We need a fecking centre forward thread

Infuriating, the number of chances we squandered in the two games against Omonia. Lack of goals in those games has cost us two extra fixtures in an already congested season and with limited depth in attacking areas to deal with it.
 
The White Pele said:
Infuriating, the number of chances we squandered in the two games against Omonia. Lack of goals in those games has cost us two extra fixtures in an already congested season and with limited depth in attacking areas to deal with it.
Click to expand...
Exactly this. That is what cost us top place (and the poor var penalty decision on that strange GW1).
 
Yep. If the club decides not to tap into the market for a forward in January, then it's unlikely we will get anywhere important this season. The missed chances will slowly add up overtime.
 
The White Pele said:
Infuriating, the number of chances we squandered in the two games against Omonia. Lack of goals in those games has cost us two extra fixtures in an already congested season and with limited depth in attacking areas to deal with it.
Click to expand...
It's the game at Old Trafford that really cost us. Rashford and Ronaldo had so many chances in that game.
 
pogbasformerbarber said:
I have to disagree here...Maybe one of the best I've ever seen at his age at using both feet. His one on one from the right side was lethal and I felt like his positioning was well above average (and would improve even more over time). Sad to say he showed all of the traits to be world class. Even in your post...Haaland is Haaland...hes incomparable to anyone at this point. Hes simply the best in the world IMHO. Mbappe and Vini Jr are better, but also play in much easier leagues for a CF. And he's 2 years younger than Mbappe...thats a fair difference at this point. I frankly don't agree that Foden and Saka are significantly better.

He also got better every year and clearly worked very hard. I, again sadly, feel like he would have been world class this year with Antony, Rashford, and Sancho as our wingers along and regular starts at CF...

To the point of the thread though I desperately want us to get Martinez from Inter this summer...Seeing how Martial has blossomed a bit with his link up capabilities, I think Martinez would go nuclear in ETH's system. His skillset is perfect and he's absolutely clinical as a finisher. Its a crime hes not here already...
Click to expand...
You're making my argument for me. "Haaland is Haaland, he's incomparable to anyone" - that infers that he's the generational talent. The person I replied to said MG was once in a generation. He's clearly not unless you think a generation is a year and even at that, it'd be very debatable that Greenwood is the best talent born in 2001.
 
The White Pele said:
Infuriating, the number of chances we squandered in the two games against Omonia. Lack of goals in those games has cost us two extra fixtures in an already congested season and with limited depth in attacking areas to deal with it.
Click to expand...

Yeah we ate up way too much of the clock scoring the first goal against Ommonia and frustratingly has come back to bite us
 
I am struggling to think of a world class centre forward who scored goals without good service.

Haaland would struggle to get goals for us. If you look at majority of his goals this season they are van nistelrooy esque. He knows where and when the delivery is coming regardless who has it at city. Ronaldo and Rushford are feeding on mainly scraps. They make runs for crosses or passes and the pass doesn't come. So next play they don't make the dart and the pass does come.

Van nistelrooy knew Beckham had the ball it's one touch cross. Giggsy going to push fullback to the byline and cross. Scholes gets ball get ready to roll the defender.

Maybe not enough scenarios are done in training to learn or there is and the players get stage fright when get in final third.
 
CM10 said:
What are the alternatives right now though? Outside of Haaland and Mbappe, who are both unattainable, more or less every young striker represents a gamble in some shape or form.

I think a deal for Kane likely depends on what Spurs ask for him and how badly he wants out. In terms of quality though, there aren't many who can touch him.
Click to expand...

I will tell you what Spurs want it's £100m
 
berbasloth4 said:
I am struggling to think of a world class centre forward who scored goals without good service.

Haaland would struggle to get goals for us. If you look at majority of his goals this season they are van nistelrooy esque. He knows where and when the delivery is coming regardless who has it at city. Ronaldo and Rushford are feeding on mainly scraps. They make runs for crosses or passes and the pass doesn't come. So next play they don't make the dart and the pass does come.

Van nistelrooy knew Beckham had the ball it's one touch cross. Giggsy going to push fullback to the byline and cross. Scholes gets ball get ready to roll the defender.

