Eto'o vs Villa

As Serie A is tactical and the Premier League is energetic, the Primera Division is regarded as the pinnacle of attacking football throughout the world.

What has become apparent, particularly in recent times, is that this is very much a collective effort, rather than the result of La Liga having the world's best individuals at its disposal. It doesn't. At least not in the overwhelming abundance one might expect, due to the volume and quality of the goals scored all season long. Many of La Liga's Goal of the Week round-ups look more like a Goal of the Month feature from the Premier League or even Serie A, in spite of those two leagues being in possession of world class striking talent in their own right.

But what Spain has is the very best. Samuel Eto'o is scoring goals with Cristiano Ronaldo-like regularity and David Villa continues to do it all for Valencia. Then there's the small matter of Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has fast been forgotten since picking up a season-long injury. Older and less dynamic though he may be, 'Van Gol' has arguably been the most valuable striker of the decade, purely for his goal-to-game ratio

This season well and truly has been the Eto'o and Villa show. Elsewhere, Nicolas Anelka has sauntered to top spot in the Premier League Golden Boot stakes, finding himself on the end of anything and everything Chelsea have created this season. Manchester United are sharing their goals around and Fernando Torres, Villa's strike partner at international level, has been haunted by hamstring injuries for Liverpool. In Italy, less established names are leading the way such as Marco Di Vaio, Diego Milito and big-time flop Alberto Gilardino. Good players, certainly, but not world class. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Amauri are in contention to mount a challenge for the Capocannoniere and have been excellent performers, but are yet to set the world alight.

And then you arrive in Spain, where Samuel Eto'o has racked up an exceptional 23 goals in 22 appearances. Having played the same number of games, David Villa has returned 18 goals. Then there is Lionel Messi in third place, with one fewer appearance (some of which were as a substitute) and 16 goals.

Regular contenders for the 'best in the world' title have been left in the wake of the Liga stars this season. Messi is seemingly undisputed in his position as World Player of the Year just seven weeks into 2009, but between just the strikers, as of right now, it's Villa and Eto'o vying for the star status.

Eto'o has the goals, but he also has Messi and Xavi. The former in particular can take three defenders out of play with one movement and has made Eto'o's job markedly easier. Upon the equalising goal at Real Betis last weekend, the Cameroon international rushed over to coach Pep Guardiola and issued a light-hearted 'I told you so!' rant at his boss, with rumours abounding that he had promised Pep if little Leo was brought on from the bench, he would score.

There is a reliance, perhaps an over-reliance, on Messi from Eto'o, in a relationship not dissimilar to that which he shared with Ronaldinho in his prime. Eto'o is not a one chance, one goal striker in the mould of Ruud or Raul - so while his goal return cannot be disputed, it has come at the expense of innumerate chances created by a side that have, so far this season, played some of the best football of the decade. Truly record-breaking, history-making stuff.

While not going quite as far as to compare Eto'o to Anelka at Chelsea, his form bears more resemblance to Frenchman than the likes of Villa, who has had to carry an entire team by himself at times, in what has been something of a remarkable season so far. David Villa is surely the greatest striker in the world. Not only does he put away chances he is given with outstanding regularity, but his technical ability is also superior to the likes of Eto'o, Torres et al. The only forward who can rival him for ability is the ingenious Ibrahimovic, but Villa has that something extra. He is one to succeed great names like Thierry Henry and Raul. The only thing stopping him surpassing them is that he has been something of a late bloomer in comparison, banging in the goals for smaller sides in the form of Sporting Gijon and Real Zaragoza until as recently as 2005. He's already 27 - not old, but not as young as many presume, either.

It says a lot for 'el Guaje' that he can almost make Samuel Eto'o look average. Both put in match-saving performances at the weekend, but the style in which they did so illustrates all the difference between the two. Villa was gifted half a chance and produced the most sublime of finishes, while Eto'o scooped in a rebound from his own awful penalty and then scored a goal that looked good on first glance, but it was a deflection that took it past Ricardo in the Betis goal.

Regardless, both strikers may not be long for this Liga world, as their futures are in doubt for entirely differing reasons. Eto'o's unreasonable contractual demands and open disclosure that Mallorca is his 'home', along with his hopes to some day play in France, are unlikely to be well-received by Guardiola. He was ready to sell the striker in the summer, but it seems no suitors satisfied Eto'o's demands. That may well have propelled him into this season's prolific exploits in a bid to engineer the switch of his liking.

Meanwhile Villa has the world at his disposal, but has shown outstanding loyalty to a Valencia side that has plunged into all kinds of crisis both on and off the pitch over the past two years. He is willing to stay as long as the club wants him, and they are eager to keep him despite overwhelming pressure to sell. It is suspected that, should they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season, it will be the final straw for the Tuilla native, who would then consider a move away from the Mestalla. Barcelona ironically head the queue, supposedly already lining up potential replacements for Eto'o, while Manchester City and their billions are waiting in the wings. Chelsea, too, may need to reinforce when they begin a new era over the summer - in truth, the options are almost limitless.

There is no doubt that, with Premier League sides circling and Serie A also in the frame, Villa is the more attractive proposition of the two. Should he stay in-house and head to Catalonia, there may indeed be no stopping Barcelona in years to come.

Super Madrid wrote:I rate Villa higher because I think he is more clinical and most importantly he is also quite good at helping his team mate through his passing. Also think he makes some great finishes. However Eto has certainly improved in terms of getting goals per chance compared to his first years in Barca.

Agree with Gone that Villa going to Barca prob wouldn't work as well. Villa has played the role as single striker well before which I would gues is even harder to at Valencia but still you would get the best out of him by playing him next to another striker.

Calidad wrote:Eto'o of three years back would be better than Villa. But currently Villa>Eto'o for me

Calidad wrote:Eto'o of three years back would be better than Villa. But currently Villa>Eto'o for me

Unflinching Frenchman wrote:Clearly an Offside goal.

Same old Farca always cheating...

Unflinching Frenchman wrote:Clearly an Offside goal.

Same old Farca always cheating...

debaser wrote:I think Villa would beat Eto'o due to sheers numbers. It would be hard for him to get hold of the ball against 11 men. Still, Eto'o is a great striker and would certainly get in the Villa team

debaser wrote:I think Villa would beat Eto'o due to sheers numbers. It would be hard for him to get hold of the ball against 11 men. Still, Eto'o is a great striker and would certainly get in the Villa team