[tomaldinho1]

The reason I keep going on and on about the national squad like a parrot is that many people (not saying you specifically) blame his teammates for his poor performances. I bring up the national team to highlight that he’s also struggling there, despite having completely different teammates. If he performed well with the national squad, the argument that his club teammates are holding him back would carry much more weight.

On your second point, I agree much criticisms of him are thrown out without much thought, and movement is an easy target because it’s hard to assess. That said, In my armchair, wannabe scout opinion, I’ve really specifically looked at his movement, both on TV and in the handful of games I’ve been at Old Trafford this season. And honestly, I feel his movement is one of the factors limiting his ability to create chances for himself.

Re Denmark, I guess depends on how good you think they are as a team? If you use the Euros as a barometer then it's only fair to also use the Euro qualifiers? And also compare to pre Rasmus for some comparison?

22 World cup they finished last in their group and scored one goal from a corner.
Euro qualifiers he comes into the senior team and does well (7 G, 1 A in 8 games)
I get he was probably disappointed re his Euros showing but he was what 20 or 21? Was he actually that bad or were Germany just too much for Denmark? They seem to have done as everyone predicted, go through 2nd and then go out in the first KO round.

Think of someone like Lewa who played for a weaker national team - he only really became 1st choice for euro '12 (3 years older than Rasmus). In 2016 they played N Ireland, Ukraine, Germany in their group and he scored 0 goals with 0 assists but no one ever thought that reflected on his ability. He blanked world cup 2018 (senegal, columbia, japan) as well and this is at his peak, not when he's 21. In the same way as if Rasmus had won the golden boot at the euros, it would simply not interest me, the only thing that we should judge is how he performs in a United shirt and, as you say, the worry is the goal return. Even with mitigating factors.

 

[harms]

Found this analysis pretty insightful, I don’t think it was posted here yet?

https://www.scoutednotebook.com/p/rasmus-hojlund-shots-man-utd-striker-mns

 

[Still ill]

Re Denmark, I guess depends on how good you think they are as a team? If you use the Euros as a barometer then it's only fair to also use the Euro qualifiers? And also compare to pre Rasmus for some comparison?

22 World cup they finished last in their group and scored one goal from a corner.
Euro qualifiers he comes into the senior team and does well (7 G, 1 A in 8 games)
I get he was probably disappointed re his Euros showing but he was what 20 or 21? Was he actually that bad or were Germany just too much for Denmark? They seem to have done as everyone predicted, go through 2nd and then go out in the first KO round.

Think of someone like Lewa who played for a weaker national team - he only really became 1st choice for euro '12 (3 years older than Rasmus). In 2016 they played N Ireland, Ukraine, Germany in their group and he scored 0 goals with 0 assists but no one ever thought that reflected on his ability. He blanked world cup 2018 (senegal, columbia, japan) as well and this is at his peak, not when he's 21. In the same way as if Rasmus had won the golden boot at the euros, it would simply not interest me, the only thing that we should judge is how he performs in a United shirt and, as you say, the worry is the goal return. Even with mitigating factors.

Fair analysis I think.

 

[Mike Smalling]

The reason I keep going on and on about the national squad like a parrot is that many people (not saying you specifically) blame his teammates for his poor performances. I bring up the national team to highlight that he’s also struggling there, despite having completely different teammates. If he performed well with the national squad, the argument that his club teammates are holding him back would carry much more weight.

After the qualifiers for the 2022 WC, the Danish national team has overall not been performing all that well, especially when it comes to creating chances and scoring goals. There is just a general lack of quality forward players, whereas we've more consistently had good defenders and midfielders. I'm not saying Højlund has been playing well for Denmark recently, because he hasn't, but he does suffer from some of the same circumstances as with United.

 

[Denis79]

Found this analysis pretty insightful, I don’t think it was posted here yet?

https://www.scoutednotebook.com/p/rasmus-hojlund-shots-man-utd-striker-mns

In a difficult period, Højlund appears to have reverted to his comfort runs, comfort channel and comfort foot, resulting in a predictability that is easy to defend and therefore a sub-standard production of shots.

One of the conclusions about his movement.

