Aug 17
Do We Need a New Forward?
Manchester United were, during the summer, said to be a team with endless attacking options. However an injury to our best striker Wayne Rooney (expected to keep him out of action for at least two months) and also our best player of late, Ronaldo, receiving a 3 match suspension for an attempted head butt has left our attacking options looking a bit slim. It has also been brought to my attention that Ryan Giggs has not been performing to his best and there have been calls by many supporters to drop him, though I doubt 2 poor performances will prompt SAF to not play him against City. Also Scholes hasn’t been himself either lately. Oh, and where are Owen Hargreaves and Anderson??? I mean honestly, they have been included in both squads that played against Reading and Portsmouth but neither even made the bench!!!
We are now left with Carlos Tevez, who impressed on his debut, as our only fully fit striker as injury prone Saha and Ole are still recovering from their latest set backs. With no Rooney or Ronaldo due to injury and suspension respectively, Scholes and Giggs not performing to a standard that pleases us Reds fans and Anderson and Hargreaves yet to feature, we have started playing O’Shea upfront! Nani isn’t able to win a match single handed yet and Carrick needs to be picking out our forwards better than he currently is. Even though we already have over 40 attempts on goal in total, we haven’t really created many clear cut chances and more worryingly only scored 1 goal. 
Many say we never replaced Ruud and they are correct. With Ruud we had a striker who would be getting us around 30 goals a season and if the wingers put a decent ball in you could bet your house Ruud would be there to finish it off. We didn’t replace Ruud but instead we changed our style of play to a more free flowing style that allows the goals to be shared around more equally, no one was complaining last season when we were banging in the goals. And now SAF says he is going to play Rooney in a more advanced role, if so he is more than capable of getting 30 or so goals per season. Anyway, now that we have sold both Rossi and Smith and have 3 of our 4 remaining strikers injured we might have to go back into the transfer market to get another striker.
But who could we get? There were rumours linking us with the likes of Samuel Eto’o and Huntelaar but they would be very pricey and were alternatives to Tevez. What we need (if we are going to get a striker) is a forward who can get goals, comes cheap and would be content with a place on the bench when Rooney is fit again. So who are the options? Anelka? Gudjohnsen (but I think he is injured as well) ? That Sampdoria guy Quagaliarella?
I personally wouldn’t like Anelka at United as I think he doesn’t have the right attitude to play for us. Gudjohnson wouldn’t be a bad choice but I think he is still recovering from an injury, and Quagaliarella is young and would also be content with a place on the bench, so he isn’t a bad choice either. But I think the best option would be to get someone on loan until January, like we did with Larsson last year.
So what do you guys think? Who should we get? Do we even need someone?
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Tags: Manchester United Players · Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours
August 17th, 2007 at 15:55
no
August 17th, 2007 at 15:57
must sign anelka! or kanoute!
August 17th, 2007 at 16:06
A good question m8.
I really, really wish we hadn’t sold Rossi.
But if someone wants away, then there is no
point in keeping them.
It all depends on how fit Saha is but now we have
Tevez, I don’t think we need to spend another
shedload of cash on a forward.
August 17th, 2007 at 16:06
we should sign larsson on a free transfer, good back up.
August 17th, 2007 at 16:11
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar or Arouna Koné. So maybe in January we should get rid of Saha if he can not make a good contribution. And I think Fraizer Campbell must get some oppurtinity to prove himself as well.
August 17th, 2007 at 16:12
Injuries are a serious problem at the begining of any season but I think ManU as great solutions to solve that problem inside the without needing to sign up more new players.
August 17th, 2007 at 16:17
i think anelka will be a gud signin myself
August 17th, 2007 at 16:21
Injured. Hargreaves is still troubled by his tendonitus and Anderson has a hamstring strain. I’m worried by Hargreaves injury to be honest. Sounds like one of the niggly ones that keeps players a week away from playing for about for half a season.
