Looks like we're going for Lacazette and Perisic. We'll be paying over the top for average players.
#9 The Priority For Jose
- Thread starter Devil may care
- Start date
oh come on, Lacazette has had 3 x 20+ goal seasons in a team that doesn't compete in Ligue 1 and he has very good stat metrics against other strikers we are linked with.
He's a very good striker, we don't have to go full hyperbole just because griezmann isn't coming.
Lacazette is the best value. He is a proven clinical finisher and he knows how to fake shot. Seriously none of our players ever use that simple but highly effective move. Plus he's got good ball control for hold up play.
Janzaj was a youth signing really though wasnt he like 16? I never thought much of Depay anyway when we wigned him, he was actually more talented than I expected, but not surprised he flopped. Poin tyou are making though, there is of course more of a gamble with signing younge players I argree but if you look at our signings by Moyes and LVG not many of those big signings have worked out at all either have they. It is about signing the right ones and using them correctly more than anything in my opinion and point I was trying to make is Im really not sure we are going for the right players full stop from the majority of the press links Im seeing
Some stats to consider:
15th: Belotti (16/17)
Into the top 15 we go, and at 15th place we’ve got Torino’s number 9, Andrea Belotti. The Italian striker has really bloomed this season, scoring an impressive 22 goals so far, with a conversion rate of 25.5%.
14th: Edinson Cavani (16/17)
Even though he’s got a label on him as a “bottler,” Cavani keeps performing. The Uruguayan striker, who was born in the same year and city as Luis Suarez, has scored 27 goals this season, averaging a goal every 84 minutes. His conversion rate of 25.9% is quite impressive for a “bottler”.
13th: Romelu Lukaku (16/17)
Despite often being mocked for his heavy first touch, there’s no denying that Lukaku is a fantastic goalscorer. The tall Belgian striker has scored 20 goals this season, with an exquisite conversion rate of 26.6%.
12th: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (16/17)
Coming in for his second inclusion on the list, it’s Aubameyang! The rapid striker has scored 23 goals in as many games, with a 27% conversion rate. Despite being born in France, Aubameyang chose to represent his father’s native country, Gabon.
11th: Harry Kane (16/17)
Kane also comes in for his second inclusion, with him only just missing out on the top 10. Kane often gets abuse for being a “tap-in merchant” and a “penalty merchant,” traits that provide a shade of doubt to his goal scoring credentials if you believe them to be true. He has, with a conversion rate of 27.5%, scored 19 goals so far this season.
7th: Kylian Mbappe Lottin (16/17)
Despite the fact that he’s only 18, he’s scored 12 goals for Monaco this season, helping them to the top of the table (as of right now). All this with the highly impressive conversion rate of 28.5%. Not your average teenager.
5th: Alexander Lacazette (16/17)
Lacazette is back for his second inclusion in the top 10. In the 16/17 season the Frenchman has scored 23 goals so far with a conversion rate of 29.7%.
www.eifsoccer.com/articles/conversion-rate/ dated March so not totally up to date.
Seems Lacazette is a world class clinical finisher. As is Mbappe. Lukaku and Kane not far behind.
15th: Belotti (16/17)
Into the top 15 we go, and at 15th place we’ve got Torino’s number 9, Andrea Belotti. The Italian striker has really bloomed this season, scoring an impressive 22 goals so far, with a conversion rate of 25.5%.
14th: Edinson Cavani (16/17)
Even though he’s got a label on him as a “bottler,” Cavani keeps performing. The Uruguayan striker, who was born in the same year and city as Luis Suarez, has scored 27 goals this season, averaging a goal every 84 minutes. His conversion rate of 25.9% is quite impressive for a “bottler”.
13th: Romelu Lukaku (16/17)
Despite often being mocked for his heavy first touch, there’s no denying that Lukaku is a fantastic goalscorer. The tall Belgian striker has scored 20 goals this season, with an exquisite conversion rate of 26.6%.
12th: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (16/17)
Coming in for his second inclusion on the list, it’s Aubameyang! The rapid striker has scored 23 goals in as many games, with a 27% conversion rate. Despite being born in France, Aubameyang chose to represent his father’s native country, Gabon.
