[Wayne's World]

He's not ready to be leading a supposedly top side challenging for trophies/CL. We needed to sign a striker who is in the peak but we are Manchester United who are obsessed with signing potential and not the finished article

 

[Cassidy]

The biggest problem for me with him this season is his mentality decline.

If you watch games 1 year ago, he was energetic, chasing for loose balls. Now he doesn't chase and run that much anymore and started to become a whining guy.

It is a common theme for almost all our youngsters (from Januzaj to Lingard to Martial/Rashford/Greenwood to Branden Williams to Garnacho): promising start > overhyped > complacent > "feeling like I have made it even though I haven't" >> fail to live up to expectation and fall to mediocrity. Seems like Mainoo starts to have the same problem too

Thats what happens when you play in a shite team. You think people like losing every week?

 

[FrankDrebin]

Let's not beat around the bush though, he's not exactly great himself.
Actually, he's quite mediocre.

 

[ScholesBrain]

Thats what happens when you play in a shite team. You think people like losing every week?

I don't think it is related.

Cunha plays in a relegation fodder yet he is still all energetic.

Our young players seem to be too obsessed with their fame and online engagement.Our club fail to keep our young players on the ground. It is my observation and my take.

 

[sillwuka]

His first touch is a bit similar to Lukaku's. It's impacting the team when we need him to shield or control the ball.

Would Chris Wood do a better job in this side? i'm just curious

 

[Baneofthegame]

He can’t actually hold up the ball well, he essentially loves to lean into the defender who then just taps the ball away from him or he takes a poor touch and it doesn’t matter anyway.

 

[Fortitude]

For a players who is apparently pacey, he never ever runs in behind. Wolves pushed up with a high line today there was ample opportunity to run in behind and stretch them/turn them round, but no just stands Infront of his defender demanding everything to feet so he can 'control it' straight into trouble.

The players even played a few through balls and balls over the top for him and he wasn't even attempting to move for them.

He's a good wrestler who can kick the ball quite hard with his left foot, and that's about the sum of his talent.

Really really poor signing who would struggle in the championship.

No, no he isn’t, which is a massive part of the problem; he’s categorically awful at wrestling with defenders yet is insistent upon doing so.

 

[FrankDrebin]

His first touch is a bit similar to Lukaku's. It's impacting the team when we need him to shield or control the ball.

Would Chris Wood do a better job in this side? i'm just curious

The ball would stick to him uptop for one, largely because he's great at holding the line and the players would feel confident in passing to him.
Would he be effective in the box ? Again it boils down to the confidence from his teammates. Maybe the players just don't have that belief that Hojlund is effective in the box ( he's pretty shite in the air for one).

 

[Chaky_Best]

Always said that he has potential, but he's too rough, relies too much on his power and when a defense are stronger physiclaly than him he fades.

Not good enough to bring us to top 4 when our entire front line is poor.

He should be a working striker when the two wingers are excellent, keeping busy the two central defenders and creating spaces for other.

He has a VERY poor first touch, not a great header and to be honest I don't think his game back of the net is that great.

Too late because we spent 70M on him and we're so poor that he won"t develop in a Ruud 2.0.

 

[Paul778]

The ball would stick to him uptop for one, largely because he's great at holding the line and the players would feel confident in passing to him.
Would he be effective in the box ? Again it boils down to the confidence from his teammates. Maybe the players just don't have that belief that Hojlund is effective in the box ( he's pretty shite in the air for one).

Whilst I agree in general you cannot judge that based on the service he is receiving.

Right now any crosses going into the box typically look like this. The ball goes out to the left where Dalot receives it in lots of space, typically only fronted up by one defender. At this point, Dalot puts his foot on the ball, then rolls it back slowly for Bruno to whip the ball in from well outside the penalty area. Clearly after all this time the defence is well set, and normally it's only Rasmus at this point in the box. The crosses aren't particularly fast or accurate so Rasmus is then expected to outmuscle the primary CB for each team. Not going to happen. NB: The same happens on the right as well most of the time.

I believe Rasmus would be an aerial threat to a 'turned' defence.

I truly think that until we sign a proper LWB Antony is likely the best option on that side. He works really hard and he has a left foot - the fact he doesn't have a right foot is a slight problem.

 

[FrankDrebin]

But Rasmus's lack of aerial presence was brought up when we signed him. It was a apparent weakness in his game in his highlight reel and we're seeing that now, whether in or outside the area.
He looks unnatural when he competes in the air.

 

[Cassidy]

I don't think it is related.

