Strikers...

It all comes down to Falcao really, if he doesnt sign then united will be in the market over the summer. If Falcao doesnt start banging goals in then he's not worth paying 50m, tbh i'd like to see him just playing a lone striker with wingers on each side but the problem with that is united has no decent wingers, so delivery in wide areas where Falcao can really come alive cant do that. So its unknown at this point if Falcao can be an offically contracted manchester united player. Rooney looks to be settle to be a more central midfield in the future. So its just Wilson and RVP, one inexperience, but with potential player and a veteran striker whos coming to part of his career where footballers (strikers mostly) cant play high intensity football week in and week out.

But what i'd like to see in the future is Wingers. If LVG wants to keep to his philosophy, then he'll defiantly be in market for a wingers, if this market (doubt it) or summer. But united are crying for wingers, because playing down the middle is just the only option and united do need a different solution with impact. and get rid of this 352!!!!
 
Rozay said:
It isn't as simple as that. That just ultimately means they are good 'finishers', and we need to create more for them to put the finishing touch on. That may be true, but that doesn't mean it is good enough. Aguero, Costa, Sanchez become a problem for the opposition as soon a they pick the ball up in the opponent's half. Ours become a threat when they get it in the opponents box. None of our strikers could have scored Aguero's second goal against Munich for instance. He intercepted a pass on the halfway line, and was immediately a danger to Bayern's goal. One of our strikers would have, at best, gathered it in, and had to likely turn backwards and laid it off. This would have been aplauded as 'good hold up play', but it is a far blunter threat. If they tried to run at goal like Aguero did, they would have been caught by Jerome. Last season, we had Welbeck who could do the run bit, but not finish it like Aguero, as he demonstrated against Bayern himself.

Sanchez' first goal against Stoke on Saturday was not a result of 'service'. The position he picked the ball up in would not have led to a goal if it were one of our strikers. Any striker who requires a regular supply of the ball in space in the opponents penalty box to become a threat to them cannot be called complete. We need a better contribution as a top side. It's too predictable and easy to defend agains
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I agree with most of this.

Im not sure our forwards complement each other that well. I also think they need some more pace around them. Either way we need to create more chances than we did vs Southampton.
 
Rozay said:
I know some players can surprise you, but it just seems most of the top youngsters coming up in the game now are not strikers. I can't even see who in the 19-23 age range who could move into the world class bracket in 2 or 3 years now.
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Lacazette from Lyon.
 
Chaky_Best said:
We miss an immense goal scorer since Ruud Van Nistelrooy. We had Rooney hitting 34 one year, RVP 27, but we need somebody able of doing it every year.
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Had that Ronaldo lad didn't we. He scored a few.
 
Falcao hasn't shown any sign of being worth half the money he costs in wages, let alone the fee.
 
Invictus said:
But there's one particular striker who's really grown on me despite not being a big fan of him until this season. And that's Harry Kane. Could very well be a case of a player going through a purple goal-scoring patch but he really seems to have progressed rapidly, in almost Bale-esque fashion in terms of his productivity. 16 goals in 20 odd games is a superb return and can't be a pure coincidence. Especially considering his overall team-play, physical menace or holdup ability, and quite tellingly a lot of them helped earn extra points for Tottenham.

Might be a bit premature to sign him but then there's always an element of Levy demanding absurd amounts of money if Kane can build upon this run of form and establishes himself as a genuinely top notch striker. If we could get him for about £30 million that would be money well spent and give us a good core of English players going forward in conjunction with the likes of Shaw. Might sound ridiculous but if he keeps developing, it wouldn't be surprising if Kane winds up as the best pure English #9 on his generation following in the footsteps of Shearer or Linekar. My only major concern is that he isn't the fastest player around and might slow down considerably in the future.
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I know that on the Caf the idea of going for the best English talent is not always met with the most positive of responses, but I am a firm believer we should be at the front of the cue for Barkley, and if Kane continues his form for the rest of the season he should certainly be in our thoughts, although we know Levy will pull our pants down on the fee.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if we do get a striker, as I do feel that LVG isn't happy with the lack of pace our 'big 3' give us. He's mentioned pace a few times now, normally along the lines of Wilson giving us something that the others don't. I think that's why he also played Di Maria up front in the last match. So unless he thinks Wilson is actually ready to take on a fairly big role very soon, he may be looking to inject a bit of pace up front.
 
FacerTheRed said:
It all comes down to Falcao really, if he doesnt sign then united will be in the market over the summer. If Falcao doesnt start banging goals in then he's not worth paying 50m, tbh i'd like to see him just playing a lone striker with wingers on each side
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Agreed. Would like to see what he could deliver in a 4231 with any of Mata, Rooney, ADM and Herrera behind him. Sadly though, i don't think he will get his breakthrough here.

