If you had to pick a player from another position and put him in the #9 role, who would you choose?

Fortitude

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Hojlund is getting hooked earlier and earlier in favour of a 17-year old who is not ready to start matches yet. We're playing with fire trying to find the balance of just how much football to give an undercooked player who isn't getting an organic promotion to first team football, but is rather being thrust into the spotlight out of sheer necessity. It could be the making of him, but it could also break him, as if we haven't become experts at that as a club.

This thread presumes Obi will continue to get game time, but as a sub, in the meantime, we still need a viable #9, even a makeshift one. Some managers will conjure out of thin air, playing someone who isn't a striker by trade in the role, other managers will literally abandon the #9 altogether and solve the problem that way. My question is to do with the former: as the title says, who would you place upfront to start games whilst keeping the status quo of Obi tagging in?

Persevering with Hojlund genuinely seems to be doing more harm than good; he desperately needs time out of the team and away from the spotlight, imo.
 
Slabhead.

Gets him out of the back 3. Ping long balls up to him so the midfield don't look so bad.

Easy,
 
Do I want Pogba back? feck no.

Would he get into our starting 11? Almost certainly.
 
Fortitude said:
Hojlund is getting hooked earlier and earlier in favour of a 17-year old who is not ready to start matches yet. We're playing with fire trying to find the balance of just how much football to give an undercooked player who isn't getting an organic promotion to first team football, but is rather being thrust into the spotlight out of sheer necessity. It could be the making of him, but it could also break him, as if we haven't become experts at that as a club.

This thread presumes Obi will continue to get game time, but as a sub, in the meantime, we still need a viable #9, even a makeshift one. Some managers will conjure out of thin air, playing someone who isn't a striker by trade in the role, other managers will literally abandon the #9 altogether and solve the problem that way. My question is to do with the former: as the title says, who would you place upfront to start games whilst keeping the status quo of Obi tagging in?

Persevering with Hojlund genuinely seems to be doing more harm than good; he desperately needs time out of the team and away from the spotlight, imo.
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De Ligt. Why not? At least he’s scored before.
 
Dorgu probably, he's got size and he's shown an ability to win fouls at least.
 
Bruno. He’s been our best midfielder, best false winger, best false #10, and all over the pitch doing everyone’s job. Like Boxer in animal farm, he’ll just have to work harder and also be our best striker. Goodness knows he’s the only one who can finish a chance.

Maybe that will be enough for Keane.
 
Probably Garnacho. Yes he’s finishing is horrible these days but at least he’s making good runs off the ball and getting into those positions to have a chance in the first place. And he’s also selfish which is a trait that you want in a striker.
 
Zirkzee, Garnacho and Bruno front 3. Zirkzee through the middle but drops back in the build-up. Garnacho tries to get behind. Bruno does his thing.
 
Zirkzee.

Wild option: Dalot. He makes decent runs, is actually a good ball striker and him being up top means less brainfarts in defense atleast.
 
Gee, talk about scramble here.
Dalot is strong and fast and make good runs forward but his composure in front of goal is terrible.
Garnacho is fast and make good runs forward but his composure in front of goal is terrible.
Bruno has the quality and composure to not look clueless up there but we badly need him elsewhere.

Casemiro maybe, he is of course to slow but he times his runs into the box well, is strong in the air and has decent feet and good vision, decent shot as well. Could probably help with the link up a lot better than Höjlund and could probably find the goal a few times.

Yoro? Seems technically on par with most players in our squad and has size and pace to compete with centerbacks.
 
Michael Keane is out of contract this summer and pretty handy up front. Bring him home.
 
The orthodox answer here would be Garnacho. His finishing is bad but his movement is probably the best of anyone in the team right now. He likely would score just by increased volume of chances.

The unorthodox answer would be Casemiro. He has a good eye for goal and his finishing is decent.
 
Gordon S said:
Gee, talk about scramble here.
Dalot is strong and fast and make good runs forward but his composure in front of goal is terrible.
Garnacho is fast and make good runs forward but his composure in front of goal is terrible.
Bruno has the quality and composure to not look clueless up there but we badly need him elsewhere.

Casemiro maybe, he is of course to slow but he times his runs into the box well, is strong in the air and has decent feet and good vision, decent shot as well. Could probably help with the link up a lot better than Höjlund and could probably find the goal a few times.

Yoro? Seems technically on par with most players in our squad and has size and pace to compete with centerbacks.
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Yoro mentioned to Rio he played as a striker a few years ago. Obviously most players at some stage have played the role but he's probably skilful enough and would allow us to cross for the header.
 
I strongly believe Obi should still be having games with the u21, just to safe guard against killing him with the first team before his career even starts. So 1 week with the seniors side then 1 week back with the u21.

As for who should start up front. I think starting both Hojlund and Zirkzee isn't really benefitting either of them. So just drop Hojlund (not for the EL games, Rasmus can play those from kick-off) and play with a front 3 of Garnacho-Zirkzee-Bruno.

Also why don't we see players rotating positions during games anymore. Garnacho can play left and right. Zirkzee can move around too...just try something different during games ffs!
 
The only realistic answer is Bruno given he can actually play false 9 to a degree, but Amorim would need to go to our setup in the FA cup final for it.
 
Maguire would do better upfront for us than Hojlund does, as he’d actually win headers.
 
Casemiro he has got a great eye for goal, is an aerial threat and his suicidal passing would be less of an issue at CF.
 
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