9
Zirkzee doesn't have the running power to play as an actual #10. We did that combination once I believe (against Newcastle) and it failed horribly.
If anything I'd be tempted to do the opposite if we play them both together again. Have Zirkzee be the #9 who can play with his back to goal, holding off the defenders, moving deeper and making the defenders uncertain whether to follow him or stay in position. Hojlund then plays the deeper role in a similar way as Garnacho or Rashford do, so that instead of playing with his back to goal and constantly fighting with defenders he can get up to speed as he hits the defensive line to get on the end of through-balls (some by Zirkzee as he turns and releases it as he seems good at doing). It's not ideal, but I suspect it'd work better than the opposite.
I was arguing this from early on last season. We’re not stupid, everyone has seen young players before. Ronaldo came at 18 and scored 5 goals first season. It was clear what he had, and it was clear what could be improved with more experience. Nobody was demanding the finished article from Hojlund. But I quickly became concerned when I saw that he wasn’t even missing chances, or playing poor passes. There was just nothing. Game after game with no attempts.
Garnacho, for example, is 20 himself. He probably averages at least 3 shots per game. He misses a huge amount of shots. But with those misses, you can chart a clear path of improvement linked to experience. If he starts taking even half of those chances, he’d be a real player. With Hojlund, it’s like we need to teach him how to play football from scratch. How to run, how to control. This is before he even starts MISSING some chances with frequency. That is not a player with top potential. We have to do too much. The basics are not there. He’s a decent finisher. So was Jordan Rhodes. He’s never a top-end difference making forward player. Not good enough players like Solanke and Richarlison had far more tools as young strikers.
I've constantly defended him because i think he's shown he's a good finisher with minimal opportunities but I'm starting to lose patience with him. Like most young players he's streaky he'll have a really good game and then 3 stinkers after that. I'd start Zirkzee, but my fear with Zirkzee is that he hasn't been good when he's started games either but he's somewhat in form so it's worth a shot.
Was obvious from day one that his touch was very poor and also his movement. Our scouts are terrible when anyone can spot those flaws.His confidence is shot, can get better. Though I have to confess I really thought he would be a top striker here and nothing to do with current form or stats, but doubting it now. He look like he ha all thae attributes to be a top triker big, strong, fast, good instinctive finishing....but his movement is poor, his hoild up play poor, he doesnt win duels. Certainly looks way over priced at this point
He is championship quality. Same as Antony, he needs to improve by a lot to even become a decent sub for us.I’m curious to see how many shots he has had across his last 3 starts. Even 5 starts. Heck, all season even. Not even shots on target, just shots of any description. I’d genuinely be surprised if he’s had much more than 10 shots in the PL all season. He’s a relegation level striker. His biggest quality, by far, seems to be the fact that he is 21 years old. That seems to be the biggest plus point.
He's been bad but there is a coincidence. Most of the 'good' performances from our strikers have been when they've come on as subs or when we 'turn it on' aka come back from behind.
Zirkzee deserves to start but it's hapless task being a Utd striker when you have Bruno and Garnacho spamming shots instead of trying to find your striker.
He has taken 12 shots in the league this season, 2 less than Martinez.I’m curious to see how many shots he has had across his last 3 starts. Even 5 starts. Heck, all season even. Not even shots on target, just shots of any description. I’d genuinely be surprised if he’s had much more than 10 shots in the PL all season. He’s a relegation level striker. His biggest quality, by far, seems to be the fact that he is 21 years old. That seems to be the biggest plus point.
I’m curious to see how many shots he has had across his last 3 starts. Even 5 starts. Heck, all season even. Not even shots on target, just shots of any description. I’d genuinely be surprised if he’s had much more than 10 shots in the PL all season. He’s a relegation level striker. His biggest quality, by far, seems to be the fact that he is 21 years old. That seems to be the biggest plus point.
He has taken 12 shots in the league this season, 2 less than Martinez.
Rather than poor performance, my biggest worry is his drop in mentality. He seemingly doesn't try as hard as he did last year.
His drop in level of pressing and willingness to engage in duels is very dramatic.