IMO, we need a (young) striker that has pace, and a bit of trickery and flair. Someone who could make things happen on their own, and run at defenders. Both Rooney and RVP are great goal scorers, but lacks that ability to conjure danger out of nothing (these days at least)
 
I think pacey wide players is what Van Gaal wants. We need something other than Di Maria in there.
 
I can see us going for Depay in summer easily. Worked with LVG before, Dutch, pacey and talented.

PSV aren't likely to absolutely fleece us for the deal and he isn't likely to cost an absolute fortune in wages either.

Depay - striker - Di Maria
 
Paco Alcacer and Domenico Berardi could be options as well.
 
Invictus said:
Might sound ridiculous but if he keeps developing, it wouldn't be surprising if Kane winds up as one of those reliable midtable English #9s of his generation following in the footsteps of Defoe or Austin. My only major concern is that he isn't the fastest player around and might slow down considerably in the future.
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Fixed.
 
ADJUDICATOR said:
Fixed.
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Err sorry but that was just my personal opinion mate. Didn't necessarily need fixing. There are always some anomalies that alter people's perception and although it's a bit early to tell, Kane might be be one of those players in the future. Certainly has the potential, both physical and technical (might need a bit more refining) to do it. I think it's only fair for each player to be treated on his own merit than be stereotyped because of past players' track records.
 
Invictus said:
Err sorry but that was just my personal opinion mate. Didn't necessarily need fixing. There are always some anomalies that alter people's perception and although it's a bit early to tell, Kane might be be one of those players in the future. Certainly has the potential, both physical and technical (might need a bit more refining) to do it. I think it's only fair for each player should be treated on his own merit than be stereotyped because of past players' track records.
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Fair enough if that's your opinion. Watching Kane I've seen enough fluffed lines, miscues, and clangers to suggest that he's technically Championship standard. Physically he is nothing special save his large build, which is again, the mark of lower level striker like Davies, Lambert and Carroll (although he has some gym work to do to reach their bulky bests ). I feel that the projection I've claimed he will make is what would be normal, and that your suggestion is extremely improbable.
 
Am I alone in not wanting a striker? If anything, I would actually - if it came down to it - sell one of our strikers and play Rooney as a loan striker.
 
DWelbz19 said:
Am I alone in not wanting a striker? If anything, I would actually - if it came down to it - sell one of our strikers and play Rooney as a loan striker.
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Most probably want to prioritise one other areas, but it could become an issue in the near future. We could also make it less of an issue and change the formation permanently to 4-3-3 or 4-4-1-1, therefore it will be unnecessary to sign a new striker/Falcao. We need a winger or more players for the wide areas though. Edit: This is also what I would prefer us to do.
 
DWelbz19 said:
Am I alone in not wanting a striker? If anything, I would actually - if it came down to it - sell one of our strikers and play Rooney as a loan striker.
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Yeah, I'd like us to go back to playing Rooney up top on his own in a 4-3-3, and surround him with fast, dynamic players. Two quick, unpredictable wide forwards, Di Maria launching from midfield, and a strong, creative box to box midfielder. I think RVP would prosper in that sort of set up too.
 
Terminate the Falcao nonsense, allow RVP to play less games, and buy a new striker with plenty of pace in the Summer.

That would be my (very simplified plan) plan.
 
i dont eve think we need a striker. if we aren't scoring prolifically with falcao, rvp and rooney in the squad the problem lies with the system of play and other positions. i would much prefer we move to a lone striker system, dont buy falcao and have rooney uptop with wide forwards like Reus/bale/januzaj beside him. that way we can utilise a proper midfield 3 like Carrick-herrera-di maria or blind/fellaini. and rotate in rvp if hes in form. there would be plenty of games for rvp to get a sniff.
 
DWelbz19 said:
Am I alone in not wanting a striker? If anything, I would actually - if it came down to it - sell one of our strikers and play Rooney as a loan striker.
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Rooney's not on loan mate, we bought him years ago. ;) I wouldn't have an issue with this but I think Rooney would, to me he likes to be involved to much and play towards the goal as opposed to being the Benzema of United in the hold and link role.
 
