When Ruud returns...

[Dark Savante]

Who should be his partner?

Smith or Saha?

Smith's arrival has put a serious dent into Saha imo. I think Saha is our 3rd striker now as Smith is forcing himself into full time 1st team reckoning with not only his heart but his understanding and interaction with club vets. That rapport is going to get him real far imo and the 1st teamers really like the guy..after his goal today did you see the embrace he got? Saha gets a few pats on the back and the odd smile, this situation must be worrying for him and rightly so.

Then we have the possibility of a new guy coming in. I think the board will sanction a move when it is 100% g'teed we have qualified for the CL and not before, but still even if that new guy is a great player he's got some catch up to do to get ahead of Smith.

Kudos to the fella, he's showing that application is the winning ticket.

[billyireland]

I'd make Smith #2 and Saha #3 right now, as well at the moment. Saha's ass-holery is now backfiring in a big way, as Smith is fully committed and definitely bringing the goods. So Smith it is!

[Dark Savante]

I'd make Smith #2 and Saha #3 right now, as well at the moment. Saha's ass-holery is now backfiring in a big way, as Smith is fully committed and definitely bringing the goods. So Smith it is!
Saha must be watching all this and thinking 'sh!t :(' lol.

[Robert25]

Maybe we will play with 3 strikers;)

Nah...i think it will be Smith. I like Saha and think he is a terrific striker, but I think Smith has on his side his playmaking skills. He can create a lot and of course score a lot. Thats my tie-breaker.

[Achtung]

Isn't Saha due back before Ruud? In that case, I would guess that both Smith and Saha will initially be paired together. Should be interesting to see them both working together and competing for the #2 role at the same time. SAF will probably use those few games to make his decision. I can't imagine that Ruud won't start when he is healthy though.

[BillyManutd]

Agree with Achtung. Ruud is our best striker and is an automatic pick for a spot in the starting XI. Pairing Saha and Smith while Ruud is out will allow Fergie to see how they link up and who is better suited to partner Ruud.

[johno]

Well it all depends really... Saha is a better target and he is more of scorer than Smith believe it or not... or at least he proved himself to be that last year. Smith is versatile and he can work around another striker and link with the midfield with would be of good use against a hard defence to crack as he has a very high workrate and drifts around alot... if however chances are gonna be coming freely I would say Ruud and Saha would put away more of them than Ruud and Smith (although Smithy is in good form right now). As the wise have said... they will audition for the spot next to Ruud until he returns.. however interestingly enough... it may not be the one that scores the most who gets the job it might be whoever SAF thinks will partner Ruud best... traditional thought says that Smith would work well, but I am sure Saha and Ruud would steamroll alot of teams...

[Dark Savante]

Isn't Saha due back before Ruud? In that case, I would guess that both Smith and Saha will initially be paired together. Should be interesting to see them both working together and competing for the #2 role at the same time. SAF will probably use those few games to make his decision. I can't imagine that Ruud won't start when he is healthy though.
problem is that Saha will be playing in Ruud's role in Ruud's absence whch I don't think will give us any insight into how he will play beside Ruud.

I'll believe Saha is fit and ready when I see him on the pitch..still not convinced Fergie hasn't applied some kidology to Saha's genune fitness level.

[johno]

problem is that Saha will be playing in Ruud's role in Ruud's absence whch I don't think will give us any insight into how he will play beside Ruud.

I'll believe Saha is fit and ready when I see him on the pitch..still not convinced Fergie hasn't applied some kidology to Saha's genune fitness level.

dont you mean klebology?

[canadatoworldcup]

Well, I dont think that it is much of a decision, both Ruud and Saha like to play somewhere near the 6 yard box while Smith likes to play around the area and make nice strikes at the net (not that Rudd and Saha don't), but the choice in my opinion comes down to if you want Saha or Ruud? And there is only one answer there. If we sell Saha though, I can guarantee that one of those two would go down with injury, lol. But then again, can Saha play on the left wing?

