Godwin Odiko: Why Ruben Amorim needs to get in a proper goalscorer before the end of the January transfer window

 

Welcome to my weekly column on notable happenings in the world of football across the globe.

Why Ruben Amorim needs to get in a proper goalscorer before the end of the January transfer window 

Manchester United's loss to Crystal Palace would have been clearly avoided if Ruben Amorim has got a proper and clinical finisher up top. The Portuguese tactician chose to play Kobbie Mainoo as a false number nine while benching his two out-and-out strikers in Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. To me, I believe he did that to send a clear message to the Manchester United hierarchy that he needs a striker before the end of the transfer window.

And to be honest, Manchester United played one of their best football in the first half with Mainoo coming close to opening the score after his shot canon off the upright. The fact the Red Devils lost despite a spirited performance simply highlights the dire need for a clinical out-and-out striker. Crystal Palace didn't win because they deserve to win to be honest but they won because they have got a clinical finisher in Mateta. The 27-year-old France international showed what Manchester United is lacking playing without a proper finisher. 

The transfer window closes today being Monday and if Manchester United fails to bring in a proper goalscorer for Ruben Amorim, the fans might as well forget about any trophy this season. The need for a goal-poacher at Old Trafford simply can't be overemphasized.

Pep Guardiola is paying for his mistake 

The Spanish tactician should have stepped aside at the end of last season after securing Manchester City their fourth title in a row, but he insisted went on to extend his contact which has now proven to be a costly mistake. The popular saying goes, "It's always proper to leave when the ovation is loudest." Legendary managers like Sir Alex Ferguson and Jurgen Klopp deployed this system and it payed off. So Pep extending his contract at the end of last season has now proven to be a very costly mistake as he might leave the Etihad with reproach and shame.

The NFF and the Super Eagles have got to snatch 'big' talent Ethan Nwaneri from England before it becomes too late

The NFF are notorious for leaving things late when it comes to snatching quality young talents from European countries and if they fail to act quickly on Ethan Nwaneri, it's once again going to be a great loss on our part as a country. The youngster has shown so far this season that there is a star in him, and if well nurtured, he can grow up to be a top star of the game. 

Now that England have better options in Ethan Nwaneri's position in the team, the NFF hierarchy have got to act quickly and get the 17-year-old wonderkid to switch allegiance. The faster we act, the better for us. It will be painful if we lose such a talent that will really improve the Super Eagles to an already star-studded England side.