Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, Nick Woltemade: Premier League strikers struggling for goals - Between the Lines

C

CyberAlpha

Premier League clubs splashed a record £1.92 billion on forwards during the summer transfer window in an attempt to bolster their attacking lines. Yet, despite this significant investment, many of these signings have struggled to make an impact.

Erling Haaland, one of only three forwards to reach double figures for Premier League goals this season, is no exception. The Norwegian sensation has hit a goal drought in five consecutive games against Manchester United and now faces an eight-game streak without a goal in all competitions.

Viktor Gyokeres, the Sweden international who joined Arsenal from Portugal's Primeira Liga, is another example of a player struggling to find his footing in the Premier League. Despite scoring a goal from outside the box against Inter Milan, he hasn't scored an open-play goal in 10 consecutive games.

Benjamin Sesko and Nick Woltemade are also facing similar challenges at Manchester United and Newcastle respectively. The trio has collectively struggled to find consistency and have been impacted by the increasing emphasis on defensive solidity among Premier League teams.

The trend towards compact defensive shapes has led to a decrease in open-play goals, with many teams prioritizing off-the-ball organization over attacking flair. This has resulted in fewer opportunities for forwards to exploit gaps in the opposition's defense.

Premier League penalty boxes have become congested, making it increasingly difficult for attackers to find space and get shots on target. The number of players in the box when passes are played into the area has increased steadily in recent seasons, with an average of 9.4 players now present, up from 8.3 in 2019/20.

The use of compactness has reduced the window of opportunity for attacking teams, with instances of defenses becoming stretched down significantly compared to previous seasons. The latest round of Premier League games saw a combined total of only 16 goals across 10 fixtures, with more goalless draws than in either of the last two full campaigns.

While there are individual nuances to each player's struggles, the numbers paint a clear picture of less space and fewer opportunities for attacking players up and down the division.
 
omg it's crazy how much pressure is on these forwards now 🤯 they gotta score in every game or they're out of the team its like they're carrying the whole team on their shoulders & i think the smaller spaces are just making it harder for them to create chances...it's like a big puzzle, if you gotta have 9 people in the box already, how do u expect anyone to get a clear shot? 🤔
 
💔 This whole thing feels like we're seeing what happens when you put too much emphasis on the 'tactical' side of things... teams are so focused on not giving away free kicks, it's like they've forgotten how to actually score goals 🤯 The forwards are being asked to do more with less space, and it's no wonder they're struggling to find their rhythm 🔇
 
I think its pretty crazy how much money the big teams spent on strikers this season but none of them seem to be having a massive impact 🤔💸. I mean, we all know about Haaland's drought now, but what's going on with these other guys? It's like they're just not getting the service from their teammates or something. And can we talk about how congested the boxes are now? Its like you need a team of 10 to get a shot in anymore 😂🏟️. Maybe teams should focus on creating more space for the forwards instead of playing all defensive? Just saying, it sounds like the trend of compactness is actually stifling the game rather than making it more exciting 🤷‍♂️
 
🤔 I mean, £1.92 billion on forwards is wild, right? But at the same time, it's kinda what you'd expect when you see how defensive-minded teams are now 🚫. It's like they're trying to suffocate the opponent rather than just playing some solid football.

And yeah, those forwards who've struggled so far... I feel for 'em 🤕. But at the same time, it's not all their fault. The way teams are set up now, with all these defenders packed in together... it's making it super tough for attackers to break through.

