[Teja]

Capology is wrong, and a pretty shit source to use for player wages. They will have basically used the Daily Mail as their source, so it's just a vicious circle of misinformation.

Whitwell at The Athletic reported that Antony is probably on closer to £120k pw. It's the only plausible reason why Betis could afford to pay 85% of his wages.

It seems like 140k p/w https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6090868/2025/01/27/antony-manchester-united-loan-exit-95m/

But the point still stands right? They're paying anywhere between 100-120k p/w for Antony and that level of wage isn't a stumbling block especially on low-risk loan deals. I'm quite confident clubs would pay 100k pw to loan ZZ and won't demand we subsidize 50% of his wage.

 

[Ekeke]

I mean I don't know why you're angry at the guy but Betis are paying 85% of Antony's salary (200k p/w per capology).

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...n-rest-season-200k-week-wages-LaLiga-pay.html (athletic also reported this, too lazy to look for the link)

Everyone knows United are in chaos and their current form isn't reflective of the player's ability to fit into a settled system. I'm also fairly certain that if we loaned out ZZ for whatever reason, people will happily pay 105k p/w for him. Loan deals are much cheaper and lower risk for clubs to execute than a full transfer. Age / potential is also on his side. If we have to sell him, then we'll be taking a bit of a haircut but that's somewhat expected for signings that don't work out.

I think the more productive thing is to make sure we're paying incoming players appropriate wages and everything said and done if a broke Italian club was ready to pay him 95k p/w, signing him for 105k p/w from the PL is not a significant overpay.

My position ultimately is that he's fine to have in a squad in a rotation / backup role and that's what I'd calibrate my expectations to when judging his performances.

Yes they are and hes playing well for them. Do you think they can afford 105k for Zirkzee too? else its not relevant. They took a chance on Antony and now will be out of the running for players on 105k

 

[Freak]

If Morata and Juve still want him this summer, we should negotiate a deal. He's just not working in a United shirt for me. We cannot have strikers/forwards who do not score goals - it's just not acceptable.

 

[Yagami]

Is it okay I want to keep players I enjoy watching?

After all football is an entertainment and a hobby to me. Players like Zirkzee and Garnacho are still players I find enjoyable to watch.

I'm in the same boat. Zirkzee is the only thing worth watching when it comes to United now that Amad is out.

100% in favour of keeping him.

 

[Irwin99]

Good performance I thought. The goal was actually something any keeper should be saving but it went in, so who cares!?

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

He tried his best to have his shot saved, but it wasn't to be.

The fancy flick thing he did in the first half would have been a good goal though.

 

[Godfather]

He tried his best to have his shot saved, but it wasn't to be.

The fancy flick thing he did in the first half would have been a good goal though.

He almost looked surprised himself that attempt landed in goal

 

[NZT-One]

Honestly suprised he got the MOTM vote. I mean, not like any other player really went for it but I don't think, he influenced the game a lot. For his playstyle, I think, he would need to be more mobile and involved. Not that he is lazy but it feels to undynamic. At least for me.

 

[Toshey]

At least he scores sometimes, Garnacho and Hojlund look like they are trying to reach 50 games without a goal milestone.

 

[stepic]

Was easily our best attacker tonight. Not exactly saying much but he has some actual skill unlike most of the other forwards.

 

[KirkDuyt]

That cheeky backheel thing he did before the Garnacho chance is so him.

He doesnt have the required legs, but he is an absolute joy to watch at times.

 

[LukeChadwick36]

At times his touch is

That cheeky backheel thing he did before the Garnacho chance is so him.

He doesnt have the required legs, but he is an absolute joy to watch at times.

completely agree with this.

His touch is ridiculous.

I think he would be a beast in a free flowing team, liverpool for example. Offers something different.

 

[Yagami]

I always enjoy his general play but I thought he looked a lot sharper out of possession tonight. So much so I decided to check the stats and he had:
2 tackles won
2 clearances
2 interceptions
4 aerial duels won

The couple of times he just sprung to life and quickly nicked the ball was refreshing to see.

 

[Devil81]

Growing with every game. I think he may have won me over completely.

