While Manchester United fans remember their favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer moments, Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson must be more worried about he can replace the newly retired Norwegian striker.
United boast plenty of attacking options enhanced by the close-season signings of Carlos Tevez, Nani and Anderson yet the way they have started the campaign has only underlined their need for an out-and-out goalscorer.
The Premier League champions have scored just three times in five matches, a run which, when allied to their total of two in five at the end of last season, must make worrying reading for Ferguson.
So will the United boss step in to buy another striker? At Soccerlens they certainly hope so. ”Football will miss ya Ole,” writes Conor. “But this could be exactly what needed to happen to show Sir Alex we dont have enough strikers.”
While Louis Saha scores goals when fit, injuries have restricted the Frenchman to only 12 appearances in 2007. In his absence the only other player seemingly capable of scoring the scruffy goals was Solskjaer. Even last season he got 11 of them.
As former Norway coach Egil Olsen put it, Solskjaer had the uncanny ability to be at the right place at the right time. Whether Ferguson can find a player to match that description before the transfer window closes remains to be seen.
Media reports suggest Nicolas Anelka is unsettled at Bolton but would he fit the bill for Ferguson? With deadline day three days away, we should know soon enough.
Simon Hart, London
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12 comments so far
I’m sure Berbatov is the one Ferguson wants but they won’t get him, not this season anyway. I’m surprised they haven’t gone in for that Pander lad who scored against England the other night. Good replacement for Heinze.
- Posted by redderthaneverYes, definitely. Rooney is out for two months or so, Saha is unfit as ever while Tevez is struggling. We can’t get Berbatov but we should go for Klas Jan Huntelaar of Ajax even though he will be unavailable in the Champions league.
- Posted by Red DevilKlas Jan Huntelaar is a good call, Red Devil. I’ll be surprised if someone doesn’t go for him before the transfer window shuts. Or how about Baptista?
- Posted by LondonNot Baptista. We don’t want Arsenal rejects.
- Posted by Red DevilHi,
- Posted by Mustaphal say capital No,United should not go for any body but work extral hard to get the like of Rooney and Ronaldo and Saha back who will team up and work with Tevez and Nani to push Man U forward to the title lead.l want the trophy to remain in Old Traffort.We should work our plan and plan our work.
Hunterlaar is availavble for the Champions League because AJAX did not qualify.The games were to see if they could make it to the CL.
- Posted by glennHUNTERLAAR,big and striong would compliement all the other strikers at United,regarded as the next Van Baston has scored 8 in three games this season.A natural finisher and Fergie has always liked the Dutch mentality to training.
If not a fit Adriano,big strong powerful and unsettling would also compliment the other strikers but would also help Anderson settle,also speaks the same language as Nani,Ronaldo,Anderson.
I feel Man United sold Alan Smith and Rossi in a haste. I don’t say they were top strikers, but with no Rooney, Saha and Solskjaer, they could have been a help now.
- Posted by Nachiket KelkarThey will struggle right now, but yet I don’t think they need to buy some one. This will again be a move in haste. I feel, they should give Nani time to settle in. Tevez has proved himself as a goal scrorer, when he almost single handedly helped West Ham stay up in the Premier league last season. So it shouldn’t be a long time before he starts firing for Man United as well.
Saha to the rescue on Saturday! I still think they should have bought someone before the deadline. I bet they get someone in December/January. I’d forgotten about Rossi, Nachiket. Where did he go?
- Posted by LondonAjax did not qualify but Huntleaar played. Man u’s buying policy will backfire bigtime. Hopefully!
- Posted by njauRossi’s gone to Villareal, the newly-discovered safe haven for hastily sold United rejects (remember Forlan?). Unfortunately I agree with njau to a certain extent: while Nani may prove to be the next big thing, Anderson is questionable because he’s had a very serious injury already while Tevez, I think, will turn out to be a complete flop. I am astonished and disappointed that Ferguson hasn’t made a bid for Huntelaar who’s scoring left right and centre. Two years ago Fergie said Tevez wasn’t good enough for United and now he buys him!?
- Posted by Red DevilUnfortunately for Ferguson I think he missed out on the best forward around, Fernando torres. Two more goals on Saturday, he’s going to be great.
- Posted by ElenaJust a heads up guys, Huntelaar would be a great buy but he certainly is cup tied. Whilst Ajax did not make the Champions League group stages, you still need to register players for the qualifiers and as Ajax participated with Huntelaar, his name is officially registered. I would suggest that probably the major reason why Fergie did not pick him up because his numbers are outstanding but its the Champions League where a predator is essential to his plans to win a second Champions League
- Posted by Stav