Lautaro Martinez

[Kramerica Industries]

I remember Robben and even Benzema were considered as big game 'chokers' or players who didn't step up in the big games at times, but Benzema really changed that into his 30s,

Ok, I'm not writing to say you're wrong, and obviously stupid people exist who are willing to slander anybody, but I gotta ask when Benzema could've ever borne that label, at least in CL competition.

Season (UCL wins in bold)	Goals	Appearances	G/A
2004-'05 (17) (Lyon)	0	0	--
2005-'06 (18)	1	1	1
2006-'07 (19)	2	3	0.66
2007-'08 (20)	4	7	0.57
2008-'09 (21)	5	8	0.63
2009-'10 (22) (Real Madrid)	1	5	0.20
2010-'11 (23)	6	8	0.75
2011-'12 (24)	7	11	0.64
2012-'13 (25)	5	10	0.50
2013-'14 (26)	5	11	0.45
2014-'15 (27)	6	9	0.67
2015-'16 (28)	4	9	0.44
2016-'17 (29)	5	13	0.38
2017-'18 (30)	5	9	0.56
2018-'19 (31)	4	8	0.50
2019-'20 (32)	5	8	0.63
2020-'21 (33)	6	10	0.60
2021-'22 (34)	15	12	1.25
2022-'23 (35)	4	10	0.40
Total	90 (51 before age 30 season)	152 (95 before age 30 season)	0.59 (0.54)

He was the clear-cut first choice striker for Madrid beginning in the '13-'14 campaign, before that he had been 1a/1b with Higuaín, which might skew the G/A stats in those years because of sub appearances vs. starting appearances (I didn't care to do a G/90 on this). I've included his Lyon stats, obviously his European profile sky-rocketed once at Real Madrid, but how many underwhelming CL campaigns do we see here when viewed purely through a goals scored lens? That first season, 2009-'10, and probably that 2016-'17 season when he was generally underwhelming. I'm not sure how many goals we're expecting to see him score here, remember obviously that Cristiano came the same summer he did to Madrid and didn't leave until following the 2017-'18 season, and if we split the stats only from the 2018-'19 season until Benzema's last season in Madrid, he scored 34 goals in 48 games (0.71 per) including that all-timer of a Champions League campaign in 2021-'22 where he scored more than half (15) of Madrid's goals (28) during their European championship. I realize that might be part of what you mean when you talk about "Benzema really shed that label in his 30's", I might argue that he might've always been capable of that but he was more of a facilitator when he had Ronaldo alongside him and sacrificed his goal scoring capabilities to enhance his teammate who was even better. Benzema and Ronaldo's play styles meshed tremendously well, that's no small part of the reason why Benzema stayed while Higuaín left.

Well, that's more than I intended to write. Don't interpret this as me arguing with anything you said; again, you were suggesting this was the view of others, I'm just pointing out that those others are complete idiots.

 

[CoolMan44]

Ok, I'm not writing to say you're wrong, and obviously stupid people exist who are willing to slander anybody, but I gotta ask when Benzema could've ever borne that label, at least in CL competition.

Season (UCL wins in bold)	Goals	Appearances	G/A
2004-'05 (17) (Lyon)	0	0	--
2005-'06 (18)	1	1	1
2006-'07 (19)	2	3	0.66
2007-'08 (20)	4	7	0.57
2008-'09 (21)	5	8	0.63
2009-'10 (22) (Real Madrid)	1	5	0.20
2010-'11 (23)	6	8	0.75
2011-'12 (24)	7	11	0.64
2012-'13 (25)	5	10	0.50
2013-'14 (26)	5	11	0.45
2014-'15 (27)	6	9	0.67
2015-'16 (28)	4	9	0.44
2016-'17 (29)	5	13	0.38
2017-'18 (30)	5	9	0.56
2018-'19 (31)	4	8	0.50
2019-'20 (32)	5	8	0.63
2020-'21 (33)	6	10	0.60
2021-'22 (34)	15	12	1.25
2022-'23 (35)	4	10	0.40
Total	90 (51 before age 30 season)	152 (95 before age 30 season)	0.59 (0.54)

