10 Jul 2015 09:31:08
So now RvP is off, along with Falcao and presumably Hernandez. This leaves us with just Rooney and Wilson who are natural strikers, and to be honest I think I maybe stretching that a little with Rooney. But at least he is a player with extensive experience of playing as a striker.
So it looks like a striker is now a dead cert to sign this summer, but the question is who?
Well to start with need need to understand what it is LvG want's from a striker. Here we can look to Rooneys comments earlier in the season. LvG want's someone who only touches the ball 10 times a game but scores twice.
This is very revelling into how LvG wants his team to play. LvG is a possession man, as such he sees conceding possession as THE cardinal sin. Unforgivable.
This leaves a problem when it comes to strikers, as the very nature of a striker is to concede possession, a striker is there to score. End of. But in shooting regardless of whether you score or not you concede possession. LvG solves this problem by making sure the striker only touches the ball a minimal number of times. A striker in LvG's system will only have 3/4 shots a game. The rest of the time it is all about movement and threat which will drag and pull the opposition defence out of position creating space to carve open a scoring chance. And then and only then when you have a clear cut scoring chance do you shoot.
Pep Guardiola who is also a possession man solves it a different way, he gets rid of strikers altogether and plays with a false 9, strikers give the ball away too much so he doesn't play with one. Apparently LvG has toyed with the idea of playing Januzaj as a striker in a similar way.
So the kind of striker that LvG will want is someone who is multifaceted, someone who can hold up the ball, run off the shoulder, run with the ball, be clinical when given the chance and above all else someone who can use clever movement for the benefit of the team. His ideal striker will do loads of running and movement, touch the ball only a handful of times and score a couple of goals a game. Much like how Neville mentioned Rooney's performance against Man City, the silent dominator.
We also need to bare in mind LvG will consider himself to have 4 players still in his squad who can play as a striker, Rooney and Wilson but also Depay and Januzaj. Three of those are either young, untested in the league or untested in that position or a combination of all three.
Imo we will probably see another striker come in, but at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if one didn't.
I see us signing a RB which looks dead on to be Darmian, a CB most likely Otamendi and a midfielder most likely Schneiderlin. Then I see us signing a superstar player a player to make a statement.
For me there are two possible options here, either sell Hernandez and bring in one of Muller, Cavani or Benzema. Or the other option keep Hernandez and sell Di Maria and bring in Bale.
That would give us either Di Maria, Depay and one of Muller/Cavani/Benzema as a front three with Rooney dropping into midfield or Bale, Rooney and Depay as our front three.
Either way it looks like it might be an exciting summer.
10 Jul 2015 09:58:11
I'm not disagreeing with any of your points Shappy, but don't you find it a bit contradictory of the manager that he prizes possession above all else, but plays Rooney in midfield?
Also he signed ADM, aka Mr Giveaway, Herrera who he bitches about for giving it away, Rojo aka Mr. Punt and then uses long ball tactics for Fellaini which is often a bit of a lottery!
It's just all a bit messy and doesn't seem to be a cohesive plan. The only consistency last season was our pointless possession, which wasn't moved quickly so the plan of pulling teams out of shape or tiring them out didn't happen, hence 90% of our games being dull affairs.
10 Jul 2015 10:03:13
good read that mate, if that is what you think LVG is looking for then i'd give Hernandez another shot. He hardly ever has anything to do with the build up but he knows where the goal is for sure. under LVG i could see him being deadly.
10 Jul 2015 10:11:09
I agree Shappy and the two scenarios that you stated are right.
For me, it will be sell Hernandez and try to sign Muller. I have no doubts in my mind that Muller is the one LVG wants. Signing Muller to be honest could also see Di Maria sold as well as Hernandez as we would have Depay, Rooney and Muller as a front 3 with Young, Januzaj and Mata waiting in the wings.
But he definitely wants a striker who is as comfortable playing wide as he is through the middle.
10 Jul 2015 10:12:32
As with all your posts I completely agree shappy, all the way through the first bit of the post I was just saying that's either benzema or muller then.
Hopefully we go for Muller because I'm a massive fan and he really is world class, however, I can't see him leaving bayern, ever. He is to Bayern what Scholes/Giggs were to us, it's likely pep will be out before he is shipped on.
Benzema is also in a different class and him and ADM work brilliantly together but he doesn't want to leave, we don't want another situation where we have a player on a big wage who just looks unhappy all season, he's quite lazy already.
Cavani I've never really rated but I heard a stat the other day that he's scored 30+ every year since 2010, that doesn't happen by chance, I've never really watched him properly and when I have he's been average/never had a final product, but he definitely works hard.
All 3 would likely to cost anywhere between £35-50m, as would Kane who could eventually work into the same mould as the 3 mentioned but it would be a massive gamble as he's only had that one year, if we end up with either him or Cavani I wouldn't be delighted but I'd be satisfied, as we still have Rooney and Wilson, who I think could be a 'poacher' for us, especially with him learning off the likes of RVP, Falcao, Rooney and Cavani all in the past year.
