[Gandalf]

Taken out if the team for who? For fecks sakes.

Amad for one. He has played as a striker and clearly Erik does not fancy him out wide for some reason. There is also the crazy idea of being tactically flexible but of course we do not have a manager with a Plan B and he is going to force as many square pegs into round holes as he can to disguise the fact that he is a fraud.

 

[E-mal]

It is down to the role he is being asked to play, I know you have a major downer on him but he has come into pretty much the worst possible situation for a developing young player and been horribly mismanaged. The fee is what it is, we waited until the last minute and then bought him from a club that did not really want to sell and didn't need the money and so they would only sell for a huge profit.

It is pretty obvious that his confidence is in pieces right now and with the season basically done he should have been taken out of the side a couple of weeks ago and maybe just given a couple of cameos from the bench. ETH is not looking ahead though, he is trying to save his job and is making decisions for right now and not with the future in mind.

You have a point there, may be I am being too harsh. My issue is with the fans trying to sell an idea of a player that we have never seen.

I just think he is not good enough for the level of a top 4 team, even if the rest of the team is top notch, he just doesnt have the right skill set to be a success here. We will have to wait and see how it pans out for him, hopefully better than what we are seeing now

 

[Gandalf]

You have a point there, may be I am being too harsh. My issue is with the fans trying to sell an idea of a player that we have never seen.

I just think he is not good enough for the level of a top 4 team, even if the rest of the team is top notch, he just doesnt have the right skill set to be a success here. We will have to wait and see how it pans out for him, hopefully better than what we are seeing now

I think that is fair enough. I am optimistic and see something to build on but he has been far from good enough so far and I am hoping time will prove it is more to do with the environment and poor coaching. He needs to show progress early next season though.

 

[sebsheep]

So what situations did people think he should've done better in tonight?

 

[Bwuk]

So what situations did people think he should've done better in tonight?

He doesn’t create situations, or hold the ball up. Doesn’t get himself remotely involved enough.

 

[Cassidy]

So what situations did people think he should've done better in tonight?

He isn’t involved enough in the build up. He created no situations. A striker at this level needs to do more

 

[Leftback99]

Jackson at Chelsea is far more of a threat for half the price.

 

[NotChatGPT]

He isn’t involved enough in the build up. He created no situations. A striker at this level needs to do more

What build up.

Also, he's not there to be a major part of the build up. He's there to make himself available for passes and convert chances.

Problem today was back 4 and centre midfield. Completely isolated attackers can't do it all on their own

 

[Lay]

Jackson at Chelsea is far more of a threat for half the price.

He really is. He would do a lot more than Hojlund

 

[Cassidy]

What build up.

Also, he's not there to be a major part of the build up. He's there to make himself available for passes and convert chances.

Problem today was back 4 and centre midfield. Completely isolated attackers can't do it all on their own

Watch strikers at other clubs or watch Martial when he was fit last season. Or even watch some of Hojlunds better games for us this season. They all involve the striker being involved in the build up before going into the box to wait for passes

 

[golden_blunder]

I love the lad. But his lack of ability in the air is starting to grate on me. He’s 6ft 3 jumping like a midget who needs glasses

 

[city-puma]

Bendtner vibes.

Bendtner was a lot better technically.

 

[padzilla]

He seems to be completely reliant on something being set up for him or getting a break where it falls instead of taking on defenders and making it happen. He has been distinctly average to the point where he has been underwhelming and given an easy ride because of his youth. There will need to be a big step up next season.

 

[Unam333]

Amad for one. He has played as a striker and clearly Erik does not fancy him out wide for some reason. There is also the crazy idea of being tactically flexible but of course we do not have a manager with a Plan B and he is going to force as many square pegs into round holes as he can to disguise the fact that he is a fraud.

This is a solution. Amad as a false nine would be worth a try

 

[NotChatGPT]

Watch strikers at other clubs or watch Martial when he was fit last season. Or even watch some of Hojlunds better games for us this season. They all involve the striker being involved in the build up before going into the box to wait for passes

Is this the same Martial that would constantly get shit for not having a strikers instinct inside the box and never being there for any crosses, yes, that's the one.