Wow that is awful.He has taken 12 shots in the league this season, 2 less than Martinez.
He has taken 12 shots in the league this season, 2 less than Martinez.
We wouldn't want Zirkzee to play #9 the way Hojlund does. He should do it the way he already does, which is what opens up space both for himself (if the defenders don't follow him) or for others to run into (if the defenders do follow him). And it's not like it's only because he's dropping deep, he's also better at just holding defenders off while still winning the ball. He's bigger, stronger and has a better first touch and all-round better technique than Hojlund. He is still inconsistent at it as there were some games earlier in his time here where the defenders were constantly getting the better of him, but there have also been games (especially more recently) where he's been winning a significant amount of those duels and coming away with the ball.I think the way Zirkzee manages to be more effective at receiving and holding up the ball than Hojlund is precisely by avoiding ending up in that #9 position on the pitch. He pulls deeper so the CBs can't just sit on top of him with their arms around him all game long. I reckon if you force him to play in the #9 position the way Hojlund does, he'd probably be no more effective. Whereas if you use Hojlund there to pull the focus of the CBs and let Zirkzee sit deeper as #10 but still aim the long balls at him, we might have a bit more luck.
Then again I didn't manage to watch the Newcastle game live so if you say we tried it and it didn't work, I'll take your word for it. I agree his movement and dynamism leave a lot to be desired. All of this is making do with what we've got and just signing a really top class striker who fits the brief would be preferable.
In the league this season:Completely unacceptable. And Martinez has even had injury trouble if I recall correctly. We’d not get much worse if we stuck Maguire upfront instead.
For a centre forward, for Manchester United no less, to have 12 shots (of any description) more than half way into a season is pathetic. This issue flagged to me from very early. I would have been far more encouraged if he were at least missing chances. Players like Casemiro offer us far greater goal threat from the centre of midfield even.
Out of curiosity, how many shots has Zirkzee had? I’m sure his shots per minute is far higher.
He has taken 12 shots in the league this season, 2 less than Martinez.
He'd do much much worseTo be frank, Chido Obi wouldn’t do worse now
In the league this season:
Zirkzee has had 17 shots in 8.3 games worth of minutes. 8 of those have been on target, with 3 goals scored.
Hojlund has had 12 shots in 11.4 games worth of minutes. 6 of them have been on target, with 2 goals scored.
He does not.He’s got everything but he’s not putting it all together. He really really needs to work on his hold up play
It’s relatively easy to check. If Amorim plays him, we will find outHe'd do much much worse
He hasn't even played u21s yetIt’s relatively easy to check. If Amorim plays him, we will find out
He won't because he knows its not a good ideaIt’s relatively easy to check. If Amorim plays him, we will find out
I didn’t mean tomorrow, let’s say this seasonHe won't because he knows its not a good idea
I know the service Hojlund gets is mostly absolute shit. I know the vast majority of strikers would have struggled playing for us in the last 18 months, we've been horrendous. It's the worst Utd side for about 50 years.
But 12 shots on goal for the season when we're well into January is just pitiful.
I've defended Hojlund a lot and I still think there's a player there but you just can't defend that. He's absolutely zero threat at the minute, defenders must love coming up against him. It's the easiest game they could have.
Exactly. He would work well with 2 strikes. He like to open wide, he like to touch and carry the ball until release.I'm actually beginning to get tired of the "he gets no service" argument.
Any ball that's played up to him bounces off him and gives possession straight back to the opposition. So many of our attacks break down at his feet.
I rarely ever see him make a good run where I'm screaming at a player "go on, play Hojlund in!"
And it's happened so many times where balls have been played across the 6 yard box but he's hanging back by the penalty spot. Or he's made a run to the back post when he should be trying to get in front of the defender at the near post.
I'm beginning to think he's just not a very good footballer.
Hojlund is special at times. I mean one can tell he's a great poacher and his finishing is better than Zirkzee. Sometimes he come out with good techniques to score so he's not a one trick pony like Antony. Plus he can run tremendously fast for such a buff striker.
How?He’s got everything but he’s not putting it all together. He really really needs to work on his hold up play
