It will be nice to see a younger team as well I think. We’ve grown accustomed to signing big names and, frankly, very few ever really lived up to what we hoped for and I like the idea of seeing players really develop as a team for a number of seasons. Should be more energy and pace about us and I hope it’s evident on the pitch.
New season optimism
- Thread starter Pughnichi
- Start date
They are pretty much equal on goals / 90 min in the league. Not sure why you think Hojlund is some prolific goalscorer that is superior to Zirkzee.You're in for a big surprise if you think Zirkzee will outscore Hojlund...
Hojlund scored 16 goals in his first season here, aged 20/21. The hell do you want from him
Gonna need to see a style of play.
I am optimistic until proven otherwise. I hope we have a flying start to the season like we had years ago. That was amazing
Which particular flying start
Against Fulham, Saha Ronaldo Rooney running riot
There seems to be zero talk of a second midfielder, personally don't understand not going for Rabiot/Rodriguez as free agents. Signing Toney would definitely help to take pressure off Zirkzee and Rasmus but not enough money to do it.
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I agree.
Zirkzee's non pen xG per 90 is 0.24 and non penalty goals are 0.29, in the serie A, while being 2 years older.
Hojlunds non pen goals per 90 are 0.51 and non pen xG are 0.38, while playing in the Prem and CL and being 2 years younger.
It's a massive difference. Hojlunds numbers as a 19/20 year old in the Serie A were also far superior to Zirkzee's. Which is fine. Zirkzee is a different type of striker. But he's nowhere near the goalscorer Hojlund is, and hojlunds goal numbers are actually quite good for someone his age.
Hojlund is mediocre at best (so far), if Zirkzee is a lesser striker we will have trouble upfront this season.
there are signs that we can be optimistic from an organizational pov, but going into the current season we haven’t really strengthen yet.
Zirkzee replaces Martial
Yoro replaces Varane
Long term both players could be good for the squad. However their inexperience is a concern for the season ahead
We haven’t yet replaced Malacia, Greenwood, Amrabat or Kambwala.
Zirkzee replaces Martial
Yoro replaces Varane
Long term both players could be good for the squad. However their inexperience is a concern for the season ahead
We haven’t yet replaced Malacia, Greenwood, Amrabat or Kambwala.
Since Greenwood last played for us, Garnacho has emerged. We also signed Antony, whilst Amad has become a serious option. Greenwood has been replaced essentially.
In terms of Amrabat, we do need to sign a starter at DM, agreed. However, perhaps Collyer will step up and replace Amrabat as the backup DM.
Not so sure we need to replace Kambwala. We have 5 senior centre backs. Perhaps we will sell Lindelof and bring someone else in, but that's irrelevant to Kambwala.
We do need to sign a left back. Agreed. Though if we sign Mazraoui, he can cover there. I'd very much like us to sign a specialist left back, however.
Kadioglu would definitely be my top LB target
There is a reason why the club havent set top 4 as an absolute demand, and that is that this is very clearly a transition season.
They have bought two promising youngsters while having Amad, Garno, Højlund snd Mainoo already part of the main 11 , and quite a few outgoings of the older guard this or next season.
This season is going to be all about letting the youngsters play and gel, then be ready for ‘25-‘26 with a few more additons where needed.
They have bought two promising youngsters while having Amad, Garno, Højlund snd Mainoo already part of the main 11 , and quite a few outgoings of the older guard this or next season.
This season is going to be all about letting the youngsters play and gel, then be ready for ‘25-‘26 with a few more additons where needed.
They're both young strikers with potential, but Hojlund is definitely way more of a goalscorer. We shouldn't expect either to be close to their peak, which means we also shouldn't get carried away and expect a great season. It'll be inconsistent, there's lots of development to do both with tactics but also with the individuals in our team. Better to be prepared for that.
I can't say I share those sentiments. While the club will probably start to move in the right direction with the introduction of a proper football structure, this is the least excited I can remember being coming into a new season.
Watching us get outplayed in almost every match of every competition last season has eroded all sense of optimism for me. I have no faith in this manager delivering anything worthwhile, and I suspect we'll be writing off yet another season before Christmas.
Watching us get outplayed in almost every match of every competition last season has eroded all sense of optimism for me. I have no faith in this manager delivering anything worthwhile, and I suspect we'll be writing off yet another season before Christmas.
I’ve noticed organizationally we have players per role independent of their playing time. When one of those players moves, we are then open to replacing in that position. That’s why I mentioned it.
If Kambwala stayed I think we would have been ok to let Lindelof leave and not replace him if the market wasn’t right.
My general point still remains. We are at a point where we are filling squad holes and replacing players who lack quality whilst struggling to do so.
I'm struggling to be optimistic, but it's more due you to the fact we have got a shell of a team on tour and most likely missing key players for the start of the season.
It seems like we promote atleast one youth product each season and this year it's looking like Collyer.
