Where do we find more goals ?

[Smores]

I hope the target is top 4 this season and a top 6 acceptable. We've bought 2 young prospects so far and have moved up a few academy players, they'll need time to hit the ground running. Considering how we finished last season, both position and form, we can't expect miracles with literally the same squad. Also I feel that our midfield could use a massive investment before we can see some magic being done.

Our form last season isnt the baseline it got the manager rightly sacked. The same team finished 2nd the previous season, it's weird to use our shite season as the new baseline of what this team should achieve.

 

[swred]

There appears to be a bit of a better confidence & aura around the team.
Pre-season is going well thus far, i'm confident for the season ahead, hell, it can't be worse than last season.
I'm not sure we'll struggle for goals without Rom, because we'll be playing a different way, having had time to prepare.
I can also see Greenwood scoring a reasonable amount if he's given game time.

 

[kouroux]

Our form last season isnt the baseline it got the manager rightly sacked. The same team finished 2nd the previous season, it's weird to use our shite season as the new baseline of what this team should achieve.

That 2nd place feels like an illusion tbh, despite the ranking I never saw Man United as that much better from the rest. We grinded out results after results but with no real football to use as a basis, the following season with the 6th place feels more "adequate".

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Our form last season isnt the baseline it got the manager rightly sacked. The same team finished 2nd the previous season, it's weird to use our shite season as the new baseline of what this team should achieve.

Using finishing 2nd as a baseline is just as weird.

That season featured almost miraculous statistics from De Gea and Liverpool and Spurs have improved enormously since then. We’re clearly nowhere near the best two teams in the league and it’s madness to expect us to suddenly be up there at the top of the table.

There are fine margins between 3rd and 6th place but, realistically, they are the places we’ll be fighting for. So I can’t see anything wrong in that post you quoted.

 

[Cee90]

Assuming Lukaku leaves, I'm expecting Martial, Pogba and Rashford to get around 15 each this season.

If we get the likes of Bruno Fernandes, I'd also like to think he could chip in with a similar amount.

That totals to around 60 goals between them.

I've just had a look at our record last season, and saw that we only scored 65 across the whole team, which is worrying, so I hope the likes of Mata, Greenwood, Lingard can chip in with at least 5-10 each to help bring this total up.

 

[Stacks]

By doing something that none of our attacking players have done in the last decade - becoming better than they were the season before.

truly is that simple

 

[Smores]

Using finishing 2nd as a baseline is just as weird.

That season featured almost miraculous statistics from De Gea and Liverpool and Spurs have improved enormously since then. We’re clearly nowhere near the best two teams in the league and it’s madness to expect us to suddenly be up there at the top of the table.

There are fine margins between 3rd and 6th place but, realistically, they are the places we’ll be fighting for. So I can’t see anything wrong in that post you quoted.

I'm not saying 2nd is the baseline I'm just using it to counter the logic that 6th is acceptable because that's where we finished. That was a severe underperformance and would still be an underperformance probably worthy of costing Ole his job depending on the points gap and if we win the EL.

Top 4 should be our baseline, which incidentally lies between our great and then terrible last two seasons.

It's just weird that top 4 has become this almost out of reach achievement worthy of praise. No one thought that going into last season, they thought Jose might drag us out of top 4 but not that the team was below a top 4 standard.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I'm not saying 2nd is the baseline I'm just using it to counter the logic that 6th is acceptable because that's where we finished. That was a severe underperformance and would still be an underperformance probably worthy of costing Ole his job depending on the points gap and if we win the EL.

Top 4 should be our baseline, which incidentally lies between our great and then terrible last two seasons.

It's just weird that top 4 has become this almost out of reach achievement worthy of praise. No one thought that going into last season, they thought Jose might drag us out of top 4 but not that the team was below a top 4 standard.

I can’t speak for everyone but I was banging on about how tough top four would be, at almost exactly this time last year.

