Best Striker in the World now

[Teso Dos Bichos]

I guess that's why they both scored?

So you are claiming that two goals, one a free kick, equates to great performances from your wing forwards? Ruud scored a single goal as well, I suppose he had a great tournament? The fact remains that the entire Dutch attack was poor, although no blame can be attributed to Van Nistelrooy or Kuijt for it. Quite how people can ignorantly claim that Robben, in particular, had a good tournament when all he did was attempt hero runs for the majority of each game is baffling. It might get the spectators off their seats initially but it is useless if you don't have the talent to back it up and you don't play a team game as a direct result.

[johan neeskens]

So you are claiming that two goals, one a free kick, equates to great performances from your wing forwards? Ruud scored a single goal as well, I suppose he had a great tournament? The fact remains that the entire Dutch attack was poor, although no blame can be attributed to Van Nistelrooy or Kuijt for it. Quite how people can ignorantly claim that Robben, in particular, had a good tournament when all he did was attempt hero runs for the majority of each game is baffling. It might get the spectators off their seats initially but it is useless if you don't have the talent to back it up and you don't play a team game as a direct result.

You said Robben and Van Persie were ineffective. I can't see how you can label players who score important goals as ineffective.

Look I know Holland didn't play well overall. I'm just saying that it's ridiculous to blame Robben and Van Persie for it and highly simplistic to say that the attack was poor. Van Basten played a 4-3-3 with a built-in safety option, i.e. a defensive central midfield, and as a result there was a huge gap between midfield and the attacking line. As a result Ruud got no service and all Robben and Van Persie could do to bridge the gap was make runs forward. It's not like they were getting any decent through-passes from midfield or anything.

The only reason we qualified for Euro 2008 is that we have individual talent like Robben, Sneijder, Van der Vaart and Van Persie, btw. There is no real idea behind the way Holland plays at the moment and it looks rubbish. But with players like that we typically win games by a narrow margin as there's almost always someone who has one moment of genius and then scores out of nowhere.

We'll be back though as Van Basten buggers off soon.

[JML11]

would agree eto is bad right now but based on season performance benzema is the best.

How could you possibly say Eto'o is bad? Being injured doesn't change a player's ability. Eto'o is clearly one of the top 5 strikers in the world and that's being safe.

During the 04-05 and 05-06 campaigns Eto'o scored a total of 50 La Liga goals and 10 in the champions league. In 06-07 he had he had 11 goals and 8 assists playing in only 17 la liga matches. This season, he has 3 goals in the four matches he's played.

[soccersonoma10]

Berbatov without a doubt, he is such a beast, makes the sport look effortless, an elegant player, he is amazing.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

You said Robben and Van Persie were ineffective. I can't see how you can label players who score important goals as ineffective.

A goal each during a tournament in which their overall play directly hindered their side is not effective play.

Look I know Holland didn't play well overall. I'm just saying that it's ridiculous to blame Robben and Van Persie for it and highly simplistic to say that the attack was poor. Van Basten played a 4-3-3 with a built-in safety option, i.e. a defensive central midfield, and as a result there was a huge gap between midfield and the attacking line. As a result Ruud got no service and all Robben and Van Persie could do to bridge the gap was make runs forward. It's not like they were getting any decent through-passes from midfield or anything.

It's not ridiculous at all. Their play and the poor performance of Sneijder is what crippled Holland. It was their role to support the striker and be key team players in an attacking sense. They failed in that task and there are no excuses to be made.

The only reason we qualified for Euro 2008 is that we have individual talent like Robben, Sneijder, Van der Vaart and Van Persie, btw. There is no real idea behind the way Holland plays at the moment and it looks rubbish. But with players like that we typically win games by a narrow margin as there's almost always someone who has one moment of genius and then scores out of nowhere.

So you agree that their general play hinders the entire side, with the last World Cup being the perfect example?

We'll be back though as Van Basten buggers off soon.

Van Basten can obviously be blamed but the Dutch have always had problems regardless.

[johan neeskens]

So you agree that their general play hinders the entire side, with the last World Cup being the perfect example?

Van Basten can obviously be blamed but the Dutch have always had problems regardless.

