2023/2024 Forwards Rumours Thread

[Meysam]

Whether Correa or Sanchez, we should probably go for a 5th striker, because of their risk of injuries or maybe changing to 3511 formation which I'd rather first one.

 

[varmin]

Whether Correa or Sanchez, we should probably go for a 5th striker, because of their risk of injuries or maybe changing to 3511 formation which I'd rather first one.

We are spending the money for 5th striker on Pavard. It'll be Sanchez or some free agent.

 

[Meysam]

We are spending the money for 5th striker on Pavard. It'll be Sanchez or some free agent.

Hope Arna or Correa (Sanchez) is not gonna get injuried, If not, we would be screwed big time.

 

[sdvroot]

Marotta give us João Félix on loan with option for 35m )

 

[CafeCordoba]

Hope Arna or Correa (Sanchez) is not gonna get injuried, If not, we would be screwed big time.

Doesn't this apply to almost any position?

 

[Meysam]

Doesn't this apply to almost any position?

Last season, without Skriniar and Brozo we did well but it didn't work out that much when Correa and Lukaku were injured. Imagine we had a decant 4th striker instead of Correa last season, probably would have ended up so differently at least in the league

 

[CoolMan44]

To be fair, we never really had a 'reliable' 4th striker even since the Conte days. In 2019/2020, our 4th striker was Esposito and he played some games when Sanchez had his big injury. He wasn't too bad but very young.
In 2020/2021, 4th striker was Pinamonti and he barely played.
In 2021/2022, 4th striker was Correa/Sanchez - Correa was a big disappointment and Sanchez was decent.
Last season technically should have been the best 'quartet' given it was supposed to be Lukaku-Lautaro starting and Dzeko-Correa as backups. Correa was again disappointing as was Lukaku until the last 7 games of the season.

2021/2022 was not too bad scoring wise with the Lautaro-Dzeko-Sanchez-Correa quartet. We scored 84 goals overall as a team which is pretty good.

Interestingly enough, the strikers actually had comparable numbers over those two seasons.
2022/2023 strikers: Overall 43 goals (Lautaro 21, Lukaku 10, Dzeko 9, Correa 3)
2021/2022 strikers: Overall 45 goals (Lautaro 21, Dzeko 13, Correa 6, Sanchez 5)

The big difference is the number of goals we got in 2021/2022 from wingbacks/defenders compared to last season.
2022/2023 wingbacks/defense: Overall 10 goals (Dimarco 4, Gosens 3, Dumfries/Darmian/De Vrij 1 each)
2021/2022 wingbacks/defense: Overall 22 goals (Perisic 8, Dumfries 5, Skriniar 3, Darmian 2, Dimarco 2, Bastoni/D'Ambrosio 1 each)

Our defense/wingbacks contributed twice as many goals in Inzaghi's first season than the last season. I think Dumfries was the biggest disappointment in that regard. Only 1 goal for the entire season. Darmian didn't really play much as a wingback and Gosens did ok in limited minutes. Dimarco is no Perisic but hopefully he can keep increasing his output. Our central defenders were pretty disappointing in terms of goal contribution last season. Just one goal from De Vrij off a set piece. Not that I want us to be Stoke City, but ideally you'd have at least 5 or more goals from the 3 centre-backs. Problem is none of Darmian/Acerbi/Bastoni are a danger from set pieces.

 

[Alex de Large]

Nice stats. And this season feeling is that wingbacks will score much more. Dimarco, Bastoni, Carlos Augusto, Cuadrado, Pavard, maybe Bissek a couple of headers.

 

[Batman]

To be fair, we never really had a 'reliable' 4th striker even since the Conte days. In 2019/2020, our 4th striker was Esposito and he played some games when Sanchez had his big injury. He wasn't too bad but very young.
In 2020/2021, 4th striker was Pinamonti and he barely played.
In 2021/2022, 4th striker was Correa/Sanchez - Correa was a big disappointment and Sanchez was decent.
Last season technically should have been the best 'quartet' given it was supposed to be Lukaku-Lautaro starting and Dzeko-Correa as backups. Correa was again disappointing as was Lukaku until the last 7 games of the season.

2021/2022 was not too bad scoring wise with the Lautaro-Dzeko-Sanchez-Correa quartet. We scored 84 goals overall as a team which is pretty good.

Interestingly enough, the strikers actually had comparable numbers over those two seasons.
2022/2023 strikers: Overall 43 goals (Lautaro 21, Lukaku 10, Dzeko 9, Correa 3)
2021/2022 strikers: Overall 45 goals (Lautaro 21, Dzeko 13, Correa 6, Sanchez 5)

The big difference is the number of goals we got in 2021/2022 from wingbacks/defenders compared to last season.
2022/2023 wingbacks/defense: Overall 10 goals (Dimarco 4, Gosens 3, Dumfries/Darmian/De Vrij 1 each)
2021/2022 wingbacks/defense: Overall 22 goals (Perisic 8, Dumfries 5, Skriniar 3, Darmian 2, Dimarco 2, Bastoni/D'Ambrosio 1 each)

Our defense/wingbacks contributed twice as many goals in Inzaghi's first season than the last season. I think Dumfries was the biggest disappointment in that regard. Only 1 goal for the entire season. Darmian didn't really play much as a wingback and Gosens did ok in limited minutes. Dimarco is no Perisic but hopefully he can keep increasing his output. Our central defenders were pretty disappointing in terms of goal contribution last season. Just one goal from De Vrij off a set piece. Not that I want us to be Stoke City, but ideally you'd have at least 5 or more goals from the 3 centre-backs. Problem is none of Darmian/Acerbi/Bastoni are a danger from set pieces.