We don’t operate in isolation and getting top four is harder now than at almost any time in PL history. We had two PL teams in the CL final, neither of whom won the league. The fact it was the second CL final in a row for Liverpool and City beat them in the league speaks volumes.

People need to get their heads around the fact that the PL is no longer a “big four” then the best of the rest. Where a club like United can coast into CL football, even after a relatively poor season. Those days are over.

That's what really boils my piss about the Van Gaal/Mourinho era. It feels like a missed opportunity. Now that City and Liverpool have two of the best managers in the modern game, out-spending us in the transfer market, and with their teams operating exactly the way they want them it makes breaking the top two an almost impossible task. Certainly in Ole's first full season in charge. So our best possible outcome is battling it out for 3rd place downwards. Against historically strong teams like Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as the best Spurs side in PL history. All of which obviously means there are incredibly fine margins between finishing 3rd or 6th so I just don't get this binary idea that 4th place is fine and 6th place a disaster. Not with the top half of the PL as competitive as it is right now. This is a shite state of affairs, compared to what we're used to but it's the reality we're up against.

 

[Gandalf Greyhame]

If we get Bruno Fernandes and keep Pogba, that's potentially 25+ goals from midfield. DMs (like Longstaff?) who can enable those two to go forward would then be easily worth their weight in gold.

 

[patty123]

We can take that he can shoot. Obviously.

Mate, go be pedantic with someone else. I think he can score goals, you don't, whatever.

So you're one of those type, agree with me or you're opinion is worthless, the guy you replied to was right, as how can you judge a guys record when he has scored twice in a top league and the rest were in a tier 3 league and well as many call it, (SPL) Farmers league or Sunday footie and put him into a team in disarray and expect him to hit many goals.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

So you're one of those type, agree with me or you're opinion is worthless, the guy you replied to was right, as how can you judge a guys record when he has scored twice in a top league and the rest were in a tier 3 league and well as many call it, (SPL) Farmers league or Sunday footie and put him into a team in disarray and expect him to hit many goals.

While it was his passing that set him apart for Boyd, it was at Blackpool that Longstaff's shooting ability really became apparent. He scored in his first four league games in English football, going on to find the net nine times during that season in League One. Gary Bowyer was the Blackpool manager at the time and he is another who saw something special.

"We watched his games for Kilmarnock and we went for it," Bowyer tells Sky Sports. "He had a fabulous season. The return of goals from midfield was outstanding. He had this unbelievable knack for shooting and being successful at it so we encouraged it. He can score from long range and most of his goals for us came from distance. He did brilliantly."

Believe it or not, the goals are the same size in League One as they are in the Premier League.

 

[Eleven-Eighteen]

Million dollar question. Fortifying your defence and midfield is well and good, but we've been woeful in the final third and in front of goal. Not sure what we've done this summer to remedy that

 

[patty123]

Believe it or not, the goals are the same size in League One as they are in the Premier League.

Wow i didnt know that, but for real, the opposition is not and its one thing scoring against that level and then doing it against bigger fish.

 

[Litch]

We are going into the season basically asking some players to do something they have never done consistently.....score goals. Rashford, Martial and Lingard have never been consistent and to get Sanchez to offer anything would be like Lazarus. Rom isn't the right fit and whilst he never scored in big games if fit could offer 15+ a season. I hope people are realistic and are not pinning their hopes on a 17 year old lad....

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Wow i didnt know that, but for real, the opposition is not and its one thing scoring against that level and then doing it against bigger fish.

All he can do is score against the opposition he's playing against. Just like Harry Kane scored all his goals against Championship opposition before taking the PL by storm.

I honestly don't even know why you're still arguing here. His career to date has clearly shown he's a midfielder who will provide a goal threat. I've just posted a quote from someone who worked with him that highlighted this as a particular strength of his game. He may or may not turn out to be a top PL midfielder. There's also a good chance we won't ever sign him. That's all besides the point though.

