Perversely, we still need a striker. So who would you want?

[Dark Savante]

What should be evident by now is that Berbatov's natural instincts are those of #10, at best.

We've paid £30m for a guy who prefers to drop deep and play others in.. when only Ronaldo has the instincts and the desire to get on to the end of things high up the pitch.. and we're not even playing Tevez, you've got a problem... especially given we've dumped ronaldo on the wing as a conventional winger - something he isn't particularly good at or even comfortable with.

It's bizarre. We still haven't addressed a pressing need, really, have we?

In the striker thread Berbatov was way down on my personal list:

Anelka
Eto'o
Benzema

and so on are the kind of guys we are still in need of for what they do and offer the team.

I find it perverse that we're effectively playing two guys together who sit so deep as a natural instinct with neither one having a natural desire to run the line (lol in terms of Berbatov)

So what do you think we're gonna do about this?

Do you see it as a problem, or as something that Berba will eventually get used to doing (playing more in the box than outside it)?

Will we bring Fraizer back for the role, or try The Truth there..?

My personal reckoning is still that Tevez goes and we try to get in yet another big bucks forward.

[michael24710]

Benzema has all the attributes needed for our 4-4-2 formation. However assume we get this striker, even if Tevez leaves, what happens? You cant play Rooney, Benzema and Berbatov in a 4-4-2 and well Id be amazed to see SAF trying something different.

[Charleysurf]

I said at the time that we were mad to buy yet another second striker. We needed to buy a "Saha that is not made of glass" striker. But "I told you so"'s are not going to help us.

I still believe that Berbatov will be a big player for us. He has the skills to get us goals out of nowhere and be a consistent match winner. But he's never going to give us the directness that we may sometimes need.

I think Fergie is looking at what you suggest, get rid of Tevez and pay out for that other kind of striker.

Benzema is the dream striker. Gossip suggests that Fergie asked about Benzema before we moved for Berbatov. But Lyon are no fools. They will want at least £70m for him.

Let's face it. We will only be getting Benzmema if we sell Ronaldo.

Are there other direct strikers that have the class to play for United? A Luis Fabiano may work out. But you cannot be sure. David Villa could work well. Again, the fee will be prohibitive.

[benni...]

Okay, first things first, when we bought Berbatov, I knew he liked to drop deep pccasionally and let Robbie Keane make runs off him. However, I thought that when we purchased him, we would be the one to sit closer to the CB's, and let Rooney play in the hole. Buts its been the opposite. Even when Tevez comes in with Berba in the team,

Thats been disappointing.

What you all will be disapointed to know, Benzema drops off the main line as well. He doesnt always stay along the CB's.

Samuel Eto'o would still be our best bet. But Even though I still think Barca will sell him, this time out they will get way more than the rumoured £27-31mil.

While we are at it, we need to realize that no matter what player we get, we are gonig to pay a minimum of £15-17 mil for him. After spending so much on Berbatov, I assume we are just going to go with The young lads and Manucho.

[GrodZilla]

I'll be really disappointed if we go for another striker to be honest. Campbell could be what we need. He's doing well at Spurs and should only get more PT there. Unless the bring in another striker and in the case I say bring the lad back.

[yikchi]

I don't even know what we would do at this point. I don't see us bringing in anyone in January other than recalling Frazier or try to use Manucho. As for after this season, let's say we bring in Eto'o for argument sake, what do we do with Berba or Rooney if we are going to pay 4-4-2 most of the time. Neither will be happy to sit on the bench.

All I can hope for the remaining of the season is that having Scholes back would make Berba stay up front a bit more or Fergie & his staff figure out a new formation that actually works.

[SyedZada]

Benzema would be perfect but the least available , even if you ignore his price tag his love fest for RM will make sure he moves to them.
Whoever we get Tevez is definitely done for and I dont blame SAF for it because I too cant see what he offers more then we have already got and cant see us paying his price.

[JuveFE]

Should of went for Amauri. :) just kidding.

