Goalpoachers - a dying breed?

[Leo No.8]

Interesting how much better United have fared since they let go their out and out goalpoacher Van Nistelrooy. Interesting to see how badly Real are doing despite his goals. He keeps on scoring and is no doubt a master of his art, but the teams he plays in don't seem to be particularly succesful. I know there are many other issues at Madrid to blame for their present problems, but his departure from United and their performances this season raises an interesting question for me.

 

The question I'd ask is, is there room in the modern game for players who do nothing but stick the ball in the net? You look around all the top sides now and there are very few out-and-out poachers in the game. The above mentioned Dutchman, Trezeguet and Inzaghi are for me the last of a dying breed.

 

I put it to you that the modern game of football has no place for the goalscorer who doesn't contribute to the all-round performance of the team. The pace of the game and the increasingly tactical nature means managers can no longe creater plans for matches basically with ten players because one of the strikers cannot be relied upon to do anything but hang around the goal.

 

Your thoughts?

[sutty]

I'd say United would be a better side with Van Nistelrooy in it right now.

 

They are better this season for 4 reasons.

 

1. Their back 4 and goalie is sorted.

2. Scholes is back to his best

3. Giggs has stayed fit and in form.

4. Ronaldo is currently the best player in the world.

 

All 4 of those were not true last season.

[Bigal]

is goalpoacher different from goal hanger?

 

cos if it isnt there are plenty in our five a side team

[sutty]

On the wider question than the mancs...

 

What defines a goal poacher? There are plenty of free scoring players around.

[Leo No.8]

I'd say United would be a better side with Van Nistelrooy in it right now.

 

They are better this season for 4 reasons.

 

1. Their back 4 and goalie is sorted.

2. Scholes is back to his best

3. Giggs has stayed fit and in form.

4. Ronaldo is currently the best player in the world.

 

All 4 of those were not true last season.

 

I'd agree regarding all of those points, but I actually thought they looked a bettter side without him last season when Saha played instead, even though he was still scoring...