Cunha plays in a relegation fodder yet he is still all energetic.

Our young players seem to be too obsessed with their fame and online engagement.Our club fail to keep our young players on the ground. It is my observation and my take.

Wolves don’t expect to win every week. Relative to their expectations they don’t lose as much as United. Its not even close

 

[Ekeke]

His first touch is a bit similar to Lukaku's. It's impacting the team when we need him to shield or control the ball.

Would Chris Wood do a better job in this side? i'm just curious

Yes. I think quite obviously

I dont think hes a striker who would have us in a title challenge, but he does the basics 10 times better than any striker we have and scores goals.

 

[Denis79]

Loan in January to a lower premier league team is the way forwards. Somewhere like Leicester would be ideal as they will need to rotate Vardy so he should get some games there. Then loan him again next season.

By 26/27 he will still only be 23. That’s the time to make a call. If he’s done well on loan and improved his first touch, passing, movement etc then we can then think about reintegrating him into the squad.

I think this is the best option. We won't recuperate what we spent and he isn't ready to lead the line so a loan is the best option for all parties, including him.

 

[Dearg hÉireann]

It's quite unbelievable how much we paid for a completely unproven striker, considering how bloody skint we are. He looks totally lost to me.
He may well end up being a good striker but at the present moment he's nowhere near good enough and with him and Zirkzee as our only options we're well and truly screwed.

 

[Toshey]

He has a good pass in him, also good finishing. Somewhat press resistant.
He is incredibly bad at heading the ball and his movement in the box is almost on amateur level.
Shouldn't be our main striker and never should have been. He has so much to learn and I fear it's too late to teach him how to head a ball.
But the movement can be coached.

 

[Von Mistelroum]

He doesn't get the service, because we have very poor players behind him. However, it's clear that he's not making the right runs often, and that he's very lightweight too. Always seemingly overpowered by any player he comes into contact with. I had high hopes and I still think he can work on things but I don't think he's going to be our first choice striker once we finally start getting decent players in...one day.

 

[Lynty]

Got to feel bad for the guy really. Hadn't really cemented his status in Atalanta before we spent big on his 'potential'. Now's he's expected to lead the line for United at 21 years of age in the possibly the worst squad in my lifetime.

Rooney at the same age had Saha, Ole and Ronaldo and we even got in Larsson on a loan to help out after Ruud left.

It's shocking that we ended last season with negative goal difference and decided Hojlund and Zirkzee would change that.

 

[WhatIsLove]

20 Year old joins club with bad positioning in box, lightweight, struggles to hold ball

Manchester United... Home of nurturing youth supposedly. Club expected to teacher play and work on his weaknesses with training multiple times a week, the best strikers as coaches that the world had to offer.

1.5Yrs later... 21 year old still has bad positioning because it doesnt look like anybodies taught him, is lightweight as nobodies put him on a diet plan or thrown him into the gym, struggles to get service nevermind hold the ball.



We have to begin functioning as a midtable club and develop players really. We are our own enemies at this point and whenever a bad player joins us we fool ourselves into thinking that they snubbed our rivals for us. We are not a big team right now, nowhere near it. We have to begin functioning and doing the right things a midtable club would do. If we take a step back it will allow us to LEAP.

 

[Paul778]

He doesn't get the service, because we have very poor players behind him. However, it's clear that he's not making the right runs often, and that he's very lightweight too. Always seemingly overpowered by any player he comes into contact with. I had high hopes and I still think he can work on things but I don't think he's going to be our first choice striker once we finally start getting decent players in...one day.

To be honest, he needs to have confidence that someone is going to find him. Noone has their head up and even if they did, a flat ball straight towards him isn't giving him a fighting chance.

 

[Schmeichels pinky]

He’s not good in the air and never has been. It’s his one obvious weakness and it was known when we bought him.
It doesn’t worry me though as he can improve in that regard. What does worry me is his decline since last season. He’s been more inconsistent and yesterday was one of his worst performances for us. His type of player needs confidence more than anyone because they need to make every touch count, but he seemed devoid of that vs Wolves. He also seemed extremely frustrated with his teammates - understandibly, as he has no way of knowing if and when they will play him. He had to fight 3 defenders all the time. I know he’s getting stick for his movement, but if you look at the inconsistency of passes he gets and doesn’t get you can see why he’s struggling. Haaland knows that his teammates will try to find him whenever he makes a run. With Hojlund it’s the opposite even when he makes perfectly timed runs. The same with crosses.
Just hope we’ve reached the bottom now and Amorim can build his confidence again.

