I’ve been obsessed with this topic for over a decade.
In the Golden Generation, we were insanely lucky to have a quick succession of elite strikers like Viduka, Aloisi, Kennedy and Cahill.
As they started retiring we all expected someone else to come along. But it’s been 10-15 years and still nothing close to comparable.

I’ve just been suggesting in another thread that this new generation of players coming through is a cut above the quality of youth we saw in last 10-15 years. However, the clear and obvious weakness is still the #9 Striker position. There’s certainly a lot more potential than we’ve seen since the golden gen. But no one stands out as an obvious superstar.

So, I decided to channel my Australian Striker search obsession into this analysis and see what really are our options + what do the stats tell us?
Note on stats: I don’t beleive in including penalty kicks in goal stats. So all goalscoring stats are excluding PK’s.


1) New generation natural Striker options:
So many young strikers have at least started getting game time. So there’s a lot to consider, but so far no clear stand out favourites.

Kusini Yengi
Age: 24.8
Height: 6'2
Summary: Looked promising in the A-League and has upped it during his short stint for Portsmouth in League One which has earned his first cap for the Socceroos. Physically strong and fast player. Fingers crossed he can maintain this level of productivity and convert it to higher levels of play.
2023-24 | League One: Portsmouth | 136 minutes | 2 Goals | 0 Assists | 1.32 Goals/90 | 1.32 G+A/90
2022-23 | A-League: WSW | 827 minutes | 4 goals | 2 Assists | 0.44 Goals/90 | 0.65 G+A/90
2021-22 | A-Leauge: Adelaide Utd | 386 minutes | 1 Goal | 0 Assists | 0.23 Goals/90 | 0.23 G+A/90
2020-21 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 760 minutes | 4 Goals | 2 Assists | 0.47 Goals/90 | 0.71 G+A/90

John Iredale
Age: 24.3
Height: 6'2
Summary: Been kicking around Europe on our radar for years. Finally made it to a good level at 2. Bundesliga, but yet to score a goal.
2023-24 | 2. Bundesliga: Wehen | 277 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2022-23 | 3. Liga: Wehen | 912 minutes | 6 Goals | 1 Assist | 0.59 Goals/90 | 0.69 G+A/90
2021-22 | 3. Liga: Wehen | 390 minutes | 3 Goals | 0 assists | 0.69 Goal/90 | 0.69 G+A/90

Al Hassan Toure
Age: 23.5
Height: 6’1
Summary: Included more for comparison sake with his younger brothers further below.
2023-24 | Turkish 2nd Div | 483 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2022-23 | A-League: Macarthur | 1259 minutes | 3 Goals | 5 Assists | 0.21 Goals/90 | 0.57 G+A/90
2021-22 | A-League: Macarthur | 825 minutes | 2 Goals | 2 Assists | 0.22 Goals/90 | 0.44 G+A/90
2020-21 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 555 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2019-20 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 633 minutes | 2 Goals | 1 Assist | 0.28 Goals/90 | 0.43 G+A/90

Alou Kuol
Age: 22.3
Height: 6'0
Summary: Promising start to his career but went to Europe early where it didn’t work out for him. Since overshadowed by his younger brother in midfield, but has plenty of time to get himself back on track and compete for National Team selection.
2023-24 | A-League: CCM | 214 minutes | 1 Goal | 0 Assists | 0.42 Goals/90
2022-23 | Bundesliga: Stuttgart | 5 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2021-22 | 2. Bundeslinga: Sandhausen | 11 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2020-21 | A-League: CCM | 911 minutes | 7 Goals | 2 Assists | 0.69 Goals/90 | 0.89 G+A/90

Noah Botic
Age: 20.8
Height: 6'0
Summary: Currently first choice striker for the Olyroos which means he’s highly rated by Australian management, despite a poor start to this season for both Noah and his team.
2023-24 | A-League: Western Utd | 274 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2022-23 | A-League: Western Utd | 879 minutes | 6 Goals | 0 Assists | 0.60 Goals/90 | 0.60 G+A/90
2021-22 | A-Leauge: Western Utd | 23 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists

Mohamed Toure
Age: 19.6
Height: 6’1
Summary: To some people, Mohamed is out most promising future Striking talent. His stats below on the A-League and Ligue 2 speak for themselves. Physical thread and has a knack for goal. But can he get more game time in France, be consistent and step up to a higher level of play?
2023-24 | Ligue 2: Paris FC | 146 minutes | 1 Goal | 1 Assist | 0.62 Goals/90 | 1.23 G+A/90
2022-23 | Ligue 1: Reims | 23 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2021-22 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 475 minutes | 3 Goals | 0 Assists | 0.57 Goals/90 | 0.57 G+A/90
2020-21 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 357 minutes | 3 Goals | 1 Assist | 0.76 Goals/90 | 1.01 G+A/90
2019-20 | A-Leauge: Adelaide Utd | 150 minutes | 1 Goal | 0 Assists | 0.60 Goals/90 | 0.60 G+A/90

