[Sarni]

I can honestly see him going on a loan to Championship next year if we sign a first choice striker. Maybe he'd gain some confidence back by scoring some goals, at this point I don't even see any PL sides willing to commit to play him on a weekly basis as they seem to all have better forwards.

He's going to be just 22 in February, give him a couple of seasons in Championship / a different league, e.g. Bundesliga, and he may actually come decent. He'll never be a top striker but we could perhaps make him a functional bench option at very least.

 

[buckooo1978]

Interesting to read some of the comments and I disagree with most of them.

Last night he was completely isolated at times but never stopped running.

He received a few balls into channels but not many and invariably the balls up to him were not to feet, awkward to control and he ends up wrestling.

one great run behind and close to scoring

I don't think Hojlund is a bit issue in this system

 

[Mike Smalling]

It's Nicklas Bendtner, only for 70 million.

Bendtner (for all his idiocy) was a lot better than Højlund currently is. At least we'd have a threat from crosses.

 

[Fortitude]

I can honestly see him going on a loan to Championship next year if we sign a first choice striker. Maybe he'd gain some confidence back by scoring some goals, at this point I don't even see any PL sides willing to commit to play him on a weekly basis as they seem to all have better forwards.

He's going to be just 22 in February, give him a couple of seasons in Championship / a different league, e.g. Bundesliga, and he may actually come decent. He'll never be a top striker but we could perhaps make him a functional bench option at very least.

Would send him off to Bundesliga, ideally. Lots of opportunity to round out his game there and learn how to run channels consistently. The kind of free-scoring league with pace that is a good segue to the PL.

 

[Mike Smalling]

I can honestly see him going on a loan to Championship next year if we sign a first choice striker. Maybe he'd gain some confidence back by scoring some goals, at this point I don't even see any PL sides willing to commit to play him on a weekly basis as they seem to all have better forwards.

He's going to be just 22 in February, give him a couple of seasons in Championship / a different league, e.g. Bundesliga, and he may actually come decent. He'll never be a top striker but we could perhaps make him a functional bench option at very least.

Wouldn't we need to bring in two strikers for this to be an option? Even if we got a really good striker, we would want a back-up. I'd still much rather have Højlund as back-up than anyone else we currently have.

 

[Apokalips]

Interesting to read some of the comments and I disagree with most of them.

Last night he was completely isolated at times but never stopped running.

He received a few balls into channels but not many and invariably the balls up to him were not to feet, awkward to control and he ends up wrestling.

one great run behind and close to scoring

I don't think Hojlund is a bit issue in this system

Of course he is a big issue, he isolates himself to a greater degree via poor movement and positioning. Added to that when he does get the ball, his touch is poor and he does nothing with it. You put a top class player up top and they would get many more touches and be much more involved. The best strikers often find goals even in poor teams, hence why they cost so much. Too many people speak as if a CF is just there to eat what is served on a plate for them, as opposed to actually having any sort of clever movement or link up play. CBs love it when a CF gets tight to them, it means they know exactly where the player is and can feel where he wants to go and what he wants to do and have a big say in that outcome - the best forwards mix it up and move arouund away from CBs dragging them around into uncomfortable positions, make them question whether they follow or stay where they are while they also have to keep an eye on where the ball is and any other potential runners. Instead, Hojlund cuddles them so they know that the ball may not come, as he is tightly marked and if the ball does come his way it is straightforward to deal with and any other runners can be dealt with by teammates as they are not going to run through the zone that Hojlund is hugging them in and make them decide whether to stick with Hojlund or leave him for the runner.

It was clear from early on that this was an issue, there was a time when Hojlund had touched the ball less than Martial in twice the amount of minutes - that highlighted clearly that the player himself is a huge reason for that lack of involvement. Whenever people talk about Hojlund positively, it is clutching at straws - 'he had one good run', 'he had one good shot', 'he was in a great position one time and didn't get picked out'. We used to find a league top scoring Berbatov, a disappointing striker!