11th: Harry Kane (16/17)
Kane also comes in for his second inclusion, with him only just missing out on the top 10. Kane often gets abuse for being a “tap-in merchant” and a “penalty merchant,” traits that provide a shade of doubt to his goal scoring credentials if you believe them to be true. He has, with a conversion rate of 27.5%, scored 19 goals so far this season.
7th: Kylian Mbappe Lottin (16/17)
Despite the fact that he’s only 18, he’s scored 12 goals for Monaco this season, helping them to the top of the table (as of right now). All this with the highly impressive conversion rate of 28.5%. Not your average teenager.
5th: Alexander Lacazette (16/17)
Lacazette is back for his second inclusion in the top 10. In the 16/17 season the Frenchman has scored 23 goals so far with a conversion rate of 29.7%.
www.eifsoccer.com/articles/conversion-rate/ dated March so not totally up to date.
Seems Lacazette is a world class clinical finisher. As is Mbappe. Lukaku and Kane not far behind.
Martial, Rasford and someone like Chicharito would be decent options at 9 for a year anyway if we are able to get our hands on world class wide attacking players
I say this in the context of us not getting our main targets
I'd rather we wait and get the right man rather than throw money at a 4th or 5th choice target
not sure Jose has the patience for that though
if Aubamuyang goes to PSG that might free up Cavani
I say this in the context of us not getting our main targets
I'd rather we wait and get the right man rather than throw money at a 4th or 5th choice target
not sure Jose has the patience for that though
if Aubamuyang goes to PSG that might free up Cavani
What ? When our main striker scored 28 goals last season .
Nah mate think your wrong there .
It's the likes of the midfield and wide men's poor goal return that cost us top 4
See post above
Over ten of those goals were in other comps.
Zlatan scored 17 in the league. Similar to King and Benteke (don't know if those two took penalties as well) Add a striker like Lukaku instead and we'd be top four based on his return.
So never again? We also used to buy players like Ronaldo, Carrick, Hernandez. It worked to supplement big signings.
Too small for Mourinho. I'd imagine.
We need goals from all areas to improve, not denying that.
Anyone complaining Lukaku only scores against small teams at home is forgetting last season already. Guy scored 4 against 11 man Bournemouth ffs.
it has to be because of the griezmann sadness. Still raw for so many people. Anyone calling the likes of lukaku and lacazette average and actually believes that has never watched a game of football.
I'm not sure replacing zlatan with lukaku last season would have gaurenteed top 4 imo.
To clarify my original point in more detail I'm saying that lukaku is a flat track bully as his record against the poorer teams is great .
In his ten games against the teams above Everton this season I think he scored 3 maybe 4 goals tops .
While this stat isn't terrible I've never seen him dominate the better defences which is something I'd like to see from a 70 million plus striker .
If we were paying 40 million which I think is more realistic then I would Be of a different opinion.
If reports are true and Everton are touting him about for 100 million I would sooner go for lewandowski or morata who are both proven at champions league level .
Last edited:
If we get stuck Gabbiadini anyone ?
Right now there's rumors in german media of MUFC interest in Werder Bremen's Max Kruse.
You know you want someone with a name like this.
You know you want someone with a name like this.
If its such a priority and one of the best available (Aubameyang) is going for £61m you have to wonder why the feck we haven't been all over that deal. He's just scored 40 goals and last year bagged 39 as well, yet we'll probably go pay a higher fee for Lacazette or Lukaku.
Auba doesn't fit Maureen's striker profile I imagine. I'd rather just use Rashford and Martial until Zlatan injures that injury enough to return. SAF is probably feeling quite nausea with the value in the market right now.
What we need is a center piece player to build the attack around. It could be a #9, #10 or winger, but he should be a top quality player who the other players can play off of and complement. We simply dont have that top quality attacker
I think you're exaggerating a bit when you say I'm insisting on Benzema not being Florentino's darling.
I honestly believe the players we want are as good as signed. Jose identified them ages ago and trust me they know it. Although no one admits it, they have been tapped up already and it's just about agreeing the fee and the selling clubs signing replacements. Transfers are all about timing.....still believe the little Frenchman will be here in the summer....
