Cavani, Hit or Big Hit?
- Thread starter Bondi77
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
I doubt even Martial would be like that anytime soon.
Don't think it has to be a hit or a miss, but it's definitely more on the hit side. Shown us what a proper 9 can bring to the table and scored some goals in tight games for us. Cavani should have been bought much sooner than this year though, think hes been a top striker in the last couple of years.
Slight undersell...he's been one of the worlds top strikers for the last decade! It's a shame we didn't get him 10 years ago really, it's only the last couple of years where he's started to dip but I still had higher hopes than most on here and haven't been disappointed.
If Man Utd does not want him, send him to Chelsea. I love his movement on the pitch. Class
I know you and I have a running bet on this, but I don't expect supposed world class strikers to do fecking air shots every game. Old man Ibrahimovic did more at a time when we were a far worse team.
He's done a decent job but if we had a semi-competent main striker, or even last season's Martial, Cavani would be a sub and we'd all be happy. As a starter, he's not good enough.
In terms of his price and expected role, a clear hit. He is an expensive alternative to Ighalo, and he defends that price. He was brought to bring depth, alternative qualities and experience to the striker department with Martial somewhat inconsistent being our only no 9, and Greenwood being more similar to Martial and a couple of seasons off being able to take over that kind of role at the highest level. With Martial walking in the shadows of the valley of wtf, he has stepped up and played much more than expected, and lessened the blow of having our main outlet fallen off a cliff. I’d say he’s part of the reason we are in/around second place.
Wether he is more than a hit, and also a blessing, depends on other players:
- if Martial’s prolonged slump is due to loss of confidence because of the competition, it is a weakening in the short term. If Martial overcomes this, it’s a blessing in the long term, and if he doesn’t, it’s a blessingif it pushes us to replace him. I have some faith in that Tony will return as a better player from this, if he doesn’t there is certainly no hope for him at this level.
Wether he is more than a hit, and also a blessing, depends on other players:
- if Martial’s prolonged slump is due to loss of confidence because of the competition, it is a weakening in the short term. If Martial overcomes this, it’s a blessing in the long term, and if he doesn’t, it’s a blessingif it pushes us to replace him. I have some faith in that Tony will return as a better player from this, if he doesn’t there is certainly no hope for him at this level.
Ibrahimovic was a better player and had a manager that always puts his number 9 at the main man in every team. Everything goes through that number 9 and the entire gameplan is about supplying them.
Not quite the set-up we have now is it?
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just to be clear, this is what i originally said.
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Not as good as the media and pundits would make you believe.
I'd still go all in for Haaland and release him if we could pull off the deal.
I expected another Falcao.
He's been great tbh, worked really hard, looked decent and solid when playing.
I just wish he was five years younger
He's been great tbh, worked really hard, looked decent and solid when playing.
I just wish he was five years younger
Definite hit. He was bought as a backup striker to come on late in games, and make a few starts from time to time where we need something a bit different. He's done that really well.
His problem is that Martial has had a mare this season, and suddenly we need a 40 game/20 goal a season striker to take his place. But that's not really his fault, he's fulfilled his side of the deal so far.
His problem is that Martial has had a mare this season, and suddenly we need a 40 game/20 goal a season striker to take his place. But that's not really his fault, he's fulfilled his side of the deal so far.
The media, pundits and redcafe think he's a top player who works his arse off and has great movement.
No pundit, no-one in the media and no-one on redcafe is attempting to claim he's Lewandowski or Harry Kane.
So they are either wrong that he's a top player who works his arse off and has great movement, or you are wrong thinking they are trying to make you believe he's more than that. Which is it?
For his effort and workrate and finishing ability when played yes a hit.
For the wages hes getting at his age a massive flop.
Ask yourself this? how many other clubs jumped at the chance to sign him when he first became available? exactly this answers the question.
For the wages hes getting at his age a massive flop.
Ask yourself this? how many other clubs jumped at the chance to sign him when he first became available? exactly this answers the question.
I don’t disagree. It’s a shame on Martial. I think Cavanis impact has been overplayed in the media at least. He does work hard and his movement is great...but he doesn’t improve us as a team and doesn’t score regularly...so in effect is having minimal effect.
Erm, what?
He's playing much better than the guy he replaces, how the feck is that not "improving" us as a team
Reality is, he'll join any other team and slap in 30 goals next season. Look at the effect Suarez has had with Atletico.
They're both the same age with Cavani arguably in better shape as he seems to have an ibra mentality regarding his body.
Put Haaland in the side and I reckon he'll have a similar output to Cavani and that's not because he's not good enough but because our team just isn't good enough especially in the wide positions which we know about.
On top of this we always have 2 cdms in our games which really needs to stop. We can say it balances us all day long but we end up having Fred shooting from distance on his weak foot. We've even had pogba play LW in games because of this silly 2cdm thing. We need a single cdm setup as playing 2 cdms is only to cover over cracks to stop us getting overrun in the midfield areas because of the lack of quality.
We have the quality to beat teams at the moment but I can't see many pure STs getting goals in our team with the way it's setup.
So I would say Cavani has been a HIT under the current circumstances he's been found in. Had the same issue with lukaku too but he was even worse.
They're both the same age with Cavani arguably in better shape as he seems to have an ibra mentality regarding his body.
Put Haaland in the side and I reckon he'll have a similar output to Cavani and that's not because he's not good enough but because our team just isn't good enough especially in the wide positions which we know about.
