[funkdoctorspock]

Originally Posted by RobsonLegend

"Other"

I'd like to see Manucho (permit issues uhhh......permitting) get his fair shot. He's the main reason I actually made an effort to keep up with the ACN this time around, and for someone coming out of a team hardly regarded as a traditional power, he surely impressed and his stock rose in my eyes. Powerful, good in the air, strong on the ground, and has a definite finisher's eye, too.

One thing about bringing in some big name is that someone's going to have to give way, and I'd hate for that to have to happen. I'd almost rather we look high and low for some young diamond in the rough, get him on the cheap, and then groom him in a sub's role to bring him along. To be honest, I don't know who would fit that bill currently. Agbonlahor, maybe? He's got a knack for playing on the wing, too, and anybody playing up top for us currently almost has to have that flexibility.

Since when was Manucho rated United's 3rd striker? Doesn't the fact that United signing a striker with no European experience indicate that another striker is needed? His stint with Panathiakos wasn't the greatest.

What about the fact that the United staff want to bring in another striker? One with European experience.

Not a chance that Agbonlahor is pried away from Villa. He's a 1st choice starter, loves playing for Villa and his a strong O'Neill backer. Add to that the "English fee" and United are better off going for Huntelaar. He has European experience, National team experience and scores regularly.

As for big name coming in and forcing players to make way. United brought in three big named players that forced there way in at different points in the season. United work best with a rotation and players fighting/working hard for a chance to start. What's great about the squad is they don't complain over starts, encourage the team and they almost always show up to play when called upon. I don't see United bringing in a player that would not cater to this philosophy and thrive in it.

Kitson, Doyle and Agbonlahor...

Originally Posted by dimz

Well that's what i was trying to say....

Maybe you should hire RobsonLegend to comment on your behalf...

[Silas "Subpoena" Awaketh]

Originally Posted by RobsonLegend

One thing about bringing in some big name is that someone's going to have to give way, and I'd hate for that to have to happen.

Why would you "hate" that? I don't know if you followed United some years back, but we had 4 of the most lethal strikers in the league at the same time, Teddy, Ole, Yorke and Cole, none of them complained, and they scored for fun. This time, we only have Rooney and Tevez. The same people who say "z0mfg duch leeg aint no shit, huntelure aint no shit" then go on and say Manucho was great in ACN and is great now in the Greek League!

Originally Posted by RobsonLegend

I'd almost rather we look high and low for some young diamond in the rough, get him on the cheap, and then groom him in a sub's role to bring him along.

Arse have been doing that and look how great it has worked for them!

Furthermore, I'd let SAF talk to you about this point.

Fergie ready to buy

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed he intends to buy a forward this summer.

Many feel United's squad is almost flawless - although they do appear to be a striker short with Louis Saha's future looking uncertain.

Ferguson can already boast the likes of Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney - but then there is little else in terms of an out-and-out striker with Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs the next best options.

Now Ferguson is scouring the world and assessing his options before making a move.

Michael Owen is the latest name to be linked, whilst Dimitar Berbatov, Klaas- Jan Huntelaar and Luis Fabiano are also said to be under consideration.

"We will buy," Ferguson confirmed.

"Along with Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, we may need experience in one forward position, somebody to take over from Ryan Giggs eventually."

[RobsonLegend]

Originally Posted by funkdoctorspock

Since when was Manucho rated United's 3rd striker? Doesn't the fact that United signing a striker with no European experience indicate that another striker is needed? His stint with Panathiakos wasn't the greatest.

I'd certainly put him ahead of any other options we have right now (pending permit issues).

Not a chance that Agbonlahor is pried away from Villa.

His name was just one of the first ones I could think of that fit the profile of what I was thinking of.

As for big name coming in and forcing players to make way. United brought in three big named players that forced there way in at different points in the season. United work best with a rotation and players fighting/working hard for a chance to start. What's great about the squad is they don't complain over starts, encourage the team and they almost always show up to play when called upon. I don't see United bringing in a player that would not cater to this philosophy and thrive in it.

Hey, if we can find an established star forward who's going to be happy in a rotation system, then I'm all for it. Team first. Always.

Originally Posted by Silas "Subpoena" Awaketh

Why would you "hate" that? I don't know if you followed United some years back, but we had 4 of the most lethal strikers in the league at the same time, Teddy, Ole, Yorke and Cole, none of them complained, and they scored for fun. This time, we only have Rooney and Tevez. The same people who say "z0mfg duch leeg aint no shit, huntelure aint no shit" then go on and say Manucho was great in ACN and is great now in the Greek League!

Again--if we can set up that rotation and keep everyone happy, then I'm all for it.

Arse have been doing that and look how great it has worked for them!

Don't really give a rat's behind as to what Arsenal have been doing. And they've had issues in other parts of their lineup as well, which affects service to their forwards.

Furthermore, I'd let SAF talk to you about this point.

Hey, if someone could set up a time for me to have a conversation with Sir Alex, that'd be great.

[dpak3000]

The player I would like to most see at United this summer is one from the reserve ranks: FRAZIER CAMPBELL. He's going to be a star someday real soon and it would be nice to see him get some first-team experience. Do we really need to buy another striker after Rooney, Tevez, Manucho, and Saha? Bringing up a local lad from the reserve ranks is what United is all about (Becks, Scholes, Giggs, Neville). Would love to see them go a similar route w/ Campbell.

[rawdon]

Originally Posted by dpak3000

The player I would like to most see at United this summer is one from the reserve ranks: FRAZIER CAMPBELL.

Agreed, I would love to see more of Campbell, and for that matter Welbeck. They could well be "our diamonds in the rough" who will have time and the right environment develop.

