THANKS FOR WATCHING! What bracket do you want to see next?

Suarez is the best in his prime he done everything, would do the dirty work by running around chasing players , scored screamers, made his team mates better. Got 31 goals without pens and missed like 6 games. He probably would have scored 45 if he had taken pens and played the full season joke of a player who then went on to win it all at barca

I don’t understand how you can ask about the “best season ever” and then compare career averages to prove why Henry has a slight edge over Suarez. It took Suarez a few months to get used to the league, but that 13/14 season was unbelievable. You’d be more surprised to hear he wasn’t involved in a goal or two in a match than if he was. Truly unstoppable.

How Suarez didn't win this is a disgrace based on one season - 43 goals and assists in 33 games with no penalties (Gerrard took 11), for an average Liverpool team. No question

Joe’s argument against Torres might as well have just been Joe holding up a Man United kit. Bro couldn’t any reasons against Torres other than “I won’t have Rooney crash out” Like cmon man, I agree with you but make a stronger argument, I know you’re capable of it

Suarez in 13/14 got 48 goal contributions in 33 games and had Liverpool playing great football, he played at 100 miles an hour and that rubbed off on his teammates. But I have no qualms about Henry finishing above him here either, he was class

Can't believe Torres prime got disrespected like that. Absolutely destroyed every team he was up against

Suarez Vs Norwich city 2013.. I’ll just leave that there. 4 unbelievable goals AND an assist in one game is truly outrageous. That single season has to be the greatest i’ve ever seen from a prem striker. Unplayable

The disrespect on Drogba against Wright 😂 42 goals and assists in 32 premier league games with 1 pen and afcon mid season. Scored a great free kick against Portsmouth in the fa cup final and lifted the prem. 53 goals and assists in 44 games in all comps. One of the best and most over looked individual seasons in prem history. Weight was also a great player but never hit those heights

Even as a massive Spurs fan there's just a huge amount of romance when it comes to Henry that helps with this debate.

I unfortunately was never able to watch Henry but my older brother did and he feels the same way he just can’t describe truly how amazing he was in his prime, he said I have had to watch him to understand

Awesome video, love stuff like this! If you ever do a GK version (Obviously I’m biased) but Nigel Martyn has definitely got to be in with a shout. 21 Clean Sheets in a season (97-98 with 24 in all competitions) while not playing for a “top” team (if the rule is still peak seasons etc). Also the Premier League record for number of Clean Sheets in the League is Cech with 24 (only 3 more than Nige) and Cech had the best defence the league has ever seen that year. Also if you add the Clean Sheets for the 3 years Martyn was playing in Div1 before the Premier League started, Martyn would now be 2nd in the PL all time Clean Sheets Table. Martyn was also voted PFA Keeper of the year 3 years running. All while not playing for a Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool etc who all had better defences and their keepers had less to do a lot of the time, so for Nige to still be comparable in stats speaks volumes to me. Yes he didn’t win anything unfortunately, I always feel that’s more of a team achievement, but in terms of ability, I always say that Nigel Martyn is up there with the greatest ever Premier League Keepers, at least Top 5 in terms of ability alone.

Think Peak is better described as a 2-3 season run. Dont think you want to oversell a single season. Think the goal is how good were they at their best *with a large enough sample size to feel certain.* I dont think you want to have overly rigid criteria get in the way of the spirit of the debate. Edit: I think you treat it like a draft. You get each of these at their prime level for a full season, who you taking?

39:40 Thank you for clarifying about how complete a striker Shearer was (I actually wrote something similar before seeing your Shearer comments). And it was an ankle injury which ultimately forced him into being more of a target man for much of his time at Newcastle. It's always annoying when I see people just say he offered nothing beyond goals like as if it's a crime to try to adapt your game post career threatening injury. In fact adaptability is a sign of a good all round player. Also that season he suffered an ACL, he had 16 goals. Next season he comes back and scores 31 league goals, which is just ridiculous. Who suffers an ACL mid-season and scores 31 next season. And then 34 and 31 the two seasons after.

Top video Jim! So many categories you could do this for and all would be great viewing, just like this! Best central midfielders in the Prem has the potential to be spicy.

Could it be Michael Owen you were forgetting? Seems harsh to omit the only premier league striker to win a ballon dor… but hey what do all the worlds journalist national team captains and managers know

This was frustrating, it’s just a prime season it doesn’t necessarily matter on the name even if they are the best over their career. Struggled to keep to your own concept. Man U bias was strong.

