THREAD: Why the 10 is by default better than the 9.

In history we have always valued the 10 over the 9 (except in one footballer’s case) because the 10 doesn’t depend on service in the box to influence a game, they only depend on receiving the ball in half-decent conditions.


Many say “Cristiano did his job vs Ajax, not his fault”. That’s the limits of having your best player being the 9. At Madrid he was the most decisive but he wasn’t always the best. And when Madrid suffered, others (Marcelo, Luka..) took hold of the game.

Vs Ajax Cristiano wasn’t bad. It’s just he got so used to having less responsibility all over the pitch, that he didn’t know how to drop deeper & influence the game in any way other that waiting for service up front. And since Juve don’t have Madrid’s players, they were hopeless

This is why Zizou’s Madrid team was so hard to beat. You had to take care of Cristiano in the box (a monster) but without forgetting the other players. Think about Marcelo’s goal vs Bayern last season. How many left backs in Europe can do that in such a crucial moment?

I personally don’t feel Cristiano could’ve done more vs Ajax. Why? Because he’s a 9. By definition he’s limited to a role that depends so much on teammates showing up. This is why we never called Eto’o, Inzaghi, Drogba, Suarez, Raul, Ruud the best players in the world.

READ MORE
https://sportyleagues.com/why-the-10-is-by-default-better-than-the-9/