9 - Robert Lewandowski

[Ter Stature]

No need to downplay his achievements, but shills like @Temptation who pretend he's doing better than last season when he's just getting more chances are really exposing themselves as not watching football or not being very bright.

The competition of other strikers is just at an all time low.

 

[Temptation]

Keiser Franz Beckenbuer said Mandu was a lazy boy and otherwise problematic from a disciplinary angle. He and Pep did not get along. So, saying that he was better is a moot point. Just like saying someone is better but they don't play dut to injury...or they're toxic. RL9 is ready always.

Pep signed RL9 because Mandzukic wasn't technical enough for his style.


RL9 in his prime could do the technical stuff and the aerial threat stuff all on his own. Was a ridiculously complete centre forward who could create all kinds of trouble for the opposition.


He can succeed in a Pep system, in a Klopp system and in an Allardyce system lol. Proof is in the pudding.

 

[Maradona37]

Yeah I am not denying he has been world-class. Just saying as a player he is very bland and by the numbers. He scores loads of goals but would you pay to watch him?

Others 'achieved' less but were far more talented.

I agree too, I get on with Temptation but he is taking this fanboy behaviour much too far now. He's not even a Barca fan and he's dominating the thread with his Lewy love, making it difficult for Barca fans to actually discuss him.

I would argue his obnoxious behaviour in here actually results in a lot of the disdain for him on here. People can tell when someone is shilling about someone else.

 

[Temptation]

No need to downplay his achievements, but shills like @Temptation who pretend he's doing better than last season when he's just getting more chances are really exposing themselves as not watching football or not being very bright.

The competition of other strikers is just at an all time low.

His all round game isn't as good as it was in his prime. Yeah, no shit! He's 36. Ofcourse he's more of a poacher now. It's natural.


Why are you attacking me and calling me names? I never insulted you.

 

[Maradona37]

It is what it is, let's hope he scores when it REALLY matters from now on.

He won't. If you have watched football for as long as I have the signs are there - you can see it coming a mile off. He failed a lot of the time when it matters in his prime so he will definitely underperform in the crunch time now he's past it.

This will be Flick's undoing.

 

[Maradona37]

Why are you attacking me and calling me names? I never insulted you.

Obviously you are a good guy, and you don't really insult unless someone insults you first. There's a lot to like about you as a person.

But don't you see that this Lewy love is stan behaviour and crosses into celebrity worship? You have lost all objectivity on the lad now. You just love him and are spinning everything to suit him. It's annoying me and I like you, so imagine how irritating it is for people who have no feelings towards you.

 

[Ter Stature]

His all round game isn't as good as it was in his prime. Yeah, no shit! He's 36. Ofcourse he's more of a poacher now. It's natural.


Why are you attacking me and calling me names? I never insulted you.

You're a Liverpool troll, and constantly shilling for him. That's not name calling but factos. Flick needs a striker who can use space with his pace and is clinical.

Definition of making yourself a target mate.

 

[Temptation]

Obviously you are a good guy, and you don't really insult unless someone insults you first. There's a lot to like about you as a person.

But don't you see that this Lewy love is stan behaviour and crosses into celebrity worship? You have lost all objectivity on the lad now. You just love him and are spinning everything to suit him. It's annoying me and I like you, so imagine how irritating it is for people who have no feelings towards you.

My point was that he gets unfairly criticised here.


Not that he doesn't deserve criticism. He has had bad games this season for which he deserves criticism.


But sometimes, he gets scapegoated even when it's not his fault.


Good to know that you have a positive opinion on me despite the numerous arguments we've had since you joined this forum.

 

[Maradona37]

My point was that he gets unfairly criticised here.


Not that he doesn't deserve criticism. He has had bad games this season for which he deserves criticism.


But sometimes, he gets scapegoated even when it's not his fault.


Good to know that you have a positive opinion on me despite the numerous arguments we've had since you joined this forum.

Fair enough. Maybe some go over the top with criticism but I would suggest in some ways it is a reaction to the over the top praise too.

You know full well from our discussions that I have a lot of time for you. I am a grown up and will never let disagreements on football or footballers affect me otherwise thinking a decent man is a decent man. You have been kind and friendly with me and that goes a long way with me. It's just the Lewy think I think you have a blind spot on (you'd say the same for me with Messi as a footballer, which is fair enough and is your right).

Like I say, you have talked to me when I was a bit pissed off about various stuff and gave me someone to speak to. That matters a lot more to me than disagreements on a footballer who is a stranger to all of us.

I also wouldn't call debates 'arguments' (unless you mean in the friendly sense of arguing). You and I debate and it can get a little heated, but since we started talking there's been no insults flying about. I admit there's some things about your football watching I do not understand, but like I say I wouldn't let that affect my wider view of you as a guy.

I like the fact we can tell each other the truth if we think the other is overstepping the mark without being offended or taking it personally.