He was the clear-cut first choice striker for Madrid beginning in the '13-'14 campaign, before that he had been 1a/1b with Higuaín, which might skew the G/A stats in those years because of sub appearances vs. starting appearances (I didn't care to do a G/90 on this). I've included his Lyon stats, obviously his European profile sky-rocketed once at Real Madrid, but how many underwhelming CL campaigns do we see here when viewed purely through a goals scored lens? That first season, 2009-'10, and probably that 2016-'17 season when he was generally underwhelming. I'm not sure how many goals we're expecting to see him score here, remember obviously that Cristiano came the same summer he did to Madrid and didn't leave until following the 2017-'18 season, and if we split the stats only from the 2018-'19 season until Benzema's last season in Madrid, he scored 34 goals in 48 games (0.71 per) including that all-timer of a Champions League campaign in 2021-'22 where he scored more than half (15) of Madrid's goals (28) during their European championship. I realize that might be part of what you mean when you talk about "Benzema really shed that label in his 30's", I might argue that he might've always been capable of that but he was more of a facilitator when he had Ronaldo alongside him and sacrificed his goal scoring capabilities to enhance his teammate who was even better. Benzema and Ronaldo's play styles meshed tremendously well, that's no small part of the reason why Benzema stayed while Higuaín left.

Well, that's more than I intended to write. Don't interpret this as me arguing with anything you said; again, you were suggesting this was the view of others, I'm just pointing out that those others are complete idiots.

From what I recall, it was mostly regarding his goal scoring record in the CL knockouts, mainly between 2013-2017. I looked up the numbers:

13/14 - 1 goal in 5 games between QF-F
14/15 - 1 goal in 4 knockout matches
15/16 - 0 goals in 5 knockout matches
16/17 - 0 goals in the other 6 knockout matches after scoring in the first leg of the Round of 16

I also believe he wasn't particularly effective in the first two finals Real Madrid played during his time vs. Atletico. Real Madrid fans generally though are very critical of even their best players, but I do remember Benzema wasn't highly rated by a lot of Real Madrid fans. Again though, online community can be vocal and irrational.

Like you said though, he wasn't the primary goal-scorer during that time, and Benzema has always been the type of player who does a lot more than score. However, some fans only look at it from the lens of: scored a goal = great game; did not score = bad game.

 

[Il Drago]

I remember Robben and even Benzema were considered as big game 'chokers' or players who didn't step up in the big games at times, but Benzema really changed that into his 30s, while Robben moved away from that label when he scored against Borussia to win the CL (he previously missed a penalty vs. Chelsea in a CL final and had two famous misses in the WC Final).

Robben had also a penalty miss in the title decider game against Dortmund in 2012.

 

[Gal]

Seriously you guys need to stop, this is just pure nonsense. How many chances have Martinez actually had in comparison. The problem and main reason Martinez hasn’t scored more is largely to do with the team he plays for. For most part we where rubbish in CL if we where not knocked out in the group stage we where soon thereafter and we created incredible few chances often relying on defence rather than offence for most part.

The reason he hasn’t scored many is also teams complete man mark him because CL capable teams knows it’s our main threat, closing him down means we are far less likely to score, in serie A the teams don’t have good enough players to do so, but in Europe that a very different picture.

Reality is we are incredibly easy to shut down if you have quality players

 

[vex]

Not a single word from him on insta, don't like that, especially when many other players already said something. He should have been first but oh well. I know it's probably tough for him, but those things count if you are a leader and a captain.

 

[wera]

Good. I don't want my captain being glued to the phone.

 

[brakbrak]

Not a single word from him on insta, don't like that, especially when many other players already said something. He should have been first but oh well. I know it's probably tough for him, but those things count if you are a leader and a captain.

Is it really a big deal? I'd rather our players do the talking on the pitch than on the phone

 

[brehme1989]

Hahaha now we're whining because players don't use Instagram enough.
I remember a time we hated when players used it. Well, people will still complain if Sanchez posts anything

 

[Kramerica Industries]

Seriously you guys need to stop, this is just pure nonsense. How many chances have Martinez actually had in comparison. The problem and main reason Martinez hasn’t scored more is largely to do with the team he plays for. For most part we where rubbish in CL if we where not knocked out in the group stage we where soon thereafter and we created incredible few chances often relying on defence rather than offence for most part.

The reason he hasn’t scored many is also teams complete man mark him because CL capable teams knows it’s our main threat, closing him down means we are far less likely to score, in serie A the teams don’t have good enough players to do so, but in Europe that a very different picture.