Archie Goodwin
Age: 19.0
Height: 5’10
Summary: Prolific goalscoring at youth level and seemlessly adapting to Senior level. Already clinical numbers infront of goal. One to watch as he starts to get more minutes.
2023-24 | A-League: Newcastle Jets | 0 minutes
2022-23 | A-League: Newcastle Jets | 144 minutes | 2 Goals | 0 Assists | 1.25 Goals/90 | 1.25 G+A/90
2021-22 | A-League: Newcastle Jets | 175 minutes | 2 Goals | 0 Assists | 1.03 Goals/90 | 1.03 G+A/90
2020-21 | A-League: Newcastle Jets | 298 minutes | 1 Goal | 1 Assist | 0.30 Goals/90 | 0.60 G+A/90

Thomas Waddingham
Age: 18.6
Height: ?
Summary: Brand new senior debutant who's off to a promising start to his career.
2023-24 | A-League: Brisbane Roar | 202 minutes | 1 Goal | 1 Assist | 0.45 Goals/90 | 0.89 G+A/90

Luka Jovanovic
Age: 18.5
Height: 5’9
Summary: Showed he has a knack for goal last season with 3 goals at only 17 years old.
2023-24 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 45 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2022-23 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 372 minutes | 3 Goals | 0 Assists | 0.72 Goals/90 | 0.72 G+A/90

Max Caputo
Age: 18.3
Height: 5’10
Summary: Young debutant Striker with a goal to his name in a small number of minutes.
2023-24 | A-League: Melbourne City | 47 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2022-23 | A-League: Melbourne City | 12 minutes | 1 Goal | 0 Assists | 7.5 Goals/90 | 7.5 G+A/90 (LOL)

Musa Toure
Age: 18.0
Height: 6’0
Summary: Youngest of the Toure brothers and the most technically gifted of the three. His 1.5 years older brother Mohamed is still ahead, but definitely has potential to overtake him. Some call Musa the most talented brother.
2023-24 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 119 minutes | 1 Goal | 0 Assists | 0.76 Goals/90 | 0.76 G+A/90

Pretty depressing reading to be honest. On my quick scan of the younger players you listed, the most prolific has only 11 senior goals across a few seasons. Yea I know they’re young, but geez we have sucked at developing strikers for decades, and the trend doesn’t really look like ending any time soon. I wish it were otherwise, but the stats seem to speak for themselves.

Thanks for the massive effort! It's not like Taggart will return for Australia I think but a handy finisher.

I personally would like A League clubs to have local keepers and strikers but you can't enforce it like China does. I heard Uzbekistan have a policy like that of their young strikers racing towards 100 senior appearances in order to bolster them for the national team. 

I just want the new generation be put in the middle more and more and remove Maclaren. There were even times when Leckie was played in the middle. 

Brownlie and particularly Caputo are good prospects. Glasson is a hard worker who will improve and could get to a good level. Jovanović is real talent but not sure if his future is as a 9. Three more to watch out for are Max Hately (WSW), Sulemani (City) and Medin Memeti (City). Hately was the #1 striker for the Joeys (ahead of Glasson) but did his ACL at the start of the year. Memeti is a goalscorer. Sulemani also did his ACL at the start of the year when he was on the verge of an A-League debut.

Both the younger Touré brothers are good prospects. Not sure Musa is a 9. Mohamed should be a long-term Socceroo. 

Nic D'agostino & Arzani probably need to be included in the list

though the point Nearderthal made was a 9....and they are not 9's.

It staggering why we don't produce true 9's like most other nations.
What are we doing development wise ?

A 20yrold in NSWPL2 Kai Denton 26goals last season.
U20's Samuel Tzanakes 24goals.
Both golden boots past season.

Have hopes with Yengi and Irankunda, Kuol as well.
Well done on the thread mate.

D'Agostino has played as a 9. His best form at Victory which secured his move to Viking was as a 9. 

Amazing write-up. Very comprehensive. Thanks for taking the effort. 

I think that list suggests our best performed prospects are Kusini Yengi, Mohamed Toure, Garang Kuol (if he finds his Europe legs) and Archie Goodwin. 

