I'm sorry but you are completely belittling the standard of these teams. If it was as easy as you suggest Holland should win every game in their group 10-0 and Van persie should end up with 30 goals in a qualifying campaign.
David bloody healy finished top scorer once in qualifying. That just...
Indeed. They're basically open goals. RVP has 4 this season, but they are against Southampton and Fulham. So really he is at 0.
Messi really only scored about 4 last season as Real Madrid are the only other' top' team in Spain.
But we dont play teams anywhere near Real Madrid standards in qualifying.
So you're whole angle of 'he only scores against minnows' is bascially EXACTLY what you need in qualifying.
22 goals in 42 games for England.
Seeing as scoring goals is the whole point of football I would put forward an argument that the strikers (who dont score goals, such as Carroll and Sturridge) are not 'better' players.
Just a counter argument.
Also, If someone dares throw the 'he only scores...