This is class. Can't wait for more these

Haaland could still be three years away from his prime. 😳 Frightening thought.

Great video James! Will definitely be tuning in for the next episode

What is he on about Suarez peak was at Barca? So? Just means that he had an even higher level to go to? So we just disregard him getting 31 non pen goals and 43 goal involvements after missing the first 8 games with the craziest array of finishes cos he was better at Barca? Makes no sense at all he’s so clearly the best season

What's mad to think is Haaland is a few years away from his prime still...

Andy coles most prolific season was with Newcastle. He scored over 40 goals in all comps without pens

Excellent & Articulate debate with the right Result! Bravo 🎉 ✅

I'm a lifelong Liverpool man, but the way they went straight past Cole's best season in '93/94 - pretty sure it's still the highest non-penalty season ever in Prem history (34G,13A in 40 games with zero pens I'm pretty sure), beating peak Alan Shearer to the golden boot is bizarre and completely, just...wrong. It makes Anything Vardy did completely pale in comparison

Appreciate you giving our Southampton strikers a look-in, James.

I love that Joe said about using bias early in the video, then continued to use his bias to man u through the rest of the video 😂

You boys absolutely nailed it

The fact shear lost to Kane because Kane does more for the team, yet Shearer had that 40+ goals and assist season is puzzling

Michael Owen wins this hands down. The most clinical striker I have ever seen. Top 6 all time along with Inzaghi, Klose, Gerd Müller, Raúl and Ronaldo el fenómeno.

I don't have to agree with your choices to enjoy the show. Love this format, hope to see more of this sort of thing.

I only disagreed with 2 results great bracket lads 👍

The disrespect on City and the unwillingness to give their players the credit they deserve is getting really tiring. Literally said, “forget the stats and criteria we’ve used up to this point” when comparing Haaland to Henry. Obviously Henry is the more complete footballer. But Haaland is the better striker. And his “prime” PL season was also his debut PL season. But I get it, your team keep getting waxed by City, so deny our achievements to protect your fragile egos…

I like that Joe added some context to drogba’s 2010, but actuall still think it was getting underrated. He also missed time for Afcon, played with fractured ribs, got 10 assists in the league and destroyed all the big teams he played. And scored in FA Cup semi final & final

Dont think you should have a top 4 fan in things like this. He really struggled to hide his united bias, does make it a harder watch

It's Suarez !!

Shame Henry and Suarez weren't on opposite sides because that's the best 2 seasons.

Kane vs Shearer is tricky. But we are talking about peak, and given that Shearer's peak was 1995 when he absolutely destroyed the league and won the title, I don't think Kane ever reached those heights.

You said their peaks and Suarez peak was untouchable. He is the clear winner here.

Blackburn weren't set up to service Shearer. They had two strikers. I remember Sky Sports promoting games as a race to see who would become the leagues top scorer, Shearer, or Sutton. It had been close for months.

Suarez was the right answer for one season peak even tho Henry is the pl goat

Unreal collab

If we're talking 'prime', Fowler is untouchable. Such a shame his prime was so short due to injury. Kane knocking him out is acceptable as his prime was longer but Fowler was the most natural striker I've ever seen. 100 goals in 123 games in an average Liverpool side

Need this for every position

You get a time machine and put blackburn shearer at 22-23 before he did his ACL into last seasons man city team he's getting 60 goals. He was just that good.

If you do it again can you turn off the grid lines on excel/g sheets pleaseee, will make it look loads cleaner

As a Leicester city fan so it’s correct 😉 Vardy top goal scorer season wasn’t the prem winning one it was the Covid season 👍

shearer went 31 34 31 in 3 consective seasons (yes more that 38 games). a 3yr peak...

Suarez prime is the best ive ever seen bar Messi and Ronaldo, for that he should easily win it for me.

