From squarefootball.net

[Electric ~soul~]

As I sat there chuckling at the latest laughable Arsenal line-up shorn of all its ‘star’ strikers, I had a rather silly thought that began to grow and grow in credibility. It’s a bit bold, but at this moment in time, with our fab four up front, have we got more firepower than any other side around?

 

It’s quite a statement I know. It began as a simple “Ha ha Arsene, I bet you wish you had our strength in depth up front.” Then I thought who else in the Premiership has four strikers so full of goals, skill and confidence? When I was done with that, I began to let myself dream a little further, who in Europe had a quartet so fearsome?

 

There were a lot of teams with world-class strikers but none sprang to mind that had four top-class ones, any of which the fans wouldn’t mind seeing on the team sheet. A gang who could bring goals from everywhere, in the air and on the deck, and with a number of lethal combinations.

 

Let’s look at our fab four. First up is Jermain “Lennon” Defoe. He’s the fan’s favourite, the one with the most talent and potential. He can create something out of nothing and is generally considered as the one with the most worldwide appeal. Hopefully, unlike his metaphorical alter ego, his Spurs career won’t be cut short in its prime.

 

Next is Hossam Ahmed “Paul” Mido. He’s the ladies man, the pin-up and likes to be in the limelight. He’s got talent and he’s well aware of the fact. Watch out for future charitable exercises and an inclination towards vegetables.

 

Our Irish record-goal scorer, Robbie “George” Keane, is the one with more all round ability than people give him credit for. Not only can he do the fancy stuff, but he weighs in with his share of goals at the Lane, always getting into double figures. While some of his solo efforts end up with a miss, he always pops up with a valuable hit just as he people start to suggest his star is fading.

 

The quiet man, Fredi “Ringo” Kanoute, doesn’t always get as much praise as his fellow band members but he is usually essential to their success. Often ridiculed unfairly for his ungainly appearance, the Malian is at the top of his particular profession. There are few better at providing skilful support for the goal-scoring superstar fronting the group.

 

It’s an enviable foursome which had led to green-eyed comments from managers such as Sir Alex Ferguson, who said: “They are recognised and respected strikers. Any club in the Premier division would be happy to have them. There are plenty of goals there.” Chris Coleman admitted only this week after losing to Spurs’ firepower: “They can take two strikers off and put two top strikers on — that’s what we’re up against.”

 

It’s a situation we wouldn’t have dreamed of a couple of seasons ago when the Ginger Pele, Gary “Yoko” Doherty, was thrown into the final third of the pitch to mix things up because we’d run out of forwards. I still wake up soaked in sweat some nights having had terrifying nightmares involving Martin Jol unveiling the re-signed Doherty to a captive White Hart Lane. The Irishman tries to do the obligatory keepy-uppy bit for the cameras but can’t string two together. Even in the daytime, it makes me shudder.

 

So who are the competition? In England, Chelsea currently have three strikers of differing ability and Arsenal only have one goalscorer while the team shares the goals. Manchester United are the closest challengers I have found in my mental travels.

 

While there’s no doubting the quality of Wayne Rooney and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Louis Saha has yet to set the world alight after one and a half decent seasons for Fulham and Alan Smith started this term well after a distinct lack of goals for Leeds. Neither has the international pedigree that Spurs’ four contains.

 

When you look abroad to the other two big leagues you have a number of teams with three class strikers. In Italy, there is Milan with Shevchenko, Crespo and Inzaghi, Juventus with Del Piero, Trezeguet and Ibrahimovic, and Inter with Adriano, Vieri and Martins.

 

In Spain, Barcelona have Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Lopez, who came in for the crocked Larsson, Madrid have Ronaldo, Raul and Owen, while Deportivo have Luque, Tristan and Munitis.

 

Like I said there are many trios of great strikers but a couple of injuries and they’re screwed. None of those clubs have a quartet all of the same high ability. While I enjoy watching Brazilian and Argentinean football late on Thursday night on Channels Four and Five, I confess to not knowing the squads well enough to make my statement any bolder by suggesting that we have more firepower than any team in the world.

 

So is it just an idle and outrageous boast without any qualification? Or am I correct in thinking that our assembled group of young talented talismans have enough power, presence and precision to make any club in Europe or perhaps the world green with envy.