 

[The Serpent]

Re Denmark, I guess depends on how good you think they are as a team? If you use the Euros as a barometer then it's only fair to also use the Euro qualifiers? And also compare to pre Rasmus for some comparison?

22 World cup they finished last in their group and scored one goal from a corner.
Euro qualifiers he comes into the senior team and does well (7 G, 1 A in 8 games)
I get he was probably disappointed re his Euros showing but he was what 20 or 21? Was he actually that bad or were Germany just too much for Denmark? They seem to have done as everyone predicted, go through 2nd and then go out in the first KO round.

Think of someone like Lewa who played for a weaker national team - he only really became 1st choice for euro '12 (3 years older than Rasmus). In 2016 they played N Ireland, Ukraine, Germany in their group and he scored 0 goals with 0 assists but no one ever thought that reflected on his ability. He blanked world cup 2018 (senegal, columbia, japan) as well and this is at his peak, not when he's 21. In the same way as if Rasmus had won the golden boot at the euros, it would simply not interest me, the only thing that we should judge is how he performs in a United shirt and, as you say, the worry is the goal return. Even with mitigating factors.

Sesko plays for Slovenia an even worst team for his country and puts in much better performances and looked more threatening in the games he started . He plays in front of Eriksen who played out of his skin for Denmark in the Euros and still Hojlund did nothing.

Lewandowski was killing it in the league for Dortmund during that time, his national team performances didn't have any reflection on his club form.

I took at strikers like Chris Wood, Andy Carroll and I wonder if Hojlund will even be good enough to reach their level consider he doesn't even possess their ariel ability to head a football to score or basic level of movement to be instinctively at the end of things, let alone thinking of generational strikers like Shearer, Lewandowski, Andy Cole who are names I've seen mentioned here as a benmark example of strikers who didn't reach their peak until their mid twenties.

Hes 22, does anyone really believe in 3 years he's suddenly going to learn movement, heading ability and technical ball control, hold up play things you learn as a kid and bloom into this hall of fame striker leading the line for us?

 

[Beachryan]

Sesko plays for Slovenia an even worst team for his country and puts in much better performances and looked more threatening in the games he started . He plays in front of Eriksen who played out of his skin for Denmark in the Euros and still Hojlund did nothing.

Lewandowski was killing it in the league for Dortmund during that time, his national team performances didn't have any reflection on his club form.

I took at strikers like Chris Wood, Andy Carroll and I wonder if Hojlund will even be good enough to reach their level consider he doesn't even possess their ariel ability to head a football to score or basic level of movement to be instinctively at the end of things, let alone thinking of generational strikers like Shearer, Lewandowski, Andy Cole who are names I've seen mentioned here as a benmark example of strikers who didn't reach their peak until their mid twenties.

Hes 22, does anyone really believe in 3 years he's suddenly going to learn movement, heading ability and technical ball control, hold up play things you learn as a kid and bloom into this hall of fame striker leading the line for us?

So you're worried if Hojlund will ever reach Carroll levels in the prem. That'd be Carroll whose highest ever tally in the PL was 11 goals? Whereas Rasmus scored...10 last season?

 

[Lyng]

So you're worried if Hojlund will ever reach Carroll levels in the prem. That'd be Carroll whose highest ever tally in the PL was 11 goals? Whereas Rasmus scored...10 last season?

He mentions Chris Wood as well, whose highest ever tally was 14.
I actually said I wouldnt write in this thread anymore because it has become a pointless back and forth. But it does annoy me when several posters prop up strikers that have done well in a match against us, and when you actually look into their career they have not really set the world alight.
Rasmus has regressed and should not be leading the line for us. But the pile on with insane hyberpole added on top is harsh on a very young striker.
For him and us and probably our national team as well it would have been better if he had honed his craft in Italy and never come to United, but the chance was there and he is a massive United fan, so its difficult to blame him.

 

[Snafu17]

Šeško struggled quite a bit at Leipzig (a club with significantly less pressure and expectations compared to United) this season so maybe not the greatest example if you want to prove that Hojlund hasn't been great.

