[Grande]

He was poor for his standards as he had quite a few misplaced passes and dribbles. However, the context is that he was coming deep almost right next to Yoro because we weren't progressing the ball at all due to Southampton's high press and it was his close control, hesitations and feints that helped alleviate the pressure. Once again we played our most progressive player the furthest back to accommodate players like Garnacho. Anytime he had the ball in the first half past the halfway line, he pushed them with his dribbling.



He doesn't have a lot of off the ball movement into the final third because generally speaking we need him on the ball and tbh I wouldn't trust a Bruno or Garnacho lofted ball into box i.e it would lead to a counter attack. When the time calls for it, he's in the box but there's no point moving if your team mates on the ball are looking for obvious options. In the first half, the majority of the time he was near his own penalty box in his own half surrounded by Southampton as they were pressing our entire team. He didn't have a great game by any means during that period but expecting him to have movement when the team wasn't holding onto the ball it in the first half and then when the team needed passing options in the second half is looking it at wrong.

Yea, agree he wasn’t very effective early on and also the reasons why, as you mention. What was interesting to me was how he didn’t really improve when Antony came on, but when Antony and him switched places, he just exploded. Part of why it’s curious is that he has been more effective really as WB than as a no 10 under Amorim so far IMO - except for when Antony have played WB behind him.

Probably mostly coincidental, but I noticed how De Ligt after the game gave credit to Antony for ‘accepting to play WB’, which to me sounds like he has been hestitant to do it up til now, even though Antony behind Amad looks a million times more logical and promising to me than the other way around.

 

[criticalanalysis]

Yea, agree he wasn’t very effective early on and also the reasons why, as you mention. What was interesting to me was how he didn’t really improve when Antony came on, but when Antony and him switched places, he just exploded. Part of why it’s curious is that he has been more effective really as WB than as a no 10 under Amorim so far IMO - except for when Antony have played WB behind him.

Probably mostly coincidental, but I noticed how De Ligt after the game gave credit to Antony for ‘accepting to play WB’, which to me sounds like he has been hestitant to do it up til now, even though Antony behind Amad looks a million times more logical and promising to me than the other way around.

I think Amad has been most effective when he's not deep in his own half. It doesn't really matter whether that's at RWB or in the 10 but the context is that Amad is a sensible player and will very often do the right thing. This means he will always support the player behind him (as you should) and give them an easy pass. Our centre backs aren't that comfortable playing a higher line (even when Maz is at the RCB) so when Amad plays RWB, he will naturally be very deep.

The calls of him to play the 10 is because we shouldn't be accommodating players like Garnacho (in the 10) position to play Amad further back. In Bruno and Hojlund, we already have 2 bad hold up players, adding Garnacho to that list means we have Amad stuck in his own half trying to progress the ball but then rarely ever seeing it himself in the opposition half because it's such a struggle to keep it there.

Also Antony came on in as the 10 and from my memory didn't really change his position (which was high up the pitch) much. I don't think there was much of a swap but rather our whole team throwing caution to the wind to get the equaliser/winner and Amad just staying really high/wide and leaving Yoro to deal with Sulemana.

Amad's best performances as RWB came against the likes of Leicester and Everton so not sure why there's narrative of him being better there. It's nonsensical. Check the threadmarks and comments. There's always a recurring theme of 'we should have got Amad on the ball more'.

Agreed though that we should have seen more of Antony at RWB behind Amad.

 

[Shaw's Shank Redemption]

I think Amad has been most effective when he's not deep in his own half. It doesn't really matter whether that's at RWB or in the 10 but the context is that Amad is a sensible player and will very often do the right thing. This means he will always support the player behind him (as you should) and give them an easy pass. Our centre backs aren't that comfortable playing a higher line (even when Maz is at the RCB) so when Amad plays RWB, he will naturally be very deep.

The calls of him to play the 10 is because we shouldn't be accommodating players like Garnacho (in the 10) position to play Amad further back. In Bruno and Hojlund, we already have 2 bad hold up players, adding Garnacho to that list means we have Amad stuck in his own half trying to progress the ball but then rarely ever seeing it himself in the opposition half because it's such a struggle to keep it there.

Also Antony came on in as the 10 and from my memory didn't really change his position (which was high up the pitch) much. I don't think there was much of a swap but rather our whole team throwing caution to the wind to get the equaliser/winner and Amad just staying really high/wide and leaving Yoro to deal with Sulemana.

