Bleacher Report - Articles by Andrew Fitchett

Ronaldo? Drogba? Henry? Shearer? Pfft, Here Are Some Real Goal-Scorers...

Andrew Fitchett — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:02:35 -0400

With the modern game having dispensed with the notion that the out-and-out goal-scorer is essential to any successful side, it seems only fair to don our rose-tinted bins and hark back to an age when bulging the onion bag was as exalted as a John Carpenter film circa 1982.

Over the years there have been countless players who have made a career based solely on their ability to spring to life in the 18 yard-box: Gary Lineker, Ally McCoist, Ian Rush and Gerd Muller to name but a few. But there are plenty more who are less well-known despite possessing even more impressive records…

Rafael Moreno Aranzadi

Rafael Aranzadi was a one-club man, only ever playing for Basque side Athletic Bilbao. Diminutive in stature (he stood at just over five feet tall), the man they called ‘Pichichi’ was instantly recognisable with his ever-present white headgear as well as his lethal touch in front of goal.

Following his death at the age of just 29, the Spanish paper Marca began awarding the top scorer in the Spanish top flight the Trofeo Pichichi in his honour and a statue of the man was erected outside Bilbao’s San Mames stadium.

Pichichi scored 200 times in 170 games.

Gunnar Nordahl

Despite being the record goal-scorer for one of the most famous clubs in world football, Swedish marksman Nordahl is little-known in the game.

Beginning his career in his native Sweden, Nordahl had already clocked up an impressive 217 goals in 213 games in the Allsvenskanbefore his move to AC Milan in 1949.

In the years that followed, the Swede profited from a productive relationship with his Swedish team-mates Gunnar Gren and Nils Liedholm in a combination the press christened ‘Gre-No-Li’and went on to score 257 goals in 210 games for the Rossoneri.

Indeed, when Nordahl’s fellow Milan alumnus Andrei Shevchenko scored his 100^th goal for the club, the more experienced Milanese were quick to remind the Ukrainian that he had a long way to go before he matched the man they had dubbed ‘Il Canoniere’.

Derek Dooley

After an explosive start which included 64 goals in 63 games, Sheffield legend Derek Dooley’s burgeoning career was tragically ended at the age of just 23 when a horrific injury meant that he lost a leg.

Despite his impeccable goal-scoring record, it was what Dooley achieved after his playing career ended that was most remarkable. The native Yorshireman went on to manage the team he had been so prolific for, Sheffield Wednesday, and in later years moved south to city rivals Sheffield United to take over as Chairman.

Few would have survived this short journey with their reputation intact but Dooley was revered by both sets of fans and at the 1992 Sheffield derby he was given a rousing standing ovation from the entire ground.

Upon Dooley’s passing away last year the Blades announced that, like Pichichi, a statue was to be erected at the club’s stadium, Bramall Lane. Perhaps if Dooley’s career had been allowed to continue just a little longer he could have matched his Spanish counterpart’s strike-rate.

Fernando Peyroteo

Much like Pichichi, Peyroteoscored all his goals in a glittering spell with just one club (Sporting Lisbon) in the Portuguese top flight, becoming the highest scorer in the league’s history.

Born and raised in Angola, Peyroteo moved to Lisbon at the age of 19 in 1937 and became a member of the famous attacking line Os Cinco Violinos (The Five Violins) at Sporting.

Adopted as Portuguese, he scored 15 times in 20 games for the national side but it was in the league where he was most prolific. 331 goals in 187 games was Peyroteo’s return for Sporting including scoring nine times in one match and eight in another.

Josef Bican

A Wunderteam member and compatriot of the mercurial Matthias Sindelar, Josef Bican’s remarkable pace and ability helped to make him one of the greatest goal-scorers of the 20th Century.

Awarded the IFFHS’ ‘Golden Ball’ as the most prolific marksman of the century, Bican managed 40 goals in 33 games during his stints at international level for first Austria and then, following Anschluss, Czechoslovakia.

At club level he scored a phenomenal 627 goals in 366 games including 395 during an eight season spell at Czech side Slavia Prague.

Brian Clough

Of course, Ol’ Big Head is renowned for being one of the best managers the English game has seen due to his successes with both Derby County and Nottingham Forest, as well as his unique and occasionally arrogant persona.

However, Clough was also a prolific goal-scorer in his playing days before, like Dooley, seeing his career cut short by injury. Scoring 251 times in 274 games for North Eastern pair Middlesbrough and Sunderland, it was no wonder Cloughy was so harsh on his forwards during his managerial career as he certainly knew where the goal was.

How the Changing Face of Soccer Has Prompted the Decline of the Poacher

Andrew Fitchett — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:14:03 -0400

Not long ago, goals were the most prized asset in English football. Forwards lived and died by their goal-scoring record and the deadly finisher was seen as the apotheosis of natural footballing ability.

In recent years, that way of thinking has changed slightly. Of course, goals are still seen as a key part of the game, but players who provide only the finishing touch are given much less value than they once were. It is now all about multi-faceted, multi-talented modern attackers: as Guardian columnist Jonathan Wilson posits, "You don't win games by scoring goals; you score goals by winning games."

