On paper they're amazing, in reality I am yet to be convinced they are the best in the league.
Do we have the best collection of attackers in the league?
- Thread starter NessunDorma
- Start date
Aye on balance see Liverpool last season who had the best attack.
World class players do help though. They perform a level above most and on a more consistent basis. They said AC Milan were too slow.
As I said before its a different style at the moment almost suffocating the opposition but Van Gaal isn't finished yet and we didn't have Di Maria - add to that with games in close succession.
Quite right. On paper, no question we have the best attackers. However, only Rooney has been consistently fantastic for us this season (red card aside). Still waiting for Falcao to show up and RVP to continue his form from the past couple of weeks,
Persie and Falcao both lacks pace!
Let's replace them with Lennon and Walcott!
It's an incredible assortment of attacking talent on paper, but you could argue some of them have seen better days (van Persie & Falcao), so we could see a decline from the aforementioned from here on out. While, some others are yet to really convince on a consistent basis for whatever reason, yet their ability isn't in question. Mata springs to mind.
Essentially, we have great attacking talent, but we are still unbalanced and unable to utilise them all to cohesively perform to their best. Hopefully the reintroduction of di Maria and the injection of pace he provides, can work wonders for our attack and support his teammates.
Essentially, we have great attacking talent, but we are still unbalanced and unable to utilise them all to cohesively perform to their best. Hopefully the reintroduction of di Maria and the injection of pace he provides, can work wonders for our attack and support his teammates.
Your brain lacks paceWhy them when you could have said Messi and Ronaldo?
It always disturbed me that the attack only sticks together with di Maria
We have the best striking force, although adding other forward players Chelsea beat us on current form. Our supply to them is far too one dimensional.
I remember when people in England were talking up Van Persie at Arsenal as the best striker in the world, but people in Europe were laughing and saying Falcao was better. Who would have guessed a couple of years later we would have both.
I remember when people in England were talking up Van Persie at Arsenal as the best striker in the world, but people in Europe were laughing and saying Falcao was better. Who would have guessed a couple of years later we would have both.
De Gea
Jones - Smalling - Rojo
Herrera - Carrick - Di Maria
Mata - Rooney
Van Persie - Falcao
Jones - Smalling - Rojo
Herrera - Carrick - Di Maria
Mata - Rooney
Van Persie - Falcao
Screw balance.
To be honest I think what we are missing is more stability behind our attacking players. No doubt our attack could have more pace but Di Maria will fill that void when back. We have looked better with Carrick back because he gives us stability, both in terms of team balance but also in defence and building a play from the back.
I actually think we have the players. Herrera is creative. Blind keeps it tidy and can link play and add strength in terms of defensive capability. And Di Maria can provide that trickery and pace in attack.
Just we haven't been able to field our most stable and balanced team yet thanks to injuries. I am in no doubt that once we get our squad fully fit again, we will show that balance and consistency our season so far is lacking a bit. Right now I think we are forced to play all our top strikers, but it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if we end up seeing one on the bench once our midfield roster is back and fit in the interest of balance.
That lineup has 2 number 10's and 2 number 9's, and none of them are going to run at teams, adding the fact where is the width from fullbacks and wingers Coming from? Di Maria? The only one. Allot of Us always said teams never win things on paper, I never saw the need of why United need to play 3 very one paced strikers, does everyone remember Liverpool away in 2008? Rooney berbatov and tevez up front, yea that worked
It will help us get a top 4, but we will need more next season to challenge for the title
If we sign Strootman and another wide player like Depay, I think we would see a drastic improvement to our play in the final third. The former would offer the balance we lack and would contribute in both areas of the pitch, while the latter would mean we aren't so reliant on ADM's pace and dynamism.
It might come at the expense of one of our illustrious attacking talents (Mata), but I think the variety and forward line as a unit would be greatly enhances. Proof in the pudding, that having the 'collection of best attackers' isn't always the solution.
I find playing so many strikers is so overrated, obvious we have injurys which is hurting us. But it seems at the minute we are accommodating players, and shoehorning has many names to try and win a game. Yes I understand this mindset so we can get the top 4, but that front line is not the youngest or the most dynamic, is just we need something a little different to make it work. Defiantly a CM and a winger would give us a better approach, and buying a Younger striker Which is better than what we have got is always a help
Drop two of the Centrebacks out for paced wingers then. Januzaj on the right, young on the left.
De Gea
Smalling
Herrera - Carrick - Di Maria
Januzaj - Mata - Rooney - Young
Van Persie - Falcao
Smalling
Herrera - Carrick - Di Maria
Januzaj - Mata - Rooney - Young
Van Persie - Falcao
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If everyone was fit obvious it would be a back 4, problem? Van gaal does not rate Young has a wide player, obvious if di Maria And Herrera was fit, they would come in for falcao And mata and have Carrick Herrera di Maria and blind in midfield, with rooney playing off RVP. It's allot better than playing 3 strikers
DDG
Rafeal rojo jones shaw
Carrick Blind
Di Maria Herrera
Rooney
RVP
On paper and past reputation yeah.
