to 75% of Barcelona's goals, crucial ones that have them at the top of the table, and he's looked like the Messi of old, yet overrall he's scored 9 less than Ronaldo. What does that mean? Apparently Ronaldo's favourite for the Ballon d'Or again. Like I said before, it's all about stats these days.
The majority would argue that, I suppose.
It really is. Well, if it were up to me, I'd say Messi would win it. That is of course if he keeps up his form.
Right now I wouldn't give it to either. Messi returned from injury and outscored Ronaldo in the second half of the season, but he looked disinterested and very lazy. He performed well at the World Cup, but it wasn't vintage Messi. Looks like his performance levels have returned this season though.
Ronaldo was superb at the back end of 2013, went off the boil after, suffered a few injuries, wasn't anymore important to his side than Bale or Di Maria, both of whom were massive for Real in the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals. Ronaldo's goal scoring exploits are as strong as ever this season.
It'll come down to goals in the end, Ronaldo case in point tonight. 4 goals, all super finishes, but Isco was by far the best player on the pitch till he was subbed off. Guess who takes all the credit though?
This will be a legendary CAF statement I suppose
We should stop saying Ronaldo is a winger or wide forward or whatever else. He is a pure CF, so anybody saying he plays on the wings and scores so much is far from truth. Here's average position over last 4 games, I am sure the trend is nothing new.
He is a most forward player in all games and playing centrally.
In La Liga so far, Ronaldo averages 6.8 shots per game, compared to just mere 2 for Benzema. Check his heat map against Depor.
Now check Benzema's position during this same match. Who is the CF in the match?? No wonder why Benzema is getting lesser scoring chances.
He is a most forward player in all games and playing centrally.
In La Liga so far, Ronaldo averages 6.8 shots per game, compared to just mere 2 for Benzema. Check his heat map against Depor.
Now check Benzema's position during this same match. Who is the CF in the match?? No wonder why Benzema is getting lesser scoring chances.
That means absolutely nothing though does it? In any counter-attacking team with great movement the wingers will have heat maps where they aren't stuck to a wing. Is Reus not a winger now? Di Maria, Bale and Hazard neither? Cavani is a winger as well when he plays for PSG.
How did Ronaldinho look for Barcelona? His heatmap would be similar to Ronaldo's or even more central. But yeah, I guess he's not a winger?
Only the "traditional wingers" hugs the touch line.
How did Ronaldinho look for Barcelona? His heatmap would be similar to Ronaldo's or even more central. But yeah, I guess he's not a winger?
Only the "traditional wingers" hugs the touch line.
You need to think about what the average means. Just because his average position is in the centre does not mean he is a central player. He could be spending roughly equal amounts of time right and left. And his average position being furthest forward may be because he is not expected to defend much, not because he is a pure centre forward.
I know more than enough what averages mean, thank you. You don't need to explain me averages in layman's term. If you are so sure of your theories, then why don't you show me the standard deviation in his positions.
La Liga now got their own Youtube channel!
Some woeful refereeing!
Some woeful refereeing!
Ronaldo isn't a pure CF and playing him as one wouldn't be great option. Madrid did already try that early last season and it didn't work out very well if I am not mistaken. You just place Ronaldo on the left and give him a free roaming role, no point placing positional responsibilities on a player like him and depriving him of the brilliant runs he makes from the deep.
You have to think about why managers like Fergie, Mourinho and Ancelotti didn't place him up front as a pure centre-forward when he clearly had the goalscoring ability, strength, aerial prowess and brilliant movement that is vital for a centre-forward. That is because he isn't tactically disciplined enough and would have never been able to play as the focal point of the attack. It is just not in his game. He would drop back more often than not to try to get on the ball and would cut a forlorn figure up top when deprived of service whilst being man-marked.
You have to think about why managers like Fergie, Mourinho and Ancelotti didn't place him up front as a pure centre-forward when he clearly had the goalscoring ability, strength, aerial prowess and brilliant movement that is vital for a centre-forward. That is because he isn't tactically disciplined enough and would have never been able to play as the focal point of the attack. It is just not in his game. He would drop back more often than not to try to get on the ball and would cut a forlorn figure up top when deprived of service whilst being man-marked.
