Despite losing 4-2 at Norwich City at the weekend, there was a small consolation that Newcastle United could have taken from that game – the continually impressive form of striker Demba Ba.
He scored two goals, both of which were exemplary finishes, symptomatic of a striker in electric form. The first; springing the offside trap, a deft touch and a calm side-foot finish past John Ruddy. The second was equally as good – bamboozling the centre-half with a neat turn after taking a pass from Shola Ameobi and firing in with his left from the edge of the box.
Ba has been an excellent signing for Newcastle – full of energy and enthusiasm and, more importantly, goals. He already has 11 league goals this season and is well on course for ending the campaign with 20 plus. You could argue that he’s Newcastle’s first out-and-out goalscorer since Michael Owen was at the club. He’s a firm favourite for this season’s Golden Boot and who would bet against him? Even when the chips are down he’s banging them in.
In another season I’d say the man was a shoo-in for the award but with Robin van Persie around that’s simply not the case. The Dutchman has turned it on this season and has been central to everything that has been good about Arsenal’s revival. He has scored 15 league goals and has 30 this calendar year so far, closing in on Thierry Henry’s 34 and Alan Shearer’s 36, both of whom lead the way. His finish against Everton on Saturday just gone was of the highest order.
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Alex Song lofted a smart ball over the top which dropped over van Persie’s shoulder, the Dutchman (still with a lot to do at this stage) took it first time on the outside of his left boot and smashed it in off the post. Tim Howard didn’t have a prayer.
RvP is in the peak of his career and Arsenal need to pin him down to a new contract – he’s surely favourite to finish the season as top scorer. He could end up with 40 if he continues at this rate!
What about a certain Mr Wayne Rooney quietly lurking around in the background? The Man United striker has had a quiet few weeks by his standards, enduring a two-month spell without a goal in the league. This was a far cry from when the season started and he was banging in hat-tricks for fun against Bolton Wanderers and Arsenal. However, when Wolves rolled into town on Saturday they found a man back on form. Rooney ended his drought with two goals, both of which were exceptional strikes. He could have easily had more. That takes Rooney up to 11 league goals this season, here’s hoping he can repeat his goalscoring form of the 2008-09 season when he banged in 26 goals in 32 league appearances.
Finally, we have Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, the hot-shot Argentinian signed in the summer from Atletico Madrid. Since arriving in Manchester, Aguero has showed all the qualities that City have invested in, scoring a glut of goals and starring in a number of great performances. His movement, touch and predator-like finishes doing than more than enough to justify the whopping £38 million that City paid for his services. He’s level with Wayne Rooney on 11 league goals and is another strong contender for this season’s Golden Boot – what a great first season it would be for him for City to win the league and he be top scorer.
These are the frontrunners for the 2011-12 Golden Boot – who do you think will finish on top?
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