Compare the current squads of the Premier League’s top four to those of ten years ago: the top clubs’ goal-scorers are multi-talented individuals such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, and Emmanuel Adebayor.

In contrast to their 90s counterparts, these are players who provide much more than just their goals. A decade ago those clubs relied upon the likes of Andy Cole, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, Michael Owen, and Robbie Fowler, arch-finishers of the most lethal variety who propelled their teams to the summit of the table.

Only a progressive Arsenal side—under the burgeoning tenure of Arsene Wenger—bucked the trend with the skillful and potent partnership of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, a duo that were capable of both supplying and dispatching goals. Indeed, the downfall of once-revered marksmen such as Fernando Morientes and Michael Owen is indicative of how the game has changed.

As is usual in matters of tactical sophistication, England’s adaptation to this situation has been a little slow. As David Winner points out in his brilliant examination of Dutch Football Brilliant Orange, the inhabitants of the Netherlands have been thinking this way since the inception of their own Total Football. In that most pure of systems, players must be capable of adapting to many different roles in the team and predatory goal-scorers rarely rank amongst the nation’s most admired players.

After their defeat to West Germany in the 1974 World Cup Final, little recourse was given to the German’s match-winner, Gerd Muller, a man whom the Dutch saw as a one-trick-pony whose only skill was to put the ball in the back of the net. Sixty-eight goals in 62 internationals would suggest that Muller had honed this skill to some considerable degree.

Of course, Totaalvoetbal was primarily concerned with flexibility and style over effectiveness and predictability, a pre-occupation that has, coupled with the self-destructive tendencies of their footballers, led to the Netherlands being the biggest under-achievers in world football. The fact that English football has never had such an obsession with aesthetics makes it all the more galling that they have achieved even less on the international stage.

In this modern age of Opta stats and scientific regimen, there can be no excuse for managers not to recognise the effectiveness that dynamic, multi-purpose players can have. The future of English football relies upon this recognition and also upon a concerted effort to develop players in this mould.

In the last few years, Wayne Rooney has found himself the only player capable of adapting to this new footballing philosophy and England have struggled to find a cohesive forward line as a result. Of course, this is often put down to the demise of Owen, a player who achieved great success internationally a mere decade ago. However, it is a sign of football’s developing sophistication that a player who was named European Footballer of the Year just eight years ago now finds himself on the international scrapheap. Fabio Capello is certainly one manager who recognises that, in the words of The Wire’s Dennis ‘Cutty’ Wise, “the game done changed."

Tottenham's Player Of the Season: Who Gets Your Vote?

Andrew Fitchett — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:50:34 -0400

As the climax of a tumultuous season approaches, we now have the opportunity to look back and reflect upon what has been the usual roller-coaster ride for Spurs’. One of the biggest questions on every fan’s mind will be that of who has turned in the best displays for the club throughout the campaign as the official club Player of the Season is decided.

So, using your own Harry Redknapp-esque analytical acumen, pick your star performer out of this bunch.

Jonathan Woodgate

As Harry Redknapp recently commented, Spurs fantastic recent home form has been built on magnificent defence. At the heart of this effort is Jonathan Woodgate, a solid and consistent performer for the club week-in, week-out. If you are looking for consistency, reliability, resilience and a bit of fire in the belly, Woody is your man.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto

After a start shakier than the current US economy, BAE has finished the season with some style. With Gareth Bale struggling to find form and fitness, it has been up to the Cameroonian to slot in on the left-hand side of defence. What’s more, with Luka Modric ahead of him often wandering wherever he pleases, it’s been a lonely station for Benoit. If there were a prize for most improved player of the season, he’d win it hands down.

Aaron Lennon

With only 42 goals all season, attacking has not been Spurs’ strong suit. However, that’s no fault of Aaron Lennon. The wing-wizard has been magnificent this term, standing out even in the dark days of Juande Ramos’ reign, and has been a thorn in the side of many an opposition defence. Like BAE, his improvement on last season’s form has been marked, with a Player of the Month Award and England call-up to show for it.

Heurelho Gomes

Gaffes to glory samba stopper Heurelho Gomes had a nightmare start to his career in English football. After a series of high-profile errors, the 6ft 3 Brazilian was already being touted as a huge flop and waste of money. However, that didn’t stop Gomes who has worked his way to some magnificent recent form, culminating in 6 successive clean sheets at home and praise from all quarters. Deserves a nod for his show of character alone.

Luka Modric

Like many players new to English football, diminutive Croat Luka Modric endured a tough start to life in this country. The early season form of Spurs didn’t help much but since the arrival of Harry Redknapp at the club Modric has been sensational. With skill, finesse and no little heart, Luka has become a firm favourite at the Lane, drawing admiring praise from both Redknapp and Sir Alex Ferguson. The tough part now for Spurs is hanging on to him…

Vedran Corluka

Unlike countryman Modric, Vedran Corluka had already played a season in the Premiership at Manchester City. Going about his work quietly and confidently, ‘Charlie’ has rarely (if at all) put a foot wrong and has brought class and style as well as a bit of toughness to the right-back position. He’ll be pushed next term by the returning Alan Hutton, but he’s an outside bet for this year’s Player of the Season.

So, who’s your pick?