It seems there are lot of statistically impressive players now days that have weak personality thus preventing them impact crucial games on higher level, which will be their road to oblivion. Nobody will give a shit about some random guy x, who had y goals, if he doesn't cement his place in history of sport with memorable performances in cup matches and big title winning teams (League titles by domineering teams are not "big", whether current City or Barca/Real in ll) or mesmerize with extraordinary skills that no other could replicate. Also need to add the sheer amount of matches played in modern sportball compared to decades ago. All these stats become fluff in that perspective.
Good post, especially bolded. They play so many games that even guys like Lukaku and others have scored more goals at international level (or will) than lads like Pele or G Muller. The separation of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union into much smaller states (many of which are poor quality teams, though some are decent) has led to teams shooting fish in a barrel. Then there's the usual minnows now who weren't about to play in qualifiers back then, like Andorra, San Marino etc.
Good postSomeone posted this on a forum. Interesting post.
He's become an exaggerated version of himself. People have often said all he does is score, that kind of thing, and I'd always think so what?
It's noticeable how he's become less and less inolved with each passing season. Here's his touches per 90 career trajectory from league games, most recent at the bottom.
Down to 19.3 touches while penatly area touches at a career high. Didn't watch last night, just the 14 touches in the whole game apparently.
Jamie Vardy is the only player in the entire league who touches the ball less if we ignore the players with tiny sample sizes. There's 455 players on that list in total. Vardy an older player trying to preserve his energy playing in a weak team.
Haaland looks a bit flat-footed to me when I have seen him lately, as though he could be playing through injury or is just exhausted. Bad move letting Alvarez go and not buying someone to share the load. No surprise at all if they get someone in January, they need it. Regardless of that, he'll still score a ton due to amount of chances / those penalty area touches which are elite level. When not scoring he really does offer nothing at the moment more than ever before.
