lol. You and I could've created a couple chances out there yesterday. Dzeko made like 1 nice pass yesterday (to Perotti) and had like 1 nice touch , which he then used to take one of the worst shots I've seen that sputtered across the 6.
Not sure how Dzeko or Kolarov make any team of week. One thing I did notice after Dzeko scored was that his overall all game picked up. I'm not saying he was fantastic but he was certainly much more active off the ball and he seemed better on the ball too. This team has lacked so much confidence and has lost any semblance of team play, and it's team-wide nearly every player is suffering from it. Over the last couple months I can't think of one player who's overall game has been good. Hell, for the first time all season even Alisson looked to be succumbing to it
I hope this game is a catalyst for turning things around because in a couple weeks we have CL coming up. Not only is there 6.5 million on the line for reaching the the quarterfinals but there is more in market pool money. Juve have made a killing the last few years in CL because Serie A teams have gotten bounced early and they get all the market pool.
Unfortunately , due to his lack of versatility , we go as Dzeko goes. Everything we do offensively is predicated around him because it has to be. And the irony is , he doesn't fit our system, nor does he make players better. It's kinda like building your basketball team to be free-flowing/defensive/unselfish but Carmelo Anthony is your best player and you need him. When he doesn't finish and when he goes through his spells of confidence crisis , it's not a coincidence that our form drops. Perrotti isn't a scorer , SES is the epitome of inconsistency , Ninja operates best in chaos (which makes finding rhythm or creating cohensiveness difficult) and Under is 20.
I'd hesitate very much if anyone is considering to sell SES. In FIFA I have been considering using SES as a centre-forward.
Everyone needs role players. SES nicks goals and contributes to the team without really dragging anyone down.
I'd move if the price is right , no question. But he's not the issue , the issue is we need at least one more goal threat. That's exciting?
That's exactly it. If someone gives us a good price for him , I'll move him because he's replaceable. We can get a cheaper veteran option , or a younger player with more upside to fill his role. SES has the inconsistency of a 20 year old anyway , I'd rather get a bright prospect to build with. Or , if we sell Dzeko , we could try him at CF and he could provide cover for all 3 forward positions. I'm cool with that too.
If you are going to sell either SES or Perotti, given our roster at the moment, you would have to sell Perotti only because SES gives us an Italian homegrown player. Both have their pluses and minus' but having a homegrown without it being someone completely useless that's only there for that reason is pretty important.
I've always thought he would be better as a CF or playing behind the ST. He's technically very good, is clinical in the box and is a good passer. He struggles at times on the wing because he doesn't like to take on defenders.
We should be ok in that department if we keep Antonucci in the fold next season (I hope we do). But yeah, that's a fair point I hadn't considered.
Antonucci would count as a club homegrown player. If I'm not mistaken you need 4 homegrown and 4 from any Italian primavera. Either way we always are right on the bubble with that rule.
Our team is dying for a CF that can stretch defences , contribute in build-up, connect the mids and forwards, pass the ball, take a man on in space, make quick decisive decisions , track-back , press......you know, actually do things. I would honestly take a guy who scores less than Dzeko , but provides those things anyday. I would kill to see what a guy like Firmino would do with this team. Hopefully, Schick can provide some of those things eventually , and I think SES can too , it's just the inconsistency in his game (and his finishing).
You dont ask for much do you? Defrel can do a bit of everything you have suggested. He is a good all rounder but a forward who can excel in a number of those things would be ranked among the worlds best and out of our price range. Schick might have a Cavani style about him from what I've seen. We can work with that.
Look , I said someone who scores less than Dzeko. Anyone who has massive goal/assists numbers and offers those qualites is far beyond our reach. I'm well aware. And if we were to ever have anyone who does do the majority of those things at an elite level , it will be someone we develop. Obviously. I don't think it's an impossible task , and I see strikers all the time that can fit those qualifications. I didn't say they had to "rank among the world's best" in those areas , merely that were capable , or had at least a few of those abilties. Hence suggesting that SES could be capable. Dzeko is a one-trick pony 90% of the time. And is a minus in a lot of those areas. The target man is a dying breed , and too often that's what he is. The 4-3-3 doesn't suit a striker with zero mobility or defensive contribution. And yes , Defrel does fit some of those qualifications. Mainly mobility and defensively. Pretty much anytime we're up 1-2 goals and the game looks comfortable , I'd put him in for Dzeko to finish the game. I feel like EDF waits a tad too long.
Tbf we have Schick and Defrel who both showed great signs of being good 9.5 strikers, but have yet to show that in Rome. Defrel is a player I liked since his Cesena days, but he was a complete disaster this year up to the last week or two, maybe he is finally finding his feet. Schick season was ruined by muscular injuries, its hard to see him get a chance now unless someone gets injured. Maybe next year is his year.
For the record, I'm not opposed to selling Dzeko and relying on Defrel and Schick next year if it means signing a good creative midfielder and a top winger. If Under makes the RW position his, we should look into replacing SES with Martial, his days at Man U must be numbered.
In the short term (aka this rest of the season) , sure. But we can find a CF that suits the 4-3-3 better than Dzeko. We may already have one (or two , hell, maybe even three) on the roster. They don't cost a fortune if you find them young and develop them. I was never asking for a world class CF that checked off all those boxes immediately. And we can certainly find an adequate veteran replacement as well. Everyone has it drilled in their mind that getting someone better than Dzeko is impossible with our finances , but that's just not true. We just have to mould a guy like Klopp did with Firmino. He wasn't even a striker before Klopp arrived. It's about finding guys that suit our team/philosophy. He cost Hoffenheim 3.6 million. Schick is hopefully that guy , Defrel hopefully can at least provide the defensive aspects of that role and chip in occassionally offensively , and maybe even SES can fill some of those needs. I don't know. We haven't seen anyone but Dzeko. And like I've said , I understand why that's the case right now. EDF needs goals and results immediately. You know , everyone thought Napoli would be screwed without Higuain and Sarri recreated Mertens. Dzeko needs to go this summer.
Lol chill dude, I read what you said. Just poking a little fun. Defrel can do all you suggested however to what level we don't really know yet. He could be a 'lite' version of that type of forward. But we have only seen snippets of him in his preferred position and obviously that's because Dzeko is the big name on the big money who has scored a lot of goals. Its just the pecking order of things that a guy like Defrel who is better suited to tactics as a loose all rounder still waits for the scrapes. One moment that stands out and is worth watching to see his potential at offering what dzeko can't is a run he made v napoli I'm pretty sure. Well timed run in behind the defence that was unlucky not to score on. Yesterday that chest control and snap shot is as good as you'll see. He has good hold up and clever link play. The talent is there for him to be a 10+ goal striker and good squad player min. To be the player beyond that..who knows, I really believed in him before his signing and I think if given the time and trust he could flourish but they have bought Schick for the bigger money. SES does have a few characteristics that would work for a central position but the brain to link and make clever plays on the ball wouldn't ever be there. He's such a specialist player, to consistently get the best out of him it needs to be a false 9 setup where he can roam but so few managers play it. He's destined to be a bit part player in his career with some very memorable goals along the way.
Sorry man , I didn't mean to come across as intense. I've just had this discussion before and it always comes back to "those guys cost too much" , and shit like that. I saw the wink face and still got stuck in , that's on me.
Honestly , I want to sell Dzeko and I probably wouldn't pick up Defrel's option either. 20-25 for Defrel is too much , imo. If Sass wants to renegotiate after we send him back again, fine, because I doubt they'd get any other club to pay that amount either. Also , what makes you think Martial's days are numbered? And any fee for him would be massive.