[DON’T PANIC ™]

Meh! It’s a damning inditement of our play that he was our best player. He has zero attacking instincts. He played a great through ball for Hojlund but what was telling for me was after he played it, he literally stood still in the centre circle rather than getting forward to give another dimension to the attack.
He also stepped over a pass that was crying out to be hit. Yes, he was our best player today but I’m taking little positives from that.

 

[Hughes35]

It was a bit better from him and he had a few smooth touches. Nowhere near the required standard though. I'd love to see us move him on ASAP and reinvest the money.

 

[bosnian_red]

He's a good player who doesn't fit Amorim. He also didn't fit Ten Hag. He fits a team playing a 4-4-2 type of system behind a poacher, or a 4-3-3 where he's a false 9 type but you have wide forwards like Liverpool did with Firmino, but to a lesser level. Doesn't make sense as a signing for us, but he's here so I'd rather play him and try and make it work til the summer.

 

[groovyalbert]

Looks better in midfield than in attack to be honest. He has a good touch and can create space/move the ball on nicely. Without the attacking expectations he looks like a decent footballer.

 

[Yagami]

I've been a fan since day one. He's actually my favourite player to watch in the squad despite Amad being the standout.

I dunno if he'll succeed here, but it's obvious he's got talent. I'm a sucker for those Berbatov/Martial type forwards.

 

[ManUArfa]

He also stepped over a pass that was crying out to be hit.

If it's the one I'm thinking, I assumed when that happened that he got a shout to leave it.

 

[Cathy Ferguson]

3 great touches followed by one stupid mistake.

 

[DON’T PANIC ™]

If it's the one I'm thinking, I assumed when that happened that he got a shout to leave it.

We nearly conceded as a result. The player behind him, Bruno?, wasn’t in any better position to shoot and in fact possession was turned over.
Goal scorers don’t give up chances like that to get a shot on goal.

 

[Varun1]

Such a strange game today, each outstanding moment was followed by some baffling decisions.

 

[Oranges038]

He was ok but he's going to need to do a lot better than that for Utd to go anywhere with him.

 

[DavelinaJolie]

You can see his quality on the ball, some of the little touches in tight space and passing to spring the gloves forward were really nice. Then he'd watch that pass meant for him go by and get intercepted by the Spurs backline and I'd be so frustrated.

At least he seems to have found his feet a bit and is offering more, just a shame it's not in front of goal as well.

 

[Tosicsleftpeg]

He did well today I was impressed, wish some of the others showed his level of fight. After getting jeered at home to then stepping up last few games, well done.

 

[Still ill]

Yeah, lots of mistakes but a total stand out in that he was full of energy and imagination and unpredictability. I didn't know what was going to happen with him and there was a real possibility that it might be something good. I'll take whatever I can get at the moment.

 

[Shark]

He looks like a midfielder to me. Zero instinct in front of goal, but can go past players and pick a pass.

 

[Yoro]

Thought he was great today, he's miles better than Hojlund.

 

[Isotope]

I've been a fan since day one. He's actually my favourite player to watch in the squad despite Amad being the standout.

I dunno if he'll succeed here, but it's obvious he's got talent. I'm a sucker for those Berbatov/Martial type forwards.

Yeah. If you can't appreciate that kind of performance, what's the point watching football?

I'd be satisfied if he can maintain this performance for the rest of season.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

I swear he’s really just a midfielder. It’s so clear his technique, passing, and in general reading of the game is excellent.

He just has 0 attacking thrust. Stick him in the center of the park and I’d be interested to see how he does

 

[appleman]

Meh! It’s a damning inditement of our play that he was our best player. He has zero attacking instincts. He played a great through ball for Hojlund but what was telling for me was after he played it, he literally stood still in the centre circle rather than getting forward to give another dimension to the attack.
He also stepped over a pass that was crying out to be hit. Yes, he was our best player today but I’m taking little positives from that.

I noticed in several games that it almost looks like only three players are allowed to attack at a time, at least in many. Like when Amad joined the attack it meant one of the three forwards didn't, usually one of the 10s.

It seems strange and even with his player type I don't think it's fair to assume so easily that he doesn't want to join in attack and base them on him following Amorim's gameplan.

