Attacking Crisis Over?

Louis Saha marked his return last week with a neatly taken header to down Keano's Black Cats. It was lovely to have a goal scoring striker back on the pitch, as Tevez has yet to score in a United shirt. It showed a massive difference from the previous matches without an out and out attacking player. King Louis saw his chance and put it home, not beatiful, but effective.

But with Solskjaer announcing his retirement and Rooney out injured, it has become apparent how thin United's forward line is. Summer departures of Alan Smith (Newcastle) and Rossi (Villareal) have left United with only three attacking options, Rooney, Saha, and Tevez.

In my opinion, and I hope I am forced to eat these words, a strike partnership pairing Carlito and Wazza will be ineffective. Why? Look at the way these two play, both like to run onto balls played through and both like to sit deeper than the usual striker. While this is all well and good for creating goals, United are going to need someone to knock them in. I can very easily see us going down the same route Arsenal did last season, lots of beautiful play and possession, but nothing to show for it.

This puts a lot of pressure on Louis to score goals. He's a brilliant player and he can live up to these expectations, if he stays fit, which, let's face it, isn't likely. Louis is at the most cursed, and at the least unlucky. Everytime he hits scoring form for United he gets injured. I feel he would be rated among the ten best strikers in Europe if he'd stay in the team. You wouldn't put all your eggs in a broken basket, so why in a striker that has shown a propencity for picking up injuries?

Everytime anyone goes in for a challenge, I'll be whincing, knowing he's the only proper (not to say good, but traditional) striker that we have.

In other news Ronaldo is also set to play on Saturday after serving a ban for a Zidane impersonation. It'll be great to see the Portugese winger running down the flanks again, let's just hope there is someone for him to send the ball in to.