Lewandowski isn't more clinical than RVP though.

I think last nights game vs Madrid and RVP's misses vs the same team have clouded your judgment.

No doubt he's a class striker, but not what we need and you don't just splash the cash on a new striker because the last one you signed missed a few against Madrid.

RVP, Rooney and Hernandez are all more clinical than Lewandowski so the logic is flawed.

There's other areas that need addressing. Personally, as good as he's been for us, RVP's caused us some problems in how we want to move forwar in the future due to his age.

He missed loads of chances against Malaga and they almost went out as a result. Last night was just a one off game where he was clinical and played insane.
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people are overreacting. Madrid gave him too much space. JM mentiones as much

Of his 4 goals, one was an outstretched leg, one was a scuffed shot and one was a penalty. The other was a fine goal obviously.

he's an excellent forward but his performance v madrid was exagerated as often happens

When Messi came on as a sub in the PSG second leg, he hardly did a thing yet we were told he was the one who made all the difference which was utter bollox

They're both good players but the Ox hasn't improved a great deal since moving to Arsenal and the time spent trying to get Welbs to play left wing could be time spent trying to improve his finishing because that's the only aspect of his game he is poor at, everything else is in place but a striker who can't score goals isn't much use to anyone.

Darren

You can't compare Hernandez to Lewandowski. I'm one of Hernandez' biggest fans but when he starts games he is less effective than when he's a sub and while all of us would selfishly love Hernandez to stay forever and be our new 'Solskjaer' maybe he wants to go to Spain and play every week.

Lewandowski is now one of the hottest properties in Europe and while you think (if I assume correctly) that it was just a good night against Spain and he won't get confidence from that then I have to disagree.

I personally think that RVP will be happy to take a backwards role at United like Sheringham did in the next few years and just retire at a top club while getting medals and rest what is most probably a battered body from all his injuries.

And a player like Lewandowski is our future while also being part of our present if he signs.

I agree, Macca. All of a sudden he's the best striker in the world - a debate that can never be proven conclusively - but people weren't saying it before Wednesday's game.

Atletico play Madrid at the weekend. If Falcao scores a hattrick - something not that unlikely - people will change their minds and remember how good this guy is.

When Messi came on as a sub in the PSG second leg, he hardly did a thing yet we were told he was the one who made all the difference which was utter bollox

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Funnily enough, i thought the same thing.

I rewatched the PSG game a few nights ago when i could not sleep and for the life of me, i couldn't see why Messi was lauded in that particular match.

Trite sayings like he 'inspired' Barca or he was the catalyst are just BS.

When Messi came on as a sub in the PSG second leg, he hardly did a thing yet we were told he was the one who made all the difference which was utter bollox

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What are your feelings on Messi?

I would love that to be true but I honestly can't see it.

We've already bought Zaha for £10-15m. A top LW and CM ain't gonna come cheap.

I agree, Macca. All of a sudden he's the best striker in the world - a debate that can never be proven conclusively - but people weren't saying it before Wednesday's game.

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Who said he's the best striker in the world?

What he is is most certainly a brilliant talent who Dortmund will miss when he goes.

And for the person that said that he missed loads of chances against Malaga, it was actually Gotze who was the most wasteful that night

"I personally think that RVP will be happy to take a backwards role at United"

Not a chance, he's at the top of his game, he's our main man, he has absolutely no desire to play second fiddle to anyone.

Rob, I don't doubt he's an exceptional talent. I doubt that he's a clinical striker, however. And one amazing game does not outweigh the other games where he shows he's not the most clinical of strikers.

Hernandez was an example of players we have that are more clinical. He's leagues behind him as a footballer.

Rooney is also more clinical than Lewandowski but missed a great chance to score as well. This happens with strikers.

Who knows what RVP will do with United. But I don't think the Pole is needed at the moment.

"I personally think that RVP will be happy to take a backwards role at United"

Not a chance, he's at the top of his game, he's our main man, he has absolutely no desire to play second fiddle to anyone.
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I don't mean next season but as he hits 31/32 i'm sure he'll have to accept that his days as a 40 game a season starter must be coming to an end.

And for the person that said that he missed loads of chances against Malaga, it was actually Gotze who was the most wasteful that night

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Götze was indeed wasteful but so was Lewandowski.

