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

The article discusses the current state of the England men's football team and the struggles they face in finding a suitable replacement for their star striker, Harry Kane. The team has been struggling to find consistency and form, and many believe that they need to bring in a new striker to revitalize their attack.

Chris Sutton, a former England striker who played in the 1990s, is quoted as saying that "we've got Kane, but then what?" He highlights the depth of quality in English football during his playing days, but notes that it's hard for players like him to make an impact now due to the changing nature of the game.

Sutton also mentions that Owen Hargreaves, another former England player, would not be considered as a striker if he emerged now. He feels that the modern game has changed, and strikers are no longer expected to play in the same way.

The article also mentions that playing with two strikers is not an option for Gareth Southgate's team this week. This highlights the challenges faced by managers in finding the right combination of players to form a strong attacking unit.

Overall, the article suggests that England's struggles at the striker position are a symptom of a broader issue within the football landscape. With changing tactics and playing styles, it's becoming increasingly difficult for teams to find reliable strikers who can adapt to the modern game.

Key quotes:

* "We've got Kane, but then what?" - Chris Sutton
* "Just on numbers alone, the situation is incomparable to the 1990s." - Chris Sutton
* "Ferdinand only won 17 caps but he was phenomenal. Fowler, who only got a few more, was probably the most natural finisher you could ever see. But they were both behind Shearer because he was like a machine with the way he finished." - Chris Sutton
* "I feel like dusting my boots off myself." - Chris Sutton

Key points:

* England's struggles at the striker position are a symptom of a broader issue within the football landscape.
* The modern game has changed, and strikers are no longer expected to play in the same way.
* Playing with two strikers is not an option for Gareth Southgate's team this week.
* Chris Sutton highlights the depth of quality in English football during his playing days, but notes that it's hard for players like him to make an impact now due to the changing nature of the game.
 
man... england's struggles with their striker situation got me thinkin' about how things change and not everything gets better πŸ€”. remember when i was watchin' old vids of eric cantona play for man united? he wasn't a superstar back then, but his vision on the pitch was insane πŸ”. it's like now our strikers need to be superheroes too, doin' all this fancy stuff and finishin' moves off, whereas back in the day they just needed to be good at finishin' chances πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ. that's why old players like chris sutton say it's hard for them to make an impact now. we gotta respect the game and its evolution, but also acknowledge what worked in the past wasn't always about individual brilliance πŸ’‘
 
"It's not the years, honey. It's the mileage" πŸš— - Paul Newman (hehe, talk about a footballer's mileage on the pitch!) England's struggles with finding a suitable striker are all too familiar. With the game constantly evolving, it's becoming harder for teams to find reliable strikers who can adapt to the modern style of play. The players we see today just aren't as natural in front of goal as they were 20-30 years ago... and that's not necessarily a bad thing! 😊
 
Ugh, can we please fix the forum comments section already? 🀯 I'm trying to read this article about the England men's team and it's hard because every other sentence is a quote from some old player that feels like it could've been written in a 2020 thread on "What Do You Think About Harry Kane?" πŸ™„

And don't even get me started on how outdated these interviews sound. Like, Chris Sutton is still trying to justify why he's relevant? πŸ˜’ I swear, can we just have some actual analysis instead of quotes from people who are 40 years old now? πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ
 
The stalwart struggles of England's men's football team continue πŸ€”. It's striking how the team's plight highlights the challenges faced by managers in finding a suitable replacement for Harry Kane ⚽️. Chris Sutton's comments resonate with me - we've got Kane, but then what? πŸ’­ The changing nature of the game is indeed a significant hurdle to overcome.

I think it's fascinating that Sutton draws parallels between his playing days and the current era πŸ“ˆ. The depth of quality in English football back then was unparalleled, and players like Kane face stiffer competition now. It's disheartening that Owen Hargreaves wouldn't be considered a striker in today's game πŸ€¦β€β™‚οΈ.

