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Joshua Zirkzee Netherlands flag

2024-25 Performances


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4.8 Season Average Rating
Appearances
30
Goals
4
Assists
2
Yellow cards
1
Changed the game for us. He's guarding of the ball and hold up is very good and with the lack of those qualities with Hojlund he really imposed himself and we looked more dangerous as the 2nd half went on. He seems to be adapting to the PL with the way he plays and works. Deserves a start on Sunday really.
 
I think the Newcastle game, followed by Arsenal, has made him stronger mentally. He was good yesterday and changed the game. He was going strong on duels and his hold up game helped us alot.
 
So seems the tough love gave him a bit of a kick up the backside. Almost as if the snowflake meltdown over the Newcastle incident was an overreaction.

I would describe that performance as a Nicolas Jackson performance. Ugly but very effective.
 
Looked fine and the type of striker that could work in this system. But needs to start scoring too. We can't rely on the wide players to score all the goals. Mainoo/Ugarte aren't going to get us many either.
 
So seems the tough love gave him a bit of a kick up the backside. Almost as if the snowflake meltdown over the Newcastle incident was an overreaction.

I would describe that performance as a Nicolas Jackson performance. Ugly but very effective.

It wasn’t an overreaction, it was shit from a certain section of the fanbase who took out their frustrations on one player.
 
It wasn’t an overreaction, it was shit from a certain section of the fanbase who took out their frustrations on one player.
It was 100% an overreaction from the whingebags without question. Especially as how it was very predictable that our game going fans were going to lose their shit at some point. You can’t be man united and be 15th in the table and lose 75 home games in a row and expect that nobody is gonna lose their shit at some point.
Zirkzee was unlucky that it was him but he was the worse player in that half so became the target.
Thankfully he didn’t go on the internet and cry about it or tell everyone what a horrible fanbase we have. Instead he cracked on. Got two great receptions at Arsenal and Liverpool and has now bucked up his performances. Job well done I’d say.
 
It was 100% an overreaction from the whingebags without question. Especially as how it was very predictable that our game going fans were going to lose their shit at some point. You can’t be man united and be 15th in the table and lose 75 home games in a row and expect that nobody is gonna lose their shit at some point.
Zirkzee was unlucky that it was him but he was the worse player in that half so became the target.
Thankfully he didn’t go on the internet and cry about it or tell everyone what a horrible fanbase we have. Instead he cracked on. Got two great receptions at Arsenal and Liverpool and has now bucked up his performances. Job well done I’d say.

He wasn’t the worst player in that half. Casemiro was worse. And it was a pathetic reaction from (some of) our fans. On the plus side, it was very definitely only a minority. And our always excellent away fans reminded him how good our fans can be in the subsequent games. It was almost certainly the love he felt from those fans that turned things round for him. Nothing to do with the shit he got at Old Trafford.
 
He wasn’t the worst player in that half. Casemiro was worse. And it was a pathetic reaction from (some of) our fans. On the plus side, it was very definitely only a minority. And our always excellent away fans reminded him how good our fans can be in the subsequent games. It was almost certainly the love he felt from those fans that turned things round for him. Nothing to do with the shit he got at Old Trafford.
He was shite either way and had been shite pretty much every other game.
I don’t go to old Trafford every weekend so I wouldn’t take up the stance of criticising the section of our fans who turn up every week who chose to react the way they did in that instance.
It was out of character and clearly a build up of frustration and I said it would happen pre match so it did not surprise me in the slightest. Maybe it surprised others ?
These fans have applauded these players off after multiple 0-3 home losses.
I can’t start giving them a hard time cos they -sarcastically cheered a rubbish player being subbed off one time -as we were about to lose our 4th home game in a row and drop to 15th place in the table.

Don’t entirely agree with the bold bit. You can’t really separate the two. It’s easy to make an argument either reaction changed his mindset but the obvious thing would be that both did as I’ve attested to. He didn’t react to the jeers as the fanbase did- in the sense he didn’t turn it into a big dramatic thing.
He didn’t post things on social media as many many players would have done (Rashford). Just got on with it…And I’d add that there are still people in modern society who are able to take brutal personal criticism on the chin and use it as fuel. The way you’re talking there is as if everyone is the same.
 
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People say he should start scoring and of course that is true, but it shouldn’t be overlooked that he set up Amad for the 1-0, and him and Amad pressing made the defender lose the ball on the 3-0

I think he is adjusting to the speed and intensity of the league, but the way the ball was plucked from his feet when he got to the box on a few occasions shows he’s clearly still got some work to do. Considering how he may be adjusting, I think there’s hope for him.

