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Just read an interesting but uncomfortable statistic for last season that prompted me to start this thread:
Ronaldo's goals = 42 = Rooney's + Tevez's + Saha's (!?!)
It simply means that the total output of our 3 strikers is only as good as a winger's or dissecting further, it can be interpreted that 38% of our goals came from one winger, another 38% came from the entire striker department and the rest from others.
It is not a sign of strength but weakness to me. For either we are relying on The Slave, essentially a winger only, too much for comfort or our strikers have really been underperforming or most likely, both.
While all credits should be due to The Slave for a superlative performance last season, we all know deep inside that such a freak scoring record is unlikely to be repeated again. That raises the concern about our potency upfront.
But does it then mean that our strike force is not as potent as we think it is or our strikers are not really that great as we hope they are or can be? Not necessarily.
If we dig further, there may be many other factors that led to this statistic that is actually not funny at all. What we already knew include Fergie's open admission that he has constantly played Rooney out of his natural position, the fatigue of Tevez cited by himself, the never-ending injuries of Saha etc. And of course to be perfectly honest, both Rooney and Tevez also 'contributed' by glaringly missing not too few sitters throughout the season.
What can or should we do?
Let's put Saha aside - he is still currently injured, would you believe it.
And Manucho too - still have not heard if he has finally gotten the work permit.
So does that mean that if Fergie switches Rooney back to his central role as he hinted he would, Rooney will surely rock the EPL again with his goals?
Or does that mean that Tevez, after finally having been rested and recharged in this off season, will finally hit his true form in terms of goals?
Or maybe both Rooney and Tevez are really supportive strikers only and we should urgently buy a proven goal scorer eg Huntelaar because we geniunely need such an established goal poacher?
Or maybe what we truly miss is another Cantona eg Berbatov to catalyse another revolution?
Or who else do you think should come in for us? How about bringing through some promising youngsters like Campbell to the fore?
Or is it some formations that we should avoid or adopt to address the issue?
Discuss and debate....
Ronaldo's goals = 42 = Rooney's + Tevez's + Saha's (!?!)
It simply means that the total output of our 3 strikers is only as good as a winger's or dissecting further, it can be interpreted that 38% of our goals came from one winger, another 38% came from the entire striker department and the rest from others.
It is not a sign of strength but weakness to me. For either we are relying on The Slave, essentially a winger only, too much for comfort or our strikers have really been underperforming or most likely, both.
While all credits should be due to The Slave for a superlative performance last season, we all know deep inside that such a freak scoring record is unlikely to be repeated again. That raises the concern about our potency upfront.
But does it then mean that our strike force is not as potent as we think it is or our strikers are not really that great as we hope they are or can be? Not necessarily.
If we dig further, there may be many other factors that led to this statistic that is actually not funny at all. What we already knew include Fergie's open admission that he has constantly played Rooney out of his natural position, the fatigue of Tevez cited by himself, the never-ending injuries of Saha etc. And of course to be perfectly honest, both Rooney and Tevez also 'contributed' by glaringly missing not too few sitters throughout the season.
What can or should we do?
Let's put Saha aside - he is still currently injured, would you believe it.
And Manucho too - still have not heard if he has finally gotten the work permit.
So does that mean that if Fergie switches Rooney back to his central role as he hinted he would, Rooney will surely rock the EPL again with his goals?
Or does that mean that Tevez, after finally having been rested and recharged in this off season, will finally hit his true form in terms of goals?
Or maybe both Rooney and Tevez are really supportive strikers only and we should urgently buy a proven goal scorer eg Huntelaar because we geniunely need such an established goal poacher?
Or maybe what we truly miss is another Cantona eg Berbatov to catalyse another revolution?
Or who else do you think should come in for us? How about bringing through some promising youngsters like Campbell to the fore?
Or is it some formations that we should avoid or adopt to address the issue?
Discuss and debate....