I don't think Ruud Van Nistelrooy haves anything to prove club-wise, he's done it all with Manchester United, and he's been around for a long time - everyone knows what he's about and what he can do. I'm still surprised by how quikly he adapted to Spanish La Liga Football - wich is very different to the English game.

I think Real Madrid's forward line is deadly, Raul and Ruud might play at least 2 more years as partners.. However, Ruud and another srtiker could be even better than the Raul and Ruud partnership.. but I don't see why Madrid should change the current forwards. Real Madrid should focus on other positions, particularly the playmaker position.

And as for Ruud, he's turning out to be a great signing for Real Madrid. Ruud still haves a lot to give and achieve, but he really doesn't have much to prove 'club-wise'. However, Ruud haves a lot to prove at the international level - not because he's been dissapointing, but because the Netherlands national team hasn't lived up to expectations. I think Ruud's  underachievements at the International level are down to the Netherlands's midfield, mostly because Ruud does finishes the few chances given to him.

And as for Real Madrid, they are still far from their 'beautiful football' goal.. Schuster's Real Madrid is more or less Capello's Real Madrid - they win matches, show glimpses of beautiful football, but they just don't improve as they should.

FOXHOUND:

whether or not players have to proove sumthin is besides the point. players want to win titles and the same is for ruud. so whether it is sacrificing his prolific goal scoring and help raul and his team win a title then so be it.

dont sound reasonable at all im afraid. no striker in the world would sacrifice his goal scoring form

Foxhound said it correct...nothing to prove, but whether or not that is the case it is besides the point.  Players love and want to win tittles, so like if Ruud obviously being more distributive ( involving others around him like Raul more) it means that either the coach thinks that this would help the team more or Ruud himself thinks that it is more effective to involve Raul rather than try to go it himself too often.

Most strikers i know would sacrifice scoring 40 goals for 20 goals and a trophy, i don't know about the ones you know.  Ruud isn't off-form, so there's no question about not being in form judging from this weekend's goal.  Ruud Van Nistleroy has to know that he will always get his quoto of goals, all great strikers know that, but all great strikers know that you can score 30 goals in a season and win no trophies too.  Ruud like all great players wants this and in Europe no bigger trophy exists than the Champions League which he hasn't been able to win.

By the way, Ruud's success is documented Entusiasta...what did he do wrong not to be more sucessful at club level or international level for that matter, but moreso club level since Holland is pretty much below par level.

Spot-on Gregory!

Thumbs up!

all great strikers would secretly have alot to prove, even if they have already proved so much. Ask Ronnie if he would like to win the CL again, or the World Cup again, he would take it any time. So just because a player has already proved so much already, in this case Ruud, im sure he would want to win more trophies with Real, and with Holland. He still has a point to prove at least on the international scene.

but thats irrelevant. What is more rediculous is the suggestion that a player would sacrifice his form by not putting away his chances, instead passing it on to a team mate- i dont know which strikers you know, but i have never seen such a striker exist. All great strikers have always thought of scoring more and more goals; van basten, shearer, maradona, pele, you name it.

similar to scoring 30 goals and not winning anything, you could perhaps make 20 assists and you score 15 goals a season and still not win the league, question is though, is it really practical?

- never take scoring for granted, thats what all top strikers do.

of course if Ruud is one on one with the keeper he will have a go, but if he's in a position where the "team" option would work better, he will make that choice. Scoring more and more, sure, but in a team concept. I mean look what happened to Ruud at utd. He just waited for the ball at times. No movement. And he would throw his hands in the air and scream at Ronaldo to deliver first time. Look where man utd are now. Passing the ball, sharing the goals, interchanging, and with the defence on the backfoot, playing more attractive AND effective football, and getting results.

Anyways, what youve described is handling the ball like a hot potatoe, wich is a symptom of an inconfident striker, or off form if you will. i dont think thats Ruud case anyways.

Real MAdrid played an outstanding first half against Lazio...

in the Cl...

Raul is getting near to Inzaghi's goals...

And Robinho is keeping his Shine!..

If real continue they may end up winnig cl and la liga..

And Robben is starting to find his way in Real...

He had some outstanding shots..but luck was against him

explain to me this goal record, because Raul has the most goals in Champions League history, but Inzaghi has the record?

Inzaghi's record is for all UEFA conpetitions, Raul for Champions League only. Guess Pippo's scored some goals in the UEFA Cup or something.....

o, ok. cause i though raul had the record then when i heard inzaghi got it i was like so how far is inzaghi off raul and how far is raul off inzaghi lol...

Raul is maybe 4 goals away maximum ..

and inzagthi is more than 4 goals away...

I heard that but couldnt memorize the number..

anyways inzqaghi doesnt come 2nd place to raul..

Didanyone see the goal that raul couldnt score against ossasuna..

and next week i believe it is the Spanish Classico!

So, now the question is, based on goal production, who is better in Europe and who is more important?

Inzaghi seems to always score, while Raul may not necessarily score as he probably benifitted the most during Madrid's "reign" mainly due to Figo, Zidane and Morientes over the years.  Inzaghi can be somewhat considered highly underrated i suppose although i'm not a fan of Inzaghi, but facts are facts and he has scored in Europe no matter who is behind him. 

He might have the chance to score some more for another couple of seasons, but Shevchenko, and Ruud in particular has the oppostunity to be the leading scorer perhaps of all time.  Nonetheless, if Kaka keeps it up, he can also dream where maybe he should listen to Ancelotti and become a straight striker.

Raul and Inzaghi are quite similar, except that Raul has more skill i htink while Inzaghi has more instinct...so based on their performances over the seasons in Europe without bias please, who is better and who is more important to have:  Comments

inzaghi = striker ... there to pick up the scraps and score from the provider.

raul = forward ... he can score (like a striker) but is also a provider.

IF that is the case, then I think that is part of his problem with the national team.  Aragones wants two strikers, Villa and Torres, now Aguero are top class and Raul isn't fully a striker.

He's not the forward/midfielder  that Joaqium, David Silva, Iniesta, Fabregas, Xavi, Albelda etc are and that causes him to get squeezed between.  Spain would have to change their tactics for Raul and not necessarily for the better...

Ruud does both of what Raul does better, Villa's free kicks and goals and wing play are more dangerous, so i suspect Raul is left as a sub now