Amad's best performances as RWB came against the likes of Leicester and Everton so not sure why there's narrative of him being better there. It's nonsensical. Check the threadmarks and comments. There's always a recurring theme of 'we should have got Amad on the ball more'.

Agreed though that we should have seen more of Antony at RWB behind Amad.

Amorim used Antony at RW purposely to try and create more space for Amad to get on the ball.

Bruno and eriksen added creativity and as we saw Amad would have more time and space because Antony was occupying the RW position.

We ended up having Bruno, Zirkzee, Garnacho , Antony, Eriksen and Amad in our team which is 6 attacking players compared to the first half where we had 8 defensive players in the first XI

 

[343]

His movement for his second goal - to keep running so that Eriksen could return the pass - why can't more of our attacking players do that? He seems to be the only dynamic forward we have.

 

[MileStolar]

He's the one. When is the last time we've had a hattrick??

Kagawa vs Norwich

 

[Nep77]

In an ideal scenario, he would play as a right winger, eliminating the need to debate his effectiveness as a number 10 or a wing-back.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

ETH is a fraud.

So proud of the lad. Even named my fantasy team after him at the start of the season.

 

[berbatrick]

He's the one. When is the last time we've had a hattrick??

I think Ronaldo had one against Spurs? Didn't remember it at all though.
Rashford had one off the bench in a CL group game, all counter attacking goals. And Martial had one in a covid lockdown game, included a very nice chip.

E - all were under Ole

 

[dazjoe]

I think Ronaldo had one against Spurs? Didn't remember it at all though.
Rashford had one off the bench in a CL group game, all counter attacking goals. And Martial had one in a covid lockdown game, included a very nice chip.

Ronaldo vs Norwich I believe. 2022

 

[Ibi Dreams]

Will teams ever learn that he's a pressing god?

I don't think I've ever seen a player get so many goals by just stealing the ball from a centre back

 

[tenpoless]

Not even joking I don't think there is a single player in world football with a better work rate than this guy.

Have you ever seen someone create and score so many goals from just pressing and playing at a higher intensity than everyone else on the pitch.

It's honestly unbelievable. And that's before you also consider he has an extremely high level technically as well.

Yeah. I feel so lucky we have him. Perfect for the system. Would cost us silly money like 80-100m if we are to sign him from other clubs.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

Not even joking I don't think there is a single player in world football with a better work rate than this guy.

Have you ever seen someone create and score so many goals from just pressing and playing at a higher intensity than everyone else on the pitch.

It's honestly unbelievable. And that's before you also consider he has an extremely high level technically as well.

Mane used to do it alot from memory. So happy to have our very own younger version.

 

[CG1010]

In an ideal scenario, he would play as a right winger, eliminating the need to debate his effectiveness as a number 10 or a wing-back.

Arguably he is better as a bit more inside as #10 than as a pure right winger. It allows him to mix it up.

 

[tenpoless]

Will teams ever learn that he's a pressing god?

I don't think I've ever seen a player get so many goals by just stealing the ball from a centre back

He's faster and stronger than he looks. I guess that makes it harder to play against him, because there's always more than what you can see that he's capable of. If I look at someone like Adama runs, yes he's fast, but you can tell he put all his efforts to achieve it. Other players run till their faces turn red.

Amad often looks like he's just running casually but gets to the player he's pressing very quickly. How did he get the third goal I have no idea, he got to the ball very quickly at 90th+ minute. His penalty the other day is another example. You look at him standing there and thought it's just gonna be one of those standard penalty but he actually hit a thunderbolt.

 

[Xeque_279]

What a brilliant player, just so talented on the ball. Every time he had the ball on the edge of their box, it looked like he could create something, double and even triple teaming him was no use.
Has to continue playing as the right 10, build the rest around him.

The last goal just sums him up, game in the bag, there was no requirement to press, but he just goes for it. Love him.

 

[sillwuka]

His 1 on 1 ability and close dribbling is sublime.

 

[Lj82]

What a wonderful player he is! Came here as a youngster known for his ability on the ball. But what really impresses me is his tenacity and workrate. Sounds humble and very grounded too.

 

[erikcred]

He's faster and stronger than he looks. I guess that makes it harder to play against him, because there's always more than what you can see that he's capable of. If I look at someone like Adama runs, yes he's fast, but you can tell he put all his efforts to achieve it. Other players run till their faces turn red.