 

[redshaw]

Yeah, heading ability is another knock sadly and known before. He could also be making odd runs and positioning to hide from heading. Zirkzee is a link player being rotated with Hojlund so again not sure what he can offer, he seems very passive as well, two 6ft3/4 players not able to head to offer an alternative in attack

Kane, Giroud, brilliant headers. McTom has come on and at least offered the runs and angles to head and score. It's a very ill-fitting attack we have and has been dead for 2 years since Rashford stopped.

Casemiro got a few headers not being on the pitch long at Wolves, it shows how some players just don't want that type of ball in and for Case it's been a hallmark of his time in the box for us since joining, a natural header.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

He’s not good in the air and never has been. It’s his one obvious weakness and it was known when we bought him.
It doesn’t worry me though as he can improve in that regard. What does worry me is his decline since last season. He’s been more inconsistent and yesterday was one of his worst performances for us. His type of player needs confidence more than anyone because they need to make every touch count, but he seemed devoid of that vs Wolves. He also seemed extremely frustrated with his teammates - understandibly, as he has no way of knowing if and when they will play him. I know he’s getting stick for his movement, but if you look at the inconsistency of passes he gets and doesn’t get you can see why he’s struggling. Haaland knows that his teammates will try to find him whenever he makes a run. With Hojlund it’s the opposite even when he makes perfectly timed runs. The same with crosses.
Just hope we’ve reached the bottom now and Amorim can build his confidence again.

Yeah, I'm not buying into the confidence excuse, not with those big man Instagram posts of his

 

[FriedClams]

He's honestly just not good.

 

[Rex Banner]

Signing an unproven 20 year old to be our main striker was insane. It's impossible to put into words how incompetently this club has been run.

He'd probably be 10x the player he is now if he'd have stayed at Atalanta.

 

[Fortitude]

Sigbing an unproven 20 year old to be our main striker was insane. It's impossible to put into words how incompetently this club has been run.

He'd probably be 10x the player he is now if he'd have stayed at Atalanta.

Sad thing is, you’re very probably right.

 

[thisisnottaken1]

Nice to see the Martial FC lifetime membership is still valid.

Hojlund was poor today, maybe he's just not ready for this level yet, he's got a lot of learning to do and learning on the job at a side like Utd when they are in this mess isn't a good place to be.

I still think he's a good player and will get better, but we definitely need to see a more experienced forward coming in to take the burden off him.

Yeah, pretty much how I feel as well.

 

[Sarni]

His first touch is a bit similar to Lukaku's. It's impacting the team when we need him to shield or control the ball.

Would Chris Wood do a better job in this side? i'm just curious

Wood is comfortably better than Hojlund, and getting to that level (though different in terms of style) would be quite close to Hojlund’s best case development.

 

[CannibalSpectre]

Chris Wood is twice the player Hojlund is. Hojlund might not even have the potential to ever get to Chris Wood's level.

They are both the same height but Chris Wood routinely wins headers and bullies opposing defenders all game long. Hojlund gets toyed around like a ragdoll by defenders. Chris Wood guarantees double digit in league goals as long as he is a starter despite playing for relegation fodders, Hojlund would not even be close this season.

I agree in all fairness.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

You just can't get your head around us spending £100 million and ending up with Zirkzee and Hojlund as our main strikers. You'd expect Berbatov or Saha class for that money.

If you're been unkind they look like the sort of punts we used to make on Bellion or Dong Fangzhuo, or if you're been very kind they look a level or two below Forlan or Hernandez, all of which were bought for prices where little harm was done if it didn't work out.

These two could damage us for years if they don't improve or we can't sell them

 

[Sarni]

You just can't get your head around us spending £100 million and ending up with Zirkzee and Hojlund as our main strikers. You'd expect Berbatov or Saha class for that money.

If you're been unkind they look like the sort of punts we used to make on Bellion or Dong Fangzhuo, or if you're been very kind they look a level or two below Forlan or Hernandez, all of which were bought for prices where little harm was done if it didn't work out.

These two could damage us for years if they don't improve or we can't sell them

It’s also an indictment of how poor the current pool of strikers is. PSG spent significant amounts on Ramos and Kolo Muani, neither of them are good. You have Arsenal playing virtually without a striker, Liverpool rotating their £85m striker who has hardly been good in what is a fluid, great team. There is just so little quality out there.

That said, we have somehow managed to spend £110m and land what is possibly the worst striker duo in the league. Remarkable.

