16 Jul 2026 07:38:35
England 20 years ago had a string on number 9's
Shearer, Owen, Fowler, Cole, Wright etc etc
If Kane quits tomorrow who replaces him I don't see many quality no9's coming through.
For all the riches of the PL which I don't buy is as good as they think and I watched it live most weeks for years in the flesh they're not producing many top class centre forwards.
16 Jul 2026 08:08:24
Bringing on Toney was criminal.
Didn't Watkins finish the season not bad with Villa?
16 Jul 2026 09:06:05
He did MPH, to be fair to him. England's options after Kane, who is 32, is Watkins, 30, Toney, 30, and who? Whilst importing the world's young talent into the PL to improve their club sides in the long run, in certain areas of the field, will take a hit. Every team needs a goalscorer, and the development of a young English 1 is not a priority to clubs.
The only other I can think of is Solanke, who is 28, and I've never really been overly impressed by him, and clubs have spent north of 80 million on him in transfer fees alone. They better hope someone comes from nowhere. You take Kane and his goals out, that side they'd have been home weeks ago.
16 Jul 2026 09:10:46
Some fantastic points, folks.
16 Jul 2026 10:17:31
The obvious one is Greenwood, but if I was English I wouldn't want that beast playing for my country.
16 Jul 2026 11:38:45
For some reason, I had Watkins down as mid 20's, Iron Rangers!
Next WC that comes along, all of the above will be early 30s!
Not a good look for a country that size.