Is there a shortage of top quality strikers?

[Canary Rob]

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.

 

[tipsycanary]

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.