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Joshua Zirkzee Netherlands flag

2024-25 Performances

View full 2024-25 profile

4.9 Season Average Rating
Appearances
38
Goals
5
Assists
2
Yellow cards
1
dcrompton said:
Zirkzee is 23 and I remember another 23 year old striker being in a similar position, both in terms of criticism and the same part of the same pitch

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Wow the memories.

The funny thing here is that Forlan's shot was straight at Dudek, who wasn't a great keeper by any means (and in the same game gifted Forlan his first goal) whilst Zirkzee was against Alison, one of the best 1 vs 1 keepers.

I wouldn't have blamed Zirkzee for shooting but I know if he had missed, the narrative here would be 'why did he square across the 6 yard box for an easier chance?!'.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
It’s a shame he’s so slow and struggling with the pace/ intensity of the PL because we actually could really use a Martial / Berbatov type talent in terms of technical ability. There was this one pass he drilled cross field I think to Dalot and there’s nobody in the team who would hit it like he did allowing the recipient to run on to it. He does little things like that in the buildup when he’s on it that tells me that there’s an exciting player in there - the question is whether that’s one only meant to shine in slower leagues or he can somehow make the step up.

Amorim’s comments tell me it’s the former as generally a manager doesn’t say that unless the player looks defeated.
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The thing is that his current problem is similar to Hojlund's. We see a glimpse of this and then a glimpse of that, but there doesn't seem to actually be something there to build upon. Martial, when he first came here, could take defenders on/finish while running with the ball and dribble his way out of a tight space. Berbatov's first touch was one of the best the sport has ever seen. Moreover - and leaving his attitude aside for a moment - people often remember his "style" more than the fact that he didn't have issues coping with the particularities of PL football. He has to help himself first and foremost.
 
Could an alternative timeline happen where the manager, players and fans rally behind him and he finishes the season with us and steadily improves?

I think to sign Osimhen now would be prohibitive as we need to pay Napoli and Gala.
Gyokeres is more a summer signing.
Kolo Muani would bring all the same issues as Zirkzee with 6 less months of experience.
 
He had 38% passing accuracy vs Liverpool. It was better than his 33% passing accuracy vs Newcastle.
 
dcrompton said:
The maddest take on the Maguire miss was on the Guardian podcast where Barry Glendenning said Maguire should have dummied it for Garnacho!

I think the pass was the right play but part of me wants a striker who would back themselves to bang it in the top corner in last minute away to your rivals, especially the game after being subbed off before half time.
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The pass was the right play, but the quality of the pass was awful.
 
Young ish player struggles in a struggling team at a club in the middle of massive change. We’ve been saying the glazers need to trust the scouts, grab promising players earlier before they move to an established big club. This is it. Seria A young player of the year signed relatively cheap. A project. Will he work out? Who knows.

I do know we need to wait longer than half a season before writing someone off totally or thinking they are the be all and end all. We’ve seen it so many times. He’s slow but he doesn’t need to be fast if his job is to play in the hole. I think the manager rotating the forwards hoping one of them shows him something is to their detriment currently but I can understand it. Zirkzee is a better footballer than Rasmus on the ball. Rasmus can develop into a speedy battering ram that can cause chaos but he’s also low on confidence. It’s confusing at the minute but I think with some patience, this season is already a write off, a few more of these players will fully settle and start showing their best once they start getting the manager and teammates trust and they figure out how to find each other better on the pitch. Chemistry is rarely instant. I’d reevaluate this time next year if it was me. I feel like the established players could still be doing a lot more to take the pressure off the younger lads.
 
He was supposed to be the gamble big club make with youth signings from abroad. I think he was signed as rotational option. Then marcus did marcus things and then here we are.
 
Nice as that winner would have been, we are overanalysing this passing or shooting and pass execution. Tough luck, shit happens all the time. Move on.

The key issue here is whether he has it in him to up the intensity, or we are stuck with the lackadaisical wankfest he has been serving up. And by intensity I don't just mean physical and mental, but also the ensuing speed you need to be making decisions at.

