zhapchit said:
well most of them had injuries for long period. And were playing as lone striker. And there were not the penalty takers. Look at it another way.. it's good to have the midfielders scoring. Although i would admin that the strikers striking rate needs to be improved.
No matter what, to challenge for league championship, you need at least 1 striker with 20 goals... look at Henry, RVR, Rooney, etc..
However, this season a bit different. I think you have the stats for this season. Strikers prob account for 35-40% of goals scored. Even for Arsenal as well, i think their midfield scored more. A lot of it is because English game becomes more continental and open and less reliance on strikers. In older days, strikers like Rush, Linekar and SHearer even is crucial as they are the main source of goals. in late 90s, midfielders becomes more involved in EPL and scores more.
You looked at Lampard, Cahill, Lundberg and Gerrard. You will struggle to find any comparable midfielders of such high quality scoring. Only 1 that comes close is prob David Platt? Even Gazza only score occasional goals but not in such regularity. Souness in his prime also dun score that many.
These days... if you have 20goals strikers, you are pretty good and shd challenge for league already. If not, just like Chelsea, you can still be very successful.
Of course, given the quality of the strikers, i do feel Cisse shd be 20+ goal striker and Morientes and Baros shd have abt 15 goals in them... Provided they stay injury-free, so that willgives us abt 50 goals, plus another say 10 from reserve strikers like Pongolle, mellor etc for league Cup etc... 60goals... and assume it's 60%, we will have 100 goals and shd be KING of England lor...