[johno]

Well, I dont think that it is much of a decision, both Ruud and Saha like to play somewhere near the 6 yard box while Smith likes to play around the area and make nice strikes at the net (not that Rudd and Saha don't), but the choice in my opinion comes down to if you want Saha or Ruud? And there is only one answer there. If we sell Saha though, I can guarantee that one of those two would go down with injury, lol. But then again, can Saha play on the left wing?


Its really not that simple... when Saha and Ruud played together last season, in their first two matches together, Ruud and Saha combined for 7 goals and Saha went on to be in fine form... and outscore Ruud until they both got injuries... yes, having a witdrawn striker is nice, but sometimes two out and out strikers get the job done... If and when RUud and Saha are in the box at the same time, they will be one on one with defenders because they cannot leave one person open. In Euro we saw what Ruud could do with 1 defender draped all over him. Saha is a strong lad and very quick, Ruud and Saha could feed off each other in different ways than Ruud and Smith would feed off each other... I dont necessarily think that Ruud and Saha would cramp each other for space... either way... with 2 strikers plus Scholes, I think Ronaldo will have fun this season, I mean when they double him, someone is going to be open...

[Rei de Boston]

I think one of the biggenst factors that will be involved with who starts between the 2 is the state of the rest of the team. It won't necessarily come down to how they play or their potential as a strike partner. If the rest of the team is in poor shape injury wise then we might need someone like Smith to provide energy and to track back far on defense like he seems to do. If we have our full healthy team then I say Saha with Smith as a late sub for energy.

[United Forever]

Like I have said before Alan Smith. The guy has everything to compliment Ruud's play and works harder than that guy named Saha! :mad:

[dude8]

what a great delima to have. manu has a choice of 3 forwards other clubs would be salivating to start. smith/saha, ruud/smith, saha/ruud. you could play smith (workrate) at a-mid even. scary lineup ---

ruud--------saha

giggs---- ------------scholes(smith)----------------ronaldo

-------------------keane------------------
o'shea------------ferdinand-silvestre--------spector(yes, spector)

-----------------------howie------------------------
just a sample, but that's pretty scary.
someone's winded, hmmmmmm, we can bring on the likes of
miller, fletcher, richardson in the mid

wouldn't mind having these choice problems. would you?

[billyireland]

spector(yes, spector)Not a slight on Spector, but you lost all credibility here; no need to mention why.

[johno]

Not a slight on Spector, but you lost all credibility here; no need to mention why.


Well, that and putting Silvestre to the right of Rio, when Rio is rightfooted and Silvestre left and Spector the inexperienced one... also, probably has not seen a game recently because O'Shea is in horrid form and has not heard about Gabbie Hienze....

[DirtyDTown]

Saha must be watching all this and thinking 'sh!t :(' lol.

Those were my same thoughts after seeing that huge grin SAF had after the Smith goal. The work rate alone will put Smith ahead. He just seems to be everywhere.

[johno]

Hey... Smith's goal made it onto SportsCenter 3 different ways.. 1... regular sportscenter... 2... SportscenterExpress... 3 top ten plays of the week.. and get this... it was number 2... it was really a fantastic finish.. it was almost Ruudlike... although to be honest the last time I saw a volley like that from a United striker it came from Forlan... I guess we have our replacement.. :)

[sitati_kituyi]

Saha and Smith are equal. Smith is, however, a MUCH harder-working player, so he'd probably be picked ahead of Saha by SAF. To be absolutely honest, I still think Saha will come back and kick Smith out of the line-up THAT easily, and I think that's where the suggestions of playing Smith somewhere in midfield came from.

It's a crazy dilemma. Ruud is an automatic pick, no prob. But Saha v Smith? Tough pick. I think they'll just rotate all 3, even benching Ruud now and then, to keep them all semi-rested so the striker in the best immediate form partners Ruud in big games.

[Dark Savante]

the last time I saw a volley like that from a United striker it came from Forlan... I guess we have our replacement.. :)
Don't say that :( :(

D.S says 20 prayers to the Lord as an offering!!!!