Even if we had signed a young Wayne Rooney, it would be ridiculous to expect him to be the lone CF with no other quality around him let alone a player who had less than 10 league goals in a top league - baffling decision making. Players with more hype like Vinicius were brought in for big money to learn behind actual quality like Ronaldo and Bale, not immediately plopped in. Ultimately, Hojlund cost wonderkid money and is our starting 9, he is nowhere close to good enough for that role or status. Maybe some day he will be good enough, but he is far from it currently and that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

 

[Scriblerus]

Of course he is a big issue, he isolates himself to a greater degree via poor movement and positioning. Added to that when he does get the ball, his touch is poor and he does nothing with it. You put a top class player up top and they would get many more touches and be much more involved. The best strikers often find goals even in poor teams, hence why they cost so much. Too many people speak as if a CF is just there to eat what is served on a plate for them, as opposed to actually having any sort of clever movement or link up play. CBs love it when a CF gets tight to them, it means they know exactly where the player is and can feel where he wants to go and what he wants to do and have a big say in that outcome - the best forwards mix it up and move arouund away from CBs dragging them around into uncomfortable positions, make them question whether they follow or stay where they are while they also have to keep an eye on where the ball is and any other potential runners. Instead, Hojlund cuddles them so they know that the ball may not come, as he is tightly marked and if the ball does come his way it is straightforward to deal with and any other runners can be dealt with by teammates as they are not going to run through the zone that Hojlund is hugging them in and make them decide whether to stick with Hojlund or leave him for the runner.

It was clear from early on that this was an issue, there was a time when Hojlund had touched the ball less than Martial in twice the amount of minutes - that highlighted clearly that the player himself is a huge reason for that lack of involvement. Whenever people talk about Hojlund positively, it is clutching at straws - 'he had one good run', 'he had one good shot', 'he was in a great position one time and didn't get picked out'. We used to find a league top scoring Berbatov, a disappointing striker!

Even if we had signed a young Wayne Rooney, it would be ridiculous to expect him to be the lone CF with no other quality around him let alone a player who had less than 10 league goals in a top league - baffling decision making. Players with more hype like Vinicius were brought in for big money to learn behind actual quality like Ronaldo and Bale, not immediately plopped in. Ultimately, Hojlund cost wonderkid money and is our starting 9, he is nowhere close to good enough for that role or status. Maybe some day he will be good enough, but he is far from it currently and that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Anyone else remember those nights when Rooney was paying alone upfront - usually in European games - and spent ninety minutes looking increasingly frustrated and out of touch while having barely a sniff? Hojlund may not be Rooney, but he has scored a couple of exceptionally neat goals in Europe this season (Bodo, Plzen, both brilliant touches to set up the goal). He has shown enough ability to at least give him a chance to play in a functioning team and see how he looks then.

 

[RedC]

I thought he did quite well, a lot is being asked of him at the moment.

 

[Gregawa]

I thought he did quite well in the first 30 minutes of the second half. All our promising movements came through him.

For a 21 year old he's doing about as best as he could be. Garnacho at 20 gets a pass because he's young, heaps of people were upset with Zirkzee getting booed as he's just a lad, so I think we should afford the same leniency to Rasmus. He's definitely shown glimpses of what he can be, so keep him going until those glimpses become more consistent is what I think.

 

[yamo123x]

Another poor showing from the wrestler.

He fluffed a good chance in the first half and spent the rest of the time being man handled easily by Schar.

Not sure what he offers other than a career in the WWE or a bench option here. No way is he a solitary striker in this system.

 

[Top]

He was fine yesterday. By no means perfect, but I can think of at least 8 players that were worse.

 

[Sarni]

Wouldn't we need to bring in two strikers for this to be an option? Even if we got a really good striker, we would want a back-up. I'd still much rather have Højlund as back-up than anyone else we currently have.

Ideally we should be buying a first choice striker, someone of high quality, and bringing in an experienced back up for a small fee / free.

 

[Mike Smalling]

Ideally we should be buying a first choice striker, someone of high quality, and bringing in an experienced back up for a small fee / free.

Yeah, that would be good if possible. However, if we do get in a new first choice striker, replacing Højlund as back-up would probably be quite low on the list of priorities. It might be down to like 6th or 7th priority considering the state of the wing-backs, midfield and even central defense.

 

[Sarni]

Yeah, that would be good if possible. However, if we do get in a new first choice striker, replacing Højlund as back-up would probably be quite low on the list of priorities. It might be down to like 6th or 7th priority considering the state of the wing-backs, midfield and even central defense.

It shouldn't be though, as we would essentially be one injury away from being unable to score, at all.