 

[StrettyEnder07]

Taking the burden off Pogba in midfield to create everything, if we do go ahead and sign Fernandes then that could be a very attacking move from Ole, him providing goals and assists would certainly free up Pogba who towards the end of the season was being teamed up on as if you stop Pogba you pretty much stop United playing.

Fitter, higher press, winning it back early, having some team cohesion will work, Greenwood looks like he could break through, expecting more this season from Rash, Martial as well plus more balance down the right so we can attack from both flanks.

I'm hoping that after pre season we will have a dynamic way of playing and all players will know their jobs.

 

[Ikon]

I think that we have to bear in mind that United scored 65 in the Premier League last season.
Spurs scored 66 and Chelsea scored 63...!!

Remember that Chelsea have lost their best player in Hazard, who was also their top scorer (16) and their top assist provider (15), also Morata (5) & Higuain (5) providing another 10 league goals between them.

Lukaku got 12 for us last season, and I don't think it would be expecting too much for a new signing such as Pepe to equal that tally, also as Rashford will be the main striker, its time for him to step up to the plate and deliver more than the 10 he got last season, which again, I don't think is asking too much.

 

[AUnitedOpinion]

I think we have the players that can score goals but last season they would only get a couple of chances per game. If we dont sign a RW which i doubt we will now Greenwood has to be given a lot of chances to play. The Kid can finish and if he, Rashford and Martial have more service then i am sure the goals will come.

If we want to score more we need more creativity in the midfield and not just coming from one player (Pogba). Lingard needs to step up in what ever role he is playing this season. This if the Bruno Fernandes deal happens then our goals will improve as he also likes a shot.

AWB at right back helps too, i don't think we will see him crossing balls in to the box as no one in our current team can score a header but his pace up the wing bringing the ball forward and then cutting it back will provide more than young in the past few years.

 

[sunama]

I see 4th as a baseline for what is acceptable, not a target. A target would be top two imo.

I agree. Unfortunately, Woodward sees 4th as the golden ticket.
Basically, like AFC, the aim is to spend the least money possible while attaining Champions League football (ie. 4th place).
This enables a club to maximise its profit.
Bear in mind that Jose got 6th in his first season BUT, he also won the EL trophy, which got us into the CL.
The manager gets fired when they don't get CL football, the next season.

 

[Guapa]

In answer to the thread title we need a decent centre forward. Lukaku’s just not good enough for us and Rashford takes too long to get his shot off(better coming in from the right/right wing for me).We either need to buy in or I would play Martial CF.I think he’s the most natural out off the three,or even play Sanchez if he can stay fit.

 

[Bestietom]

Good attacking play will bring more chances and more goals. We need a good midfield to service the forwards, and throw in a few goals themselves.
I would expect 20 more goals scored than last season if we play a more attacking style. 85 goals for, and then cut down the amount conceded which was 54, down to more than half. This should be our aim this season.

 

[Fosu-Mens]

In answer to the thread title we need a decent centre forward. Lukaku’s just not good enough for us and Rashford takes too long to get his shot off(better coming in from the right/right wing for me).We either need to buy in or I would play Martial CF.I think he’s the most natural out off the three,or even play Sanchez if he can stay fit.

Martial as CF, yes please. More efficient and intelligent in his decisions and movement(when he makes them) compared to Rashford.

Lukaku is good to play against teams that we will dominate in possession, but those teams are fewer and fewer each year.
Rashford, currently and has been for the last three years, not much better than he was when he came through. Not developed his movement, his passing or technique to any degree. The only thing we can say is that he got power and physicality. Needs some external input to develope some issues with his game.
Sanchez is not an option. I find it very unlikely that he suddenly will "find his form again." Finished, unless he gets on the good juice.

What we lack in the final third are creators. If we had an RW with the ability to create and not be a complete liability when off the ball (Mata), then this would do wonders. Not only would we be able to pose a threat on the right side, but this would also create more space on our left side. Thus, making the working conditions for Martial, Rashford, and James more suited to their abilities.