DON'T PANIC though. He does have more instincts than it looks like now. Chances are it will be an exception to have him be your (clear) main goalscorer, so without someone around him that does score goals it's a risk to have him as your only striker if the plan doesn't take his playmaking and "creative" positioning into consideration, but I don't think a dribble and a pass suddenly make someone a midfielder.

He actually looks like he could've been a great striker for Bruno behind him and an in-form Rashford or Garnacho on one of the wings, but they weren't (consistently) and Amad also wasn't always around to cover workrate and creativity on the other side. While Hojlund might have benefitted more from more creative playmakers and crossers on the wings, but besides Amad that didn't really seem to be the case either. Pellistri?

But if you have Zirkzee up front but no one to at least possibly pass to, it's kind of hard to get the most out of him besides his "midfield" things, especially if it's part of the tactics. Hope to see him really up front from the start for once, but don't see Amorim change his mind from proving he's right yet unless Hojlund gets injured or something.

 

[FrankWhite]

I noticed in several games that it almost looks like only three players are allowed to attack at a time, at least in many. Like when Amad joined the attack it meant one of the three forwards didn't, usually one of the 10s.

It seems strange and even with his player type I don't think it's fair to assume so easily that he doesn't want to join in attack and base them on him following Amorim's gameplan.

DON'T PANIC though. He does have more instincts than it looks like now. Chances are it will be an exception to have him be your (clear) main goalscorer, so without someone around him that does score goals it's a risk to have him as your only striker if the plan doesn't take his playmaking and "creative" positioning into consideration, but I don't think a dribble and a pass suddenly make someone a midfielder.

He actually looks like he could've been a great striker for Bruno behind him and an in-form Rashford or Garnacho on one of the wings, but they weren't (consistently) and Amad also wasn't always around to cover workrate and creativity on the other side. While Hojlund might have benefitted more from more creative playmakers and crossers on the wings, but besides Amad that didn't really seem to be the case either. Pellistri?

But if you have Zirkzee up front but no one to at least possibly pass to, it's kind of hard to get the most out of him besides his "midfield" things, especially if it's part of the tactics. Hope to see him really up front from the start for once, but don't see Amorim change his mind from proving he's right yet unless Hojlund gets injured or something.

It's clear he was signed for ETH. Just didn't settle quickly enough for it to work. Saw glimpses in that game at selhurst park.
He clearly has ability, he just doesn't suit this system.

 

[Bondi77]

I thought he played well
If he just got a better connection on the header in the second half it could have changed the game as we had momentum in our favour at the time.

 

[FlawlessVictory88]

Easily our best forward, completely different level of technical ability to Rasmus.

Should be starting every game.

 

[Reiver]

Where he played today probably suits him best. He had a good game, all that was missing was a goal. But I suppose that's the problem.

 

[surf]

He's improving but still too goal shy.

 

[crackers0seven]

Could he be joelinton or the old spurs dembele. And poor forward that becomes a midfielder.

 

[Insanity]

Where he played today probably suits him best. He had a good game, all that was missing was a goal. But I suppose that's the problem.

That goal scoring responsibility was Rasmus' and Garnacho's, in which they both failed.

 

[Desert Eagle]

The only player who played well yesterday. Of course he's not perfect but he has some really good technique and attributes. His finishing and movement in the final third need some work though.

 

[Eagle_eye]

Played very well at the 10.. Not his fault Hojlund and Garnacho were his partners up front and were dreadful

 

[r0663664]

Zirkzee show good touches but he needs to release the ball earlier. English league doesn't offer you time on the ball. I believe he will look a different player once he gets use to EPL. Definitely someone who could play AM or false nine, his skill is definitely better than Hoijund. If we were to sell one, it will be Hoijund.

 

[Tallis]

He looked very good. Top quality hold-up play and awareness of team-mates around him. He is more confident now and thats making a difference. I like him in this #10 role with Rasmus in #9.

Just needs to start scoring some goals now. He missed a header today as well.

 

[Xeque_279]

A Joelinton style revisionism to move into midfield?

 

[Highfather_24]

He looks like a midfielder to me. Zero instinct in front of goal, but can go past players and pick a pass.

Yeah same honestly. I'd like to see him as the left #10.

 

[Ekeke]

Yeah. If you can't appreciate that kind of performance, what's the point watching football?

