What about Cardozo from Benfica? He's a lump who scores goals. No idea how much he'd cost, though. Ba does have the upside of a 7 million release clause (thanks 'Arry).
Do we need a new Striker in the summer?
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
What about Cardozo from Benfica? He's a lump who scores goals. No idea how much he'd cost, though. Ba does have the upside of a 7 million release clause (thanks 'Arry).
I genuinely think we should make a move for Torres in the summer, if Chelsea are willing to sell. Throw Berbatov in and perhaps a small fee on top.
According to Ballague, Llorente will only have a year left on his contract after this season. If that's the case, he won't be too expensive plus I think he's the perfect partner for Rooney.
Also needs to be remember that we can sign that Chilean wonderkid Angelo Henriquez in the next season. Very highly rated and still only 17.
Also needs to be remember that we can sign that Chilean wonderkid Angelo Henriquez in the next season. Very highly rated and still only 17.
Thought crossed my mind yesterday as Valencia was delivering those crosses in as to what a proper number 9 would do with them. Given that it's one of our principal avenues of attack, I think a CF would improve our scoring options greatly.
A Mt. Everest sized if.
Do we need a striker? We have Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck, with Owen as backup. Let's concentrate on the area of our squad that needs reinforcement, please?
In all honesty Llorente or Cavani would be dream partners for rooney. But we need midfielders. Not forwards or defenders.
We also have Will Keane coming up, he can be our emergency striker.
I like Hernandez and I have faith in Welbeck - bringing in a top striker would displace both of them, and we have much bigger priorities.
I think if we get a top quality midfield playmaker like Modric then that will sort out both issues at once - it gives us some real talent in midfield, and it means
a) cover for Rooney in the hole (allowing us to play him as the frontman if needed)
b) better service through the middle for our strikers, which will improve their performances.
The way we are playing, getting the ball out wide and relying on our wingers to whip the ball in...we would do fantastically well with a big old target man. Not the sort of player Fergie goes for and fair enough, but I think with our wingers we could make Andy Carroll look like a £35m striker......maybe.....possibly.
Seriously though, if we were trying to bag a Chelsea striker then Drogba would be my pick. They are trying to freshen up the team and he has been rumoured to be leaving for the last 2 years. He is a hell of a player on his day, and if he doesnt mind the reduced gametime (which would be a big if) then he would be ideal for us. My concern would be him displacing Welbeck and Hernandez.
Just think of Drogba with the service we put in from the likes of Valencia and Young, and with a Wayne Rooney playing behind him though. That would be one scary front 4.
I think if we get a top quality midfield playmaker like Modric then that will sort out both issues at once - it gives us some real talent in midfield, and it means
a) cover for Rooney in the hole (allowing us to play him as the frontman if needed)
b) better service through the middle for our strikers, which will improve their performances.
The way we are playing, getting the ball out wide and relying on our wingers to whip the ball in...we would do fantastically well with a big old target man. Not the sort of player Fergie goes for and fair enough, but I think with our wingers we could make Andy Carroll look like a £35m striker......maybe.....possibly.
Seriously though, if we were trying to bag a Chelsea striker then Drogba would be my pick. They are trying to freshen up the team and he has been rumoured to be leaving for the last 2 years. He is a hell of a player on his day, and if he doesnt mind the reduced gametime (which would be a big if) then he would be ideal for us. My concern would be him displacing Welbeck and Hernandez.
Just think of Drogba with the service we put in from the likes of Valencia and Young, and with a Wayne Rooney playing behind him though. That would be one scary front 4.
Not sure about a new striker. At least a new forward anyway. If Berbatov leaves and Park isn't playing much it leaves 6 forwards for 3 or 4 positions, Rooney, Chicharito, Welbeck, Young, Nani, Valencia, with possibly Giggs for some games. One more would be good. Owen and Macheda are not the answer.
The real problem occurs when Rooney is out. However, he is a one off and you just have to reshape the team.
The real problem occurs when Rooney is out. However, he is a one off and you just have to reshape the team.
Totally agree with this. It seems strange, but we're actually going to be a bit short in the forward positions next season.
Giggsy doesn't really offer penetration any more (on the pitch anyway
), Park is a shadow of the shadow of a player, Macheda is off, Diouf is gone, Berba is off, Owen should be off. Young, Nani, and Rooney are fantastically flexible tactically, and I think this is crucial. Welbeck can kind of play wide. Hernandez and Valencia only really have one use, though they're obviously good at it.
Seeing the reliance on Evra last match just highlights how useful it would be to have a left footed attacker. Problem is supply.
Apart from the obvious (which is resigning Diouf), I think we'll be okay.
Totally agree with this. It seems strange, but we're actually going to be a bit short in the forward positions next season.
Giggsy doesn't really offer penetration any more (on the pitch anyway
Young, Nani, and Rooney are fantastically flexible tactically, and I think this is crucial. Welbeck can kind of play wide. Hernandez and Valencia only really have one use, though they're obviously good at it.
Seeing the reliance on Evra last match just highlights how useful it would be to have a left footed attacker. Problem is supply.
