There have been a few examples in recent years of how coaches have adjusted their systems when they lack a proper striker. Coincidentally, two of our biggest rivals are good examples.
Both Klopp and Pep seemed to prefer playing with a center forward in the past. Both of them really seemed to like Lewandowski. At Liverpool, Klopp did not have that luxury and instead used a system where he got much of the same without having a pure center forward. In Peps case he relied heavily on Aguero for a few years at City, but as Aguero got older, and Pep failed to step up, he found a solution. I still think Man City would look better with Aguero up top, but that is another discussion. Ten Hag was also successful a couple of years ago with Tadic as a striker.
I do think Man Utd have the players to pull it off. With Brunos movement in and around the box he could work quite well as a «nine and a half». I also think having players wide strikers like Greenwood and/or Rashford, who is quite good at stretching a defence, would give him space, and make it work.
Another benefit would be that it would allow us to push Pogba higher, but play him through the middle, as it would allow us to play a 433. If we want to see a more attacking Pogba we need to give him protection. We can not put him in situations where he risk losing the ball infront of two defenders (like a DM in a 4231). It would help a lot if we had two midfielders behind him, giving him protection. (Another option could be a 343 where we would have one midfielder and three central midfielders.)
I also think it could suit Donny quite well to play as a striker or midfielder in that type of system.
Cavani is a decent solution in the short term, but he cant play every match. I also doubt that we will get a striker this summer. Personally, I think both Greenwood and Rashford is better as wide strikers. Martial is not a poor player at all, but he really cant press. Having him as a CF hurt our ability to press high.
Both Klopp and Pep seemed to prefer playing with a center forward in the past. Both of them really seemed to like Lewandowski. At Liverpool, Klopp did not have that luxury and instead used a system where he got much of the same without having a pure center forward. In Peps case he relied heavily on Aguero for a few years at City, but as Aguero got older, and Pep failed to step up, he found a solution. I still think Man City would look better with Aguero up top, but that is another discussion. Ten Hag was also successful a couple of years ago with Tadic as a striker.
I do think Man Utd have the players to pull it off. With Brunos movement in and around the box he could work quite well as a «nine and a half». I also think having players wide strikers like Greenwood and/or Rashford, who is quite good at stretching a defence, would give him space, and make it work.
Another benefit would be that it would allow us to push Pogba higher, but play him through the middle, as it would allow us to play a 433. If we want to see a more attacking Pogba we need to give him protection. We can not put him in situations where he risk losing the ball infront of two defenders (like a DM in a 4231). It would help a lot if we had two midfielders behind him, giving him protection. (Another option could be a 343 where we would have one midfielder and three central midfielders.)
I also think it could suit Donny quite well to play as a striker or midfielder in that type of system.
Cavani is a decent solution in the short term, but he cant play every match. I also doubt that we will get a striker this summer. Personally, I think both Greenwood and Rashford is better as wide strikers. Martial is not a poor player at all, but he really cant press. Having him as a CF hurt our ability to press high.