A few weeks ago I started thinking of the reasons that have always made me want to play up front on the football pitch. Is it because of my characteristics as a player? Is it because of the joy I get from scoring goals? The glory of netting a match winner? I realised all those reasons have definitely contributed to my choice. However, I think one external reason affected me the most, growing up in 90s. Football in the 90s was all about the 4-4-2 formation and a great no.9 up front whose sole purpose was to smash the ball in the back of the net. When you talk about the 90s era these names always come up, Vieri, Romario, Weah, Stoichkov, Ronaldo, Fowler and Shearer. The centre forward thrived in the 90s. One name, my favourite player when I was growing up, would determine my choice to play up front, Gabriel Batistuta. The all time leading goal scorer for Argentina was the very definition of a pure centre forward. Unfortunately due to the evolution of tactics, the classic no.9 is now an endangered species.
