4th Striker 'Cheap' option.

[Alioune DVToure]

I wonder how much Cassano would cost and whether he'd fancy it for a couple of years. A bit of a dick in the past, granted, but he's kept his nose clean the past year or two and would give us backup options in a number of formations.

If we wanted an out-and-out veteran who could plug a gap for a year and bring a load of experience, there's always Di Natale. Still doing the business at his ripe old age and may fancy a reduced role in a more glamorous squad before retiring.

And then there's always Negredo and Soldado. You'd pay £18m for either but they'd push for a starting place and guarantee goals.

[Bianchi on Ice]

I wonder how much Cassano would cost and whether he'd fancy it for a couple of years. A bit of a dick in the past, granted, but he's kept his nose clean the past year or two and would give us backup options in a number of formations.

If we wanted an out-and-out veteran who could plug a gap for a year and bring a load of experience, there's always Di Natale. Still doing the business at his ripe old age and may fancy a reduced role in a more glamorous squad before retiring.

And then there's always Negredo and Soldado. You'd pay £18m for either but they'd push for a starting place and guarantee goals.

Di Natale good shout. scratch my Olic suggestion!

[ross.mcfc]

When is RSC out of contract?

[Mike J]

Soldado is the one we should go for imo

[Nigels Tackle]

darren bent

[Blue Blood]

4th striker option is a bit defunct in the new system we will be likely operating, 3 strikers will likely be more than adequate.

A more valuable question would be how many more winger type players do we need to allow the 4-3-3 to function for a whole season, we have Navas and Sinclair at a push but we need at least one more out and out winger. Isco or Di Maria look the most likely options.

Silva and Nasri can always do a back up wing job if needed, so I think realistically we just NEED one more offensive player.

Isco please!

[ruralblue]

Cant see ba coming just to sit on the bench. Bent is used to it for a reason.

Happy to stick with young Guidetti.

[s1ty m]

I've said it a few times that Benteke is really good.

However would command a hefty fee IMO.

£15m-£20m perhaps. I think that if Athletico are looking at him, allegedly, we should too. They have the midas touch when looking at strikers. Benteke is quick and powerful. He's going got be a very good player. I see him as a young Drogba. If he turns out to be 80% as good as him, he's worth a punt.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

4th striker option is a bit defunct in the new system we will be likely operating, 3 strikers will likely be more than adequate.A more valuable question would be how many more winger type players do we need to allow the 4-3-3 to function for a whole season, we have Navas and Sinclair at a push but we need at least one more out and out winger. Isco or Di Maria look the most likely options.

Silva and Nasri can always do a back up wing job if needed, so I think realistically we just NEED one more offensive player.

Isco please!

What do you mean by that? Do you assume that Pellegrini will play something other than 4-2-2-2 he so much believes in?

Soldado and Negredo are both good shouts. Di Natale playing for anyone but Udinese sounds weird and he is too old. Cassano is HELL NO department. Last thing you want from your 4th striker is him to be a nutter. Didn't he just kick the shit out of his manager? And he wouldn't even suit footballwise because he really isn't the type to play back to goal if needed.

[Bianchi on Ice]

4th striker option is a bit defunct in the new system we will be likely operating, 3 strikers will likely be more than adequate.

A more valuable question would be how many more winger type players do we need to allow the 4-3-3 to function for a whole season, we have Navas and Sinclair at a push but we need at least one more out and out winger. Isco or Di Maria look the most likely options.

Silva and Nasri can always do a back up wing job if needed, so I think realistically we just NEED one more offensive player.

Isco please!

Thing is if Pellegrini plays two up front (aguero and tevez) with dzeko on the bench and aguero has an early injury like last season you are down to two very quickly. a veteran as 4th choice who knows the score, up for the challengecan do a job and play in some big games would be a good addition IMO.

[Blue Blood]

4th striker option is a bit defunct in the new system we will be likely operating, 3 strikers will likely be more than adequate.

A more valuable question would be how many more winger type players do we need to allow the 4-3-3 to function for a whole season, we have Navas and Sinclair at a push but we need at least one more out and out winger. Isco or Di Maria look the most likely options.