 

[buckooo1978]

Of course he is a big issue, he isolates himself to a greater degree via poor movement and positioning. Added to that when he does get the ball, his touch is poor and he does nothing with it. You put a top class player up top and they would get many more touches and be much more involved. The best strikers often find goals even in poor teams, hence why they cost so much. Too many people speak as if a CF is just there to eat what is served on a plate for them, as opposed to actually having any sort of clever movement or link up play. CBs love it when a CF gets tight to them, it means they know exactly where the player is and can feel where he wants to go and what he wants to do and have a big say in that outcome - the best forwards mix it up and move arouund away from CBs dragging them around into uncomfortable positions, make them question whether they follow or stay where they are while they also have to keep an eye on where the ball is and any other potential runners. Instead, Hojlund cuddles them so they know that the ball may not come, as he is tightly marked and if the ball does come his way it is straightforward to deal with and any other runners can be dealt with by teammates as they are not going to run through the zone that Hojlund is hugging them in and make them decide whether to stick with Hojlund or leave him for the runner.

It was clear from early on that this was an issue, there was a time when Hojlund had touched the ball less than Martial in twice the amount of minutes - that highlighted clearly that the player himself is a huge reason for that lack of involvement. Whenever people talk about Hojlund positively, it is clutching at straws - 'he had one good run', 'he had one good shot', 'he was in a great position one time and didn't get picked out'. We used to find a league top scoring Berbatov, a disappointing striker!

Even if we had signed a young Wayne Rooney, it would be ridiculous to expect him to be the lone CF with no other quality around him let alone a player who had less than 10 league goals in a top league - baffling decision making. Players with more hype like Vinicius were brought in for big money to learn behind actual quality like Ronaldo and Bale, not immediately plopped in. Ultimately, Hojlund cost wonderkid money and is our starting 9, he is nowhere close to good enough for that role or status. Maybe some day he will be good enough, but he is far from it currently and that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

based on game last night, where I watched him closely, I disagree about movement.

the system felt like a 5-4-1 for long periods and Hojlund was buzzing around constantly, trying to find space.

Zirkzee played inside left until he went off and Mainoo played deeper.

Amad played very wide where I expected Mazraoui to play

in terms of system I felt we were all over the place with poor passing in midfield

 

[Mike Smalling]

It shouldn't be though, as we would essentially be one injury away from being unable to score, at all.

If we fix wingbacks and midfield, I think that wouldn't be such a huge problem. Højlund is average (at best), but made to look a lot worse by the team behind. Considering where the squad is now, having Højlund as back-up next year wouldn't be a disaster, in my opinion, as long as other positions are fixed.

But let's see what happens. Bringing in another back-up for a low fee would be ok, but I could see such a player not being that easy to find.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

He looks slower than he did last year to me, and I don't understand why he is always looks like he's really struggling to break free from the defender.

 

[Crackers]

I'd love to see how he'd do in team in good form, but I think we'll be waiting a while to see that. I'm trying to be objective about his failings, given the current shite and dysfunction we're enduring. He could do with some mentoring and 1-1 coaching. Being expected to lead the line like that can't be easy.

 

[Shinjch]

Need an emergency loan in his position. Even if it is someone like a Weghorst who clearly isn't that talented, but at least knows the position and knows how to impact those around him, while allowing the team to move up the pitch. Disaster.

 

[Mike Smalling]

He looks slower than he did last year to me, and I don't understand why he is always looks like he's really struggling to break free from the defender.

He doesn't use his body very well. Just looking at him, he clearly has some weight and muscle to him, but it seems like balance is a bit of an issue. And he often fails to cover the ball properly, so even when he is holding off a player they can get a foot in dispossess him.

 

[Martial]

He looks slower than he did last year to me, and I don't understand why he is always looks like he's really struggling to break free from the defender.

His acceleration is terrible.

He has decent top speed, but it takes an age to get there which is next to useless against most teams in this league.

 

[Ljungster]

Worst starting striker in the PL surely? As of now he simply offers us nothing

 

[Denis79]

We will finish on a negative goal difference 2 season in a row, most likely scoring 30-50 goals less than the top 4-6 teams. He has been our main nr. 9 both those seasons. Our attacking unit is really poor and Hojlund is a huge part of it.

