Following United’s exit from the FA Cup, in a game where we created at least four clear scoring chances without finding the back of the net, most reds are eager to hear of what we have planned for next season. Following another disappointing season from Louis Saha, it looks as though there is no way his career with the club can go beyond the summer. To win trophies at home and abroad you need a striker you can rely on, which is not something that can be said of the injury prone Saha.
After seeing cross after cross sail over the heads of our current strikers, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, measuring at 5ft 10in and 5ft 7in respectively, a bit of height would be welcomed in our six yard box. Our new Angolan lad, Manucho, stands 6ft 2in tall, and showed in the African Cup of Nations he is as capable of scoring with his head as he is with his feet. He claimed the goal of the tournament and got a place in the competition’s best XI ahead of the likes of Dider Drogba and Samuel Eto’o in January this year.
Manucho bagged his first goal for Panathinaikos on his league debut this week, and Carlos Queiroz expects great things from the Angolan striker once he returns from loan.
“First of all he is a player that can score goals,” Queiroz said. “He’s not the sort of player you come across easily and to have the possibility to bring quality forwards to our club doesn’t happen very often. We are absolutely convinced he has enough qualities and potential to have a chance in the game, despite the fact that he is now 25. He just needs the opportunity to learn the game and get used to the pace of European football. We believe sending him on loan to Panathinaikos will help him to develop and if everything goes well we hope next season we will see him among our players.”
Do you think Manucho will cut it in the Premiership?
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He is a finisher, like Eduardo/Adebayor. Like Torres. Like Anelka/Drogba. We do not have a player in the same cataogry as those. I would not change Roo or Tev for any forwards as they fit into our team well, but we do lack options and after a long time backing Saha I have finally run out of patience. He is a waste of space when it comes to his injury rate. Saha is very talented but so is Manucho who we are waiting on, Benzema and plenty of other strikers who have been linked to United.
Another short arse I’d like to see back at United is Rossi, he is cutting it in the arguably easy Spanish league and I’m sure there was a buy back clause in his contract when he left.
My only gripe with playing somebody up front in the Nistelrooy role, is that our team play seems to suffer so I’d like to see them used as impact players and also away from home. Though it’d be no different to when we play Rooney up front!
what exactly does Dong do at the club? lay out the cones or something at Carrington? Id like to see Welbeck and Marcheda get a game or two next season. both, while young, look lethal!
Yeah, Dong took aaaaaaaages to get into the swing of things after scoring in his first pre-season. Then he got a goal and went on a mini-run but is generally in reserves doing nothing.
As well as Welbeck I’d like to see Fabian Brandy and Frazier Campbell get a chance in the first team.
It amazes me how many top quality youngsters we get who never make it in the (obviously very difficult as it’s World Class) United first team!
Definately,watched every minute of his games in the nations cup.Crosses wont be wasted like now.He will become a starter.
When he was on trial @ O.T.in the 1st week of December I saw him in training 3 times and for me he is definitly a starter. He is tall and a big lad and has very good timing of the ball in front of the posts, 2 good feets and heading the ball quite confortably. I think we found a very good striker.
We need some pure African mentality fighting for the long balls and headers. This will MANU and extra option. I think that Manucho will offer more impact to Manchester United attack. He can be used as a pivot/target man to divert ball for others to finish. With deliveries like Nani, evra and Ronaldo crosses, we will be a able to feed Manucho.
I definately agree with Taehr – this lad will be a starter. He seems to be magic in the box, and premiership BULLY boys won’t be able to push him around so easily. He won’t finish up on his arse a lot of the time as some of our forward line do fairly often.. Fergie should have fought for that work permit though!!!!!!!!!!
All agreed then. Though it’s not like Wayne Rooney and Tevez are easily bullied. I like the balance of tougness and skill in our squad these days!
Danny Wellbeck seems a pretty good player.Fergie Should give him a game or two to shine.Im sure he won’t dissappoint.I hope Fergie names Danny on the bench for our game against Derby and bring him on later in the last 20 minutes.As for Manucho,he has great upper body strength and I’ve been very impressed with his performances in the African Cup Of Nations and hope he gets a work permit in the summer.He is very good in the air and will give us more variation in our attack.
Although rooney needs to sort himself out.What happened to the youthful 17 that had all the confidence in the world?
17 year old…
Taehr, he’s just going through a weird patch in his career. He is still capable of absolute magic but isn’t the bag of suprises he was when he first became noticed.
When you have no pressure or weight of expectation on your shoulders I guess it’s easier to stay confident. I know what you are saying though (Rooney would usually have left footed that golden chance straight over James on Saturday but lately he takes a touch too many)
Being the big game player he is, hopefully the run in can bring out the best in him.
PS. at 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 he has always put in great performances and had some amazing finishes and assists.. at 23 maybe he is getting way too old :p
I wrote a brief piece about this on Monday after United’s exit from the FA Cup:
http://www.just-football.com/2008/03/what-manchester-united-were-missing-vs.html
United needed someone to put the ball in the net that day and lack of an extra striker might just cost them the title. If Saha does leave I think someone else will be brought in for the number 9 shirt with Rooney, Tevez, Manucho and Player X (Benzema?) competing.
I hope you right Tom,I cant stand whats happened to michael owen.He was one of my favourite players,even at pool.
On the “Rooney Loses His Mojo” topic, although I do agree he’s short on confidence in front of goal this season, did no’one think that his two goals against the Barcodes proved that he can still be one of the truly deadly finishers around? Personally I think his form in front of the sticks is just a reaction to Ronnie’s form and not having all the limelight this year.
Taehr.. SSssshh don’t say that!
I know what you mean about Owen, Rooney has had a couple on medium length injury lay offs this season, with his foot and ankle. Luke is right though, he still has what it takes and he always performs when we need him most.