A summer of Depay, Darmain, Otamendi, Schneiderlin and Cavani/Muller/Benz/Kane would be almost perfect for us.
10 Jul 2015 10:22:04
Anon, I agree.
Darmian, Sergio Ramos, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Depay and Muller would be ideal.
10 Jul 2015 10:44:44
That's fantasy football right there fresh let's hope woody makes it happen
10 Jul 2015 10:53:46
Always a pleasure reading your posts Shappy. Very insightfu. I noticed you didn't mention Fellaini, who was used to goot effect last season up front and will be a good plan B in the coming season. I am still gutted that we didn't go in for Vietto. I do note rate cavani one bit, if we are to get a superstar signing then Bale or if nothing at all then Benzema. don't think muller will leave.
10 Jul 2015 10:57:48
It is fantasy! But it's 50/50 at the moment and could well happen.
10 Jul 2015 11:09:38
Loved the analysis on how LVG plays Shappy, you could find yourself up there alongside Neville if you continue. A hell of a lot more articulate than Carragher, lol.
There is no doubt in my mind that we will be signing another striker. I doubted it before we sold RVP, i thought he might possibly think about putting Depay up there with Rooney for certain games and have RVP and Wilson as a backup. But now no doubt whatsoever and I believe it will be a big name. Quite exciting
At least a centre back to be brought in. Nobody really knows the story with Ramos. I see pictures of him hugging the president 'the love lost' seemingly not evident in those pictures as everyone was all smiles but who knows. I am enjoying the fact that the press have no idea, usual semi reliable journalists like Mark Ogden have no idea and that is quite telling. Otamendi could be the one to come in and I would have no issue with that. Very powerful, no nonsense defender, can play a bit too and was the main reason for Valencias fantastic season.
At centre mid, there will definitely be one, i believe that to be Schneiderlin and a bonus would be the signing of Schweinsteiger.
All in all, it is looking very exciting and the next week or two will be very important. The longer it goes on the more anxious we all will get as fans but more importantly it means less time for players to settle in and to have the ability to hit the ground running come the opening few fixtures.
Let's hope we are here next Friday discussing the arrival of a CB, CM and Striker.
10 Jul 2015 11:18:56
I agree beast.
10 Jul 2015 11:32:34
Thanks Shappy. insightful as ever. Funny thing is I read first paragraph without seeing the,author and instantly said 'this Is Shappy'. Obviously a distinctive writing style!
I personally think we will address the defense and HM. And then it could be a long wait to see if we can attract one of the big names you mention. Things change quickly and who is available could change too. Would not be surprised if someone unexpected to the club becomes available and.we go for them.
Beast. i getvyour points on how we played last year but I think.k it was an.exceptional year all about Lvg working with players and the system was.about getting CL nothing more.
I think we will see there's Lvg talks about this year
10 Jul 2015 11:38:54
What about everyone else JMB?
10 Jul 2015 11:42:07
Sorry guys but Shappy retains his best poster title for a little bit longer. I appreciate Beast's counter points too though that we have in Rooney someone who is quite poor in terms of ball retention and yet looks assured his place in the team regardless. I believe we are looking to Rooney to be the sole out and out striker with Wilson as cover and indeed succession plan. The other forward players we will look for are what I term winger-forwards a la Bale and Ronaldo who have pace to burn and can therefore play on the wings to the world class level that a Premiership or Champs League winning team required but can equally as effective when switching into the out and out attacker position. Either tactically within games, or to cover injury.
Some of the best football we've played was back in 08 when we effectively had an interchangeable front 3 of Ronaldo Rooney and Tevez. That time was largely set up as a fantastic counter attacking side though and I'm not convinced LVGs 'posession above all else' style will see a return to that rampant fast free flowing attacking football.
I appreciate folk have their doubts about LVG based on brand of football seen thus far but do believe we have one of the very few managers who can do the United job. His credentials speak for themselves though. Given a few transfer windows and the right financial backing that he appears to have I'm confident we will return to winning ways. Something I would've never said within a decade if Moyes were in charge.
We have the right man for the job, more spending power than most and seemingly an appetite to spend it too to ensure we return to the top table of both English and European football.
10 Jul 2015 11:55:29
JMB,
You got that on Auto type?
10 Jul 2015 12:00:04
I think it's set every time Beast posts GDS
10 Jul 2015 12:15:37
I would be looking at Pedro from Barcelona. He may not be as classy as Sanchez but he could do the same job as Muller. Massively underrated and seldom played for the past 2-3 years.
Being a barca academy player he would be good at passing and would be tactically better suited to any formation, given he played a lot under Guardiola.
The only problem I feel is he that is as tall as messi, but that shouldn't stop us from signing a quality player.
Silva worked out well for City and so did Santi.
I have no qualms if Pedro wouldn't.
Barca rejects generally turn out to be cheap and have solid seasons elsewhere.
See Keita, Toure, Bojan, Fabregas, Sanchez, Valdes, Ibra.
10 Jul 2015 16:53:56
Beast if these players you mentioned are all rubbish at keeping possession,and lvg has bought a load of them, so how do you explain the possession stats we had last year??