Silva and Nasri can always do a back up wing job if needed, so I think realistically we just NEED one more offensive player.

Isco please!

Thing is if Pellegrini plays two up front (aguero and tevez) with dzeko on the bench and aguero has an early injury like last season you are down to two very quickly. a veteran as 4th choice who knows the score, up for the challengecan do a job and play in some big games would be a good addition IMO.

Not sure I believe in the whole established fourth choice thing, we are a club who now is encouraging the promotion of youth, these "what if" spots should really be occupied by lads like Guidetti and we should have faith they can come in and do a job.

It's not like we are asking mr 4th choice to score 20+ goals, just fill the gap where needed, this should be down to youth.

It pains me to say but look across at the swamp, Welbeck and Hernandez, 3rd and 4th choice, both young, both fill in where necessary with one eye on taking future starting spots without causing a fuss and sulking. It works.

[Blue Blood]

4th striker option is a bit defunct in the new system we will be likely operating, 3 strikers will likely be more than adequate.A more valuable question would be how many more winger type players do we need to allow the 4-3-3 to function for a whole season, we have Navas and Sinclair at a push but we need at least one more out and out winger. Isco or Di Maria look the most likely options.

Silva and Nasri can always do a back up wing job if needed, so I think realistically we just NEED one more offensive player.

Isco please!

What do you mean by that? Do you assume that Pellegrini will play something other than 4-2-2-2 he so much believes in?

Soldado and Negredo are both good shouts. Di Natale playing for anyone but Udinese sounds weird and he is too old. Cassano is HELL NO department. Last thing you want from your 4th striker is him to be a nutter. Didn't he just kick the shit out of his manager? And he wouldn't even suit footballwise because he really isn't the type to play back to goal if needed.

Pelle plays 3 or 4 systems, all variations of the 4-2-2-2. A tight 4-3-3 being one of them, I just reference 4-3-3 as that is the forward thinking youth to first team mantra coming from the club.

We now have a manager who is more tactically flexible than Mancini, all I am suggesting is we need a squad equally as flexible.

[Bianchi on Ice]

4th striker option is a bit defunct in the new system we will be likely operating, 3 strikers will likely be more than adequate.

A more valuable question would be how many more winger type players do we need to allow the 4-3-3 to function for a whole season, we have Navas and Sinclair at a push but we need at least one more out and out winger. Isco or Di Maria look the most likely options.

Silva and Nasri can always do a back up wing job if needed, so I think realistically we just NEED one more offensive player.

Isco please!

Thing is if Pellegrini plays two up front (aguero and tevez) with dzeko on the bench and aguero has an early injury like last season you are down to two very quickly. a veteran as 4th choice who knows the score, up for the challengecan do a job and play in some big games would be a good addition IMO.

Not sure I believe in the whole established fourth choice thing, we are a club who now is encouraging the promotion of youth, these "what if" spots should really be occupied by lads like Guidetti and we should have faith they can come in and do a job.

It's not like we are asking mr 4th choice to score 20+ goals, just fill the gap where needed, this should be down to youth.

It pains me to say but look across at the swamp, Welbeck and Hernandez, 3rd and 4th choice, both young, both fill in where necessary with one eye on taking future starting spots without causing a fuss and sulking. It works.

fair enough, but if it is to be Guidetti he needs to be playing a part in pre-season and be ready otherwise he'll be loaned out again and the time for that has gone. He either has a future at the club or not. The only clue that leads toward him getting a look-in next season is the new contract i think he signed a while ago.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

4th striker option is a bit defunct in the new system we will be likely operating, 3 strikers will likely be more than adequate.A more valuable question would be how many more winger type players do we need to allow the 4-3-3 to function for a whole season, we have Navas and Sinclair at a push but we need at least one more out and out winger. Isco or Di Maria look the most likely options.

Silva and Nasri can always do a back up wing job if needed, so I think realistically we just NEED one more offensive player.

Isco please!

What do you mean by that? Do you assume that Pellegrini will play something other than 4-2-2-2 he so much believes in?