I'd keep Duke in the fold through to the Asian Cup and surround him with the next generation. I'm really bullish on Toure and would like to see him in our NT squads. Yengi came from nowhere really but his form shouldn't be ignored. G. Kuol I think should be given space to figure out his club form. Archie Goodwin production surprised me but perhaps should be more highly rated. 

Martin Boyle deserves a shout as alternative for a number 9. He's not the physical profile often associated as a 9 but he has some form there and is a tricky player. 

For completeness I'd add Nick D'Agostino and Tete Yengi. Bruno Fornaroli is in better form than most of the old brigade but at his age I understand the omission. Taggart maybe?

That generational gap you mentioned is interesting. Recently I think Duke has really stepped up. He's beginning to be recognised but probably is still underappreciated. The league he plays in doesn't help. I can't help but feel that the loss of Dylan Tombides was just huge. Dyke to Scotland also. What ifs. 

Some potential but also some grim reading. The fact Cummings is there after being a bit of a joke in Scotland isn’t good.

Some thoughts: Iredale could’ve been huge by now if not for injury (and he’s scored a penalty), Dykes was a loss and should’ve been capped when he was in Scotland, shame Deni Juric has sunk like a stone, Martin Boyle can definitely play striker.

Yes and no. He matured over here. He played more like a second striker here. Dropping deep and feeding firstly Garang and then Tulio and Silvera. He contributes a lot more than his goals. He also combined really well with Boyle when they played together in Scotland with both of them having their best seasons feeding off each other. The pity is he is playing in India, I can't see him getting picked from there but if he goes somewhere better he can really bring a lot of others into play. 

its the best we've seen it in a decade, about a player every age group who looks like they are capable of being at least as good as our current roos strikers.

Having said that, we are improving from a low level. Gotta hope on of those players pokes their head through

I guess patrick wood is missing?

Yeah I chose to exclude Taggart. it’s been over 4 years since he’s had a cap, he’s 30 and Arnie doesn't seem to rate him. Just don’t see him in the conversation.


On the brightside, a lot of them have very good goals per 90 ratio’s. Just super frustrating that they don’t get more game time. We need to trust young local strikers more.
How does Archie Goodwin got a goal per game but is lucky to get 200 minutes per season?


Good tips. Hope they get their senior debuts soon.
I think Musa is a 9 in terms of how Adelaide have played him so far. He has the build for it.


Yeah fair call. He probably deserves to be on the list.



Read everyone elses comments. Some great reads, thanks all.
And yes I excluded non-natural strikers. I’m sure there are other great candidates to be false #9’s that might make it theirs by 2026, but time didn’t allow.

Congratulations Neanderthal-terrific work.The spearhead of the attack is such a vital cog in the machine.You can have a well organised defence,a committed and clever  midfield ,fast and skilful wingers but if the main focus of the attack is not up to scratch winning games becomes hard work.Of course if you have players like Mbappe,Best,Garrincha,Robben and CR7( in his early career) who can score goals from  the wide positions the No 9 can be not quite as important though his role still ties up the opposition CBs.More central midfielders( 8s and 10s)  also should  be able to get into goal scoring positions

From reading your analysis it is not all good news  but that new generation has tons of potential if given sufficient game time and in teams which can handle the transition from defence  to attack with some speed.I think Yengi,Mo Toure,Botic and the very new boy Waddingham could go far if those conditions are met.Archie Goodwin did look very promising but is suffering from lack of game time.

Duke ,while not a prolific scorer,gets important goals and has improved with age( his stints in Japan have awakened and expanded his " football intelligence").His heading prowess,ability to hold up the ball and willingness to press are the strengths of his game and he is an on field leader.J Mac is the fox in the box but as we all know he has not the strength to outmuscle top class defenders.Viduka was as strong as a bull with excellent close control but on cold analysis his return of 9 goals in forty odd games did not read well but he had the same strengths as Duke(apart from the pressing ability which was not as important in the game at that stage).

It is a pity Cummings went to India.He was great for the Mariners and the A-League in general .He was the type of CF who was willing to drop back and play between the lines and let on of the AMs move into his position( he and Tulio had this down pat by the end of last season) thus often confounding the CBs.If he had stayed I am sure Arnie would have given him more chances in the qualifying games at least.

It will be interesting to see how Irankunda fares at BM.I wonder whether the coaches there would consider him as a no 9-he is physically imposing,quick and has a thunderbolt shot.I have never seen Iredale play so not sure where his place is in the scheme of things.Borrello looked great last season but has had a slow start this season and though scoring a goal the other night against Bangladesh he did not stand out.