I honestly think you guys will be fine. I don't see anyone coming in Jan. and the only way I see you in the market for another world class striker is if carlitos leaves.

Are goals really a problem for man utd? Aren't you guys always 1 or 2 in goals by the end of the year? It seems to me that you guys always find a way.

And do you guys really want that pure #9 like a Rudd? You don't think that will effect ronaldo's game? Remember, 2x EPL champ and CL champ with no #9. Not to bad. Seems like something is working.

[Bronaldo]

Should of went for Amauri. :) just kidding.

I honestly think you guys will be fine. I don't see anyone coming in Jan. and the only way I see you in the market for another world class striker is if carlitos leaves.

Are goals really a problem for man utd? Aren't you guys always 1 or 2 in goals by the end of the year? It seems to me that you guys always find a way.

And do you guys really want that pure #9 like a Rudd? You don't think that will effect ronaldo's game? Remember, 2x EPL champ and CL champ with no #9. Not to bad. Seems like something is working.

I wanted United to sign Amauri, he had everything we needed in a #9 and would have been cheaper than Berbatov.

I think if we sign a striker (which we won't/shouldn't) it should be David Villa. He has proven himself to be a good goal scorer, he can lead the line and with Berbatov, we don't necessarily need someone with size. His pace and movement off the ball in addition to his finishing would make the Villa + Berbs partnership one of the best if not the best striker partnership in the world. Sadly, signing Villa would mean that Ronaldo would be leaving and Rooney would be played outwide as a winger.

[jeff070]

batefemi gomis of saint etienne !

[Drae]

It is clear that Berba has not been leading the line up to this point, which does not suit this 4-4-2 we are playing. Who knows though. Perhaps he will be more comfortable leading the line in the future. He still hasnt really had time to settle down this us. Plus he has had a few injuries here and there.

Or god willing, our formation will change to something more fluid that will be more suited to the players we have (seems unlikely at this point).

Regardless, 3 deep playing strikers are not what we need. The only reason you would buy Tevez is if you were not planning on playing a 4-4-2. Because of this, and Fergies attitude towards Tevez, and most of all the high fee for him, you have to say its seems unlikely we are going to fork out 20M+ for Tevez.

I wonder if we will see Campbell recalled to be given a shot between Jan and May. If he does not then perform, then we think about buying a 9 next summer.

As for buying a 9, the above candidates are all possible I suppose. I have only seen Benzema in our games last year, and he certainly lead the line as a 9 and an outlet very well then.

Price would be an issue, but I am not sure Madrid will launch a high bid for him (70M). They have just dropped 17M on Huntlear, and will need to buy one, maybe two winger / wing forwards in Jan or the summer.

[Vermont Red]

I thought it was interesting (troubling) that Rooney was often (always) further up the pitch then Berbatov. For some reason I thought it was supposed to be the other way around.

It's funny that Campbell was mentioned because I wondered after the match if things would have been much different with Campbell running around up front. I imagine that Campbell would have given the Sunderland backline more to think about than did Berbatov.

It seems clear that Tevez is gone and I imagine that we'll bring in a real 9. My first choice is Torres. Sorry, I got stuck in a time warp from two years ago. My first choice is Benzema. If he would really come to Manchester then he's the choice for me, no question. Other than that, I have no idea.

[J'can]

Could we already have the answer in the squad? Do we really need another stiker? Maybe what we need to do is to relegate one of the starters to the bench/sell him. That being Berbs.

I have always maintained that berbs is subtraction by addition to the team. So far I am right (at least I like to think so) But instead of belaboring my psychic abilities real or imagined, here is my suggestion. Take Berbs out and put Tevez in. We would be back to what had last year where the players had more of an understanding of how to play despite the limitation. Last year we agreed, me included that we need a natural nine to lead the line. Could we collectively have jumped the gun there?

Could a viable option be to play Tevez Rooney and Ronaldo in interchanging roles? JUSt wanted to add a variation on DS' question.

