I know this has been done and dusted a lot of times before, and a lot of posts on many fan sites are an evidence to this , but I thought lets discuss all the contenders/pretenders one more time.
Let me first put down the qualities expected out of the striker we get, such that he fits seamlessly into the current flowing, attacking one-touch football that United are playing so effectively.
1. Areal threat
The team could greatly do with a fella who is a threat in the air, since neither rooney, ole or giggsy can provide that.
2. Creativity
United don't need another RVN, since having a poacher would stifle the flowing football they have started playing after his departure. The need is for someone creates chances for himself rather than feed on created ones.
3. Consistency
Since its United, we can be sure the selling club will charge much more than what it would charge if it were some other club it was dealing with. So, it must be made sure that the player has is consistent in his performance, and not some 5 minutes of fame guy.
4. Unselfishness
I am not saying being selfish is bad, just that too much of it is. United already has Ronaldo, and Nani is also supposed to be a guy who likes to carry the ball himself. So, the team doesn't need a 30 goal/season striker, but someone who scores around 15-20 and creates as many for others.
5. Age
The need is to make a long term buy, to build on the youth talent present in the team right now. A stiker in early or mid-20s would fit the bill perfectly.
6. Discipline
United need someone who is ready to adopt to Sir Alex's style of management, and not become bigger than the team a la Henry.
7. Stability
I feel Sir Alex also doesn't want to have someone like anelka, who in spite of being an outrageous talent could never capitalize on it due to fickleness of the mind and bad advice.
8. Proven
The player should not be from some Banana league, where scoring 60 goals in 30 games would still not mean anything, and should adapt well to the rigours of the EPL.
9. Adaptability and fitness
The EPL is considered to be the most toughest and physically demanding league in the world. So no nansy pansy please!
10. Possibility of a shift to OT
The player must be ready for an OT move (if he is not, to hell with him!), and the cost should not be prohibitive (I am assuming it to be a max. of 30 M pounds for a good stiker).
Now, let me rate the probable strikers on these parameters. I consider here not only Fergi's potential targets (as rumored), but all the strikers who could fit the bill and have atleast some realistic chance of making it to OT this season.
Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham Hotspur)
Areal Threat : 6 ft 2 in - 8/10; Creativity - 9/10; Consistency - 7/10; Unselfishness - 8/10; Age : 26 - 6/10; Discipline - 8/10; Stability - 8/10; Proven - 8/10; Adaptability - 9/10; Possibility : 27 M Pounds - 5/10; Total - 74/100.
Eidur Gudjohnsen (Barcelona FC)
Areal Threat : 6 ft 1 in - 4/10; Creativity - 6/10; Consistency - 5/10; Unselfishness - 7/10; Age : 28 - 4/10; Discipline - 7/10; Stability - 8/10; Proven - 7/10; Adaptability - 8/10; Possibility : 10 M Pounds - 9/10; Total - 65/100.
Carlos Tevez (West Ham United FC)
Areal Threat : 5 ft 7 in - 4/10; Creativity - 8/10; Consistency - 5/10; Unselfishness - 7/10; Age : 23 - 9/10; Discipline - 6/10; Stability - 6/10; Proven - 5/10; Adaptability - 8/10; Possibility : 22 M Pounds - 5/10; Total - 68/100.
Nicolas Anelka (Bolton Wanderers)
Areal Threat : 6 ft 1 in - 4/10; Creativity - 7/10; Consistency - 4/10; Unselfishness - 7/10; Age : 28 - 4/10; Discipline - 3/10; Stability - 3/10; Proven - 6/10; Adaptability - 8/10; Possibility : 10 M Pounds - 9/10; Total - 55/100.
Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid)
Areal Threat : 6 ft 1 in - 9/10; Creativity - 9/10; Consistency - 7/10; Unselfishness - 8/10; Age : 23 - 9/10; Discipline - 8/10; Stability - 8/10; Proven - 8/10; Adaptability - 7/10; Possibility : 27 M Pounds , news of Liverpool swoop - 4/10; Total - 77/100.
Obafemi Martins (Newcastle United)
Areal Threat : 5 ft 7 in - 5/10; Creativity - 7/10; Consistency - 6/10; Unselfishness - 6/10; Age : 22 - 9/10; Discipline - 6/10; Stability - 6/10; Proven - 7/10; Adaptability - 8/10; Possibility : 13 M Pounds - 7/10; Total - 67/100.
Michael Owen (Newcastle United)
Areal Threat : 5 ft 8 in - 6/10; Creativity - 7/10; Consistency - 5/10; Unselfishness - 7/10; Age : 27 - 5/10; Discipline - 8/10; Stability - 7/10; Proven - 8/10; Adaptability - 5/10; Possibility : 9 M Pounds - 8/10; Total - 66/100.
Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese/Sampdoria)
Areal Threat : 5 ft 11 in - 4/10; Creativity - 7/10; Consistency - 5/10; Unselfishness - 7/10; Age : 23 - 9/10; Discipline - 7/10; Stability - 7/10; Proven - 5/10; Adaptability - 6/10; Possibility : 15 M Pounds - 8/10; Total - 65/100.
Giuseppe Rossi (Manchester United)
Areal Threat : 5 ft 8 in - 5/10; Creativity - 7/10; Consistency - 6/10; Unselfishness - 7/10; Age : 20 - 10/10; Discipline - 7/10; Stability - 8/10; Proven - 6/10; Adaptability - 6/10; Possibility : 27 M Pounds - 10/10; Total - 72/100.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax)
Areal Threat : 6 ft 0 in - 7/10; Creativity - 8/10; Consistency - 7/10; Unselfishness - 7/10; Age : 23 - 9/10; Discipline - 8/10; Stability - 8/10; Proven - 4/10; Adaptability - 4/10; Possibility : 12 M Pounds - 7/10; Total - 69/100.
Afonso Alves (SC Heerenveen)
Areal Threat : 6 ft 1 in - 6/10; Creativity - 7/10; Consistency - 5/10; Unselfishness - 7/10; Age : 26 - 6/10; Discipline - 7/10; Stability - 7/10; Proven - 3/10; Adaptability - 4/10; Possibility : 9 M Pounds - 7/10; Total - 59/100.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan)
Areal Threat : 6 ft 4 in - 8/10; Creativity - 8/10; Consistency - 5/10; Unselfishness - 6/10; Age : 25 - 7/10; Discipline - 5/10; Stability - 6/10; Proven - 7/10; Adaptability - 6/10; Possibility : 24 M Pounds - 5/10; Total - 63/100.
David Villa (Valencia FC)
Areal Threat : 5 ft 9 in - 5/10; Creativity - 8/10; Consistency - 7/10; Unselfishness - 7/10; Age : 25 - 7/10; Discipline - 8/10; Stability - 8/10; Proven - 7/10; Adaptability - 4/10; Possibility : 35 M Pounds - 4/10; Total - 65/100.
Javier Saviola (Barcelona FC)
Areal Threat : 5 ft 7 in - 5/10; Creativity - 7/10; Consistency - 6/10; Unselfishness - 7/10; Age : 25 - 7/10; Discipline - 8/10; Stability - 8/10; Proven - 7/10; Adaptability - 5/10; Possibility : 12 M Pounds - 7/10; Total - 67/100.
Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona FC)
Areal Threat : 5 ft 11 in - 8/10; Creativity - 9/10; Consistency - 9/10; Unselfishness - 8/10; Age : 26 - 6/10; Discipline - 5/10; Stability - 7/10; Proven - 9/10; Adaptability - 8/10; Possibility : 45 M Pounds - 2/10; Total - 71/100.
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur)
Areal Threat : 5 ft 7 in - 6/10; Creativity - 7/10; Consistency - 5/10; Unselfishness - 7/10; Age : 24 - 8/10; Discipline - 6/10; Stability - 6/10; Proven - 7/10; Adaptability - 8/10; Possibility : 12 M Pounds - 7/10; Total - 67/100.
So, this leads us to the following ordering based on the points:
77 - Fernando Torres
72 - Giuseppe Rossi
71 - Samuel Eto'o
74 - Dimitar Berbatov
69 - Klaas Jan Huntelaar
68 - Carlos Tevez
67 - Javier Saviola, Obafemi Martins, Jermain Defoe
66 - Michael Owen
65 - David Villa
63 - Zlatan Ibrahimovic
65 - Fabio Quagliarella, Eidur Gudjohnsen
59 - Afonso Alves
55 - Nicolas Anelka
Torres can be ruled out as his move to Liverpool is almost complete, and Rossi was never for buying consideration, as United already have him. So thats leaves us with Eto'o, Berbatov, Huntelaar, Tevez and Javier Saviola as significant names, and I like the look of this.
Though Eto'o would be very tough to get, if United do manage it, nothing like it!! Else United need to swoop in for Berbatov, as he will be the last pice of the jigsaw.
Huntelaar maybe brought in next season as he himself has said he needs one more season before mvoing to a big club, and this suits United well too, since it can be seen if his form is a flash in pan, or he is here to stay.
Saviola can be brought in if United get him for a bargain and if Saha and Ole are not going to recover soon enough and Sir Alex doesn't have enough faith in Rossi to believe he will start performing soon enough.
United seem to be on the right path with the summer buyings and the type of football they are playing right now. If all goes right, bigger glory and more nights to remember awaits the team.
Glory, Glory, Man Utd!!
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I remember the first time I saw him. He was 13 and just floated over the ground like a cocker spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind [on Ryan Giggs] - Sir Alex Ferguson
