[The Hilton]

This is United under Ratcliffe. Zirkzee was bad but that was disgusting from the fans.
Only time you could hear them in the match

We're blaming Ratcliffe for the fans blowing up in frustration? Come on that's just silly.

The fans weren't given anything to make any noise about, we barely laid a glove on Newcastle for the entire match, they physically dominated us in a way that was reminiscent of Eddie Hall fighting the Neffati Brothers (I had to google who the small people he beat up were).

 

[Onerealunited]

The smartest to do is to loan him out to a club in Italy or Spain that has enough cash to buy him in summer if he does well. He is not and - sorry - will never be a United player ever. It is ok to make a wrong acquisition we just need to get him out of the door as soon as possible before his value and “potential” deteriorates further

 

[NotoriousISSY]

Sorry but do people think he was actually putting in anything near the required effort in that 30 minutes? Never mind quality or whatever, but actually giving a shit... Because I don't, at all.

There was a moment Eriksen had the ball going forward and was clearly looking for the ball out to his left. Dalot probably could’ve ventured forward, but worryingly Zirkzee just flat out refused to move forward, stayed behind Eriksen and Eriksen eventually got dispossessed.

I thought Neville’s summary of the situation was OTT. Zirkzee put in a display even Bebe would’ve been embarrassed with and moved more when he went to fetch his lucozade before returning to the bench.

 

[cj_sparky]

I felt a little sorry for him being cheered/booed off the pitched, whilst not alone in his poor performance, he looked worse than the rest and genuinely looks totally lost.

I had some hope early doors that he could offer something different, but any early promise has well and truly gone. Would really like to see the club hold their hands up and cut their loses at the earliest opportunity.

 

[Crackers]

When you play a stinker you should be booed off the field. Its the indifference from fans thats killing us, not letting the players know.

I'm in 2 minds about it - half of me agrees and think it's fine to boo a player if they're really that bad, but at the same time it's not his fault he was signed.
But I agree, we've been more than patient with our players for the last decade - maybe booing isn't as bas as it first sounds.

 

[McLvnsMuse]

He’s a player we can sell at cost. We shouldn’t destroy whatever little
Value he has left.

 

[crossy1686]

Worth reposting. Probably frustration more than anything.

 

[Drainy]

He was poor but no worse than a few others. We are just a shocking team

Nah, while I empathise with the bloke on a human level he is the worst performing player tonight.

It's not hyperbolic to compare to semi-professionals or amateurs with how little he seems to see a picture and measure his decisions to the situation. Everything feels like trial and error.

That's not even talking about his physical and technical limitations

 

[flameinthesun]

He probably is the worst player we've signed for a decent fee since Fergie left which is saying something. I think the Match going crowd channeled their frustration with the poor state of the squad through him. The amount of talented players, even youth teamers we have seen grace that field, to see the performances that he puts in is really an indictment on how far we have fallen. I feel bad for him on a human level, however, if this was Madrid he'd have been booed a lot quicker.

 

[Mmm-Qatarian]

Oh I agree, they need to hear how shit they are from the fans. Not that I think half of them would even be arsed.

To be honest, looking back I do somewhat agree that it's harsh on Zirkzee specifically, but I seriously think it was more of a reaction to the team performance than Zirkzee specifically.

I reckon pretty much any player coming off for Mainoo there is getting the same reaction, and I can fully understand it. Fans paying £66 to watch that disgraceful first 30 minutes in the freezing cold must have been incandescent. Like you say, I wish they'd given it to them at half time (and full time) as well.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Worth reposting. Probably frustration more than anything.

Holds back his tears better then he holds up the ball at least

 

[afrocentricity]

Sorry but do people think he was actually putting in anything near the required effort in that 30 minutes? Never mind quality or whatever, but actually giving a shit... Because I don't, at all.

Why wouldn't he be? It's his first year..... what would be the aim?

For me, the guy is scared shitless, overly conservative, second guessing every action, and looks stiff as feck..... but he gets rinsed any time he touches the pitch so cant say I'm surprised....

Not sure where we go from here.

 

[crossy1686]

Shit player gets booed. Shock.

Ends up crying. Probably knows they're right.

Whoever sanctioned this transfer needs sacking, but then the majority of the players and staff fall into that category.

Our whole scouting department needs sacking, top to bottom, I’m not even joking. Rip it all out and start again. If the best they can come up with in recent seasons is Antony, Mount, Zirkzee, Hojund and Martinez then they’ve got absolutely no business being here any longer.

 

[Who's Kissing Cameras?]

One of the worst individual performances I’ve seen at home in 13 years, since Bebe.

Not nice to see him booed, cheered and subbed off. He was in tears.

He’s just not good enough. Started brightly but his base level is terrible. 33.3% passing accuracy! Horrendous.

 

[Mibabalou]

Absolutely brutal for him - not really sure where he goes from here.


I'm not comparing the players but languid / nonchalant playstyles like his and berbatov always seem to rub the fans the wrong way.

