The right United forward/striker signing

meamth

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Based on Ole's own words:

"When you get players in, you need the right ones that are going to stay here for a long period of time and that's the long-term thinking we have to show.

"There were strikers available but not the ones we wanted. We couldn't get the one we wanted (in the summer)."

So our next striker should have this criteria:
- 18-26 years old
- High workrate
- High stamina
- Incredible fitness
- Possibly British
- High technical ability

Who is in that category?
 

bosnian_red

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In terms of attacking signings we'll definitely look at and try (not all realistic but you know we'll try for), I'd say its Kane, Sancho and Maddison. Kane not realistic of course, Sancho will be tough while Maddison might not want to leave this summer (but see it happening long term, like Maguire). After those 3, I have no idea who we'd go after for any of the 3 positions we probably need in attack (probably because striker isn't a for sure need, if Martial steps up or Greenwood accelerates development).
 

Tarrou

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Sancho is the obvious choice

However, I think that ship has already sailed. We needed to get UCL and just get him last summer.

I have no idea, but surely we have scouts for this sort of thing? Actually starting to doubt we do have capable scouts it's been years since we had a proper right winger.
 

meamth

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In terms of attacking signings we'll definitely look at and try (not all realistic but you know we'll try for), I'd say its Kane, Sancho and Maddison. Kane not realistic of course, Sancho will be tough while Maddison might not want to leave this summer (but see it happening long term, like Maguire). After those 3, I have no idea who we'd go after for any of the 3 positions we probably need in attack (probably because striker isn't a for sure need, if Martial steps up or Greenwood accelerates development).
I still think we're short of strikers. At least the senior ones.

Let's say Martial is first choice, Rashford is our first choice forward (can play in 3 positions, but mainly on the left)

Striker is a priority, a top class one to fight for place with Martial.

Greenwood can challenge the right wing role or the left wing. (typical of any young strikers learning his trade, probably has 3-4 years before settling into striker's role)

Let's say we sign Sancho:

ST:
- Martial
- Rashford
- Greenwood

LW:
- Rashford
- James
- Gomes/Chong

RW:
- Sancho
- Greenwood
- Chong

That striker's role is very very thin.
 

Nevilles.Wear.Prada

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Based on Ole's own words:

"When you get players in, you need the right ones that are going to stay here for a long period of time and that's the long-term thinking we have to show.

"There were strikers available but not the ones we wanted. We couldn't get the one we wanted (in the summer)."

So our next striker should have this criteria:
- 18-26 years old
- High workrate
- High stamina
- Incredible fitness
- Possibly British
- High technical ability

Who is in that category?
You forgot to add incredible loyalty and can play thru pain for at least 7 seasons.
Good luck with that Ole
 

edcunited1878

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Ryan Fraser, Maddison and Inaki Williams. United can't afford or genuinely attract a player of Kane, Sancho, Werner status.
 

bosnian_red

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I still think we're short of strikers. At least the senior ones.

Let's say Martial is first choice, Rashford is our first choice forward (can play in 3 positions, but mainly on the left)

Striker is a priority, a top class one to fight for place with Martial.

Greenwood can challenge the right wing role or the left wing. (typical of any young strikers learning his trade, probably has 3-4 years before settling into striker's role)

Let's say we sign Sancho:

ST:
- Martial
- Rashford
- Greenwood

LW:
- Rashford
- James
- Gomes/Chong

RW:
- Sancho
- Greenwood
- Chong

That striker's role is very very thin.
It's only thin in experience, but if Martial shows he can be a starting #9 this year then it's fine. Rashford is fine as 2nd choice, even though we get annoyed, and Greenwood just needs time to show he can handle the #9 spot but he'll learn it with time. Its tricky because you're banking on them developing enough, but it's also understandable given the situation.

What I would get ideally is an older experienced striker who can provide more aerial threat, physicality and hold up play (like a Dzeko from a few years ago). Mandzukic links make sense from that perspective, though he might be a bit too much over the hill.
 