Hopefully Mo Toure and Kusini Yengi get the necessary game time at their respective clubs,score regularly and then may be move up to a higher league.

Think Bennie may do well also.

There is potential there for the next striking prospects to come through, i said in another thread we probably a pure No.6 and GK away from creating a decent team for the future so we will see really.

The ones to keep an eye for me are Waddingham, Caputo and Jovanovic from the u20s, Botic, Mo Toure and Alou Kuol from the u23 group.
Yengi already is a Socceroo with good potential too.

The key will be game time and showing form, No.9s like genuine attacking midfielders tend to be favoured for foreign or experienced Aussies when it comes to the a-league which is a reason we don't see many break through but whats good about those names they already are playing and even scoring which is a good sign.

Taggart is a funny one because he was doing everything right up until covid. Post covid he was also very good in the China game and Japan he almost scored. I think injury came then and a reshuffle and I feel that's part of how we crumbled. We ended up relaxing on Maclaren and Duke wasn't firing yet. Taggart played the NZ friendly pre WC and just couldn't get into the game and that was that. I think he may have had a knock then too.

Lets compare how each striker is doing compared to our current generation. I’m only going to count goals and minutes for games at a similar or higher level than the a league. Controversially, I will include the 3rd division of england and germany. 

Last generation of roos strikers: Nabbout (17/12/1992), Juric(22/7/1991), Duke (18/1/1991), Mclaren (29/7/1993), Taggart (June/1993) Of these only two played at a higher level than the a league in Taggart and Juric, with Duke the late bloomer due to do so next season. Nabbout also spent some time in the a league but wasn’t a consistent starter. It is interesting that Taggart and Juric were the most impressive at a very young age, followed by nabbout. Maclaren took a bit to get going but then started smashing them in

Yengi 15/Jan 1999 15 goals in 2579 minutes
Nabbout as of October 2017: 3605 minutes for 13 goals
Duke as of November 2015 16 goals from 6598 minutes
Juric as of May 2016 23 goals from 4686 minutes
Mclaren as of May 2018 61 goals from 7914
Taggart as of April 2018 43 goals from 7079 minutes
Summary, less minutes than all other players but more goals than Nabbout and a higher goal to minute ratio than anyone but mclaren and Taggart.

Iredale August 1999
12 goals after 1819 minutes
Nabout as of March 2017 13 goals at 3279
Duke as of April 2015 15 goals at 4868 minutes
Juric as of October 2015 23 goals at 4686 minutes
Maclaren as of October 2017 53 goals at 6838 minutes
Taggart as of September 2017 35 goals at 5570 minutes
Well behind in minutes but has a good goal to minute ratio beaten only by maclaren

A Kuol July 2001
11 goals at 1628 minutes
Nabout as of April 2015 5 goals at 1291 minutes
Duke as of May 2013 9 goals at 1250 minutes
Juric as of November 2013 6 goals at 1547 minutes
Maclaren as of November 2015 11 goals at 1954
Taggart as of October 2015 19 goals at 3348 minutes

Botic Jan 2002 8 goals at 1389 minutes
Nabout as of Oct 2014 5 goals at 1258
Duke as of Nov 2012  1 goal at 44 minutes
Juric as of May 2013 6 goals at 1547
Mclaren as of May 2015 11 goals at 1954
Taggart as of April 2015 19 goals at 3348 minutes

Patrick wood sep 2002 13 goals at 2020 minutes
Nabout as of Feb 2014 4 goals at 1145
Duke as of March 2012  1 goal at 44 minutes
Juric as of Nov 2012 3 goals at 782
Mclaren as of Nov 2014 2 goals at 1109
Taggart as of Oct 2014 19 goals at 3348 minutes

Mo Toure
March 2004 8 goals for 1141 minutes
Nabout as of Dec 2012 4 goals at 439
Duke as of Jan 2011  0 goals at 0 minutes
Juric as of July 2011 0 goals at 0
Mclaren as of July 2013 0 goals at 0
Taggart as of June 2013 3 goals at 1182 minutes

A Goodwin
November 2004 7 goals at 717 minutes
Nabout as of Mar 2012 0 goals at 0 minutes
Taggart as of Nov 2012 1 goal at 393

T Waddingham
April 2005
5 goals at 654
Taggart as of Dec 2011 1 goal at 298 minutes

L Jovanovic
May 2005 4 goals at 485 minutes
Taggart as of Nov 2011 1 goal at 298 minutes

M Caputo
Aug 2005 2 goals at 347
Taggart as of Sep 2011 1 goal at 298 minutes

Mu Toure
Nov 2005
1 goal from 138 minutes
Taggart as of July 2011 1 goal at 298 minutes