So, if that is the case, I'm interested to see how he develops.
So, if that is the case, I'm interested to see how he develops.
Lord help me, I'm starting to believe.
And the season is only a couple of weeks away - christ, the FA Cup final feels like it yesterday.
And the season is only a couple of weeks away - christ, the FA Cup final feels like it yesterday.
Agreed. Yoro is a real talent, but I doubt Zirkzee will have a major impact. Rashford and Höjlund must improve and we must get a CDM. We will finish outside top 6 again.
We need some more transfers.
You can't draw anything from that rondo video, it's done at walking pace. Agree that it's nice we're drilling attacking patterns, but I'm certain we've always done that.
Ah the summer training videos where every year people think it looks better and faster than last.
No doubt, but hopefully of there's one person who understands the importance of providing service to strikers, it's Ruud.
I really don't think we need another st, I think we are weak out wide with no stand out wide players, so I would take one of them before a st.
Well, beats the days we had DailyMail articles of players arriving to pre-season like this
Neither of those midfielders are the type we need, plus I doubt Rodriguez is even good enough.
What's wrong with free agent for depth
Priorities.
Only 3 stand out wide players who improve us greatly and they are all unattainable
Yea there are not many stand out wide players at the moment, but because we don't have any I would like more options.
They are opportunity signings like Eriksen was rather than priority ones in my opinion. Would get a bit more optimism if we looked at bringing one of those two in as a bonus.
They might not make the first 11.
I’m hopeful for the future, but not so much this season.
Things that are happening look good for the future and gives hope, but currently looking at next season I think it’ll be a struggle for top 4 and that might just be out of reach.
Obviously if some miracle happens and we bring in a couple of midfielders a winger, fullback and another Cb or 2 then possibly but I don’t think we can repair this team with some of the people still in the first team. They have too much name recognition but they will fall in to their same patterns and disrupt the actual work the team is trying to do
Things that are happening look good for the future and gives hope, but currently looking at next season I think it’ll be a struggle for top 4 and that might just be out of reach.
Obviously if some miracle happens and we bring in a couple of midfielders a winger, fullback and another Cb or 2 then possibly but I don’t think we can repair this team with some of the people still in the first team. They have too much name recognition but they will fall in to their same patterns and disrupt the actual work the team is trying to do
One of the often-grim hopes is that a player may be 'like a new signing'. Is this season one where something like that is all but guaranteed? One would hope the following arent injured even close to as much as last season, but lets even pretend one of the following has a full season
Martinez
Shaw
Mount
Mainoo- people forget he was injured and played for the first time just before December.
Sancho - I have little hope here and suspect he may be sold but will include him in case he isnt
and then I simply cant fathom that Rashford could be any worse.
There is some talent there thats worth at least a few points unless we are similarly cursed this year.
Adding Yoro and Zirkzee is also good news, though obvioulsy we still need a DM and ideally a full back, I may be too optimistic in thinking that our attacking options are actually decent, and hope that the change in coaches will see a far better return from Hojlund, Garnacho, Zirkzee, Rashford, Diallo and Antony. That is not a bad set of attackers.
Martinez
Shaw
Mount
Mainoo- people forget he was injured and played for the first time just before December.
Sancho - I have little hope here and suspect he may be sold but will include him in case he isnt
and then I simply cant fathom that Rashford could be any worse.
There is some talent there thats worth at least a few points unless we are similarly cursed this year.
Adding Yoro and Zirkzee is also good news, though obvioulsy we still need a DM and ideally a full back, I may be too optimistic in thinking that our attacking options are actually decent, and hope that the change in coaches will see a far better return from Hojlund, Garnacho, Zirkzee, Rashford, Diallo and Antony. That is not a bad set of attackers.
Midfield is my worry. I can live with our attack being poor for another year (it's been poor for ages) but not the midfield. We can't have Casemiro looking like he's 50 in there, and nobody other than a teenager capable to passing the ball well. We need a serious overhall that helps us dominate games otherwise it'll be another hard to watch season.
If we're looking at the current state of the squad with no incomings then I would say we're looking at a battle for top 6. If we can at least shore up our defence and bring in a midfielder then we might put in a decent fight for 5th or even 4th but fall short. All this assuming that somehow last season in its entirety was a blip for Ten Hag and not indicative of his talent.
We're not even remotely close to Liverpool, Arsenal, City, and I think we'll be behind Chelsea, Newcastle and probably Villa in terms of quality. It'll be very difficult indeed.
We're not even remotely close to Liverpool, Arsenal, City, and I think we'll be behind Chelsea, Newcastle and probably Villa in terms of quality. It'll be very difficult indeed.
All the players that we have been linked with are No 6 type players now so it's an area that has been identified for improvement. I am sure that they will bring someone in before the window closes. There are other positions that also need reinforcement so probably will see some loans near the end of the window.