Cassidy

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It's only thin in experience, but if Martial shows he can be a starting #9 this year then it's fine. Rashford is fine as 2nd choice, even though we get annoyed, and Greenwood just needs time to show he can handle the #9 spot but he'll learn it with time. Its tricky because you're banking on them developing enough, but it's also understandable given the situation.

What I would get ideally is an older experienced striker who can provide more aerial threat, physicality and hold up play (like a Dzeko from a few years ago). Mandzukic links make sense from that perspective, though he might be a bit too much over the hill.
He isn't really since he is first choice LW which compounds the issue
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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I think having faith in Martial is the right thing for now. However, we still need to buy a proper backup for him and also can offer different thing as a plan B. Mandzukic is the most realistic & suitable signing.
 

2 man midfield

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Martial and Greenwood should in theory be ok for now, and our focus should be bolstering the wide positions. The only problem is that Martial is made of biscuit and Greenwood is 17. Both also have their inconsistencies, which are understandable for obvious reasons.

That was why a signing like Ben Yedder made sense to me. I’m not sure I see us pursuing a centre forward between 18-24. We need that experienced, Cantona type signing. Not more youth and inexperience up top.
 

jackal&hyde

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Not a striker but a forward that we needed and i think we are after is Sancho. Then having Martial, Rashford, Greenwood for the striker role is enough IMO. Most teams have a couple o players for one position, we just have to use our options on multiple areas of the pitch and have been also unlucky to have both the senior players injured at the same time.

ST: Martial, Rashford, Greenwood
LW: James, Rasford, Martial
RW: Sancho, Lingard, Pererira

7 players for 3 positions is about right i think. Obvious question marks over Lingard and Pereira right now, but in terms of numbers it would be fine.
 

Rozay

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He isn't really since he is first choice LW which compounds the issue
He’s in a fight with James for that, especially if Sancho comes in and claims the RW spot.

Tbh, working on the assumption we will go after another forward to start games for us, I struggle to see Martial and Rashford happy here in the long run. Both will likely not be regulars. Let’s say Sancho comes in on the right, that leaves two other spots. James is applying real pressure on the left already, then there is the situation of Greenwood. Within a couple of years, I’d bank he will want a starting place too.

The thing with Rashford is that he’ll obviously get longer rope than anyone else here.
 

bond19821982

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We will do all the talk and end up signing Wilson or Dembele.
 

Cassidy

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He’s in a fight with James for that, especially if Sancho comes in and claims the RW spot.

Tbh, working on the assumption we will go after another forward to start games for us, I struggle to see Martial and Rashford happy here in the long run. Both will likely not be regulars. Let’s say Sancho comes in on the right, that leaves two other spots. James is applying real pressure on the left already, then there is the situation of Greenwood. Within a couple of years, I’d bank he will want a starting place too.

The thing with Rashford is that he’ll obviously get longer rope than anyone else here.
Martial I think will cause a problem for Rashford if he stays fit. He is clearly the preferred player at 9 and if he stays fit I would expect him to continue to be ahead of Rashford in that position.
So if James wins LW, Rashford has a problem, he isn't showing he can play as the 9 so far from what I have seen, but he has time.

If we sign a new number 9 then Rashford out of the 3 is going to be the one who isn't going to be considered at 9 I would say and James I don't believe was bought to be a starter, but if he puts pressure on that LW spot Rashford could have some issues.

I'm not convinced the CF we sign will be one considered to be a starter anyway. I think Martial will be the starter and the CF backup
 

Cassidy

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Not a striker but a forward that we needed and i think we are after is Sancho. Then having Martial, Rashford, Greenwood for the striker role is enough IMO. Most teams have a couple o players for one position, we just have to use our options on multiple areas of the pitch and have been also unlucky to have both the senior players injured at the same time.

