Football (Soccer)

Originally posted by Bicnarok
Alan shearer was the classic center forward, excellent in the box Lineker was similar but they cannot be compared to other English strikers as technical ability is concerned.

Other than the fact that they were center forwards, and English, I don't think Shearer and Lineker were that similar. Shearer was all about power, Lineker was a pure poacher.

Fowler and Wright were very good, but it has to be between Shearer and Lineker in the last 20-30 years. Michael Owen shouldn't even enter this conversation.

Originally posted by Deathblow
Other than the fact that they were center forwards, and English, I don't think Shearer and Lineker were that similar. Shearer was all about power, Lineker was a pure poacher.

Fowler and Wright were very good, but it has to be between Shearer and Lineker in the last 20-30 years. Michael Owen shouldn't even enter this conversation.

Both Fowler and Wright have more natural ability than those two, though, especially Shearer, who was based around consistency and hard work.

Fowler and Wright both played like they were born to score; Shearer played like he was determined to score. Not that it makes him less of a player.

Even when it comes down to who was the better goalscorer[s], records aside, it's still hard to determine.

Surely consistency, more than anything, is the key to a great striker though? Filipo Inzaghi appears a pretty talentless player on the surface, but he has an incredible goal scoring record because he produces when it matters time after time.

Lots of people would argue with that idea of Shearer merely being 'determined' to score. He scored a hat trick on his big league debut when he was 17, he's scored more goals in the Premiership by far than either Fowler and Wright, and he replicated that form for England too. It's hard to picture him doing anything else but scoring.

Originally posted by Deathblow
Surely consistency, more than anything, is the key to a great striker though?

Somewhat true.

Originally posted by Deathblow

Filipo Inzaghi appears a pretty talentless player on the surface, but he has an incredible goal scoring record because he produces when it matters time after time.

True.

Originally posted by Deathblow

Lots of people would argue with that idea of Shearer merely being 'determined' to score. He scored a hat trick on his big league debut when he was 17, he's scored more goals in the Premiership by far than either Fowler and Wright, and he replicated that form for England too. It's hard to picture him doing anything else but scoring.

I didn't say he was merely determined, just that it was his biggest attribute.

The rest of what you said is, again, true. Although Shearer tailed off somewhat after that until his Blackburn move. Bicnarok also mentioned that goal record isn't the primary motivation behind the question.

You are arguing for the best and most consistent striker, though, and the actual question is about natural talent. Consistency is another thing entirely.

Clive Allen in his Spurs heyday was natural goal-scorer. And he had tiny feet.

being consistant should be considered a talent in itself. theres not many players out there who can claim to be consistant.

Yeah, good call on Clive Allen actually.

Originally posted by vandalworks
being consistant should be considered a talent in itself. theres not many players out there who can claim to be consistant.

Well, it is. Just not the one we are talking about.

Look at Raul (Real Madrid) he´s not fast, isn´t that skillfull but scores Loads of goals. Is it all down to positioning?

Whoo hoo England beat Isreal, SWP was brill, and nice to see Owen regaining his form.

Raul is a shadow of his former self, cant believe he still plays in the starting eleven, especially when Owen was playing there, he was in much better form and Raul still played in starting eleven.

Originally posted by Deathblow
They actually appear able to score goals, and lots of them now though. You can hardly blame people for tipping them to do well this season, with the squad they have.

Originally posted by Nellinator
Maybe because they finally went and got a quality striker in Torres instead of signing a handful of decent ones.

Good point, the main goal scorers have been mid fielders in the past. The likes of Risse, Luis Garcia, Gerrard etc scored a lot of goals.

But the strikers havn´t been so efficient.

Hahaha. It reached the point where a victory over Israel is worthy of celebration.

-AC

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
Hahaha. It reached the point where a victory over Israel is worthy of celebration.

-AC

😄 Is it really THAT bad?

What are you going to do if England beat Russia then, fireworks 😆

I'm not going to do anything, I don't support the mugs.

-AC

You what?

I said;

"I'm not going to do anything, I don't support the mugs.".

-AC

Oh, right.

How did that change anything? I just reposted what I said. Why did you say "You what?" the first time?

-AC

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
How did that change anything? I just reposted what I said. Why did you say "You what?" the first time?

-AC

His reply hinted a kind of "how dare you not support the best team in the world" 🙄 😆

I thought that might be the case.

Odd, very odd.

-AC