M Glasson
May 2006
0 goals at 121 minutes
Taggart as of Dec 2010 0 goals at 0 minutes

R Brownlie
Feb 2007
0 goals after 101 minutes

Conclusion: It looks as though we are producing a lot more strikers who are getting a lot more minutes at a younger age but it is still a problem position. I predict that Alou Kuol and most strikers younger than them are capable of playing at a higher level than the a league, though few are likely to have a good chance at the big 5. Even still, it is a noticeable improvement on the last decade without completely solving our problem. With so many coming through and the fact strikers develop non-linearly there is an ok chance we have 1 player in the big 5 starting regularly with maybe 5-6 playing at a higher level than the a league regularly. The standouts for me are Mo Toure, Patrick Wood, Waddingham, archie goodwin and R Brownlie. 

Epic post! That really makes things seem a lot more positive.

Also, Yengi's 199915 goals in 2559 minutes is impressive.

lol born in 1999 and 15 goals :D

I agree we have improved, albeit from a low base. For whatever reason fullback and 9 have been problem positions for us

TBH - I have the most hope for Irakunda and Garang Kuol. Both predominantly play as a RW - but both know how and when to shoot and can bring others into play. They also have speed to press defenders. 

They both need to get game time at a higher level and are a long way from the finished product. Garang had a goal every 95 minutes at CCM and a goal involvement every 61 minutes. Irankunda has a goal every 116 minutes and a goal involvement every 95 minutes at Adelaide. If they had played predominantly as strikers that would likely have been greater.

Neither of them are the 'next Harry Kewell' - but really I want the conversation in years to come to be who is the 'next Garang Kuol' or who is the 'next Irankunda'.

       

I did notice when Kuol scored for Voldenham he was playing on the left and cutting inside.... most wingers are playing like this these days, I think that may suit Garang better in the long run, I hope this is the reason they are taking their time with him.

I think this thread illustrates there are some opportunities for AL clubs who are brave. I look at a guy like Goodwin and think he's underutilised and undervalued. The team that gives him a proper go at it will be rewarded. Although I think injuries have played a role there too. I'd love him at Victory. 

Add young Zach Sapsford. Nicely taken goal.

Archie Goodwin finally got some game time -15 minutes for a well beaten team but he scored their goal.Evidently has has had some back problems.

How good is he & why doesn't he get game time.
I read a lot of good stuff about him, but haven't seen too much of his game to comment. Why doesn't he get more game time especially for a side that is struggling?

Just coming back from back surgery. He is a natural striker, is quick and finds space. If he can stay injury free then a front three of Garang, Goodwin and Irakunda looks very exciting. 

He is now 7 goals at 720 minutes which is a noticeable  improvement over our current socceroos at the same age

Archie, Mo and waddingham look like they could really improve our current stock. Patrick wood really looks promising too and flying under the radar

Thanks appreciate it.

Hi everyone sorry for my rubbish formatting, I was travelling and a bit under the weather

my long post should be easier to read now

Thanks for the tidy up. Makes for a great re-read.

No worries! Will do an update around jan since a lot of players are getting good game time

Thanks for making  the effort to do this, Neanderthal.

However,  there is one very strange phenomenon -  listing the height of players in the imperial measurement! Use the metric measurements!

Great work  there,  Grazorblade!

One player who I’ve noticed who seems to be flying under the radar on this forum is Luka Jovanovic. I can’t recall a striker coming through that is so technically good but also so lethal in front of goal. For me, he is the most promising striker playing in Australia right now with Archie Goodwin in second. 

Interesting that luka is starting ahead of Musa Toure who is the same age.

Haven't seen these guys yet. Look forward to it.

One piece of caution for development is that eli Babalj's 2nd season he looked like he could really come good - 9 goals in 1400 minutes at 19-20 years of age. That's not far off some of our better players today. Weirdly, he seemed to peak at 19 and never reached the same heights again. Anyone know what went wrong with him?

I wanted to also look at touches per 90 since for the national team it tends to matter how involved the player is when not scoring goals. When maclaren doesn't score it is like playing with 10 men

Jamie Mclaren:19.8
Duke 47.1 (last a league season)
Taggart: 29.7
Juric: 32.3 (20/21 season)

Our current youngsters

Waddingham: 21.4
Kuol: 23.4
Toure: 38.0
Botic: 35.4
Goodwin: 37.8
Jovanovic: 29.8
wood: 30.3
yengi: 50.4
iredale: 43.2

the surprise is kuol who I've heard is quite good at hold up play. If Yengi can win a starting spot I wonder if he can be a real late bloomer for us. Such a physical presence and really gets involved. Elite strikers vary quite a lot on how much they get involved in buildup. Haaland averages 22 touches per 90, messi around 80. I'm guessing we need a player that likes to get involved against superior teams

He got a bad injury I think just before he went to AZ, then while on loan back in Oz did his ACL and he was never the same.

