In the first half we were mostly just lumping long balls up to him or behind the defence. In the second half we started playing the ball to him on the ground and it allowed our attack to build a lot better, with him getting on it then combining with others to get the team up the pitch and into dangerous areas. He still wasn't dangerous around the box (although he did make one good run but the cross was cut out), but it was still much better than anything Hojlund has been doing for the last month or so.
11
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 34
- Goals
- 4
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 1
He improved after we started to try and find him earlier in the buildup. His strength is his first touch and clever turn when he pulls a centre back out of the defensive line and into the 10 space.
Unfortunately his goal threat is zero. I suspect he would do well if he had a strike partner to occupy the second centre back but we won’t get to find out if that’s true.
Unfortunately his goal threat is zero. I suspect he would do well if he had a strike partner to occupy the second centre back but we won’t get to find out if that’s true.
Great player but he hasn’t got it in him to be a lethal striker. Maybe in a 352 but as a focal point he will never be able to do what the Rangers striker did against us.
He's now progressed into an actually competent footballer that can play for us - and yet still you feel there is about a 5% chance he'll actually score a goal in any given game.
He has this knack of being able to control the ball in spaces and scenarios Hojlund can’t, but then proceeds to play the most bizarre pass after and loses it anyway.
It needs to be studied.
It needs to be studied.
Innit! So many times I feel like I’m saying to myself “Yes! Great hold up play, now pass it… FFS”.
He's just not a striker. The only way might work in 343 is as a false 9 who is there to hold up and set up two decent goalscorers alongside (I'm thinking of a Mbuemo type).
Good hold up play, good technical ability. May chip in with 12-15 goals if we are lucky.
Will only work if we have top goal scorers playing in the 10's
Will only work if we have top goal scorers playing in the 10's
Can't remember the last time we had 2 strikers that where allergic to scoring goals. It's actually unbelievable, I would bet plenty of money that even Martial at the stage he is now, would score more goals.
Højlund gets crucified for his movement, but yesterday it was Zirkzee that was just completely static in the box. Frustrating to watch.
The guy just isn't it. Since we are so poor we tend to latch on to every little bit of positive play for players like Zirkzee, and argue that maybe he has a role etc. etc. Happened after his performance vs. Southampton. I just don't see it, and I hope we sell in the summer - seems like there was some interest from Serie A. If we are going to take £60m for Garnacho, I don't see why we wouldn't take £20-25m for Zirkzee and move on.
The guy just isn't it. Since we are so poor we tend to latch on to every little bit of positive play for players like Zirkzee, and argue that maybe he has a role etc. etc. Happened after his performance vs. Southampton. I just don't see it, and I hope we sell in the summer - seems like there was some interest from Serie A. If we are going to take £60m for Garnacho, I don't see why we wouldn't take £20-25m for Zirkzee and move on.
For now we got to settle for Zirkzee it’s clear that we play better with him than with Höjlund so there is no need to complain we know that he lacks in some areas but Höjlund lacks in all areas.
He's so half arsed in the box. He certainly enjoys playing outside the area more , which is just what you want from your forward.
Well he's proudly stated that he's a 9,5. I guess that 0,5 is for how much effort he's going to put when he's in the box.
Damn autocorrect. But Holland can do one, scarred forever thanks to ETH :-)
He's this weird anti-hybrid where he's both the opposite of Hojlund and Bruno as a 9 and 10. Look forward to years of debating his best role.
Maybe he should shout to them and point where he wants it etc
Fulham 0:1 Man Utd
New
What does he do? Serious question, what does he actually do?
More than Hojlund
5% more than Hojlund at least!
Probably better than Hojlund but has unmistakeable ‘won a competition’ vibe,
Well he basically started the move that led to the goal.
Marginally better than Højlund tonight. Should start the next game. Should not be playing for us though.
At least he didn't coat 72 million. That's really all you can say
He plays like he can't believe he's a Manchester united player. I don't even know what counts as a good Zirkzee performance anymore.
When he holds the ball up and brings others into play, he is useful.
When he doesn't do that, he doesn't offer anything else.
He was the second one, tonight. Can't think of a single thing he did.
When he doesn't do that, he doesn't offer anything else.
He was the second one, tonight. Can't think of a single thing he did.
Has the strength to hold the ball but not the athleticism to do anything else with it or close down the opposition. In a way, he reminds me of Berbatov but without the scoring ability.
First season and all that but I'd be disappointed if he's still here next season. I hoped for more decisiveness from SJR, so I'd really like to see that. Quite a few players who aren't good enough to be bench options either.
First season and all that but I'd be disappointed if he's still here next season. I hoped for more decisiveness from SJR, so I'd really like to see that. Quite a few players who aren't good enough to be bench options either.
Better than Hojlund atm so will start more. But we're definitely in need for a proven striker as both of current options will struggle in many games.
Better than Rasmus but not by much 
I think “better than Hojlund” is generous. He’s better at some things, worse at others. Depending on how we’re playing and their form, one will be a better fit, but both have massive, glaring, weaknesses.
For Zirkzee, generally the ball sticks to him a bit more, although today that wasn’t the case. But what you sacrifice is huge. He tends to play too deep and doesn’t seem to have the pace, instinct, and timing to get into the box and be at the end of chances or at least force the defensive line back.
For Zirkzee, generally the ball sticks to him a bit more, although today that wasn’t the case. But what you sacrifice is huge. He tends to play too deep and doesn’t seem to have the pace, instinct, and timing to get into the box and be at the end of chances or at least force the defensive line back.
He's a striker that has to play with another striker.
He really needs to start. Not that he's amazing but much better than Höjlund
he really isnt.
We need a new striker. We have one who is shit and one who isnt a striker.
But it will not be happening now, no matter how badly you ask Santa. We can play who we have, that's it
Absolutely. But this idea that he is much better in nonsense. He can hold up the ball better but then does nothing with it. He is marginally better because we insist on hoofing ball to our striker instead of playing in a way that lets them run channels. Given Zirkzee is slow as feck but quite good at holding up the ball he will look much better, but he offers hardly anything more to the attack. If one of these two or even both are all we have for this season our other attackers need to start working more with providing runs and movement.
He is much better than Höjlund, as one should not even start a game or even be at United. Currently, he's the much better option.
Zirkzee shouldnt be at United either. Its a striker who rarely ever scores goals.
We have a squad full of players who should not be here. But some a bit more than others and it is clear that Zirkzee is doing better (again, still poor but we have what we have)
He is doing marginally better. whenever he starts he looks just as shite.
As a team, we look better with him. His hold up play, physicality, passing, movement is so much better
His passing yesterday was straight to the opposition every time. His movement is shite. He is slow as feck and never in the box when he needs to be.