 

[Ekeke]

He was not good but he should not be scapegoated, there were players who equally deserved to have been subbed.

Nah, in a performance where we struggled to keep the ball as we kept playing poor passes and losing it in the first half he had the lowest % with 33.3%. He was the most guilty and the only right decision in the entire game from our side was bringing Mainoo on for him, who made an impact and had our highest pass % in contrast.

 

[Shady]

Milan and Juve were allegedly interested during the summer, they are both having bad seasons and should be desperate. Get him out of the club, will never succeed in the Premier League, no matter the system or team.

 

[predator]

Horrible to see. It's just football and he isn't playing poorly on purpose and didn't decide his fee.

Have abit of compassion.

 

[FrankDrebin]

They were going 'Main-oooooooooo ! Main-oooooooooooo ! '.

 

[Remember the geese]

The loudest I've ever heard a United player booed by his own fans.

 

[Bojan11]

Sorry but do people think he was actually putting in anything near the required effort in that 30 minutes? Never mind quality or whatever, but actually giving a shit... Because I don't, at all.

That is how he played for Bologna. Surely the people who bought him would have known he plays with very little intensity.

 

[Ekeke]

Absolutely brutal for him - not really sure where he goes from here.


I'm not comparing the players but languid / nonchalant playstyles like his and berbatov always seem to rub the fans the wrong way.

When things arent going well for them yes, because its hard to tell they care or are even trying when their body language and effort to do the simple things says they arent.

I dont think Berbatov ever had a match for us where his pass % is less than 50 though. Zirkzee's was 33.3%

 

[Annihilate Now!]

That is how he played for Bologna. Surely the people who bought him would have known he plays with very little intensity.

Thing is you can play with little intensity and still give a shit about your first touch, or the quality of your pass, or trying to find space.

He just doesn't, everything he does is totally half arsed.

 

[Andycoleno9]

I guess some players work better in different leagues. Italy is league for him probably. Same as Spain would be good for Hojlund. Pl is just brutal.

 

[Bwuk]

Hopefully the last we see of him wearing a United shirt.

 

[Lay]

Sorry but do people think he was actually putting in anything near the required effort in that 30 minutes? Never mind quality or whatever, but actually giving a shit... Because I don't, at all.

People arent understanding that this is his style of play. It isn't a lack of effort, he isn't built for a high intensity game.

 

[Andycoleno9]

Holds back his tears better then he holds up the ball at least

. Oh my.....brutal. and funny.

 

[Ish]

I didn’t say that did I you dickhead. I said don’t single one player out and not boo the rest when they were all shit.

Keep it civil, lad.

 

[Amira]

We should have just kept McTominay instead. Unbelievable that we sold him for a smaller fee than what we paid for Zirkzee.

This has been what we have become experts at. Selling “bad” players to downgrade the squad.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Yeah that was just really bad.

Felt a bit bad for him to be honest.

 

[Waynne]

Holds back his tears better then he holds up the ball at least

There just had to be one

 

[SuperiorXI]

I feel really sorry for this dude, imagine yourself in such a situation.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

People arent understanding that this is his style of play. It isn't a lack of effort, he isn't built for a high intensity game.

See my reply above. It is totally possible to put effort into the things you do on the pitch without running around like a mad man.

 

[Castia]

I don’t want to see anybody get booed like that but damn he’s terrible

 

[Irwin99]

That was horrible and I really felt for him. Never seen a United crowd like that (Fellaini and Nani got a bit nasty at times, but this felt worse).

What I can’t comprehend though is why a player who looks so languid and kind of unfit would be brought into a side that wanted to be all about workrate and quick transistions. The thinking was he could drop deep and bring the quick players into play but surely the pace of the game here must have been a concern in how he’d adapt?

 

[Lentwood]

Harsh because he's a young lad and I'm sure that had Casemiro or Eriksen been hooked, the reaction would have been the same

However...he's a very strange signing. No obvious position, not a goalscorer, not a #10, no pace, not aggressive.

You look at his profile and his goal record...he's not getting into a very average Holland side ahead of Wout Weghorst...alarm bells were ringing.

He's the kind of slow moving technical football that can only really do well in Holland and Serie A. He has some positive attributes but the games far too quick for him.

I feel sorry for him that he was given that reception, really whoever OKd the signing should be taking that heat.

 

[dannyrhinos89]

Why do people care so much about someone that doesn't give a damn about them?

He got booed because he was awful if it's upset him so what he needs to grow a pair and get better. Bunch of soft lads nowadays.

Maguire got way worse, disgusting abuse and came back stronger.

 

[kouroux]

Holds back his tears better then he holds up the ball at least

 

[stevoc]

No idea what Amorim was thinking starting him ahead of Mainoo, Garnacho, Antony and Rashford tonight.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

So did he run off the changing room to hide but was sent back, or just to get something?

I still say Antony was a worse signing than him when you consider the costs.