Imagine the Rooney from 2009/10, the Van Persie from 2011/12 and Falcao from 2012-13 all fit and firing in a flowing system?
Add in Mata 2012-13, Valencia from either 2009-10 or 2010-11, Young from his best season at Villa, Januzaj from last season and Di Maria from last season and you'd have great players in the form of their lives and could implement many different systems to fit them in as and when needed.
However all of them are effectively shadows of their former selves and certainly nowhere near the peak seasons mentioned. They also don't really fit together so we've basically just got great names that aren't working properly for us. That said, this season we've mostly been clinical when we've needed to be which has helped and we'll doubtless get better if and when we've got a solid backline and midfield selection to work from.
Imagine the Rooney from 2009/10, the Van Persie from 2011/12 and Falcao from 2012-13 all fit and firing in a flowing system?
Add in Mata 2012-13, Valencia from either 2009-10 or 2010-11, Young from his best season at Villa, Januzaj from last season and Di Maria from last season and you'd have great players in the form of their lives and could implement many different systems to fit them in as and when needed.
However all of them are effectively shadows of their former selves and certainly nowhere near the peak seasons mentioned. They also don't really fit together so we've basically just got great names that aren't working properly for us. That said, this season we've mostly been clinical when we've needed to be which has helped and we'll doubtless get better if and when we've got a solid backline and midfield selection to work from.
I've fixed my lineup now for some reason it didn't post right the first time.
As I said, screw balance.
rewind 5 years ago we would have wank our weenies off buying 1 player of Di Maria calibre, and although on loan Falcao is a very big name to have.
Fast forward today, 7 new signings and 2 flashy marquee and people are still unhappy, add Mata into the mix....
Fast forward today, 7 new signings and 2 flashy marquee and people are still unhappy, add Mata into the mix....
We have great finishers and strikers, shame we create very little for them, then again injuries at back, and now our once again depleted midfield, makes it so hard for us to see the progression and how we will look with a full squad
Dont think people are unhappy, just frustrated, from our new signings, herrera, blind, di maria, rojo, shaw have all been injured in last few weeks, heck even falcao was out for a while
Basically everyone one of our signings has been injured at least once, pretty sad, and then you look at chelsea, barely any of there players are ever injured
DDG
Rafael-Smalling-Evans-Shaw
Carrick/Blind
Herrera-di Maria
Rooney/Mata
RvP-Falcao
Still think that is our best team/XI. Rotate RvP-Rooney-Falcao and Rooney-Mata at times. When playing a weaker team at home, let Rooney drop in place of di Maria/Herrera. There is balance, there is width, there is a fecking MIDFIELD and the awesomeness of our 5 star players together.Rafael-Smalling-Evans-Shaw
Carrick/Blind
Herrera-di Maria
Rooney/Mata
RvP-Falcao
On paper, yes.
Slight problem is Van Persie is slightly over his peak and Falcao just came back from serious injury. And Rooney lost some pace.
3-4 years ago, the quartet would have completely destroyed any defences in every match.
Slight problem is Van Persie is slightly over his peak and Falcao just came back from serious injury. And Rooney lost some pace.
3-4 years ago, the quartet would have completely destroyed any defences in every match.
As Van Gaal himself said at the beginning of the season, our squad is not balanced. The four players in the OP epitomise that lack of balance. All we can do is attack through the middle. Fine against teams that don't defend very well. A problem against teams/managers with a bit of defensive nous.
We have scored 34 goals in the league this far. 3rd top scorers. Our lack of pace up front is the issue for me as is our poor delivery into the box from the right. Young has been quite good in fairness.
Falcao still to convince me, given the massive wages.
i like Mata but his lack of pace is a pain. Watching a #10 with pace running at defenders is a joy.
Falcao still to convince me, given the massive wages.
i like Mata but his lack of pace is a pain. Watching a #10 with pace running at defenders is a joy.
We have the bigger names which doesn't really translate in the best forward line.
Man City scored more than Liverpool last year and conceded less. I don't see how Liverpool had the best attack.
It's supposed to be rhetorical but, surely:
Neymar-Messi-Suarez
or
Ronaldo-Benzema-Bale?
Both are better balanced too...
You can also make a good case for:
Ribery-Lewandowski-Robben
Of course we don't.
Time and time again this season we have seen Young cross the ball perfectly, but our strikers don't get first to the ball. I agree on paper it looks fantastic but Falcao is nowhere near the player he was 2 years ago - he might get there with a few more matches, but today he isn't. RvP shows in periods what he can do - but he has always been better outside the box, than in it. And he looks that split second slower.
And - RvP and Rooney has never really clicked like Cole/Yorke for instance
Time and time again this season we have seen Young cross the ball perfectly, but our strikers don't get first to the ball. I agree on paper it looks fantastic but Falcao is nowhere near the player he was 2 years ago - he might get there with a few more matches, but today he isn't. RvP shows in periods what he can do - but he has always been better outside the box, than in it. And he looks that split second slower.
