Podcast Summary

The Athletic FC Podcast: "Why are the big-money strikers misfiring?"
Date: January 28, 2026
Host: Ayo Akamolere
Guests: Oli Kay, Mark Carey, Karl Anka

Episode Overview

This episode explores why high-profile, expensive strikers in the Premier League have struggled to meet expectations. The panel examines evolving striker roles, adaptation challenges, tactical fits, and the weight of transfer fees. Focusing on recent signings—including Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko, Nick Voltimada, Viktor Gyokeres, Joao Pedro, and Igor Thiago—they discuss individual performances, wider trends, and whether some clubs have lost sight of what makes a striker thrive in England.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Modern Striker’s Dilemma: Why Are They Struggling?

• Premier League Transition is Tough:

  • Karl Anka [02:24]: “We are seeing fewer and fewer strikers turn up, play for a big team and then hit the ground running... you need time to acclimatize.”
  • The strength in the Premier League—even at the bottom half—makes adaptation hard, especially for players coming from leagues with less physicality and tempo.

• Shorter Patience from Clubs & Fans:

  • Mark Carey [03:13]: “...our threshold by which we judge strikers...is a little bit shorter, whereby we need to make sure that they do hit the ground running and if they don't...they’re a flop.”
  • Early judgments (after just a few games) create pressure.

2. Evolution of the Striker Role

• Past vs. Present:

  • Oli Kay [04:30]: “What was expected...really was goals. And I think that changed with the evolution towards a more technical buildup...and the...gegenpressing, counter pressing approach.”
  • Strikers now judged for off-the-ball work, pressing, and link-up play, not just finishing.

• Rise and Fall of Centre-Forwards:

  • Move away from 4-4-2 and big-man/little-man pairings (mid 2000s onwards).
  • False nines (e.g., Firmino) became trendy before the recent return to tall, target-forward types.

• Teams Not Yet Optimizing for New Strikers:

  • Service and tactical systems often still designed for older attacking profiles, not for “pure” centre-forwards.
  • Oli Kay [06:40]: “I don't think...their teams are playing in a way that would really get the best out of them.”

3. Case Studies: Summer 2025 Big-Money Strikers

Liverpool: Alexander Isak & Hugo Ekitike

• Isak: Injured, can’t assess fully.
• Ekitike:
  • Mark Carey [07:52 & 09:12]: “…has been excellent...versatility has been hugely positive...really good with close control…scored 8 non-penalty league goals.”
  • Fits Liverpool’s counter-attacking style, and his adaptability has been crucial during Salah’s absence.

Newcastle: Nick Voltimada

• Oli Kay [15:13]: “He'd barely been a sort of first choice regular starter in the Bundesliga...”

  • Unproven before arrival; unconventional for his height.
  • Decent numbers (7 Premier League, 10 all competitions), but Newcastle’s tactics were built for Isak, not for Voltimada’s strengths.
  • Karl Anka [17:59]: Voltimada, despite a slender, tall build, spends little time in the box; perhaps a better fit in a two-striker system or as a supporting forward.

• Adjustment & Expectations

  • Newcastle needed strikers after losing Isak and Wilson.
  • Voltimada forced to play more than expected due to injuries elsewhere.
  • Feeding/nutrition and body type even discussed as influences on performance.

Arsenal: Viktor Gyokeres

• Mark Carey [22:15]: “There's a massive adaptation...He was scoring for fun in Portugal, but the question...was can he adapt and adapt quickly?...Hasn’t adapted quickly.”

  • Lower space due to constant low blocks in the Premier League limits his effectiveness. Needs time and to improve his movement and runs.

• Was Another Striker a Better Fit?

  • Karl Anka [25:37]: "Alexander Isak is spiritually an Arsenal player. Alexander Isak should be wearing the number 14 for Arsenal."
  • Some strikers may simply be at the wrong clubs for their specific abilities.

Manchester United: Benjamin Sesko

• Karl Anka [27:02]: "Sesko...is doing okay...shooting from good areas…not too many shots from outside the box..."
  • His shot map is promising; however, Sesko is "too nice" and needs more aggression.
  • Strikers now need to have an edge or physicality that’s still lacking in many young signings.

Chelsea: Joao Pedro

• Only Pedro and Ekitike from this group have made the league’s top 10 scorers so far.