ST: Martial, Rashford, Greenwood
LW: James, Rasford, Martial
RW: Sancho, Lingard, Pererira

7 players for 3 positions is about right i think. Obvious question marks over Lingard and Pereira right now, but in terms of numbers it would be fine.
You have too many players mixed in LW and ST position... an injury to Martial and Rashford essentially leaves you with 0 cover in both positions. Which is the problem we have now.

ST: Martial, New Signing (1), Greenwood
LW: Rashford, James, Chong/New Signing (2),
RW: Sancho (3), New Signing (2), Pererira

We essentially need 3 new players and even the above isn't ideal
 

jackal&hyde

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You have too many players mixed in LW and ST position... and injury to Martial and Rashford essentially leaves you with 0 cover in both positions.
I agree. LW can still be a problem area. Sancho can also play on the left though. We probaly need a couple of players to have decent depth especially if Pereira doesn't improve. Then there is the nr 10, more creative player. We have a lot of work to do next summer.
 

edcunited1878

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we can definitely afford them, but attracting them is something else.
I don't think United can afford them based on wages being cut like Sanchez and Lukaku or passing on Herrera. There are additional circumstances as well, but say United don't finish in a European place in addition to the annual value of the adidas deal being slashed for not making CL or CL in consecutive years, then that's less money you can contribute to wages. Plus, if it is to be remotely true, Pogba is going into new contract discussions with United and wants double of what he's making now.
 

Lee565

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LW- James, Fraser
St - martial, rashford
Rw - new signing, greenwood.

Bye, bye mata and lingard.
 

ayushreddevil9

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Sancho is the obvious choice

However, I think that ship has already sailed. We needed to get UCL and just get him last summer.

I have no idea, but surely we have scouts for this sort of thing? Actually starting to doubt we do have capable scouts it's been years since we had a proper right winger.
Our scouts got us Fred, so yeah whatever they do
 

sparx99

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If we could target 2/3 players in January without massively overpaying or blowing our summer budget I would look at the following.

Ryan Fraser - Contract expires in the summer. We could sign for less than £10m probably.

Christian Eriksen - Contract expires next summer and may be available for £30m if reports are to be believed.

Erling Haaland - Yes, he is the flavour of the month after his hat-trick but there has been good noises from his camp and he plays at RB Salzburg who are well funded but will sell for a decent price if a big club comes in.

If not Haaland because he is too young and we have Greenwood then maybe go after Piatek. AC Milan aren't what they used to be and can be tempted by good money.
 

AFC NimbleThumb

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If we could target 2/3 players in January without massively overpaying or blowing our summer budget I would look at the following.

Ryan Fraser - Contract expires in the summer. We could sign for less than £10m probably.

Christian Eriksen - Contract expires next summer and may be available for £30m if reports are to be believed.

Erling Haaland - Yes, he is the flavour of the month after his hat-trick but there has been good noises from his camp and he plays at RB Salzburg who are well funded but will sell for a decent price if a big club comes in.

If not Haaland because he is too young and we have Greenwood then maybe go after Piatek. AC Milan aren't what they used to be and can be tempted by good money.
Genuine question.

Where are you getting these figures from? People love banding around fees as if they have some intel on here.

Surely you just write the player you’d like & move on. It’s beyond nauseating reading posts littered with transfer fees [both ongoing & out].

It’s useless because; i) we don't ever know the exacts fees - after exchange rates, taxes etc. I doubt the reported “£80 mil” paid for Maguire [eg.] is exactly £80mil to the penny, ii) you discuss a transfer budget but when last did we come out & say an exact figure we have to spend; & more importantly spent it to the penny.

This isn’t aimed solely at you, I just don’t get the fascination with what the club pays in these discussions.

If we bought Fraser for £11mil does that make it a bad deal “probably”.

It’s another layer of complexity fed to the fans that we will never know the facts about.
 

sparx99

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Genuine question.

Where are you getting these figures from? People love banding around fees as if they have some intel on here.

Surely you just write the player you’d like & move on. It’s beyond nauseating reading posts littered with transfer fees [both ongoing & out].