Agree with that. Ancelotti actually addressed the Cristiano centre forward suggestion tonight and said basically the same as you, that he wouldn't like to do it because he "doesn't like" playing with his back to goal and prefers to make late runs into the box.
It's not a theory, and I'm not sure of anything. That's the whole point: it is just a possible alternative explanation. You are concluding more from an average than is warranted. The data do not show that "He is a pure CF" as you stated.
In statistical terms it is the difference between a summary statistic and a distribution. Knowing the former still leaves much to learn about the latter.
The three penalties in that Real game suggest that Clattenburg could excel in Spain. Or at least go unnoticed.
He isn't a pure CF, but he plays like one for large parts of every game (well, save for the hold- & link-up play)... the thing is it only works from a wide starting position, so opp. DF have it harder to pick him up when he drifts into typical CF positions and you have a hard-working CF (ie. Benzema) creating space by dragging DF out of position.
This observation is based on my own personal viewing experience, but just to illustrate that pattern even better:
Last season Cristiano was flagged offside 1.5 times per game in La Liga. Compare to other wide forwards,
Neymar, 0.8
Bale, 0.4
Hazard, 0.3
Robben, 0.5
Griezmann, 0.5
Vela, 0.5
Reus, 1.0
Compare to centre-forwards,
Benzema, 1.1
Agüero, 0.8
Suárez, 1.0
Sturridge, 0.7
Diego Costa, 1.4
Ibrahimovic, 1.3
Tévez, 0.8
(source: whoscored.com)
We should stop saying Ronaldo is a winger or wide forward or whatever else. He is a pure CF, so anybody saying he plays on the wings and scores so much is far from truth. Here's average position over last 4 games, I am sure the trend is nothing new.
He is a most forward player in all games and playing centrally.
In La Liga so far, Ronaldo averages 6.8 shots per game, compared to just mere 2 for Benzema. Check his heat map against Depor.
Now check Benzema's position during this same match. Who is the CF in the match?? No wonder why Benzema is getting lesser scoring chances.
Is Bale pure CF aswell? He's very close to Ronaldo in 3 out of 4 heatmaps.
Almeria: Rubén, Ximo Navarro, Trujillo, Mauro Dos Santos, Mané, Verza, Fran Vélez, Azeez, Wellington Silva, Zongo y Hemed.
Don't recognise them? No worries, I went to a match there a few months back and I still don't recognise them. Apparently Wellington Silva is still an Arsenal player - starting his fourth season out on loan - he's 21.
Vs
Atletico: Moyá, Siqueira, Godín, Miranda, Juanfran, Mario, Tiago, Arda, Koke, Raúl García y Griezmann.
Incidentally, both managers are banned from the touchline there
For Barcelona later tonight, Alves and Mathieu are rested. Vermaelen is still injured.
Don't recognise them? No worries, I went to a match there a few months back and I still don't recognise them. Apparently Wellington Silva is still an Arsenal player - starting his fourth season out on loan - he's 21.
Vs
Atletico: Moyá, Siqueira, Godín, Miranda, Juanfran, Mario, Tiago, Arda, Koke, Raúl García y Griezmann.
Incidentally, both managers are banned from the touchline there
For Barcelona later tonight, Alves and Mathieu are rested. Vermaelen is still injured.
Good to see Griezmann starting, hasn't clicked for him at Atlético yet but hopefully that'll change tonight.
Vermaelen played and scored for Barcelona B in a friendly today by the way, just not fit enough for the senior side yet. Suárez played too, and scored two.
The Elche pen was clear cut. Ronaldo kicked the guy although it was an accident. Marcelo's dive, I have no words. He wont get any punishment though, that's for sure. Ramos can get away with a right hander on Mandzukic, then nothing will happen for the most blatant dive you'll see all season.