A Stansfield and Muniz partnership?

[General]

In light of Willian's recent comments believing that Muniz aged 23 is showing all the characteristics of becoming a top PL forward and with Jay fresh off having won every end of season trophy available for his efforts at Birmingham aged 21, is it worth now starting to look at these two as the future of Fulham's forward line and the pairing that could take us to the next step in the league, as a club and in terms of silverware?

Are we looking at having both Brazil's and England's starting strikers on our books?

Do we think they'd compliment each other well?

Could be an exciting future if so.

[Free Elvis Hammond]

24/25: first ever joint winners of the Balon d'Or
25/26: move to Liverpool and Spurs respectively for a combined fee of £6m

[Jim©]

Muniz is now on 1 goal in his last 6 games.

Stansfield has essentially been playing in a League One team.

Both have promise and should be in the squad but we need a starting striker who's nigh on guaranteed to get us 15+ goals per season at this level, and IMO we need to go into the market and spend some money for that.

Firstly, the fact that Stansfield has been playing in a League one team against championship defenders, probably makes his achievement even better?
You could argue that  Muniz has 9 goals in his last 14 games surely, depending on your point of view? Ollie Watkins has 10 (valued at £75m?), Solanke has 5 (values at £35m?), Toney has 3 (valued at £50m), Isaak has 13 (valued at £90m). The truth is if we want a player with similar returns to Muniz, we have to pay over £50m for his and that comes with no guarantee at all.

[JimmyConway]

Technically I think Stansfield will be fine playing in premiership whereas Physical aspect might? be a struggle. Not sure about wide position though? Does he have the vision of Pereira to play in the 10 role? Think he might need to play with vision as opposed to head down type.
Muniz has done very well as we were in a right pickle a couple of months ago when Jiminez was ruled out for a lengthy time but if we are to go up a few notches next season then it's a position we need to strengthen further.  He is still very raw and and the old saying if your good enough whatever age but to get the best out of the team we need a technically gifted forward and let Muniz improve further. It might sound strange to many after he's recent form but if serious about Top 10 then I don't see it currently with him leading the line. Happy if he proves me wrong though!

[btffc]

I think we will see Stansfield as a Pereira sub next season especially when we need a goal. He has an extremely high work rate so he can replace Pereira's role in the press and provide a good goalscoring threat playing off of a number 9. Pereira runs himself ragged every match and pretty much never plays the full 90 so there is a role there for Stansfield to play 15-30 minutes most games as I don't feel moving Iwobi centrally as we have done a lot this season has been very effective.

[Twig]

I think we will see Stansfield as a Pereira sub next season especially when we need a goal. He has an extremely high work rate so he can replace Pereira's role in the press and provide a good goalscoring threat playing off of a number 9. Pereira runs himself ragged every match and pretty much never plays the full 90 so there is a role there for Stansfield to play 15-30 minutes most games as I don't feel moving Iwobi centrally as we have done a lot this season has been very effective.

That's pretty much how I see it. And if this partnership thrives in the early part of the season then it could provide Marco with an alternative starting option as the season progresses.

[Surlyc]

Muniz is now on 1 goal in his last 6 games.

Stansfield has essentially been playing in a League One team.

Both have promise and should be in the squad but we need a starting striker who's nigh on guaranteed to get us 15+ goals per season at this level, and IMO we need to go into the market and spend some money for that.

This is quite some take on a striker with 9 goals in 14 games.

We've had 2 strikers get to 15 goals in the PL, ever. In the last 10 PL seasons, only twice have 10 players got to 15 goals. What you're asking for costs £50m minimum with absolutely no "guarantee" of actually delivering 15+ goals.

[filham]

Possible that Muniz and Stan Stansfield could come good next season, wouldn't it be just great having a couple of yougsters like that on goalscoring form.
Something to dream about through the summer.

[BestOfBrede]

Would be fantastic, but in reality if they come good then they get bought by some, "so called", big team!

[LC]

Would be fantastic, but in reality if they come good then they get bought by some, "so called", big team!

Sure they can come knocking but both are under long contracts so we'll depend big money

[Drewry66]

Interesting comments on here. I agree that Stansfield will likely be used in a 10 or possibly off the wing when used. I doubt we'll see him as a loan striker much if at all as our system needs a 9 that can hold the ball up. I think he could do very well in the 10 or on the wing with Muniz. In either he will run in behind unlike our current attacking players around Muniz and he can actually finish as well! Saw a stat yesterday that he was one of the best defensive pressers for an attacker in the champ so can match AP for that. 

I watched 4 or 5 Birmingham games this year and my feeling was that he went missing for a lot of the game. Caveat that however with the fact Birmingham were dreadful and supply to him was awful. Physicality is a concern as well but less so if on the wing or in the 10. My feeling was prob one more loan to a top champ side or low prem side. Think however changed my mind on that. Only a small sample and reading what the Birmingham fans are saying who watched every game and seeing him pick up every one of their awards is incredibly positive. His goal record wasn't ridiculous the last two years but has improved year on year and that is with stepping up a level. One big thing to say is when he gets a chance my god can the kid finish. Pretty much all his goals for Birmingham just looked ridiculously clinical.

If he can perform and Muniz continues to play well we have saved ourselves a fortune. Lads on the Fulhamish podcast were saying they'd accept £30 million if it was offered for Muniz just in case all the promise showed this year never came good the next few. I understand the sentiment but I wouldn't. He has the potential to be a 20 goal a season striker. As others have said you are paying £50 million plus for that with no guarantees. Look at Beto for £25 and wasn't Hojland £60 and I'd say Muniz has looked at least as good if not better.

I would however like to see a striker brought in to compete with Muniz. As I say I doubt Stansfield will play as a loan 9 in our system. Raul did brilliantly middle of the season but with his age and lack of scoring around that I'd sell and take a punt on someone around the £20 to £25 million mark if we have the funds.

All in all it would be so amazing to see Jay do well alongside Muniz. I know Muniz isn't really 'one of our own' having joined late but he feels like it. To have 'two of our own' banging goals in for Fulham in the prem is just too exciting to contemplate!

[LittleErn]

I think Muniz is more of a poacher than a target man. He needs us to be getting forward in numbers to be effective. I have often wondered why we haven't tried two up front. Maybe that will be Muniz and Stansfield next season, but it seems that Marco doesn't favour it and he knows more than I ever will.