To answer the question, I’d be happier with Rossi still in the squad, but it is pointless bringing someone else in now. Get Tevez fully fit and wait for Saha/Rooney to come back and we’ll be flying up front again.
August 17th, 2007 at 16:30
i think the answer is yes
there are worst players than anelka
what about defoe.
i think fraze should be getting a place on the
bench
i would also like to see us try for alves he would cost alot
but nev is getting on and look how an attacking lb (evra) created options last season
August 17th, 2007 at 16:31
I think we are fine. Last season we had the most goals by far and we didnt have Ruud which says something.
Once Saha and Solkjaer are back we will be fine. Honestly though I wouldnt worry until maybe the 5th game
and we are still struggling. Its not like we werent good on any of the two games.
We outplayed our opponent but just couldnt put it in the back of the net, lets be realistic guys.
August 17th, 2007 at 16:32
What about signing ANDY ANDY COLE; HE GETS THE BALL AND SCORES A GOAL! ANDY ANDY COLE!
August 17th, 2007 at 16:35
I definitely think we need another striker.
We already needed a striker and then we sold 2. That means we’re 2 striker down after buying Tevez, we need at least 1 more.
We needed at least 4 top strikers. We have Rooney, Tevez and Saha.
In my opion as much as I like Solskjaer he should be the 5th choice emergency striker not the 4th striker.
With 5 we would not be over-loaded as Solskjaer I doubt would be fit a lot of the time or annoyed about not playing and chances are one of the other 4 will either be injured, suspended, tired or unfit.
With Rooney and Tevez playing out of the box so much we would want to get a box striker or target man. I still think Huntelaar could do the job but he would probably be expensive.
August 17th, 2007 at 16:38
I think we got a little lucky last year, because we played well with Saha leading the line, and giving Ronaldo and Rooney more space. This season there’s no striker doing that, and as long as Saha’s physique can’t be trusted, then we should sign a striker. And I think Klaas-Jan HUNTelaar would be ideal.
August 17th, 2007 at 16:46
Hi,
I understand the concern but don’t agree. BTW, Scholes played
very well against Portsmotouth and scored! What we need is Saha
and Solskjaer fit to partner Tevez. Giggs is not anywhere near
being dropped. We draw two games and people react as if we are
about to get relegated. Come on guys, it is very early days.
August 17th, 2007 at 16:49
Anelka perfect for united. He would be another Cantona.
August 17th, 2007 at 16:55
I know it may have been desperately selfish and unfair to Alan Smith, but if I were the manager I’d have waited on Saha’s or Solskjaer’s return to fitness before rubber stamping his move to Newcastle. He could have still left towards the end of the summer transfer window and that would have been that.
August 17th, 2007 at 16:55
We don`t need a new forward. We are the best and we eill show that we can play without Rooney and Ronaldo. I`m telling you whatch the sunday game against City and you will see. We will win I`m 100 % sure. MANCHESTER UNITED ARE THE BEST TEAM
August 17th, 2007 at 16:56
The idea of loaning someone to play for us in the short term is a practical and plausible one, just who would want to come to United for that sort of deal?
Larsson was ideal for a gap filler, trouble is not many of him around, certainly wouldnt want to see Anelka in a United shirt, the mans a dick anyway.
Just hope John O’Shea doesnt end up getting the role.
August 17th, 2007 at 17:01
look plain and simple if giggs carrys on the way he’s been playing then he’ll be dropped for nani, in the next 2 games if giggs plays crap then it’s gonna be nani and anderson(if he’s fit) playing on the wings.
August 17th, 2007 at 17:01
yes, Man.United realy wants two more
strikers who are good in the air and
also who can score goals both with the
head as well as by foot.They Should go
for Eto and Huntelaar or Kanoute or
Anelka imediadtely along with Two Defencive
Players one for the right if possible
Alves and one for the left. they should
sell Players Like Silvestre, Heinze, who
doesnt want to continue and injuary
prone players like Saha and Solsjkar. If
Mr. Fergussion Thinks that the existing
squad with out any reinforcements will
be able to to win three titles as its
been hoping for, i at this point itself
can surely tell that it will be only his
wish and very much doubt that Man.Utd
will win Even one title this season.
