[Borys]

And no one disagrees with that. But the comments aren't just "he isn't good enough right now". It is more the absolute nonsense that comes out from some posters that he is shit, or that he doesn't have any qualities that makes them (us) defend him. He showed clear potential last season, unfortunately, he has regressed this season under ten Hag like many others have done. We just have to hope Amorim can improve him, but regardless of that, we need a more experienced and better striker.

How do you know it's not the other way around, that he hit a purple patch last season and this is actually more of his "standard level"? Not that I believe this to be true, I think his confidence is shot, but I also don't particularly rate him based on what I've seen (what is a decent sample size).

For anyone that didn't catch the Spain game. A very typical Højlund performance in the end, I would say.

Typical is the right word here, although it is much better than he played for us recently, even if those are like 3 positive things he did. It also shows how badly he struggles to control the ball..

 

[Mike Smalling]

As I see it he does at least as many good as bad things in this video. Unless you only want to see the bad things, of course.

The way I see it, he does a few "bare minimum" things like picking up the ball around the center circle and passing it to a teammate, and then some bad things like losing possession. There aren't really any good things in the video. I don't think he had a positive contribution in and around the box, for example.

And the point of posting the video wasn't really to shit on Højlund. Just to give people a chance to see how he does for the national team.

 

[Grand Vizier]

How do you know it's not the other way around, that he hit a purple patch last season and this is actually more of his "standard level"? Not that I believe this to be true, I think his confidence is shot, but I also don't particularly rate him based on what I've seen (what is a decent sample size).

He showed potential at Sturm Graz which made Atalanta buy him, and he showed enough at Atalanta for us and PSG to want him. He is a young, talented striker who is very, very raw. Unless you get proper coaching, it is hard to improve because you don't magically transform into a much better striker with game time. That's why most teams also have a more experienced and better striker, and don't just play a 20 year old to lead the line.

 

[Borys]

He showed potential at Sturm Graz which made Atalanta buy him, and he showed enough at Atalanta for us and PSG to want him. He is a young, talented striker who is very, very raw. Unless you get proper coaching, it is hard to improve because you don't magically transform into a much better striker with game time. That's why most teams also have a more experienced and better striker, and don't just play a 20 year old to lead the line.

I honestly don't know how much of his game can be fixed by "coaching". His technique, balance, passing - it's not expected to improve significantly from where he's at now at 21. Movement, instincts - definitely yes.

If we're treating him as "long term investment" (and he's clearly not delivering enough now), then he should be learning those things elsewhere, in more friendly environment.

 

[Grand Vizier]

I honestly don't know how much of his game can be fixed by "coaching". His technique, balance, passing - it's not expected to improve significantly from where he's at now at 21. Movement, instincts - definitely yes.

If we're treating him as "long term investment" (and he's clearly not delivering enough now), then he should be learning those things elsewhere, in more friendly environment.

His passing is good. Take a look at his highlights from last season. Often perfectly weighted and surprisingly good vision. Technique in general isn't very good, I agree, but there are plenty of good to great strikers with average technique. Lukaku, Haaland and Osimhen comes to mind.

 

[Doracle]

His passing is good. Take a look at his highlights from last season. Often perfectly weighted and surprisingly good vision. Technique in general isn't very good, I agree, but there are plenty of good to great strikers with average technique. Lukaku, Haaland and Osimhen comes to mind.

I fundamentally disagree with the statement that his passing is good. He is slow in making passes, doesn’t have great vision and often hits bobbly or underhit passes to teammates. It’s, along with his control, the aspect of his game that most needs work.

The second clip of the Spain match is a great example of something I see commonly in his passing. Instead of his winger having a great chance to run at Spain in some space, he instead has to wait for Hojlund’s pass to arrive behind him, by which point he’s lost forward momentum and the Spain defender is right with him.

 

[FrankWhite]

And i keep saying that truth is in the middle. He is not a bad striker (i am happy having him as backup) but he is not material (and doesn't have potential) to be our starting no9. He doesn't have tools to be a striker who makes difference.
I am sorry but imo, top club which has ambition for highest prizes just must have class striker who makes difference on the pitch. That is why i try to avoid using his numbers. I judge him by his impact on the pitch. Was there any game where he "killed it" and was constant threat to opposition defence?

I repeat; when i talk about Hojlund i talk about Hojlund, first choice Man Utd striker. Not in the way "Hojlund is shit and must be sold".