 

[Ted Lasso]

When's the last time one of our Strikers scored before this?

 

[criticalanalysis]

His touch and general play is quite class at times. He's definitely trying and throws himself physically about which is good to see. Low bar and all but I'd take any positive.

Shame Amad is out, as they would have loved to play together with Zirkzee in this new found 10 role.

 

[2 man midfield]

When's the last time one of our Strikers scored before this?

Wasn’t it him against Ipswich?

 

[Tosicsleftpeg]

Did well tonight, his goal was a good cutback and although the shot wasn't great I think it squeezed in by going through the defenders legs and leaving the keeper unsighted.

His post match interview was amazing, he actually could not give a toss and barely said anything which was quite funny to witness opposed to the usual media trained diatribe.

I wish Amad was fit so he could play as the false nine and Amad could still pose the threat in behind with his pace.

 

[Ted Lasso]

Wasn’t it him against Ipswich?

Jeez did he? I thought that was all defenders

Edit: OG and defenders

 

[Oranges038]

Casually rolled that home like he does it all the time and it was just another tap in.

There's a player in there somewhere.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Our much maligned business last Summer was actually much better than most give it credit for. Whilst he may never be a superstar striker there’s a player in there that will be very useful in a more functional team. It’s taken him some time to start finding his feet but he’s starting to look really useful and classy.
De Ligt is proving to be a top CB purchase who’ll play many many games for us as first choice.
Maz a good squaddie for a low price.

Yoro an unknown but the potential is huge.

Ugarte, whilst being very useful looks the only one where we probably could’ve got a cheaper option with good scouting that can perform the same role. Still, the type of player we were missing in the squad.

 

[BorisManUtd]

Our much maligned business last Summer was actually much better than most give it credit for. Whilst he may never be a superstar striker there’s a player in there that will be very useful in a more functional team. It’s taken him some time to start finding his feet but he’s starting to look really useful and classy.
De Ligt is proving to be a top CB purchase who’ll play many many games for us as first choice.
Maz a good squaddie for a low price.

Yoro an unknown but the potential is huge.

Ugarte, whilst being very useful looks the only one where we probably could’ve got a cheaper option with good scouting that can perform the same role. Still, the type of player we were missing in the squad.

Yeah guess it can still go wrong but last summer doesn't look bad. Summer of 2022 and especially 2023 do atm, though.

 

[DonBecks]

Out of the front three that played tonight, I'd 100% keep him over Hojlund and Garnacho. I think he has more to offer for a team that plays on the front foot than those two.

 

[Red00012]

Good goal , ok performance great interview after .

 

[Mmm-Qatarian]

His touch and general play is quite class at times. He's definitely trying and throws himself physically about which is good to see. Low bar and all but I'd take any positive.

Shame Amad is out, as they would have loved to play together with Zirkzee in this new found 10 role.

Zirkzee is really starting to come into his own in the 10 role which is great to see given the initial flak he was getting.

With that being said, I also maintain that some of the best attacking football I've seen from us under Amorim was on the rare occasions we saw Zirkzee up front flanked by Amad and either Fernandes or Garnacho. Admittedly, I'll caveat this by saying it was against Southampton at home so you'd expect us to win that game anyway, but we were behind and playing woefully until Amorim took Hojlund off for Zirkzee. From that moment we started to create a lot and just in that last half an hour probably earned the win, with Zirkzee playing a key role.

I'm not convinced he's going to be a long-term starter for us but I definitely think we're seeing enough from Zirkzee now to show he can nonetheless be a valuable asset to the squad.

 

[Ibi Dreams]

Our much maligned business last Summer was actually much better than most give it credit for. Whilst he may never be a superstar striker there’s a player in there that will be very useful in a more functional team. It’s taken him some time to start finding his feet but he’s starting to look really useful and classy.
De Ligt is proving to be a top CB purchase who’ll play many many games for us as first choice.
Maz a good squaddie for a low price.

Yoro an unknown but the potential is huge.

Ugarte, whilst being very useful looks the only one where we probably could’ve got a cheaper option with good scouting that can perform the same role. Still, the type of player we were missing in the squad.