And - RvP and Rooney has never really clicked like Cole/Yorke for instance
City had a very creative midfield to help supplying passes - Liverpool .. well, didn't
We have some very good players but there is a lack of balance and pace up front, we are very predictable and pedestrian going forward and rely on good finishing more than really blowing teams away. Someone who adds pace, takes players on and can operate in wide areas would make a big difference and should be a priority signing in the summer.
Personally I think we look better on paper than we actually are, if we had the RVP and Falcao of two years ago I would be a lot happier but both players' best days are probably behind them and their reputations are more impressive than their actual performances, I would swap both of them for aguero.
Personally I think we look better on paper than we actually are, if we had the RVP and Falcao of two years ago I would be a lot happier but both players' best days are probably behind them and their reputations are more impressive than their actual performances, I would swap both of them for aguero.
Harsh on Falcao, he just came back from injury. Looked good considering that.
I don't think RvP's ability has declined, he is just making the wrong choices e.g. being too selfish at times. Maybe he feels the pressure and tries to impress too much? Though dutch strikers are always egomaniacs, aren't they.
As for the original question: Yes, you do have the best attackers in the PL and are second to none in Europe in that department.
This would have been actually a worthy replacement of the Rooney, Tevez and C. Ronaldo line.
Why are people using the spurs game to back up this well worn theory that our attacks lack pace? yes we didn't score but that was because of finishing, not because we didn't have pace to get in goalscoring chances in the first place!
I don't think it's harsh, whether he is back from injury or not he isn't as good a player as new a as two years ago and his reputation is greater than what he actually produces on the pitch. I don't think he can be regarded as a great player again or one of the best in the league yet because no one knows how good he actually is anymore and from what we have seen so far he is nowhere near that level.
we have a lovely array of attackers and we certainly created plenty of chances against Spurs and banged three in against Newcastle....RVP's finishing hasn't been great (Hull aside) and Falcao needs a run of games
overall I've been underwhelmed by our attack and generally we haven't created enough chances in games (Villa, Newcastle and others)
I think the issue is with an ever-changing formation, a lack of pace at times and the lack of pace leading to a predictability about our attack - i think LVG has tried to address this with Wilson but he is still finding his feet
I think if we played a formation that got the best out of our attacking players whilst adding pace we'd improve our attack - maybe LVG's hands are tied by injury but I'd like to see a more balanced team like
-------------DDG-----------
Rafael-Smalling-Evans-Shaw
-------Carrick ---Herrera----
-------------Rooney---------
Januzaj---------------Di Maria
------------Falcao------------
great depth with cover from;
Rojo - CB and LB
Blind - CM and LB
Fellaini - CM
Valencia - RB and RW
Young - LB and LW
Mata - AM
RVP and Wilson - CF
I think this team gives us a better balance of pace, power, skill and unpredictability - I'm not sure we need both RVP and Falcao in the side at the same time
in summary I think we've a great attack but they aren't being used effectively
overall I've been underwhelmed by our attack and generally we haven't created enough chances in games (Villa, Newcastle and others)
I think the issue is with an ever-changing formation, a lack of pace at times and the lack of pace leading to a predictability about our attack - i think LVG has tried to address this with Wilson but he is still finding his feet
I think if we played a formation that got the best out of our attacking players whilst adding pace we'd improve our attack - maybe LVG's hands are tied by injury but I'd like to see a more balanced team like
-------------DDG-----------
Rafael-Smalling-Evans-Shaw
-------Carrick ---Herrera----
-------------Rooney---------
Januzaj---------------Di Maria
------------Falcao------------
great depth with cover from;
Rojo - CB and LB
Blind - CM and LB
Fellaini - CM
Valencia - RB and RW
Young - LB and LW
Mata - AM
RVP and Wilson - CF
I think this team gives us a better balance of pace, power, skill and unpredictability - I'm not sure we need both RVP and Falcao in the side at the same time
in summary I think we've a great attack but they aren't being used effectively
I'm not an RVP fan - if he's not scoring I don't see what he contributes to help others. Falcao needs a couple of goals.
Not sure, really. Finishing was diabolical at Spurs.
Not sure, really. Finishing was diabolical at Spurs.
On paper, yes. But this squad seriously lacks balance and we have struggled to get our attacking players playing as a cohesive unit. It will be interesting to see how we fare next season with a hopefully far more balanced squad.
Yes, but won't see it until we sign a world class experienced CM and CB.
The names look pretty, but they don't compliment eachother all that greatly.
With time, they could be great, but one of them will miss out. Perhaps two of them. Rooney and Di Maria are fantastic. Mata is a great option to have in the squad. One of Van Persie and Falcao should be sitting out.
And I'm aware it will have been said, but these options seriously lack pace. We still need another attacker on top of what we have that gives us this.
With time, they could be great, but one of them will miss out. Perhaps two of them. Rooney and Di Maria are fantastic. Mata is a great option to have in the squad. One of Van Persie and Falcao should be sitting out.
And I'm aware it will have been said, but these options seriously lack pace. We still need another attacker on top of what we have that gives us this.