Lewandowski could hardly be described as 'clinical' by anyone who watches him regularly. The only thing i would give Robert over Robin is his aerial prowess. Lewandowski is sensational in the air.

comment by Robb Lannister (U9808)



posted 34 seconds ago


When Messi came on as a sub in the PSG second leg, he hardly did a thing yet we were told he was the one who made all the difference which was utter bollox

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What are your feelings on Messi?
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Biiliant but made to look more brilliant by the players he plays in front of.. Spends alot of the game just walking allowing Iniesta and Xavi to do all the work, he then finishes it off.

I's prefer Iniesta at OT, and Ronaldo, who has much more to his game, than both

People who think Messi is the best ever player is laughable in the extreme. Billy Bremner had his skills and was much tougher to boot

George Best, Maradonna and the likes were all better

Lots of people on here have.

He did miss a few sitters against Malaga. As did Gotze.

But my point is that we wouldn't be having this discussion had Dortmund not had two offside goals allowed.

Fine lines in football. Great game the other night and it's the most clinical I've ever seen him. He's not always like that.

Regarding Messi I was speaking to my Catalan friend the other day who's a season ticket holder there and they are all slightly worried with Messi. He is undoubtedly the best player in the world but they think it's gone to his head a bit and he really feels he has to score every goals and do everything for Barca and worryingly it's rubbing off onto the team. The PSG game was a perfect example of that, he came on and did buggger all but just with him being on the pitch it made Barca raise their game for no real reason. Again against Bayern, he was clearly injured and the whole Barca performance suffered as a result.

Assuming (correctly) that strikers get better as they get older here is Lewandowski's past 2 seasons (including this one) stats.

2011/2012 - 47/30
2012/2013 - 43/35

Those aren't quite the stats of a guy who misses a lot of chances.

What he brings which would be of great benefit to us is immense movement off the ball and like others have said, heading ability which might just reinvigorate the likes of Valencia who know that RVP is not that great a header of the ball at all.

Billy Bremner had his skills and was much tougher to boot

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I'm just going to have to sportingly disagree

The only thing i would give Robert over Robin is his aerial prowess. Lewandowski is sensational in the air.

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Agree TRC.

That's what he'd give us which we don't have. A bigger threat in the air and a better player up top to hold up the ball and bring other players into play. I actually do think though that his link up play is underrated by some people.

Rob

You are missing something so bloody obvious it's unreal

If We can accomodate Lewa at number 9 because he can develop with the team with his age, then howcome we are utterly struggling to do that with Danny Welbeck when he could quite easily do it too?

If we can do it with Lewa, then we don't need him because we can do it with Danny

We simply can't accomodate all these out and out number 9s ffs

Signing RVP has had negative effects on the team in some ways, and Lewa signing will only make it worse.

Rooney's our most lethal striker and we are moving him further and further away from the goal to accomodate everyone else. He'll be at CB before long ffs

I think Macca is a tad harsh on Messi.

Whilst i don't entertain the notion that he is the best player to ever play the game, it is impossible to prove anyway - i have argued this several times on this board that he is not- he is right up there.

I honestly think Messi will be looked back on as the greatest player of all time. I know he has Xavi and Iniesta there to help but the guy really is on another level to anyone else.

Now that Argentina have sorted themselves out Messi is looking pretty special for them too. I honestly think he could win the WC for Argentina next year.

Barca's problems run deeper than what you're saying about Messi.

It's the decline of Xavi that is the main problem.

The whole side has been built around him and he no longer has the fitness to play the way Barca do and the team suffer from it.

Iniesta is not the game changer people think he is. Amazing talent but immensely overrated. Messi and Xavi have carried him and made him look better than he is.

Technique wise he's superb but he doesn't influence the game as much as he should do. When Xavi and Messi click it helps Iniesta and he's able to play to his best: CL final being an example.

But I fail to see they hype around Iniesta. He doesn't perform anywhere near the levels of Messi and Xavi.

Him winning best player at the Euros shows how overrated he is. He's obviously class before people accuse me of thinking he's crap - something some people think the word overrated means.

Rob, stats don't mean a player is clinical.

RVP misses lots of chances but has great stats. So do Messi and Ronaldo if you watch them regurlarly.

Macca

The difference between playing Lewandowski at #9 and Welbeck there is massive.

i.e - one is now good enough and the other isn't. I like Welbeck and think that one day he will be a good striker but it's not a guarantee and Lewandowski is.

The only thing that seems really obvious is that Rooney is either leaving or he's going to be played as a midfielder which is something that has been hinted at all season. And it's very possible that Hernandez will leave to replace Falcao.

So if those things pan out then our striking options will be..

RVP
Lewandowski
Welbeck

with Rooney to step in when needed.

Is that something that the people on these boards want? Not likely. Is it looking possible? Very much so.