Was 1996 the best year for strikers In terms of quality?

[stubie]

Looking at the quality of forward players back then I’d say the following were definitely at their peak or approaching. Some real quality back then.

England

Shearer
Cole
Ferdinand
Wright
Sheringham
Fowler
Collymore
Yorke
Cantona
Asprilla
Zola
Vialli
Bergkamp
Ravenelli

Rest of Europe

Batistuta
Ronaldo
Weah
Mijatovic
Suker
Raul
Del Piero
Totti
Chapiusat
Kluivert
Crespo
Vieri
Zamorano
Djorkaeff

I’ve probably missed a few but those names I can remember of the top of my head.

 

[SilentWitness]

England had a gold mine. You even had players like Sutton around who were banging in 20 a season.

 

[Jezpeza]

It was a crazy time, thats some list.

I also think we have a glut of strikers in form at the moment

Kane
Vardy
Abraham
Wilson
Ings
Deeney
Rashford
Calvert Lewin

Going back a few years, we had few options up front

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Yes

 

[11101]

You could make a similar list for all positions. The 90s were a fantastic era for individual players for some reason. Maybe brilliant individuals back then could have more of an impact on a game than they can now where physically and tactically the average level is so high.

 

[Thepinhead]

Klinsmann surely must be in that list. Didn't he bang in goals left right and center for Germany, Tottenham and Bayern around that time.?

 

[MrMarcello]

No love for Roy Lassiter?

 

[ricky-romeo]

England got so many top PL strikers at that time but Shearer and Sheringham were the only capable of replicating their club form for country.

 

[Righteous Steps]

England got so many top PL strikers at that time but Shearer and Sheringham were the only capable of replicating their club form for country.

The rest barely got a chance.

 

[TsuWave]

Game is faster now and level of competition has gone up in most leagues. A substantial amount of them guys would be Bobby Zamora status in the current game

don't get mad. i’m just the messenger

 

[Bubz27]

What about 95? Or 97?

 

[Nickelodeon]

It was a crazy time, thats some list.

I also think we have a glut of strikers in form at the moment

Kane
Vardy
Abraham
Wilson
Ings
Deeney
Rashford
Calvert Lewin

Going back a few years, we had few options up front

As an FPL manager who’s had Wilson , I’m unsure that he needs to be counted as one. Deeney is another one who, I believe, is too late to the party.

 

[2cents]

It was probably Andy Cole’s worst calendar year.

 

[Gio]

Game is faster now and level of competition has gone up in most leagues. A substantial amount of them guys would be Bobby Zamora status in the current game

Which ones do you reckon?

 

[CM]

For English players, almost certainly.

Edit: The rest aren't bad either

 

[Mb194dc]

96 certainly one of the best, see scorers in Euro 96 as well ( top scorers Shearer, Stoichkov, Šuker, Brian Laudrup, Klinsmann)

90s was the best decade generally, for football and life generally. Peak of our civilisation so far.

All downhill since, money took over in football and has ruined the game in a lot of ways.

 

[Sandikan]

It was a crazy time, thats some list.

I also think we have a glut of strikers in form at the moment

Kane
Vardy
Abraham
Wilson
Ings
Deeney
Rashford
Calvert Lewin

Going back a few years, we had few options up front

Only a couple of those would get anywhere near the orignal list.
Plus barely any good defenders are around now

 

[Jezpeza]

Only a couple of those would get anywhere near the orignal list.
Plus barely any good defenders are around now

the overall list yes. I just mean in terms of english strikers, i feel we have a good bunch atm as well, In 2010 our strikers consisted of heskey crouch defoe and rooney. And then there were injuries so jay bothroyd was played, from the championship

 

[stevoc]

Game is faster now and level of competition has gone up in most leagues. A substantial amount of them guys would be Bobby Zamora status in the current game

Name them.

 

[Sandikan]

Game is faster now and level of competition has gone up in most leagues. A substantial amount of them guys would be Bobby Zamora status in the current game

don't get mad. i’m just the messenger

Even with your white text you know that's not true.

The quality isn't higher now than a the last 2 decades. Name the top quality centre backs? There's barely any.

Name the top quality strikers? There's less then there used to be. The likes of Ings and Calvert Lewin are starting to fill their boots!

 

[esmufc07]

Looking at the quality of forward players back then I’d say the following were definitely at their peak or approaching. Some real quality back then.

England

Shearer
Cole
Ferdinand
Wright
Sheringham
Fowler
Collymore
Yorke
Cantona
Asprilla
Zola
Vialli
Bergkamp
Ravenelli

Rest of Europe

Batistuta
Ronaldo
Weah
Mijatovic
Suker
Raul
Del Piero
Totti
Chapiusat
Kluivert
Crespo
Vieri
Zamorano
Djorkaeff

I’ve probably missed a few but those names I can remember of the top of my head.

Half of those players didn't play for England.

 

[VorZakone]

Boy, that's some list there.

 

[Prometheus]

Even with your white text you know that's not true.

The quality isn't higher now than a the last 2 decades. Name the top quality centre backs? There's barely any.

Name the top quality strikers? There's less then there used to be. The likes of Ings and Calvert Lewin are starting to fill their boots!

I reckon it's the selection process. What teams want in a player has changed... so the scouting has changed.

When people talk about Riquelme as the last of the classic number 10s you know football has really changed.

 

[Prometheus]

Half of those players didn't play for England.

I think it just means they played for English teams.

But it's actually amazing how many of them are English.

 

[Sandikan]

I reckon it's the selection process. What teams want in a player has changed... so the scouting has changed.

When people talk about Riquelme as the last of the classic number 10s you know football has really changed.

You're definitely right.
Too much emphasis on super fit physical players.
Barely any proper "stay on their correct foot" wide players.
Full backs who aren't primarily good defenders
Centre backs picked for their passing ability over actual defending.

Can we have the mid 90s back please

4 -4-foookin 2

 

[VorZakone]

Totti in 1996?