Not sure how you think that in a team struggling with putting away goals, a 28 year old striker who has never scored a league goal in a top five league or even scored ten goals in the Croatian league is exactly what we need. His fbref profile looks more like a defenders than a strikers. He's in the first percentile for non penalty xg while playing for a big club in the Croatian league.
The Centre Forward Stop-Gap Market
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Not sure how you think that in a team struggling with putting away goals, a 28 year old striker who has never scored a league goal in a top five league or even scored ten goals in the Croatian league is exactly what we need. His fbref profile looks more like a defenders than a strikers. He's in the first percentile for non penalty xg while playing for a big club in the Croatian league.
What the in hyperbole sh*t is this. Morata is shite and has been for some time. His chance conversion is horrendous.
I'd take lukaku back before I'd want us to sign morata.
We’re basically shopping in a very niche market. Looking for players that are out of favour at their current clubs and probably on big wages (so they wouldn’t mind getting rid for a few months).
I’m not sure how much use to us a player that fits that criteria will be!
I’m not sure how much use to us a player that fits that criteria will be!
Chelsea signed Morata instead of Lukaku at that same time. The way that turned out for them doesn't suggest you're noticeably correct.
I wouldn’t mind Giroud or Morata if we could get them as short term options that we could possibly keep longer if they work out. Right sort of profile of player.
You watched him?
Or are you just looking at stats and xgs, what not?
That's why scouts are for.
I would assume a club like ours would have at least one scout for every league there is, including Croatian, or Serbian league.
He's 28? Since when is that a big number?
He's a big lad whose also very technical, use him correctly and you would get something out of him.
He's no Vlahović or Mitrović but he's not that bad.
And, he'd be a bargain. As i said, a stop gap CF in january.
Probably right. In which case, stop shopping in the discount bin.
Yeah but you're not addressing my point. I've never seen him play but I don't really have to in a way. He doesn't score that many goals and he plays in a far weaker league than the Premier league. United have the 10th most goals scored so far this season. It's a clear weakness of ours. We need goals badly and Bruno Petkovic is not going to be the man to get them as much as he might pass the eye test.
So, what excatly is your point?
That we shouldn't be looking at players over the age of 25 not playing in a top 5 league?
That's bollocks.
Jamie Vardy was in league 4 or something like that when Leicester found him.
And he's still scoring.
Didier Drogba was also a late bloomer.
Sometimes players work out, even if they don't fit with the whole xG narrative.
If you are looking at a stop gap then you need experienced player who can contribute straight away.
Not someone who is to adjust to a completely new league with obscure credentials.
Yes some might be hits but large proportion of those stop gaps doesn’t exactly work out and your suggestion is IMO a very risky business that won’t help us for this season alone and if we are to look for a more long term solution then 28 years old striker from obscure league is not the answer.
Vardy isn’t exactly a great example as he has went through every national league tier out there and is well familiar with style, culture etc.
Drogba is a late bloomer but before making the move to PL he was banging them in in France and was top one of the best goal scorers in two consecutive years (think only Cisse ) surpassed him at the time.
As we're mentioning random names, I like Iliman Ndiaye who's the most productive player in the Championship this season.
He's listed as an attacking midfielder but has played a lot as a striker this season. He's a similar player to Martial and Felix who can dribble and is good at linking up with other forwards.
He's listed as an attacking midfielder but has played a lot as a striker this season. He's a similar player to Martial and Felix who can dribble and is good at linking up with other forwards.
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Probably Felix though regardless.
I’d go for Giroud on a short term basis. Then, in the summer, try to locate a young talent, the type of find that other clubs’ scouts appear to be able to unearth, while we try to reanimate some corpse or other by recourse to a massive cash incentive.
Interesting suggestion. He won’t please the crew looking for players with a good rating in FIFA, but style wise he definitely helps us.
Martial have played 90 minutes like two times the last 18 months or something like that. We need to have a striker that can come in off the bench. Rashford can’t always play 90 minutes. Petkovic can hold up the ball, he helps you a lot if you are defending against set pieces late in games, he is strong on the ball and can play with the back towards the net. Good on link-ups. Would certainly be tremendously motivated to get a go in a top league. He has played a lot in the Champions League and Europa League and of course some for Croatia. It’s not like he never played at a high level. Experienced, great character. You could probably get him for a couple of mil total on a loan.
