You are missing out Martial, who will I think get more goals then he did last season, but onto the general point, if they were all to stay here, and not be loaned out, then I wouldn't be too unhappy with those options, as I always like to see the younger ones given a chance.

As things stand at the moment, and looking at the striking options of the rest of the clubs (if we are including Ibra with us for arguments sake), then that I think would be a very good group to select from.
If you look at it Arsenal have Giroud, Welbeck (whenever he comes back from his injury), and Campbell, City have Aguero, Iheanacho, and Bony, Leicester have Vardy, Okazaki, and Lawrence.
Spurs have Kane, Son, and N'Jie.
Chelsea have Costa, Remy, and a few young talented younger players that have yet to be given their chance.

So going by those lists, I would put our striking options up there with any of them.

I'm not missing out Martial. I covered him in my post on the previous page.

If you think what you have right now is a good enough strike force to take on this season and challenge for things then fine. I'd be quite happy if that's what you end up with. If you think an aging Zlatan, Rashford and the other kids is enough to challenge in the league while also putting up with the taxing Europa League, then I and I'm sure fans of other teams will be happy with that.

Not that I'm saying I think Zlatan would flop or anything.

Looking at the other selection options currently available to the other clubs as I did in my previous post, it is not as if they are over-flowing with lots of options, most other clubs have one main striker (be it for example, Kane at Spurs, Aguero at City, or Costa at Chelsea), and then a fair bit of a gap to their back-up or rotation option.

If we did get Ibra, then that would give us two main striking options in him and Martial, with a tad handy one in Rashford behind them, and with good young ones in Fletcher and Wilson behind him.
Would it include many "big" or "well known" names, no probably not, but then who outside of our club had heard of Rashford at this time last year?

But other clubs are likely to improve. City are looking at the likes of Aubemyang. Chelsea are never afraid to spend when they have to. If Chelsea's only real strike force is an aging striker and a promising striker, with some youth and whatever Wilson their only alternatives then they won't be satisfied with that. I don't see Mourinho being satisfied with that, either.

They don't need to be well known. Just players who the manager thinks he can work with. Who isn't an unproven young player who will probably never make it at the club. And I'm not talking about Rashford.

I already covered Martial. I said in my original post that if he's seen as a wide player by Mourinho. The whole time I've been talking with the assumption that he isn't going to be played in the middle. And Rooney who's being converted into a midfielder. Meaning that you have two recognised strikers in Zlatan and Rashford. Those two aren't enough for a full campaign if you have any ambitions. And neither is considering Wilson and Fletcher as good enough to be considered part of that strike force.

We will see in regards to what other clubs will do, I was purely talking about the squads as they are currently (even with Ibra being potentially added to our squad in a hypothetical scenario).

When other teams actually do improve, rather than just be linked with players, then we can do more of an actual comparison and analysis of the situation.

I'm going to hold off on purchasing an umbrella until it rains.

I'm aware of what you were doing, but it didn't mean anything to me because of what I was talking about. You don't leave your squad as it is and think it's better than what others have (which is just your opinion, anyway) and wait for teams to improve, then make comparisons and make improvements of your own.

My point was you only have two recognised strikers, Zlatan and Rashford, on the assumption that Martial is considered a wide player and Rooney is more of a midfielder now. You have two strikers. You have a full season, including the Europa League. My whole point is that that doesn't look like enough to get you where you want to go. If you think Wilson and Fletcher are enough to not have to worry about signing any other strikers then it doesn't look like you're aiming high enough. You're leaving a lot of next season to chance, hoping that Zlatan adapts, Rashford can step up for a second season, and the other two being good enough when needed, and all of this without an injury crisis.

It doesn't matter how they compare to others, that wasn't what I was talking about, but if you want to include others then you have to think about them improving, or looking to improve. Do you think Man City will look at your strike force with fear? That they won't think it's a bit thin with only two actual strikers, both relatively unproven? And that you have the mighty Wilson and Fletcher to call upon? Speaking from a Liverpool perspective I'm not afraid of that.

My whole point, that I didn't think I'd need to get this far to explain, is that you need someone in between Zlatan and Rashford. If you're only playing with one up front then you'll only need one, then you can use up other options like Wilson, Fletcher, or Rooney (or Martial) if necessary.

Can't say that I saw much in the way of 'analysis'.

Just a list of strikers that other clubs have available, compared to our one, plus a winger, a potential signing, and two kids who no top club would dream of relying on.

Oh, and lots and lots of brackets.

That's why I ended that little statement with "best possible scenario", it's highly unlikely either would want either of them 2 on loan, but sending them to clubs that like the two mentioned would be a better experience than say sending them to a club like Wolves for example.

Sensible idea, no point wasting money on something you won't need when there are plenty of shops that should it rain, you can get one from quickly, easily, and cheaply.


