Extinction of Great Strikers

So, Liverpool has finally signed Mario Balotelli as they really need another world-class striker to fill up the gap left by former Liverpool great, Luis Suarez. But that is sort of a desperation act by Liverpool, considering that Balotelli brings a lot of negative effect to the Anfield club as well as his outstanding talent. In truth, the world of football nowadays lack true class strikers. That is why teams ready to pour millions of pounds to sign players closest to that category. The days of great strikers in the likes of Ronaldo (the Brazilian), Ruud van Nistelrooy, Thierry Henry, Fillipo Inzaghi, Michael Owen, Andriy Schevchenko, Alan Shearer and others, are merely gone. These players were the main focal point of their team’s attack and they were all involved in the race of the precious golden boot once upon a time. However nowadays, it is rare to see strikers dominate the golden boot award. Most of the candidates are of attacking midfielder’s type and some are wingers cum forward. And even they don’t score an extravagant amount of goals like the past great strikers; with the exception of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Speaking about these two, they are actually a winger cum forward!  

Tactics deployed by teams are also among the factors that contribute to the extinction of these great strikers type. Example can be seen at Barcelona and Spain where they use what they call a ‘False No 9’ to be the focal point of their attacks. A ‘False No 9’ is not a striker. They are actually attacking midfielders who have the ability to score and create a lot amount of goals. Cesc Fabregas is the prime example of this type. The Writer is sad to see more and more true strikers not being given chances to lead the attack, because they don’t suit this tactics of ‘False No 9’ which is also being copied by almost all teams in the world. The best formations to suit these true strikers type are using a lone target man upfront and also using a target man alongside a poacher. Remember Emile Heskey and Michael Owen? That is what called as a perfect combination. A big and tall target man alongside a small but fast goal scorer.

Back to Liverpool. Another true striker who is also being newly signed by the club, Rickie Lambert, will surely ponder on his limited chance to lead his club’s attack. But at least there is still a light at the end of the tunnel for a veteran 33-years old true striker like him at a big club like Liverpool...