Battle of the Big Men - The Premier League's Best Target man is...
by Chris
Welcome to the second day of the Sporting Lowdown advent calendar! This will be continued until the 24th December so any requests for my opinion will most likely be included in the 24 and in the future.
The Target man is a role often generalised with old fashioned football. The role of target man originated in formations such as 4-4-2 and 4-1-2-1-2, often partnered with a smaller more agile striker, alike to the title winning Manchester City duo of Dzeko and Aguero. But more recently the target man is used as a sole striker and the Premier League has seen its fair few of successes and failures, and currently there are a wide variety of styles and tactics which they are deployed in. Here I will recount in my opinion, the Premier League's 10 best target men statistically and performance wise. This doesn't include strikers such as Kane and Lukaku who I consider as Complete Forward's rather than Target men, as they can be utilised in multiple ways and have multiple dimensions. Pace cannot be a Target Man's main attribute as that makes them a more Complete Forward.
This is based on a mixture of statistics, current form and previous form, and of course the order is up for debate. Please leave any of our opinions in the comments below or on Facebook! :)
The Belgian was perceived as a backup to the Benin striker Steve Mounie when signing from Porto last summer. Although he has only scored twice, the presence the 28 year old possesses both defensively and offensively has been a massive part in a more than impressive start for David Wagner's men. He's not only scored the two goals to win Huddersfield 4 points, he's made 13 clearances and 18 headed clearances from corners too. The role of target man doesn't only require offensive prowess but defensive from set pieces and Depoitre certainly provides this.
The experienced striker was an absolutely crucial player for Swansea City last season, scoring 15 in a fabulous fightback from relegation under Paul Clement, which lead to Pochettino splashing around £12m on him on Deadline Day. But so far in his 16 Spurs appearances he has yet to find the back of the net, but only 3 of those have been starts and he has only completed 90 minutes once, in a Carabao Cup tie. If he starts scoring then he most definitely will dart up this list with no troubles, and his experience could be vital if Spurs need in in the Champions League or in a battle in the Premier League.
The Welshman certainly made his impression during Euro 2016 in France, and continued that with a decent season for Burnley, netting 10 goals in 37 appearances as Dyche's men finished 16th. Vokes's towering style gives them an option and he, alongside another man in this list, have been a fantastic replacement for Andre Gray who netted 10 goals last season too and has been key in Burnley's somewhat amazing start to this season, scoring twice in their opening day victory over Chelsea.
Benteke has truly been a success story in the Premier League, however much of a poor start to this season he has made. Scoring at a ratio of 0.4 a game only speaks wonders of the Belgians efforts. Of course, he had a poor season at Liverpool, but that season he did strike 9 times, including a truly sublime acrobatic strike against Manchester United. I have no doubt that if the striker starts firing, a bit like when he started firing for Villa under Tim Sherwood, he can save Palace from relegation single handedly.
Welcome to the second day of the Sporting Lowdown advent calendar! This will be continued until the 24th December so any requests for my opinion will most likely be included in the 24 and in the future.
The Target man is a role often generalised with old fashioned football. The role of target man originated in formations such as 4-4-2 and 4-1-2-1-2, often partnered with a smaller more agile striker, alike to the title winning Manchester City duo of Dzeko and Aguero. But more recently the target man is used as a sole striker and the Premier League has seen its fair few of successes and failures, and currently there are a wide variety of styles and tactics which they are deployed in. Here I will recount in my opinion, the Premier League's 10 best target men statistically and performance wise. This doesn't include strikers such as Kane and Lukaku who I consider as Complete Forward's rather than Target men, as they can be utilised in multiple ways and have multiple dimensions. Pace cannot be a Target Man's main attribute as that makes them a more Complete Forward.
This is based on a mixture of statistics, current form and previous form, and of course the order is up for debate. Please leave any of our opinions in the comments below or on Facebook! :)
10: Laurent DEPOITRE (Huddersfield)
PL Appearances 12
PL Goals 2
9: Fernando LLORENTE (Tottenham Hotspur)
PL Appearances 42
PL Goals 15
The experienced striker was an absolutely crucial player for Swansea City last season, scoring 15 in a fabulous fightback from relegation under Paul Clement, which lead to Pochettino splashing around £12m on him on Deadline Day. But so far in his 16 Spurs appearances he has yet to find the back of the net, but only 3 of those have been starts and he has only completed 90 minutes once, in a Carabao Cup tie. If he starts scoring then he most definitely will dart up this list with no troubles, and his experience could be vital if Spurs need in in the Champions League or in a battle in the Premier League.