Of course we are yet to know for sure anything about the way José will play with us, we can go on how he played at other clubs, but I don't quite know how relevant that will be to us, so if he plays, one, two or three up front is still to be decided (or indeed none).

Having all of the strikers that we have on our books is good, and what others may or may not do should not really impact on how we conduct ourselves business wise.

This time last season if anyone had said that Rashford would be an England senior player at the European Championships, then I think that person might have been a tad mocked on here, by a few people.
So until these players are given a chance (through whatever means, injuries, loss of form of senior players etc), only then can we truly judge them, and as Rashford has shown, it is possible to play well for the first team if given those chances.
So I have no issues or problems, if Wilson or Fletcher were to be in our starting line-up, or if they were to come off of the bench to replace Martial, or Ibra (if or when he signs).

Others may disagree, and others may want or prefer a new name as well as Ibra, but you did ask for my opinion, and that is all that I can give you.

As for a comparison with other teams, as I said if or when they purchase a new striker, then we can talk, as I was asked do I think this striking unit (including the hypothetical Ibra) was good enough to challenge at the highest levels, well when looking around at other teams unit of strikers (without getting into ifs or maybes, in terms of who they might purchase, or who they have been linked to), then I do think ours is good enough (including Wilson, Fletcher and Ibra), as there are plenty of chances to rotate there for the League cup, FA cup, and Europa League.

If after being given a chance, the likes of Wilson and Fletcher prove to not be up to scratch or the standards that we require, then we can look to replace them (or loan/sell them) in due course, but I am not writing them off just yet.

As for if say will City look at our strikeforce with fear, well since Rashford tore apart their defence and ran right through them with ease last season, and he will only improve with age, and experience, then I would suggest that they would.
They are still relying on a seriously injury prone (but very good when on the pitch) striker as their main option for goals, so their strikeforce doesn't strike me with any fear whatsoever.

...nevermind. Forget it. I really can't be bothered replying anymore. If you're happy with those four as your strikeforce then so am I, and probably fans of other clubs who'll be competing against you.

Indeed. It may never rain again. Let us wait and see.

It will rain again, so just get one then, or just get a coat with a hood.

What if i see one i really like in the sale?

We have seen a club such as Liverpool who have got plenty of "names" as strikers doesn't automatically mean that will be a success, Balotelli, and Benteke for example have not really worked out have they?

I am currently happy with City's strikeforce as it is, and the same goes for Chelsea's and Spurs', if anyone of them add players, then we can talk again.

At the moment minus Ibra, we are about a striker short (if we are playing one up front, but again, we don't know what system or formation José will have us playing), if we are planning on playing with two strikers up front, then currently we are about two strikers short, Ibra would solve one of those, so even taking into account Wilson and Fletcher, we would need another one then.

This just comes down to the system and formation that José will be wanting us to play.

Once that is known, then we can talk about if we have enough striking options or not, as currently it is hard to judge without having that key bit of information.

Well then it would be up to you, if you wish to buy one even if it were not raining, and then just put it away and not use it, until it did start to rain, or the forecast said it would or might have a good chance of doing so.

You're right, it is up to me!


I think you made very fair points. It's perfectly reasonable to assume several of the bigs sides will strengthen their attack, we already know two of them have placed bids for strikers. It's sensible to assess our own strikeforce in light of those potential upgrades.

Our strukeforce or unit, is a bit short, hence why the Ibra deal makes sense, especially if he is on a one year deal as has been rumoured.

After that let's see what José has in store for us tactics wise, then we can make a firm decision over if we are light in that area or not.

You feel free to do that. If the rest of us want to discuss this, then we will. No need to attempt to shut down debate simply because you have nothing of relevance to add.

I am not trying to shut down debate, I actively want it thrive and to see more of it.

I didn't say you need names. In fact I actually said you don't need names, just players that can do a job, that the manager might be able to trust. A player who's in between Zlatan and Rashford. So I don't know where you're going with that.


Yes, you're a striker short, including with Zlatan. Which is what I've been saying all along. You don't even need four established strikers. Just one more. You have options for a fourth choice if you need it. Otherwise you're pinning your hopes on luck. Hoping Zlatan adapts, Rashford can improve on last season and the other young two to perform to standard. With another striker it takes pressure off both Zlatan and young Rashford. However if Mourinho uses Martial as a striker, and maybe signs other wide players then you won't need to sign anyone. But this was with the assumption that Martial will be spending most of his time out wide.

Anyway...


What he said.

Please don't feel put off replying, as it is good to get an outsiders perspective on these issues.

It would be good to have another striker in the sense of having one between Ibra and Rashford, but I don't think ot is a crucial decision.
It all comes back to the formation that we will play however, when we know that, then we can tell for sure where we are light, and where we need to sell players.

Currently I am okay with what we have up front (if we are including Ibra in these discussions), but there is always room for improvement in any area of a team.

Seems odd that you have changed your mind on the need for strikers since the end of the season.

Have I?

Yes you have, I shouldn't have to tell you that!