 

[Ekeke]

He looks slower than he did last year to me, and I don't understand why he is always looks like he's really struggling to break free from the defender.

Its because he's always keen to get into a tussle. What that means is while Hojlund is happy to have a hold of the defender, it also gives the defender an easy hold of him. So on the rare occasion his first touch does stick, the defender can just continue to hold him until he loses his balance and has a poor 2nd touch or loses the ball. They just have to be subtle about it because when its too obvious they give away a foul. He won 3 yesterday so there were times where we got something out of it, but winning a freekick on the halfway line isnt helping us a lot. We have players suited to getting the ball and breaking and even the success of winning a foul disrupts that so the opponent's are happy with it.

 

[tomaldinho1]

I thought he did quite well, a lot is being asked of him at the moment.

Yeah I have no idea what some peopl eon here watched or expected. He's a central CF whose main role is hold up and running channels, he did both well last night - usually he loses the ball too much but he won his duels and kept the ball for the most part, winning a lot of freekicks and only really had the one chance from the Martinez pass through.

The issue is there's nothing coming from wide areas given we're playing defenders on the wings, so he's hoping Amad can create something out of nothing or Eriksen will cross a decent ball in for him. Casemiro single handedly destroyed so many promising attacks as well. As much as Bruno is frustrating at least he will try to find Hojlund with clever balls and dinks and generally makes it harder for a very deep defence if they allow him the ball in the areas they allowed our midfielders to have it last night.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

That moment late on where he got to the ball in front of the defender about 10 yards out would be a shot on target for a decent striker, and a goal for an elite striker, but it just bounced staright off him to the goalkeeper.

He is certainly not a terrible striker, but is no way cut out for us as a starter right now, and has no way to improve in a squad like this whilst been expected to be the main man.

If we can get a decent fee I'd honestly look to move on him at the first opportunitiy, it's too much money for a developing player who might never be good enough.

 

[Paul778]

Need an emergency loan in his position. Even if it is someone like a Weghorst who clearly isn't that talented, but at least knows the position and knows how to impact those around him, while allowing the team to move up the pitch. Disaster.

Who exactly are the 10s behind him?

 

[Problem-free Philosophy]

The ball doesn't stick to him and it's not good enough given the type of player he seems to want to be.

Always throwing his weight around and making it look like he's in a big battle etc but then loses the ball softly/cheaply the next second.

On top of that his positioning in the box always seems to be off, which has been a concern from the very start. Is the instinct there?

At least he puts a shift in, but at the moment just looks like yet another appalling piece of business given the fee.

 

[Red_toad]

I thought he did quite well, a lot is being asked of him at the moment.

I agree, he’s starting the run the channels, but the team are sat way too deep so he’s isolated. I thin’ he’ll be fine, if the manager is given time and we improve the midfield and wingback areas.

 

[MUEricTheKing]

Now the world is starting to realize what we Danes have known all along. Højlund is in no way at the level required to be a striker in the Premier League, let alone at Manchester United. FC Copenhagen chose not to invest in him because they believed he was simply too poor technically and tactically. He then went to Austria without much success and later ended up on the bench at Atalanta. How anyone can pay £60-70 million for a player and hand him the No. 9 shirt at United is the greatest mystery. I think this could make it into the top 10 of the worst transfer deals of all time.

How he has gotten so much playing time after one anonymous performance after another is beyond me. His lack of ability has long since been exposed, and there must surely be another player in the club who is better. It’s outrageous that he has been given so many minutes on the pitch.

A new striker in January must and has to happen.

 

[Westerkerk]

He's never going to be good enough that we decide we don't need to go and buy a properly proven striker, but a lot is being asked of him in a wank team that leave him isolated. His finishing could be better, but the same could be said of so many others who constantly fail to at least hit the target.

Must be hard to work on improving yourself as a player, especially as a striker, in a team as poor as this.

 

[Mike Smalling]

How he has gotten so much playing time after one anonymous performance after another is beyond me. His lack of ability has long since been exposed, and there must surely be another player in the club who is better. It’s outrageous that he has been given so many minutes on the pitch.

Given the squad we have, what's the alternative to giving Højlund minutes right now?

 

[lsd]

Given the squad we have, what's the alternative to giving Højlund minutes right now?