Like I've been saying for decades, our attacking gifted players do not get protected enough by our refs they get hacked to death and always injured.

Just pray that Nestory doesn't get hacked to death this year AGAIN.

I always felt performances in asian champions league was a better predictor of long term performance than a league performances. A big difference is the refs give so much more protection for the players. It means some people that shine in the a league look like plodders in the acl, some that struggle in the a league find they can excel in the acl. The a league is weird in that it has a style that is highly technical, more so than even the epl, yet has a reffing style that suffocates technical players. The technical style prepares roos to play in the big 5, the reffing preps players to play in the spl. 

We really need to push for harsher reffing. Last season saw some of it, but there were howls of protest for all the red cards and pens. But you can't produce technicians in a league that allows plodders to break even by hacking the legs out of better players. We also need a culture change amongst fans, stop freaking out that a player is diving when their legs are hacked off and worry more about how it is cheating to try and play fightball rather than football

Fascinating stats!

I'm not sure how often Cahill touched the ball outside his shots at goal - where I think he averaged 5-6 per game?  This is high compared to most of our other number 9s.

Duke has a phenomenal workrate and overall game involvement - outside scoring goals.

Someone mentioned Volpato as a striker option. Very left field but it got me wondering if he could play as a false 9. If you had that with Irankunda and Kuol either side that's a tonne of potential. Obviously a ridiculously early call for all 3 players but it had me thinking. 

Anyone know when mo toure returns from injury?

Mid season update comparing players with our last generation of strikers. I notice there were a few players that got goals as super subs only to decline briefly when going to starting xi. So nothing unfamiliar with some of our players having similar issues, work throughout and there is light on the other side. Juric looks the best of the last generation of strikers, nice run for the socceroos and 3 decent seasons in europe (1 in the eredivisie getting over 1k minutes and 2 in greek super league) also was in european qualifiers a few times. So in my opinion he is the benchmark we want to beat.

Yengi
Jan 1999 17 goals in 2944 minutes

Nabbout as of December 2017: 4395 minutes for 19 goals
Duke as of January 2016 16 goals from 6598 minutes
Juric as of July 2016 27 goals from 5698 minutes
Mclaren as of July 2018 61 goals from 7914
Taggart as of June 2018 43 goals from 7079 minutes

Iredale
August 1999 13 goals after 1958 minutes

Nabout as of May 2017 13 goals at 3279
Duke as of June 2016 15 goals at 5571 minutes
Juric as of Dec 2015 26 goals at 5118 minutes
Maclaren as of Dec 2017 53 goals at 6998 minutes
Taggart as of Nov 2017 38 goals at 6020 minutes

A Kuol
July 2001 14 goals at 1991 minutes

Nabout as of June 2015 5 goals at 1291 minutes
Duke as of July 2013 9 goals at 1250 minutes
Juric as of Jan 2014 6 goals at 1708 minutes
Maclaren as of Jan 2016 16 goals at 2424
Taggart as of Dec 2015 19 goals at 3415 minutes

Botic
Jan 2002 8 goals at 1820 minutes

Nabout as of Dec 2014 5 goals at 1268
Duke as of Jan 2013  3 goal at 333 minutes
Juric as of July 2013 6 goals at 1547 minutes
Mclaren as of July 2015 11 goals at 1954 minutes
Taggart as of June 2015 19 goals at 3348 minutes

Patrick wood 
sep 2002 13 goals at 2159 minutes

Nabout as of April 2014 4 goals at 1252 minutes
Duke as of May 2012  1 goal at 44 minutes
Juric as of Jan 2013 3 goals at 782
Mclaren as of Jan 2015 3 goals at 1233
Taggart as of Dec 2014 19 goals at 3348 minutes

Mo Toure
March 2004 8 goals for 1141 minutes

Nabout as of Feb 2013 4 goals at 439
Duke as of March 2011  0 goals at 0 minutes
Juric as of Sep 2011 0 goals at 0
Mclaren as of Sep 2013 0 goals at 0
Taggart as of Aug 2013 3 goals at 1182 minutes

