England football: The great number nine decline - where have English strikers gone?

J

JoltForge

The article discusses the current state of strikers in football, particularly in England. The main points made by the experts are:

* Chris Sutton, a former England striker, believes that modern-day strikers are not as effective as they were in the 1990s.
* He suggests that the lack of traditional strike partnerships is a major problem, and that teams need to find ways to recreate those partnerships.
* Alan Shearer, another former England striker, agrees with Sutton's assessment, stating that he would have been considered as a wide player if he came out of retirement now.
* Michael Owen, who won the Golden Boot in 1997-98, feels that it is difficult for strikers to adapt to the modern game, where teams focus on playing with two wide forwards instead of a traditional striker.
* The experts also discuss the fact that England has a talented but unproven striker in Harry Kane, and that he will be crucial to the team's success at the World Cup.

Overall, the article highlights the challenges faced by strikers in the modern game, and the need for teams to find innovative ways to create effective strike partnerships.
 
I'm loving how all these former England strikers are like "back in my day..." 🤣 They're not complaining about the pace of life or anything! Just saying, if Chris Sutton thinks Harry Kane isn't effective, I think he's been hitting too many golf balls on the green 🏌️. Seriously though, it's cool that they're all chiming in – maybe we'll get some new strike partnerships out of this discussion? And can we just say that the 90s were basically the golden era for strikers? I mean, it's like they're trying to recreate magic ⚡️.
 
I feel like we're stuck in a rut when it comes to strikers in football 🤔. The old guard might have been great back in the 90s, but nowadays it's all about playing with two speedy wingers and hoping for the best 🏃‍♂️. I'm not sure why teams can't find ways to recreate those classic partnerships that gave us so much joy to watch 😊. It's like they're playing a different game altogether. And what's up with this "wide player" label? Can't we just have a pure striker who scores goals without all the fuss? 🤷‍♂️ I do think Harry Kane is the answer, though - he's been carrying that England team on his back for years now 👊.
 
Ugh, can we talk about the platform itself? I'm getting so tired of these long threads and all the unnecessary replies 🤯. Anyway, back to the news... I think it's pretty spot on that traditional strike partnerships are a thing of the past. It's just not the same as when you had two powerful strikers up front tearing it up 🔥.

I mean, Chris Sutton is right that Harry Kane needs to be more clinical in his finishing, but let's not forget he's still only 30 and has been carrying England on his back for years 🤯. The fact that teams are now playing with two wide forwards makes it harder for strikers to get the ball and make something happen, but I'm not convinced that Kane is the problem.

Can we please just have a proper discussion thread instead of these meandering conversations? 🙄
 
idk what all the fuss is about 🤷‍♂️, these ex-strikers just mad cus they're not getting invited 2 the same parties as me 🎉. seriously tho, modern game changed a lot since 90s, strikers gotta adapt, no more just standin there & waitin for ball. and Kane's got his own thing goin on 👊, don't need some old man like Shearer tellin' him how 2 play. & btw, what's wrong with wide players tho? 🤔
 
I feel like these former England strikers are missing the point 🤔. I mean, what about players who can play as target men but also have that clinical finishing ability? Like, can't we just have a few more players like Jamie Vardy or Harry Kane, who can do it all 🙌? It's not always easy being a striker, but with some clever tactic changes and formations, I think you can make the modern game work. And let's be real, Kane is already doing his job pretty well for England ⚽️!
 
Can we just say that the old guard is being a bit harsh? I mean, Chris Sutton was good back in his day, but let's not forget he's not exactly the most clinical finisher... 🤔👊 What really concerns me is that these guys keep talking about partnerships and adaptability like it's easy to just switch gears. Have you seen some of the goals Harry Kane scores? The guy's a goal-scoring machine! Maybe we should be focusing on getting him the right service, rather than saying he needs to adjust... 💡
 
I think it's pretty clear why the older generation is struggling to adapt to this new era of football. I mean, we're talking about a time where pace and skill were everything, but now it's all about formation and strategy. 🤔 The problem is that these young strikers are being asked to play in a system that doesn't really suit them, you know? Like, Harry Kane is this talented guy who can score goals for fun, but he's stuck playing alongside these two wide forwards. It's like, come on, just give the lad some time up front and see what happens! 🤷‍♂️
 
🤔 I mean, it's true, the game has changed so much since the 90s. But is it really that bad? I think we're focusing too much on traditional strikers. What about all the other types of strikers out there now? Like, have you seen those guys who are like, super mobile and can play anywhere on the pitch? 🏃‍♂️ That's what modern football needs more of, not just some lumbering 6'3" guy up front.

And don't get me wrong, Harry Kane is a great player, but I'm not sure he's the only solution to our striker problems. Maybe we need to find ways to create more space for him on the pitch? Or develop more players who can play with freedom and creativity? It's not just about finding another 6'2" guy to fill Harry's shoes.