Very few strikers have the complete package where they play a key part in the build up and arrive in the box for the tap in.

Not that i have any idea how any of that matters considering how we played today. There wasn't any build up, we were too occupied with giving the ball away inside our own half

 

[UnofficialDevil]

Seems very average to me.

 

[Cassidy]

Is this the same Martial that would constantly get shit for not having a strikers instinct inside the box and never being there for any crosses, yes, that's the one.

Very few strikers have the complete package where they play a key part in the build up and arrive in the box for the tap in.

Not that i have any idea how any of that matters considering how we played today. There wasn't any build up, we were too occupied with giving the ball away inside our own half

All strikers touch the ball outside the box in build up even Halaand this season

 

[frostbite]

We all knew we need a world-class striker.

ETH spent world-class fees and got us Hojlund. Who might be ready in 3 years. (Or he might not, you never know with young players.)

 

[E-mal]

Seems very average to me.

I think he is shite, sort of striker Bournemouth will sign and we wont notice

 

[NotChatGPT]

All strikers touch the ball outside the box in build up even Halaand this season

How many times do you think Haaland would've participated in the build ups today? How well do you think other strikers would've fared in a match like the one we had tonight? Do you really think it was down to playing Højlund as a striker?

I just don't get it. Højlund has just turned 21 and it's his first season in England, he's shown more than enough in a shitshow of a season where we've struggled to perform as a collective. If anything, the majority of his performances have been promising. I'd get the frustration and concerns if we were talking Antony level performances, but it's far from it.

 

[NotChatGPT]

We all knew we need a world-class striker.

ETH spent world-class fees and got us Hojlund. Who might be ready in 3 years. (Or he might not, you never know with young players.)

How many world class strikers were available?

 

[city-puma]

We all knew we need a world-class striker.

ETH spent world-class fees and got us Hojlund. Who might be ready in 3 years. (Or he might not, you never know with young players.)

We don’t need a world class striker. Crystal palace’s CF is good enough.

 

[lex talionis]

You can see potential in Rasmus for mediocrity, but we really got taken in hook, line in and sinker by Atalanta's PR machine.

 

[TrailMonkey]

He’s an average striker playing below par in a shit team. If he continues to lead the line next year and we don’t improve then his development will spiral downhill.

If he was playing in a half decent PL team, he’d have twice as many league goals and look a better player.

 

[RuudTom83]

Granted long hoofed balls up to him is never the best tactic.

But he needs to realise it’s not just about controlling the ball, it’s about committing or buying a foul, stopping play, be nasty.

When the back four is back shift and patched together, it’s his job to give them a rest and stop the game.

 

[frostbite]

How many world class strikers were available?

Are you saying that Hojlund is not world-class? Then why ETH was okay with spending world-class fees? He did veto the De Gea contract, but he was fine with spending all that money on Hojlund.

 

[Bobski]

We don’t need a world class striker. Crystal palace’s CF is good enough.

People get too focused on goals when it comes to strikers, as if that is all they are there for. The biggest issue with Hojlund is his all round game, which is often pretty much non existent. He is a very one dimensional forward right now, wants to run into the space behind, doesn't have much of a hold up game, movement in shorter spaces is not clever, touch is often poor, awful in the air for his size, loses far too many physical battles.

Get an all rounder who can help create for the others, especially if Utd are all in Garnacho who is pretty much another one dimensional forward right now, tunnel vision shot spammer.

Rasmus as the back up, coming off the bench to stretch tired defensive units should be his role right now.

 

[NotChatGPT]

Are you saying that Hojlund is not world-class? Then why ETH was okay with spending world-class fees? He did veto the De Gea contract, but he was fine with spending all that money on Hojlund.

He was 20 when we signed him.

I think it's fairly obvious he wasn't an established world class striker at the time.

We signed him for £64mill, the world class striker went for over a £100mill.