August 17th, 2007 at 17:01
My reaction isn’t a doom and gloom reaction it’s common sense.
A top European team needs 4 top strikers who make sense. We have 3 and an ageing future legend to play in the League, Champions league and 2 domestic cups.
The only other options are Dong and Campbell and Sir Alex has made it obvious he doesn’t fancy them yet.
As for this talk about Anderson, Giggs, Scholes etc… playing
upfront, fair enough but they’re aren’t forwards/strikers (I see Anderson as a midfielder not a FWD) they’re
makeshift in those positions which we should not need.
I don’t think we’ll have a disaster without another striker I just
think it makes sense to get another one and theres really no reason why we shouldn’t.
August 17th, 2007 at 17:14
I think we should get Huntelaar now. I don’t know if it is rumour or what, but a deal has already been set up to bring him to Old Trafford next season as he needs to be playing week in week out to get more experience especially in Europe, though he did quite well last season at Ajax. Going back to the deal, it is a similar one to that which was set up to bring Roben to Utd. He visited Old Trafford and Utd went back with a lower bid and Chelsea got involved with a better package and deal was off. Roben went ot Chelsea. This might happen to Huntelaar. What if he has a cracking season for Ajax. Every top club would be queuing up o get him. Expensive??? Is £15 expensive for UTD. Nope. Sell Heinze and get £7. Add a few odd quids here and there and here is our New RUUD. C’mon Fergie. Deep down you know we need a new striker. Who better than Huntelaar? Tall, athletic, can head the ball as well as bring others into play. Someone please send this to Alex Ferguson. WE NEED HUNTELAAR AND YOUR DREAM WILL COME TRUE. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. The one thing you want before you retire in the south of France. Also, I would like to remind all the readers that Utd have not really dug deep into their pockets this year.
Summary:
Players sold:
Obi Mikel £6 (£6 later I think)
Rossi £5.5
Richardson £5.5
Heinze £7 (most probably)
Smith £7
Total = £24
Players Bought;
Hargreaves £17 (money was there from last year as Fergie had the cash burning a hole in his pocket)
Nani £17
Anderson £17
Tevez £ well this is a loan deal.
If my maths is right, we have spent only £10 from the coffers this year from this seasons budget, Sold £24 – Bought £34 (excluding Hargreaves and Tevez as he is on loan and what we are paying is only wages which will get back by selling T-Shirts).
that’s enough from me. Someone pleasemake sure Fergie reads this somehow.
Cheerio. Have a good Weekend. At least we’ll have a good one if we trash those scums in the derby on Sunday. Le the season begin (at least for us).
Al
August 17th, 2007 at 18:06
yes. Gudjohnsen or Anelka
August 17th, 2007 at 18:43
Yep we do need a striker but i seriously doubt fergie will buy another striker.he already said he wouldnt.and we all no how stubborn he is.but the thing that worries me is that ole and saha just cant be trusted.so i count 2 strikers tevez and rooney.why do ppl even mention dong.he is a shirt seller.its cruel but true.as for hargreaves i have no explanation.he is saha #2.
August 17th, 2007 at 18:44
dan un-official liaison says:
look plain and simple if giggs carrys on the way he’s been playing then he’ll be dropped for nani, in the next 2 games if giggs plays crap then it’s gonna be nani and anderson(if he’s fit) playing on the wings
YEAH! tottally. i think many fans get blinded by the fact that giggs was once a great player. but we all have to be realistic, the best players have their peaks and giggs has clearly past his. it’ll be the same for ronaldinho, ronaldo, robinho, messi when the age catches up.
i feel signing another striker now wont be of any help, main reason is players take time to settle in and bond with the team. and if we’re to wait till the striker bonds, rooney will be fit by then. so i dont see a point if having a 5th striker who can score goals but waste his talent on the bench week in week out.
