He's spot on. I've said the same before, but this guy explains it way better than me. Unpopular opinion: Benzema was not poor in 17/18. He was massively criticized for lacking goals but it simply was not his job. He wasn't a striker at the time. He was inconsistent and pretty poor at the beginning, but so was almost everyone including big boss Cristiano. pic.twitter.com/lsxQDpATCL— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 I always found it troubling how everyone was excused for their inconsistency... apart from Karim. Cris, Ramos, Marcelo, Casemiro, Kroos, Carva, Navas all were excused for being inconsistent. Karim despite being an amazing player in the second half of the season wasn't forgiven.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 This happened because everyone believed Karim to be a striker but this just was not the case. He was not instructed to be the one that scores, the one that takes the shots. He was playing more of a #10 role than as an actual #9. The statistics prove it too.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 In La Liga 17/18, Karim averaged 1.5 shots per game. Bale averaged 2.5 shots per game. Cristiano? He averaged 5.2 shots per game. You can clearly see that out of our "front 3" Karim took the least shots. Bale took more and Cristiano took the most shots. Karim was a support.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 I said earlier that Karim played more of a #10 than as a #9. He wasn't necessarily fully a #10, but let's compare it with our 2 other #10's.Karim: 1.5 shots per game.Isco: 1.1 shots per game.Marco Asensio: 1.3 shots per game.Thus proven Karim shouldn't be judged by goals.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019
Might have something to do with that nobody wants to interrupt you while you're gobbling on his dick or that the last 4 posts are all by you.
Everybody saw his goal last night. I want to point out goal by James where Benzema took the ball from Granada, and acted as obstacle for their LB just enough that Odriozola can get into the better position and cross for James.
I said earlier that Karim played more of a #10 than as a #9. He wasn't necessarily fully a #10, but let's compare it with our 2 other #10's.Karim: 1.5 shots per game.Isco: 1.1 shots per game.Marco Asensio: 1.3 shots per game.Thus proven Karim shouldn't be judged by goals.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 But Karim missed big chances, didn't he? Yes. Big chances missed in La Liga 17/18: Karim Benzema - 18.Leo - 18.Cristiano - 22.Luis Suarez - 24.Karim is not missing the most chances. That being said, from the amount of shots he took, that's a lot of big chances missed.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 Why did I show you that stat? Just to prove even further that the idea that Karim misses the most chances is actually false. Now despite taking less shots, Karim has a lot of big chances missed. This is easy to explain. Big chances are the only chances he got.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 He missed a lot of big chances and he should've missed less, but these are the only chances he wasted. He did not have the shots required to up his stats, nor did he get many penalties as he isn't the main penalty taker.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 Aside from that, most players need a constant need of shots and opportunities in front of goal to still be clinical. Penalties are often used as confidence boosters too. Karim simply drifted wide a lot and had to play deep very often, a lot of players wouldn't be clinical anymore— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019
Karim's role simply wasn't that of a striker. He was also inconsistent, but just like the others, he upped his game in the second half of the season. However unlike the others, his role was completely misunderstood, which led people to believe he never upped his game.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 He was judged upon goals and that simply wasn't his job. What he did offer is making our gameplay smooth and assisting. He was Real Madrid's top assister in La Liga, with 10 assists. Kroos comes second with 7 assists.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 Karim's inclusion in the team had more to do than just simply assisting or creating chances. He made the team 'click' so to speak. This is why I remember clearly, that every time Real played without Karim, the team just wouldn't click and Cristiano would be isolated.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 If we are to speak of our main front 3, we have Cristiano, Karim and Bale. Even though you would think Cris and Bale are the wingers and thus the chance creators, both of them aren't good at progressing with the ball. Karim is the one who does that. He was the link between them.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 Let's look at a comparable player who is deemed as a good player. Firmino in 18/19:12 goals + 6 assists = 18 goals contributionKarim: 5 goals + 10 assists = 15 goals contributionFirmino played more minutes, was a better scorer but a lesser creator... with a better front 3— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019
There were so many games in the second half of the season where Karim performed very well without the goals. Against Levante for example, he assisted once, created two chances, completed 4/5 dribbles and had an overall good game.He had too many of these good games without goals— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 Lastly, even when it came to goals, he did score very important goals against Bayern and Liverpool. Both were mistakes, sure... but he capitalized.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 Conclusion: Karim had a decent season despite being inconsistent. If he has to be called bad due to his inconsistency, then almost all Madrid players were bad with few exceptions.We all know that this isn't the case and that consistency isn't the only thing we should judge.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 4, 2019 PS: No one said he didn't miss chances and my point is he made up for it big time in the second half of the season. I literally also explained how if you're constantly forced deep/wide you're not going to be as clinical.You wouldn't judge a #10 purely on goals. Period.— Belkace (@Belkace_RM) October 5, 2019
Eh, I posted this thread for over a month while Benzema has been RM's best player. And how funny this is coming from someone usually rushes here to crap on him whenever Real Madrid loses or generally downplays his contributions for the club on RMBS threads. Your hate-boner for this guy is quite something else lol. Yeah, but I'd say it was a brilliant counter-attack goal involved by many RM-players. Modric, Isco, Benz, James & Odriozola were all big part of it tbh.