Devil may care said:
Rooney's not on loan mate, we bought him years ago. ;) I wouldn't have an issue with this but I think Rooney would, to me he likes to be involved to much and play towards the goal as opposed to being the Benzema of United in the hold and link role.
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Benzema actually drops a fairly decent amount himself, it's just that Bale and Ronaldo (namely Ronaldo) drift inwards so much it allows him to do so without any real ramifications. I actually remember at the WC the BBC pundits were accusing him of doing it too much, he stuck with Nasri and Griezmann too much. If we put Rooney with a few goalscoring wingers, I think we'd be fine.
OnlyTwoDaSilvas said:
Yeah, I'd like us to go back to playing Rooney up top on his own in a 4-3-3, and surround him with fast, dynamic players. Two quick, unpredictable wide forwards, Di Maria launching from midfield, and a strong, creative box to box midfielder. I think RVP would prosper in that sort of set up too.
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Yeah, that sounds really good to me. Or, winger - Rooney - Di Maria, with Herrera and Strootman behind. Just dynamism and power all around when we attack. RvP as a second choice striker, playing half of the games, or the more easier home games with Rooney in an attacking position next season would be great.
 
DWelbz19 said:
Benzema actually drops a fairly decent amount himself, it's just that Bale and Ronaldo (namely Ronaldo) drift inwards so much it allows him to do so without any real ramifications. I actually remember at the WC the BBC pundits were accusing him of doing it too much, he stuck with Nasri and Griezmann too much. If we put Rooney with a few goalscoring wingers, I think we'd be fine.
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I see what you mean, basically use Rooney as a false 9 instead of a hold up striker? That would actually work really well with the player mentioned most in here, as Lacazette can operate right across the front 3, I'm just wonder if Di Maria is ideally suited to a front 3, he's not really a prolific goal scorer.
 
So far every striker we have played has struggled. RvP, Rooney (when played further up), Falcao, Wilson, Hernandez and Welbeck. Tells you something is wrong when so many strikers look lost out there on the pitch. Until the time LvG decides to play a formation where creating chances for the strikers is a priority, then it won't matter who we sign, they will struggle.

In saying all that, i won't mind seeing Berahino and Lacazette at United in the summer. Berahino looks a little similar to Dwight Yorke in playing style, and has very good finishing ability.
 
Devil may care said:
I see what you mean, basically use Rooney as a false 9 instead of a hold up striker? That would actually work really well with the player mentioned most in here, as Lacazette can operate right across the front 3, I'm just wonder if Di Maria is ideally suited to a front 3, he's not really a prolific goal scorer.
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Yeah, it's all a bit FM/Fifa career mode dreamy but if we did manage to get Bale, he would be perfect foil for that. Di Maria could maybe play as the LCM, with two defensive orientated CM's beside him. Something like;

Depay* - Rooney - Bale
Di Maria - CM
Blind
 
Bobcat said:
Agreed. Would like to see what he could deliver in a 4231 with any of Mata, Rooney, ADM and Herrera behind him. Sadly though, i don't think he will get his breakthrough here.

IMO, we need a (young) striker that has pace, and a bit of trickery and flair. Someone who could make things happen on their own, and run at defenders. Both Rooney and RVP are great goal scorers, but lacks that ability to conjure danger out of nothing (these days at least)
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I dont think it would make any difference really even if you had them three behind him, the problem is that LVG is attacking through the middle and not attacking on the wings and stretching the opposition. Reason is simply because united have no talent on the wings, which means he has to resort to a more compact style of play. Which just doesnt help strikers like Falcao to find space between defenders because their no stretched. Thats why you see sometimes Falcao or RVP moving to wide because they're trying to stretch the defense. It doesnt suit how they play and that's why they are lacking goals, thats why Rooney is getting more goals because when the strikers do stretch that defense, it opens up some gaps in certain positions where he can just bang it in if the right delivery comes to him of course.

I do agree united do need a striker with pace and trickery like Aguero type player, but do united already have one, potentially (Wilson)? also once LVG has his right players and in my prediction he most likely fall into a 433 formation once he do have them right players, will a pacey striker type player who likes to run behind defenders than a strong centre forward who can hold off defenders whilst on the ball and feed the ball out wide? It one of those things though you have to consider, but discussing about purchasing strikers at this moment is irreverent and unknown, considering the real problem is the defense. It should of been sorted before the season even started, but LVG didnt know the players at that present so give him the benefit of the doubt. But he now knows the problems and hopefully can bring in a solution to strengthen the main problem in the team and address the other areas either this market or summer.
 
