The world has passed the age of big, strong strikers and goal machines. With a focus on skill-based play, defenders have become more like midfielders than ever before. But how long can it be until we see another player as powerful as a certain England striker or Belgium’s most expensive signing?
The “epl” is a dying breed. There are only 4 players left from the original Premier League teams that were founded in 1992. Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku might be the last of a dying breed.
In the summer, Chelsea paid Inter a club-record price for Romelu Lukaku (Picture: Getty)
The controversy surrounding Romelu Lukaku dominated the build-up to Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham. The whole season’s build-up was overshadowed by conjecture about Harry Kane’s future. So it was amusing that the two centre-forwards were such minor players at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, with both receiving less touches than any other outfield player who played the same number of minutes.
It’s ironic, but not shocking. Because, in today’s cutting-edge football, when midfielders lead the line and wingers play fullback, specialized strikers — with their highly regarded but limited skill set — are being progressively marginalized.
Chelsea regarded Lukaku as the £97 million last piece in the jigsaw, the guy to conclude their job in front of goal, after winning the Champions League without a recognized striker. After telling an Italian TV station he was dissatisfied with his situation under Thomas Tuchel and longing for a return to Serie A, the Belgian had to apologise to the club and supporters five months later.
In midweek, Harry Kane failed to make an impression against Chelsea (Picture: Getty)
Despite a year in which he has struggled to reach new heights for Tottenham and rediscover his best form for England at Euro 2020, no one doubts Kane’s significance to the club. Spurs were adamant about not moving Kane to Manchester City, but despite his goals, his position as a specialized centre-forward distinguishes him as an outlier in the present game.
The most successful teams are increasingly not just not relying on centre-forwards for goals, but also not relying on them for much else. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s most prolific scorer, starts on the right side. Sadio Mane, their second most productive player, is seen on the left.
Roberto Firmino, the Reds’ central striker, was instrumental in the club’s Champions League and Premier League titles, yet he was seldom credited with goals. The Brazilian is now often neglected in favor of Diogo Jota, another prolific striker who does not fit the ‘central striker’ mold.
Top Scorers in the Premier League | 2021/22
Mohamed Salah (16), Diogo Jota (10), Jamie Vardy (9), Emmanuel Dennis (8), Michael Antonio (8), Mohamed Salah (16), Diogo Jota (10), Jamie Vardy (9), Emmanuel Dennis (8), Emmanuel Dennis (8), Emmanuel Dennis (8), Emmanuel Dennis (8), Emmanuel Dennis (8), Emmanuel Dennis (8), (8) Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo (8) Tottenham’s Son Heung-min (8), Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe (8), Leeds United’s Raphinha (8), and Liverpool’s Sadio Mane (8) (8)
Pep Guardiola’s initial years at Manchester City were spent focused on what Sergio Aguero couldn’t do, rather than what he clearly could.
Guardiola came to admire Aguero, but when he went for Barcelona last summer and Kane could not be persuaded to leave Spurs, Guardiola did not replace him.
Cristiano Ronaldo, at 36, still leads the way for Manchester United in grand old form, but the Old Trafford club is no longer a trendsetter.
Lukaku, Romelu, Lukaku, Lukaku, Lukaku, Lukaku
David Moyes’ assault at fellow top-four chasers West Ham is headed by a former non-league full-back, Michail Antonio, who is free of the pressure that sunk club-record acquisition Sebastien Haller.
Coaches like Guardiola and Tuchel, who are among the finest in the industry, are increasingly relying on systems rather than stars, with players expected to be more adaptable than the managers who choose them.
Lukaku may have sorted his problems with Chelsea, but the centre-forward is a dying breed, and his cries for aid will not be the last.
MORE: Paul Merson claims Thomas Tuchel has ‘blown’ Chelsea’s championship prospects as a result of Romelu Lukaku’s choice.
MORE: Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur are among Michael Owen’s FA Cup predictions.
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Romelu Lukaku is a Belgian footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Everton and the Belgium national team. He has scored more than 100 goals in his career. Reference: romelu lukaku.
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