Put this thread on ignore for a few days and return when people have let off steam.
His worst game for us, I think. Looking forward to seeing him under Amorim.
So has it cooled bit in here?
This is how I see it. When a 20 yo striker comes here we need to give him time as long as he shows some promise - even if he doesn’t deliver for a season.
Now, Hojlund actually did deliver. If we had been a better team 10 goals in 30 games (not starts) and 6 in Europe would still be fine for a young striker new to the league. I’d say very good, actually.
As it was, we were not playing well. We were a team in crisis and it’s likely that Hojlund would’ve been better off staying at Atalanta for another season increasing the hype about him and his value even more. Nevertheless he chose to come here, understandably since he’s always been a fan of the club.
He showed promise from day 1 when he bullied Salina and should’ve had a penalty. In his first games before his injury he was very unlucky with a couple of canceled goals that were very well taken and showed his versatility - he positioned himself perfectly for a tap in from Rashfords cutback that were doubtfully canceled for being over the line, and he showed composure, calmness and clinical finishing when he waited for the right moment in the box and then hammered the ball into the top of the net for a goal that where ruled offside.
He played with wingers who didn’t pass to him in a team with a playing style that doesn’t suit him - ETH asked him to fall down to create space for the wingers and hold the ball to play it on. He did do that reasonably well and gave examples of his passing ability. His hold up play was inconsistent, but not at all bad as some claim. He also showed that he can turn on defenders and outrun them (he did that on Van de Veen).
The verdict on his first season must be that he showed promise and scored at least what you could reasonably expect from a new, young forward. People say he went missing in games, but we never set him up - often he didn’t get the ball more than a few times a game because our general play didn’t click. And when he got it it was up through the middle with his back to goal. He made loads of good runs without Bruno and the wingers even trying to find him and he was free in the box many times without getting the ball. Yes, there has been times where he could’ve positioned himself better or made a better run, but when you come to a new club and never get a pass from your teammates when in the right position you begin to doubt whether you actually were in the right position - second guessing yourself. That’s poisonous for a forward. Still, he managed to get 10 PL goals many of which be created himself. He has a positive mindset, wonderful attitude and a broad skill set excelling in the most important skill for a striker: finishing.
He hasn’t played more than a few games this season due to injury. He’s scored. And yes, he had a bad game vs PAOK. Now, the only sensible thing to do would be to give him a season under a manager that will play him to his strengths. There’s a reason for his career trajectory coming from Denmark to Austria, on to Atalanta after just 6 months and then to us after a season. It’s the same reason Gasperini called him one of the best emerging talents in Europe.