 

[bond19821982]

It’s also an indictment of how poor the current pool of strikers is. PSG spent significant amounts on Ramos and Kolo Muani, neither of them are good. You have Arsenal playing virtually without a striker, Liverpool rotating their £85m striker who has hardly been good in what is a fluid, great team. There is just so little quality out there.

Agree with this. There isn't enough of them and I'm not keen in us spending big towards the likes of Osimhen.

Just see if Watkins is available. If not try the bargain ones until we get the right ones in.

 

[Fortitude]

You just can't get your head around us spending £100 million and ending up with Zirkzee and Hojlund as our main strikers. You'd expect Berbatov or Saha class for that money.

If you're been unkind they look like the sort of punts we used to make on Bellion or Dong Fangzhuo, or if you're been very kind they look a level or two below Forlan or Hernandez, all of which were bought for prices where little harm was done if it didn't work out.

These two could damage us for years if they don't improve or we can't sell them

Bit harsh to lump them together; Zirkzee’s fee is speculative punt money for a forward these days. The club absolutely flubbed with Højlund, and put both he and us in a negative spiral via shocking planning and a leap of faith on a very raw player at an obscenely high price point.

 

[Ekeke]

Bit harsh to lump them together; Zirkzee’s fee is speculative punt money for a forward these days. The club absolutely flubbed with Højlund, and put both he and us in a negative spiral via shocking planning and a leap of faith on a very raw player at an obscenely high price point.

You think £36.5 million is a punt?

What were Mbeumo and Wissa then?

They cost £13.7 million combined and have 19 league goals in half a season.

Its also more money than Chelsea's first choice striker Jackson who cost £30.67 million and has 9 league goals.

 

[Fortitude]

You think £36.5 million is a punt?

What were Mbeumo and Wissa then?

They cost £13.7 million combined and have 19 league goals in half a season.

Yep. Expensive so far as punts go, but nothing extraordinary. We don’t operate in the markets to be getting players at Hail Mary prices and we’re not quoted the same prices as those that can/do.

 

[Sarni]

You think £36.5 million is a punt?

What were Mbeumo and Wissa then?

They cost £13.7 million combined and have 19 league goals in half a season.

Its also more money than Chelsea's first choice striker Jackson who cost £30.67 million and has 9 league goals.

£36m is fine for a Dutch international who impressed in a slightly lesser league for a good team. It’s just that we took the wrong punt. Should have just got Gakpo when he was available. It’s ironic that we signed so many Dutch/Eredivisie players over the last 3 years but the best 3 were landed by our rivals (Timber, Gakpo and Gravenberch).

 

[dutchred]

£36m is fine for a Dutch international who impressed in a slightly lesser league for a good team. It’s just that we took the wrong punt. Should have just got Gakpo when he was available. It’s ironic that we signed so many Dutch/Eredivisie players over the last 3 years but the best 3 were landed by our rivals (Timber, Gakpo and Gravenberch).

Don't forget Kudus

 

[Rex Banner]

You think £36.5 million is a punt?

What were Mbeumo and Wissa then?

They cost £13.7 million combined and have 19 league goals in half a season.

Its also more money than Chelsea's first choice striker Jackson who cost £30.67 million and has 9 league goals.

Weird examples to give. Mbeumo was bought 5 years ago when Brentford were in the Championship. Brentford just have a competent scouting department.

£36.5m is maybe too much to spend on a punt, but this is Manchester United. We spent more than twice that on Hojlund in the hope that he might be good.

 

[Gandalf]

£36m is fine for a Dutch international who impressed in a slightly lesser league for a good team. It’s just that we took the wrong punt. Should have just got Gakpo when he was available. It’s ironic that we signed so many Dutch/Eredivisie players over the last 3 years but the best 3 were landed by our rivals (Timber, Gakpo and Gravenberch).

The problem with this statement is the assumption that Gakpo et al would have succeeded here. All of the evidence points to the probability that they would be warming the bench with the majority of the fan base slating them online and demanding they be shipped out at the first opportunity.

It is not that Liverpool are signing better players so much as it is they are simply a much more functional team than we are which allows players to succeed and achieve their potential. Gakpo was hardly pulling up trees initially but he did not need to and has slowly grown in stature in that team, the same with Gravenberch. We expect instant sensational performances with no real acknowledgment of the fact that we are asking players to succeed in what we know is a toxic and dysfunctional environment.

 

[The Firestarter]

Remember how people kept saying Berbatov is not "United level" back then? Now the same people would probably bite both of your hands off to get a similar player.