A Goodwin
November 2004 7 goals at 846 minutes

Nabout as of June 2012 0 goals at 0 minutes
Taggart as of Jan 2013 1 goal at 536

T Waddingham
April 2005 5 goals at 971 minutes

Taggart as of Feb 2012 1 goal at 365 minutes

L Jovanovic
May 2005 4 goals at 861 minutes

Taggart as of Jan 2012 1 goal at 365 minutes

M Caputo
Aug 2005 2 goals at  276 minutes

Taggart as of Nov 2011 1 goal at 298 minutes

Musa Toure
Nov 2005 1 goal from 165 minutes

Taggart as of Sep 2011 1 goal at 298 minutes

M Glasson
May 2006 0 goals at 150 minutes

Taggart as of Dec 2010 0 goals at 0 minutes

R Brownlie
Feb 2007 1 goals after 234 minutes

The crop is significantly better than what we have produced in the last 10 years while well below the early careers of aloisi and viduka. None of these players are viduka or aloisi level in their early career trajectory but many are competitive with sterjovski, tiatto, aurelio vidmar, scott mcdonald's careers. So hopefully we have a bunch of strikers doing slightly better than juric having say 5-6 good seasons in 2nd tier euro leagues with the occasional having a season or two in a big 5 league. Will post another update at season's end

To be fair, outside Aloisi and Duke, we have produced only two other strikers of world class IMO, Frank Farina and Ray Baartz ... whereas keepers we have produced plenty.... lack of strikers arguably coms down to lack of coaching knowledge  ... mids a heap arguably lead by Kwell & Cahill.and backs a plenty...

Excellent topic, as an aside, I recall being at Football forum back in the mid 80's and the whole emphases was we should move to the 'total football" style... a sorta of shift away from coaching of positions.

The post has made me think, and across my entire Football experience, I understand were keepers, backs, mids etc should play and move off the ball, whereas in strikers its always been hang on the shoulder of the last defender.... further the back to goals striker who can hold a ball up front , play others in, is rare in Australia, Jason Cummings could do that but arguably lacked the speed that great strikers need... 

Out of left field maybe FA should appoint somebody to develop a strikers program to be introduced Australia wide... 

I heard that the main skill strikers need and are jidged by is their ability to manage space aroubd defenders. By that criteria all of our strikers are a bit remedial and id love a specialist striker coach be appointed by the fa

Strangely enough in about 2006, and the Hiddink/Baan/Pim/Berger  era, the greatest concerns about lack of quality Aus players  were most positions on the pitch - outside striking and keeping.

Whilst quality players that Football Aus Tech Dept desperately wanted to develop in other positions, which has probably happened in recent times, we had a lot more decent strikers around 2005-8.

It makes sense to have a specialist 'striking school'. 

JMac said he learned heaps about striking in a short period of time from John Aloisi coaching him at Roar.

yes therefore striker coaching gets right down to SAP up..
All my years with my boys from that level on (> YL) has had no training or even shooting practice or attacking crossed balls.
All too late introducing this for NT level.
I watched in disgust some games a very technical German coach who was good but didn't like taking advantage of a free kick in range but preferred the kids/to teens to carry on "play" as he used to scream out to reset retain possesion.
One moment you could have had a great chance to score next moment you've passed the ball back to halfway, used to shake my head for he had a couple of very capable dead ball takers/strikers.
In my time in Reps back in the day we always spent some time at the end of training doing the above, it was kind of like the last drill after a half pitch game and fun for all actually.
Good extra prac for the keeper might I add.

I have a  few  tremendous shooting drills and small sided games focusing on shooting - that most young, and even old, players love.

* One is a standard KNVB 5v 5 with big goals in a grid about 30 metres by 30. As soon as a goal is scored, the keeper restarts with a goal kick.  Players get so many chances to shoot and score!

*I had another  good Chelsea Academy  where players dribbled around cones to the left, central and right stations near the edge of the pen box, then shoot. Every time they shot they would have to retrieve the ball and  run, changing to fast/slow, fast/slow, with the ball bak to the next central, left or right shooting station, juggling or practising dribbling skills if they had to wait in a queue. The players got plenty of work too, and it was a hard fitness exercise.

*Another was an Ajax drill where the player  ran with the ball down  three different shooting stations - left, central , right - one station at a time, with a couple of players standing next to a cone and wall passing  for one/twos on the way to shooting. 

* Another was a crossing and scoring exercise, which many would have seen here  before on the training ground.

Thanks to a R Brown and Dirk van Adidas for posting the Chelsea Academy exercises in the Performance section. I passed these on to heaps of other coaches.

There is nothing players like more on the training ground than scoring goals!