Reality is we are incredibly easy to shut down if you have quality players

There was a stat I saw that said Lautaro is the highest overperforming xG in domestic play this season, and simultaneously the lowest underperforming xG in the Champions League. He scored two goals when his xG suggested he should've scored about 6-7. Take xG stats with however many grains of salt that you want, the implication is clearly there that Lautaro could've scored more goals given his chances than he did this European season.

By xG, this tie was 3.9-3.3 for Inter. We scored two goals from 3.9 xG. Chances were there as a whole, we didn't take them.

 

[IM21]

it also needs ur client not to choke every single year in Europe

 

[Il Drago]

it also needs ur client not to choke every single year in Europe

View attachment 11835

How is this different to Wanda saying Icardi needed better teammates?

It isn't his job to say what Inter needs. His focus should be on his client.

 

[PHM1605]

Yes horrible words and timing. When Lautaro just birdshot the PK that knocks us out of CL and the first thing he says is blaming the teammates?

 

[brehme1989]

How is this different to Wanda saying Icardi needed better teammates?

It isn't his job to say what Inter needs. His focus should be on his client.

Might come as a surprise to people that it's in his client's best interests to be surrounded by higher quality players.


I don't like these statements but let's not pretend they're invalid.

 

[vex]

Is it really a big deal?

Yes it is.

If you post after every win, then say something as a captain after a most painful defeat in the season.

 

[brehme1989]

Yes it is.

If you post after every win, then say something as a captain after a most painful defeat in the season.

Fair

 

[Adriano@10]

it also needs ur client not to choke every single year in Europe

View attachment 11835

Now this is something id critizise shut the fuck up...
Dont make this a his teammates suck thing cause clearly they dont and we seem to have a great chemistry now dont let your agent fuck that up

 

[Jane The Virgin]

Yes it is.

If you post after every win, then say something as a captain after a most painful defeat in the season.

It's kinda of an issue because it takes him no longer than 30/40 minutes after a match to start posting and reposting insta stories.

When you take in consideration that they have to change, shower, etc, leaves the impression that he can't wait to get his hands on the phone.

But now, silence.

That's my whole "issue" with it, and it has to do more with him being so active right after a game. Chill, insta isn't going nowhere.

Maybe he blames himself alot, and feels terrible. We're humans.

 

[Aries]

it also needs ur client not to choke every single year in Europe

View attachment 11835

he could start by reinforcing his PK skills

 

[Adriano@10]

he could start by reinforcing his PK skills

Meh again we re overreacting to this... pk taking is probably the least important skillset for him to have.....
At any given point in the game we have 9 other outfield player who can take the PK... so really whats the fuss about?
How often do we get into an actual pk shootout that matters?
Exactly....
Some of you guys wanna throw away a great striker cause he s bad at a skill we really dont need him to be good at.......
I know it s that fucking perception of but but a striker has to be good at pks... seriously who gives a fuck it s a cherry on top at best.....

If on the other hand he insists on beeing one of the pk takers than yes he has to start working on his pk skills more....

 

[Aries]

Meh again we re overreacting to this... pk taking is probably the least important skillset for him to have.....
At any given point in the game we have 9 other outfield player who can take the PK... so really whats the fuss about?
How often do we get into an actual pk shootout that matters?
Exactly....
Some of you guys wanna throw away a great striker cause he s bad at a skill we really dont need him to be good at.......
I know it s that fucking perception of but but a striker has to be good at pks... seriously who gives a fuck it s a cherry on top at best.....

If on the other hand he insists on beeing one of the pk takers than yes he has to start working on his pk skills more....

I respectfully disagree. If he wants to rise to be a team leader, as he is a WC winner, he needs to own these small but defining moments. It's what separates the top players from the rest. For whatever reason (either his choice or him being told to) he was the 5th striker and we were down. That's his moment.

I still am a fan of the guy and this team, and sure, people do have poor games, he's still young, but if we are to rise to the next level he can't make these mistakes. we're pinning our hopes that he's our captain and more prolific than people like lukaku.

I will give him credit that his movement away from goal was great and he tried to make chances, but those opportunities he had the ball at his feet or head in front of goal...gotta make those

just my thoughts