MATT BARLOW: There will always be a place for the big man up front

• This season’s goals charts show they are coming from a range of positions
• The league will be fearful of Erling Haaland’s return and City’s destructiveness 
• Newcastle’s summer signings haven’t worked. It’s mad to talk about them as an established top-four side… sixth is about right – It’s All Kicking Off

This time last year the big centre forwards were basking in the midst of a glorious renaissance.

There was Erling Haaland shattering modern goal records, beyond the 20-goal barrier before the turn of the year, and Harry Kane on his way to registering the most headers scored in a Premier League campaign.

There was Ivan Toney making his way towards 20 top-flight goals for the first time and Aleksandar Mitrovic in prolific form after fuelling Fulham’s promotion with 43 Championship goals.

This season’s goal charts tell a different story. Haaland is up there, of course, and without injury might not be far from the astonishing numbers compiled in his opening months at Manchester City.

But with Kane and Mitrovic moving abroad, and Toney on a ban for gambling offences, the goalscorers are from a different mould. Often from a different part of the pitch.

Managers demand something different from central strikers now, and we can probably look at Erling Haaland (above), Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke as products of this

Wolves and South Korea hitman Hwang Hee-chan is already in double figures for the season

Mo Salah and Son Heung-min, Golden Boot winners in 2022 before the big-man-up-front revival, are prominent again, with Jarrod Bowen, Alexander Isak and Hwang Hee-chan in double figures.

All of these can, indeed have, played as the central striker but not in a role as a traditional target man. Salah, Son and Bowen are recognised primarily as wide forwards.

Dominic Solanke and Ollie Watkins, both in the form of their lives, are closer to the traditional model of a central striker but with a modern twist.

Glance at the Championship goals and the trend is even more striking because none of those in double figures — Sammie Szmodics, Adam Armstrong, Morgan Whittaker, Jack Clarke or Crysencio Summerville — play regularly through the middle.

More teams in the second tier are clearly devoted to passing styles, including Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton, the top three in the division and the top scorers.

Headed goals are significantly down in the Championship, to 13 per cent from more than 17 last season (now lower than in the Premier League) and goals from set-plays are down to 25 per cent from more than 29.

It may be a simple consequence of established Premier League teams dropping down or this together with a commitment to attractive football and a recent influx of European coaches at this level.

There is tactical fashion at play. Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp set templates for Premier League success in recent years with high-octane forwards, pressing to win possession high and intricate approach play.

This season goalscorers are from a different mould. Often from a different part of the pitch

Jarrod Bowen is primarily recognised as a wide forward, despite leading the line for West Ham

With Roberto Firmino, Klopp used his central striker to drop deep, link up and release wide players. Without him, he assembled a stable of quick strikers of different styles who can play across the front line.

When Ange Postecoglou signed Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner, the first of their attributes he mentioned was an ability to play various attacking positions. Tactical flexibility is even more valuable with five substitutes.

It is natural for aspiring coaches to follow those trends, with data backing the value of cleaner, more precise chances, rather than slinging crosses into the box for the big fella to get on the end of.

If you are not going to cross the ball why select a centre forward who thrives on crosses?

Prerequisites for a centre forward in English football used to be strength and aerial power.

Joe Jordan, a fearless centre forward at Leeds, Manchester United, AC Milan and Scotland and a deep-thinker during his coaching career, thought it hinged on the poor quality of British pitches in the 1970s.

The option to launch it long out of defence was crucial, and if teams were to retain possession they needed someone up front who could get hold of the ball, protect it and bring the team up the pitch.

Naturally, those forwards used their physical attributes and aerial prowess as a goal threat and English teams became synonymous with the big man up front.

Those who could play a bit as well stood out. Jordan and Mark Hateley thrived in Italy, as did John Charles before them.

It is the reason Guardiola was prepared to change everything at Manchester City and stick Haaland up front and the reason his rivals are dreading his return from injury

Distinctions have faded with international movement of players and coaches — and for the better — while elite academies with massed ranks of coaches patrolling pristine playing surfaces tend to produce highly technical players.

Managers demand something different from central strikers now, and we can probably look at Watkins and Solanke as products of this. They are quicker and more mobile. Good in the air if not exceptional.

Strength and aerial power are no longer top of the priorities. Managers have reached the conclusion it is either less important or that modern football no longer produces these types.

Maybe a bit of both but it is still a relevant art form. It is devilishly difficult to defend against aerial attacks, and a big centre forward who can lead the line, disturb defenders and threaten the goal in the air.

It is the reason Guardiola was prepared to change everything at Manchester City and stick Haaland up front and the reason his rivals are dreading his return from injury.

Maybe Luton should be more direct

Luton Town have scored 10 goals in the last 10 minutes of Premier League games this season which is a testament to their spirit and fitness but also relevant to the conversation about big men up front and aerial attack. They look so dangerous when they need a goal or two, send Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo up front and pin teams in with excellent delivery from wide areas, often by Alfie Doughty.

Burnley are within their rights to feel aggrieved about the late equaliser by Morris on Friday, but they are not the first to look incredibly uncomfortable under such pressure.

Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest lost points because they could not resist and Chelsea almost crumbled from three up at Kenilworth Road but hung on to win 3-2.

Rob Edwards will be keen to prove there is more to Luton than this, and there is, but I wonder if he is tempted to be more direct more often, for longer periods or maybe just play this way. So few teams do it — it is as if central defenders and goalkeepers have forgotten how to defend when it does happen.

Hatters boss Rob Edwards will be keen to prove there is more to Luton than this, and there is

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

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