But SAF seems to be looking for someone who can carry a much greater load right now.

I hope they can land Huntelaar, I reall hope it isn't Owen or Berbatov.

Originally Posted by dpak3000

Do we really need to buy another striker after Rooney, Tevez, Manucho, and Saha?.

Sorry, but don't count on Saha being available next season. Even if he still is at the club, you still can't count on him being available (like this year for example). Pity, I miss him.

[funkdoctorspock]

Some of you are failing to realize that Manucho wasn't brought in to replace Saha, but to add to the strikeforce.

4 strikers!!!

I really don't see how Saha is staying for next season. And if he isn't, he'll have to be replaced.

To say that Manucho moves up to the 3rd striker role is nothing short of daft. Not only because he was brought in to add to Rooney, Tevez and Saha, but also he has no experience. Not in the league or Europe.

Furthermore, United's staff indicated that they want another striker in with experience.

The next striker that comes in has to be on par or better than Saha. Its that simple. If they can't do better than Saha, United might as well stand pat and strengthen other areas.

Frazier or Welbeck could stay with the first team. But it will be a back and forth situation with reserve play.

[rawdon]

Originally Posted by funkdoctorspock

Furthermore, United's staff indicated that they want another striker in with experience.

Frazier or Welbeck could stay with the first team. But it will be a back and forth situation with reserve play.

Exactly! I thought that this season we were fortunate not to have any of our strikers seriously injured. Imagine if Tevez hadn't been available for a couple of weeks. As it is he already mentioned he needs a rest. We need someone that can share that load immediately. That means somebody with big-time experience now.

[dada]

Since its a definite Fergie is looking for a striker (and not converting Ronaldo and buying a winger in Quaresma instead as I had hoped) then I'd go with Huntelaar as my choice. I've been an admirer for a few years but no matter how much I thought he would be a perfect fit at the club we just never seemed to have pulled the trigger. Many may say he'll hold up play similar to Ruud but thats nonsense in my eyes, Ruud never played with a team quite this nicety.

For one thing this guy is a lethal finisher and thats something we have been lacking this season (outside Ronaldo's rampage). The guy can finish nicely with both feet, runs well off the ball and is excellent in the air while most of all finding a way to stay on the pitch healthy to score these goals. Its rather obvious Rooney would flourish as a support man (as seen by his solid goals/assists tally) without shouldering the load of leading the frontline and having a partner who demands attention inside the penalty area should help create room for him and allow him to really exert his presence and better demonstrate his footballing skills with the space afforded.

Tevez would be the odd man out of course but its a definite he will get enough gmes to fill his tummy as the the new striker is worked into the fold, rotations as well as when knocks present itself.

As for Benzema, he can go suck a cock. The kid is obviously not a student of football based on some rather insipid comments he has made in the press about English football and Manchester United so really I dont have much patience for helmet cases.

[KMS]

With the list given I'd have to go with Benzema, although it probably won't happen with him wanting to stay with Lyon for at least one more season, he also prefers Spain/Italy over a move to England. I'd love to see him here though, he'll become one of, if not the, best strikers around. I follow Ligue 1 quite closely and whilst it's not the best of leagues around there's some decent quality over there but Benzema blows them all away, he's got everything.

We're being linked with Fabiano and Huntelaar mostly, during the past week or so anyway.

Fabiano - Don't be fooled by the papers saying he can go for £7-8m, that's only to buy the 35% of him that Sevilla own and with Premier League rules being what they are for 3rd-party-ownership, we'd have to buy the remaining 65% from the company who owns him, taking the overall price to over £20m. He's a good player though, decent on the ball, has a bit of pace and he can finish. The problem with him is knowing whether he's just had one of those seasons certain players have now and again, or if he can do it every season - at £20m+ I'd have to say no.

Huntelaar - Very much in the mould of van Nistelrooy, something I don't really like. With Ruud in the side we became very one dimensional and predictable at times which changed when he left and the free flowing, full of movement football came into play. I wouldn't want that happening again but as Huntelaar would probably come in as 3rd choice striker behind Rooney and Tevez, I wouldn't be against us signing him - He'd be a great player to bring on if you needed a goal, or just to change the the game in general.

It'll be an interesting summer though, with EURO 2008 on the go as well any player who plays well will have his price pushed up further, more-so if he's a striker, so I'd like to see us sign someone before that starts instead of getting held to ransom going into the pre-season period.

[Silas "Subpoena" Awaketh]

Originally Posted by KMS

With Ruud in the side we became very one dimensional and predictable at times which changed when he left and the free flowing, full of movement football came into play.

Yes, we played a lot of free-flowing football during Ruud's last season! I mean the creative central midfield pair of Alan Smith and Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs on one flank, and z0mfg Ronaldo on the other was a sight to behold! Also, we had a one-eyed Paul Scholes. From the right we had John O'Shea providing pin-point crosses, and from the left it was Sylvestre bombarding forward! Who can forget the late off the bench contributions from Richardson! I mean, phew!

You are absolutely right, it was Ruud's slow game that pulled us back.

I mean, he then went to probably the most unstable clubs of all times, a new team, a new management, a new country and barely scored 35 goals while being the top scorer in the league in his first season and in the CL as well till the time Madrid were in it! Anyone can do that, isn't it? Real would've won the title without him anyways!

Yes, we were too reliant on him, always expected him to score (which he rarely did). Now, that is not the case. It is not one player scoring 40 goals while none of the other scored 20 now, is it? We were too predictable then, but now, see, no one know who'd score for us. That's so deceptive!