This time last year, strikers were labelled a "dying breed"; Messi helped make the phrase "false nine" one of the most overused in football; and the likes of Eden Hazard and Jonjo Shelvey were deployed as lone 'strikers'. But despite Gary Lineker's Twitter rant, in which he hashtagged #prayforstrikers, and Messi's obvious success in this role, it seems strikers, and more specifically, strike partnerships are back in business. The Premier League has been home to some of the greatest strike partnerships ever since it began in 1992. Cole and Beardsley. Shearer and Sutton. Phillips and Quinn. And perhaps the future holds the next generation of great striking duos.
Three of England's top clubs this season have often deployed a system consisting of two out-and-out strikers. Liverpool, Manchester United and their neighbours Manchester City have all had great success - and for me, this can only be good for football. The excitement is back. City scored lots of goals under Mancini, there's no denying, but that real excitement is now with them under Pellegrini. Ferguson always attempted to play exciting football with two strikers at United, with their counter-attacking sides always providing entertainment. Liverpool haven't used two strikers in their sides for years. In some cases, two strikers are played purely because there are two world-class players that need to be fitted into a side. Take Liverpool for example. Rodgers has never been a manager to play 4-4-2; he still isn't. But with the quality of Suarez and Sturridge, he must fit them both in. And what success they're having - 18 goals between them already. In Manchester United's case, it's the system that has been used for years. David Moyes was not well known for play two strikers at Everton, usually deploying somebody in a number 10 role behind. In Rooney, Moyes has someone who will willingly play both roles. And with Van Persie in front, they have one of the deadliest combos in Europe. For Manchester City, it is an example of the big-man-little-man partnerships of old (Negredo, despite only 6"1, is well known for his aerial ability). Aguero is the in-form striker in the world at the moment, and these two must cast fear into their opponents eyes right from kick-off. This season, we mostly see City play a near-enough 4-4-2 formation, for the first time in years. Not just the Premier League are bringing back striking partnerships; England's second tier are contributing too. Championship pace-setters Burnley have one of the most effective duos outside the top-flight in Danny Ings and Sam Vokes. They are the joint-second and joint-third top league scorers respectively (19 league goals between them), and are another prime example of successful big-man-little-man combinations. With Burnley top of the league, and our other examples clubs who will all be challenging for Champions League places this season, they are surely proving strike partnerships can be successful. Tempting though it may be to 'fill the midfield', how many times over the years have Man United proved that attack really is the best form of defence? Even England, who have been toying with different formations for a good chunk of the last 10 years, look set to start their campaign in Brazil with two forwards; Rooney and Sturridge. Fortunately, both these have recent experience of the system, when many others do not. Other forwards in the squad - Lambert, Rodriguez, Defoe and Welbeck (who often plays wide) - are examples of this. But, this is a start. The more successful clubs are with two strikers, the more teams will follow. In the months and years to come, who knows; maybe we will see the new Cole and Yorke. The new Henry and Bergkamp. Di Stefano and Puskas?