I'm saying that the 4-3-3 system doesn't work if you don't fully commit to it, i.e. if you don''t play three attacking midfielders and if you don't allow your defenders to get involved in your attacks. Thats been the problem under van Basten's leadership. I do think an attacking 4-3-3 can work, my own club plays it beautifully at the moment. But if Van Basten continues to favour the conservative version, I'd rather he switched to 4-4-2 with Van Persie and Ruud up front and Robben on the bench. Is Robben a selfish player? Yes but if you knock that selfishness out of him he loses his value to the side altogether. As for Van Persie, he can do whatever the hell he likes on the pitch as far as I'm concerned, that boy's a genius.

I wonder what problems the Dutch have always had in your view. Considering that we've been a top 10 football nation for yonks we must've been doing something right, wouldn't you agree? And if Van Basten accidentally puts players in the right position come Euro 2008, we might surprise a couple of people even there.

[phil80]

I'm saying that the 4-3-3 system doesn't work if you don't fully commit to it, i.e. if you don''t play three attacking midfielders and if you don't allow your defenders to get involved in your attacks. Thats been the problem under van Basten's leadership. I do think an attacking 4-3-3 can work, my own club plays it beautifully at the moment. But if Van Basten continues to favour the conservative version, I'd rather he switched to 4-4-2 with Van Persie and Ruud up front and Robben on the bench. Is Robben a selfish player? Yes but if you knock that selfishness out of him he loses his value to the side altogether. As for Van Persie, he can do whatever the hell he likes on the pitch as far as I'm concerned, that boy's a genius.

I wonder what problems the Dutch have always had in your view. Considering that we've been a top 10 football nation for yonks we must've been doing something right, wouldn't you agree? And if Van Basten accidentally puts players in the right position come Euro 2008, we might surprise a couple of people even there.
I hope you're saying Robben should only be benched at the moment (cuz of injuries), because if you keep him out when healthy, that's the biggest disservice you could do to the dutch. Its like benching Ronaldo on portugal because he too can be selfish and give the ball away needlessly, but both are extremely important in attack

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Robben and Ronaldo are poles apart in terms of approach and team influence.

[phil80]

Approach-yes, team influence-no

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Their importance to club and country disproves that theory.

[phil80]

Robben has been injured for an eternity, only a fool would compare his influence on Madrid already.
As for his influence for the Dutch, when healthy he is their most dangerous player, the world cup and several other games for Holland has already proven this.
The fact that you criticize his performance in the world cup shows how little you paid attention to their games. I doubt you'd be able to find one dutch supporter that would question his influence on the Dutch side in that tournament (except for the bias ones who dont like his style of play or Chelsea). His impact was undeniable.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

His impact was negligible.

[phil80]

As is your argument.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

A spirited effort phil80 but just not good enough. I do have a question though. Why the Robben man crush?

[phil80]

Actually you have proven to fall short as you can not find a legitimate argument to back up your claims on Robben in the world cup. I am still waiting for a worthy, insightful comment that contains more than 'Robben and his hero runs'. Or maybe you'd like to admit that you actually didnt watch those games or any Dutch internationals and are just going on blind heresay

[user56]

i think Kaka is the best striker in the world.

Anwar Abdi

[Kufibear]

are we talkin bout actual strikers?cuz some scoring midfielders are mentioned too
i go with inzaghi and ibrahimovic

as far as the discussion about the dutch team
imo there is no place for arjen robben in this team

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Actually you have proven to fall short as you can not find a legitimate argument to back up your claims on Robben in the world cup. I am still waiting for a worthy, insightful comment that contains more than 'Robben and his hero runs'. Or maybe you'd like to admit that you actually didnt watch those games or any Dutch internationals and are just going on blind heresay

You have failed to dispute any of my points. My comments on Robben are quite simple and anyone who knows anything about him or actually watched the last World Cup would agree. The only people who would not would be fan boys. So I ask again, why the Robben man crush?

[phil80]

You have failed to dispute any of my points. My comments on Robben are quite simple and anyone who knows anything about him or actually watched the last World Cup would agree. The only people who would not would be fan boys. So I ask again, why the Robben man crush?
still waiting for a worthy, insightful comment. Or maybe you'd like to admit that you actually didnt watch those games or any Dutch internationals and are just going on blind hearsay

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Stop squirming and try to dispute the points I have already made.