Maybe not enough scenarios are done in training to learn or there is and the players get stage fright when get in final third.
Click to expand...
I actually think Halaand is so good that he would score lots for us but I get what you are saying - and it's one of the reasons I had Beckham high up in that list of top United players a while back
 
berbasloth4 said:
I am struggling to think of a world class centre forward who scored goals without good service.

Haaland would struggle to get goals for us. If you look at majority of his goals this season they are van nistelrooy esque. He knows where and when the delivery is coming regardless who has it at city. Ronaldo and Rushford are feeding on mainly scraps. They make runs for crosses or passes and the pass doesn't come. So next play they don't make the dart and the pass does come.

Van nistelrooy knew Beckham had the ball it's one touch cross. Giggsy going to push fullback to the byline and cross. Scholes gets ball get ready to roll the defender.

Maybe not enough scenarios are done in training to learn or there is and the players get stage fright when get in final third.
Click to expand...
Forwards contribute to goals in more ways than just being the last person to touch the ball before it goes into the goal. Look at Gabriel Jesus's impact at Arsenal. Ronaldo not alone isn't scoring his chances but he's been to the active detriment of the team. Rather than pinning the opposition centre backs in place by taking up positions high up between them, Ronaldo is drawn to wherever the ball is and he invariably ends up taking up space where Rashford and Bruno tend to occupy meaning defenders have less space to mark but also our attacking shape is very poor as a result. Him dropping deep also allows centre backs to be an extra man and easily beat our press which also reduces attacking opportunities. It's why a disciplined box presence would be so important for this team.
 
Bojan Djordjic said:
You're making my argument for me. "Haaland is Haaland, he's incomparable to anyone" - that infers that he's the generational talent. The person I replied to said MG was once in a generation. He's clearly not unless you think a generation is a year and even at that, it'd be very debatable that Greenwood is the best talent born in 2001.
Click to expand...

I don't view generational talent as only one player in the world. I would argue Messi, Ronaldo, Modric, and Lewandowski (and possibly Zlatan) are all generational talents. Haaland is a generational talent, and I believe Greenwood would have been in that conversation this year. Thats an opinion thats impossible to prove...but an opinion nonetheless.
 
Bojan Djordjic said:
Forwards contribute to goals in more ways than just being the last person to touch the ball before it goes into the goal. Look at Gabriel Jesus's impact at Arsenal. Ronaldo not alone isn't scoring his chances but he's been to the active detriment of the team. Rather than pinning the opposition centre backs in place by taking up positions high up between them, Ronaldo is drawn to wherever the ball is and he invariably ends up taking up space where Rashford and Bruno tend to occupy meaning defenders have less space to mark but also our attacking shape is very poor as a result. Him dropping deep also allows centre backs to be an extra man and easily beat our press which also reduces attacking opportunities. It's why a disciplined box presence would be so important for this team.
Click to expand...
Completely agree. In fact ETH seems to like Martial so much because of his hold up and link play as much as anything else. I really think we will be a different team in terms of goal threat once a fit Martial or a proper ETH player is in at number 9. It’s not Rashy and it’s not Ronny. But it also doesn’t have to be a 30 goal a season player either. The right number 9 will see us creating better chances from wide and from midfield.
 
captaincantona said:
Completely agree. In fact ETH seems to like Martial so much because of his hold up and link play as much as anything else. I really think we will be a different team in terms of goal threat once a fit Martial or a proper ETH player is in at number 9. It’s not Rashy and it’s not Ronny. But it also doesn’t have to be a 30 goal a season player either. The right number 9 will see us creating better chances from wide and from midfield.
Click to expand...

Firmino is the prime example of this. A fit martial could be that man for us
 
Playing Harry Maguire upfront yesterday was a statement from ETH. We will get a N0 9 during the January transfer window. Lucky for us, the WC is close:,-)An opportunity to see a lot of players prove themselves. What do you thing John Murtough will be thinking seeing Harry Maguire as our target man! We will get that striker for sure. We have all accepted we need a striker even when the greatest striker that ever played is in our team! That speaks volume, Ronnie has passed it.
 
