We've all seen how Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez seem to have developed what looks like a blossoming partnership. Over the years Fergie's use of the whole squad and his tactical flexibility have meant that partnerships have become rarer. Will the latest pair get the chance to develop the type of telepathic relationship that some other striking pairs have had. Below I take a look at some of football's famous partnerships; my four favourites!
Dwight Yorke & Andy Cole, Manchester United
Probably the most famous United striking partnership in recent years is the York & Cole collaboration that brought us an unprecedented treble in 1999. Dwight Yorke was brought in from Villa at great expense adding to the already talented squad. He completed a quartet of strikers with Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and the baby faced assassin Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Speculation as to who would be the first choice pair focused on the similarities between Yorke and Cole. Apparently thir games were too similar and they wouldn't be able to play together. This is something that baffled me at the time and still does. Yorke was always someone who liked to drop deep and get involved with the build up, something that eventually led him to playing in central midfield for Sunderland. Cole was very much an out and out striker who played on the shoulder of the defenders using his movement and pace to get into goal scoring positions.
They formed a devastating partnership and were probably the most feared pair in Europe when we won the treble. Scoring goals for fun throughout the campaign they developed something of an intuitive partnership that saw them score goals against the best teams in Europe. Dummies, flicks and reverse passes were the signature moves of a remarkable striking pair.
Alan Shearer & Chris Sutton, Blackburn Rovers
When Blackburn paid £5m (an English record at the time) to sign Chris Sutton from Norwich in 1994 more than a few eyebrows were raised. He was too similar to Shearer? Would they be able to play together? Did he have the ability to live up to the hype?
Ultimately Shearer and Sutton formed a truly terrifying partnership that became known as "The SAS". Scoring nearly 50 league goals between them, they helped Blackburn win their first league title since 1914. A series of injuries and Shearer's departure from the club in 1996 meant that we didn't see the partnership re-form; something that must have made many Premiership defenders very happy!
Romario & Bebeto, Brazil
The 1994 world cup in USA will be remembered for a few things: Diana Ross's penalty miss in the opening ceremony, Roberto Baggio's penalty miss at the end of a dire final & Maradona's wild-eyed confirmation that he was surely on something!
We will also remember it for the successful strike partnership formed by Romario and Bebeto who scored 8 goals between them to lead Brazil to the final. Romario got 5 goals and set up one of Bebeto's 3 goals to confirm the most feared partnership at the World Cup would be the Brazilians.
Alfredo di Stefano & Ferenck Puskas, Real Madrid
These two only formed the partnership when they were both in their 30s but they were arguably the greatest of the lot. 7 goals between them in the 1960 European Cup final against Eintracht Frankfurt gave Madrid a winning scoreline if 7-3. Two of the most prolific goal-scorers of all time, it baffles the mind as to what they could have achieved if they had got together in their twenties!
There have been many more partnerships in world football but these are some of my favourites. Obviously I wasn't alive when Puskas and Di Stefano were playing but they were a fantasy pair; the two best players in the world at the time playing together. Imagine Messi and Ronaldo together today! Now that would be a partnership that would terrify defenders worldwide!
Please leave comments below.
cole and yorke favorite pair!
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