Best True Prime striker that played in the prem as a striker, i think has to be Luiz Suarez:15/16 GP53, G59, A24 (4 Pens*) G+A 83 top 3 team in Europe *subjective* (Barca) Henry: 03/04 GP51, G39, A15 (7 Pens) G+A 54 top 3 team in Europe *subjective* Van Persie 11/12 GP48 G37 A13 (5 Pens*) G+A 50 top 10 team in Europe *Subjective* Haaland: 22/23 GP53, G52, A9 (8 Pens*) G+A 61 top 3 team in Europe *subjective* Kane: 22/23 GP49, G32, A5 (6 Pens*) G+A 37 top 15-20 team in Europe *subjective* Rooney's 11/12 season great shout in only 43 games played Great video James! i think you guys need to really clearly set the metric of how you are qualifying the players. Individual Season? only prem season? or any one season for them? League-only stats or all games? etc. This would simplify the debating I think as it seems to change player to player (data from TF)

A little frustrating how the criteria changes throughout the video to suit certain players.

Suarez had the highest peak of anyone. Owen, Haaland, Shearer and Henry 2nd in any order.

I think aguero was hurt with the suarez match up. Aguero was unique he played better against the better teams. Im seeing talks about suarez scoring 4 vs norwich being impressive. Aguero would put 5 past a great team no problem. Aguero was someone you coukd rely on he was inevitable. The way his career ended for city summed his career off. He comes of the bench scores twice in 10 mins at home. He could score from every angle at any moment vs anyone. He could make goals out of no where. Not many other strikers on this list could do that

How were the head to heads decided at the start?

Andy Cole should have made the semis in this run-in.

i'm perplexed to see the comparison. The slander that Henry gets at times is astonishing. how do you even compare any of them to TT

I’m so excited for the centre back debate. That one will be colossal.

The left side was definitely more stacked.

Phillips not beating hasslebaink is crazy, he wasn't just the golden boot winner that year he was the European golden boot winner....

Simply by their 'prime', Suarez is is the best. Better than Henry. He is arguably the top 2 'peak' strikers in football history, with R9.

The time it took for Jim to concede it was Drogba over Wright is mental

in fowlers defence vs kane, he did have 3 exceptional seasons, his big goals against newcastle, arsenal, man utd, against amazing goalkeepers, his 2 against schmiechel are better goals technically than kane has ever scored. that being said its kane. plus 3 against seaman in 5 mins.

Kane over Shearer is a disgrace. Kane most seasons wasn’t even the best player in his team (Son).

i know this is just one season primes but van nistelrooy in 73 champions league games has 74 goal contributions that’s genuinely ridiculous

I'm a fully bias Chelsea fan, but I gotta back Drogba 09-10 season vs Shearer 94-95 Minutes per goal Shearer - 111min WITH 11 PENS Drgoba - 102min WITHOUT PENS 96min if you include his 1 pen Both 13 assists but Shearer played 10 more games! Cant believe it was dismissed without even checking playtime, Drogba wins on STATS. The thing that always goes against him, still has 8 cup goals too

90's was easier to score goals? The tackles that lead to shearers injuries would have been red cards and six month bans on today's standard's, in todays game Shearer would bury Kane and Hallands number without a shadow of a doubt. whereas in the 90's (don't kid yourselves here) the way modern player roll round and act like theyve been shot haaland and kane would be mediocre at best.

Even pretending that the prime season of Rooney is even comparable to Suarez from the 13/14 season is total bias. 31 non-penalty goals having missed the first 8 or so games of the season as well as 13 assists is just insane given how unbelievable his all round play was. Truly unstoppable

I cannot believe Adebayor vs Aguero was even a conversation! Aguero in 11/12 and 14/15 was absolutely UNPLAYABLE! His prime measured by one game is ahead of Adebayor’s prime season. There are levels to this

The Kevin Phillips disrespect is just not on James. Absolute dynamite striker in his prime and later years

Aw man I just saw Van Nistelrooy being given an ‘easy’ over Le Tiss. Le Tissier was a phenomenal player and made the game look easy whilst playing for a bang average team

Love the vardy respect from James. The man doesn’t miss!

For me it would be Fowler... such a shame he got injured so early in his career, got voted the most feared striker by goalkeepers in the Prem when there was Shearer, Ferdinand, Cole, Sheringham and likes all kicking around.

