Sorry, another article from me... busy at work! We are far from the only team struggling in our apparent search for a striker, and plenty of others are being criticised for not searching. I just checked a random season (06/07) to look at the top-scorers and this is the list: Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United 31 Fernando Torres Liverpool 24 Emmanuel Adebayor Arsenal 24 Roque Santa Cruz Blackburn Rovers 19 Robbie Keane Tottenham Hotspur 15 Benjani Mwaruwari Manchester City 15 Aiyegbeni Yakubu Everton 15 Dimitar Berbatov Tottenham Hotspur 15 Carlos Tevez Manchester United 14 John Carew Aston Villa 13 Jermain Defoe Portsmouth 12 Wayne Rooney Manchester United 12 Nicolas Anelka Chelsea 11 Gabriel Agbonlahor Aston Villa 11 Steven Gerrard Liverpool 11 Michael Owen Newcastle 11 Now they are not all world class, but there are some fantastic names in there. And I don't even think that's a particularly great season. This year you've only really got Aguero and Diego Costa who could reliably compete on that list. I don't think we're the only team to be wondering where we can find a decent guy to put the potato in the sack.
Firstly, I think the style of play and tactics has changed a lot with less reliance on a strikers to score goals (clearly it is still important) and more emphasis on having a flexible forward line which incorporates attacking midfielders. As the majority of teams now play one up top it is likely there will be less strikers in the traditional sense. I'd imagine more goals are coming from other positions then ever before. Secondly, there are plenty of players who could would compete on that list. Some of those players are still playing. People often look back and think how great those players were and Im sure in 10 years time people will do that about the current generation. Basically the role of a striker has changed and evolved over the years and there is much more emphasis on a team approach and flexibility.