Weirdly I'm pretty ok with all our recent signings even though we're shit and near the bottom of the table. I don't think any of them are the problem and they all feel like they've got quality. We're just messy overall and still lacking massively in key areas

 

[Beachryan]

Not putting him at the same level, obviously, but I always wanted us to stick Berbatov as a 10. He really would have been an incredible playmaker, especially as at the time we had such willing runners around him.

The 442 guys did a great video on why Amorim's system isn't working - and it's basically because our midfield can't move with the ball. Bruno/Case/Ugarte just don't carry the ball between the lines. But if Mainoo can get fit, or we sign someone who can, I could see Zirkzee having a use as a 10. But if the 2 are always as deep as Case/Bruno were yesterday, I just don't think he's active enough to make space for himself.

 

[AndyMUFC]

He’s not a goalscorer (though at the minute he’s more of one than our other forwards!) but in a team that had other players chipping in it wouldn’t matter as much.

Is improving all the time.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Weirdly I'm pretty ok with all our recent signings even though we're shit and near the bottom of the table. I don't think any of them are the problem and they all feel like they've got quality. We're just messy overall and still lacking massively in key areas

Agree.

Yoro - great prospect, nailed down a first team spot.

Maz - versatile, comfortable on the ball. Good squad player.

De Ligt - really growing into the team.

Ugarte - bit of a mixed bag, but we don’t have a player like him, and we needed a def mid.

Zirkzee - some significant early challenges. Now fitter. Don’t really know where he would be best. But he’s getting better each week.

What it shows is that players need time to settle and grow - these players are.

We are actually paying the price for previous windows, rather than the summer.

 

[Vault Dweller]

I like him. Maybe doesn't have the pace required but bloody tries hard, has composure and keeps the ball well. His wee tricks actually work too.

 

[Shaw's Shank Redemption]

He still looks shot after 60+ mins.

Should improve with more exposure though.

 

[Red Royal]

Agree.

Yoro - great prospect, nailed down a first team spot.

Maz - versatile, comfortable on the ball. Good squad player.

De Ligt - really growing into the team.

Ugarte - bit of a mixed bag, but we don’t have a player like him, and we needed a def mid.

Zirkzee - some significant early challenges. Now fitter. Don’t really know where he would be best. But he’s getting better each week.

What it shows is that players need time to settle and grow - these players are.

We are actually paying the price for previous windows, rather than the summer.

Agree... plus Dorgu was a much needed addition. Amongst all the doom and gloom, one thing INEOS has not done (yet) is waste £70M+ on someone nobody else wanted.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

He’s been our best attacker since Amad got injured, not a high bar I know but still. I Think he could be a useful player if we can get more quality around him obviously lacks pace but has very silky feet for a big lad.

 

[Pronewbie]

Him and Bruno and pretty much the only reasons why I'm not tuning out as often.

 

[DonBecks]

His defensive work is actually underrated I think. He's not an obvious defensive monster type player and he's not going to chase down every opponent etc. but he's really good at nicking the ball off them and intercepting passes, especially around the half way line. As we get better those traits could be so valuable in the opponents half of the pitch.

 

[Rolaholic]

 

[Pexbo]

He gets in two hours late most days

 

[SER19]

I think he's definitely one to keep for now as if we actually turn into a football team he's a player who may look far better. That's my feeling on garnacho and mainoo too, we are not in a position to let go of more obvious talent when our transfer business is so poor. there has to be some onus on the manager to improve the players he has.

 

[VP89]

His performances are slowly improving, long way to go but the attitude is there and he's put in some delightful passes to the other attackers.

That chipped pass that set garnacho through vs Fulham would have got so much recognition if he had scored. It was right after he turned a Fulham midfielder on the half way line.

Vs Sociedad he was good too, but in both games it was only for 65 mins. He's gassed after that.

 

[ThanksBoss26]

Can’t say I’m sold at this point, he’s got an awful lot still to prove he can cut it here but I do think he’s been better since the turn of the year, ironically since that Newcastle game. Was from a very low bar though.