On top of this we always have 2 cdms in our games which really needs to stop. We can say it balances us all day long but we end up having Fred shooting from distance on his weak foot. We've even had pogba play LW in games because of this silly 2cdm thing. We need a single cdm setup as playing 2 cdms is only to cover over cracks to stop us getting overrun in the midfield areas because of the lack of quality.
We have the quality to beat teams at the moment but I can't see many pure STs getting goals in our team with the way it's setup.
So I would say Cavani has been a HIT under the current circumstances he's been found in. Had the same issue with lukaku too but he was even worse.
Were not playing better as a team with Cavani in it. I think part of the reason is that the other forwards play and stay wider when Cavani plays and also because Cavani himself hasn’t generally played great.Erm, what?
He's playing much better than the guy he replaces, how the feck is that not "improving" us as a team
Hit for me. He wasn't bought as a first choice regular striker, but to improve the squad. He's been excellent when he plays, but of course, it's a concern that he has missed so many matches through injury, quarantine and suspension. Still, he's a massive upgrade on all our other strikers despite being 34.
Yeah he hasn't been world class, but has showed glimpses of it, and why having a number 9 like that would benefit the team. Hope we learn from that. Prime Cavani would have made a massive difference to this team.
Miss-hit
This thread is mental
I still worry that a number 9 affects the way Greenwood and Rashford play. But I wouldn’t say no to Haaland
I can't believe this is a thread, how embarrassing. We wouldn't have a shot of making CL without Cavani.
Yeh its utterly daft thread. Too many people been playing football manager for too long.
Well at least this thread is a hit and I thought it would break the monotony of threads that talked about the same thing but under a different title.
Last thing I will say on the matter is that if we bought Josh King in the summer for 15mil and he had scored seven goals at this stage of the season then would he be considered a hit?
Last thing I will say on the matter is that if we bought Josh King in the summer for 15mil and he had scored seven goals at this stage of the season then would he be considered a hit?
If the season ended now, it's a hit
So, he's a hit so far given his price vs contribution
So, he's a hit so far given his price vs contribution
Hit, the only issue has been what most expected, the injuries. When he's been fit he's been a great bonus to have, and a clear reminder on how a proper striker plays.
Been a while since I posted the thread and while I said I thought he had a few good games I put him in the Miss category then and from what I have seen he has got steadily worse.
He has had his injury issues but his recent history suggested that was going to be an issue before he joined anyway so no surprises there.
He has a couple of months to prove me wrong but I am really not expecting too much
He has had his injury issues but his recent history suggested that was going to be an issue before he joined anyway so no surprises there.
He has a couple of months to prove me wrong but I am really not expecting too much
Unless he wins us the EL, miss. Caf expectations have been at an all time low for a few years now so not surprised people are calling him a hit.
We need a proper CF in the summer.
We need a proper CF in the summer.
I think earlier on in the season he looked a hit in fairness, but for the past 6-8 weeks his injury record and performances have been poor so is certainly looking like a miss now.
I’d personally go with Greenwood at no9 and Cavani as impact sub.
I would say a qualified hit.
Been good at times, bad at times, indifferent at times but has scored some important goals.
We all know we need a top CF and he was always likely to be a stop-gap.
I don’t know whether he has been badly advised but this stuff in the media about him hating Manchester and wanting to move back to SA is a bit of an own goal. The United fans loved him and would have given him the benefit of the doubt but now the pendulum has swung the other way and there’s going to be more scrutiny of his performances
Been good at times, bad at times, indifferent at times but has scored some important goals.
We all know we need a top CF and he was always likely to be a stop-gap.
I don’t know whether he has been badly advised but this stuff in the media about him hating Manchester and wanting to move back to SA is a bit of an own goal. The United fans loved him and would have given him the benefit of the doubt but now the pendulum has swung the other way and there’s going to be more scrutiny of his performances
Even in games he scores he tends to be anonymous for the rest of the game. Can't fault his work rate and the service he gets leaves something to be desired but if he doesn't score he tends to contribute nothing. Shame, as I thought he'd be great for us but he's been more Falcao than Ibra. Can we PLEASE stop buying old, over the hill number 9s now?!
He is a miss. Both him and Ighalo are just a waste of time and money. Contributed nothing of note to justify their cost. Next time we'd better have a young and unproven striker, rather than past their prime ones. At least youngsters will have legs and stamina and are likely to improve.
Miss.
sometimes he looks like he’s never kicked a ball before.
sometimes he looks like he’s never kicked a ball before.
He's gash and finished at top level, been saying it all season and getting called all kinds of names. I'd rather Josh King on the fraction of the wages or even Welbeck back.
Yes I'm being serious.
Yes I'm being serious.
Both he and Ighalo gave us a decent period where they provided what you'd want your back-up striker to bring. Unfortunately both seemed to fall away as their time here wore on.
He’s been rubbish. And there’s this strange fixation around keeping him. Get rid.
As others have said , his return isnt spectacular. Is that because of the way the team plays, or has he dropped off drastically? Has he made the other strikers play better? If he leaves end of the season, it wont be a big loss in my opinion.
Neither here nor there. Probably more miss than bit given how little he's added and amount he's played.
Almost every goal we’ve scored this season has a degree of importance attached since we rarely win by more than one goal. Although one of his goals was the crucial fourth in a 9-0. Only Fulham and Southampton for me qualify as genuinely important.
He’s made 27 appearances and failed to score in 21 of them. It’s really poor. He’s scored in six matches all season.