A top quality, clinical striker

deafepl

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Exactly .
The truth is Rashford and Lingard is headless chickens. I also used to think we create nothing for our strikers to work with but after I saw Greenwood it became clear they're also part of the problem. Good strikers facilitate the creating.

They have proven that all the running in the world doesn't buy a footballing IQ/brain. Zlatan had no pace but constantly broke the offside trap to receive pass after pass from Pogba. Whereas Rashbeck (yes he's now been exposed as Danny welbeck Mk2) is always offside if he decides to run so just hangs around in the edge of box waiting to hit the next shot into the row Z. There's strikers from teams below us in the table that have scored more goals than Rashford and Lukaku. So does people want to tell us midtable clubs has more creativity?
I think it's not only midfield who need to provide creativity but you have to consider that the likes of Rashford and Lingard's decisions making are poor, but they also don't know when to pass or shot, they need to stop hanging around the corner or the line and have to go at them.

For example, Sterling and Sane created many chances through cutback after going at them and scored many cutback goals, Grabiel Jesus scored many tap-in goals because of them. Can Rashford, Lingard, and Martial do that consistently? When we finally make cutback passes, Rashford or Martial haven't been more proactive in scoring cutback goal, they hardly scored a tap in. If Lingard is good at scoring tap-in, he could have scored 2 goals against City, we created a very high quality of chance than City in that game.

We created our beautiful a counter-attacking buildup against Arsenal, Rashford called for balls but after that, it was too late because he stopped moving and expected them to come at his balls so it gave Xhaka enough time to cover, that's lack of ruthless and hunger Rashford has when is in front of the goal. Lukaku doesn't move after passing to dalot and just stopped and ball watching, he has enough space to run. Had Rashford going at them after calling for the ball, he would score cutback or Lukaku stay alert to score rebound, we'd be 1-1 and our confidence would be skyrocketing. Here's the link of our beautiful counter-attacking buildup .


City scored many cutbacks and rebound, soo easy, but why difficult for us to score that cutback? Martial is lazy and doesn't run in behind all the time and he has seen Shaw making overlapping and get in behind the defense when he has balls but he keeps balls, trying to dribble or pass back to Pogba or CB when he should have passed to Shaw quicker before he's marked so Shaw would be left on 1v1 against RCB or fullback where he can make cutback passes, like against Chelsea where Mata scored from his cutback. Mata finished chance with the first touch, that shows how ruthless and Mata is and quick to react and his composure in front of goal.
Rashford's composure in front of goal is poor, he panics like against Arsenal. Lukaku is poor to react when balls fell at his feet or head balls. Lingard, Pogba, Rashford, and Martial take many touches before taking a shot when they could finish chance with the first touches, it gave GK enough time to positioning them properly to save shot.

There's a time when we were making cutback or crosses, there are not many players attacking, Rashford hanging the around the penalty box line, Lingard is ball watching, Martial stay wide on left as he's lazy, Lukaku exhausted. Sadly, we don't have a ruthless player who knows how to get into a shooting position, it made it so easy for them to defend. They can run all day they like but they don't know how to get into scoring position.

Besides, Lingard, Rashford, and Martial doesn't score many headers, they're poor at it, we're near the bottom of the table in scoring a header goal with Liverpool, City and Spurs on top of the table, if we had player who can score header, we'd be gaining 5-10 goals comfortably, we may win some of the game where we need to score header to take 3 points rather than 1/0 point.


The problem is not our creativity but attacker lack many attributes like composure, ruthless in front of goal, scoring header/first touches and cutback and decisions making.

Martial, Rashford and Lingard trio is not title challenging form, they have to be shipped out to bench/squad players, they cannot start together for us next season.
 
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golden_blunder

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Ben Yedder anyone?

Personally don’t think we will sign a striker unless Lukaku leaves though we may sign a support striker
 

VorZakone

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Ben Yedder anyone?

Personally don’t think we will sign a striker unless Lukaku leaves though we may sign a support striker
If Lukaku stays, it'd be great to let him compete with Ben Yedder. If Lukaku leaves, Utd should go for a better #1 striker than Ben Yedder IMO.
 

quackattack

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Wish LeTissier was young and fit again. Hard to find more clinical finisher, right?
 

tjb

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Get Dembele.....Keep Lukaku. Use Dembele and Rashford as starters , with an attacking midfield (new) behind them. Keep Martial and Lukaku as backups, or sell either and use greenwood.
There is also the chance we play the regular 4231/433,in which case you back rashford up with lukaku and greenwood. If rashford develops well enough to become clinical and fetch you 20 + a season we have no issue, but if he doesn't Lukaku can rotate with him often to create that, similar to what Jose did with Gudjohnson/ Drogba in 04-05.
 

haram

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Lukaku scored 25 goals in the league alone the season before he joined us. Are you realistically going to sign someone who has the ability to do that?
 