 

[city-puma]

People get too focused on goals when it comes to strikers, as if that is all they are there for. The biggest issue with Hojlund is his all round game, which is often pretty much non existent. He is a very one dimensional forward right now, wants to run into the space behind, doesn't have much of a hold up game, movement in shorter spaces is not clever, touch is often poor, awful in the air for his size, loses far too many physical battles.

Get an all rounder who can help create for the others, especially if Utd are all in Garnacho who is pretty much another one dimensional forward right now, tunnel vision shot spammer.

Completely agree!
I think we are playing him into his weakest. He might not have the talent to develop to what ETH wants him to be.

 

[city-puma]

He was 20 when we signed him.

I think it's fairly obvious he wasn't an established world class striker at the time.

We signed him for £64mill, the world class striker went for over a £100mill.

He is a player we should not spend more than 30 mil. But it’s those who decided to overpay to blame. They have been and will be let go one by one.

 

[NotChatGPT]

People get too focused on goals when it comes to strikers, as if that is all they are there for. The biggest issue with Hojlund is his all round game, which is often pretty much non existent. He is a very one dimensional forward right now, wants to run into the space behind, doesn't have much of a hold up game, movement in shorter spaces is not clever, touch is often poor, awful in the air for his size, loses far too many physical battles.

Get an all rounder who can help create for the others, especially if Utd are all in Garnacho who is pretty much another one dimensional forward right now, tunnel vision shot spammer.

Rasmus as the back up, coming off the bench to stretch tired defensive units should be his role right now.

His all round game looks worse than it is, just as it would look worse than it is for the vast majority of strikers in a team performing like we are. It's obvious that he has areas he needs to improve on, but he still has time to do so. In a well organized and functioning team he'd look much more solid and comfortable, in a team barely creating chances he won't.

 

[VP89]

So what situations did people think he should've done better in tonight?

Watched him live today and thought he was weak and kept moving vertically up and down centrally when he was making his runs. He doesn't really get involved, he's too busy trying to be a target man. Problem is he's also not a very good one. He does basic things well enough and nothing else.

There has been very little between him and Weghorst in general play and that's damning.

 

[Bobski]

His all round game looks worse than it is, just as it would look worse than it is for the vast majority of strikers in a team performing like we are. It's obvious that he has areas he needs to improve on, but he still has time to do so. In a well organized and functioning team he'd look much more solid and comfortable, in a team barely creating chances he won't.

Again this is why I think people worry too much about goals, I need to see the basics, that he is a good enough footballer to play for Utd, the goals are not a concern, he can finish, that is not enough, it is the rest that will decide if he has a long career here.

 

[sugar_kane]

Bring back Weghorst

 

[moodyred]

I know we won with kids in 92, but that was a different time, different group of players and a different manager. I do not think it is something that can be carbon copied again. Not easily at least. We needed a more established striker knowing that we were lacking of one. Hojlund may eventually develop into one, but he isn't the solution at this point.

 

[Bwuk]

Watched him live today and thought he was weak and kept moving vertically up and down centrally when he was making his runs. He doesn't really get involved, he's too busy trying to be a target man. Problem is he's also not a very good one. He does basic things well enough and nothing else.

There has been very little between him and Weghorst in general play and that's damning.

Weghorst general play was way better than Hojlund. He just couldn’t finish to save himself.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

Weghorst general play was way better than Hojlund. He just couldn’t finish to save himself.

Facts.

 

[Oscar Bonavena]

You can see potential in Rasmus for mediocrity, but we really got taken in hook, line in and sinker by Atalanta's PR machine.

Atalanta. And Ajax. And Inter. And Dortmund. And Real Madrid.

Clubs around Europe must be laughing any time we come calling.

 

[kouroux]

Atalanta really fleeced us

 

[frostbite]

He was 20 when we signed him.

I think it's fairly obvious he wasn't an established world class striker at the time.

We signed him for £64mill, the world class striker went for over a £100mill.

Yes, and we did not need to buy Hojlund, Onana and Mount. None of them are of the required quality. None of them improved us. The 100 million to buy a world-class striker was actually there, ETH spent more than that on average players.

And if we couldn't get any world class player, we could get a reasonably established striker. ETH spent world-class fees on a gamble.