Do we need a new Striker in the summer?

charlenefan

Far less insightful than the other Charley
Joined
Aug 17, 2005
Messages
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Firstly this is kinda a knee jerkish thread but bare with me;

Rooney, on his day world class we know this, even when it's not his day like tonight and Sunday still capable of scoring so no problem with him.

Hernandez, fair to say he's found it hard this season. Hasn't been able to slot into the side as easily as he did last season, looks desperately short of match sharpness and I dont think we can still be blaming the lack of pre-season.

Welbeck, a lot of potential without doubt but is there that much between him and Hernandez when both are at their best? Welbeck probably the better outside the box, Hernandez undoubtedly the better inside the box.

Berbatov, obviously out of favour, dunno if he's injured at the moment or what but obviously will never play with Rooney when Rooney's fit.

With that being said is a new striker something we should be looking at bringing in during the summer? A genuine world class striker to play up front with Rooney week in week out, rather than constantly swap between Hernandez and Welbeck?
 
Rooney, Welbeck, Hernandez, Ba.

Out:

Owen, Berbatov, Macheda.


That's what I'd be up to right now if I was on FM :D
 
So we should just give up on Welbeck and Hernandez because they're not ready yet? Long-term planning at it's finest.
 
No. Silly thread. This would literally be buying for the sake of buying. We dont need need another striker as of yet.

:confused:

It wouldn't be buying for the sake of buying at all. Hernandez is our second highest goal scorer this season and has 10 goals, Berbatov & Welbeck have 9 each. That's a very even spread, at this point in the season I would of expected one of those to have pulled away from the other two and be a little closer to Rooney's 24
 
So we should just give up on Welbeck and Hernandez because they're not ready yet? Long-term planning at it's finest.

It's not giving up is it, it's just having someone a little more established in the wings should neither Hernandez or Welbeck be in the best form in front of goal. And for all his positives Berbatov at his best isn't that either.
 
It's not giving up is it, it's just having someone a little more established in the wings should neither Hernandez or Welbeck be in the best form in front of goal. And for all his positives Berbatov at his best isn't that either.

It doesn't really fit in with rewarding young players for showing progress. 'Thanks Danny, you've had a big hand in getting us our 20th title but you're not developing at the superhuman rate that we expected so we're just going to bring in a 'world class striker' instead. Hopefully you'll stick around and be happy to fight for being first-choice backup along with Javier. Oh pass on the message to him too will you? Cheers.'
 
We have two in reserve already, that haven't featured enough this season to really warrant being there. Albeit Owen is never fit so shouldn't really count. But Berba has been waiting in the wings, I was a bit surprised that he didn't make the bench tonight. Even if his style most likely wouldn't of suited how Bilbao played tonight anyway. But as a 4th choice his experience is great to have in the squad.

However, if Berba and Owen both leave in the summer. Then their is maybe room for a younger striker, but I cannot see us signing anybody with real experience.

Then you have to factor in if Macheda or King will be sold or loaned out again. The there are the young two in Keane and Cofie, the latter whom is in Antwerp getting some experience.

We should have kept Diouff he scored again tonight :lol:
 
Of all the positions, I'd say this is one where they need the least help at the moment.

I missed tonight's game due to a work trip, but I would say most of us are agreed that central midfield is probably our weakest area currently and one which we would most benefit from strengthening. Other than that I can see the logic in a CB perhaps given that Jones has shown promise in other areas and less so in this position, and Ferdinand isn't going to be around forever and can be injury prone.

If Berbatov and Owen go then perhaps a striker would be in order, but given that neither of them are regular starters I would expect any new striker to be a youth purchase like Hernandez was a couple of years ago. I don't think it's an area we would be desperate to scout in and would probably just rely on current youth unless someone special caught our eye at a good price.

Midfield has to be the priority in my view. I think strengthening here is needed and if there are to be any significant signings this summer then it would be logical for them to be in this area of the team.
 
I don't think it's a priority but I think if the right player because available we should go for them. Berba clearly isn't in favour and I think we need another experienced striker. Hernandez for me is an impact player in most games and then should be brought in for certain other games, I don't think he has enough to be in the first 11 each game.

Welbeck has done very well and is the future barring something drastic but I think he's still raw. There aren't many strikers his age who come in to the first 11 at a club like united. I don't think bringing in someone else would really marginalise him and Hernandez, we've shown you can play with four strikers.

If we get the right player who's in his prime than I think it could work very well. Hopefully they give us a couple of years of top play and as they're being phased out you have a welbeck who's now primes for action. If not that then maybe a top attacking midfielder. I think we're lacking something there and whilst I was hoping Rooney could really develop his play making it just hasn't happened as much as I would like. Personally I hope we're going all out for rvp as his age and the positions he can play are exact what we need there. I know it won't happen but I think he'd be perfect.
 