The Boy

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In terms of overall play, Greenwood put Lukaku and Rashford to shame on his debut.
I wouldn't base to much on debuts, remember both Martial and Rashford had stunning debuts for you, now people are not so sure
 

Sterling Archer

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Lukaku scored 25 goals in the league alone the season before he joined us. Are you realistically going to sign someone who has the ability to do that?
Lukaku needs to return to the weight and fitness from before his move here. His weight gain is at the heart of his poor season.

Lose the pounds and he might actually see improvement in his technical side from being able to control his legs.
 

haram

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Lukaku needs to return to the weight and fitness from before his move here. His weight gain is at the heart of his poor season.

Lose the pounds and he might actually see improvement in his technical side from being able to control his legs.
We should work with him rather than chasing other strikers who probably wont be able to hit 25 goals in a league season. That’s more than any player this season just gone.
 

VanHaal'sRedArmy

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Rodrigo Moreno would bring something entirely different to Lukaku and shouldn't cost an arm or leg.
 

AgentP

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I think Felix is the one we need to buy. Right now, he might not be able to play as a lone striker but he can play as a secondary striker alongside Rashford or Lukaku. His finishing and movement in the box is phenomenal.
 

Andersons Dietician

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Top quality strikers don’t really work with teams that struggle to get the ball to them quickly and in good positions.
I think Lukaku can do the job for us but we as a unit need to get much better at moving the ball about at pace and making runs. Too often do people stand about and watch their work after playing the pass and too often are the actual runs players make ignored.

Doesn’t matter who you bring in, if the ball isn’t moving quick and getting to players in good positions they are going to struggle to influence the scoreboard.
 

OohAahMartial

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Seems we are in for Felix, if we get him then expect Lukaku to leave, and Rashford to rotate with him up front or or on the left. Expect Greenwood to get Europa League and Cup games, but to be forcing his way into contention sooner than expected.
 

SER19

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I think it's not only midfield who need to provide creativity but you have to consider that the likes of Rashford and Lingard's decisions making are poor, but they also don't know when to pass or shot, they need to stop hanging around the corner or the line and have to go at them.

For example, Sterling and Sane created many chances through cutback after going at them and scored many cutback goals, Grabiel Jesus scored many tap-in goals because of them. Can Rashford, Lingard, and Martial do that consistently? When we finally make cutback passes, Rashford or Martial haven't been more proactive in scoring cutback goal, they hardly scored a tap in. If Lingard is good at scoring tap-in, he could have scored 2 goals against City, we created a very high quality of chance than City in that game.

We created our beautiful a counter-attacking buildup against Arsenal, Rashford called for balls but after that, it was too late because he stopped moving and expected them to come at his balls so it gave Xhaka enough time to cover, that's lack of ruthless and hunger Rashford has when is in front of the goal. Lukaku doesn't move after passing to dalot and just stopped and ball watching, he has enough space to run. Had Rashford going at them after calling for the ball, he would score cutback or Lukaku stay alert to score rebound, we'd be 1-1 and our confidence would be skyrocketing. Here's the link of our beautiful counter-attacking buildup .


City scored many cutbacks and rebound, soo easy, but why difficult for us to score that cutback? Martial is lazy and doesn't run in behind all the time and he has seen Shaw making overlapping and get in behind the defense when he has balls but he keeps balls, trying to dribble or pass back to Pogba or CB when he should have passed to Shaw quicker before he's marked so Shaw would be left on 1v1 against RCB or fullback where he can make cutback passes, like against Chelsea where Mata scored from his cutback. Mata finished chance with the first touch, that shows how ruthless and Mata is and quick to react and his composure in front of goal.
Rashford's composure in front of goal is poor, he panics like against Arsenal. Lukaku is poor to react when balls fell at his feet or head balls. Lingard, Pogba, Rashford, and Martial take many touches before taking a shot when they could finish chance with the first touches, it gave GK enough time to positioning them properly to save shot.

There's a time when we were making cutback or crosses, there are not many players attacking, Rashford hanging the around the penalty box line, Lingard is ball watching, Martial stay wide on left as he's lazy, Lukaku exhausted. Sadly, we don't have a ruthless player who knows how to get into a shooting position, it made it so easy for them to defend. They can run all day they like but they don't know how to get into scoring position.

Besides, Lingard, Rashford, and Martial doesn't score many headers, they're poor at it, we're near the bottom of the table in scoring a header goal with Liverpool, City and Spurs on top of the table, if we had player who can score header, we'd be gaining 5-10 goals comfortably, we may win some of the game where we need to score header to take 3 points rather than 1/0 point.


The problem is not our creativity but attacker lack many attributes like composure, ruthless in front of goal, scoring header/first touches and cutback and decisions making.

Martial, Rashford and Lingard trio is not title challenging form, they have to be shipped out to bench/squad players, they cannot start together for us next season.
How the feck is that the same team we saw for the last two months. Shaw and dalot finish in the 6 yard box. The importance of full backs to an attack can’t be underestimated.
 

