The Skipper

I remember all of those goals very well, watched Atletico quite a bit last season, and as you can see, the majority of them were either penalties, off the counter, some tap ins, or just ruthless one on one finishing in the box. You're not even disagreeing with anything I said about Falcao - I said that he's a better finisher than Benzema and finds himself in better positions to finish the ball - that's not what we were arguing about. That video still doesn't show off Falcao's dribbling ability or ability to shield or hold on to the ball or his ability to bring others into play like the video I showed you does. You haven't shown me a video that consistently looks at the general play of Falcao when he's not scoring whilst I have. Are you sure you watched the video I embedded? It doesn't even focus on Benzema's goal scoring ability off the counter (we're not arguing about who has the better killer instinct... That obviously goes to Radamel), it focuses on his general play, his technique with the ball and his ability on the ball. Like I said before, you won't see Falcao beating 3 or 4 guys with just his dribbling ability or with a flick of the ball, or with a great pass into Ronaldo or Ozil or Bale or whoever, which all come outside the box where it's a lot more congested. The above to me defines that one has great ability on the ball. The video you've embedded... All it does is show off Radamel's goal scoring ability which is not the same as ball playing ability or his play in general. As I said again, we're not discussing who's the better goal scorer or finisher. That clearly goes to Falcao. Like I said you won't see Falcao pulling off the flicks, or the passes, or the ability to beat men in congestion in his general play outside the box like Benzema does. Falcao doesn't come deep like Benzema because he doesn't have the ability to do that. You're trying to make it sound that all Benzema does is goal hang which is completely false because the most forward man in Real's team is obviously Ronaldo. Lastly, again you're agreeing with a point I said earlier - that Falcao is the one who scores off of half chances in the box - you've just essentially said the same - and that makes him more of a poacher to me than Benzema. Apart from scoring goals, Falcao doesn't offer anything else. He doesn't really bring others into play, he doesn't drop deep to receive the ball like Benzema does, he doesn't have the ability to keep the ball effectively if crowded out by 3/4 players outside the box... All he does is get into great positions in the box and finishes ruthlessly. Which is exactly what a poacher does.

Yeah I agree with your descriptions on all three but I don't think Feruz is ready yet to be the third choice striker. He's stagnated a bit as well IMO. I think Bamford is even more ready than Islam.

I was genuinely asking. The questions still stand, answer them if you want or when you can. I've given you plenty of reasoning as to why I think Falcao and Benzema are who they are but I feel you haven't really done the same.

Sorry to reopen the argument but I'm just dead curious... Explain how Falcao is better than Benzema in link up play? Could you please give me examples? And why are you ignoring the fact that Atletico Madrid were a counter attacking side (and still are) when Falcao were there? Falcao is the better counter attack player by far. It's how he scored most of his goals at Atletico.

What I'm saying is is that if Benzema consistently scores throughout the whole season instead of going on dry goal spells he'd get Falcao numbers; which he hasn't been far off anyway since he scored 21 goals last season and the season before that he scored 33 goals (which is Falcao level anyway). It's consistently scoring and getting 30+ goals a season, which he is obviously capable of, that is Benzema's problem. He seems well on his way to rectifying that this season though.

If that were true then Ba/Torres/Eto'o would all have more goals.We are not a team that is built around or geared towards their striker.

You're right, Benzema's main problem is consistency. If he sorts that out he's able to be as prolific as Falcao. Despite his goal droughts he still scores 20-30 a season which is pretty impressive.

Different type of defenders though. They compliment each other pretty well - Zouma is the more classic defender out of the two.

Don't be ridiculous, I agree that Mikel has been below average in general this season, he's had his (few) good games and he's had some bad games but in general he's been underwhelming. All I was saying to you is that if you're going to say something say it in the right way. He has played quite a bit this season.

I'm not saying Falcao hasn't had better seasons than Benzema. What we're arguing about is what sort of strikers they are. The last thing I'll say is that if Benzema's not scoring, he'll still be useful to the team in terms of assisting and linking up play. The same can't be said about Falcao.

That hasn't always been the case though, there have been numerous times Mikel has been brought on with like 20/30 mins left in a game. That's all I'm saying,

What? So you're telling me Falcao is not a poacher? And that Benzema is technically inferior to Benzema? Please watch the video... and tell me Falcao has the technique to pull off the flicks and passes that Benzema does... Are you telling me Falcao is great at holding the ball under pressure like Benzema is? Or that Falcao can beat his man better than Benzema can? Are you telling me when he's surrounded by 2/3 players he won't lose the ball 90% of the time? We'll just have to agree to disagree then. We obviously have a complete different view on the type of strikers Falcao and Benzema are.

Nah, completely disagree. I know not many people will agree because of Falcao's goalscoring record, but it's of my personal opinion that Falcao needs the team to be built around him, whereas that's not the case with Benzema. At Real, the team is obviously built around Ronaldo. Falcao is nothing like Suarez, he needs the team to be built around him, like at Atletico, like at Porto, like at Monaco. Ronaldo and Bale aren't really known for their assists either. Whereas Benzema and Suarez have the ability to play as a second striker (i.e. behind the main striker like a number 10), Falcao does not. He rarely creates goals out of his own will like Suarez does. Falcao doesn't have the dribbling ability or technique that Benzema or Suarez do, sorry. Watch this video (I know it's a highlights video but still just to give you a general idea) and you'll see your notion that Benzema doesn't have ability on the ball is frankly wrong: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV7VFrFzg7g You won't see Falcao doing this stuff on a regular basis.

'Starting' and 'playing' (i.e. coming on as a sub) are different things you do know that?

That's not true IMO. I feel like you haven't watched enough of either... Falcao's not the complete ball playing striker whatsoever... I'd say it's the other way round more. Benzema already has 8 assists this season, had 15 last season, 15 the season before... That alone should tell you he's in the ilk of a ball playing CF. Benzema is far more complete than Falcao as a striker IMO. Better at link up play, better with his back towards the goal, better dribbler, better passer, assists his team mates a lot better etc. What Falcao excels at is his movement off the ball, his insane finishing, his ability to score half chances in the box and his ability to be in the right position at the right time. Benzema is more rounded. Benzema is a ball playing striker who doesn't need a team to be built around him. Falcao is the ultimate poacher who does need a team that's built around him in order for you to get the maximum out of him.

I'm in the camp of wanting to be successful and leaving a legacy behind with a great brand of football. I believe we have the players and manager to achieve that. I'm no fool though, obviously it takes a season or three for the pinnacle of that to really be shown. I believe we can do it under Mourinho.

Interesting. I'd take this.

Kurt Zouma has the potential to be one of the best, £13m is a steal IMO. Good enough to start now as well, a Luiz - Zouma partnership would be immense in the foreseeable future.

I think Benzema is better than Falcao personally.

Nah, I don't think he's a great midfielder at all. Think he's a good player that had a good season last year, but definitely not the sort of player I want to be spending £25m on. I'd rather give Chalobah games.

Not as a CM. RLC, Chalobah and Baker are all more talented than him in that position.

No one is calling you ignorant or stupid. What me and Rmpr are saying is that your post was ignorant and stupid. We are not attacking you personally.

Feruz isn't ready.

Won't make it here as a midfielder IMO.

He can barely even get games at Valencia. I'd rather just give Chalobah a shot tbh, who is coming back in January. Always thought Oriol was overrated.