 

[Denis79]

Our form last season isnt the baseline it got the manager rightly sacked. The same team finished 2nd the previous season, it's weird to use our shite season as the new baseline of what this team should achieve.

Why is it wierd to want to give our youngsters time to settle, show some patience? We can't be sacking managers every two years, I feel that if Ole finishes 6th it would be acceptable, for me atleast.

And we have to be realistic, the PL is tougher than ever.

 

[Smores]

Why is it wierd to want to give our youngsters time to settle, show some patience? We can't be sacking managers every two years, I feel that if Ole finishes 6th it would be acceptable, for me atleast.

And we have to be realistic, the PL is tougher than ever.

I'm not sure your last point is true but thats a different discussion.

We do have to have some allowance if we're blooding the youngsters en mass but i see very little reason why we can't remain competitive whilst integrating them in a sensible manner like we've always done.

We've never accepted playing youth will make us worse because their minutes are usually managed until they outperform others.

 

[Foxbatt]

What happened to our second best top scorer OG?

 

[Denis79]

I'm not sure your last point is true but thats a different discussion.

We do have to have some allowance if we're blooding the youngsters en mass but i see very little reason why we can't remain competitive whilst integrating them in a sensible manner like we've always done.

We've never accepted playing youth will make us worse because their minutes are usually managed until they outperform others.

I'm satisfied with 6th you're not. Let's leave it there, simple. Pretty sure Woodward won't be happy with 6th either and if that's where we end up in May, new manager again.

 

[Momochiru]

More or less I expect the following in all competitions (assuming Lukaku leaves):

1. Rashford 16/5
2. Pogba 15/15
3. Martial 15/5
4. Sanchez 5/5
5. Lingard 5/5
6. Mata 5/5
7. James 2/4
8. Greenwood 7/3
9. Chong 0/2
10. Gomes 0/1
11. Pereira 2/5

Total for our attacking players: 72 goals / 55 assists - that's decent. The rest of the team can produce another 20+ goals. If we manage to sign couple more players, that could add another 10-20 goals - all of Fernandez, Maguire, Pepe, Longstaff have goals in them.

 

[He'sRaldo]

That 2nd place feels like an illusion tbh, despite the ranking I never saw Man United as that much better from the rest. We grinded out results after results but with no real football to use as a basis, the following season with the 6th place feels more "adequate".

I think that 2nd place was just about right, maybe 3rd would have been slightly more appropriate. I remember the previous season we played good football and created chances but Zlatan et al kept missing sitters and thus we kept drawing games.

A lot of those players are still here now, so it's fair to say we're capable of good football with those players. The only problem is some of them, like Mata, have aged badly.

 

[red4ever 79]

Sign a striker who can score goals, and a RW who can create would be a good start

 

[Decomposing In Paris]

It's the issue with the two men who encounter a tiger... one stops to put on his running shoes and the other yells at him, "There's no point, you'll never outrun a tiger!" The man in running shoes replies "No, I only have to outrun you".

We probably can't outrun City or Liverpool next season, but if we can outrun the rest it will give us a great platform to continue evolving this young team. If we get a bit of luck with injuries this season anything is possible.

 

[AaronRedDevil]

Stop crossing.

 

[Raw]

Stop crossing.

Or continue to cross but actually put it in dangerous areas and have multiple players running into the box. Ridiculous how many times we send in a brilliant cross and there's feck all players making runs into the box.

 

[SteveW]

So you're one of those type, agree with me or you're opinion is worthless, the guy you replied to was right, as how can you judge a guys record when he has scored twice in a top league and the rest were in a tier 3 league and well as many call it, (SPL) Farmers league or Sunday footie and put him into a team in disarray and expect him to hit many goals.

Will Mason Greenwood score goals for United?

 

[patty123]

Will Mason Greenwood score goals for United?

Honestly I hope so, but like with with the guy we were originally talking about, best answer, only time will tell.

All he can do is score against the opposition he's playing against. Just like Harry Kane scored all his goals against Championship opposition before taking the PL by storm.