It’s useless because; i) we don't ever know the exacts fees - after exchange rates, taxes etc. I doubt the reported “£80 mil” paid for Maguire [eg.] is exactly £80mil to the penny, ii) you discuss a transfer budget but when last did we come out & say an exact figure we have to spend; & more importantly spent it to the penny.

This isn’t aimed solely at you, I just don’t get the fascination with what the club pays in these discussions.

If we bought Fraser for £11mil does that make it a bad deal “probably”.

It’s another layer of complexity fed to the fans that we will never know the facts about.
It's called an estimate. No need to be a prick about it. I was trying to highlight there are cost effective options we could take advantage of in January by offering a fee before they leave for free. Sorry you are too thick to understand that.
 

Bestietom

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Cole, Yorke, Sheringham, Ole. Fergie always liked to have a good choice of strikers. Midfielders were also Plentiful and top drawer.
 

AFC NimbleThumb

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It's called an estimate. No need to be a prick about it. I was trying to highlight there are cost effective options we could take advantage of in January by offering a fee before they leave for free. Sorry you are too thick to understand that.
I asked you questions.

Your response is to call me thick & a prick.

I asked where you get the figures from & you’ve lost the plot :lol:

‘cost effective options’ when you don’t know the cost. Apparently calling posters names is frowned upon here, so your post is an idiot.
 

Gandalf

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We need a striker, RW and CAM, that much is pretty obvious after the way we have started the season. We have not tried to hide the fact that Sancho and Madison are the preferred options for the RW and CAM positions so the unknown is the striker. Kane would fit the bill except he almost certainly would only ever consider a move to a club like Real and Levy has already put a 200 million plus price tag on him.

I think going with a young squad that can grow together over the next 2 or 3 years is the right option for us and I am okay with accepting a down season this year and next whilst they grow so for that reason I would prefer we go for Haaland. I could imagine a situation where we agree a deal in the January window for him to join us in the summer just as Chelsea did with Pulisic and if so then maybe Mandzukic on loan for the second half of the season would make sense.
 

Adam-Utd

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Haaland or dembele for me. Both young with potential to improve. Solid players in their own right. Don’t rely purely on service.
 

Holters

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Haaland or dembele for me.
I have seen Haaland play a lot and he is nowhere ready for United. Even in his first national team debut he was completely invisible. Also, he is actually quite similar to Lukaku in playstyle, so probably not the right fit for United at this stage. Haaland does rely a lot on service, so no idea why you would say the opposite. He is a strong finisher - not a creative/mobile/dribbler forward.
 

Adam-Utd

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I have seen Haaland play a lot and he is nowhere ready for United. Even in his first national team debut he was completely invisible. Also, he is actually quite similar to Lukaku in playstyle, so probably not the right fit for United at this stage. Haaland does rely a lot on service, so no idea why you would say the opposite. He is a strong finisher - not a creative/mobile/dribbler forward.
I agree but he seems to be improving rapidly. We’re building for the future and I think he and Greenwood could make a nice partnership.

he does dribble with the ball quite well actually, he gets it into feet turns and runs at defenders. He’s lukaku with a good touch and more energy which isn’t a bad thing.
 

Wheato

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I think we need a seasoned striker. Even a 30 year old who can lead the line and show the others how to be ruthless in front of goal. Someone who would kick their granny for a goal. Someone like Diego Costa.
 

starman

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Someone readily available in January will be Zaha. Plus we get a 25% discount. Also could be a opportunity to offload a couple of players in the other direction.

Would also go for a traditional central option. Would take Mandzukic and than maybe try for Haaland in the summer. Think its a bit early to jump in for him in January unless pushed by other clubs to do so
 

AFC NimbleThumb

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I take it OgS was on about Serge Gnabry the other day. . .

The man honestly takes the fans for fools; there are so many forwards that could improve us & he [in his own words] chose to sign not-a-one.

But apparently the one we’re after has become available 7/8 games into the season so it’ll be ok.