Just to throw it out there, Fergie played Vidic at #9 plenty of times when we were chasing a goal. And this was with Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo playing.

Lump it to the big guy in the box is normal tactics.
 
nakpodiareuben said:
Playing Harry Maguire upfront yesterday was a statement from ETH. We will get a N0 9 during the January transfer window. Lucky for us, the WC is close:,-)An opportunity to see a lot of players prove themselves. What do you thing John Murtough will be thinking seeing Harry Maguire as our target man! We will get that striker for sure. We have all accepted we need a striker even when the greatest striker that ever played is in our team! That speaks volume, Ronnie has passed it.
Click to expand...
Never thought of it like that. With the window opening soon. Possibly wanted to wave a flag at Murtough who has been dampening expectations like a pro.
 
Teja said:
Just to throw it out there, Fergie played Vidic at #9 plenty of times when we were chasing a goal. And this was with Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo playing.

Lump it to the big guy in the box is normal tactics.
Click to expand...


I remember Rio much more than Vidic. But I never remembered any playing on the CF positions in the final 10mins+ additional time. Harry came because Ronaldo was losing those aerial balls with sociedad defenders allowing sociedad to regain possession. He did not really come in because we wanted him to score but to knock the ball down for team mates who should then be creating the chances.
 
I hope we go for a young talent who doesn't mind being a back up. At his fittest Martialis the best CF we have. So we have Rashford, Garnacho, Antony and Martial and assuming Ronaldo is gone we need someone willing to learn and to accept a back up role
 
pogbasformerbarber said:
I have to disagree here...Maybe one of the best I've ever seen at his age at using both feet. His one on one from the right side was lethal and I felt like his positioning was well above average (and would improve even more over time). Sad to say he showed all of the traits to be world class. Even in your post...Haaland is Haaland...hes incomparable to anyone at this point. Hes simply the best in the world IMHO. Mbappe and Vini Jr are better, but also play in much easier leagues for a CF. And he's 2 years younger than Mbappe...thats a fair difference at this point. I frankly don't agree that Foden and Saka are significantly better.

He also got better every year and clearly worked very hard. I, again sadly, feel like he would have been world class this year with Antony, Rashford, and Sancho as our wingers along and regular starts at CF...

To the point of the thread though I desperately want us to get Martinez from Inter this summer...Seeing how Martial has blossomed a bit with his link up capabilities, I think Martinez would go nuclear in ETH's system. His skillset is perfect and he's absolutely clinical as a finisher. Its a crime hes not here already...
Click to expand...

Think that's due to him seemingly not wanting to leave Italy and the fact we had to spend the budget elsewhere
 
Last edited:
captaincantona said:
Completely agree. In fact ETH seems to like Martial so much because of his hold up and link play as much as anything else. I really think we will be a different team in terms of goal threat once a fit Martial or a proper ETH player is in at number 9. It’s not Rashy and it’s not Ronny. But it also doesn’t have to be a 30 goal a season player either. The right number 9 will see us creating better chances from wide and from midfield.
Click to expand...

So who would fit the bill for you then
 
dutchred said:
I hope we go for a young talent who doesn't mind being a back up. At his fittest Martialis the best CF we have. So we have Rashford, Garnacho, Antony and Martial and assuming Ronaldo is gone we need someone willing to learn and to accept a back up role
Click to expand...

Martial has never been a good enough CF to be starting for a side with title aspirations and beyond that has fitness struggles. He should be the back-up next season, behind a legitimately top end striker.

We're going nowhere if we go into next season once again hoping Martial can stay fit because he's the best CF option we have.
 
croadyman said:
So who would fit the bill for you then
Click to expand...
I think Jesus would have been good here. Martinez at Inter. Nkunku. Obvious and somewhat unattainable choices.

think we are gonna be back in the stop gap bargain basement unfortunately.
 
Last edited:
captaincantona said:
I think Jesus would have been good here. Martinez at Inter. Nkunku. Obvious and somewhat unattainable choices.

think we are gonna be back in the stop gap bargain basement unfortunately.
Click to expand...

Yeah think we are,absolutely certain Jesus was only ever going to Arsenal due to Arteta
 
You must log in or register to reply here.