Infinitely better than Lewandowski against PSG in 2020.
So now what happens to Karim Benzema? | Hat-tricks, lots of hat-tricks
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What a player, Ballon D'Or done now aswell and fully deserved
We signed Michael Owen. Feck them.
He did. Everyone was hyping Ben Arfa. But SAF wanted Benz. He chose Real.
SAF knew a striker.
That was the real start of our decline. We could have won 6-8+ titles in a row without the parasite glazer family
Fergie sticking up for them leaves a bad taste in my mouth
A few bad choices, most notably in the last quarter but overall he had a fantastic hold up play, can't agree at all with your viewpoint.
Not sure how that relates to this...especially when I mentioned he deserves all the accolades for an amazing season overall...
Whatever helps you sleep at night though.
Wouldnt say that! Didnt they sign him in 2009 with Kaka and Ronaldo?
Why would he choose us at that stage, that Madrid team became a force on paper in the space of 2 months. Yeah of course he would have got a nice salary, but there were the ambitions of winning cups too
In the first half he was isolated and starved of service for a long time.
He looked a bit like he was playing through pain or a minor knock today.
No he wanted to play for Real Madrid who are his second team after Lyon. He even had an agreement with Aulas regarding Real Madrid.
Jaysus, tough crowd or what? I thought he was very very good. Worked his balks off. Hold up play terrific and tracked back constantly. One of the most unselfish forward in the game.
Yeh not having that. His hold up play was incredible for the most part and he was feeding off of complete scraps. People have ridiculous expectations when it comes to holding the ball up.
Because of Lukaku. Pretty understandable.
Surely after watching Lukaku it’s even easier to appreciate good hold up play! I know I do!
He wins the Ballon do'r that's what's going to happen to him.
His hold up play was incredible. So many times he was isolated but he Still managed to trap difficult clearances or one touch pass to a helping teammate. People think if you're not out here holding off 4 defenders by yourself like prime Drogba then you can't hold up properly.
Class gesture to let Marcelo lift the trophy btw. Healthy atmosphere in this locker room.
Exactly. I just don’t think people realise how hard it is to not only take a brilliant first touch, but then also be able to turn, find your man and retain the ball and he did that in all areas of the pitch today. Obviously there will be occasions where you get it wrong and make the wrong decision but the consistency with with Benzema brings his team into the game is truly something to behold.
??They were absolute shit at that time and had just gotten thumped by barca 6_2 while we were probably the best or second best team in Europe.
Also Madrid era didn't really kick in until Mourinho gone there and even then it took Ancelotti till 2014 to kick start their European dominance.
In hinds he absolutely took the right decision but it wasn't always like this.
SAF really messed up the whole team by signing Berbatov instead of Tevez in 08. Rooney Tevez and Nani would have achieved much more together and we might have gotten a quality mid and a striker earlier.
First page of this thread is actually embarrassing.
He thought he could mould Berbatov in his image but he was wrong.
Definitely one of his more expensive mistakes in the transfer market.
Good fecking God, every single post of yours tells me how clueless you are.
They didn’t win it until 2014 but they were a European heavyweight again as early as 2010/11; unlucky not to make the final from 11-13.
Not really I would day they were unlucky only in 2012 against bayern and even in that game bayern showed more attacking intent.
2011 they were outclassed by barca and in 2013 they shouldn't have even made it that far.
But yeah Mourinho definitely deserves a ton of credit for turning around their European fortunes around, in some ways he was the architect of their success..
He'll get exposed once CR7 leave they said. Would be perfect as backup striker they said.
It's only a comeback in public perception because he was always a great player yet was mostly mauled by the press and many madrid and non madrid fans, at least in my own opinion he was always a great player. Yes he had 2 bad seasons in terms of goalscoring, but I didn't think even once I wanted him out of the club. He contributed a lot and had ridiculous chemistry with Ronaldo (and vice versa). Following Ronaldo after he left RM, I cannot tell you how many times I've missed Benzema, having to go through watching players like Morata. I would take him in a heartbeat at United tomorrow, I don't care about age.
Obviously, and with that said, my opinion is worth no more than anyone else's. It's actually going to be incredible to see him lift the BdOr. Quite ironic Benzema gets to be the next French player to get it, instead of, say, Mbappé.
Damn straight
Best player in the world, he already was before today's game but today's victory should make it more clear to whomever still wants to give it to Messi.
Everyone keeps saying we've been winning against the thougher teams out of luck but this guy has been unreal and it makes a massive difference to have a player like him in the best form of his life.
Everyone keeps saying we've been winning against the thougher teams out of luck but this guy has been unreal and it makes a massive difference to have a player like him in the best form of his life.
I think I wasn't eloquent enough. I didn't said he wasn't a great player or important for Real even during Ronaldo days. I meant comeback in the sense returning to his potential reaching as he was tipped off during younger days. I mean come on, no matter how much big of a fan you are, even you would have never thought he would have carried Real Madrid in the way he did after Ronaldo's departure and Bale not stepping up as he was tipped off post Ronaldo and Hazard being a waste of space.
For me it is about realising his potential as a teenager in such old age(footballing age). he was basically as much hyped as Rooney was in football circles to be a Balloon Dor contender, while Rooney was finished by late twenties as a top player, Benzema from top player became among the best(or the best) in the world in late age. How many players after winning 4 UCL have that kind of motivation, very few. Hence the use of the word comeback in the sense, by his age most of the players do not go back to fulfilling the potential they showed as a young teenager.
I thought Salah played better in Final, but Ben was still incredible.
Top player and just a winner.
Distinctly remember we were desperate to sign him all those years ago. But Madrid beat us to him
Distinctly remember we were desperate to sign him all those years ago. But Madrid beat us to him
Best player in the world, he already was before today's game but today's victory should make it more clear to whomever still wants to give it to Messi.
Everyone keeps saying we've been winning against the thougher teams out of luck but this guy has been unreal and it makes a massive difference to have a player like him in the best form of his life.
Yeah, he is the best player in the world, i hope he wins ballon d'or.
Is he done at Madrid? What level club would go for him? Would he be content being a backup for Lukaku?
He copied Ronaldo way to eat and train
Excluding some undisputable ones that Messi and CR7 got between 2008-2018, this would be the most deserved ballon d'Or in a very long time.
Deffo!
Will this be a unanimous Ballon D'Or??? Who will not vote for him???
There will never be a unanimous Ballon D'Or with the current voting system. Somebody will vote for some random player even with journos from only the top 100 countries eligible (FF changed it this year).