With the announcement that Sturridge is leaving us and Klopp's comment about him being a modern day great, I thought I'd see where I'd rank him in the forwards from my lifetime. I thought it would be easy, it wasn't!
I'm not going for longevity, just who I think has been the best in my lifetime when they've been at their best. I've only included players I gave some serious thought to a placing (so no Heskey or Baros...) which is why is ends randomly at 13. I appreciate the definition of forward is a little loose btw.
1. Suarez - at his best he was magical and improved every player around him
2. Dalglish - will caveat this by saying my memory of football begins around 1983/4 time so I probably never saw him at his best and I certainly watched less football at the age of 7!
3. Salah - statistics only tell you so much but they shout out Salah's name pretty loudly, he's been amazing in terms of output since he arrived
4. Rush - the original forward press and such a clinical finisher
5. Fowler - at his best he was outstanding, scarily direct and single minded
6. Torres - for a short period probably one of the best no.9's in the world
7. Owen - seems odd that he's the one that won the ballon d'or, an absolute match winner but always one sprint from an injury and never hugely prolific
8. Mane - Could well move up in future years but last season added goals to fantastic pace and movement
9. Beardsley - I'll admit he's a bit of a personal favourite but such a creative and intelligent footballer
10. Firmino - ditto really! Such an intelligent footballer.
11. Sturridge - quick feet, skillful and at his best a great finisher
12. Sterling - gone on to improve with City but still worthy of a mention
13. Aldridge - fantastic penalty box player, not many could have replaced Rush when he left but Aldridge did a fine job
So based on my list Sturridge is the 11th best forward I've seen. Modern great? Probably not but a player I enjoyed watched nevertheless.
Where would everyone else rate him?
Forwards ranked
posted on 5/6/19
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 24 minutes ago
Dalglish before my time but I have watched a load of footage. I'd still put him first. Beardsley before my time also but loved watching what he did with a ball on various videos. Never saw much of Aldridge only the 88 final.
Dalglish
Suarez
Rush
Fowler
Torres
Salah
Owen
Beardsley
Mane
Sturridge
Sterling
Aldridge
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Pretty much spot on for me.
Although I would have moved Aldridge up one and, Sterling down one. City not us are seeing the best of Raheem. He had obvious talent but his finishing was weak. Credit to him he's obviously worked hard at this area of his game.
Dalglish was a maestro and the best player we've ever had Imo, he loaded many of the bullets Rushie fired. Suarez was sensational and Torres was so clinical. Fowler was a finishing machine as was Owen.
Weve had some great forwards at our club.
posted on 5/6/19
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 5/6/19
My order:
Dalglish
Rush
Suarez
Fowler
Keegan
Torres
Salah
Owen
Beardsley
Mane
Sturridge
Aldridge
posted on 5/6/19
1. Heskey
posted on 5/6/19
Kenny, then the rest. I always thought Robbie was great, so second for me.
posted on 5/6/19
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 4 hours, 20 minutes ago
Dalglish before my time but I have watched a load of footage. I'd still put him first. Beardsley before my time also but loved watching what he did with a ball on various videos. Never saw much of Aldridge only the 88 final.
Dalglish
Suarez
Rush
Fowler
Torres
Salah
Owen
Beardsley
Mane
Sturridge
Sterling
Aldridge
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No Firmino anywhere?
posted on 5/6/19
comment by Naby8 (U6997)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 4 hours, 20 minutes ago
Dalglish before my time but I have watched a load of footage. I'd still put him first. Beardsley before my time also but loved watching what he did with a ball on various videos. Never saw much of Aldridge only the 88 final.
Dalglish
Suarez
Rush
Fowler
Torres
Salah
Owen
Beardsley
Mane
Sturridge
Sterling
Aldridge
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No Firmino anywhere?
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Opps. Firmino after Beardsley, for me.
posted on 5/6/19
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 1 hour, 8 minutes ago
Kenny, then the rest. I always thought Robbie was great, so second for me.
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Grudgingly, agree. Dalgliesh was as complete a striker as have ever been.
posted on 6/6/19
I can't give higher praise than to say he was the equal of our king Dennis Law.
posted on 7/6/19
Kinda funny.
If longevity is not a marker but delivery then the fact Heskey and collymore are not on the list is striking.
Anyway.....
Rush no 1.. and no 2 and no 3.
Fowler as a young man..
Dalglish
then I might think about Suarez... maybe.