9 - Robert Lewandowski

[FC B]

Lautaro? Alvarez? Roque is actually strong and athletic despite lack of height.



And how much would he cost?
The Mbappe and Halaand of the world aren't coming here. We aren't the top destination we once were, there is no Suarez type of signing arriving.
We will be left with 3 options
1- Get an old proven one, again. This can work for immediate results, but it is costly on long run.

2-take a gamble early on someone: there are very different types of gambles, Roque is one of those, signing someone for B team cheaply is another. As the chances of making an impact increases, the asking price increase.


3- Sign someone with European pedigree: the Osimhen, Nunez of the world. They still cost an arm and leg, and still are gambles.

I don't know how good Roque will be, I am a bit a fan before we were even interested, he is that type of hard working young player who goes against the odds to prove himself. His dribbling is limited and he isn't flashy, but that is rarely a deal breaker for a 9.
The club clearly rates him, so let's hope they God it right.

Lautaro isn't a top striker of Europe imo. Alvarez is very promising but he still has to prove himself as one of the top strikes in Europe and that is very difficult to do when he has to compete with Haaland which is the starter out of them two.

Neither Roque is cheap and didn't said Mbappe/Haaland should be considered. Just gave examples of truly top strikers of europe atm.

Not totally against this signing but rather think he won't meet the expectations.

 

[lucas24]

Lewandowski doesn't have a winner's mentality and always fails in important matches. He has the most hyped statistics in football history, gained in matches against weak rivals. Bayern created for him plenty of situations in every game. He had the highest xg/90 of all players in the top 5 leagues for 8 consecutive years. Efficiency is key in strikers, let's see how he looks compared to other strikers.

Lewandowski, Bayern (all seasons, all competions): 373 matches, 0.98 goals per 90 min, 1.04 expected goals per 90 min, 94% efficiency
Lewandowski, Barca: 43 m, 0.78 g/90, 0.76 xg/90, 102%
Benzema, Real: 604 m, 0.68 g/90, 0.65 xg/90, 104%
Haaland, BVB: 89 m, 1.07 g/90, 0.84 xg/90, 127%
Haaland, City: 50 m, 1.22 g/90, 0.99 xg/90, 123%
Kane, Tottenham: 423 m, 0.71 g/90, 0.57 xg/90, 124%
Mbappe, PSG: 258 m, 0.92 g/90, 0.80 xg/90, 115%
Osimhen, Napoli: 99 m, 0.72 g/90, 0.63 xg/90, 114%

It looks poor, but Lewa still plays better at Barcelona than at Bayern.

 

[ajnotkeith]

Lewandowski doesn't have a winner's mentality and always fails in important matches. He has the most hyped statistics in football history, gained in matches against weak rivals. Bayern created for him plenty of situations in every game. He had the highest xg/90 of all players in the top 5 leagues for 8 consecutive years. Efficiency is key in strikers, let's see how he looks compared to other strikers.

Lewandowski, Bayern (all seasons, all competions): 373 matches, 0.98 goals per 90 min, 1.04 expected goals per 90 min, 94% efficiency
Lewandowski, Barca: 43 m, 0.78 g/90, 0.76 xg/90, 102%
Benzema, Real: 604 m, 0.68 g/90, 0.65 xg/90, 104%
Haaland, BVB: 89 m, 1.07 g/90, 0.84 xg/90, 127%
Haaland, City: 50 m, 1.22 g/90, 0.99 xg/90, 123%
Kane, Tottenham: 423 m, 0.71 g/90, 0.57 xg/90, 124%
Mbappe, PSG: 258 m, 0.92 g/90, 0.80 xg/90, 115%
Osimhen, Napoli: 99 m, 0.72 g/90, 0.63 xg/90, 114%

It looks poor, but Lewa still plays better at Barcelona than at Bayern.

This analysis isn't completely accurate because it removes the strikers role entirely in getting on the end of chances.

Making good runs, winning aerial duels in crosses and pulling the trigger quickly on shots can contribute to having higher xG. In fact, the sign of a great striker is having high xG consistently.

Half the game is getting in the right positions to score.

 

[DonAK]

Lautaro isn't a top striker of Europe imo. Alvarez is very promising but he still has to prove himself as one of the top strikes in Europe and that is very difficult to do when he has to compete with Haaland which is the starter out of them two.

Neither Roque is cheap and didn't said Mbappe/Haaland should be considered. Just gave examples of truly top strikers of europe atm.

Not totally against this signing but rather think he won't meet the expectations.

A truly top striker in today's market will cost 100-120m+ unless:

- He has a release clause
- He is old

 

[Temptation]

Clowns now trying to discredit prime RL9.

Well if you dismiss his records, then there will hardly be any striker in history who was any good.

Try all you want, his legacy is intact. Cry more.

 

[lucas24]

This analysis isn't completely accurate because it removes the strikers role entirely in getting on the end of chances.

Making good runs, winning aerial duels in crosses and pulling the trigger quickly on shots can contribute to having higher xG. In fact, the sign of a great striker is having high xG consistently.

Half the game is getting in the right positions to score.

They are the best 9's in the world. IMO, the creation of xg depends more on the team than the player, especially of this class. They give their best. Hmm, I shouldn't put Mbappe in this group. He's a winger and in addition to his goals, he has a phenomenal xa (expected assists). Only Messi has similar stats to the Frenchman.
Do you think Kane is a worse player than Lewa cuz he has almost 2x less xg/90? Tottenham is much worse than Bayern and the Premier League is best in Europe. So better defenders and goalkeepers than in the Bundesliga (harder to score goals).

Let's compare both at the World Cup:
Lewa, Poland: 7 m, 0.29 g/90, 0.61 xg/90, 47%
Kane, England: 11 m, 0.74 g/90, 0.64 xg/90, 115%

For me the Englishman is a class better.

 

[FC B]

A truly top striker in today's market will cost 100-120m+ unless:

- He has a release clause
- He is old

Yeah but you got to pay the money one way or the other, see Lewandowski's transfer fee + high wages that goes to 100m or so. And he's old and slow.

 

[Andresito]

Outmuscled by Roque Mesa, the Spanish premium version of Arthur

 

[Temptation]

Second half masterclass incoming!

 

[Javier Zanetti - fraud]

Second half masterclass incoming!

BOAT masterclass lol

 

[Blackened]

We should try a swap deal for Pukki. Doubt Norwich are that dumb though.

 

[Temptation]

We should try a swap deal for Pukki. Doubt Norwich are that dumb though.

Pukki would be a huge upgrade. But can Barca convince him?

Now, Arnautovic on the other hand........

 

[Temptation]

Huge sigh of relief that he's back to scoring goals again.


I was worried about him being finished.

He'll get great numbers next season too. His ego wouldn't allow him to fail. He has worked all his life to have a long career. Fingers crossed.

 

[Javier Zanetti - fraud]

How good of a player is Pukki? Is he that Finnish guy that Red Star Belgrade wanted

 

[Temptation]

How good of a player is Pukki? Is he that Finnish guy that Red Star Belgrade wanted

About as good a player as Blackened is as a poster.......