UnitedZone Football Forums - View Single Post - Which striker do you want brought into the United fold this summer?

simonhla · 05-31-2008, 10:23 AM

I think when one considers bringing in a new forward it is important to look at the evolution of the team's playing style in recent years and recognise that that certain players on that list might represent a backwards step.

When we let Van Nistelrooy go we let go a legend but we also replaced him with a different type of forward. A forward who still espoused the familiar aerial ability and strength on the ball as the departing figure but also one who was much more mobile and fluid. Saha's killer touch and finish was not of the assuredness or deadliness of RVN (few are) but his playing style did bring other players into the game in a way we hadn't seen in recent seasons. It added a dimension to Utd's game. Consequently we went on to win the league when many had suggested we didn't have much of a chance and a new era was born.

This year we have seen an even more extreme development of this free flowing attack which has at times manifested itself in an almost strikerless formation. The fluency, interchanging and link play between our forwards has been our most potent threat, although it is fair to say at times we have suffered from a lack of potent alternatives.

Buying a striker like Huntelaar, as excellent as I am conveinced he is, would be a step back towards a more static forward line. Clearly neither Rooney nor Tevez are best suited to playing as out and out strikers and both benefit from having someone to play off, so there is clear call for a striker to be signed, but in my opinion it needs to be a striker that has the sort of mobility we saw in Saha at his best, and someone who can interchange into other forward positions.

There are two primary candidates on this list that I feel fit the bill for different reasons:

1. Luis Fabiano. Mobile, skillfull forward, good in the air, pacey, great movement, athletic and good finisher. Should also be available at a good price and would be contented to work within a squad rotation system. Has a good all round game so can interchange positions in that fluid format I have been taking about.

2. Now my first choice (ironically listed second) is the best young forward in the world today. A player happy to play anywhere along the front line. A player gifeted with prodigious talent, wonderful physical attributes and deadly finishing. A player who will hold and likely (almost certainly if his development continues unabated) significantly increase his value and a player with the undoubted potential to be the best in the world in his position. That player, if it isn't obvious is Karim Benzema.

He moulds the very best of what we need most, strong on the ball, great at holding it up, a deadly finisher (all the things we have been missing since Ruud left) but he is also quick, mobile, great with his feet and head and can drop deep and wide. So I really don't think that this thread should be a question of who should we get......Benzema because of all these reasons plus his age.....puts him head and shoulders above the competition, it should be more about who are we likely to get.

Benzema's price is going to sky rocket if, as I suspect he is the big surprise of Euro 2008. Already we are being touted 40M and I cannot see anyone getting their hands on him for less than that. But....before one flicnhes at the price tag, he is a once in a generation type player and we cannot afford to let him go to a rival.

05-31-2008, 10:23 AM	#51 (permalink)
simonhla Status: Noob Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 22 vCash: 500 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think when one considers bringing in a new forward it is important to look at the evolution of the team's playing style in recent years and recognise that that certain players on that list might represent a backwards step. When we let Van Nistelrooy go we let go a legend but we also replaced him with a different type of forward. A forward who still espoused the familiar aerial ability and strength on the ball as the departing figure but also one who was much more mobile and fluid. Saha's killer touch and finish was not of the assuredness or deadliness of RVN (few are) but his playing style did bring other players into the game in a way we hadn't seen in recent seasons. It added a dimension to Utd's game. Consequently we went on to win the league when many had suggested we didn't have much of a chance and a new era was born. This year we have seen an even more extreme development of this free flowing attack which has at times manifested itself in an almost strikerless formation. The fluency, interchanging and link play between our forwards has been our most potent threat, although it is fair to say at times we have suffered from a lack of potent alternatives. Buying a striker like Huntelaar, as excellent as I am conveinced he is, would be a step back towards a more static forward line. Clearly neither Rooney nor Tevez are best suited to playing as out and out strikers and both benefit from having someone to play off, so there is clear call for a striker to be signed, but in my opinion it needs to be a striker that has the sort of mobility we saw in Saha at his best, and someone who can interchange into other forward positions. There are two primary candidates on this list that I feel fit the bill for different reasons: 1. Luis Fabiano. Mobile, skillfull forward, good in the air, pacey, great movement, athletic and good finisher. Should also be available at a good price and would be contented to work within a squad rotation system. Has a good all round game so can interchange positions in that fluid format I have been taking about. 2. Now my first choice (ironically listed second) is the best young forward in the world today. A player happy to play anywhere along the front line. A player gifeted with prodigious talent, wonderful physical attributes and deadly finishing. A player who will hold and likely (almost certainly if his development continues unabated) significantly increase his value and a player with the undoubted potential to be the best in the world in his position. That player, if it isn't obvious is Karim Benzema. He moulds the very best of what we need most, strong on the ball, great at holding it up, a deadly finisher (all the things we have been missing since Ruud left) but he is also quick, mobile, great with his feet and head and can drop deep and wide. So I really don't think that this thread should be a question of who should we get......Benzema because of all these reasons plus his age.....puts him head and shoulders above the competition, it should be more about who are we likely to get. Benzema's price is going to sky rocket if, as I suspect he is the big surprise of Euro 2008. Already we are being touted 40M and I cannot see anyone getting their hands on him for less than that. But....before one flicnhes at the price tag, he is a once in a generation type player and we cannot afford to let him go to a rival.