If Cristiano Ronaldo played in a false nine position in the 2015/2016 season, how many goals and assists will he have. Detailed explanation.

1 answer

To predict the number of goals and assists Cristiano Ronaldo would have if he played as a false nine in the 2015/2016 season, we need to consider several factors: his historical performance, playing style, and the tactical implications of the false nine position.

1. Historical Performance:
In the 2015/2016 season, Ronaldo played as a winger/striker for Real Madrid. He had an exceptional goal-scoring record, scoring 35 goals in 36 La Liga appearances. Additionally, he provided 11 assists during that season.

2. Playing Style:
Ronaldo is known for his incredible goal-scoring ability, athleticism, pace, and exceptional finishing skills. As a false nine, he would be positioned as a central forward, dropping deep into midfield, creating space for wingers and midfielders to exploit.

3. Tactical Implications:
The false nine position is crucial for the team's build-up play and creating numerical superiority in midfield. As Ronaldo often drops deep and links play, it may slightly reduce his goal-scoring opportunities as compared to playing as a traditional striker.

Considering these factors, we can make an informed prediction:

- Goals:
While playing as a false nine, Ronaldo's role is more focused on creating opportunities for others. Therefore, we can expect his goal output to decrease slightly compared to his typical winger/striker role. Assuming he maintains a high level of performance, he might score around 25-30 goals in the season.

- Assists:
Playing as a false nine, Ronaldo would have more involvement in build-up play and have increased opportunities to provide assists. Given his exceptional passing ability, he could potentially provide more assists than in previous seasons. Predicting a conservative increase, Ronaldo might have around 15-20 assists in the 2015/2016 season.

It is important to note that these estimations rely on several assumptions about tactics, form, and team dynamics. The actual results could vary from these predictions.