Shortage of strikers could cost us, warns Phil Jagielka

[Toffe3m4n]

We signed three players on deadline day in the summer. If you honestly think we couldn't have got somebody in then fair enough.

We'll wait till the summer, like we did last year. Worked out well then...

Do you really think that Martinez hadn't been seriously looking at those players until the final hours of the summer window? No, me neither.

My point still stands though, even after the Lukaku injury he's obviously decided that scouting a decent striker available on loan with the amount of time left to cover for a few games just wasn't worth it.

He'll have the money in the summer to bring players he wants in and get a decent pre season under their belts, ready to go again for 2014/15. I just cannot fault him for wanting to take his time tbh.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

He's a good player, but is he good enough for the Premier League or Everton? Don't think so tbh. Failed at Wolves.

He got something like 15-20 goals this season for Wolves

 

[bluestevon]

We'll find out come the summer if the manager has any funs, like.

I know when I criticised the lack of backing Martinez got in the last summer, I was told to wait til January and he'd spend then. And when I had a go at us not buying anyone last january, I was told the Fer bid proved we had money that we would spend the following summer.

Theirs a difference though mate, hes now had a full season to analyse the squad and know what is truly needed, giving martinex the benefit of believing him about not wishing to spend in the jan window, then this summer becomes the defining one, a lack of activity, a failiure to address severe needed players incoming, and using loans to enhance the squad rather than to fill huge glaring holes within it, and a large net spend is needed to prove we the fans can trust him

My gut instinct says their will be funny business going on and we wont spend all of the money surplus from.transfer dealings this year, instead the end seadon.tv money will combinded with that be used to give him around 20-25m a figure that really most clubs will match just using the added tv money, but will appear they have been truthful

 

[riddick]

... and he got one. Traore.

It's quite obvious that he hedged his bets on Lacina coming in and being available in the run-in til the end of the season. As chico said earlier, Lukaku got injured right at the end of the window, something he didn't forsee, but in the end he's ultimately decided that, for what was available, it wasnt worth trying to loan another striker just to do us for another handful of games. How many other decent strikers would've been available to us at the end.of the window anyway?

Either way, these decisions were made by the manager - not the board.

He hedged his bets on a player who was all but signed short term for West Ham? Its not like he didnt know he was going there, all the papers said it was in the works, they got the work permit for him then a day or two later Martinez decided to go for him. Quite honestly im not even sure if Traore was a target of his when the window even opened.

 

[meagher94]

We'll find out come the summer if the manager has any funs, like.

I know when I criticised the lack of backing Martinez got in the last summer, I was told to wait til January and he'd spend then. And when I had a go at us not buying anyone last january, I was told the Fer bid proved we had money that we would spend the following summer.

Yes but this time the manager has actually came out and stated clearly numerous times "I have money to spend". I doubt he'd actually say these things if he didn't have it, I mean he'll look like a massive tool if we don't spend in the summer. It's not like people are going to forget his comments about having the money.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

I mean, the dude scored from a direct corner FFS!

 

[davek]

Yes but this time the manager has actually came out and stated clearly numerous times "I have money to spend". I doubt he'd actually say these things if he didn't have it, I mean he'll look like a massive tool if we don't spend in the summer.

He's been made to look a massive tool in the January window just closed. My guess is he must have been going along with the noises from the club that money was there if needed - it almost made sense before Oviedo and Lukaku got crocked, because he could have pointed to the fact he'd replaced Jelavic going and that McGeady offered him permutations he didn't have before January. But those injuries did occur and the lack of movement to shore the squad up just made the manager look like he was fiddling while Rome burned. Hopefully it's lesson learned by Roberto on that issue.

not like people are going to forget his comments about having the money.

People always forget. They'll be caught up with the latest bit of chaff thrown up by the club regarding investors / holding onto our best players being a priority / 'Oh look over there, it's the world cup' (that's half the window gone with that distraction).

These mobsters are masters of not spending money and using their communications team to keep a grip of the situation. It's really the ONLY thing they excell at.

 

[Toffe3m4n]

He hedged his bets on a player who was all but signed short term for West Ham? Its not like he didnt know he was going there, all the papers said it was in the works, they got the work permit for him then a day or two later Martinez decided to go for him. Quite honestly im not even sure if Traore was a target of his when the window even opened.