Well if you guys are gonna babe random players how about Liam Coyle, Derry City? Even with being retired (for a long time), dressing like a scateboarder that fell onto a football pitch, surely he’d be better than nothing?
or how about Fellaini, I mean the ball stuck to him like glue?
or how about Fellaini, I mean the ball stuck to him like glue?
Who says he wouldn't contribute straight away?
Not as a primary CF, just a guy for the last 20 minutes when chasing a game, or trying something different.
And it's not like a pulled a no-name out of a hat. Obscure?
You do know Croatia ended up third? With this obscure guy playing a role.
Vardy is a great example.
Petković also went through a similar path playing through italian lower leagues.
He's not a world beater.
Think of him as we thought of Ighalo.
A big technical fellow to play off as a no.9
Morata or Giroud on loan would be fine stop gaps. As would Arnautovic.
Whorever is happy with a 6 month loan deal.
Whorever is happy with a 6 month loan deal.
We need Zlatan back. And I’m not even joking
Don't see Giroud leaving Milan,however feel either of the others are possible. Then again was a huge backlash against Arnautovic last summer.
You'd hope fans would show a shred of common sense if there was a short term loan deal with an option given the circumstances. But Bologna would still want compensated to let him leave 6 months early.
Morata is probably the best bet for a loan that'd suit all parties.
Would also take Depay despite him never fulfilling his potential here under LVG. Feel Erik can unlock something given the chance.
Morata was never a number 9 to begin with. His finishing is horrendous and he doesn't dare to move forward towards goals. He will keep missing headers like kolo muani missed one header in the world cup final. It would be different if Giroud was still on.
Morata best function as a no 10 because he can pass and dribble well while occasionally scoring the headers.
Chelsea has bought Fofana for a relatively low price.
Who is united buying?
I dont think he ever saw him in action.
Edit: He even said it. That's football for you, looking at XG and stats to draw conclusions.
Morata finishing tends to be a joke but he has very good off ball movement and has good work rate. I would rather him than Memphis as Morata is natural striker and is more suit for ten Hag. He could be turned into ten Hag’s Haller and I think ETH would rather him than Memphis.
I wonder if Edin Dzeko is available on loan 
Stop gap would be ok I guess, as we have Martial and Rashford to play upfront (not ideal but it is what it is). So we don't really need a starter imo
So we let one of the greatest strikers ever to leave as he didn’t fit our style. Essentially, he wasn’t “active” enough. Then we sign Morata? Surely not.
I want Giroud
In case you just woke up from a holiday slumber, we aren’t signing anyone that will cost major money
In terms of pragmatism, I cant see us getting anyone other than Memphis. Dutch and cheap with no obligation to buy beyond the loan term.
Seeing the effects of overpaying for targets in the summer. Antony was never a 100M player, 60M at best, only if we had acted earlier and had competent people in charge of transfers.
Players don't usually get loaned with 6 months left on their contract. Depay has no reason to come for United as a backup on a short contract at 29. After the failures of their last two returnees, I bet a lot of people at United also don't want him back.
Yeah barca want to terminate his contract, so he'll be on our books for at least the next two years.
Alvaro Morata anyone??
Barca needs to reduce its wave bill especially now that they are in the EL.
Memphis meets a financial criteria as described by ETH. We just need a body for the inevitable martial injury.
Finallyaybe Memphis wants to come back to redeem himself?
Only if he colours his hair red. But seriously his conversion rate is appalling.
Morata is one of the biggest swindler in Europe. Has played for multiple leagues and multiple teams and has been shite everywhere yet somehow convinces the next one to gamble on him.
What options do we have right now in January. Clearly the report says we’re only looking for loan deal.
Do you know what my biggest worry about this loan deal is? The fact that they've pulled this stunt twice in the past few years - once with Cavani and once with Ighalo. Renewing the loan or even signing them for a year or two afterwards and neglecting a proper decent striker in the long term.
Convinced we aren't going to get anyone in. The striker we want isn't available on loan, and on loan for feck all at that. We need this sale to go through ASAP so we can start throwing cash around before the window opens and have a bunch of signings lined up (like Chelsea have done) to stop any toxicity creeping in towards the end of the season.
At this point the best we can hope for is 4th place as this season is one of the ultimate tread water seasons.
At this point the best we can hope for is 4th place as this season is one of the ultimate tread water seasons.