8 out of 10 last posts are by this groupie. Yikes, no wonder everyone avoids this thread as much as everyone avoids Benz with a camera in his hands.
Karim Benzema. Olympique Lyonnais. Icon. pic.twitter.com/PNhsEdKeox— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) October 24, 2019 Nostalgia
Since Ronaldo and Benzema haven’t been playing together, Benzema has scored more goals between them. (41 vs 34). [@el_pais] pic.twitter.com/28Nztx1iPm— Infinite Madrid (@InfiniteMadrid) November 10, 2019 Sad to see Ronnie’s decline, but Karim has been incredible
Since August '18 - Benzema has scored 41G and provided 13A in 68 games across all competitions. Goal participation once every 103 minutes.In Italy, Cristiano has played 56 games for Juventus, scoring 34G and giving 12A: one involvement every 105 minutes. [@diarioas]— Infinite Madrid (@InfiniteMadrid) November 10, 2019
Those are great stats, no mistake there. But Ronaldo is old now, was adjusting to a new team, played 12 fewer games and gets subbed out more often [with no goal]. And now is even getting credit for goals stolen by teammates.
Juninho (Lyon's Sporting director): "I'll propose to Benzema to finish his career at Lyon. He has achieved everything at Real. He's from here - so why not? he could make an economic effort. We've already exchanged messages. I dream that Benzema finishes his career with us." pic.twitter.com/RJ3qeyrR5G— Infinite Madrid (@InfiniteMadrid) November 12, 2019
📰 Aquí tenéis nuestra portada de mañana, miércoles 13 de noviembre🇫🇷 'FRANCIA CLAMA POR BENZEMA' pic.twitter.com/NXQw1IxgvF— Diario AS (@diarioas) November 12, 2019 L’Equipe and France Football conducted polls that show that France fans want Benzema to return. it boggles my mind that Giroud is still getting called up
Looks like AS & Marca have Benz's possible return to France as covers... Spoiler (Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content) Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler 1194392094279917570 is not a valid tweet id 1194395892910084096 is not a valid tweet id People should just move on, Deschamps will never change his mind about Benzema. The Spanish media don't have anything to talk about during international breaks, so hence the covers. Marca & AS need to sell and the only other news they'd have outside of the Benzema thing would be Griezmann/Messi relationship or politics lol. Deschamps: "It wouldn't be good for France if Benzema returned to the national team" https://t.co/DrAUJLYn0W pic.twitter.com/UGYs8fRaW3— AS USA (@English_AS) October 12, 2019 Tbf, France won World Cup even with Giroud's 0 goals & making 0/13 shots on target. Benzema is also old, he turns 32 years old next month. Also, games played is completely when you looking how effective they deliver goal+assists per minute. Benzema should actually have worse numbers since he plays more games, but that's not the case. You shouldn't overlook that even Benzema himself had to adjusting in a new situation.
France coach is just being vindictive at this point. He paid his price for his indiscretions. He is the 2nd best bench player this season, if not the best tbh