Amad often looks like he's just running casually but gets to the player he's pressing very quickly. How did he get the third goal I have no idea, he got to the ball very quickly at 90th+ minute. His penalty the other day is another example. You look at him standing there and thought it's just gonna be one of those standard penalty but he actually hit a thunderbolt.

Definitely.

Incredible that among all the dross we signed, we've stumbled upon this gem.

 

[Borussia Teeth]

Was just about to post that myself, or 11 if Zirkzee goes.

Or 10 when Rashford goes

 

[Toshey]

I imagine ETH screaming at the TV
"Shit Omari Forson, you're just a shit Omari Forson!"

 

[Borussia Teeth]

He was never hard working.

He worked hard under LvG and early José period

 

[Insanity]

What a player!

Another of 'Aggy masterstrokes in giving Antony and Forson games ahead of him. Amad probably could have kept him in the job if he got the chances he deserved.

 

[FrankWhite]

Didn't realise Ocho was a football fan let alone a United one.

 

[CM]

Insane that Ten Hag chose to play players like Forson and Mazraoui ahead of him

 

[Real Name]

He really is special, isn't he.

 

[Champ]

Ah yeah, you're the Amad agenda guy. Hope you enjoyed that buddy.

What, seeing a player score a hat trick at Old Trafford, yes I enjoyed it immensely, obviously more than you whose first thought was to try and get some cheap kicks online!

His attitude was the deciding factor in his performance today, wasn't a great performance all round but he kept going and got his just rewards, great to see.

Interesting comments from Amorim on Amad after the game though, pretty much summing up what I've been saying all along, but of course I have an agenda and Amorim doesn't...or something like that.

 

[Gazautd18]

Bingo.

He's not even really started to cut in and score with his left foot yet for us which he did at Sunderland. I understand that was a level down but he's got every tool imaginable.

Always remember that goal from think it was a free kick from outside the box that he scored.
Thought "just bring him back now!"

 

[sglowrider]

We had better get a plan B as a backup for Amad in case he gets some soft tissue injury. His game time needs to be managed.

But we cant afford not to play him at the moment.

 

[Champ]

When did Saka score a hattrick for Arsenal in the league?

Seriously?!
Saka has been consistently good in the league for seasons now, comments like this are just pointless baiting.

 

[crossy1686]

Insane that Ten Hag chose to play players like Forson and Mazraoui ahead of him

And he was rightly fired.

 

[ThanksBoss26]

Talented, works hard and generally makes the right decision with the ball. There’s a lot to like and hopefully he can get even better.

His confidence must be sky high after last night.

Only noticed this morning he went into the crowd to celebrate the second goal. Understandable but I’m very glad he didn’t get a second yellow card for it!

 

[RuudTom83]

He is having his best season as a professional for sure. His form will take a dip eventually so let’s just enjoy his current form while it lasts.

A hat-trick is always special, doing one in 12 minutes extra special. Not as good as Ole’s or as fast! but still wonderful to watch.

Amad’s trademark seems to be stealing the ball of cb’s haha. When will they learn?

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Woke up this morning and I can confirm, this kid is still the man.

 

[Solius]

Mane used to do it alot from memory. So happy to have our very own younger version.

This is a good comparison.

 

[Hammondo]

His movement for his second goal - to keep running so that Eriksen could return the pass - why can't more of our attacking players do that? He seems to be the only dynamic forward we have.

We don't have many players who can do that pass.

 

[ThanksBoss26]

He is having his best season as a professional for sure. His form will take a dip eventually so let’s just enjoy his current form while it lasts.

A hat-trick is always special, doing one in 12 minutes extra special. Not as good as Ole’s or as fast! but still wonderful to watch.

Amad’s trademark seems to be stealing the ball of cb’s haha. When will they learn?

I wish some of our other players would consistently press like him in the opposition defensive third and they might get the same reward.

Still feels very half hearted and lacking conviction for the most part when others do it.

 

[Lee565]

His third sums him up for us, relentless.

How.many times this season has his pressing the defenders and keeper crested a goal.for us!

 

[Robertd0803]

Thank Christ we have him.

 

[Hammondo]

He worked hard under LvG and early José period

No he barely did the minimum.

 

[AdNani]

It's refreshing to see such a technical player who works like he's the least talented player in the squad.

Also nearly every time he gets the ball as the RWB he is looking to do something positive, he looks very good in the two 10's, but I think his best performances this season have come as a Wing back.