 

[DonAK]

He's a liability unless he scores right now.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1877389149885313339

 

[MontenegrinCuler]

Yeah it's not nearly as much about the missed chances as it is about him destroying every attack with his terrible first touch

Had acres of space there and still somehow managed to lose the ball, it's pretty crazy

 

[Maradona37]

He's a liability unless he scores right now.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1877389149885313339

'He's a liability unless he scores right now.'

That sentence sums it up exactly. Some forwards do stuff like in the video multiple times in a game, but score a goal and it is all forgotten. What is never remembered is the hypothetical goals better play could have led to. No player is perfect of course but players like he, Haaland and Ronaldo post 2014 break down moves with touches and poor play like that all the time.

A sharper, better, more agile player in that position gets a great touch out of their feet and turn in one movement and plays a slide rule pass to release one of those running beyond, or even carries the ball himself. Like I say no player is perfect and these things happen but it happens a lot with certain players. They break down moves.

Also, that first touch is truly truly dreadful. He takes it into the air then makes it difficult to control and gives the opposition player time to close him down and take the ball. The second touch wasn't any better. That has nothing to do with being 36 years old and is simply mediocre technique. I have seen him do it a lot too, more commonly now but he wasn't immune to it in his prime either.

That is why when someone like Tookien posts and tries to steer the conversation in terms of a missed chance (sarcastically talking about it) he is being disingenous. Missed chances are much more forgivable when the player contributes in other areas. When they are terrible in general play AND missing chances then they are a liability. I would argue they're a liability even if their general play is poor and they successfully finish a chance but that is another debate.

Edit: he just walks after he loses it too. I don't know if Flick is instructing him to do this because he's the number 9 and ancient, but there's zero attempt to even make up for an error. For someone who has so much PR and propaganda about his 'fitness and healthy lifestyle' you'd think he'd have the energy to run when losing the ball. Like I say maybe Flick wants him to stay high in case Barca win it back and be an outlet again.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

His slow body movement is normal at 36, Cristiano had/has the same problem since 21/22. His big games stats at Barca has been good though scored against Inter, Napoli,Manu, this season Bayern&Real - i mean for a 36 years dude this is insane!

If we lead with at least 2+ goals it's good that Hansi sub him off to give him rest, we will need the best Lewy for second half of the season, siu.

 

[Maradona37]

His slow body movement is normal at 36, Cristiano had/has the same problem since 21/22. His big games stats at Barca has been good though scored against Inter, Napoli,Manu, this season Bayern&Real - i mean for a 36 years dude this is insane!

If we lead with at least 2+ goals it's good that Hansi sub him off to give him rest, we will need the best Lewy for second half of the season, siu.

The problem as has been discussed ad infinitum though is that he scores goals but doesn't do anything else. His all-round performances seem to be to the detriment of the team and he needs to be carried in general play.

Fanboys on twitter rave over his scoring stats. Those stats conceal all the broken down pieces of play due to his poor touch and link up and hold up, and the times the opposition had joy because he has to be carried or gave the ball away.

That is what I said above - he costs goalscoring chances too with his poor hold up play and link up play.

It's like Bruno Fernandes - yeah he can create chances with his Hollywood passing, but he probably loses the ball more with his poor shielding and hoofs which lead to counter attacks against United. Is he a net positive? Would the team function better with a different, younger, better player in his place who can do more of the non-stats things?

Sometimes it feels like the vast majority of fans only see what actually happens in a game. It is a coach's job to analyse how situations weren't made the most of too and make changes, as happened above - because other times you won't get the goals. You have to maximise the play in every situation. Flick seems to be indulging Lewandowski (maybe as he has no other choice) and putting full faith in him, and as a result I seriously question him.

Two words that most football fans would do well to learn: hypothetical and qualitative.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

The problem as has been discussed ad infinitum though is that he scores goals but doesn't do anything else. His all-round performances seem to be to the detriment of the team and he needs to be carried in general play.

Fanboys on twitter rave over his scoring stats. Those stats conceal all the broken down pieces of play due to his poor touch and link up and hold up, and the times the opposition had joy because he has to be carried or gave the ball away.

That is what I said above - he costs goalscoring chances too with his poor hold up play and link up play.

It's like Bruno Fernandes - yeah he can create chances with his Hollywood passing, but he probably loses the ball more with his poor shielding and hoofs which lead to counter attacks against United.

Sometimes it feels like the vast majority of fans only see what actually happens in a game. It is a coach's job to analyse how situations weren't made the most of too and made changes, as happened above - because other times you won't get the goals. You have to maximise the play in every situation. Flick seems to be indulging Lewandowski (maybe as he has no other choice) and putting full faith in him, and as a result I seriously question him.

Two words that most football fans would do well to learn: hypothetical and qualitative.

Yeah i agree that his ability to hold the ball was crap last few games, he was good in that aspect at the beginning of the season but looks like he lost his form. Im pretty sure he will improve over the season, he is his biggest critic, lets see in 2-3 months