The notion that playing with two strikers isn't an option for Gareth Southgate's team this week is another nail in the coffin ⚠️. It underscores the difficulties of adapting to modern tactics and playing styles πŸ”„. Perhaps Sutton's comment - "I feel like dusting my boots off myself" πŸ˜… - speaks volumes about the desire to make a difference despite the changing landscape.

Ultimately, England's struggles at the striker position are symptomatic of a broader issue within the football landscape 🌐. It'll be intriguing to see how teams and players adapt to these changes πŸ”.
 
Come on, I think England's problem is not just about finding a new striker, it's about their overall team strategy πŸ€”. They're trying to play all possession football, which sounds great on paper, but in reality, it's hard to create chances when you're not really threatening the other team's goal. And let's be real, Kane can only do so much on his own πŸ’ͺ. I mean, what happened to a good old-fashioned counter-attack? That was how England used to beat teams, and it still works today! πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ
 
I feel bad for England team πŸ€• they're really struggling with their striker position right now. I mean, Harry Kane is a great player and all, but he can't do it alone πŸ€”. Chris Sutton's point about Owen Hargreaves not being considered as a striker if he emerged now is really telling - the game has changed so much, even for guys who were already super good.

I think it's interesting that Sutton brings up Ferdinand, Fowler and Shearer - those guys were just on another level back in the day πŸš€. And I agree with him when he says playing with two strikers might not be an option this time around πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ. It's like they're stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I'm not sure what the solution is, but I think England just needs to find someone who can adapt to the modern game πŸ”„. Maybe some young talent from abroad could be the answer? Whatever it is, I hope Gareth Southgate finds a way to turn things around soon 😊
 
man i feel u πŸ€” the english team is struggling and they need a new striker ASAP ⚽️ but its not that easy what with all the changes in the game nowadays it feels like strikers just dont wanna play anymore πŸ˜’ did u watch any old england matches back in the day? like 90s era? those guys were pure goalscorers 🀯 Ferdinand, fowler, shearer... can't forget them now lol. and now we got kane but like is he even playing with that same mentality or what? πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ anyway gotta agree with chris sutton on this one the game has changed so much it's not easy for old school players to adapt πŸ€”
 
I don’t usually comment on footy teams and their struggles 🏈, but I think it’s kinda harsh on Chris Sutton to say that the game has changed too much πŸ€”. He was a top striker in his time, no doubt about it 😎. But I mean, come on, it's not like he's saying Kane is rubbish or anything πŸ’―. It's just that the way football is played now is different from back then ⚽️.

And I feel for Owen Hargreaves too πŸ€•. He was a great player, and I'm sure he'd still be able to contribute to England if given a chance πŸ™. But, like Sutton said, strikers aren't expected to do the same things they did in the past anymore βš–οΈ.

The thing is, football's always evolving, and teams have to adapt or get left behind πŸ”₯. It's not easy finding a reliable striker who can fit into Gareth Southgate's system πŸ€”. But I'm sure he'll figure it out 😊.
 
I'm so done with these striker situations! 🀯 It's like they're stuck in a rut and can't find someone who can just score goals for them. I mean, Kane's still got it but it's not the same as having someone like Shearer or Fowler back in the day. They were finishers, you know? πŸ’ͺ Chris Sutton's right, the game has changed and these strikers need to adapt or get left behind. I'm also getting frustrated with Gareth Southgate's team, they're still struggling to find a combination that works. It's like they're stuck on repeat πŸ”„ Can't they just find someone who can pop up in the box and score? 😩
 
πŸ€” so england is strugglin' at striker now? i feel like its not just about strikers tho, its the whole team chemistry & tactics. remember when england won euro 2020? that was some magic πŸ§™β€β™‚οΈ they had a great squad balance & system. nowadays its all about individual talent & style over substance... and gareth southgate is under pressure too πŸ•³οΈ maybe they should just play with more wingbacks & wingbacks become like midfielders again? πŸ’­ anyway, gotta watch england's next match to see what happens πŸ“Ί
 
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