EPL Top Goalscorer

[montz]

I know, it is a bit early for asking that question???
but just want to know who you guys think of???
just stick some names.....that would be great.....

THX
Cheers

[chrizzah]

I know, it is a bit early for asking that question???
but just want to know who you guys think of???
just stick some names.....that would be great.....

THX
Cheers

Obviously, Drogba is doing really well, but I'll bet anything that he will go through a slump. I think that Dirk Kuyt is a pretty good dark horse candidate.

[Republic of Mancunia]

I know it's boring but before the strat of the season I would've said Thierry Henry and have yet to see anything that would make me change my mind.

Just for the hell of it here's the latest bookmakers odds with the best price for each player:

Thierry Henry 11/4 (bet direct)
Andy Johnson 5.9/1 (betfair)
Didier Drogba 15/2 (bluesq.com)
Andriy Shevchenko 12.8/1 (betfair)
Louis Saha 20/1 (extrabet)
Wayne Rooney 20/1 (ladbrokes)
Dirk Kuyt 26/1 (betfair)
Darren Bent 40/1 (skybet)
Frank Lampard 45/1 (betfair)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 50/1 (bluesq.com, betfred, ladbrokes)
Dimitar Berbatov 66/1 (extrabet, betfair)
Bobby Zamora 70/1 (betfair)
Jermaine Defoe 70/1 (betfair)
Yakubu 75/1 (betfair)
Obefami Martins 80/1 (paddy power, bet direct, extrabet)
Nwanko Kanu 85/1 (betfair)

100/1 bar.

A couple of surprises for me on that list are Andy Johnson at second favourite and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer relatively high up there but still a big outsider as far as odds go.

Johnson has started well and I suppose those odds are justified if thinking about it for a while but I wasn't expecting him to be so high on the list and he's as short as 3/1 in places. He did finish as 2nd top-goalscorer with 21 goals to his credit when he was last in the Prem with Crystal Palcae but a large proportion of those goals came from the penalty spot. With James Beattie being Everton's designated spot-kick taker I initially thought he may struggle to match the numbers he put in with Palace. He's started well though, seems to have improved as a player and Everton are a better team than Palace were so they'll probably create more chances for him but whether or not he can match that 21-goal haul I'm not so sure although it could be close.

Looking at the next few names on the list, Shevchenko and Drogba may at some point suffer from a squad rotation policy (more likely when the Champions League goes into it's knock-out phase) and Sheva hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire since arriving at Stamford Bridge. Next, it's on to the often injured Louis Saha and it begins to make sense exactly why Johnson is so high on the list.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer surprised me a little, being 10th favourite on the list and as a United fan I've got to say that I'd be delighted if he managed to translate that into finishing as 10th top scorer as it would mean a return of around 13 goals. For someone who's suffered alot of injury problems I think that would be a great tally for him.

I agree with chrizzah about Kuyt. If I was having a bet, some firms offer each-way terms (one quarter the odds to get in the first 3) and Kuyt might be worth a small investment as he's looked sharp whenever I've seen him so far and could well score quite a few although he's another who may suffer from a squad rotation policy. Another outsider I'd consider to have a good season but not necesarilly reach the very top of the goalscoring charts would be Darren Bent.

So it's Henry for me as he's done it many times before, doesn't often get injured, is in a team that will create many chances for him as well as having the ability to create chances for himself, will not often be rotated in and out of the side and often takes penalties.

Johnson would be my second choice, mainly because the next few behind him on the list may suffer from being rotated in and out of the line-up or suffer from injury and I'd probably have Darren Bent as my third who again is guaranteed to start pretty much every game he is fit for.

[Marko]

Henry is the obvious choice, but I'll be a little braver and pick Drogba, as I don't feel he'll suffer so much from squad rotation this season. He also looks a much improved player, and appears to have reduced his proclivity for simulation.

[Belem]

Although I like Kuyt, and he is a lively player, he got pulled the last game at the 48 minute mark in favor of Crouch. If he had went to Newcastle, I would have liked his chances at knocking in over 20 goals, but with Rafa's rotation of Crouch, Bellamy, and Fowler, he will be lucky to hit 10 goals this season. I dropped him from my fantasy team for this reason.

[Alex1975]

Darren Bent is one of my favourite players and at 40/1 it sounds like good odds to take a chance and make a few bucks.

But if Drogba, Saha, Henry and Johnson can keep injury free then it will probably be between these players.

Overall I will go for Johnson mostly because I think he will get more game time in the Premiership than the other players I have mentioned. He also plays for a reasonably strong and well managed team that will provide him with plenty of chances.

[glennaldo_sf]

Obviously, Drogba is doing really well, but I'll bet anything that he will go through a slump. I think that Dirk Kuyt is a pretty good dark horse candidate.

The problem with Kuyt, and any striker currently playing at Liverpool, is Rafa's notorious rotation system. A player like Henry or even Johnson (although that's a long shot) are more obvious candidates as they're virtually guaranteed to play every match start to finish - Kuyt may get a full game here, half a game there, and then be expected to sit out a game every now and then.

My guess...... Ade Akinbiyi :D

[BurghFan]

I'll go with Henry. Drogba will, as has been stated above, slump or be rotated out at some point this season, but Henry is in the right system and obviously has the talent to score plenty.

Also, why is Shevchenko so high on that list when he has struggled this season? I realize what a talent he is, but that seems really high for someone with 1 prem goal.

Johnson and Cahill could support each others' run for the title, too (well, Cahill being a threat could help Johnson break away easier at times). Johnson also has a legitimate chance to win it.

[Chopper-Harris]

Also, why is Shevchenko so high on that list when he has struggled this season? I realize what a talent he is, but that seems really high for someone with 1 prem goal.
Maybe it's because the season has only just started and he's learning new team-mates, system, style of football & pace of football?

[Blizzaro]

Either Andrew Johnson (if he can keep it up) or Rooney cos he back to his back and i can see him firing a lots soon. Henry as usual but i hope not because i would like to see english player to be the top scorer so everyone wont think Henry rule the Premiership up front (my opinon).

[glennaldo_sf]

Brian McBride


:p



....(runs & hides)......

[Barton8]

I warned my friends about Sheva but they still insisted on betting on him.:(

my money goes to Henry, Johnson and Saha