8: Sam VOKES (Burnley)
PL Appearances 73
PL Goals 13
The Welshman certainly made his impression during Euro 2016 in France, and continued that with a decent season for Burnley, netting 10 goals in 37 appearances as Dyche's men finished 16th. Vokes's towering style gives them an option and he, alongside another man in this list, have been a fantastic replacement for Andre Gray who netted 10 goals last season too and has been key in Burnley's somewhat amazing start to this season, scoring twice in their opening day victory over Chelsea.
7: Andy CARROLL (West Ham United)
PL Appearances 191
PL Goals 50
Andy Carroll is what you think of when you think; old fashioned, English, Centre Forward. But his plaguing injuries have held back what was considerably promising when Liverpool threw £35m at him in the winter of 2011. Inconsistency and injury are now the two key words when we think of Carroll rather than power, strength and goals, because he's yet to pass double figures in a Premier League season since that breakthrough 10/11 season with his hometown club.
6: Christian BENTEKE (Crystal Palace)
PL Appearances 164
PL Goals 66
Benteke has truly been a success story in the Premier League, however much of a poor start to this season he has made. Scoring at a ratio of 0.4 a game only speaks wonders of the Belgians efforts. Of course, he had a poor season at Liverpool, but that season he did strike 9 times, including a truly sublime acrobatic strike against Manchester United. I have no doubt that if the striker starts firing, a bit like when he started firing for Villa under Tim Sherwood, he can save Palace from relegation single handedly.
5: Troy DEENEY (Watford)
PL Appearances 85
PL Goals 25
Watford's skipper and talisman has been excellent ever since he joined the club in 2010, showing commitment and desire whenever required either starting or from the bench. You wouldn't think that a typical Target Man would be 5 feet 11 inches tall, but the former Walsall man uses brute force, muscle and spring to give him just as much threat in the air as any in this list. Although once again this season he hasn't generally fired on all cylinders, he hasn't been given great opportunity either and I still think he'll finish with 8-12 goals this season.
4: Chris WOOD (Burnley)
PL Appearances 21
PL Goals 5
3: Peter CROUCH (Stoke City)
PL Appearances 442
PL Goals 106
The Premier League heading record breaker at the age of 36 in my opinion is currently the 3rd best Target Man in the Premier League. He now also has the record appearances off the bench in Premier League history, which shows the different option he has provided for every team he has played for. He has 3 this season but has only started 2 games, coming off the bench in 9, and again like Laurent Depoitre, provides excellent defensive statistics with 15 total clearances in limited playing time. He will go down as possibly the best Target Man the Premier League has ever seen with the records he's broken, but currently he's just past his best.
2: Glenn MURRAY (Brighton and Hove Albion)
PL Appearances 65
PL Goals 16
A lot of plaudits have come the way of Sean Dyche's Burnley this season for a fantastic start, but nowhere near enough credit has come to Chris Hughton and Brighton. A big part of the success they've had is down to Glenn Murray, who's provided a focal point and superb work rate up front for the seagulls, in place and alongside Israeli Tomer Hemed. Like Crouch at the ripe age of 34, his physicality and fitness is absolutely admirable. People may be surprised to see him so far up this list, but his way in winning points for Brighton has made the most difference in terms of position.
1: Olivier GIROUD (Arsenal)
PL Appearances 176
PL Goals 72
The man who is criticised from all angles, in my opinion is the most underrated striker in the Premier League. You see him being criticised for lack of pace, but how is that his fault? He's not physically built for pace, and for what he has he absolutely excels. You see Lacazette in the starting Arsenal 11 but in the national team Giroud is first choice, and although the former Lyon striker has made a fine start to his Arsenal career, some may struggle to see him replicate the form and longevity of Giroud. His rate also excels that of any on this list and in a team where he hardly starts that is miraculous.
So that is the 10 best Target Men in my humble opinion in the Premier League. If you have any other suggestions for me to either write or improve.
Chris :)
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