I'm also loving how the stats show that penalty boxes are getting more congested 📊. It's like, you need a PhD in football strategy to even find space in there right now 😂. But seriously, it's changing the game so much... I just wish we could get some more fluid, attacking play out of this league again ⚽️.
 
omg can u believe how tough it is 2 score goals now? 😩 i mean, i get that teams wanna be more solid in defense but come on, we're still watching football here! 🏀 the trend of compact defensive shapes is just making it harder for forwards to shine. and yeah, it's not just these 3 players, loads of others are struggling 2 find consistency. the congestion in penalty boxes is a big part of the problem too, it's like u gotta be super lucky 2 get a shot on target. i think the premier league needs 2 rethink its approach or else we'll see more goalless draws and less exciting matches 🤕
 
I feel meh about all this investment in forwards and not getting the results 😐. It's like they're throwing money at the problem instead of figuring out how to create more scoring chances. I mean, have you seen the stats on penalty boxes? 9.4 players now? That's crazy! It's hard enough for forwards to get shots on target, let alone find space in a congested box 🤯. Teams are playing way more defensively now and it's changing the game. We need to see some creative solutions from managers and coaches instead of just relying on big-name signings 📈.
 
🤔 it seems like all these new signings have been a bit of a letdown 🤷‍♂️, I mean £1.92 billion is a serious investment 💸 but goals just aren't coming in like they used to 🚫. it's not just Haaland or Gyokeres either, there are others struggling too 📊. and I think the reason is that teams are getting way more defensive-minded 🔒, all that compactness is making it super hard for forwards to get space and shots on target ⚽️. it's like they're playing with 11 defenders out there instead of 1 🙄.
 
This transfer window was like a classic example of trickle-down economics – rich clubs splashing out big bucks on superstars, but in reality, it's the average teams that are getting squeezed. It's not just about individual forwards struggling to score, it's about the system and the way the game is being played these days.

I mean, think about it, the Premier League has become all about defensive solidity and compactness, which is great for the bigger clubs with deeper pockets. But what about the smaller teams? They can't compete with that kind of investment, so they're stuck playing the same defensive-minded football to avoid getting thrashed 4-0.

It's like they say, "those who don't adapt, die". The game has changed, and if you're not willing to evolve and give your attackers more freedom to roam, then you'll just be a spectator watching other teams score all the goals. It's time for the Premier League to rethink its approach and find a balance between defensive solidity and attacking flair. Otherwise, we'll just keep seeing goal droughts like Erling Haaland's and players getting left behind 🤔
 
🤔 I think this trend towards compact defensive shapes is actually a good thing for teams that play it safe... but not so great for the fans who love watching exciting footy! 😐 With all these forwards getting £100+ million signings, you'd expect them to be lighting up the goalscorer charts like crazy. But instead we're seeing guys like Haaland and Gyokeres having massive droughts 🤯. It's not that they're not scoring goals in general - Haaland's still at 20+ this season! but these droughts are super frustrating for fans & players alike 😩.

I think what's really happening here is teams just getting better at shutting the box down, making it harder for attackers to get space & create chances. It's a cat & mouse game where they adapt their strategy, and we're seeing fewer goals as a result 📉. Not saying I don't love watching some of these superstars in action, but I do think this trend is part of the reason we're not seeing as many explosive goal-scoring performances from top forwards 💪
 
🤔 it's crazy how much money they're throwing at strikers only to see them struggle... maybe its not about finding individual talent but more about how the team is set up. those compact defensive shapes are making it hard for attackers to get space & create scoring chances 🚫💪
 
omg, like i no wot ppl r sayin but im thinkin its not just about the defence lol it feelz like theres somethin more at play 🤔. the forwards dey all gettin same treatment from defences & goalkeepers, its all about quick counters & intercepts... its a game of strategy now 📈. i mean dont get me wrong benjamin sesko & nick woltemade r 2 talented players but dey need 2 find a way 2 break through dis congested box thingy or else dey goin 2 struggle 💔
 
😔 I feel you... all that money spent on top forwards and still, not getting the desired results 🤑🏆. It's like they're being held back by the other teams' solid defense 💪. The stats are crazy, 9.4 players in the box now? That's just too much pressure ⚽️. And the goal droughts... Erling Haaland is one of the best strikers in the world and he can't even break a two-game losing streak 🤯. It's like the league has become super tough to crack 🔒.
 
