Robin and the Wayne - Scary strikeforce's strengths and weaknesses !

Robin and the Wayne! So is Sir Alex, Alfred the Butler now?

After the long awaited transfer saga, Robin turns a RED DEVIL. A stunning buy indeed, good signing. Maybe he’s entering his peak now. Being in the right place at the right time is a very underrated skill. That’s why RVP scored a lot last season, he has the knack. I don’t think we have had a ‘scary’ strikeforce in 3 years after the Rooney, Berba, Tevez, Ronaldo era. Van Persie would certainly help to change that. If you compare what we had last year to City’s four options, it’s no wonder they won on goal difference.

71 goals between Rooney and Van Persie last season. Sounds good to me. RVP is definitely a more out and out striker, getting most of his goals from inside the box. Rooney on the other hand, drops a lot deeper – without his penalties he would have scored 26 goals, meaning about 1 in 5 of his others came from outside the box (excluding free kicks). On this evidence, you could see them striking up a good partnership if Van Persie joins in with immediate effect, with Rooney playing off RVP. They wouldn’t really get in each other’s way, from the looks of things.

Strengths

Experience

If the deadly duo can develop instantaneous understanding, this partnership could be a lethal development for the opposition attacks to handle. With humongous minutes and wealth of experience under their belt, this could be the difference during tight situations.

Finishing

Wayne is a more clinical finisher and has better movement in the box than RVP, but RVP is better technically and links play better and is more creative. Reverse the roles they played last season and you’d see the best of them in a altogether different opinion. Just contrasting this, it was evidently seen that Van Persie’s goals often came from a pass to him from out wide or in midfield, and he would take a touch and finish it. The majority of Rooney’s goals came after he had played the ball off to somebody, and he sprinted into the box to get a header, or rebound off the keeper. Which would indicate that RVP is better further forward. Of course, if both played together they would quickly work it out for themselves.

Competition for places

RVP and Rooney will benefit from the competition for places, Rooney, in particular, needs a lesser burden on his shoulders in terms of games played and producing the goals. Considering the strike force, RVP brings to us an added attacking dimension – he’s adept at playing either as a lone forward, one of a pair, or in a more withdrawn role just off the front . And that’s also him at his most useful – deep enough to create for those around him, high enough to remain a goal threat.

Hernandez and Wellbeck will certainly get their share of games and if they are more influential enough, they will stamp their authority into the first team. When it gets busy later with the local domestic cups and champions league, (two games a week etc), they will need these strikers to play, so that the top strikers can rest.

Passing

“Threatening” is the first word that comes to mind with this pair, because not only can they put the ball at the back of the net with supreme ease with respect to converting chances, but these duo also possess the passing ability and technical ability. The notion that elevates them from other forwards is their passing efficiency and creating chances for others. Both had their respective pairs of assists last season and it eagerly remains to be seen how this partnership starts up.

Formation Options

With the addition of ammunition or rather re-enforced Arsenal, United can employ traditional 4-4-2, 4-4-1-1 or 4-3-1-2 or even 4-2-3-1.

My opinion would be a 4-2-3-1 with Kagawa playing CAM along with Rooney, Rvp, Valencia/Nani completing the front 4. I would prefer playing Rooney out wide because Kagawa is not as good as Rooney defensively so he would leave too much space for Evra to be attacked from, hence why he shouldn’t play there. And RVP, Rooney and Kagawa would probably interchange a bit. Our left wingers have to track back and Kagawa is not too good at that.

Support from Kagawa’s footballing abilities

Kagawa is a type of player we haven’t had, and have been missing. He could sit at the head of a midfield three, keep possession, link the midfield to our attack and wingers and create chances. I think that is the main situation he has been bought for. He will allow us to play a midfield properly and hopefully compete for possession with other good midfields. Kagawa has the footballing brain to play in any attacking position. His best position is in a 4-5-1 which we don’t play apart from in big games. In big games, he will be a massively important player at the tip of a midfield trio because we have no other players who can play the position.

Weaknesses

Aerial ability

Van Persie has very poor timing with headers and Rooney seems to be a lot better with his head than RVP. Competiting consistently on the aerial basis with taller defenders would be a challenge worth watching.

Injuries

Everyone knows the long list of injuries and the long spells on the treatment table. Maybe, its an age when footballers peak. Remember Teddy Sheringham ?

RVP’s alledged reason to leave was the club’s lack of ambition, they at least appear to be showing some for the 1st time in a while, maybe it’s too little too late for RVP?