Read the rest of that sentence. I wasn't referring to his transfer, but Martinez's plans for him when he signed.

 

[peteblue]

Does this mean that we are 'plucky' again then........

 

[beachy]

We need more goals from the number 10 position. Ross and Leon are midfielders pushed forward. Maybe we need a striker dropping off. Who've we got perfect for that role? Ah.. Kevin Mirallas thanks Bob.

 

[ScouseBlueBoy]

If Roberto can't sign the players he wants (in January), isn't it better to spend his limited funds wisely instead of squandering it Spurs style? I have faith in him being able to attract players of quality in the Summer.

Players have to want to play for us. More likely under Roberto than for any manager we have had for a long time.

 

[artetas_biggest_fan]

I dont want a Zlatan, I would settle for an AJ as it stands or you know, just a fit striker.

I would even take a Jela or Victor at the moment, but hey, that moneys sitting in the bank waiting for the Summer.

We could have bought (or kept) a fit striker, wouldn't be much good if they aren't very good. The last top forward we bought was Lineker, and that was just before he became a star player (thanks to the season he had with us, and the subsequent WC). So in 29 years we have bought one top striker, which shows just how hard it is to do. You either have to pay big, or get lucky (either by getting a top forward on the cheap who hasn't reached their potential, or someone coming through the youth team). Given that it's very rare you get lucky, that means weave to pay big for a top forward, money we don't have.

You can strengthen any other area of the team without having to pay big money, but not upfront. United won the league last year with a pretty average side but a fantastic attack (ie. Van Persie). Upfront is the difference maker. Ability wise, if we bought James McCarthy's equivalent upfront he wouldn't get 10 league goals a season. To strengthen upfront means we have to go to a higher level than players in other areas of the field. Look at Fletcher, Carrick, Cleverly and the ilk this season without having the 'difference makers' Van Persie, Rooney winning matches for them. The top end of the field is the business end, wins games, requires the most talent; it's by far the hardest to adequately fill. So all this talk of "we just need a striker" completely overlooks the quality required that would actually strengthen the team, as opposed to just putting another body up there. The glass ceiling is upfront. Shane Long would have been the latest in a long line of average joes to play there for us. As an Ireland fan he's more talented than McCarthy, but again when it comes to upfront the level required increases and it's something we haven't done since Lineker.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

I'm going to do the logical thing and wait until the summer I think.

I'm not being funny, but you'd be daft to think that Roberto would just spunk money away in his first January window at the club, regardless of the position we're in.

I think it's questionable to think this is the logical point of view at the moment. At the very least, I wouldn't argue with someone who felt that they've heard this time and again and won't believe the club or the manager until the pattern changes.

But we'll have to wait till summer to see if the pattern changes, unfortunately.

 

[canuckblue]

We could have bought (or kept) a fit striker, wouldn't be much good if they aren't very good. The last top forward we bought was Lineker, and that was just before he became a star player (thanks to the season he had with us, and the subsequent WC). So in 29 years we have bought one top striker, which shows just how hard it is to do. You either have to pay big, or get lucky (either by getting a top forward on the cheap who hasn't reached their potential, or someone coming through the youth team). Given that it's very rare you get lucky, that means weave to pay big for a top forward, money we don't have.
You can strengthen any other area of the team without having to pay big money, but not upfront. United won the league last year with a pretty average side but a fantastic attack (ie. Van Persie). Upfront is the difference maker. Ability wise, if we bought James McCarthy's equivalent upfront he wouldn't get 10 league goals a season. To strengthen upfront means we have to go to a higher level than players in other areas of the field. Look at Fletcher, Carrick, Cleverly and the ilk this season without having the 'difference makers' Van Persie, Rooney winning matches for them. The top end of the field is the business end, wins games, requires the most talent; it's by far the hardest to adequately fill. So all this talk of "we just need a striker" completely overlooks the quality required that would actually strengthen the team, as opposed to just putting another body up there. The glass ceiling is upfront. Shane Long would have been the latest in a long line of average joes to play there for us. As an Ireland fan he's more talented than McCarthy, but again when it comes to upfront the level required increases and it's something we haven't done since Lineker.

Pretty much this.

 

[Dymak]

If Martinez saves the money that is available this Summer, then he will have even more money to spend next January.