But of course let’s see how he’ll do from the start. Hopefully against Brighton. Will be much tougher opposition than what Southampton brought today, so big test for him
 
People say he should start scoring and of course that is true, but it shouldn’t be overlooked that he set up Amad for the 1-0, and him and Amad pressing made the defender lose the ball on the 3-0

I think he is adjusting to the speed and intensity of the league, but the way the ball was plucked from his feet when he got to the box on a few occasions shows he’s clearly still got some work to do. Considering how he may be adjusting, I think there’s hope for him.

But of course let’s see how he’ll do from the start. Hopefully against Brighton. Will be much tougher opposition than what Southampton brought today, so big test for him
Oi, a Feyenoorder, someone promote this guy.

We need more Arne Slot fans.
 
People say he should start scoring and of course that is true, but it shouldn’t be overlooked that he set up Amad for the 1-0, and him and Amad pressing made the defender lose the ball on the 3-0

I think he is adjusting to the speed and intensity of the league, but the way the ball was plucked from his feet when he got to the box on a few occasions shows he’s clearly still got some work to do. Considering how he may be adjusting, I think there’s hope for him.

But of course let’s see how he’ll do from the start. Hopefully against Brighton. Will be much tougher opposition than what Southampton brought today, so big test for him

This is why I would actually like to see him given a chance as a 10 next to Bruno, with a striker up top, preferably Gyokeres. Long term I think this is where he could be very useful for us.
 
Zirkzee has more in his locker than Hoijund. Amorim needs to start Zirkzee and sit Hoijund's ass down. I cannot see the potential in Hoijund. Hand down that Zirkzee to start.
 
Seems like a fine player who seems to like to play from outside the box. Can carry the ball reasonably well. However, his best games are coming off the bench.

Edit. I'm saying this after being very critical of him. But he's by far away from ever being a start 11 quality player.
 
Zirkzee played well when he came on but I think he benefited from the Southampton players being tired. He was crucial in the goals by picking up pockets of space between their defence and midfield and he was able to link up very well.

I also think he benefited from coming Hojlund’s opposite play style, Southampton defenders were used to the striker pushing up against the last man.

Guarantee he’ll start Sunday and be rubbish
 
People say he should start scoring and of course that is true, but it shouldn’t be overlooked that he set up Amad for the 1-0, and him and Amad pressing made the defender lose the ball on the 3-0

I think he is adjusting to the speed and intensity of the league, but the way the ball was plucked from his feet when he got to the box on a few occasions shows he’s clearly still got some work to do. Considering how he may be adjusting, I think there’s hope for him.

But of course let’s see how he’ll do from the start. Hopefully against Brighton. Will be much tougher opposition than what Southampton brought today, so big test for him
Second paragraph is bang on I think. Not sure if it was just to being a sub, but when he came on he looked happier to press and looked like he had the urgency he will need to succeed here.
 
Oi, a Feyenoorder, someone promote this guy.

We need more Arne Slot fans.
He’s dearly missed in Rotterdam

This is why I would actually like to see him given a chance as a 10 next to Bruno, with a striker up top, preferably Gyokeres. Long term I think this is where he could be very useful for us.
In theory I’d think so too but every time he played as a 10 he cocked up

I think he’s better as a 9 where he has runners like Amad, Garnacho and to a lesser extend Bruno and Antony around him
 
So people will hate this but here it goes.

ZZ i believe is one of the most technically gifted players we have at the club. If this was FM he'd be hitting high 'teens in vision, technique, passing, off the ball, anticipation, even ball control and dribbling.
I'd argue given how he was treated a couple of weeks back, it also shows strength of character to come back and play and play the way he does so soon.

He is a big fella, seems to have good work-rates, has some strength, BUT, he is slow AF - i'm concerned that at this stage and going forward he wont turn into a beast of an athlete so we probably see the pace / acceleration he will retain going forward.
His shooting also seems a bit off - he seems to be going for placement rather than power most of the times and whilst that is an indication of a technically gifted lad, sometimes i'm like just brother just thundercnut the ball in the net ?

I think between Hojdlung and ZZ, ZZ will go to have a better career. Is this going to be a career at UTD? I dont know. A loan could be an okay move for him but not for UTD - we have no cover.

People need to relax a bit - he wasnt as bad as we made him look, and yesterday was a good example of what he can do given time.
 
I won't be surprised to see JZ start on Sunday, play completely shit, and be replaced on 60 mins by Hojlund... who falls over a lot, makes the wrongs runs, but inadvertently gets involved in setting up a late winner.

Then we'll be back to JZ brings nothing and Hojlund can make things happen.

Both are mediocre at best. Both are inconsistent. Neither can be trusted to lead the line, create or score.
 
Changed the game yesterday - not everything he does comes off but he's calm and he's clever.

He'll frustrate the life out of us with his laconic style and his insistence on generally taking the hardest option in any given scenario, but he's a miles better option than Hojlund right now.
 
Changed the game yesterday - not everything he does comes off but he's calm and he's clever.