You can replace Hojlund with pretty much every other United and attacker barring Antony and the statement would still be true.

 

[Leonzo1]

While I think Rasmus isn't good enough to start for us, judging strikers in the "system" we played in for the past 18 months is very hard. we create so few chances for our CF that we can't really judge them. it's like blaming the GK while conceding 50 chances a game.

all the (rightful) criticism on this thread towards hojlund addresses some weaknesses to his game like passing, hold-up play, and technique. but if we were creating chances regularly and converting them at a decent rate, those weaknesses would be far less important because he was scoring goals, which is what a striker needs to be doing.

One thing we can definitely say about him (in my opinion) is that he is a very good finisher, so if and when we start creating chances for him under Amorim, that will be the time to make a judgment on whether he is good enough for us or not. currently, the amount of chances we create for him is so ridiculously low that I can't recall a single big miss from him (which I'm sure there were but that's kind of the point).

 

[FrankWhite]

The first time I got worried about Hojlund was the season before he joined us. There was a game where Atlanta scored 7 and he didn't get a single goal contribution despite playing pretty much the whole game. I remember thinking, hmm, how's that possible?

 

[Schmeichels pinky]

And i keep saying that truth is in the middle. He is not a bad striker (i am happy having him as backup) but he is not material (and doesn't have potential) to be our starting no9. He doesn't have tools to be a striker who makes difference.
I am sorry but imo, top club which has ambition for highest prizes just must have class striker who makes difference on the pitch. That is why i try to avoid using his numbers. I judge him by his impact on the pitch. Was there any game where he "killed it" and was constant threat to opposition defence?

I repeat; when i talk about Hojlund i talk about Hojlund, first choice Man Utd striker. Not in the way "Hojlund is shit and must be sold".

If all posts were that nuanced this thread would be more tolerable. Unfortunately they aren’t, but it seems like we just differ on how to judge his potential. I think he can improve quite a lot and has the basic tools to become good enough for us, you don’t. That’s fair. I also think that to settle the matter we need to see him play when our team actually functions as a unit. It’s simply impossible to know how he would have done in a team like Liverpool, but my best bet is he’d have had loads of chances and bagged most of them.

 

[romufc]

While I think Rasmus isn't good enough to start for us, judging strikers in the "system" we played in for the past 18 months is very hard. we create so few chances for our CF that we can't really judge them. it's like blaming the GK while conceding 50 chances a game.

all the (rightful) criticism on this thread towards hojlund addresses some weaknesses to his game like passing, hold-up play, and technique. but if we were creating chances regularly and converting them at a decent rate, those weaknesses would be far less important because he was scoring goals, which is what a striker needs to be doing.

One thing we can definitely say about him (in my opinion) is that he is a very good finisher, so if and when we start creating chances for him under Amorim, that will be the time to make a judgment on whether he is good enough for us or not. currently, the amount of chances we create for him is so ridiculously low that I can't recall a single big miss from him (which I'm sure there were but that's kind of the point).

Whilst I somewhat agree with you, it also has to do with a poor performing player.

I look at teams who have top strikers, they score goals, Kane for Spurs scored goals under any manager, from Poch to Conte.

Its up to the player to get into goal scoring positions. The issue I have with Rasmus is he is always 1 second late to every goal scoring action. I have seen enough cut backs where he just misses it, which means he is not proactive in the box.

I have also seen McTominay get into better goal scoring positions than Rasmus, which tells you its him not the team.

If he was making intelligent runs / movement he would score goals.

 

[Schmeichels pinky]

The first time I got worried about Hojlund was the season before he joined us. There was a game where Atlanta scored 7 and he didn't get a single goal contribution despite playing pretty much the whole game. I remember thinking, hmm, how's that possible?

Ok, but he scored 10 in 1900 minutes (21 full games) in his first season in a big league. Surely that didn’t worry you?

 

[Cathy Ferguson]

I fundamentally disagree with the statement that his passing is good. He is slow in making passes, doesn’t have great vision and often hits bobbly or underhit passes to teammates. It’s, along with his control, the aspect of his game that most needs work.

The second clip of the Spain match is a great example of something I see commonly in his passing. Instead of his winger having a great chance to run at Spain in some space, he instead has to wait for Hojlund’s pass to arrive behind him, by which point he’s lost forward momentum and the Spain defender is right with him.

Passing, control, technique is not always easy to improve when you are 21 and that’s why I think Höjlund will find it difficult at the highest level. He can finish with his left foot but his right foot is much weaker.

