We need another player to share the creativity burden with Coutinho and any one of Eriksen, Dzagoev, Belhanda, Mertens or Gaitan could do the business for 15m. The rest of the 25m should go to a goal scoring target man like Benteke, Damiao or Jovetic. Alternatively a cheaper option up front could be a stopgap measure from Villa, Kiessling or even Lambert.
Sturridge's style of play I feel has yet to mature for him to be seriously considered our No.1 frontman esp if 4-2-3-1 is our preferred formation going forward. Until that happens, he will get his usual streak of goals but our team-play will suffer with the hold up play of the frontman crucial in this formation. Yes, he's slippery on the turn but his hold up play and finding the right ball out could be better. He reminds me a bit of Van Persie during his transitional days post Henry/Bergkamp moving from his preferred postion of second striker to sole frontman, tecnically sound but with the tendency to showboat this aspect and slow down the play. Fast forward to his final two seasons with Arsenal and the past one with Utd, RVP's movement and touches on the ball has become so efficient and decisive.
Sturridge's style of play I feel has yet to mature for him to be seriously considered our No.1 frontman esp if 4-2-3-1 is our preferred formation going forward. Until that happens, he will get his usual streak of goals but our team-play will suffer with the hold up play of the frontman crucial in this formation. Yes, he's slippery on the turn but his hold up play and finding the right ball out could be better. He reminds me a bit of Van Persie during his transitional days post Henry/Bergkamp moving from his preferred postion of second striker to sole frontman, tecnically sound but with the tendency to showboat this aspect and slow down the play. Fast forward to his final two seasons with Arsenal and the past one with Utd, RVP's movement and touches on the ball has become so efficient and decisive.