Devil may care

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A striker is crucial for our upcoming season, Rashford and Lukaku aren't good enough, the latter should be used to generate some funds, his all round game is never going to be good enough for a team with any ambition.
 

The Nani

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Seems we are in for Felix, if we get him then expect Lukaku to leave, and Rashford to rotate with him up front or or on the left. Expect Greenwood to get Europa League and Cup games, but to be forcing his way into contention sooner than expected.
Or Dybala.

In the dream scenario we give Rashy's #10 to Dybala, #9 back to Martial and they form a formidable partnership next season scoring 50 goals between them.
 
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Axle17

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Lukaku really needs a better first touch.
If only he can convert on the first occasion versus holding the ball up to readjust himself to take a shot. We can definitely get the ball to the box quickly enough.

Does he need more confidence perhaps or is it a case of he doesn't have the agility required?
 

SambaBoy

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I don't think we should be looking to replace Lukaku this window. There's plenty more positions that need to be strengthened firstly. If given the right service, he will score goals. Some of the names I have seen mentioned have a goal scoring record nowhere near Lukaku's. In addition, Lukaku is not just purely a goalscorer, he's probably our best crosser of the ball which says more about the state of our wingers/full-backs admittedly.

I have no idea why he bulked up so much and why that was allowed to happen. He is blowing after one sprint and has no repeated sprint ability. If he can return to the size he was at Everton, I have no doubt he would be more effective for United and would look a good player.
 

ayushreddevil9

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There are so many positions we need to sort out before striker.
We need to sort the striker position with equal priority.

We have so many moody unreliable fecks leading the line its ridiculous
 

LonelyFire

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In all honesty, I think Lukaku needs to go. He’s not suited to the kind of football we want to play.

For all the problems we have in our squad, we’d be so much better off with a clinical No.9. I still think we should be looking at Werner - he’d score goals for fun in this league
 

Rozski

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Reading through this thread I think people really need to pump the brakes on Greenwood. He looked great against Cardiff and I’m super excited about him too but the fact is he had about 5 chances and didn’t put any of them away. He’s a young guy making his debut so that’s fine but it seems like people are eager to bash Rashford for being wasteful while at the same time looking over this fact. Let’s give him a chance to get eased in and prove himself before saying he should be a starter for us.
 

VorZakone

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There are so few young quality strikers out there. It's kind of weird. And everyone's gonna compete for them.
 

Offside

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Would anything ever top RvP 12/13? Even Ruud couldn't get to the level he was on at times that season. Majestic.
 

VorZakone

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Would anything ever top RvP 12/13? Even Ruud couldn't get to the level he was on at times that season. Majestic.
You sure? Ruud scored 44 goals in 02/03, including each of the last 8 league games helping Utd to win the title.
 

Offside

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You sure? Ruud scored 44 goals in 02/03, including each of the last 8 league games helping Utd to win the title.
Yep I mean more in terms of pure class. The quality of goals scored by RvP was brilliant.
 

manunited1919

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Or Dybala.

In the dream scenario we give Rashy's #10 to Dybala, #9 back to Martial and they form a formidable partnership next season scoring 50 goals between them.
Stop please, you are making too much sense. This is Manchester United, and Rashy always plays.
 

Alabaster Codify7

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We will never win a major honour with Rashy as our main striker. And if Ole refuses to see that and persists with his best mate,he won't be in the job by this time next year.

Rashy will be overseas in about two years,but not at the sort of the club he probably has his eyes on right now.

Someone like Valencia or Leverkusen.
 

Jibbs

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Harry Kane... swap both .012 percenters plus cash for HK.
 

Jibbs

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Seriously, why would HK come here at the moment and why would Spurs take those two off our hands?
That is exactly my point. When even Spurs won't consider them worthy of their first team, why should United tolerate them and let them abuse United's reputation and brand for their personal gains.
 

Thunderhead

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Braut Haaland could be one to monitor. Very unfinished, but his physics are insane already. Bet he is on Ole's radar at least since he was the one who broke through in Molde during his managerial career there.
been monitoring him on and off and just noticed he's scored 7 in 4 matches with 1 assist, 2 were hatricks.
 

Adam-Utd

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been monitoring him on and off and just noticed he's scored 7 in 4 matches with 1 assist, 2 were hatricks.
He seems to be crap one day and unstoppable on another.

I guess his consistency isn’t quite there yet being so young, but seems to have major potential.
 

Brightonian

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The need for this type of forward is grossly exaggerated. Its better to have an attack and midfield that can score goals in double figures consistently, Than to have one guy carrying all the goal getting burden
Agreed. If nothing else, teams built around one goalscorer go to pieces when he gets injured. Better to have goals throughout the attack, and the way to do that is to get the whole team playing potent attacking football.