 

[Grand Vizier]

I fundamentally disagree with the statement that his passing is good. He is slow in making passes, doesn’t have great vision and often hits bobbly or underhit passes to teammates. It’s, along with his control, the aspect of his game that most needs work.

The second clip of the Spain match is a great example of something I see commonly in his passing. Instead of his winger having a great chance to run at Spain in some space, he instead has to wait for Hojlund’s pass to arrive behind him, by which point he’s lost forward momentum and the Spain defender is right with him.

We could go back and forth with examples of great passes and bad passes, but I don't think this season should be used to determine his qualities. He looks completely devoid of any confidence and it shows in his game. I think he has shown in games he is capable of making great passes, and it was apparent last season. As for the underhit passes you are talking about, I honestly can't recall these at all. What games (United ones) are you talking about?

 

[Mike Smalling]

Dropped for Yussuf Poulsen. Yikes.

 

[santeria13]

One thing I have noticed is we make a high amount of cutbacks with no one anywhere near the 6 yard box. This is where your striker should be.

 

[Hester_manc]

Dropped for Yussuf Poulsen. Yikes.

I think he is dropped for Dolberg. Poulsen is playing instead of Grønbæk.

 

[CannibalSpectre]

Dropped for Yussuf Poulsen. Yikes.

Which is damning for both him and Dolberg because Paulsen doesn't even start for Leipzig in the Bundesliga and is a cup player now. Dolberg has at least scored 8 league goals for Anderlecht this season and if I was Reimer I'd currently gamble on him over Hojlund and Paulsen despite his poor NT return. Denmark are really lacking in quality forwards both old and young it seems

Edit: It appears both Dolberg and Paulsen are starting against Serbia

 

[Mike Smalling]

I think he is dropped for Dolberg. Poulsen is playing instead of Grønbæk.

Maybe. My app showed us lining up in a 4-4-2 with Poulsen and Dolberg up front together, and I'd say Dolberg is usually 2nd choice. But let's see how the team actually plays - maybe Poulsen plays wide.

 

[Lyng]

Make or break for him. If he can't improve under Amorim we should get rid. I still have hope he can though. In regards to the national team I don't worry to much as I don't rate Riemer at all.

 

[Zed is not dead]

Denmark tonight look just as shit offensively without him as they did with him

 

[Grand Vizier]

How is Højlund absolutely knackered after 20 minutes? Shocking.

 

[Hester_manc]

Højlund came on with about 30 minutes back, and he played well.

 

[Vidooq]

He looks massive in real life. Hoping he can put his frame into a good use with Ruben.

 

[RedRocket9908]

0 goals for Denmark in 12 appearances now during 2024, how can people see this and still claim its his teammates stopping him scoring for us

 

[ValenciasDrilledCrosses]

0 goals for Denmark in 12 appearances now during 2024, how can people see this and still claim its his teammates stopping him scoring for us

He hasn't been good enough but Denmark are absolutely dire and a shit barometer for anyone scoring. He was on the bench yesterday and the forwards who replaced him didn't do any better.

 

[Grand Vizier]

0 goals for Denmark in 12 appearances now during 2024, how can people see this and still claim its his teammates stopping him scoring for us

I mean, you could just watch our games. Obviously it is not just their fault, he should take a lot of the blame, but he could have easily scored more goals if our players had passed to him. One example, and there are many more on YouTube.



2:05

 

[Shark]

Rashford has been in woeful form for three years, and certain posters on here are still giving him the benefit of the doubt. This 21 year old has been in poor form since the start of the season and he's being completely written off. Typical stuff.

 

[JJ12]

0 goals for Denmark in 12 appearances now during 2024, how can people see this and still claim its his teammates stopping him scoring for us

do you watch a lot of their games then?

 

[RedRocket9908]

He hasn't been good enough but Denmark are absolutely dire and a shit barometer for anyone scoring. He was on the bench yesterday and the forwards who replaced him didn't do any better.

Over the same 12 games Christian Eriksen who's legs have alledgedly gone has scored 3

 

[ValenciasDrilledCrosses]

Over the same 12 games Christian Eriksen who's legs have alledgedly gone has scored 3

Doesn't provide any evidence they create chances for their forwards

 

[Schmeichels pinky]

Over the same 12 games Christian Eriksen who's legs have alledgedly gone has scored 3

Maybe the way they play has created more space for him?