 

[kouroux]

He's buns, one of the main reasons we can't create/score more. I don't look at strikers as just there to be fed by others but also how they also impact the overall attack.
Is the service he receives at the club optimal ? Most definitely, no. However he also has a big responsability in the deficiency of the attack.
When your striker has massive problems holding defenders, bringing others into play or even winning headers, we are cutting off ourselves from a lot of potential attack building

 

[The Serpent]

So you're worried if Hojlund will ever reach Carroll levels in the prem. That'd be Carroll whose highest ever tally in the PL was 11 goals? Whereas Rasmus scored...10 last season?

I'm not talking about numbers, I'm talking about ability levels, Hojlund did good numbers last season but stil was never convinced by his overall game as a footballer. There is no doubt a prime Carroll is a better striker than Hojlund

 

[Lyng]

I'm not talking about numbers, I'm talking about ability levels, Hojlund did good numbers last season but stil was never convinced by his overall game as a footballer. There is no doubt a prime Carroll is a better striker than Hojlund

So now numbers arent the issue. National team Højlund is an issue but with Lewandowski they dont matter.
You are waffling back and forth and moving goal posts all the time. Its extremely tiresome.
Højlund isnt good enough at the moment. Whether he will ever be is anyones guess.

 

[The Serpent]

So now numbers arent the issue. National team Højlund is an issue but with Lewandowski they dont matter.
You are waffling back and forth and moving goal posts all the time. Its extremely tiresome.
Højlund isnt good enough at the moment. Whether he will ever be is anyones guess.

I already explained Lewandowski was killing it at Dortmund so why would Dortmund fan be worried about his national team performance and he was not just scoring goals he was being an all round threat making assists, he made 10 assists during that time while scoring 20 goals. Hojlund is not performing for club or country and his team mates quality is being questioned instead, to counter that isn't waffle my friend.

and I've not moved the goal post just addressed 2 different points made by 2 different posters.

 

[Shaw's Shank Redemption]

I think he suits counterattacking imo.

It leaves the channels very open for him to make very fast but obvious clean runs.

It allows him to analyse the space and get in to the right areas to score a goal.

In possesion, he is playing with his back to goal, not quick enough with his movement to try and trick a CB out of position in, his first touch is poor and which all adds to taking very few shots per game.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

I already explained Lewandowski was killing it at Dortmund so why would Dortmund fan be worried about his national team performance and he was not just scoring goals he was being an all round threat making assists, he made 10 assists during that time while scoring 20 goals. Hojlund is not performing for club or country and his team mates quality is being questioned instead, to counter that isn't waffle my friend.

and I've not moved the goal post just addressed 2 different points made by 2 different posters.

Do you genuinely worry whether he will exceed the level of Andy Carroll or are you just pointing out that currently his level isn't there?

I've seen enough to believe he has a lot of room for improvement, he seems to work hard, listen to advice and live the right way so all the "Off field" stuff looks correct.

Big issue for me here is he probably left Atalanta a year or two early and is forced to lead the line for us in a new country, new league and 2 managers already with very different ideas, right now we are failing him as he should be the young striker that comes on for 10 with no pressure and I think we need to be careful as even the most bright talent can easily lose their way with the forced criticism and over expectation at a young age.

 

[Lyng]

Big issue for me here is he probably left Atalanta a year or two early and is forced to lead the line for us in a new country, new league and 2 managers already with very different ideas, right now we are failing him as he should be the young striker that comes on for 10 with no pressure and I think we need to be careful as even the most bright talent can easily lose their way with the forced criticism and over expectation at a young age.

This is exactly the issue. Which is also why it is monumental that we get a striker in who is in his prime.

 

[Bobski]

His goal total is much less of a concern that his all round game to me. He is generally a very good finisher but that may be the only high level talent he has shown at Utd. It isn't enough, Chicarito was a great finisher, so was Lukaku. You need to offer more than just goals, that critique has been aimed at even all time great scorers like Haaland and Ruud.

If Hojlunds technical level in general play doesn't rapidly develop I don't see how he becomes a long term starter at a major club unless he is scoring at Haaland levels.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Sesko plays for Slovenia an even worst team for his country and puts in much better performances and looked more threatening in the games he started . He plays in front of Eriksen who played out of his skin for Denmark in the Euros and still Hojlund did nothing.

Lewandowski was killing it in the league for Dortmund during that time, his national team performances didn't have any reflection on his club form.

