[simonhla]

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.

[funkdoctorspock]

Wanted to make mention of a couple of strikers that United could/should consider and one that has stated his intentions elsewhere.

First up, Karim Benzema. It seems his heart if for Lyon at the moment and then Real Madrid.

I personally find this extremely puzzling, since Real go through strikers like underwear [sorry, blanking on a better metaphor ].

Anyways, if the reports are true, I think we can safely put to rest the possibility of Benzema coming to United.

Now for a couple of strikers that Unitd could/should consider.

1. Zlatan Ibrahimović

Malcontent and at times selfish but one hell of a footie player. Excellent footwork, can play out of the box, tremendous aerial ability and a wicked shot.

Could he be a player that United need?

2. David Villa

Pakman mentioned this player yesterday in the irc chat, so I figured it would be worth mentioning in this thread.

Extremely quick, excellent positioning and a great shot. Only worry would be height issues and physical strength.

Discuss...

[Torque]

Zlatan is a good striker but he wants a lot of money. They pay him 12 mil Euro per season and I don't think United will be willing to pay him that much. I don't like the fact that he's selfish at times but he's still a great player.

Villa announced that he's willing to leave Valencia plus the club has so debts to pay so it would be quite easy to get him if we could pay the sum they want for Villa. As Funky said, he's not that tall and we really need a tall striker.

[RobsonLegend]

A lot could change between now and whenever, but Villa's come out and said that he's not interested in moving with regards to rumors about bids from Arsenal and/or Chelsea. Now, that's Arsenal and Chelsea, and he may think different about interest from the biggest name in football, so who knows? He has certainly been impressive since the 2006 World Cup.

The one question I have about Villa is this: does he need a foil like Torres to thrive, and if so, who plays that same role on United that Torres does on the Spanish national team?

[lotnik]

Now there's a problem. No matter how many goals the team scores during the season, there's always a claim that United need a striker. But honestly - do we? As some of the lad have already said, United don't play as they played with RvN anymore. The thing is that we can't say whether we need a forward or not - only the manager knows the way he wants the boy to play and surely you don't change the winning team.

Some two years ago, I started to love the skill of KJN. He is so gifted and then I still missed Ruud in United's team. I must say that I still dream about him wearing the United shirt, but maybe we don't need a lone finisher there - fighters like Rooney or Tevez still know how to score.

[bunbury7]

Over here in America, there's a rumor.

Papers says: Man United wants paraguay international striker Salvador Cabañas of Club America (Mexico).. He is goal champion of Copa Libertadores in 2 times.

Here a link of rumor..

What do you say friends?

Greetings from Mexico.

Sorry for my anemic english

Source:

[lotnik]

To be honest, I've never seen him in action, but I've read some things about him - if he's half as good as they write, we should think it over. After all, South or North America are not the destinations we frequently turned to. Anyway, the boss knows best.

[bldblade]

I would personally want Mutu or Villa but I don't see any of them playing for united.

[funkdoctorspock]

Originally Posted by lotnik

Now there's a problem. No matter how many goals the team scores during the season, there's always a claim that United need a striker. But honestly - do we? As some of the lad have already said, United don't play as they played with RvN anymore. The thing is that we can't say whether we need a forward or not - only the manager knows the way he wants the boy to play and surely you don't change the winning team.

Some two years ago, I started to love the skill of KJN. He is so gifted and then I still missed Ruud in United's team. I must say that I still dream about him wearing the United shirt, but maybe we don't need a lone finisher there - fighters like Rooney or Tevez still know how to score.

Honestly, we do need a striker.

One needs to be brought in to either replace Saha or add to the strikeforce if United do decide to keep Saha and he gets injured as usual. Saha's injury woes the last couple of seasons have severely cramped United's rotation flexibility up top. Having to slot in Ronaldo and Giggs should be a sign that a striker needs to come in.

Originally Posted by bunbury7

Over here in America, there's a rumor.

Papers says: Man United wants paraguay international striker Salvador Cabañas of Club America (Mexico).. He is goal champion of Copa Libertadores in 2 times.

Here a link of rumor..

What do you say friends?

Greetings from Mexico.

Sorry for my anemic english

Source:

Sincerely doubt this is true. No European experience (UEFA or CL).

Other than Manchester United, is this player rumoured to be going somewhere else in Europe?

Originally Posted by bldblade

I would personally want Mutu or Villa but I don't see any of them playing for united.

Can you explain why? What do you think either of these players could bring to the table for United?

As for Huntelaar, he has turned down a contract extension with Ajax. Apparently, he is not happy with the buyout. Possible indicator that he wants to leave?

Ajax technical director Danny Blind admitted to De Telegraaf that contract talks had failed in large part because Huntelaar wanted a release clause written into the deal but felt Ajax wanted to set the price too high.

The striker has been linked with a big-money to the Premier League, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool among his potential suitors.

"When you look at the Ajax salary structure he could get a huge deal," Blind said. "But he doesn't want to see a release clause set at 25 million euros in his contract. We didn't want to go any lower."

However, Blind insists the breakdown in talks does not mean Huntelaar will leave the club any time soon.

"We don't want to see Klaas Jan leave us," he said. "The bar is high. We would like to keep our top scorer in Amsterdam. If he doesn't want to sign a new contract, he still has a deal for the next two years."

Blind also holds out hope that Huntelaar might reconsider.

"The negotiations are stalled," he said. "We have agreed on the fact that Ajax will speak with all clubs that come in for Huntelaar. If the interested clubs don't want to pay what we we ask for, then we hope that we can start new talks with Klaas Jan again."

Source

[Iron_Maiden]

Originally Posted by ZEUS

That means in Netherlands also is only one team: Ajax. Why does it help Huntelaar's case???

May be in France there is only one team over the seven years history nowadays,but in Holland certainly not,at least two are battling hard for the title:Ajax and PSV.

If you meant top-schools of football,I must admit there are two great such academies Ajax and Sporting.

Huntelaar from Heerenveen, Nistelrooy from Heerenveen.Two great talents,both scoring a lot in The Eredivisie,both talented and skilled enough,both great six-yard box attackers.No one would be more fitted in than The Hunter to be our "next nr.14", our next rising worldwide star.Never know,but hope he is the next dangerous "Rooy".