I'd be satisfied if he can maintain this performance for the rest of season.

He lost the ball joint most with Garnacho and Bruno kept doing his closing down on the right hand side leaving us open in the middle where Spurs have 3 midfielders vs Casemiro who is 32

He certainly tried harder when he had the ball, beat a player twice and tried to play a few good passes to progress play but none of it came off. Some of them it wasnt his fault it didnt come off, like the quick pass through to Hojlund who just couldnt reach it. Some of it was down to him.

On the ball he certainly showed more but what he tried to do didnt work out and he gave the ball away a lot. Without the ball he was a big problem for us tactically as Spurs were always allowed out of pressure down their left side with Spence running the ball at will

 

[Ekeke]

I swear he’s really just a midfielder. It’s so clear his technique, passing, and in general reading of the game is excellent.

He just has 0 attacking thrust. Stick him in the center of the park and I’d be interested to see how he does

You need to move around, press and try to win the ball to be a midfielder. Bruno tried to do that for him and it left us wide open in the middle

 

[Annihilate Now!]

I swear he’s really just a midfielder. It’s so clear his technique, passing, and in general reading of the game is excellent.

He just has 0 attacking thrust. Stick him in the center of the park and I’d be interested to see how he does

Deep down I'm kinda wishing we could turn him into the next Joelinton.

Unfortunately he doesn't have the stamina/work-rate for it.

 

[Yagami]

Yeah. If you can't appreciate that kind of performance, what's the point watching football?

I'd be satisfied if he can maintain this performance for the rest of season.

Even though I'm one of the few people who rate him, I can't see him performing like that consistently. No one does here. We just have to hope the poor performances became rarer and rarer.

I think it definitely helps that he was playing as a 10 instead of a 9, though. A lot of people are now saying they'd rather see him in midfield. I don't see him as a central midfielder but more of a 10, and I've been saying that since pretty early on in his career here:

I'm probably in the minority but I like both. I think they're both promising players. I'd actually like to see them together with Zirkzee as our 10 as, so far, I think Zirkzee's biggest strength has been knitting our play together, so he can carry on doing that without the added pressure of leading the line whilst Holjund occupies the typical 9 role.

I just don't think he's a striker. He screams a number 10 to me.

I'm still pretty optimistic about this guy. I just don't think he should be competing with Hojlund. I think he should be competing with Bruno as our 10.

Like you, I still have hope for this guy, but I also see why a large section of the fan base is worried.

I didn't watch this guy at Bologna (I don’t know if you did?) but, when it became clear we were going for him, I looked up a lot of his videos (which I know isn't a good way to judge a player!) and everything I saw there was that of a 10, too.

These videos from an Arsenal scouting YouTube channel funnily enough were my favourites because he actually left in his errors to give you a full picture of his game:






They were specifically highlighting his dribbling and hold-up play, and the way he dropped deep, brought his teammates into play and generally carried the ball under pressure seemed very promising. Those attributes seemed (and still do) to be his best, and I think the 10 position is where we could get full use out of them.

We saw glimpses of it last night after he came on. There was a moment he came deep, was under pressure but easily turned his man, played a nice pass out to the right and we were immediately on the attack. Instead of competing with Hojlund, I think they could play together. Especially if Amorim plans on using two 10s.

It's just a shame we start playing him there after Amad is ruled out for the rest of the season. I think they could've linked-up really well as the two 10s behind a 9.

 

[Slevs]

Our best player yesterday, which isn't saying much.

His damning factor is his total lack of speed.

 

[Dan_F]

Might be the slowest player I’ve ever seen play for us, or he might just give that impression because he rarely runs. He’s clearly got great technique but he can’t get anywhere near goal. From a defensive point of view, I lost count of the amount of times a Spurs player just turned their back to him, span around and then ran away from him. Utterly painful to watch and won’t work in this system.

 

[CassiusClaymore]

Yeah credit where due he was really good yesterday. Loves a nutmeg doesn't he.

 

[Trex]

His qualities are those of 10, he has till the end of the season to make an impression on that role. We'll see if he can keep this up.

 

[Bwuk]

A Joelinton style revisionism to move into midfield?

I thought this yesterday as well. He doesn't have Joelintons aggression but I think if we played a 3 man midfield you'd likely get better performances out of him than we do upfront.