I took at strikers like Chris Wood, Andy Carroll and I wonder if Hojlund will even be good enough to reach their level consider he doesn't even possess their ariel ability to head a football to score or basic level of movement to be instinctively at the end of things, let alone thinking of generational strikers like Shearer, Lewandowski, Andy Cole who are names I've seen mentioned here as a benmark example of strikers who didn't reach their peak until their mid twenties.

Hes 22, does anyone really believe in 3 years he's suddenly going to learn movement, heading ability and technical ball control, hold up play things you learn as a kid and bloom into this hall of fame striker leading the line for us?

This is just bizarre. Slovenia were in the same group, Sesko didn't score, they finished below Denmark. He looked more threatening? Ok, great. I remember him doing a single thing in the Euros which was that rocket shot that hit the post/bar.

Last year both he and Hojlund played CL football. Hojlund got 5 goals, Sesko got 0. They are the same age.

Ironic you say Lewa was 'killing' it for Dortmund that year, he scored 10 goals in the Bundesliga. Guess who scored 10 goals in the PL?

Wood/Carroll is just weird comparison, you're essentially saying Hojlund is tall therefore here are other tall strikers that must be similar. He plays nothing like them. He needs to keep working hard, stay fit and he will start to score goals. By 'hall of famer', why is the bar to measure him by the best strikers possible? At this age he just needs to try and be consistently hitting double digit league goals a season + doing what he did versus Pool to allow others space around the box/occupy CBs.

 

[Mockney]

Just saying, Andy Cole didn't get proficient until Dwight Yorke arrived.

Seasoned Andy Cole defender logging on to say that his best individual season for us was actually 97/98, the season before Yorke arrived, where he scored one more than he did with Yorke in 98/99, was joint second top scorer in the PL (joint top w/o pens) and also runner up in the PFA Player of the year to Dennis Bergkamp. Also scored some of his best individual goals that season too (as this recently and helpfully timestamped video demonstrates!)



We will not stand for any Cole slander in this house!

 

[The Serpent]

This is just bizarre. Slovenia were in the same group, Sesko didn't score, they finished below Denmark. He looked more threatening? Ok, great. I remember him doing a single thing in the Euros which was that rocket shot that hit the post/bar.

Last year both he and Hojlund played CL football. Hojlund got 5 goals, Sesko got 0. They are the same age.

Ironic you say Lewa was 'killing' it for Dortmund that year, he scored 10 goals in the Bundesliga. Guess who scored 10 goals in the PL?

Wood/Carroll is just weird comparison, you're essentially saying Hojlund is tall therefore here are other tall strikers that must be similar. He plays nothing like them. He needs to keep working hard, stay fit and he will start to score goals. By 'hall of famer', why is the bar to measure him by the best strikers possible? At this age he just needs to try and be consistently hitting double digit league goals a season + doing what he did versus Pool to allow others space around the box/occupy CBs.

What exactly is ''bizarre''. I never said he scored more goals, I said he looked more threatening and was far more a focal point for Slovenia where he showed his movement, speed and skills. Where with Denmark they looked like they were playing with 10 men with hojlund up front a similar story we suffer with at Utd. Sesko was unlucky not to score against Portugal where Diego Costa was having the game of his life and doing this in a much poorer team than Denmark. I suggest you check out what Sesko is currently doing this season to see for yourself how much better he is than Hojlund and RB leipzig fans don't need to make endless excuses about his age, movement or teammates and needing to wait until he's 25 before he shows the identity of a quality striker.

I never mentioned anything about Height, I also made comparisons to Benteke I'm highlighting limited poor strikers like Carrol and Wood to show how far Hojlund has to go before he is even on their level of football ability wise.

If your expectation for our no 1 72 million striker is to allow space for others and ''occupy'' defenders through his wrestling then we are in a world of mid table trouble for years to come.

 

[Andycoleno9]

Just saying, Andy Cole didn't get proficient until Dwight Yorke arrived. He's what we have. See how it goes for the rest of the season in a consistent 11 who are used to the system (and try).

 

[Bobski]

People overlook just how impressive Andy Cole's record is, especially if you take away pens. 2nd all time behind Shearer and only trails him by 20. And that he was far more than just a poacher, 16 in assists all time, ahead of guys like Cantona, Scholes, Le Tissier, Hazard, Mahrez, Shearer and Son.

