Normally, you have an elite set of starters and then a considerable drop off in quality specifically at #9 with the understudy; wings can be pretty stacked with rotation more of a given than at centre-forward. Via serendipitous circumstances, we’ve acquired Ronaldo and Cavani in succession, with the latter opting to stay despite having the remainder of the last transfer window to seek a new suitor who no doubt would have took him on after his excellent showing last season.
It’s extremely rare to have an understudy of such calibre - how many come to mind for you when you think about it? Cavani is that good, that whenever Ronaldo is rested, we really should still have one of the best attacks in the country - for my money, as an example: Pogba-Cavani-Greenwood, or: Rashford-Cavani-Sancho, as just two sets excluding Ronaldo, are par with anything in the country. Even then, you could factor in Martial and what clearly is a resurgent Lingard (based off his form from the loan onward) and fairly argue that only City, as a squad unit, can match that. Ronaldo completely tips the balance, however, and makes a very good attacking unit arguably the best in the game… on paper, at least.
This thread isn’t about first xi’s in isolation, but about the attacking depth of the unit in its entirety: PSG, Bayern, Liverpool, Chelsea, City and Real can all argue the toss over the starting xi’s, but as I said in the opening paragraph, even at those clubs, you don’t get the conflation that leads to the understudy to the starting striker being anywhere near the same class.
It honestly looks like we’re so stacked in attack we can go into any period of a demanding calendar being able to put out one of the best attacking sets in the country no matter the combination of players. To think:
- Ronaldo is here to make his mark, enhance his legacy and prove doubters wrong - I’m sure he’s aware of what leading this team a league title would do for him; you’re then talking about a player with legitimate claim to be the best there has been at both United and Madrid.
- Greenwood looks like he’s on the verge of the breakout season that elevates him to sure fire starter.
- Rashford, pre-injury was legitimately one of the best players in the country and looks like he’s worked as hard on himself as possible to come back and seek those same heights again.
- Pogba finally gets to play in a stacked team that allows him to focus on his game away from the intense spotlight Ronaldo basks in. He needs to add goals, but there’s no question he has it in him to break assist records playing from the left.
- Sancho, although some seem to think there’s some kind of hardwired script that Bundesliga exports are destined to fail, is a potential ballon d’or winning talent. There’s far more to come from him than some seem to realise.
- Cavani is a consummate professional and, I believe, will still give his all when out there despite being usurped by one of a handful of strikers in the game that could have come here and unseated him. Outside of rotating with Ronaldo, there theoretically is one of the best attacking partnerships on the planet if we ever line up with those two upfront.
- Martial… bit of a wildcard by now: had a really good season followed by an awful one and is now almost a forgotten man. No clue how he’ll do when he plays, but whether playing to make an impression and stay here beyond this season or put himself in the shop window, you’d think pride as well as disgruntlement will trigger something in him. To have a third or fourth choice at CF and LW in this class of talent is still absurd though - which other club have you known an equivalent level talent 3rd/4th in line to get PT?
- Lingard, whether playing for a contract here or massive signing on fee elsewhere, he’s clearly got it in him to affect games when on the pitch. Nearly every goal he scores is exquisite and his run of games at West Ham made clear he has it in him to be a PL presence and performer. Whatever United fans think of him, he is a player who can make game-altering contributions to the team.
As individuals, they all have something to play for and collectively, it’s a ridiculous array of talent. I think we’re so consumed with the woes of midfield that the attacking unit we have has barely been discussed in relative terms: I think we’ve the best overall attacking unit in the world currently, what say you?
Oh, at the end of the season, tallying the attacking contributions of all clubs in the conversation should be interesting: which collective units do you think will top those charts?
It’s extremely rare to have an understudy of such calibre - how many come to mind for you when you think about it? Cavani is that good, that whenever Ronaldo is rested, we really should still have one of the best attacks in the country - for my money, as an example: Pogba-Cavani-Greenwood, or: Rashford-Cavani-Sancho, as just two sets excluding Ronaldo, are par with anything in the country. Even then, you could factor in Martial and what clearly is a resurgent Lingard (based off his form from the loan onward) and fairly argue that only City, as a squad unit, can match that. Ronaldo completely tips the balance, however, and makes a very good attacking unit arguably the best in the game… on paper, at least.
This thread isn’t about first xi’s in isolation, but about the attacking depth of the unit in its entirety: PSG, Bayern, Liverpool, Chelsea, City and Real can all argue the toss over the starting xi’s, but as I said in the opening paragraph, even at those clubs, you don’t get the conflation that leads to the understudy to the starting striker being anywhere near the same class.
It honestly looks like we’re so stacked in attack we can go into any period of a demanding calendar being able to put out one of the best attacking sets in the country no matter the combination of players. To think:
- Ronaldo is here to make his mark, enhance his legacy and prove doubters wrong - I’m sure he’s aware of what leading this team a league title would do for him; you’re then talking about a player with legitimate claim to be the best there has been at both United and Madrid.
- Greenwood looks like he’s on the verge of the breakout season that elevates him to sure fire starter.
- Rashford, pre-injury was legitimately one of the best players in the country and looks like he’s worked as hard on himself as possible to come back and seek those same heights again.
- Pogba finally gets to play in a stacked team that allows him to focus on his game away from the intense spotlight Ronaldo basks in. He needs to add goals, but there’s no question he has it in him to break assist records playing from the left.
- Sancho, although some seem to think there’s some kind of hardwired script that Bundesliga exports are destined to fail, is a potential ballon d’or winning talent. There’s far more to come from him than some seem to realise.
- Cavani is a consummate professional and, I believe, will still give his all when out there despite being usurped by one of a handful of strikers in the game that could have come here and unseated him. Outside of rotating with Ronaldo, there theoretically is one of the best attacking partnerships on the planet if we ever line up with those two upfront.
- Martial… bit of a wildcard by now: had a really good season followed by an awful one and is now almost a forgotten man. No clue how he’ll do when he plays, but whether playing to make an impression and stay here beyond this season or put himself in the shop window, you’d think pride as well as disgruntlement will trigger something in him. To have a third or fourth choice at CF and LW in this class of talent is still absurd though - which other club have you known an equivalent level talent 3rd/4th in line to get PT?
- Lingard, whether playing for a contract here or massive signing on fee elsewhere, he’s clearly got it in him to affect games when on the pitch. Nearly every goal he scores is exquisite and his run of games at West Ham made clear he has it in him to be a PL presence and performer. Whatever United fans think of him, he is a player who can make game-altering contributions to the team.
As individuals, they all have something to play for and collectively, it’s a ridiculous array of talent. I think we’re so consumed with the woes of midfield that the attacking unit we have has barely been discussed in relative terms: I think we’ve the best overall attacking unit in the world currently, what say you?
Oh, at the end of the season, tallying the attacking contributions of all clubs in the conversation should be interesting: which collective units do you think will top those charts?