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DWelbz19 said:
Yeah, it's all a bit FM/Fifa career mode dreamy but if we did manage to get Bale, he would be perfect foil for that. Di Maria could maybe play as the LCM, with two defensive orientated CM's beside him. Something like;

Depay* - Rooney - Bale
Di Maria - CM
Blind
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I think this is how I hope we'll line up next season:

winger(Depay?) - Rooney - Bale
Di Maria - The Stroot
Blind
Shaw-Rojo-(Hummels/Godin)-Coleman

Personally I think our primary targets are Hummels, Strootman and Bale.
 
Sam said:
Terminate the Falcao nonsense, allow RVP to play less games, and buy a new striker with plenty of pace in the Summer.

That would be my (very simplified plan) plan.
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Simple is sometimes better and in this case it is

Bin Falcao
Bring back chicharito
Buy laccazette
Bench rvp

Sorted
 
ADJUDICATOR said:
Fair enough if that's your opinion. Watching Kane I've seen enough fluffed lines, miscues, and clangers to suggest that he's technically Championship standard. Physically he is nothing special save his large build, which is again, the mark of lower level striker like Davies, Lambert and Carroll (although he has some gym work to do to reach their bulky bests ). I feel that the projection I've claimed he will make is what would be normal, and that your suggestion is extremely improbable.
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Technically championship standard? God help you.
 
Sam said:
Terminate the Falcao nonsense, allow RVP to play less games, and buy a new striker with plenty of pace in the Summer.

That would be my (very simplified plan) plan.
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Simple plan but the correct one, falcao needs to go even if he improves. Squeeze another year out of RVP and bring in either lacazette or dybala.

We probably need a striker this summer and another next summer. RVP only has a year left, Rooney hardly plays there anymore and his mobility is declining (falcao only has a good year or two so makes even less sense signing him) and Wilson needs more time before a judgement can be made.
 
Rozay said:
As the list of required surgery seems to be lengthening, does anyone think this is another position we will need to be looking to bring in real top drawer in the near future?

With RVP seemingly suffering from his injury problems again, and then the fact that he'll be 31 in the summer anyway - coupled with the fact that Rooney looks to have a very good chance of leaving this year too, I think we may need to start looking at strikers.

I mean, if we were losing a Hernandez or Welbeck (and according to which paper you read, Rooney leaving is also a possibility anyway), we could perhaps dismiss it and say 'ah, we have Keane or Henriquez'. However, I'm not convinced we could afford to have the quality of those two out of our team for a sustained period without rectifying it. The amount of goals and general attacking influence will surely need to be replaced, and such is their quality, that it would take a very top player.

Problem is, I can't really think of any young strikers who could perhaps go on to be very top bracket that may be available in the next 15 months or so. Luis Muriel perhaps, off the top of my head, but I'm sure Moyes has already begun work on that list. The need is very much on the horizon though.
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Totally agree. Our strikers are a problem right now. If they aren't at opposite ends of the age extreme or recovering from serious injury that may not see them return to their former glory, they are being played in midfield.
 
I'd let Falcao go back to Monaco, sell Van Persie and Hernandez, push Rooney up top permanently, keep Wilson and buy Lacazette so then our strike options would be Wilson, Lacazette, Rooney which would have the perfect balance imo and it would allow us to settle on a 433.
 
Well, a Dybala bid has been rejected, according to the Guardian. If we are going to sign a striker, he'd be great. Young, pacey, skillful... I could deal with that.
 
I really like the look of Vietto from Villarreal. He has pace, good link up play and is a good finisher. Has 13 goals and 6 assists this season.
 
DWelbz19 said:
Well, a Dybala bid has been rejected, according to the Guardian. If we are going to sign a striker, he'd be great. Young, pacey, skillful... I could deal with that.
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I mention him in another thread this morning and suddenly we've bid for him. Coincidence? Almost certainly not.
 
DWelbz19 said:
Yeah, it's all a bit FM/Fifa career mode dreamy but if we did manage to get Bale, he would be perfect foil for that. Di Maria could maybe play as the LCM, with two defensive orientated CM's beside him. Something like;

Depay* - Rooney - Bale
Di Maria - CM
Blind
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I'd like to see this but I am not convinced that now LvG has gotten an up close look at the PL that he'll fancy Di Maria in any midfield combination, that's why I'm hoping we are in for two CM's this summer for the box to box roles so that Rooney can play up top, as this is how I see us starting next season.

Depay-----RvP----Di Maria
-----Rooney--Strootman
------------Blind

jb8521 said:
I really like the look of Vietto from Villarreal. He has pace, good link up play and is a good finisher. Has 13 goals and 6 assists this season.
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Only seen him a couple of times but he does look a good prospect.
 
There are few more dastardly offences than Rooney in midfield while van Persie is up top. van Gaal's love in with the guy has to stop.
 
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