A bloody excellent footballer, better all rounder than RVN for instance, for all that RVN was the better finisher by some way.

Pretty much our most underrated player of the last 40 years.

 

[Gandalf]

People overlook just how impressive Andy Cole's record is, especially if you take away pens. 2nd all time behind Shearer and only trails him by 20. And that he was far more than just a poacher, 16 in assists all time, ahead of guys like Cantona, Scholes, Le Tissier, Hazard, Mahrez, Shearer and Son.

A bloody excellent footballer, better all rounder than RVN for instance, for all that RVN was the better finisher by some way.

Pretty much our most underrated player of the last 40 years.

I think that has a lot to do with Cole tending to either look brilliant or terrible depending on the game, he was a very all or nothing type of player. Someone like Cantona always had a very high base level of skill so even when he was not playing well he looked elegant and in control whereas Cole could have games where he seemed to be wearing concrete boots but then when he was on he was really on.

 

[cpresc]

Sesko plays for Slovenia an even worst team for his country and puts in much better performances and looked more threatening in the games he started . He plays in front of Eriksen who played out of his skin for Denmark in the Euros and still Hojlund did nothing.

Lewandowski was killing it in the league for Dortmund during that time, his national team performances didn't have any reflection on his club form.

I took at strikers like Chris Wood, Andy Carroll and I wonder if Hojlund will even be good enough to reach their level consider he doesn't even possess their ariel ability to head a football to score or basic level of movement to be instinctively at the end of things, let alone thinking of generational strikers like Shearer, Lewandowski, Andy Cole who are names I've seen mentioned here as a benmark example of strikers who didn't reach their peak until their mid twenties.

Hes 22, does anyone really believe in 3 years he's suddenly going to learn movement, heading ability and technical ball control, hold up play things you learn as a kid and bloom into this hall of fame striker leading the line for us?

Would you have said that about Gyokeres?

I don’t Rasmus current ability warrants Utd’s number 9 but as a 22 year old squad player learning his trade he has a good package of strengths

 

[Moriarty]

We will not stand for any Cole slander in this house!

Quite bloody right. Cole was superb for us.

 

[cirilus]

Sesko plays for Slovenia an even worst team for his country and puts in much better performances and looked more threatening in the games he started . He plays in front of Eriksen who played out of his skin for Denmark in the Euros and still Hojlund did nothing.

Lewandowski was killing it in the league for Dortmund during that time, his national team performances didn't have any reflection on his club form.

I took at strikers like Chris Wood, Andy Carroll and I wonder if Hojlund will even be good enough to reach their level consider he doesn't even possess their ariel ability to head a football to score or basic level of movement to be instinctively at the end of things, let alone thinking of generational strikers like Shearer, Lewandowski, Andy Cole who are names I've seen mentioned here as a benmark example of strikers who didn't reach their peak until their mid twenties.

Hes 22, does anyone really believe in 3 years he's suddenly going to learn movement, heading ability and technical ball control, hold up play things you learn as a kid and bloom into this hall of fame striker leading the line for us?

There is a lot to learn as a pro, the type of movements on and off the ball, the tactical tasks, even ball control.

I do agree that the instinctual part of his game is a bit absent, and might never really develop to world class level.

I wouldn't rule him off, but he doesnt strike me as a good learner or a humble kid. On the other hand, he appears to be a hard worker.

But working hard is not the same as being able to do hard work.

 

[Irwin99]

Have to join in and say Cole’s overall play was very good (hold up play especially). He did go through periods of poor form but i do think his overall game was a bit underrated.

 

[lex talionis]

Cole is a near legend -- at least a great but short of legend -- for United and didn't "need" Yorke to unlock him. They formed a great partnership but Cole had a great career with us with and without Yorke, at least so I recall.

 

[rockhopperpenguin21]

I stand corrected. I would never besmirch Coley. Much better than Shearer and criminally underrated. My point was just about giving players time especially when rebuilding is going on.

 

[That_Bloke]

I stand corrected. I would never besmirch Coley. Much better than Shearer and criminally underrated. My point was just about giving players time especially when rebuilding is going on.

NO.