 

[RuudTom83]

No one is claiming Rasmus is R9 reincarnated.

He is inexperienced and has a lot to learn, but he is 21 years old and scored 16 goals for United in his first season in England. Nobody knows how good he will be yet, just try to enjoy watching his progress.

At some point supports just need to stop moaning about absolutely everything connected to the club.

 

[Schmeichels pinky]

No one is claiming Rasmus is R9 reincarnated.

He is inexperienced and has a lot to learn, but he is 21 years old and scored 16 goals for United in his first season in England. Nobody knows how good he will be yet, just try to enjoy watching his progress.

At some point supports just need to stop moaning about absolutely everything connected to the club.

Amen

 

[Rozay]

Rashford has been in woeful form for three years, and certain posters on here are still giving him the benefit of the doubt. This 21 year old has been in poor form since the start of the season and he's being completely written off. Typical stuff.

I think that’s because of what Rashford did before those three years (well, 18 months now if we’re telling the truth of course). With Hojlund, he is yet to prove that he is at all capable of the level required, so it will be harder to for some to conclude he will just reach the level. With Rashford, it is at least a ‘return’ to the level some are clinging to.

Ultimately, people judge players on what they see. People get so precious on here about ‘writing a player off’ - anyone is fully entitled to think a player they have watched for 18 months is a bit shit if that’s what they think. This notion that football watchers are supposed to reserve judgement on all players until they are 25 with 250 games, in the perfect system, in a successful team is nonsense.

By the same token, people shouldn’t say Yamal is good because he’s only 17 so let him play 3 seasons first.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

The first time I got worried about Hojlund was the season before he joined us. There was a game where Atlanta scored 7 and he didn't get a single goal contribution despite playing pretty much the whole game. I remember thinking, hmm, how's that possible?

Stat culture isn’t great for this. It’s not like we think Yorkie is a worry for zero goal contributions here despite playing the whole game.

Nor do we think Rio Ferdinand is a shite defender for conceding 7 for West Ham.

https://www.premierleague.com/match/3211

 

[tenpoless]

If anyone tells me we can get a 21 y.o CF capable of scoring 15+ goals in a season wearing United shirt, who has a decent pace, and not a one trick pony then I'd be very excited. Obviously he is no longer exciting for some as he's no longer the new kid on the block. But his output has been good. And CF should be judged mainly on output. Don't ever forget that. Fergie didn't sign strikers for them to look busy but scoring feck all.

 

[Grand Vizier]

The first time I got worried about Hojlund was the season before he joined us. There was a game where Atlanta scored 7 and he didn't get a single goal contribution despite playing pretty much the whole game. I remember thinking, hmm, how's that possible?

So which game was this? They only scored 7 or more once and that was in their 8-2 thrashing against Salernitana where Højlund did score.

 

[romufc]

If anyone tells me we can get a 21 y.o CF capable of scoring 15+ goals in a season wearing United shirt, who has a decent pace, and not a one trick pony then I'd be very excited. Obviously he is no longer exciting for some as he's no longer the new kid on the block. But his output has been good. And CF should be judged mainly on output. Don't ever forget that. Fergie didn't sign strikers for them to look busy but scoring feck all.

The problem is his output came in a very small purple patch. Also over time he seems to have regressed.

His last 2 games have been 2/10 performances, we scored goals under Ruud and he couldn't even get a chance, its quite telling isn't it?

We can talk about the team around him and what not, I have seen Rashford and Bruno score in pathetic teams. This team isn't as bad as those teams, yet he struggles to get involved in games.

He has 6 months to prove himself.

 

[Borys]

The problem is his output came in a very small purple patch. Also over time he seems to have regressed.

His last 2 games have been 2/10 performances, we scored goals under Ruud and he couldn't even get a chance, its quite telling isn't it?

We can talk about the team around him and what not, I have seen Rashford and Bruno score in pathetic teams. This team isn't as bad as those teams, yet he struggles to get involved in games.

He has 6 months to prove himself.

That's where I stand as well, in fact it's exactly my opinion. McTominay was getting at the end of chances regularly, Bruno, Amad, Eriksen (! - shown by both United and country) seem to be getting some pieces of the chances pie, and this guy seems busy wrestling with defenders (what is one of his weaknesses as well...).

It seems like we got him on a back of a purple patch, he had another nice patch last season, and it almost felt like he's scoring every chance he got. I have no problem with his finishing, I do worry about every other aspect of his game.