Attackers' Careers are Getting Longer?

[SER19]

Signing a player aged 29 or over used to be enough to make fans mourn.

For years its been acknowledged that players' prime is around 27-29.

In recent years there seems to be a rise in the number of attackers performing at a high level. There are examples of outliers from the past like Sheringhams year at the top here, but right now you have many players, usually strikers, performing at as good a level as those younger than them.

In the Premier league Vardy and Cavani look nowhere near out of place, in Serie A you have Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Immobile, Muriel all North of 30 and in Spain Messi, Benzema and Suarez are performing well. Not to mention Lewandowski is having arguably his best season ever.

Obviously conditioning and improvements in that aspect are having an impact and it prompts two thoughts:

A) could we see a widespread shift in what's considered the upper age of a striker

And

B) does it make you more open to signing older attackers
Eg a 31 year old might now give you 3-4 good seasons

 

[Jezpeza]

Signing a player aged 29 or over used to be enough to make fans mourn.

For years its been acknowledged that players' prime is around 27-29.

In recent years there seems to be a rise in the number of attackers performing at a high level. There are examples of outliers from the past like Sheringhams year at the top here, but right now you have many players, usually strikers, performing at as good a level as those younger than them.

In the Premier league Vardy and Cavani look nowhere near out of place, in Serie A you have Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Immobile, Muriel all North of 30 and in Spain Messi, Benzema and Suarez are performing well. Not to mention Lewandowski is having arguably his best season ever.

Obviously conditioning and improvements in that aspect are having an impact and it prompts two thoughts:

A) could we see a widespread shift in what's considered the upper age of a striker

And

B) does it make you more open to signing older attackers
Eg a 31 year old might now give you 3-4 good seasons

interesting post. For me its several factors signing any player over 30 - history of injuries, price, and whether their game is based on pace or not.

if they are fit, lesser pace wont massively affect their game and the price is fair as they arent a long term investment or a player you will get your money back on, they will be a good signing

 

[Pexbo]

I can’t be bothered to go back and list them, but there’s always been a handful of 30-34 year old attackers who play with an extra yard of pace in their heads.

 

[Bwuk]

Sports science will prolong careers at the top level, but Father Time is undefeated.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

I think attacking talent is so sparse that older players are still standing out.

the issue with signing a 29/30 year old is the risk. For every Zlatan or Ronaldo you have a Sanchez, Rooney or Bale. If you buy someone at that age on a 3/4 year contract and they are a dud, you are utterly screwed. Massive wages, no way of getting rid of them without paying a fortune and they can derail the entire club.

 

[Judge Red]

Martial might have found some consistency by 2027.

 

[DWelbz19]

Cerebral prime for these forwards.