I honestly don't even know why you're still arguing here. His career to date has clearly shown he's a midfielder who will provide a goal threat. I've just posted a quote from someone who worked with him that highlighted this as a particular strength of his game. He may or may not turn out to be a top PL midfielder. There's also a good chance we won't ever sign him. That's all besides the point though.

No its not. Why (arguing) no putting a point across as that's what the board is about and not one person saying something and we all follow like sheep, like you're coming across in you're post as expecting. So too answer, quite simply, just because he looks a prospect at Newcastle does not mean he will cut it here and we need a proven player to come in, as remember we are losing money each year we are not competing.

We will lose Adidas money this year (as well as the 40 million plus from this years Cl anyway) if we dont qualify and please dont dare say we can take it, as just read the anti owners threads for proof and the latest Forbes valuation seen us dropped from 2nd to 6th, we can't just keep taking hits and bringing in players who are not ready, as 9 games is not proven and thats all the lad has, let him prove himself for a year there under Brucie and if true he is faltered by our interest, there's always Jan window as we can offer Brucie a loan deal on top of money.

 

[SteveW]

Honestly I hope so, but like with with the guy we were originally talking about, best answer, only time will tell.

No its not. Why (arguing) no putting a point across as that's what the board is about and not one person saying something and we all follow like sheep, like you're coming across in you're post as expecting. So too answer, quite simply, just because he looks a prospect at Newcastle does not mean he will cut it here and we need a proven player to come in, as remember we are losing money each year we are not competing.

We will lose Adidas money this year (as well as the 40 million plus from this years Cl anyway) if we dont qualify and please dont dare say we can take it, as just read the anti owners threads for proof and the latest Forbes valuation seen us dropped from 2nd to 6th, we can't just keep taking hits and bringing in players who are not ready, as 9 games is not proven and thats all the lad has, let him prove himself for a year there under Brucie and if true he is faltered by our interest, there's always Jan window as we can offer Brucie a loan deal on top of money.

Which proven premier league goalscoring midfielder do you suggest we sign to ensure we don't lose the Adidas money?

 

[Le Red]

We can spend all day debating tactics but the truth is simple: you want goals, you need players who can find the back of the net.
Rashford wasn't that man last season.
Martial is that man but he needs to be arsed.
Greenwood can be that man but he's still a boy.
This is why I'm so desperate for us to sign Bruno Fernandes. Of course he ain't banging 30+ in MUFC, but he has enough goals on him to give our attack a much needed extra set of teeth.

 

[Comet49]

Heard Paul Ince saying that Bale should go to Liverpool. Hope not, he’d no doubt have a great season, making and scoring goals and make us look daft.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Heard Paul Ince saying that Bale should go to Liverpool. Hope not, he’d no doubt have a great season, making and scoring goals and make us look daft.

He wouldn't even start for them. Unless they completely changed their formation & went 4-2-3-1. If they stayed 4-3-3 he'd be warming the bench. Mane, Salah & Firmino are all absolutely vital for their style of play. Klopp wouldn't be impressed with Bale's workrate either.

 

[patty123]

Which proven premier league goalscoring midfielder do you suggest we sign to ensure we don't lose the Adidas money?

Why does he have to be a "proven premier league goalscoring midfielder"? There are other leagues, now I couldn't give you a specific name as I don't watch them, but surely our well paid scouts could/should have identified more than longstaff or Bruno. Also we really need to factor in losing Roms goals if he leaves, hence the reason I am not to keen on longstaff.

 

[SteveW]

Why does he have to be a "proven premier league goalscoring midfielder"? There are other leagues, now I couldn't give you a specific name as I don't watch them, but surely our well paid scouts could/should have identified more than longstaff or Bruno. Also we really need to factor in losing Roms goals if he leaves, hence the reason I am not to keen on longstaff.

Was that not your criteria? Longstaff has scored at a good rate in other leagues but you said that couldn't be used as a guide for potential PL performance