Les Ferdinand, Andy Cole, Owen, Fowler..... Van Nistelrooy, Alan Shearer, Henry..... Sturridge had a super season ... Suarez was admirable

I think this video ended up having fair selections but incorrect descriptions. Prime doesn't just have to mean a prime season, and the number of seasons (or at least the percentage of seasons of your total PL tenure) you're in your prime should be a factor as well. But all in all quite fair I'd say.

personally, the left side's semi finalists are the top 4 and very difficult to split between henry and suarez along with rooney and haaland respectively. this being exclusively premier league seems a bit set up to just nerf suarez since we have to discount barcelona. still, 20+ goals and assists when you play magically is just absurd, when you are putting up numbers and passing the eye-test to the point where you are able to be compared to messi (albeit in retrospect) might just give henry the edge over suarez. still... what luis suarez did in 13/14 is the stuff of legend and is the very first name that comes to mind when you think of this topic but i like the argument that this wasn't his very best season. its splitting hairs and i'm happy with either choice.

If it’s prime it’s Suarez. Easily.

Andy Cole had 34 goals and 13 assists without a SINGLE penalty for a newly promoted team. Could easy be the winner here.

Salah etc should be included imo. It's the age of 433, wingers *are* strikers now. Not as bad as FPL calling him a midfielder like its still 1997 though. No one calls Liverpool's formation a 451

if you are truly discussing one season, it is hands down between Suarez, Andy Cole and Halland. That is why it was ridiculous to pick Henry over Halland. 😂 you guys are biased. 😂 And Kane over Shearer, without considering Shearer’s PL winning vs and Kane’s ZERO trophies ? 😂

Weird one cause the argument for each one was different. The prime season thing kept being brought up, but if you are going solely off their peak/best season then Suarez or Haaland are the winners, end of

I don’t think it’s really fair to always judge it on just one season cuz that massively favours players whose prime lasted for 1 year only. The reason why Aguero and Suarez is close is not because Suarez didn’t have a better singular season but because Aguero’s prime lasted for 4-5 years!

Sheringham more of an all round player than Cole (who was devastating in front of goal), possibly more of a 10 than a striker. But Sheringham was super-clinical in bigger matches too IMHO.

This should have been done on strikers, no 9's, Henry & co was just a wide forward not a striker

Suarez best season is by far the best ever performed in the Premier League.

No one here has ever seen anything like that suarez season from a football player. Not just good stats but the types of goals he scored were unbelievable. Henry’s highlight reel doesn’t even wash the shoes of Suarez. Easy win for him

Would it not be Jermain Defoe instead of Dwight Yorke? Feels strange not having Jermaine defoe in this list, I'm sure hes had a banger season at some point.

Henry vs Suarez for best peak season of these strikers is the best matchup for the final.

I still dont see how Suarez didn't win maybe its cuz i wasnt around to really watch henry but the season from Suarez was just different even if his peak was at barca

Honestly if shearer had gone to Man Utd instead of Newcastle, I don’t think this would have even been a conversation.

These brackets are so weirdly laid out, massive players against each other so early on and then absolute stinkers vs. the goats

James you bottled it there... Should have taken it to the vote for Torres v Rooney. Yes Rooney is a premier league great but that first season with Torres is up there with the great individual seasons.

Not sure I see Joe's logic about famous winger Son Heung-Min being unlucky not to get on a striker's list.

Kane also took top scorer and top assister in the league in one season

good video. was a bit jarring towards the end when you started using stats from their careers. why even bother wasting your time researching those stats when you know the debate will be about a players best individual season. for me the final should have been suarez and henry. anything kane did suarez could do it better. edit: i also believe henry doesnt play to his peak ability in todays premier league, the amount of space he has to run into for most of his goals is ridiculous. teams nowadays are way better set up to prevent leaving space for players like henry.

Would have preferred if James did this video with just him and the chat 😂😂😅

Thomlinson's bias is outrageous !! "Let's put stats aside" and "TroPhieS!!" has to be used constantly !! This is not about best playee, but best striker. Tores being "The Man", means he's the ONE the opposition needs to take care of, rather than being one of THREE the opposition s scared of at once. JLA would have done this better on his own.

Glad to skip to the end and see that it is Henry! No other answer makes sense. 🐐

I think the conversation shifted back and forth between "best player" and "best striker" a little too often. Best player is easily Thierry Henry, but best striker is between Haaland/Kane/Shearer for me.

What season did Kane have that was better than Shearers PL winning season where he carried a Blackburn team with inferior players to the teams they were challenging?

James : Salah is not a striker. Also James : Popular Southampton and England midfielder Matthew Le Tissier... is a striker.