New striker?

The last three games have shown that we need one. The last three games have also shown that whoever comes in would have to be incredibly special. That player not only needs to be clinical but also incredibly intelligent off the ball and technically fantastic on it. We’re now operating at such a high team level that finding the diamond for the tip is not going to be easy.
 
Gabriel said:
The last three games have shown that we need one. The last three games have also shown that whoever comes in would have to be incredibly special. That player not only needs to be clinical but also incredibly intelligent off the ball and technically fantastic on it. We’re now operating at such a high team level that finding the diamond for the tip is not going to be easy.
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That's what frustrates me about this striker debate. Being the striker in our set up is going to be an incredibly difficult position. The intelligence needed and close ball skills needed are unbelievable. The debate of just drop X and stick in a striker and he will score is a difficult one, the way the team plays as a whole together is so intricate, i dont think its possible for a traditional number nine to fit into it.

As a plan B we can have someone we chuck the ball up to as an old fashioned number 9 but to be a starter ... well! When you look at it i think that is why Aguero struggled with it last year when he played too and he is the best i've seen, instinct and movement.
 
BedsBlue68 said:
That's what frustrates me about this striker debate. Being the striker in our set up is going to be an incredibly difficult position. The intelligence needed and close ball skills needed are unbelievable. The debate of just drop X and stick in a striker and he will score is a difficult one, the way the team plays as a whole together is so intricate, i dont think its possible for a traditional number nine to fit into it.

As a plan B we can have someone we chuck the ball up to as an old fashioned number 9 but to be a starter ... well! When you look at it i think that is why Aguero struggled with it last year when he played too and he is the best i've seen, instinct and movement.
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Indeed. There are many good conventional strikers but their inclusion would come with a sizeable trade-off, namely a drop in our ability to control the ball, dominate possession, and exhaust the opponent. The fact that Aguero, Jesus, and Sterling have all found playing that role difficult tells us that finding the crown jewel is not going to be easy.
 
Any half decent striker would get a shed load of goals in this team,so while id still do everything in my power to attract Haaland,im not convinced we need a world class type......which leads me to Ivan Toney at Brentford - he's a handful,he's industrious,he's very ambitious,and he can put the ball in the net.
 
Shearer's analysis on MOTD was spot on. We had no one making those number 9 runs into scoring positions so had to turn back. And the chances we did create were often wasted. A good number 9 who gets in the right positions would score plenty.

However, one change we can make is for our midfield players to be smarter at identifying the space centrally in order to have a chance to score. The Sterling pass across the face of goal for example...Bernardo checked his run when if he had have kept running into the box he would have had a tap in (might have scored it this time!).

Torres remains the best at getting into those positions and scoring. Sterling just lacks the confidence and/or ability to take a shot when he has a chance, always looking to take too many touches and check back onto his right foot when a left footed shot is on. Gundogan would have made a difference this week getting into those scoring areas.
 
He’s probably not near enough the finished article for us, but there’s just something about River Plate’s Julian Alvarez that intrigues me. I know Ajax want him and apparently Villa, too, and he’s almost certainly bound for Europe soon. He’s been a winger but is starting to fill out and has the physical strength and that low centre of gravity that helps to play through the middle. Got a brace in the Superclasico yesterday and now has 7 in 11 in the league this season. Call me nostalgic but I do miss having an Argentinian in the team.

 
I believe Delap will score lots of goals in this side, once he's fit and gets some game time.
His contribution could be enough to get us over the line this season.
But I still think we need a world class striker for next season in what could be Peps final one
 
Kippax77 said:
I believe Delap will score lots of goals in this side, once he's fit and gets some game time.
His contribution could be enough to get us over the line this season.
But I still think we need a world class striker for next season in what could be Peps final one
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He’s still only 18 but hasn’t managed ninety minutes of football at any level this season. Needs to get fit and stay fit if he’s even going to make to the fringes of the first team. We can but hope.
 
Gabriel said:
He’s still only 18 but hasn’t managed ninety minutes of football at any level this season. Needs to get fit and stay fit if he’s even going to make to the fringes of the first team. We can but hope.
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A fit delap yesterday could have come on and at least in the last 10 minutes put himself about? He’s a throw back to a proper English centre forward who can actually score goals? Not just a flat track bully but someone who will put himself about and the ball in the net?
 
richards30 said:
A fit delap yesterday could have come on and at least in the last 10 minutes put himself about? He’s a throw back to a proper English centre forward who can actually score goals? Not just a flat track bully but someone who will put himself about and the ball in the net?
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Agreed, he has the makings of that, but there’s still a physical step up from the level he’s been accustomed to and the men playing in the top league. The new contract shows we recognize his potential, so hopefully he’ll enjoy the same sort of development Foden enjoyed.
 
Gabriel said:
He’s probably not near enough the finished article for us, but there’s just something about River Plate’s Julian Alvarez that intrigues me. I know Ajax want him and apparently Villa, too, and he’s almost certainly bound for Europe soon. He’s been a winger but is starting to fill out and has the physical strength and that low centre of gravity that helps to play through the middle. Got a brace in the Superclasico yesterday and now has 7 in 11 in the league this season. Call me nostalgic but I do miss having an Argentinian in the team.

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Class goal he scored in that video
 
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