 

[GiveItToGi...nowait]

Seasoned Andy Cole defender logging on to say that his best individual season for us was actually 97/98, the season before Yorke arrived, where he scored one more than he did with Yorke in 98/99, was joint second top scorer in the PL (joint top w/o pens) and also runner up in the PFA Player of the year to Dennis Bergkamp. Also scored some of his best individual goals that season too (as this recently and helpfully timestamped video demonstrates!)



We will not stand for any Cole slander in this house!

You’re doing the lords work.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

Just saying, Andy Cole didn't get proficient until Dwight Yorke arrived. He's what we have. See how it goes for the rest of the season in a consistent 11 who are used to the system (and try).

You can still delete this post

 

[Apokalips]

Seasoned Andy Cole defender logging on to say that his best individual season for us was actually 97/98, the season before Yorke arrived, where he scored one more than he did with Yorke in 98/99, was joint second top scorer in the PL (joint top w/o pens) and also runner up in the PFA Player of the year to Dennis Bergkamp. Also scored some of his best individual goals that season too (as this recently and helpfully timestamped video demonstrates!)



We will not stand for any Cole slander in this house!

Agreed, I hate when people try to drag legends through the mud to defend a player who has shown not even close to their pedigree.

Maybe Hojlund will be good some day but he is not right now and should be nowhere near first choice at United. Put some respect on Andy Cole's name.

 

[DannyCAFC]

Found this analysis pretty insightful, I don’t think it was posted here yet?

https://www.scoutednotebook.com/p/rasmus-hojlund-shots-man-utd-striker-mns

A lot of this is fair I think. There's definitely more he could be doing in terms of making more creative runs, looking to separate from CB's and play in space more rather than automatically get drawn into a fight for the ball, and be quicker to pull the trigger when he has a chance at goal etc. But clearly the service he's getting isn't particularly good, there's a lack of overall cohesion and chemistry from an attacking sense in the new system, and he's understandably low on confidence given results and the general negative sentiment surrounding the club at the moment.

It's so blindingly obvious that there are these more deep-rooted problems that are heavily contributing towards the lack of goals and towards his below-par performance levels at the moment, yet rather than use logic and come to that same conclusion, it seems like a large swathe of United fans have instead decided he's just plain shit, will never be good enough and should be sold. This despite the fact that he clearly showed a lot of promise at Atlanta and in his debut season at United to the point most fans were fully expecting him to take a step forward at the start of this season and go from 10 PL goals to 15-20.

People love to compare him to the likes of Gyokeres, Osimhen, Kolo Muani who've all been linked recently or other CF's who've gone for a similar amount of money recently like Isak or Solanke and bemoan that they're much better players, but all of those are 3, 4, 5 years older and were either playing at the same or a lower level than Hojlund at the same age. He's basically playing exactly as you would expect a 21 year old CF to be playing... showing glimpses and potential of being borderline elite but lacking the level of consistency, confidence and instincts that naturally come with experience.

I think the fact we've had the likes of Messi, Haaland, Mbappe, Rooney, even Aguero and Torres who were consistently scoring most weeks in top leagues at age of 18, 19, 20 has pulled the wool over our eyes a bit and made us think that's typical... but there's a whole list of this generations top goalscorers / CF's such as Henry, Kane, Suarez, Lewandowski, RVP, RVN, Shevchenko, Eto'o, Benzema, David Villa, Drogba etc who didn't find that level of consistent performance and goals until they were older than Hojlund is now.

I totally get wanting to sign another CF who is a bit further along in their development and maybe better suited to helping the team right now, but that doesn't mean Hojlund should be completely written-off which seems to be an increasingly popular narrative.

 

[rimaldo]

he’s got a lot of physical attributes going for him. i reckon we pump him full of bull testosterone and see what happens.

 

[rockhopperpenguin21]

Agreed, I hate when people try to drag legends through the mud to defend a player who has shown not even close to their pedigree.

Maybe Hojlund will be good some day but he is not right now and should be nowhere near first choice at United. Put some respect on Andy Cole's name.

Jeez, I was hardly dragging his name through the mud. Just saying it's a role always in the spotlight and sometimes players need time. If not Hojlund whom....?