🤔 I think its kinda crazy how all these big signings have struggled so much. I mean £1.92 billion is a LOT of money and you'd expect to see some returns, right? 🤑 It makes sense that teams are focusing more on defense now, but it's not like they're not trying to score goals, just that the way they're doing it has changed.

I'm starting to think its not so much about the individual players, but how the whole league is playing now. Like, who remembers the last time we saw a 10-goal game? 📊 It's all about being compact and organized, but what happens when that doesn't create any space or scoring chances? Its a weird balance to find.

And another thing, teams are starting to adapt so quickly... like, how do you prepare for not having open-play goals anymore?
 
I'm thinking, these big money signings were meant to be game changers but now they're struggling to make an impact 🤔💸. I think its because teams are playing more defensively now, it's like they're saying 'we'll let them have a shot from 2 yards out' 😂. It's making the goal droughts even longer. And what's crazy is how congested the boxes have become, it's like a big mess up there 🤯. Maybe teams need to rethink their tactics and find ways to create space again?
 
I'm telling ya, £1.92 billion just doesn't seem like enough for all these forwards 🤑. I mean, if they can't even get goals, what's the point? It's like they're just playing for the sake of playing, not really putting in the effort to score. And it's not just the signings themselves, it's the whole system that's broken. All this emphasis on defensive solidity is stifling creativity and attack. I mean, who needs a beautiful attacking move when you can just park the bus and hope the other team makes a mistake? 🚫 The stats are pretty bleak, with 16 goals across 10 games... it's not exactly inspiring confidence in these teams. Maybe they should go back to the drawing board and think about what really matters: scoring goals, not just defending. 💔
 
Man, £1.92 billion on forwards and they're still struggling to score? 🤦‍♂️ That's just wild. It's like they expected all these guys to be instant goalscoring machines or something. Newsflash: football is a team sport, not individual heroics 🙄. And yeah, compact defensive shapes are all well and good, but it's getting to the point where forwards are basically just spectators, waiting for someone else to make a mistake. I mean, have you seen those stats on the number of players in the penalty box? It's like a traffic jam back there 🚗💨. Maybe they should've invested in some actual attacking midfielders instead of throwing all their cash at strikers 😂
 
it's crazy how much pressure these players are under now 🤯💪 i mean, we're used to seeing them score goals left and right but now they gotta adapt to this new era of compact defenses 🔒👊 it's like they're being funneled into tiny little boxes in the penalty area 🏗️ and it's hard to get a clear shot on goal when you've got 9.4 players all vying for space 🤯

and yeah, some of these signings just aren't panning out 🤦‍♂️ i mean, erling haaland is still an absolute beast on the pitch but even he can't seem to break this current streak 💔 meanwhile, gyokeres is just trying to find his footing and sesko and woltemade are struggling to get into the mix 🤝
 
🤔 I mean, it seems like all this money being spent on forwards is just not translating to goals, you know? 🤑 And it's not just one or two guys having an off season, it's a whole bunch of them struggling. Like, what's going on? Are we just seeing a shift in the way teams are playing defense now? Because if so, that sounds super frustrating for fans who want to see some exciting football. 🏃‍♂️ I mean, don't get me wrong, defensive solidity is important and all, but can't teams just find a way to balance it with some creativity and attacking flair? It feels like we're missing out on some great goal-scoring opportunities because of this compactness. 😐
 
I'm so over these forwards being benched or not getting chances to score 🤯. I mean, £1.92 billion spent and it's like they're just sitting on the bench? The Premier League is all about creating space and chaos in front of the goal, but now it seems like teams are just trying to plug up the holes and defend, defend, defend. And yeah, penalty boxes are getting congested - it's like there's this invisible wall that says "no shots allowed" 😒. I still think some of these forwards can break through, but it's gotta be an effort from both them and their teams to create opportunities. We need more creativity on the pitch, not just a bunch of defenders blocking shots 🏰💪
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top