It doesn't really fit in with rewarding young players for showing progress. 'Thanks Danny, you've had a big hand in getting us our 20th title but you're not developing at the superhuman rate that we expected so we're just going to bring in a 'world class striker' instead. Hopefully you'll stick around and be happy to fight for being first-choice backup along with Javier. Oh pass on the message to him too will you? Cheers.'

20th league title? Counting your chickens much?

Bring in someone who's 27 5 years older than Welbeck the latter is still the future isn't he? Sure he may not play as many games as he has this season but he'd still be part of the long term plan
 
I wouldn't be surprised if City go for Llorente to replace Tevez - now that he has a goal against us he should be firmly in their view.
 
20th league title? Counting your chickens much?

Bring in someone who's 27 5 years older than Welbeck the latter is still the future isn't he? Sure he may not play as many games as he has this season but he'd still be part of the long term plan

Optimism, outrageous eh?

You think Welbeck and Hernandez would just accept being back-ups for a few years despite already proving they're good enough for a top club? Can't see it myself.
 
Optimism, outrageous eh?

You think Welbeck and Hernandez would just accept being back-ups for a few years despite already proving they're good enough for a top club? Can't see it myself.

We've kept four stokers happy before. Tbh though I don't think many would really break the bank for Hernandez anymore. As I've said he just doesn't have enough to be a regular at a top club. These days strikers need more than just finishing ability and I don't think he excels at anything bar movement and finishing. Welbeck is still raw and probably less likely to get more game time at any other top team barring arsenal and maybe Chelsea.
 
Optimism, outrageous eh?

You think Welbeck and Hernandez would just accept being back-ups for a few years despite already proving they're good enough for a top club? Can't see it myself.

The way you're talking I assume you're happy with the role Berbatov is playing at the moment? Because it certainly sounds like you want to carry on playing Welbeck & Hernandez regardless of their form
 
Don't write Hernandez off. When we bought Cole, he was more of a finisher but over the years his game developed and that can happen for Hernandez too. He's by not means the finished article.
 
If we put off buying a midfielder again to buy someone in a position we don't really need (ashley young), someone's going to get hurt.

We might buy a striker, a winger, a defender, and even a reserve goalkeeper. But not a central mid. Against club policy :)
 
We need a quality midfielder...someone like Silva, Modric or Gotze. Hell, give me a Javi Martinez and i'll be happy.

The midfields where we lose most of our games. Midfield gets dominated and it puts tremendous pressure on our defence (which to be fair also looks fragile at times without the experience of Rio / Vidic).
 
We've kept four stokers happy before. Tbh though I don't think many would really break the bank for Hernandez anymore. As I've said he just doesn't have enough to be a regular at a top club. These days strikers need more than just finishing ability and I don't think he excels at anything bar movement and finishing. Welbeck is still raw and probably less likely to get more game time at any other top team barring arsenal and maybe Chelsea.

I thought the same as you last year but it's really not the case the more you look into it, poachers will always be invaluable and strikers at top club's have always generally been more rounded than Hernandez, 'these days' doesn't come into it.
 
Hernandez will improve as he continues to develop other facets of his game beyond simply his finishing ability. Welbeck too, has a tremendous upside and will continue to develop. So no, we don't need another striker at the moment.
 
Bringing in a striker is not first priority but if we got money to spare then 7m for Ba looks value.
 
No we don't need one, more of a luxury buy. Fergie loves his strikers though so it wouldn't surprise me if we did get one to replace Berbatov and Owen.
 
It doesn't really fit in with rewarding young players for showing progress. 'Thanks Danny, you've had a big hand in getting us our 20th title but you're not developing at the superhuman rate that we expected so we're just going to bring in a 'world class striker' instead. Hopefully you'll stick around and be happy to fight for being first-choice backup along with Javier. Oh pass on the message to him too will you? Cheers.'

Very astute observation...Danny is one to hold onto
 
With United's wage bill increasing dramatically and turnover probably stagnating due to the loss of the CL knockout stage money, another striker is a luxury United cannot afford when other areas of the squad are far more in need of reinforcement.

Unless Berbatov leaves. Perhaps then Sir Alex would consider bringing someone in.
 
I thought the same as you last year but it's really not the case the more you look into it, poachers will always be invaluable and strikers at top club's have always generally been more rounded than Hernandez, 'these days' doesn't come into it.

Poachers will always be invaluable and what Hernandez offers is unique to most players but that doesn't mean other teams will give him more game time, even if we did bring another striker. As I said I don't think he offers enough to be a regular starter at a top team. As an impact player though I think he could be invaluable.
 
Possibly...

I don't see futures at the club for Macheda or Owen after May, I wouldn't be surprised if Berba left. If that was the case then yes.

But isn't Will Keane worth a go?
 
Macheda should be given a run in the side next season. There's no need to go out and buy someone.

He isnt even good enough for QPR atm, let alone us. Though i do agree that we dont need to buy another striker even if berba and owen left. If we did though, it'd be a cheap one not a big expensive signing.