Probably Wheatley would be closer but I think he's going on loan if he isn't already away.

Too early for Chido surely. The days of Yorke,Come,Sheringham and Ole are long gone

 

[Mike Smalling]

Probably Wheatley would be closer but I think he's going on loan if he isn't already away.

Too early for Chido surely. The days of Yorke,Come,Sheringham and Ole are long gone

Yep. Some fans seem to think you can just throw in the academy players, and that would be as good or better. Not just as a forward, but across the entire team. That's just not the case. I'm pretty confident that any striker we have in the youth teams would look just as lost out there as Højlund given the conditions.

 

[MUEricTheKing]

Given the squad we have, what's the alternative to giving Højlund minutes right now?

Given the squad we have, what's the alternative to giving Højlund minutes right now?

The entire problem with this squad is that, despite spending an incredible amount of money on transfers and wages, we’ve ended up with a team where there are no alternatives for players who underperform or simply don’t want to perform. The example with Højlund just highlights why we’re in the position we are. The options up front are Rashford, Højlund, and Zirkzee. Rashford doesn’t want to be at the club, and you can’t rely on him on matchday. Højlund and Zirkzee don’t have the ability. So each alternative is worse than the last. How does a club like United end up here? There should always be a hungry, ready player stepping in when someone else fails in form or ability.

In the Champions League 2008 squad, the attacking options were Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Saha, and a young Welbeck. That’s the level we should aspire to. There should be at least two strikers ahead of Højlund in the pecking order. Years of scandalous transfer policies have led us here.

I honestly don’t know how I would set up the team. Maybe Bruno, Mount, and Amad up front? The alternatives are just so poor.

 

[Garethw]

Given the squad we have, what's the alternative to giving Højlund minutes right now?

Under different circumstances Rashford. Hes our best option at goal scoring by far, but it looks as though there is no way back under Amorim.

 

[Denis79]

Given the squad we have, what's the alternative to giving Højlund minutes right now?

How did we end up here? I mean after his last season and his performance at the Euros, who the feck came to the conclusion: " Yeah let's stick with him as our main man ". I honestly feel sorry for him, he is not ready to lead the line at us or any club in the PL for that matter. He needs to develop his game in peace, not under this pressure.

 

[JBG]

How did we end up here? I mean after his last season and his performance at the Euros, who the feck came to the conclusion: " Yeah let's stick with him as our main man ". I honestly feel sorry for him, he is not ready to lead the line at us or any club in the PL for that matter. He needs to develop his game in peace, not under this pressure.

By using money on Zirkzee (an even worse striker/9.5 whatever he wants to call himself), instead of a striker in his prime or experience striker, so that Højlund could be his backup and learn from him.

 

[Mike Smalling]

How did we end up here? I mean after his last season and his performance at the Euros, who the feck came to the conclusion: " Yeah let's stick with him as our main man ". I honestly feel sorry for him, he is not ready to lead the line at us or any club in the PL for that matter. He needs to develop his game in peace, not under this pressure.

Just insanely poor management of the squad and transfers from the higher-ups. Probably also some overrating of Højlunds actual level based on that one good run of games he had.

 

[Mike Smalling]

The entire problem with this squad is that, despite spending an incredible amount of money on transfers and wages, we’ve ended up with a team where there are no alternatives for players who underperform or simply don’t want to perform. The example with Højlund just highlights why we’re in the position we are. The options up front are Rashford, Højlund, and Zirkzee. Rashford doesn’t want to be at the club, and you can’t rely on him on matchday. Højlund and Zirkzee don’t have the ability. So each alternative is worse than the last. How does a club like United end up here? There should always be a hungry, ready player stepping in when someone else fails in form or ability.

In the Champions League 2008 squad, the attacking options were Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Saha, and a young Welbeck. That’s the level we should aspire to. There should be at least two strikers ahead of Højlund in the pecking order. Years of scandalous transfer policies have led us here.

I honestly don’t know how I would set up the team. Maybe Bruno, Mount, and Amad up front? The alternatives are just so poor.

Yeah, I don’t think you have to convince many United fans that the squad shouldn’t be in this state. I’m just saying that after the transfer window had ended, it’s been inevitable that Højlund has gotten most of the minutes (especially considering Rashfords situation). As sad as that is, Højlund is our best option at no. 9.