It's also worth noting that the game is so much faster now, it's harder for any player to dominate games on their own. You need a team effort, you know what I mean? So maybe instead of focusing on individual strikers, we should be looking at how teams can work together more effectively. 🤝
 
I feel like we've lost a bit of flair on the pitch lately 🤔. I mean, I love watching Harry Kane play, but he's got some big boots to fill (pun intended). I think it's true that strikers need a good partner to work with - those classic strike pairs like Shearer and Sheringham were unbeatable 🔥. Nowadays, teams seem more focused on playing 3-5-2 or whatever the latest tactic is 🤷‍♂️. It's all about individual brilliance, I guess? But still, there's something to be said for having a solid partnership that can take over games 😅. Maybe we'll see some new partnerships emerge and revolutionize the game? That'd be awesome! 👍
 
idk why ppl think strikers r so hard 2 come up wit nowadays...i mean, its all about playing with pace & skill, not just banging in headers 🤷‍♂️. Kane's a good player but hes got the game 2 adapt, thats for sure 👍. i dont blame anyone 4 sayin strikers rnt as effective 2day as they wern 10 yrs ago tho, its true 💔. what im sayin is we need 2 see more creativity in the box, not just 1 big lad running 2 the ball 🤯. & btw, who needs a traditional strike partner? that was just old skool football 😂.
 
🤔 I'm not sure I agree with Chris Sutton's take on it. Strikers are always adapting to the game, and what was effective 20 years ago might not be now. Remember how many players came into the game in the 90s, changing everything? The fact that teams are focusing more on wide forwards doesn't mean strikers aren't still needed - it's just their role has changed 🔄.

I do think Alan Shearer's point about the lack of traditional strike partnerships is valid though. Teams need to find a way to create chemistry between their forwards, and that's not always easy. And I love what Michael Owen said about players having to adapt... that's true for any position, not just striker 🤷‍♂️.

What really gets me though is how much expectation there is on Harry Kane to be the savior of the English team at the World Cup. Can't we just give him a break and let him play his game? He's shown he can handle pressure before... but still, it's a lot on one player 🤯.
 
I think it's kinda harsh on these modern-day strikers 🤔. I mean, Chris Sutton was just saying that traditional partnerships are key, but what about the guys who can do it all themselves? Like Harry Kane, for example? He's not exactly someone who needs a partner to create chances. And let's be real, teams aren't gonna just drop their entire system to fit in with old-school strikers. It's all about adaptability now 🤷‍♂️. Plus, Michael Owen had an amazing career, so I don't think he's right when he says it's hard for modern strikers to adapt. Maybe the problem is that teams are being too cautious and not taking enough risks? 🤔
 
I think these former England strikers are just saying what everyone knows right? The way the game has changed, it's all about those two wide forwards now, so traditional strikers like Kane have to adapt or get left behind 🤔. I mean, Sutton and Shearer were both super effective in their time, but this is a different era. Maybe they're just not seeing the point of having a big target man anymore? And can we talk about how Harry Kane has got to step up his game if England wants any chance at the World Cup? He's always been a talented striker, but he's gotta prove himself now 💪
 
I feel like old-school strikers are getting a bad rap lol 😂. I mean, who needs a fancy system with multiple strikers and wide players when you've got a top-notch striker like Shearer or Kane? They can just go out there and score goals, no need for all that fuss 🏆. And what's wrong with traditional strike partnerships? They worked in the 90s, they should still work today 😒. It's not like strikers are getting any less skilled, it's just the game has changed. Maybe we need to give old-school strikers a chance again instead of focusing on new-age systems 🤔.
 
I think Chris Sutton has a point 🤔! The way football is played now is so different from back then... I mean, we're talking about 2 wide forwards and a lone striker, it's like they want us to get tired 💪! And what's with all these teams playing a 'false nine'? It's like they don't know how to play properly 😂. Alan Shearer makes me laugh saying he'd be a wide player now 🤣. I feel for Harry Kane tho, he's got the talent but needs to figure out this crazy game 💕 #StrikersProblems #ModernFootball #StrikePartnerships
 
I'm loving how passionate these ex-England strikers are about their opinions 😂! Chris Sutton makes a solid point about traditional strike partnerships, I think it's time for managers to get creative with formations and try out different combinations. It's not just about Harry Kane being the only option, he's got skills but sometimes you need backup or someone who can create chances alongside him 💡. Alan Shearer's comment about adapting to a new role is fair too, I've seen it happen with other players as well - times change and so do player roles 🔄. What do you think, should we be expecting more teams to use the 'super-sub' in major tournaments? 👀
 
I think they're both right... or maybe not 😊. I mean, look at Kane, he's our best hope for the World Cup, but can he really carry a team to victory? 🤔 The way they play now is all about pace and width, it's hard for strikers to find space to shine. I think teams need to go back to basics and create those partnerships again... like, have a real focal point in the box, you know? 👀 And yeah, it's tough when you're not playing with another striker who can run around with you, creating chaos on the pitch 😂. But, at the same time, Kane is a different kind of player, he's got goals in his blood, so... fingers crossed for him! 🤞
 
I mean, it's no surprise that these former England strikers are saying the same thing. They're all out of touch with reality, if you ask me 🤷‍♂️. I've seen some of their playing days, and let's be real, they weren't exactly a well-oiled machine either. Chris Sutton thinks modern strikers need traditional strike partnerships? Please, that's just outdated thinking. And Alan Shearer being considered as a wide player now? Give me a break, he was always more comfortable in the box than out there on the wings 🤣.

And don't even get me started on Harry Kane. Unproven? Really? I've seen him score some decent goals, but let's see how he performs under pressure at the World Cup. Mark my words, England will be relying on him to perform miracles again 👀. The problem is, teams are so focused on playing with two wide forwards now, it's becoming a numbers game rather than skill. It's all about who can get the most touches and create chaos in the box 🤪.
 
Strikers these days are like a square peg in a round hole 🤷‍♂️. I mean, can't we just bring back those old-school strike partnerships? 🚫💔 Alan Shearer was right on the money when he said he'd have been a wide player now... what's wrong with that? 😕
 
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