[urbnzy]

Maybe a little bit of a problem lies in no competition from Tevez. Let me explain :) Berba and Rooney think they are definite starters in a team, because Ferguson just doesn't bench one of them. When he did bench Rooney, he started playing incredible and when his starting position was assured, he faded again. That has a lot to do with him being inconsistent, but I think there a bit (maybe just a little little bit :rolleyes:) of a reason. And when Tevez "threaten" him to take his place with 4 goals, he played well again against Sunderland. And Berba wanted to be in first 11 at the beginning and he played great, but faded.
I know its jewbrish, but anyway :p

[bestbecks]

While we are at it, we need to realize that no matter what player we get, we are gonig to pay a minimum of £15-17 mil for him. After spending so much on Berbatov, I assume we are just going to go with The young lads and Manucho.

The only way we won't go with the young lads is if Benzema shows a genuine interest in playing for us. He's the only forward who I can see Fergie spending tens of millions on. If he does not show a genuine interest, then we stick with the kid. I don't think Fergie will dish out the kind of cash required to land Eto'o despite him being the best option for our team (his age is perfect, and his ability in front of goal is second to none in the world).

[Invincible]

It certainly is an interesting situation we find ourselves in. Coupled with the rubbish 4-4-2 we seem to be hellbent on playing...

We might as well stick with what we've got. (the 'four'+ Welbeck, Manucho, Campbell). Hopefully we'll stumble upon something that works really well.

[Achtung]

So is it safe to say everyone's completely given up on both the reserves (Welbeck and Campbell when he returns from loan) as well as The Truth?

Maybe it's just me, but if we're going to keep throwing shit at the wall until something sticks, I'd rather said shit not cost £30m.

[bestbecks]

So is it safe to say everyone's completely given up on both the reserves (Welbeck and Campbell when he returns from loan) as well as The Truth?

Maybe it's just me, but if we're going to keep throwing shit at the wall until something sticks, I'd rather said shit not cost £30m.
I agree with what you're saying to an extent, but if Eto'o was up for sale and Man Utd were frontrunners to land him (lets say for approx. 25-30 million) would you insist that we pull out and stick with the kids? Given his age (27) I feel as though he would be great for our team in the short term, while still allowing room for our kid strikers to grow. Of course, just how many of them will be able to feature with United on a game-to-game basis is up for debate, but I feel like Campbell in particular would benefit from Eto'o's presence in the team.

[Red 11]

I don't even know what we would do at this point. I don't see us bringing in anyone in January other than recalling Frazier or try to use Manucho. As for after this season, let's say we bring in Eto'o for argument sake, what do we do with Berba or Rooney if we are going to pay 4-4-2 most of the time. Neither will be happy to sit on the bench.

All I can hope for the remaining of the season is that having Scholes back would make Berba stay up front a bit more or Fergie & his staff figure out a new formation that actually works.

I have to agree with this assessment. I hate that 4-4-2. We have the players with the potential to rip teams apart like rag dolls and it's not happening. Of course, part of the problem has been our injury problems in midfield.

But to get back on topic... I think Benzema will be here next season and Tevez, rightly or wrongly, is the odd man out.

[J'can]

It certainly is an interesting situation we find ourselves in. Coupled with the rubbish 4-4-2 we seem to be hellbent on playing...

We might as well stick with what we've got. (the 'four'+ Welbeck, Manucho, Campbell). Hopefully we'll stumble upon something that works really well.

I am gonna go back and dig through and read the threads on the 442 formation. I remember saying once that 442 does not have to be a dual winger of sorts you can have a midfielder on the left or right side who is not a winger. Anyway, I remember DS saying that when we mention 442 on here is is usually in reference to a dual winger type formation.

I have a vague notion that a flat four in the 442 might work but I cant recall if there was any discussion on that so hence my research journey. If any of you come across and posting or thread (or care to offer a comment) regadless of forum please forward if you dont mind.

Off to educate myself.

PS I think it is the combination of personnel more than the formation