[lex talionis]

I agree with everyone who has condemned the fan reaction to Zirkzee coming off. It was a truly shameful moment.

But what I don't understand, and this criticism applies to all players who were on the pitch in the first half, is how the basics of football fell through the bottom. Opposing players were unmarked inside our own six yard box. Simple passes to open players were sprayed far away from their targets. Balls were uncontrolled.

It's one thing to crumble under pressure, but quite another thing for basic skills to disappear. This wasn't just a Zirkzee problem

 

[MrBest]

To be honest, anyone who was taken off in the 33rd minute would have suffered that treatment. I dont feel bad for him, £105k a week should keep him satisfied. By the way, we contribute to that salary too and what we are getting in no effort and sunday league style football. Actually we are playing like the under 5s, no offence to them as they would probably do better. Same applies to every single player in this club.

 

[Suv666]

He’s shit
But the booing was unnecessary

 

[Litch]

Really good technical player who if he was in a good team, we'd be saying why don't we pick players up like that. The problem for me is it's the kind of signing when you have all the other bits figured out.

Life is tough at this club at the moment and players much more experienced, not new to the club and internationals are struggling.

Fans frustrated with the clubs position are criticising players for not running around yet equally for only running around. What was it, too many passion merchants at the club?

The lad needs support than booing, it achieves nothing.

 

[Swedish_Plumber]

Would be so reactionary to get rid of him. Considering how long we’ve allowed others to stink the place out.

 

[Denis79]

He gave his all, everytime he lost the ball he worked his ass off to try and win it back, honestly not his fault he is not at the level required. He was bought as a backup for someone who should be backup himself. The people in charge making these transfers should get the boos.

 

[AkaAkuma]

A loan swap would feel super logical. Zirkzee is 6 months removed from being a star in Motta's Bologna team, Douglas was a mainstay of a very good midfield at Villa only last season too.

It feels so straightforward that you can be 100% sure it won't happen.

Reading some Juve quotes they seem like they are only interested in lowball offers for Zirkzee or Malacia.
Its all casual, nonchalant ‘eh, maybe at the end of the window’.

Conte has very good history picking up United players so I’d try and get some deals out of Napoli.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Awful pass in the end.

 

[The Mitcher]

Awful pass in the end.

It was a good pass, what?

 

[Doracle]

It was a good pass, what?

It was a clever pass but it should have been rolling along the floor, not bobbled in.

 

[Rockets Redglare]

Awful pass in the end.

There was nothing wrong with it. Maybe it wasn’t straight across the floor but Maguire should be putting that away 99 times out of 100.

 

[Steven7290]

It was a good pass, what?

It was high and quite awkward. Zirkzee probably was considering the shot but made do with the pass back in the last second.

 

[AjaxCunian]

There was nothing wrong with it. Maybe it wasn’t straight across the floor but Maguire should be putting that away 99 times out of 100.

Should he really?

 

[Mike Smalling]

There was nothing wrong with it. Maybe it wasn’t straight across the floor but Maguire should be putting that away 99 times out of 100.

There definitely was. Should have been on the floor, which makes it a lot easier for Maguire.

Maguire should still score though. It can be both a bad pass and a bad miss.

 

[Rockets Redglare]

Should he really?

A few yards out directly in front of the net? Yes.

 

[Oranges038]

There was nothing wrong with it. Maybe it wasn’t straight across the floor but Maguire should be putting that away 99 times out of 100.

Yeah, a lovely bobbly pass up to his shin that he can sweep home first time with ease, every player loves to see those coming.

 

[Walrus]

Should he really?

fecking hell. I would expect a professional footballer to be able to cleanly strike the ball, having seen it coming, despite it being a couple of centimeters off the ground.

Was it a perfect pass? No. But blaming Zirkzee for Maguire missing a sitter is just a blatant agenda.

 

[Doracle]

Yeah, a lovely bobbly pass up to his shin that he can sweep home first time with ease, every player loves to see those coming.