August 17th, 2007 at 20:01
i agree with al nino over the point of settling not only with the team but to the league as well especially if they come from somewhere else i wouldnt like to see anelka as well. i think that 4-3-2-1 with the 2 being nani and giggs supporting tevez as often as possible could do fine scholes bombing forward as well with hargreaves and carrick protecting him would be great.
August 17th, 2007 at 20:41
no two months and we’ll be in top three
And yes giggs or scholes to score tommoorrow take my word
Some1 like larsson can come in jan but for now no more transfers SAF al ready said that No need to panic and we’re not getting any strikers
August 17th, 2007 at 20:52
Holy shit Al Nino ive read quite a few of your comments recently and they all include a bit on how giggs is no good, do u run a ‘we h8 ryan giggs’ un-fan club??? lol (only jkn m8!) giggs is a legend and he would easily gets into my united line up!
August 17th, 2007 at 20:58
The name Anelka for some unexplainable reason will not go away! well before we knew Tevez was on the radar and all sorts of suggested signings thrown around I felt that Anelka would be a great asset for us. He is quick, intelligent and can score goals! No doubt SAF has delt well with temperamental players in his time so i see no problem there and i think he would jump at the chance to join the Champion, Bolton are one of my picks this season for relegation and perhaps Anelka may sense that after their recent performances.
August 17th, 2007 at 21:16
Our whole squad looks stretched not just in the forward department!!! just take a look at our squad to face Citeh not looking too gd guys!!!
August 17th, 2007 at 21:19
I don’t think Huntelaar would be a great fit for the squad because he plays too much like Ruud and we have a different style now. From what I have seen of Quagliarella, and I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t seen enough of him to give solid analysis, he is a bit more free-flowing. Plus, the price tags are vastly different. Huntelaar would probably cost somewhere close to the Torres range, while Quagliarella isn’t worth more the 11-13m. Also, I think we would have a better shot at persuading Udinese to loan him out to us until January, possibly with an option to buy then, which would be wise because you never know what the injury situation will be with Saha and possibly Ole.
August 17th, 2007 at 22:40
Fabio Quagliarella!!! Any day… What a player…
August 17th, 2007 at 23:01
Two draws do not fare well for us and a slow start haunted both Arsenal and Pool last season. Saha and Ole have been injured more oft then not over the past three seasons and I can’t understand why SAF still holds on to either of them (except for the 2OLegend factor). No Rooney and no Ronaldo for a month is frightening but we will cope. As for Scholes and Giggs… Ginger was the best lad on the pitch at Pompey BY FAR scoring one and after Ronaldo’s red almost put in a winner. Giggsy didn’t look too bad against Reading but not great midweek. I think we need some of his leadership on the pitch to show the kids how its done. As far as the striker quagmire goes we need definite height upfront. Who can we rely on besides Vidic to go up and get a corner I ask?
August 17th, 2007 at 23:25
No doom and gloom yet! We lost 2 points against Reading and all 3 points against Portsmouth away. So, we had done 1 better than last yr. Watched the games and Man Utd still plays great flowing football. We will get it right soon. Saha and Ole are on the comeback trail. Just pray for no more injuries. Man Utd Rulez!
August 18th, 2007 at 2:23
Let’s look at an example of a team that was successfull really with the same (if not less) strikers than Manchester United have at the moment. Barcelona last season had …. Gudjonsson & an unfit Eto’o as their only really frontline strikers. They still did a pretty decent job at threatening the League title. Barcelona did this largely through their midfield. United have a goal scoring midfield & with a striker like Tevez playing up the front, surely it is only a matter of time before normal sevice is resumed.
August 18th, 2007 at 4:43
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar….That’s all
August 18th, 2007 at 5:26
Guys Huntelaar is worth 11.5 Mill not 15
…
I do accept that we are falling short of strikers as of now .. But please remember half of our squad is not there with the likes of Anderson Hargo Saha and Ole coming back another striker means we have to compromise our attacking flow which according to me is just around the corner…
Even last season we drew a match against both Reading and Pompey .. It is just a matter of time and luck and our score sheet will shoot like Japanese Yen
…
Please Note for many of those asking why Anderson Hargo are not playing … THAT`S FERGIE FOR U ! THIS IS JUST THE START OF THE SEASON AND HE HAS MISSED HARGO ANDERSON OLE SAHA HEInZE ROONEY RONALDO NOT PLAYING !
