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Man United's Rooney v Liverpool's Torres v Spurs' Berbatov - Who is the PL striker of the season Pt One?
Man United's Rooney v Liverpool's Torres v Spurs' Berbatov - Who is the PL striker of the season Pt One?
Posted by: Fred Foley, Mon 31st Mar 2008
Tagged:
Premiership
FanCast detective Fred Foley continues his investigation into the Premier League's best X1.
Here at Football FanCast.com we are continuing to compile our Premier League Select XI for the present campaign.
Our debates thus far have attracted widespread attention and discussion, and this contest will be no different. We've put the arguments forward for the best Premier League goalkeeper, the finest defensive four, as well as this season's top midfielders and now we turn our attention to the footballers that top the newspaper headlines and some of the world's finest ball players. In the first of two instalments, we ask the question, which strikers should be leading the line in the Premier Leagues's Team of the Season?
In the FIRST PART we will be assesing the credentials of Rooney, Berbatov and Torres.
Dimitar Berbatov
It's a delight to reflect on these players' talents let alone admire their ability from the stands. But if I was to single out one individual whose footballing prowess makes us remember the beauty of the game, it would have to be the Bulgarian international. His penalty in the Carling Cup Final was simply synonymous of his exuberance on a football pitch. Executed with arrogance, executed with elegance, his audacity to wait until his opposing goalkeeper has made their decisive move before cooly dispatching from 12 yards has only in my recollection been successfully matched by Roberto Mancini and Edison Arantes do Nascimento, also known as Pele.
The Tottenham frontman boasts a disguised strength when in possession, but most tellingly, it is his footballing intelligence that allows his ability on the pitch to be accomplished in with such panache and effectiveness. His goal tally should not be the calculation of his success, more the understanding that exists between the 27 year-old and his North London strike partner and the effectiveness of their partnership. That and Berbatov's ability to control a football with any part his body that he so desires. Sublime.
Wayne Rooney
In the context of strike partnerships, much of the same can be said for the Manchester United striker and his new Argentinean partner. The interchange between the two rapidly became a trademark of Sir Alex Ferguson's team, and all bar our Sheffield United supporters were happy to admire the football on display. We can ignore the recent lack of net-bulging from the 22 year-old, and instead reflect upon the discipline our ex-Evertonian has shown in his new role at Old Trafford. Replication in an England shirt would be welcome.
Captain of his country? Not for me. World class individual? Most definitely. Maturity we hope will eradicate disappointing moments such as that summer in Germany, but already the Liverpool-born striker has sent fear into the boots of defenders all over the world. Strength, power, speed, accuracy, distribution, control, tenacity; most boxes are ticked and it would surprise me if Rooney is ever excluded from this list over the next decade of Premier League football.
Fernando Torres
There was only ever going to be one match winner on Sunday afternoon at Anfield. The Spaniard has been a revelation in Liverpool, and indeed the Premier League. Another delight to watch, the 24 year-old has already been likened to Ian Rush - perhaps not in looks, more in effectiveness in front of goal and attacking prowess one would think. The similarity is worthy, twenty one goals in 26 Premier League starts, and four in six in the Champions League tells its own story.
Many wondered whether Torres would be a success in the Premier League after failing to reach world class heights in his home nation. Perhaps he has found his new home. I feel that anyone who has been able to distract the media attention at Anfield away from our American friends deserves special praise, and no doubt Fernando's goalscoring abilities will receive exactly that, just for different reasons. One can only hope that we are able to reflect on this man's talents over the next ten years of Premier League football.
Three strikers, three more to come, but deserves to lead the line. Who's the Premier League finest striker this current season?
Click Here to see the nominations for the Premier League's Keeper of the season
Click Here to see the nominations for the Premier League's Left back of the season
Click Here to see Part One of the Premier League's centre back nominations
Click Here to see Part Two of the Premier League's centre back nominations
Click Here to see the nominations for the Premier League's right back of the season
Click Here to see the nominations of the Premier League's holding midfielder of the season.
Click Here to see the nominations of the Premier League's attacking midfielder of the season.
Torres is a great finisher
Torres is a great finisher but there is no all round better forward than Berbatov, he is simply faultless.
Wayne Rooney like Berbatov
Wayne Rooney like Berbatov is a complete striker. If it was just as a finisher, Torres would win but for all round ability you cant beat the other two.
I think it has to be said
I think it has to be said that from the top clubs no striker can realistically be distinguished as the very best, because although statistics may try to give an accurate impression, the only way of truly judging a player is seeing them play on a football pitch.
I also think it is better to assess strikers in pairs.
Sorry Cyril but the perfect
Sorry Cyril but the perfect all round striker is Torres. He has lead Liverpool's frontline by himself half the season and no team has been able to live with him. He can score 25 yard stunners, headers or take it around 2 players before sliding it home. Torres creates his own opportunities, has pace to burn and even scores plenty with his head - he can do it all my friend. I love Berbatov's skill, technique and intelligence but question his attitude. Rooney definitely has the passion and talent but he needs Ronaldo, Tevez etc. to create his space and opportunities for him.
I rate Torres and Drogba the same level, Adebayor is just behind them, followed by Anelka, Berbatov, Rooney and Van Persie.
Dom, I read your view but
Dom, I read your view but had to laugh when you include Drogba and Adebayor above the other 4 who are all superior PLAYERS (no maybe not as prolific goalscorers but remember both usually have goals put on a plate for them). In any case in that list Adebayor would be most peoples' last choice with Drogba just better.
Van Persie??? are you high?
Van Persie??? are you high? Torres, Drogba, Adebayor, Anelka, Berbatov, and Rooney are all world-class and arguments can be made for any of them being amongst the top strikers in the world. But Van Persie has not reached that level. No doubt he has the talent to become one of the best strikers in the world, but until he proves it on the pitch he does not deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as names like Drogba, Torres, Rooney, and Berbatov. He has talent, but what has made you rate him as highly as Berbatov and Rooney?
best striker why dont u have
best striker why dont u have robbie keane scores assits and got skill but you all prefer names i see
Steve, agree with you on
Steve, agree with you on robbie...he also deserves to be mentioned. Love his work rate, leadership, and emotion level during every game he plays in. I wish I could see Berbatov and Keane get the kind of service Tevez and Rooney recieve...
berbatov has everything u
berbatov has everything u want as a professional striker ... his vision is up there wiv the best, scores goals, assists and his control of the ball is sublime! however torres without a doubt is world class but has neither the strength or touch that berbatov possesses! if berbatov produced the football he does now say when he was 20 ... he would be up there wiv the greats! for me the the top 3 would be ... 1 - berbatov. 2 - drogba. 3 - torres xx
I agree with Sean on the
I agree with Sean on the Van Persie thing, you just have to look at the amount of chances he blasted into the crowd at Bolton to see he is not the finished article by any means. I also agree that if the spurs midfield had more of a creative spark we would be scoring so many more than we already are.
