I wouldn't actually mind seeing Macheda in a Toon shirt... he few times he has been giving playing time at Man United, he looked decent. More so then some of our own strikers we currently have.
Yea, we are desperately short on strikers. The sell of Carroll was hard to take, he was our number 9!
We did get a striker in after the sell of Carroll... we somehow managed to beat numerous clubs and capture a massive legend.. Shefki Kuqi.
We currently have no real goal threat... I cant believe i'm saying this... but Shola Ameobi is our number one striker, yet he ALWAY gets hurt. Peter Lovenkrands is not a center forward, he does a decent job of running around and pputting pressure on the oposition. Nile Ranger is a rookie and anything he does this season is learning experience.
Now on to Man United...
Like I said before, creativity is one what they have been lacking in the middle of the pitch. Sholes looked to have been feeling the void on the first half of the season.. but now just gone bonkers. Lol.
To be quite honest, I dont think Rafael would work in Man United... granted he is top class and like you pointed out, a game changer. Isn't he more of a second striker then a midfielder?. Rooney fills that spot behind the main striker, plus Rooney can go wide at time and so can Hernandez. When Rooney is the main centre forward, you have Berbatov to play behind him. Just my opinion...