Transfers of Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez herald the come back of a hard Premier League fashion.
Liverpool and Manchester City has also spent heavily on a premier striker, but will Erling Haaland or Darwin Nunez be lifting the Golden Boot and/or Premier League trophy in May?
With the proper center-forward back in action for the new season, it's Erling Haaland versus Darwin Nunez.
I hope they both compete for the Golden Boot in May, because they can be a throwback to when a No9 was viewed as a match winner and figurehead, rather than a part of a fluid system. We've had a decade of declining center forwards at the highest level in Europe and here. The attitude has been, "we don't need a center forward as long as we score enough goals."
Pep Guardiola famously led Barcelona in Champions League games with no center forwards, a classic false No9. The fact that he has now opted for anything other than a phony No9.
One of colleagues plays center forward. Harry Kane has flown the traditional No.9 flag. However, at the top of the league, among the title contenders, football front units have changed dramatically, with the trend being to convert a wide man into a striker.
Whether it's Mo Salah, Raheem Sterling, or Cristiano Ronaldo coming in from wide and scoring spectacular goals. But there is something special about a centre forward like me, with my skill set.
This season, I'm looking forward to seeing Haaland and Nunez as focal points for the two title contenders. I want to see big men come in and play off of them and create for them. I enjoy seeing their aerial threat as well. We may eventually live in a world where heading is prohibited, but for the time being, it is an important part of the game.
They are capable of dominating an entire back line. The best center forwards not only play up against defenders, but also run channels and bully or dominate full backs.
I would go even further. In football history, domineering teams have had a domineering partnership. A duo. For example, I scored 100 goals with Robbie Fowler. Shearer and Sheringham are the people you're looking at. Shearer and Sutton, as well as Sheringham and Yorke.
Ideally, we'll be able to return to those times this season. Why? I believe that defenders, specially central defenders, have become far too accustomed to playing up against a single player. Defenders can appear much better than they are because they are not physically or numerically challenged.
I am thrilled that this season, two top teams and two managers who have previously played anything but a central striker have gone down that path. If you want to win all of the major trophies, having a proper center forward can provide you with a real platform and focus.
May it continue indefinitely. The center forward mentality is the conviction that they are the natural match winner on the field. Haaland will not only want to score 25 goals this season, but he will also want to win big games with those goals. Similarly, Nunez.
I enjoy watching how teams develop over the summer. No great leader ever sits on their laurels. The good coaches, such as Graham Potter, Patrick Vieira, Brendan Rodgers, and Eddie Howe, will have already planned how to take points away from the top teams. You are making progress by using a center forward to occupy two central defenders. It's not always about size, but a good big 'un is usually preferable to a good little one. So long as there is still some
Despite winning multiple titles, Man City's last Golden Boot winner was Sergio Aguero seven years ago. This season, Haaland has a chance to win. Even if he and Nunez don't end up with the 22 or 23 league points that recent history suggests they require, they can be decisive one-man wrecking balls for back fours and will have more than paid their fees. There is nothing more exciting in the game than seeing a center forward in full flow.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0