 

[Denis79]

A lot of this is fair I think. There's definitely more he could be doing in terms of making more creative runs, looking to separate from CB's and play in space more rather than automatically get drawn into a fight for the ball, and be quicker to pull the trigger when he has a chance at goal etc. But clearly the service he's getting isn't particularly good, there's a lack of overall cohesion and chemistry from an attacking sense in the new system, and he's understandably low on confidence given results and the general negative sentiment surrounding the club at the moment.

It's so blindingly obvious that there are these more deep-rooted problems that are heavily contributing towards the lack of goals and towards his below-par performance levels at the moment, yet rather than use logic and come to that same conclusion, it seems like a large swathe of United fans have instead decided he's just plain shit, will never be good enough and should be sold. This despite the fact that he clearly showed a lot of promise at Atlanta and in his debut season at United to the point most fans were fully expecting him to take a step forward at the start of this season and go from 10 PL goals to 15-20.

People love to compare him to the likes of Gyokeres, Osimhen, Kolo Muani who've all been linked recently or other CF's who've gone for a similar amount of money recently like Isak or Solanke and bemoan that they're much better players, but all of those are 3, 4, 5 years older and were either playing at the same or a lower level than Hojlund at the same age. He's basically playing exactly as you would expect a 21 year old CF to be playing... showing glimpses and potential of being borderline elite but lacking the level of consistency, confidence and instincts that naturally come with experience.

I think the fact we've had the likes of Messi, Haaland, Mbappe, Rooney, even Aguero and Torres who were consistently scoring most weeks in top leagues at age of 18, 19, 20 has pulled the wool over our eyes a bit and made us think that's typical... but there's a whole list of this generations top goalscorers / CF's such as Henry, Kane, Suarez, Lewandowski, RVP, RVN, Shevchenko, Eto'o, Benzema, David Villa, Drogba etc who didn't find that level of consistent performance and goals until they were older than Hojlund is now.

I totally get wanting to sign another CF who is a bit further along in their development and maybe better suited to helping the team right now, but that doesn't mean Hojlund should be completely written-off which seems to be an increasingly popular narrative.

In his debut season (2014/15), at just 21 years old, Harry Kane delivered an incredible performance, scoring a remarkable 31 goals across all competitions, including 21 in the Premier League. He also earned the prestigious PFA Young Player of the Year award that year.

Robert Lewandowski, at 21 during the 2009/10 season, netted 21 goals in 34 games for Lech Poznań.

Shevchenko at 21 at Dynamo Kyiv the 97/98 season scored 33 goals in 41 matches

Suárez at 21 scored 28 goals in all competitions.

David Villa (2002/03 season with Sporting Gijón): Villa scored 20 goals in the league

Benzema at 21 scored 23 goals in all competitions

Let’s be careful not to compare Hojlund to players who were already operating at a level above, even at the age of 21. I'm not writing him off, but it's important to acknowledge that these world-class players were already showing more productivity at that age. It’s not entirely accurate to say they were equally unproductive at 21.

 

[A-man]

I totally get wanting to sign another CF who is a bit further along in their development and maybe better suited to helping the team right now, but that doesn't mean Hojlund should be completely written-off which seems to be an increasingly popular narrative.

This is my take as well. I can see he has some talent but isn’t good enough to carry United as the main striker. And we can’t sacrifice three years of results just to develop one player who might turn out to be good. We need a very good first CF as a starter and then Rasmus can play the last 25 minutes and start some cups here and there. He is imo clearly affected and hindered by the pressure of being the main CF of a huge club that is not functioning, and signing Gyökeres or whomever more senior CF would do him good in his development.

That said, I’m still not sure he’ll ever turn on to a great player.

 

[Andycoleno9]

Cole is a near legend -- at least a great but short of legend -- for United and didn't "need" Yorke to unlock him. They formed a great partnership but Cole had a great career with us with and without Yorke, at least so I recall.

Wait a sec now. I am not for giving "legend" status to many players but Cole surely is the one who deserves that.

 

[Red00012]

Hojlund has an outstanding international goals spree for Denmark.

I think when you considered that even Haaland has a poor form right now in a top club. Hojlund definitely should be given more chances given that he's in a dysfunctional team.

7 goals in 22 appearances is hardly outstanding