He'll frustrate the life out of us with his laconic style and his insistence on generally taking the hardest option in any given scenario, but he's a miles better option than Hojlund right now.
Certainly a bit of Berbatov about him in that regard
 
Watching him in action in Old Trafford yesterday I was surprised with his skill set and a big unit of a fella if coached right there is a more than decent player for the years ahead.
 
Watching him in action in Old Trafford yesterday I was surprised with his skill set and a big unit of a fella if coached right there is a more than decent player for the years ahead.

I've said it before but when I've seen him live it does always strike me how massive he looks. It's a bit like when we first signed Maguire.
 
I personally think the lack of pace is exaggerated.

His vision and the technique alone are at a level where some of that is already off-set and without the ball he appears quite rapid when creating 1-2 types of situations. The ball moves faster than any player can, and that's where you see a notable difference between him and Rasmus. His height and slouched posture IMHO limit some of his speed no doubt, but I think just watching a body like that move naturally also will appear to be moving slower than someone with a lower center of gravity so to speak.

Pace is somewhat useless without footballing IQ and proper ball handling technique, as well as passing range. How many kids do many of us not know who did great at the youth levels just by being fast - only to get found out in the older age categories?
 
It was 100% an overreaction from the whingebags without question. Especially as how it was very predictable that our game going fans were going to lose their shit at some point. You can’t be man united and be 15th in the table and lose 75 home games in a row and expect that nobody is gonna lose their shit at some point.
Zirkzee was unlucky that it was him but he was the worse player in that half so became the target.
Thankfully he didn’t go on the internet and cry about it or tell everyone what a horrible fanbase we have. Instead he cracked on. Got two great receptions at Arsenal and Liverpool and has now bucked up his performances. Job well done I’d say.
Why do you get decide for others what an appropriate reaction is? To some, being a supporter of this club is more than demanding results and throwing tantrums if they don't get the results they want. I would personally rather be a whingebag than a status chasing toddler.
 
Zirkzee played well when he came on but I think he benefited from the Southampton players being tired. He was crucial in the goals by picking up pockets of space between their defence and midfield and he was able to link up very well.

I also think he benefited from coming Hojlund’s opposite play style, Southampton defenders were used to the striker pushing up against the last man.

Guarantee he’ll start Sunday and be rubbish
Guarantee you're hoping he's rubbish on Sunday.
 
So seems the tough love gave him a bit of a kick up the backside. Almost as if the snowflake meltdown over the Newcastle incident was an overreaction.

I would describe that performance as a Nicolas Jackson performance. Ugly but very effective.

No it was stupid for the fans. Imagine booing a new player at the club for playing shite even though the teams been shite for years and barely anything gets said to them. The frustration shouldn't have been taken out on Zirkzee.

Theres plenty of other candidates to aim at. Not a new player struggling to connect with a disjointed team.
 
No it was stupid for the fans. Imagine booing a new player at the club for playing shite even though the teams been shite for years and barely anything gets said to them. The frustration shouldn't have been taken out on Zirkzee.

Theres plenty of other candidates to aim at. Not a new player struggling to connect with a disjointed team.
Agree with that. It was totally unnecessary.
 
He did the stuff he can do well yesterday at a good level. Pretty much undeniable that he has a lot of talent with the ball at his feet.

Needs to get in the position to score goals though because it will always be how a striker is judged.
 
I think JZ will become a bit of a cult hero at United if he keeps putting in performances like that.

He seems a nice lad and I hope he carries on improving
 
He did the stuff he can do well yesterday at a good level. Pretty much undeniable that he has a lot of talent with the ball at his feet.

Needs to get in the position to score goals though because it will always be how a striker is judged.
Also that's what Rasmus just isn't doing at the moment.
 
Why do you get decide for others what an appropriate reaction is? To some, being a supporter of this club is more than demanding results and throwing tantrums if they don't get the results they want. I would personally rather be a whingebag than a status chasing toddler.

No it was stupid for the fans. Imagine booing a new player at the club for playing shite even though the teams been shite for years and barely anything gets said to them. The frustration shouldn't have been taken out on Zirkzee.

Theres plenty of other candidates to aim at. Not a new player struggling to connect with a disjointed team.
Yeah I’ve said my bit on this. Don’t wanna be repeating myself ..

I don’t go to old Trafford every weekend so I wouldn’t take up the stance of criticising the section of our fans who turn up every week who chose to react the way they did in that instance.
It was out of character and clearly a build up of frustration and I said it would happen pre match so it did not surprise me in the slightest.
 
Think he's a great foil for Amad. Similar to how Firmino was a great link for Salah. Of course I'm not comparing ability level of the four players, but I think Zirkzee could bring out the best out of Amad.

Just needs to gain more confidence when he's got the ball in the box.