Rhodes would happily walk back to ipswich

Jimmy Greaves Scored an astonishing 464 Goals in 657 matches!

I don't think many footballers will ever match that or indeed beat it!

 

To be fair though JWM football was very different in those days.I first went to Portman Road in the 1971/2 season and Ipswich always had a good pitch but that wasn't the case with all clubs.The Baseball Ground was a quagmire after November and alert players used to get a handful of goals a season from situations that just don't arise these days.

This was in the days before the backpass was outlawed and a team under pressure just gave the ball to the keeper to relieve things a bit.I remember Ted MacDougall at Norwich scoring regularly in such situations where a backpass hung up in the mud or a puddle.Tommy Docherty famously called him a scavenger after he did it to United,but they all counted.Goalscorers just knew where to be instinctively.

 

A bit before my time I'm afraid JWM. Although I do remember Fowler, what a wasted talent, he could have been such a good player, especially for England but never really got to the stature his talend deserved. I would however not put him in the same bracket as the likes of Owen and Bent. Fowler is far superior in terms of football ability and finishing but I'm not sure he had the same natural instinct much like Van Nistelrooy, possibly the best finisher of his generation but not so much of that natural instinct, yes it was good but players like Owen and Bent who are technically poor just have something you can't coach.

 

Would be risky getting him back, he is not proven at our level. I know he didn't play many games for us before he departed, and many of these were as substitute, however he did not, as I recall make much impression. Of course it doesn't mean that he could not cut it this time, just saying it would be dodgy, especially at a high price. I don't buy into this theory that a natural goalscorer will score at any level, the football world is littered with outstanding goalscorers in the lower leagues, who could not cut the mustard at a higher level. Seem to recall a few months ago, our local forums, and press were waxing lyrical about Ollie Mann of Brantham, and talking about his superb goalscoring feats, but notice that not one league club has taken a punt.

 

In modern times there has only been Alan Shearer & Teddy Sheringham that i would say is are natural strikers, Michael Owen was half the player after all his hamstring problems. but those two carried on scoring goals all the way through their career. thats the mark of a quality players.

 

agree guru. i think shearer is the best english striker, arguably footballer, since the premier league began. personally, i always felt he was a bit too robotic (if that makes sense) and i always preferred watching fowler; brilliant movement and so sharp in and around the box. he was capable of scoring a goal from nothing but was a great poacher too. hernandez at united reminds me of him though i think fowler was a better player. chicarito's movement is just amazing though

of course, neither player come anywhere near to the kind of goalscoring ability of a certain darren beckford...

 

Kevin Philips? Still scoring!

 

yes all the names you mention are very good players but in terms of that natural instinct and movement and being in the right place at the right time, only a few have it and although you mention the likes of Shearer and Sherringham, both very good players in their own right, I still would not say that had that natural instinct.

Yes Owen lost alot with his injury and was only half the player when he came back but again I'm not really talking about this, he may not be the best technical player or have a good overall game but I still think there are very few players who have his natural instinct, he scores so many scrappy goals aswell, just from being in the right place at the right time.