Nice post. Imo we weren’t clinical enough overall, but especially the wingbacks. A 3-5-2 formation with little goals from the wingbacks is considered a failure. I’m glad we worked on it this mercato although was hoping we replace Dumfries because last season he was poor offensively.

 

[CoolMan44]

Nice post. Imo we weren’t clinical enough overall, but especially the wingbacks. A 3-5-2 formation with little goals from the wingbacks is considered a failure. I’m glad we worked on it this mercato although was hoping we replace Dumfries because last season he was poor offensively.

Yeah, I was also hoping we get big money for Dumfries but it seems that if we were to sell him it wouldn't be for too big of an offer. Given how many players have left, I guess management also wants some consistency.

I believe Dumfries contributed 5 goals and 5 assists in his first season and he wasn't a starter until the latter half of the 1st half of the season I believe. Hopefully he can improve his numbers this year. By next summer, he'll be on an expiring contract (1 year left) so interesting to see what happens.

 

[MakavelInterista]

Call me a maniac all you want but I’d go all-in on Mason Greenwood and sign him to a long-term deal

Kid is a star, absolutely clinical, and has too flight experience. I can’t see any other big team willing to sign him and his value is at an all-time low

He is very young, cleared of his charges and legal troubles. I think it’s worth a shot. He can be the main striker with Lautaro as the SS

 

[thatdude]

Marotta give us João Félix on loan with option for 35m )

I secretly still hope for a late Joao Felix loan bid.

 

[ChillBro]

Call me a maniac all you want but I’d go all-in on Mason Greenwood and sign him to a long-term deal

Kid is a star, absolutely clinical, and has too flight experience. I can’t see any other big team willing to sign him and his value is at an all-time low

He is very young, cleared of his charges and legal troubles. I think it’s worth a shot. He can be the main striker with Lautaro as the SS

Ya I hear he is a real fighter.

 

[qb4ever_2k]

Even if you ignore all the morals and see footballers merely as a vehicle for entertainment and not a normal human being. Then you should still not get anywhere near Mason Greenwood. The bad publicity alone is not worth it for any semi big teams out there. Then you will have to consider the fact that 2 years is a long time in the development of a young player, which Mason has lost. Then he will still have to deal with the hostility of his new teammates, internal staffs who may have a strong opinion on the matters. Then there will be the hostility from away fans while home fans will not all support him either. It will be extremely hard for him to perform.

Not worth it, stay away.

 

[Palatiga]

Yeah i heard he got that kobe mentality

Call me a maniac all you want but I’d go all-in on Mason Greenwood and sign him to a long-term deal

Kid is a star, absolutely clinical, and has too flight experience. I can’t see any other big team willing to sign him and his value is at an all-time low

He is very young, cleared of his charges and legal troubles. I think it’s worth a shot. He can be the main striker with Lautaro as the SS

 

[Johnny Ludlow]

Maybe we should believe in this old-school idea of forgiveness. I am aware it’s not in vogue these days. Her girlfriend did forgive, why cannot the world?

He certainly needs to leave UK. Fresh start in Italy could be great for all parties. I don’t think Italian crowds would be as hostile as UK ones.

He is now a father and striving to be a better person. He seems sincere and I believe in second chances. He’s certainly paid a price for his mistakes and it is time to move on.

 

[Forzanerazzurri]

Maybe we should believe in this old-school idea of forgiveness. I am aware it’s not in vogue these days. Her girlfriend did forgive, why cannot the world?

He certainly needs to leave UK. Fresh start in Italy could be great for all parties. I don’t think Italian crowds would be as hostile as UK ones.

He is now a father and striving to be a better person. He seems sincere and I believe in second chances. He’s certainly paid a price for his mistakes and it is time to move on.

We don't need that trash in Italy.

 

[ChillBro]

Maybe we should believe in this old-school idea of forgiveness. I am aware it’s not in vogue these days. Her girlfriend did forgive, why cannot the world?

He certainly needs to leave UK. Fresh start in Italy could be great for all parties. I don’t think Italian crowds would be as hostile as UK ones.

He is now a father and striving to be a better person. He seems sincere and I believe in second chances. He’s certainly paid a price for his mistakes and it is time to move on.

I agree with forgiveness as well - but he should seek it and strive for it in the EPL i think. He is very young, he will get a shot somwhere.

 

[Anne Marie]

I secretly still hope for a late Joao Felix loan bid.

Gosh, he is making 14.5m. Perhaps we cant afford.

 

[Pravesh]

Not sure yet, as we have some time to judge Thuram but I feel like Thuram -- Martinez could be a good duo upfront.

Thuram seems to be able to get past players effectively than Martinez (based on videos though). Martinez is not the kind of player who can play alone upfront but I also do not feel that Martinez is a second striker (he lacks skills to get past players). He is somewhat in between first and second kind of striker. Thus, a second striker like Thuram (Sanchez) should do well partnering Martinez (Arnautovic).