I don't think we need to get a striker, but I would love to see an attacking midfielder, like Shinji Kagawa - he's out of contract summer of 2013 and it's reported Borussia Dortmund are trying to persuade him to extend. He would offer quality and be better value than Hazard or Gaitan. Kagawa would also be loved by United's commercial department - the Japanese support all their foreign based players - imagine one at United!
The point about flexible attacking players is a well-made point. I was marvelling at Barca's forwards against Milan last night, the most advanced being Messi and Fabregas, i.e. no conventional striker. We're not Barcelona, but we definitely have the flexibility without the need for another striker.
If we're looking to play with two strikers regularly next season again, we'll need a reliable fourth. Whether it's deciding to sign someone or give Macheda the role or fast track Will Keane... But it will definitely require a big decision because we can't have less than four players ready to contribute immediately (which is a question mark with Macheda and Keane) for two positions.
It's not an easy decision, because we don't need a big signing. No need to get a player who will block Welbeck and Hernandez. An older player who wouldn't mind sitting on the bench would be good, but it's not easy to find that and quality as well. So I haven't a clue what we can do there, but we do need a quartet or you're only one bad injury away from feeling really stretched.
It's not an easy decision, because we don't need a big signing. No need to get a player who will block Welbeck and Hernandez. An older player who wouldn't mind sitting on the bench would be good, but it's not easy to find that and quality as well. So I haven't a clue what we can do there, but we do need a quartet or you're only one bad injury away from feeling really stretched.
Modric and Hazard. Forget a striker
I agree with Steve - the time of conventional out and out strikers is nearly gone. I'm not a particularly big fan on several aspects of Barcelona, but one thing which I think is very useful is simply playing without a conventional striker, or even having wing forwards and a false nine (ie the wide men being the most advanced).
It wouldn't be hard for us to mimic this system, we have Rooney who is ideal for the false nine role, I know we all think he plays best off a striker, but I actually think he would excel in a wing forward formation, he loves spraying balls out to the flanks now, and with nobody directly in front of him he has the freedom to attack from deep, run at the defence and try some long shots.
Something like this...
--------------gk-------------
FB ------ cb ---- cb ----- FB
-------------DM-------------
---------cm-----cm---------
-------------'am'------------
Wf------------------------wf
I say 'AM' when I essentially mean Rooney.
The obvious problem is that whilst some of our players fit this style perfectly - Rooney, nani and young would be ideal as the front three. Some of the less flexible players like Valencia and Hernandez would need to adapt to be of any use in it.
It wouldn't be hard for us to mimic this system, we have Rooney who is ideal for the false nine role, I know we all think he plays best off a striker, but I actually think he would excel in a wing forward formation, he loves spraying balls out to the flanks now, and with nobody directly in front of him he has the freedom to attack from deep, run at the defence and try some long shots.
Something like this...
--------------gk-------------
FB ------ cb ---- cb ----- FB
-------------DM-------------
---------cm-----cm---------
-------------'am'------------
Wf------------------------wf
I say 'AM' when I essentially mean Rooney.
The obvious problem is that whilst some of our players fit this style perfectly - Rooney, nani and young would be ideal as the front three. Some of the less flexible players like Valencia and Hernandez would need to adapt to be of any use in it.
If Berbatov and Owen leave we do need to bring in either a striker or a midfielder capable of playing off the front IMO.
I think we will bring someone in too. Fergie likes to have numerous options up front as we all know.
I think we will bring someone in too. Fergie likes to have numerous options up front as we all know.
Most fans would love to see a new striker at United once Berba is sold, and Owen most likely moves on. The pressing need however is for a midfielder. Someone who can dribble, take on defenders, and get the 8-10 goals from midfield we have lacked for years. That along with a strong defensive cover should allow Rooney to push further up the line where he can get his 35 goals a season.
I'd love to see either Llorente or Cavani in this team, but given their price tags and our pressing need in midfield I can't see it happening. I'd much rather we spend the 50 odd million it'll take to bring in a Javi Martinez and Eden Hazard / Iker Munian / Modric type players.
Hernandez has had a relatively quiet second season, but i think part of the problem has been that he's not got the type of service that he thrives on. If we address our problems in midfield I think we can see a return to season 1 form next year.
I'd love to see either Llorente or Cavani in this team, but given their price tags and our pressing need in midfield I can't see it happening. I'd much rather we spend the 50 odd million it'll take to bring in a Javi Martinez and Eden Hazard / Iker Munian / Modric type players.
Hernandez has had a relatively quiet second season, but i think part of the problem has been that he's not got the type of service that he thrives on. If we address our problems in midfield I think we can see a return to season 1 form next year.
cant young do a job upfront in the withdrawn role in a 442?
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That's a particularly bizarre one. Hernandez, 'not deadly enough'?
Aye, I threw that one in there as much for Welbeck as for Hernández I'll admit! Andy Cole's deadly but Hernández just isn't up to it...
Wait, what just happened? I posted that in the Welbeck thread didn't I?
Threadceptioned?
Interesting res though. You have to say Charlenefan's OP got it bang on - that's exactly what we got, and it's worked brilliantly.
Nope! Didn't you click on the arrow on his post?
I'm going senile