Especially the centre backs who are known for their lethal finishing.

 

[T00lsh3d]

Yeah, a lovely bobbly pass up to his shin that he can sweep home first time with ease, every player loves to see those coming.

Especially your centreback on the 95th minute. fecking Zirkzee man

 

[Jev]

It was a good pass, what?

Nah, shouldn’t have lifted it. Did well to keep it composure and find Maguire but it was too lofted. Still Maguire could have scored, no reason to give Zirkzee a hard time.

 

[bosnian_red]

Bobbled the pass a bit, if he was confident maybe he shoots but the pass is the right choice in the circumstance anyway. Think he would've been offside so doesn't matter a whole lot.

 

[AjaxCunian]

A few yards out directly in front of the net? Yes.

2 defenders in front of him, and the ball not a great height for him + he's a central defender not known for his shooting/composure at all. He never gets in these situations either.

99/100 seems very steep.

Would have been offside anyway, mind.

 

[Rockets Redglare]

Especially the centre backs who are known for their lethal finishing.

Let’s be honest now, if it was Amad who played that ball you’d be all over Maguire like a rash and blaming him for his shit finish.

 

[Berbaclass]

Guys it was fecking offside anyway. He had a decent cameo today

 

[saivet]

He made the right decision to pass but he made that difficult for Maguire. He should still do better but not expecting a CB to put that one away.

 

[AjaxCunian]

fecking hell. I would expect a professional footballer to be able to cleanly strike the ball, having seen it coming, despite it being a couple of centimeters off the ground.

Was it a perfect pass? No. But blaming Zirkzee for Maguire missing a sitter is just a blatant agenda.

Not blaming Zirkzee either. But 99/100 is grossly exaggerating.

 

[Rockets Redglare]

2 defenders in front of him, and the ball not a great height for him + he's a central defender not known for his shooting/composure at all. He never gets in these situations either.

99/100 seems very steep.

Would have been offside anyway, mind.

Ok fair, I’d expect it be on target then at least.

 

[C3Pique]

Looked offside anyways

 

[Jacob]

A bit cowardly to pass a centre half when you have a decent chance yourself.

A striker should be ruthless there considering what's at stake.

 

[Seanus]

Pretty sure Josh was offside anyway. Would have hated to see the scouse to**ers celebrating when VAR ruled it out...

 

[Oranges038]

Especially the centre backs who are known for their lethal finishing.

Not a player in the world who doesn't love a pass like that.

 

[jigen]

The few minutes he played were good. He has a great potential. If you sell him after only half season you make a big mistake.

 

[Doracle]

Let’s be honest now, if it was Amad who played that ball you’d be all over Maguire like a rash and blaming him for his shit finish.

Doubtful - given I’m massively in favour of Zirkzee starting over Hojlund. Doesn’t mean I can’t call a bad pass a bad pass.

 

[17Larsson]

Decent run out for him

 

[Rasmus_9]

A bit cowardly to pass a centre half when you have a decent chance yourself.

A striker should be ruthless there considering what's at stake.

I guess that was a result of the booing and lack of confidence he has at the moment- should have smashed it in!!

 

[Carlsen19]

It was offside but he should be shooting for me.

 

[criticalanalysis]

Good cameo by his standards with some decent hold up play and bringing others into the game. It was a very good idea but that was a poor pass.

 

[Dan_F]

2 defenders in front of him, and the ball not a great height for him + he's a central defender not known for his shooting/composure at all. He never gets in these situations either.

99/100 seems very steep.

Would have been offside anyway, mind.

Given that a penalty is 0.76 xG, it’s fair to say that chance wasn’t 0.99.

I’d be surprised if it was more than 0.2 given the height of the cross, defenders and keepers in the way.

 

[V.O.]

Didn't cack himself. Nice to see.

 

[matsdf]

I think the pass was worse than the shot to be honest. I'd back myself to make a better pass more often than slotting homewhat Harry got.