4. Quiz Break: Prolific Debut Season Scorers

• The panel tries to name the strikers with the most goals in their debut PL seasons.
  • Answers include Fernando Torres, Erling Haaland, Sergio Aguero, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Andy Cole.
  • [31:05–31:44]: Fun, breezy moment illustrating how rare it is to thrive instantly.

5. Erling Haaland & City’s Reliance Debate

• Has Haaland made City worse?

  • Oli Kay [34:13]: “I don't think City are as good a team as they were...but that's because really good players have got older and moved on and been replaced by less good players...I understand there are games...where you look at City and think, God, he's offering nothing outplay...”
  • City are less fluid in some ways, but Haaland has made the difference. Their reliance isn’t necessarily negative—it’s a function of changing personnel and systems.

• Are tall, powerful strikers suddenly trendy because of Haaland?

  • Is the quest for a 'Haaland clone' chasing something unattainable?

• If You Stop Haaland, Do You Stop City?

  • Mark Carey [37:56]: “...best way to stop things is to stop things at source...cut out the service altogether...”
  • Contrast between the 'false nine' era and reliance on a physical, vertical striker like Haaland.

6. Igor Thiago & Brentford: The Right Fit Matters

• Thiago’s Success at Brentford

  • Ayo [40:19]: “Is that proof that it's not the money that guarantees cost, but the right fit with the right club?”
  • Mark Carey [43:28]: “Brentford...know where they are in the football food chain...They can afford to, with all the amazing recruitment that they have, go into more lesser shopped leagues…”
  • Karl Anka [40:46]: “Brentford know who they are...They know they are most dangerous on the attacking transition and on set pieces.”
  • Brentford's clarity of purpose, smart recruitment, and tactical fit enable strikers like Thiago to thrive, even when big clubs struggle to integrate their stars.

• Big Clubs vs. Smaller Clubs

  • Pressure, expectations, and tactical constraints are greater at "big six" clubs, making it harder for strikers to adapt.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Our threshold by which we judge strikers...is a little bit shorter, whereby...if they don't hit the ground running, they're a flop.” — Mark Carey [03:13]
• “Centre-forwards are back in fashion...but I don't think the game has yet caught up with...using the centre-forward in a way that would probably get the best out of [them].” — Oli Kay [06:40]
• “Ekitike...has been excellent...He can drop off really well, link up...or actually receive the ball in a bit of space and maybe dribble forward himself.” — Mark Carey [07:52]
• “A lot of these players are just at the wrong club.” — Karl Anka [11:54]
• “Alexander Isak is spiritually an Arsenal player. Alexander Isak should be wearing the number 14 for Arsenal.” — Karl Anka [25:37]
• “One of the problems is not only that the Arsenal squad is constantly playing deep defenses but also...when they attack, it's not about attacking transitions in the same way that other teams are.” — Karl Anka [42:28]
• “Brentford know who they are...they know what they are in the league...they know the exact thing they need to plug in to get the most goals.” — Karl Anka [40:46]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Introduction to striker struggles & context: [01:35–03:04]

• Changing striker roles: [04:13–07:05]

• Analysis of recent big-money striker signings: [07:05–12:29]

  • Ekitike and Isak: [07:52–10:54]
  • Voltimada: [14:51–21:57]
  • Gyokeres & "right strikers for the right team": [21:57–25:37]
  • Sesko: [27:02–30:40]

• Debut season quiz: [31:05–31:49]

• Haaland’s impact & City’s evolution: [33:38–40:19]

• Igor Thiago & value of tactical fit: [40:19–44:45]

Tone & Style

• Analytical but lively, with a balance between tactical depth and conversational banter.
• Uses both statistical reference and anecdotal insights.
• Blunt about misfits but fair in offering caveats ("We need more time").

Takeaway Summary

The panel concludes that big-money strikers often underwhelm due to a mix of factors: rapid judgments, changing roles and tactical setups, adaptation to the physical and tactical challenges of the Premier League, and sometimes simply being at the wrong club. Cautionary tales abound, but so do success stories where fit, patience, and clear recruitment strategies (see: Brentford) outweigh mere transfer fees. The search for the ‘next Haaland’ shouldn’t override understanding what works for a given team—and that, more than money or hype, is the secret to striking success in the modern era.