BUT DOES HE EVER COMPLAIN ABT INJURIES ?
SO just chill things will turn out fine this weekend else fergie will seal a deal
August 18th, 2007 at 6:25
Kone is great… 6ft. gd header.. good physique. Btw,what was wrong with us in the first two matches, Playing 5 defender (Evra on Left) on Home!!!!!!! I know that Evra is a good winger but wouldn’t it be better to use Nani or Giggs or Anderson on Left and Evra on LB… And moreover, we should not use Giggs as second striker. He plays best as a Left Winger
August 18th, 2007 at 7:28
HAHAHA! yeah, i just dont get it. why peeps cant seem to tell when legends are past their best, but they’re extremely quick to point out when youngsters havnt reached their peak. strange issn’t it? heh.
neway, if we are really gna need a striker in the jan window, maybe martins or another shot at del piero though i think martins would be a more sensible option. piero will probably play the larsson role, while martins might not be the target man kinda thing, he suits the way united play perfectly.
you’ve to realise this, since rvn’s departure united hasnt been relying a lot on crosses. simple fact is they aint have many players who can swing balls in from the wings like becks and giggs used to do. yeah maybe giggs still can in like 1/10 tries. but ronaldo doesnt have the becks like crosses where you know after a number of them goes into the box, you’re bound to get a goal somehow.
August 18th, 2007 at 9:36
Well well. We will catch up. What a loads of rubbish. Do you think Chelsea will drop points? OK. Maybe. But do you guys think you will have the same luck as last year….Philip Neville’s Own Goal, last minute Ronaldo goals, O’Shea’s last minute winner at Scums, and so forth. We are already playing catch up mates. Saha and Ole are one player when fit. If one is fit, the other is always injured if not both at the same time. So why not Eagles against Porstmouth? Why bot Darren Gibson on the right instead of Brown? Quicker than Brown. Eagles faster and more precise than Fletcher. WHAT IS MISSING ABOVE ALL IS A LEADER ON THE PITCH IN THE MOULD OF “YOU KNOW WHO” when the chips are down. Plus Utd are trying to hard to score the perfect goals. Sod that. Even scrappy ones will do. Just hit even from distance just outside the box like Scholesy one. Anything less than 3 points tomorrow will get the alarm bells ringing for Fergie. Glazers will start looking for a new manager for next season. They are ruthless. look at what they did to the manager of their American Soceer Team. Sacked him after winning the title after God knows how many years. UTD IS A TEAM to be on top of the league. We’ve had enough sniffing arses over the last couple of years playing second fiddle.I hate looking at the tables and we have a lot of bums above us. C’mon UTD. Have the decency of winning your games guys. I don’t think UTD players are upset picking up their fat check every week even though they didn’t win. enough for now.
August 18th, 2007 at 9:50
Do we really need a forward,think about
it spurs have four fit strikers yet they
have scored the same amount of goals as
united from two games which is one
August 18th, 2007 at 15:42
we need at least one more striker how about Afonso Alves his quite young and can score goal and he would only cost us about £5-6m. what do you guys think
August 20th, 2007 at 11:51
we neeed another forward.what happens if tevez gets injured. we would have no fit striker. i suggest fergie gets a striker for loan till january(even if is a prolific second division striker in any league who can fit well in united game plan)and thinks will be good.when rooney returns from injury he wont comeon pitch and be superman. he will need time to get hid form back(probably a month) Does fergie ever read this blog. though we aint managers and he knows better than us.it will do him lot of good if he followed some of the advice given in this blog. i mean we are a portion of man united and it will be nice for him to take into consideration our suggestions