Soldado and Negredo are both good shouts. Di Natale playing for anyone but Udinese sounds weird and he is too old. Cassano is HELL NO department. Last thing you want from your 4th striker is him to be a nutter. Didn't he just kick the shit out of his manager? And he wouldn't even suit footballwise because he really isn't the type to play back to goal if needed.

Pelle plays 3 or 4 systems, all variations of the 4-2-2-2. A tight 4-3-3 being one of them, I just reference 4-3-3 as that is the forward thinking youth to first team mantra coming from the club.

We now have a manager who is more tactically flexible than Mancini, all I am suggesting is we need a squad equally as flexible.

We'll see about that. Mancini experimented with some pretty bad set ups like that horrible wingback thing but at least he was willing to change his base line up. Pellegrini is pretty strict 4-2-2-2 man. I don't see how 4-3-3 is variation of that at all.

[Chinners]

Even as a 4th choice striker I trust our owners/manager have their sights set a tad higher than Darren fucking Bent ....

[Blue Blood]

4th striker option is a bit defunct in the new system we will be likely operating, 3 strikers will likely be more than adequate.A more valuable question would be how many more winger type players do we need to allow the 4-3-3 to function for a whole season, we have Navas and Sinclair at a push but we need at least one more out and out winger. Isco or Di Maria look the most likely options.

Silva and Nasri can always do a back up wing job if needed, so I think realistically we just NEED one more offensive player.

Isco please!

What do you mean by that? Do you assume that Pellegrini will play something other than 4-2-2-2 he so much believes in?

Soldado and Negredo are both good shouts. Di Natale playing for anyone but Udinese sounds weird and he is too old. Cassano is HELL NO department. Last thing you want from your 4th striker is him to be a nutter. Didn't he just kick the shit out of his manager? And he wouldn't even suit footballwise because he really isn't the type to play back to goal if needed.

Pelle plays 3 or 4 systems, all variations of the 4-2-2-2. A tight 4-3-3 being one of them, I just reference 4-3-3 as that is the forward thinking youth to first team mantra coming from the club.

We now have a manager who is more tactically flexible than Mancini, all I am suggesting is we need a squad equally as flexible.

We'll see about that. Mancini experimented with some pretty bad set ups like that horrible wingback thing but at least he was willing to change his base line up. Pellegrini is pretty strict 4-2-2-2 man. I don't see how 4-3-3 is variation of that at all.

Well it isn't a variation of the 4-2-2-2 exactly.. but he has played it in the past and if the club is pushing for a 4-3-3 system variant at all levels to be our "style", then i'd imagine he wouldn't be totally against adopting it.

I personally just crave a system which encourages width and a manager who is willing to take a gamble on youth.

Mancini started so well in the bringing through of youth (Boyata) but then sort of gave up on it. I really hope Pelle will give Guidetti a shot to start and bring Suarez, Lopes and Rekik more into the frey this year, even if it is just the odd Carling Cup game!

[Ted Hughes]

Stuart Brennan's take on this is interesting in that he's suggesting that Pellegrini is pretty much building a Barca/Spain style system where the whole lot of them flit about in front of a back 4.

If that is the case, then we wouldn't need a 4th striker, apart from just new blood.

I'm really into attacking football, but I think the Count needs to be careful here. I don't mind taking a bit of time to build an attacking system but most City fans will have the torches & pitchforks out unless it works brilliantly this season.

Anyhow, we have been linked with lots of young strikers, presumably scouted them for ages & I would like us to sign whichever one of those the Count thinks will fit.

[PeterParker]

I would got with Guidetti. He was stellar at Feyenoord, then something went wrong, i think we deserves a change and Pellegrini is the man who will give him that chance.

On other hand, not a "cheap" option, but if Cavani goes to Madrid, Suarez is coming to us.

[MilnersJaw]

It's not through lack of ability though, it's a fitness issue which will hopefully be sorted by the time season starts.

And the fact that Mancini was abit of a cunt. So you really think Mancini would play John even if he was fit.

[Green & Blue]

If looking for a cheap option Arouna Kone at Wigan is not the worst in the world.Strong and quick player.I doubt he will hang around to play championship football.