Your partnership with Bobby Despotovski became legendary - why did it work so well?We just complimented each other. We were very different - Bobby was very technical and came short. I played on the shoulders of defenders - we didn't get in the way of each other. We understood where each other would be running. Bobby was a true number 10. He could hit a ball with both feet, and he could turn on a dime. It was a pleasure to play with him.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/simon-hill-chats-to-damian-mori-about-his-career-in-the-nsl-and-a-league-and-his-coaching-ambitions/news-story/43a6fbdf493ba8a1a4f0fb94d23be4ff

Thanks.

a very good interview done sometime ago and points made by him, wonderful history !
Thanks for posting it up.

Talking forwards/strikers, a good coach reads and understands how can he make it work by the type of players he has at his disposal.
You only need to watch what Klopp does during games depending who he started up front and if/when things are not gaining reward - he switch's the front 2 or changes the AM and presto he's changed the rhythem of the game and possession.

It was all about fitness for Duke last night.

I think we'll see some of Yengi and quite probably zero minutes for Iredale. Fornaroli should play a role. 

Thing is, I'd rather not see our strikers meaning we're not chasing games and leading and winning. 

I totally appreciate Duke but it can also take up to 10 caps for a player to click and we've got to go hard to get these new guys integrated. 

I checked Duke's Strike Rate per game. He  strikes at an average of 0.37 goals per game played.

Cahill has about 0.50 goals  per game, which is really good for an international striker. Sam Kerr is  has an even higher SR of goals peer game, I think.

Viduka only  struck at an average of 0.25 goals per game for the Socceroos.

I think Aloisi and Kennedy had average SRs - at over 0.40 goals per game.

I think Duke's scoring rate is acceptable, as long as some other  Socceroos contribute to goals scored.  

Good analysis of J Mac, Neanderthal.

Welcome back to the forum. 

It  is interesting to note that Cahill at a similar size to JMac, was so successful playing international football as central striker.

Most current  Socceroo strikers all state that JMac is the best finisher - which he is in the A L and against weaker teams, like the hat trick against Bangladesh a few weeks ago. However,  he struggles against higher quality international teams - to outmuscle them, out jump them,  to dribble past/ through them, and he  doesn't  appear to be able to check  well enough ( feint one way and run in the other direction to shake makers) to create space against better international teams.

As an A L striker, JMac is the greatest.

Didn't René Meulensteen develop a program that took care of Rashford's development at a young age? This should've been happening as a side role while at the Roos and he should be approached about this. 

When in form he's certainly a great player... but very rarely does he track back and do the hard work/intelligent pressing. etc... Not the best example to learn from for a modern day forward.

Definitely his demeanour etc is something we wouldn't want. I would like to think there's a lot to do with awareness, movement and finishing from Rene's coaching.

https://trainingground.guru/articles/meulensteen-how-to-develop-a-young-gem-like-rashford

Had high hopes for Deni Juric a few years ago, when he was in form & "deciding his international future". What a complete fuck up by him - he was selected for a few squads back then, but didn't commit - now he's completely vanished 

Because he was never even given one chance, we'll never know.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Porta

"He is a two-time golden boot winner, having won the award whilst at River Plate and most recently at Nacional in Uruguay's Primera División."

Arnie would've been all over this guy if he was playing now!! 

Bump

partial update, I think those born 2004 onwards have in new territory that we haven't seen in the a league era. However, none are in the class of aloisi or viduka. Mo Toure's stats are a bit misleading as he has been injured and has started games in ligue 2 this year whereas most a league era strikers are lucky if they start often for a single season abroad, even if they are standouts. I suspect strikers won't improve to the mark viduka level, but more having careers like aziz behich where they are consistent performers in 2nd teir leagues for many years and do a better job than what we have at international level. If we are lucky we might get a late bloomer chris wood style

A Goodwin

November 2004 8 goals at 1162 minutes

Nabout as of Nov 2012 0 goals at 63 minutes

Taggart as of May 2013 3 goals at 1182

T Waddingham

April 2005 11 goals at 1775 minutes

Taggart as of june 2012 1 goal at 298 minutes

L Jovanovic

May 2005 7 goals at 1286 minutes

Taggart as of May 2012 1 goal at 298 minutes

M Caputo

Aug 2005 3 goals at  766 minutes

Taggart as of March 2012 1 goal at 298 minutes

Musa Toure

Nov 2005 1 goal from 202 minutes

Taggart as of Jan 2012 1 goal at 298 minutes

M Glasson

May 2006 0 goals at 173 minutes

R Brownlie

Feb 2007 1 goals after 184 minutes

Fascinating stats !

Thanks for doing them.