The thing about it is that the Griezmann transfer seemed like the perfect way to slowly settle Rashford as a part of the first 11. He wouldn't need to carry the burden of being the main goalscorer but would still play in his natural position. He'd be given a run in the starting lineup until Ibra would get back and he would have the chance of proving that he can be the main striker. In the worst case scenario (if he'd show that he's not good enough) we'd just play Ibra up front and buy a star striker next season. I mean this is football and things rarely go according to plan but I think it's a decent idea.
Now we're in a position where we need to buy a star striker because it would be a bit mental to go into a season expecting a 19 year old will be your main source of goals. And if we buy a youngish striker his chances upfront will be, considering how little does Jose rotate, rather limited for a fair few seasons.
Now we're in a position where we need to buy a star striker because it would be a bit mental to go into a season expecting a 19 year old will be your main source of goals. And if we buy a youngish striker his chances upfront will be, considering how little does Jose rotate, rather limited for a fair few seasons.
I hope you're joking
What about the others in the top 10? Shouldn't we be looking at them as well? We're the richest club in the world
Anthony Modeste, Carlos Bacca,Dario Cvitanich and Bas Dost are the rest of the top 10.
Is it really a good indicator of quality then?
I don't really see the point of (apparently) forgetting about Griezmann to focus on a #9. We already have Martial and Rashford who can play there and we could surely retain Zlatan? If we have to wait a few months for Zlatan to return then we could simply use one of our 'hot young prospects' to cover for him? If we're really desperate though, just buy Hernandez to cover? He'd be pretty cheap.
I'd much prefer to do this than sacrifice getting top drawer support for the attack. I'd suggest that:
I'd much prefer to do this than sacrifice getting top drawer support for the attack. I'd suggest that:
Mkhitaryan Griezmann Perisic
Rashford/(Zlatan)
Looks like a much better option than: Rashford/(Zlatan)
Lingard Mkhitaryan Perisic
Lukaku
Which would arguably be a worse attack than last season. Obviously I'm going with the idea that we were apparently buying Griezmann as a support attacker (hence the switch to search for #9).Lukaku
Lacazette all day long for me.
It was just measuring conversion rate. Take whatever you want from it.
Exactly what I thought and said. Would much rather play Rashford / Martial (then Ibra) with a world class creator coming in behind them rather than splashing £100m on Lukaku or whoever and relying on Lingard to pull the strings.
I'm not sure Rashford or Martial would link up well with Griezmann to be totally honest. They are more direct in their style of play; preferring to turn on the ball and run at the back line rather than holding it up and link in other attackers (like Ibra does). Obviously they will attempt to enhance this part of their game but can't see a huge improvement being made within a summer, and they do need to hugely improve this side of their game.
It's possible for contract talks to have stalled or have broken down between the club and Ibra, which maybe has got the club reluctant to fork out 100m yoyos on a player that we may not be able to get the best out of.
I think we'll continue to pursue Griezmann once we have signed a proper #9 (Laca/Belotti/Morata) or once we have assurances Ibra will be here next season. Otherwise it might just make sense to sign Griezmann in January or next summer under less restricted circumstances.
He'd be excellent but as we all know, Jose loves big sweaty men.
It surprises me that more people are not talking about Lacazette tbh - I think he would be a fantastic signing for Utd ahead of most of the forwards being touted.
Kane or Lukaku.
Feck it, we're rich.
Feck it, we're rich.
Not concerned about his age, throwing 60 mill at sanchez would make me forget griezemann quite easily. If we are looking to maintain the same attacking patterns then lacazette would be an excellent acquisition.
The reason why we struggled without ibra, despite playing a more mobile striker, is because rashford didn't replicate Ibra's tendency to facilitate attacking plays from deep. Notice how he negates the defensive structure and press by creating numerical superiority in specific areas. A striker like lacazette/benzema would play this role perfectly which is why he's my first alternative.
The reason why we struggled without ibra, despite playing a more mobile striker, is because rashford didn't replicate Ibra's tendency to facilitate attacking plays from deep. Notice how he negates the defensive structure and press by creating numerical superiority in specific areas. A striker like lacazette/benzema would play this role perfectly which is why he's my first alternative.
I have Dost in my pick 4
Modeste and Dost certainly do not represent the level of class or talent a big club like MUFC is looking for.
Credible sources or are they just picking up the goal.com story?