I can't see it myself at all and would ship him out in this window already, but the manager knows and sees a lot more than we do so let's see how this pans out. I was certainly surprised he brought him on at all in that game and context, so there's that.
 
JE-365 said:
The pass was the right play, but the quality of the pass was awful.
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This is actually a rarity in our squad. One of the main issues I've seen with the team in recent years has been that the individuals have the ability but not the 'football IQ' to know which is the right pass/play to make.

If Zirkzee can shore up his passing and shooting while maintaining the ability to make the right decisions, I do think there is a player in there but, as others have said, it's difficult for him to do this when he's been thrown in at the deep end a little with the Rashford situation and Hojlund's form not being great.
 
Ayoba said:
This reminds me of a debate Lineker and Shearer were having about a situation similar to the one Zirkzee found himself in today. The question was asked as to whether you would pass to a player who maybe was in a better position to score than you and Lineker said no, he would always go for the shot because if he didnt, there's more of a chance of things going wrong, i.e the pass might be bad or the other player gets the shot wrong, etc.

We saw exactly that happen today. But I think a confident Zirzkee would've gone for the shot.
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Test the keeper. Age old rule. Also think every premier League even championship striker should be scoring from that chance and angle 9/10 times.
 
I think the right comparison is with Berbatov who many on here claimed was "too slow" and "lazy" back in the day.

However, the challenge with that is Berbatov came to the EPL at 25 (a massive difference). Then he had 2-3 years at Tottenham to get used to the EPL before coming here. Back then, Spurs was in a place where -outside of wishful fans- he had time to adapt, the pressures weren't there like they are today at United where fans, media, owners, coaches, etc are all hoping to show everyone...hope.

Frankly, if we believe he's the next Berbatov, the only way he becomes that at United is if we loan him to a smaller EPL team where he's guaranteed time with lower pressure. Otherwise, at this rate, we'll break his mentality so much he'll end up being transferred to the Greek league. Sadly, we're not in a position where we can spend so much to just loan out a player-as-a-project.

Garnacho is someone who is still a project but who's contributing as he's developing. I don't see that from Zirkzee at this point, in our weakest position.

For that reason, and even understanding he could become a top tier player, we have to sell him if we think he needs up to two seasons to catch up to the speed of the game. Now is more important than "then" for a player who can't contribute today.
 
AkaAkuma said:
Could an alternative timeline happen where the manager, players and fans rally behind him and he finishes the season with us and steadily improves?

I think to sign Osimhen now would be prohibitive as we need to pay Napoli and Gala.
Gyokeres is more a summer signing.
Kolo Muani would bring all the same issues as Zirkzee with 6 less months of experience.
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I think it's possible by being here the penny drops for the first time in his career. He starts to understand what being a proper footballer requires. As opposed to a 5 a side player.

Because to me he looks a player that's been let down by his youth coaches. It's like the important basic lessons have been skipped.

If he'd come up via Eric Harrison no way he ends up this player.
 
Good performance when he came on and got the winning penalty. Delighted for him.
 
Made of some stuff to stick away that last penalty the way he did given the pressure he's been under. Get in lad!
 
I thought he played well but most importantly what a turnaround after the last couple of weeks.
 
Very good performance in general today. Some nice hold up play, nice dribbles, winning penalty. So happy for him.
 
I personally find him much more interesting and fun to watch than Hojlund.

We obviously need another striker but i really like what this guys offers as something different in the squad.
 
Did well in his comeback after his rock bottom moment and I think scoring the penalty to secure the win will be a big boost to him going forward. Just follow it up with the same
 
Yes lad.

His reaction to the booing has been perfect and today he was a proper warrior, fighting for everything.
 
Credit for taking responsibility and scoring the final pen. I still don’t think he’s anywhere near the quality required and he didn’t shine tonight but hopefully, this gives him a little confidence.
 
If you sell him you make a tremendous mistake. He crearly is a great talent and he must only adjust to a new league.
 
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